There are not many guards in the place, but at each word, Mott’s man and Edd’s man get closer to violence, the barmaid’s sensing it, hurry and call Bellan, that arrive in a blink of the eye and go about trying to calm everyone at once.
He was doing a fairly good job, until Johan mention lesson one of training, it was then when the first mug flew into the air, and the yelling and cursing began. Soon enough it had degenerated into a huge tavern brawn fight, with everything at hand being used as weapons. None of the guards were armed tho.
Agrippa smiles at the chaos.
Master Bellan, surely you can see that Captain Edderly's men are to blame for this. They must hang for such destruction of private property.
”Now you shut up!” says the fat man looking really angry ”If you can’t help, don’t make things worse.” then he turn to the barmaid and yell ”Sissy, take the fastest horse, and bring me Sam!”
My apologies Master Bellam, I will retire for the evening. Agrippa says with a small bow.
Agrippa will feign going to his room. He will instead head to the stables with the barmaid. If the area is clear of onlookers he will summon a lemure and fiendish eagle to kill her in the stables.
He will order them to eat her corpse. Make it look savage.
Remembering his guise as and older man of deep faith, Johan shows great restraint in not getting directly involved in the brawl, but does make a point of quietly making more lethal weapons available - a broken bottle here, a fireplace poker there. If reinforcements do show up to break things up, they find old Pious John cowering under a table clutching his holy symbol of Mitra and lamenting the follies of mixing youth and beer.
Oh, and if the dwarves are present this night, he does his level best to make sure a body or two gets throws into their table...
Eldred in his guise is careful not to get involved in the physical conflict - he's happy enough to see the brawl and curious beyond measure as to who 'Sam' is.
He too tucks himself beneath a table.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa is a man of action and respect, and it was about time to teach those low lifelings of this place.
From his magical gifts, he used one to stay unseen by and follow the comely barmaid; she goes on talking nonsense with herself while she going to stables only to be attacked by a fiendish eagle and some seconds later, a devil.
The painful death scream sounded in the night, what was left of the body, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa could see and he was happy. It would be almost impossible to say who it was and what kind of monster could have caused such thing.
Feeling happy with himself, he then goes to his room, to rest and contemplate what evilness should be done next.
==//==
The huge brawl was getting even more intense by the minute, Bellan was still trying to control the soldiers when screams and shouts were heard over the fight noise, some seconds later, a crying woman burst into the inn and scream ”Someone was killed out there!!!” and then she burst in tears.
The fight dies almost instantly and every able soldier goes outside to see what is happening, as so does Bellan.
What the F**ck?! I hope its one soldier knifing another and not something unexpected...
Johan runs out with the others, partly to be seen as part of the crowd, and partly due to genuine surprise, having been unaware of Agrippa's actions. As the soldiers snap into action and start doing what they do in times of crisis, Johan disperses with the rest of the bystanders and ends up back in his room, where he tries to catch some sleep.
The next day he makes himself available for Fet's dry run with Mama Guiseppe if he is needed. Otherwise he just lays low and makes sure everything is ready for him to follow Varning's patrol on Toilday.
Agrippa just gloats over the death of the barmaid. You are next Bellan, you toad.
The next day Eldred seeks out rumours on what happened and how the investigation of the death is being handled... as well as seeking invisibility charms for 2-3 minute periods to steal bits and pieces from the inn (a small cask of fine ale) as well as from the human workmen (a hammer here, a box of nails there and so forth) in preparation for framing the dwarves.
As promised, the old soldier was ready to help Mama the next day. And helped he did.
Carrying things, and preparing the ingredients, then setting it everything into packages and carrying it to the watch tower.
At entrance, the four guards did not wanted to let him in, since he was a new face, but Mama intervened and threatened to cancel the day Stew, and that was motivation enough to let him pass. ”Those boys today. They would not recognize a good person even if he was thrown over then! In ma boy’s time, it was not like this. Things were better, but I do like Lord Thomas, it’s a shame he is so grumpy all the time…” and for hours he smiled while the old woman complained, told histories and the neighborhood secrets.
