Quince nods. "After the attack on Elkheart last year we have made sure to add walls to our cities. So it is the bridge and the riverfront that will be the most vulnerable." He pulls out a lyre from his pack. "I can ready earthworks and defenses on the west side of the river on the approach to the city. We can do in hours what might take days."
He checks with the mayor and the local commander ensuring that the walls are manned and that the local citizen's militia is ready to respond when the alarm is raised.
He makes his way to the west side of the bridge and begins to play his lyre. As he sings and plays the sounds of shovels striking earth.
:
:
+2 vs Fey, +4 vs Humans
"I will serve where directed, but I would very much like to join if a group was going to reconnoiter and possibly ambush the invaders."
At the comment of a very nervous Kisandra, which Alice sees through like an open window, it would seem, she taps a brooche she wears, if covered half by her cloak. One in the shape of a purple butterfly.
"As the other lady said, "Your warning will give the settlement a fighting chance. Lady Luck has seen many people get out victorious, in situations deemed perilous."
She's a Desnite.
Alice has a spell slot open lvl 1 through 4, and had not yet decided on her borrowed spells from the wizard list. She will borrow Fey Form 1 (4th lvl), and Audiovisual Hallucination (3rd lvl)
She will prepare:
Lvl 1: entangle
Lvl 2: Sickening entanglement
Lvl 3: Auditory hallucination
Lvl 4: Fey Form 1
She would also use Ritual Hex to ask the gift of the Protective Luck hex. She has to pass 2 DC 20 Kn. Arcana and 2 DC 20 Kn. History checks. Description says the GM rolls the results in secret, and the one performing the ritual doesn't know if it succeeded until the moment they try using it.
My familiar would aid another for these checks.
Alice's own modifiers are +14 on both knowledge checks.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 11
The paladin chimes in. "I like the snipers being utilized in the trees and on the bridge. Unless anyone else has a better idea, I'll help guard the bridge."
"Well you're lucky you've got me then! Outside of the Startoss, climbing is the only other thing I'm good at! Wait, that came out wrong. The point is I'm good at climbing and sniping. I can lead a few snipers out to some choice spots and get them good." She gave the paladin a wide grin and a smile, feeling good in her new uniform. Now it was just a case of getting the city prepped for an invasion.
"If no one needs help with trenches or barricades, I'll be out trying to find good places for those snipers." She gave the group a few moments to tell her no, they needed her there, before turning to jog off. You couldn't just pick any spot. Oh no no, you had to pick the perfect tree! Especially when you were using a star knife which meant you didn't have the range of a bow...
"Well you're lucky you've got me then! Outside of the Startoss, climbing is the only other thing I'm good at! Wait, that came out wrong. The point is I'm good at climbing and sniping. I can lead a few snipers out to some choice spots and get them good." She gave the paladin a wide grin and a smile, feeling good in her new uniform. Now it was just a case of getting the city prepped for an invasion.[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 11
The paladin chimes in. "I like the snipers being utilized in the trees and on the bridge. Unless anyone else has a better idea, I'll help guard the bridge."
Xandarian returned the smile with a wink. "Meow."
Lady Luck? Seems like I should know about that but I dont. Hmmm, anything engineering wise we could do? Not feeling confident either. Violence it is!
Markus thinks a bit.
Zsófia nods. "I will see to the barricades, and do my best to protect them against those who would overcome the walls' defenses. Also, it may be that I can improve the soldiers' morale with a few well-timed words of inspiration." She grimaces. Though both used weapons to harm another, war was nothing like dueling. But the open gaps in the wall would be a natural funnel for her to take on enemies one at a time as they tried to enter the town, which would put her skills to better use. "If there is to be a scouting expedition, or the laying of traps and deadfalls in the surrounding area, I know of someone who could be a great asset. A local who is familiar with the terrain."
+14
All good! Just in case I forget you made all your checks. Be ready with a descriptor of that and how many people it affects.
Tyrrana takes a handful of archers and heads into the woods to set up sniper positions.
