"I can easily get us through the gate, but they will probably meet us in the courtyard before the main house." She looks around at both groups.
"Though we do have the numbers to make it a close fight. If you have any other idea, I'm all ears."
Octavia flicks her hair back. "Get as close to your enemies as you can, and be ready for a large cloud of smoke when the battle begins."
Faerin can't help but grin at Octavia's fierce confidence. It was clear captivity hadn't broken her.
"If things start in the courtyard, are there any traps or anything in the main house we'll need to be prepared for? Once the fighting starts it's not likely to stop until either the Staglord is dead or every one of us is." she adds.
Valerie had remained silent for most of it. Talking to bandits wasn't her favorite pastime. Normally she'd insist Kressle be clapped in irons at the least, but giving her a shot at redemption here seemed fair so she let it all pass.
When the others were discussing organising their mass suicide she had to interrupt though. "Do you really think it's a good idea to just run in, let them surround us with at least a dozen of them, including three officers and the stag lord himself and try to fight our way out of there? And here I though organising a mass suicide as more in Harrim's wheelhouse."
She sighed and paused for a second before continuing, "Ever heard of the terms 'divide and conquer'? That's what we should do. Split them up in smaller groups, take those out and move on to the next."
"And how do you propose to split them in their own lair?" Faerin asks, looking at the heavily armored woman.
"I'd hate to have to agree with Shelyn's lap dog on this one, but wait, didn't I already say this?
Let's start this assault covertly. At least some of these people sleep, so let's send a few to the Boneyard while they are. Then, the inside team can agree to finish the covert work around dawn, coming back to the gate to quietly take out the gate guards, prior to everyone coming in the ask the Stag Lord to come out and chat.
He will be all puffed up and summon his 'men' and if we're lucky enough, that will be the 5 or 6 guys we weren't able to get to yet."
|
Amiri- A Kellid barbarian with a quick temper.
Octavia & Regongar- recently released slaves of the Technic League, both with arcane educations.
Harrim- a cleric of Groetus with a strong contempt for dwarven culture and Torag.
Valerie- A retainer of Jamandi Aldori who volunteered to go with the expedition after the losses suffered during the attack at Jamandi's estate.
Pyros- An Aldori with a strong sense of loyalty to the Aldori.
Faerin- A druid of the Green Faith.
If anyone wants to add to these descriptions, only put obvious things that people would have gleaned from the brief amount of time together. The exceptions are Pyros, Faerin, and Harrim who have been together since the beginning of the expedition.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Harrim gives a glance to Valerie.
I'll have you know, dear Valerie, I do not advocate suicide, nor do I think one should just roll over and die. Will all come to an end? Yes, all things will. But at their proper time, and place. That's the beauty of it, there is no need to rush it. It is inevitable, we can build our petty kingdoms and buildings, but, whether now or tens of millennia hence, they will crumble. This is true not only of you, but of your most hated enemy as well. So it is better to not get overly worked up about such things. We can only do what we can do for now. The work of Groetus does not bow to the whims of us mortals, when a thing has reached its end that is the end of it. This knowledge brings peace, as ones true fate is already known. It becomes then about the journey....
Its easily apparent to Pyros and Faerin he is on a proselytizing rant again, and may not stop without being told to do so.
Faerin runs her hand through her hair sharing a look with Pyros, before looking over at Harrim and sighing softly with a slight shake of her head. "Now you've done it." the half-elf mutters under her breath giving Valerie a mock glare for just a second.
Turning back to Regongar she responds to his previous suggestion. "Can you fly? Does your magic let you turn invisible for more than a few seconds? Walk through walls? Stealth can only do so much when they're in there, and we're out here." she says pointing to the fortress. "I mean the whole reason people starting building fortresses is so that they can sleep safely inside, while their enemies sit outside trying to think of what to do next."
"Unless we can get inside those walls, all the stealth and 'covert work' in the world won't accomplish anything. I might be able to slip in with Kressle's group as they're let in, if I change my form to a dog and pretend to be one they took off of an enemy or something, but I'm not cut out for killing armies in their sleep."
Pyros nods to Faerin. "She makes a good point. Kressle, I take it you'll not b staying overnight? If you could knock off the gate guards and let us in at night, that would be excellent."
@ Pyros:
"Once I go in there, there won't be any waiting for nightfall. The Stag Lord knows I am not his anymore since I abandoned the Thorn River camp. There will be an immediate confrontation."
"Listen, I'm willing to wait out here while you decide how you want to handle this, just don't take too long."
"So there we are. Stealth approach is largely out. Once they go in the fight is on. Our beat bet is to go in, and go for the throat from the start. Maybe hope the Stag Lord is as much of a drunk as his reputation." Faerin says, knowing that they had to make a decision.
Then it needs to be a Stag Lord take down from the very beginning, like if we can get him against a wall, I can surround him with spheres of wind, and then we pepper him with magic missiles. If the timing is good enough, he may not even get a shot off. Meanwhile everyone can keep goons off of Octavia & I until we knock him out and we're ready to kill everyone else.
"I think waiting for dark is still our best option. Try and take out guards on one portion of wall before they know we're there, then scale the wall and we're inside before anyone can raise an alarm."
Looking from the slender and lithe Octavia, to Valerie in her heavy armor, Faerin considers. "Climbing the wall is likely to be more challenging than you might think, and will leave us completely vulnerable until we're all over."
"If we're doing that perhaps the best move would be to try going over the wall, while Kressle and her group go through the gate, so all attention is drawn to one point."
Seeing the looks of indecision on her companions' faces and mistrust on the part of some of the bandits, Faerin sighs. She quickly takes out and downs one of her concoctions from an earthen vial, then takes out a potion from her belt, quickly drinking it as a shimmering glow settles around her. "I'll scout the wall and see what they have in the way of sentries on the surface." she says before walking off into the woods about 100ft away from the group.