==//==
Eldred was able to accompany the soldiers working in the murder case from up close, as one of the curious locals.
At some time, Father Donnagin, accompanied by a muscular middle age man, using a full plate carrying lots of weapons came to see the place. They talked a lot to each other, then to the locals and then to Bellan. After some hours, they went away again. But nothing was said about the reason behind it. And the soldiers are keeping their mouth shut. The only thing being said is wild speculation.
At night, Fet call you all, to deliver some news, after a brief cough he starts ”I’ve been trying to get information about the patrol and I discovered something very interesting from one of the soldiers.” he looks at you with wicked eyes
”Captain Ryan route is almost impossible to predict, but he do have one predictable trait! His soldier’s say he like to ‘camp’ in a place called Free-man’s Rock. It has good ground, fine hunting and a great view of Lake Tarik. Three days after leaving, he reliably camps at Freeman’s Rock.” he began to cough incontrollable and after some minutes he wipe his eyes and continue. ”I was too able to discover one more thing. This patrol objective is a tricky one. They were off to hunt one follower of the Fallen One.” he stares hard at your face
”If we play it right, we can get rid of the patrol, while blaming this follower and getting him to help us! More than that, if word reaches out, they are bound to send more soldiers that way, and another captain. If we time things right, we can drain their resources while making it seems it’s an external threat.”
Brilliance in its self - when do we leave?
b]Excellent work Fet. Knowing that we can move up our timetable by a whole week. No need for me to go traipsing through the woods following the patrol first. We can set an ambush at this Freeman's rock right away[/b]
He frowns at Fet's coughing. Are you unwell? Did Mama Giuseppe's stew not agree with you?
”It’s nothing to worry about.” he says ”It has been a really long time since I last worked into such a filth place as the alchemist shop.”
Lets double down shall we? Lets lure out the priest a day or two before by imitating his daughter and getting the him to come out to the farm. We scrag him then offski to the ambush... then back for Mama's stew, he whispers urgently.
”There’s no time for that!” says Fet ”The patrol leaves tomorrow, what gives us 2 days to prepare. And the bugbears need about one more week to be ready.” he walk in the room for some moments and says ”We are already way ahead of schedule, killing the patrol will make us do things next week, else we risk the tower sending for reinforcements.” then still walking and talking as if to himself he continues ”And with the loss of two captains, I doubt our sickness plot will work as we want. The lord will want everyone alert, even more after the death yesterday in this very inn.”
Okay, this really condenses our timetable. We can still do everything we had planned, but it will mean it will all be back to back - no room for errors or time to respond to the unexpected...
It also wont leave time for us to ambush a second patrol. Which may not be necessary. If a second patrol doesn't have any officers in it, its likely not worth our time. And we'd have to abandon the "frame the dwarves angle, and trust we could take them out when we burn this inn. The burning of the inn might have to move to the night of the final assault as well.
Johan runs his hand over his scalp, thinking. All of that we can figure out over the next couple of days. Tomorrow we head out to Freeman's rock. Agreed?
Aye
Indeed. Let us unleash the power of the infernal upon these spineless pigdogs.
You all wake up, and each of you, in your original disguise go down into the common room of the inn, as you appear, Fet address you
”Sir” he says with a polite bow to Pious John ”I’ve already prepared the transport for you,. Everything is ready for our departure.” then he looks at Eldred and Agrippa and continues ”This young lad here, has approached me yesterday and asking if he could join us. It appears he wants to know the local villages and travelling in group is better than going alone. Also, this most respected Sir here” he says looking at Agrippa “has some business too in our destination, and want to travel with us for the same motive as the boy.”
I wish only to see inspiring landscapes for my paintings. Not to frolic about with the peasantry... says Agrippa in his nobleman painter disguise.