He nods to Quince and whispers a few words to him. The words are obvious as he approaches your group, "I am going to head out to scout and to bring the pain to these invaders before they can even get near to the town. Hot Dog I know you are on board and likely Ulricha. Anyone else want to join this little strike team?!"
Xandarian nods. "If you think there's a way to stop the invaders from entering the city, I wish to be a part of that strike team."
Zsófia also nods grimly. "Choosing which targets to engage sounds better than waiting for them to come to us, milord. Let others see to the barricades, then, and I will join you. Allow me to locate and brief my companion, and I will be ready at your leisure."
"I will make the plants grab for their limbs, and halt their advance momentarily. The archers can pick off the stragglers."
Alice will target choke points with her spells. Which she will inquire about first, though.
"Aye, I'd be happy to take the fight to them, I need to get hold of a good bow first though." Ulricha replies.
Once they're part of the planning is done before Lord Jorne leads his team out, she heads to the town's bowyer, purchasing a mighty longbow, one that usually took three men working together to string. Testing it's draw and finding it much to her liking, the barbarian readily joins distract team.
Markus looks intensely at a map, to come up with an effective ambush spot
Oi, I got a plan! Look, the side of the river the city is on is a bit higher up then the side of the river the attack will come from! We can broaden the river to be more of an obstacle my making a little pseudodamm further downstairs! Alternatively, if you plump down a bunch of Chevaux de Galt in this position we can channel the enemy into enfilading fire! Barricades wont stop trolls, but they can very much channel enemies into kill zones! Unless they are demons and just teleport past you, blegh, that sucked!
Markus starts making barricades, and assmbling them in the aforementioned fashion.
Vandomir and Rocinian will accompany Zsófia on her scouting mission, "if you will have us, milady."
Humming and hawing about where exactly she wanted to set up, she'd eventually make the decision. Best to do it closer to the wall where any of their snipers had a better chance of getting back to safety. Now it was just a case of getting some other people to agree with her... Which, probably wasn't going to be easy. But, hopefully, she'd manage something.
Vandomir and Rocinian will accompany Zsófia on her scouting mission, "if you will have us, milady."
Zsófia grins at Vandomir. "Certainly, sir. I would be honored to serve beside you and your mount. I look forward to seeing what he can do!"
Seeing Quince using magic to create trenches outside of the city, Jorrast calls for some help setting up barricades at the edge of the city, in the gaps of the walls.
"Markus has the right idea. The barracades, trenches and such aren't to stop the enemy. They are to slow them down and channel them into a kill zone. Once they are bunched together they'll be easier to kill with missiles and magic. But save things like fireballs and acid for the trolls!"
Alice will prepare thorny entanglement instead of the illusion spell.
Vandomir and Rocinian will accompany Zsófia on her scouting mission, "if you will have us, milady."Zsófia grins at Vandomir. "Certainly, sir. I would be honored to serve beside you and your mount. I look forward to seeing what he can do!"
Vandomir playfully covers Rocinian's ears, "Ummmm, she's a girl!"
Quince pulls Bearik aside and suggests calling on diplomatic ties with Tiressia (The Dryad from way back, and Meliasane the nyad that we made a deal with to found Tazlford). "Our fey friends have been good to us and we have asked them to avoid playing tricks or worse on our people. This is an opportunity to do their worst to our foes."
As if in a dream, Chizzlall walked next to Rumbles on his way to the castle. The big cat was much faster than he, and had to keep circling impatiently around him as he trudged forward. His unit's corporal seemed to gleefully inform the gnome that his services were no longer required in the militia, and that instead he would be serving some noblewoman in the castle. He sighed. That was what he deserved for speaking out of turn, he decided. Should have kept my mouth shut, rattling on like that to those people on the road. Now he was probably going to be doing something even worse, like changing bedpans or washing dishes. Probably will still die in battle, but now I will be armed with a rolling pin. He shakes his head.
Rumbles growled at him. Maybe he was picking up on Chizzlall's feelings? No, probably he was just impatient to walk faster. But Chizzlall was not anxious to begin his new life as a household servant. He had taken almost forty minutes to gather all of his possessions from the barracks, all while being watched by two of his former compatriots to make sure he didn't steal anything. I suppose I'm lucky they let me collect my things at all, he thinks.