To any with sharp enough eyesight, the druidess smoothly morphs into the form of a magnificent bird of prey with dark feathers, save for those on her head, which are pure white, her clothing, armor, and even her staff simply melding into her new form as she launches into the air, climbing high before banking in a wide arc to fly over the fortress.
|
|
Faerin's scouting finds a possible entry point. Because the West wall is built right up against the cliffs, the ditch ends before the drop off. And the palisade there has some misaligned logs, thus giving access to the fort there. One group could probably sneak in through there and they would be in position to hit from behind near the stables while Kressle's group entered the fort through the front gate.
Taking as natural a flight pattern as she can, and landing in the forest some distance from the group, Faerin resumes her normal form, making her way back to her companions, filling them in on her findings.
"If we split into two groups, we can attack from behind once their attention is on the gates and the arrival of Kressle's group. Like a wolf pack splitting in two before closing in on their prey."
"That's the best plan I've heard yet. Let's go with it."
Reg looks thoughtful
"So a total of 3 groups, right? Our party forms 2 covert groups and then we signal Kessle to come head on, correct?
I think that's a plan, let's do it!"
"No, two. We take the hidden entrance and go through once Kressel's group lets the presence be known at the front gates. We should get moving to be in position." Faerin elaborates, gathering her gear.
Reg chuckles
"It's an us & them thing, sorry, my bad. Orc-thinking. When you said we split into 2 groups it would never have occurred to me that 'we' included Kessle & friends. I'll try to think more like a nice person moving forward though"
|
|
You make your way to the bad section of palisade. Kressle will give you some time to get there before she heads to the gate. When you hear her being challenge at the gate, you make your way over the wall. You find yourself in a small, short alley formed from the palisade and the south wall of the stables. You are well shielded from view, but unfortunately, it seems your egress was noticed. Standing there is a tall warrior in nice armor and much better than normal clothing. He is fairly tall with black hair and stern eyes.
"We have company!" He says with an obvious lack of surprise.
"You must be the Restovic envoys I've heard so much about lately. I don't suppose I could convince you to simply leave, in the name of Erastil or whatever deity you follow? Otherwise, let's get this over with." He holds his sword at the ready, watching you carefully.
Harrim merely rubs his beard, casting his eyes around the place as he seems lost in thought for a moment.
Octavia casts ashen path on herself and Faerin before they climb the wall.
She sniffs. "Let's get this over with. If you would save your life, now is the time to show your true colors and throw down your weapons. In Erastil's name, if you wish. Otherwise..." She draws an arrow and nocks it, ready to shoot the stranger.
Reg looks at the guy, sizes him up
"You look almost as smart as your armor and a lot more like a lord than "Antlers" I'm sure ... I don't suppose WE could convince YOU, in the name of ALL the gods, that you don't belong here and neither does he."
Seeing that Regongar isn't backing the man down, Pyros says "Look, we're not backing down. If you're not either, let's get this over with." Then he attacks.
Crit?
Watching the standoff, Faerin studies the man for signs of what might motivate him or give some insight into his next course of action.
Reg lights up his right hand so that sparks are dancing all across it
"What kind of proof did you want? My Octavia is only being polite, the arrow is a courtesy to YOU. She can light you up just as well as I can. If you have something else to say, say it. We aren't here to die, and we aren't here for Restov either, we're here to free the land from unjust tyranny."
Reg's other hand starts to spark as well ...
Noting the man's reaction, and sensing that they are only moments away from violence Faerin takes a chance. "Look, given the way you just twitched at the mention of Erastil, it's clear he means something to you, and if that's the case then you understand Community. What you have here right now is definitely not that. The Stag Lord keeps his boot on people's throats, there's no community, only predators and prey. Eventually the predators will start turning on each other when there's nothing left to hunt, or the surrounding areas will burn it all to the ground for their own safety."
She pauses, looking the man who clearly was better than a bandit at some point in his life. "A community is what we're trying to build here, and the Stag Lird needs to fall for that to happen. You can join us, you can try to stop us, or you can walk away. The choice us yours, but you will have to make one tonight."
|
|
The man looks away. "Means something to... It's been a long, long time... Many years, and atrocities ago."
He looks back up at you.
"Tell you what, I won't be confessing my sins to you -- believe me, they are numerous and grievous -- but I may be able to still contribute some good. I have no hope of gaining my God's forgiveness, but if you're going to free these lands of the Stag Lord's grip, I will help."
He looks you in the eye.
"I hope I won't regret this decision."
The "snap, crackle, pop' from Regongar's hands ended abruptly; in principle, the Technique League didn't teach 'at ease' as a stance, but Reg was doing his best ... with his eye on Octavia's bow
"I'm looking forward to seeing that you don't" Faerin says with a hint of a smile, breathing a sigh of relief. Noting Regongar powering down, she nods, gently resting a hand on Octavia's shoulder, noting the sleek, powerful muscles of her arm were as taut as the bowstring.
Octavia sighs and returns the arrow to her quiver. Then she looks at the stranger expectantly.
Pyros moves his hand away from his sword, and waits expectantly, occasionally glancing back toward the front of the fort.
"So our plan is to move on the Stag Lord while others are occupied with Kessell and her group at the gate. Any idea what we should expect to find?" Faerin asks.
|
|
"Kressle is here too? He won't like that a bit. He will probably go all out to kill her and her crew as he felt incredibly betrayed by her defection and he is a vindictive son of b##+!."
"I can get you into a better position because no will question me or anyone with me. The real threat will be Dovan, although Auchs is no small obstacle either. Also, unless you are prepared to sacrifice Kressle, you will have to somehow distract or inhibit the Stag Lord because he will kill her first."