It takes Johan a moment to get his mind from the task at hand to why Fet and Agrippa were going on about, then he remembers that they were still in the inn, and being casually observed by its patrons. Ah, I grow sick of all this subterfuge. When will I be able to stride through the streets of this town without hiding from these mewling sheep?
Johan tries to look less like a man planning murder, and speaks up loud enough for the townies to hear.Uh, yes, that fine. Bound to be lots of um, pretty landscapes and uh, sunsets, on the way. I guess.
He grabs his gear from the table and shoulders his way outside to the waiting cart.
I'll be needing some time, and our Artists friends assistance... looks like our friends are already hard at work despite the earliness of the hour but if we were to our leave by but an hour I'd have the time I need to wrap up a few matters
Agrippa nods to Eldred As you will, I'm sure I have all manner of skills that would serve you some purpose.
Johan enter the carriage, he is followed by gentleman Cornelius and Eldred, the Lad.
Fet is driving the carriage.
You leave the town going into the opposite direction you really need, after travelling about one hour, you change course and set a fast pace to Freeman’s Rock.
The journey takes the entire day, Fet avoid passing into well know places and nothing interesting happens. It’s about one hour past sunset when Fet declares you are about one hour from the camp. He then goes about relieving the horses and setting a ‘camp’ for you, while you plan and do whatever you’ve come here to do.
Eldred persuades Agrippa to whack him with an invisibility spell and then takes the time to sneak into the dwarves room.
He takes time put tools among the dwarves stuff, knick-nacks under beds or in packs and bedrolls.
Invisibility worn off, he adjusts his circlet to become a tall dwarf and leaves the room, leaving the room unlocked.
He walks into the privy and after a time, changes back to his normally elderly alias as walks out muttering about dwarves being thieves. You mark my words! Little bastards steal anything not nailed down - you want to be warning your friends. Plenty of people be moaning about stolen this and that! I'd be lookin' at them.
He then joins the party in their carriage.
Take a wheel off the carriage and lure em' in that way?
Never one for a fair fight, Johan shook his head. If we do that we will have to face the entire patrol fully armed and armored. Surprised yes, but unprepared no. Lets fall upon them while they sleep. We may be able to take out their watch quietly enough to dispatch the rest before they are even out of their bedrolls. At the very least we can get between them and their horses and catch them out of armor. Agrippa, perhaps you have some magic that can envelop the whole campsite - Eldred and I once knew a man who could swath an entire boat in magical webbing. Things did not . . . end well for him, but the tactic was effective. If they are all clustered about a campfire something similar might work here.
I can do such a thing. As well as cover the ground in a thick mucous, making it hard to stand.
Would make it hard to cut throats but if we can get close to their sentries - we could make a mess of the rest while they slept... anything that would silently hinder or take down their sentries?
I can make a man run screaming in terror or strike him blind. Or, make you invisible, and you can slice their throats. Agrippa says, somewhat defensively
Yep,Johan grins, the tip of my spear and points of your arrows.
If everyone agrees, we hides ourselves well near freeman's rock and wait for the patrol to arrive and night to fall. Once the soldiers have relaxed, stowed their gear and bedded down for the night, we strike. Agrippa leads off with a spell to envelop the campsite ([ooc]web or create pit?[ooc/]). At the same time Eldred and Fet and I hit the sentries from range, then close in for the kill.
It’s already night, but you decide to wait until later to attack.
After about three more hours, you prepare yourself and head to the camp.
Johan uses is Ion stone to lead the way, but when nearing the place he just put it off, to avoid any suspicious.
You are able to get really near the camp.
I'll take the one on the far side, you three get ready to take the one close. Strike the guard down silently as you can when you see my one go down.
Eldred starts moving counter clockwise around the camp towards the guard on the far side and trusting distance to the guards (and their closeness to the fire) to take care of any odd sounds or motions that may be noticed.