At the castle gate, he briefly considers making a run for it. No one knows where Chizzlall is, he thinks. If he gets out now, before battle, maybe he lives a little longer... But no-- he chides himself with a tsktsktsk. "Chizzlall takes what Chizzlall is-given," he mutters to himself. "Probably sad, probably terrible even, but that is Chizzlall's-lot in life. Better for Chizzlall to-stick with the-familiar."
Besides, it was possible that working in the castle, he might see that woman again, the one who carries with her a vision of the Crystal Rose. The thought of her prismatic beauty briefly cheered his heart. He could put up with quite a lot of bedpans and dishes to be able to see her again.
He bows to the guards. "I'm Chizzlall," he mumbles, "lately of the-Tazlford-militia. Supposed to make-report to the-Captain-Lawry for demotion-reassignment." He looks at the rivercat, who looks away like he isn't at all interested in whatever is going on. "Rumbles is with-me. He will-obey Chizzlall."
Just then, Zsófia pokes her head out of a door leading to the central keep. She sees Chizzlall and rushes over. "There you are!" she calls out. The guards briefly look startled, with their hands on their swords. Chizzlall blinks senselessly. Rumbles grooms himself. "Sirs, do not worry," she says as she approaches. "Chizzlall is with me. Come, my friend, we have to get ready!" She sweeps her cloak in a dazzling beckoning motion and begins walking back toward the way she came. Chizzlall stares a moment, then shrugs to the guards and follows. He is barely aware that Rumbles ambles behind.
"I hope you will forgive my acting without consulting you," Zsófia explains, "but I am part of a group of elite soldiers who plan to covertly engage the approaching army before they reach the town. Since we must traverse the wild land between there and here, I thought your assistance would be invaluable in our task. So, I asked the captain to reassign you to me, if you were willing." While they speak, Zsófia leads the pair into the castle and proceeds to the dining room, where a large group of people are discussing battle plans in quiet voices. "Do you agree? While you are working for me, I will see to your food, board, and equipment, and pay you 10 gold a month. If you need anything, you only have to ask. What do you say?"
Chizzlall nods slowly, trying to make sense of what is happening. He looks at Rumbles, and Rumbles narrows his eyes and yawns, sitting down on his haunches. Is this real? he thinks. Maybe it is a joke. Could be a funny joke. Maybe it is best to go along with it. After a long pause, Chizzlall says "Okay, yes. Chizzlall agree." He tries to maintain a cool, unreadable composure, but inside he is vibrating like a millpond in an earthquake. His thoughts are jumbled and incoherent, but elated. Unable to think of anything else to say, he looks around the room and fidgets.
Hmm, I am not stealthy, if I am part of the strike group, there are 3 ways to do it. Number 1 is someone has invisibility or something like that and makes me stealthy. Number 2 is I move 30-60 feet behind the strike group and join up then. Number 3 is I am bait. I dont mind 3 at all.
The muscled merc announces.
Quince chuckles, "Hot Dog makes good bait."
Indeed! Good bait and better distraction! The merc chuckles along
"I will make the plants grab for their limbs, and halt their advance momentarily. The archers can pick off the stragglers."
Alice will target choke points with her spells. Which she will inquire about first, though.
Yes there is thorny vegetation about,
Humming and hawing about where exactly she wanted to set up, she'd eventually make the decision. Best to do it closer to the wall where any of their snipers had a better chance of getting back to safety. Now it was just a case of getting some other people to agree with her... Which, probably wasn't going to be easy. But, hopefully, she'd manage something.
You are able to collect one archer to help.
Alice will prepare thorny entanglement instead of the illusion spell.
With a good portion of the mercenary brigade following him, he takes to a large elk and gracefully mounts with a jump.
After a few hours of travel Jorne slows down his elk and walks it slowly into a meadow. At the center of the meadow is a large orange glowing crystal. Obviously drawing his attention.
The crystal slowly begins to turn off and you see a squad of black shifting figures and several large elk grazing.