Stealth
When getting close to the horses he relies on his natural horse skills to help the horses stay quiet... though it takes more than a minute to allow them to get used of his scent and his gentle touches.
Wild Empathy
Agrippa casts Mage Armor on himself and invisibility on Johan so he can close with the other guard without raising a ruckus.
Two tents...damn. Fet can you do anything to take out the far tent while Agrippa hits the close one?
Johan casts bless on the group before Eldred sneaks off to the west, Then casts Divine favour on himself. Once cloaked in Agrippa's invisibility spell, he moves as quietly as he can to the edge of the camfire's light and waits for Eldred to make his moves.
Fet looks at Johan and replay ”I can throw a bomb that I’ll set the tent on fire, or I can create a cloud of Sickness that will affect anyone in the area, but none of those are quiet things to do.”
Eldred positions himself near the horses while waiting for the others to move into position.
Bluff (+2 for human added in)
The con man hoiks a stick from his position to trees on the far side of the clearing so that it make some noise.
Then he sneaks to behind the tent.
Stealth
Both rangers were chatting, when they stop suddenly, they use some hand signal and go investigate the place where stick hit, allowing Eldred get in the place where he wanted.
After some minutes, they get back to their original position, but they appear to be more alert than before.
Eldred puts two arrows into the ranger in front of him...
MW Composite Bow
Damage
MW Composite Bow
Damage
As soon as Johan sees Eldred loose his arrows, he snaps into action. He charges like a bull at the north guard, spear aimed at the centre of the man's body.
Agrippa, upon seeing his comrades charge into battle, will cast Create Pit at the entrance of the tent that Fet doesn't burn or stink out.
Eldred shoot an arrow and Johan charge at his pray, the poor ranger lies impaled in the spear, as Elrdred shoot another arrow dropping the last standing ranger.
Fet hold his bomb and Agrippa stop before finishing casting his spell. No noise can be heard, it appears you manage to kill the sentry without waking up the rest of the camp.
Moving into the camp he makes a throat slashing motion to Johan and Agrippa, pointing at the far tent while he beckons to Fet and waves him over to enter the tent closest to him...
Assuming there are guards of the keep within...
He sneaks in and using his longsword and his gauntletted hand, uses A coup de grace' manuever of pushing his blade into any sleeping mans necks and then dragging it across, cutting arteries and windpipe below the vocal cords both for a silent death.
He repeats as oft as necessary looking to do the officer first if he is close to the enterence of the tent.
Agrippa waits for the martially minded members of the party to dispatch the peasants. He thinks pleasant thoughts of binding demons to do this sort of thing for him in the future.
Johan follows Eldred's lead and creeps over to the other tent. He signals to Agrippa to wait, then counts to ten and enters as quietly as his steel shod boot will let him. He leaves the tent flap open - maybe if Agrippa can see into the tent he can throw a spell right inside instead of just at the entrance.
Johan scans the tent. If he can identify the captain, he tries to kill him first. . His second priority is this rumoured prisoner. If there is a captive in the tent, Johan frees him next. If still undetected at this point, he works his way around the tent, murdering each guard in their sleep in turn.
If at any point someone raises the alarm or multiple guards start to wake, he bolts out the front of the tent, giving Agrippa the sign to throw arcane disaster in his wake.
Arcane disaster awaits!
Eldred enters the tent and see two sleeping guards, he moves to the first one and prepare to deliver his strike.
He tries his best to not make a sound, but the other guard began to wake even before his is finished with the blow.
Johan with all his metal pushes the tent open and see three sleeping persons, and someone bound and gagged.
As soon he opens the tent, one of then start to move wakening, and he hears a whisper coming from the bird just over the tent entrance ຜູ້ຊາຍໃນຂອບເຂດທີ່ສາມາດເປັນຜູກພັນທີ່ມີອໍານາດ, ຄິດວ່າໄວຊີວິດມະຕະ
But he is unable to understand any of it and in the end, he is not even sure if the bird said anything.