This man walks from the crystal towards Jorne and your group, about 50 feet away he shouts, "Come along Jorne we got the map prepared!"
Coming into their basic camp you can see a large, 20x20 foot, scroll with the map of the Nalmarches including the town of Tazylford and many flags to the North of it. He explains, "As you can tell they are at least a day away if not more. They are the flags. We are the seal.Should I call another squad of elks to expedite your group forward?"
I will make the plants grab for their limbs, and halt their advance momentarily. The archers can pick off the stragglers."
GM, is some of the vegetation thorny, like brambles?
Alice will target choke points with her spells. Which she will inquire about first, though.
----------------------------------------
Yes there is thorny vegetation about, if you ask for it specifically, there might be someone who can grow them.
Alice will ask local druids, assuming there are(?), to grow thorny vegetation at choke points where none are yet.
She will familiarize herself with the quickest routes between the points. If possible, could she rent a horse for that day? To quickly move between those locations.
Quince scoffs at the idea of renting a horse. "Come with me." He brings Alice or any who wish a mount. He leads them to a the castle stables which split off from a corner of the castle wall along one wall is a number of horses fine horses. Along the other are large elk not unlike elk sometimes that some elves and folk of the riverlands chose those several of these are the size of a warhorse. [b]"Most of the horses here are a medium weight breed, they can handle a charge, or make distance. The elk are at home in the forest much like the land around us. Sitting the saddle is the same for both. Though you will find the elk lurch when they move swiftly in the forest. Able to change direction quite quickly and keep going even on uneven ground.
Once the barricades are set up Jorrast decides to take a look around in the woods. He takes fox form and heads out to look for trails that he can follow, and more importantly any cover that he can duck into to stay unseen by an approaching army.
He looks at where the archers will be set to see where he can be, and where he can use his magic to snipe the enemy.
After a couple of hours he returns and shifts back to his Kitsune form.
As Quincy shows her the elks, her eyes grow in admiration of their appearance.
"They're beautiful.", she holds her hand out for a particularly soft colored elk to smell, if she's a good person.
If the elk accepts her, she'll rub its head gently, speaking to it gently in sylvan.
"Does it have a name? Or are they kept just for riding when needed?"
Since Tyrrana got one other sniper to help her out, she'd direct them to where they were going to be setting up shop. Mostly just making sure the person who agreed to help out was good enough at climbing to be able to easily get up and down the tree. Since she had no clue what the others were doing, she'd just be focusing on trying to get the maximum possible effectiveness out of her own little strategy.
"They stable names by the breeder but usually once a rider claims one they get to give a name." He points at a pair of elk. "That's Rough and Tumble they came in with us they are the youngest here. He points at another elk [b]"That's Andalorn."
Zsófia suggests that Chizzlall follow her as they figure out what is going to happen, promising to explain more as she goes. Together, they travel with Quince to the stables, where Zsófia looks at the elks gamely but suspiciously. "I have never ridden an elk before," she announces, "but 'when in Absalom,' as they say..." She consults with Chizzlall and takes a good look at all of the options available before choosing the most aesthetically-pleasing one: a large male elk with antlers that, to her, look like bramble stems. She imagines weaving leaves and roses into them. His coat is reddish-brown and smooth. "I'll call this one Wildflower," she says.
Chizzlall shrugs, as if unwilling to offer his opinion of the suitability of this name. He pats Rumbles protectively, wordlessly reassuring the rivercat that he has no intention of finding a different beast to ride.
Rumbles snorts and continues licking himself.
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They stable names by the breeder but usually once a rider claims one they get to give a name." He points at a pair of elk. "That's Rough and Tumble they came in with us they are the youngest here. He points at another elk "That's Andalorn."
Alice looks closer at the three Quince names, but her eyes drift back towards the pretty elk she greeted prior.
Softly rubbing the head of the elk, "I take your word for their spirit. But i think this one and i will get along well."She gets a licking from its tongue over her hand, and she chuckles.
"I think... Lucky will be your name."
"Well..sh|t."
The paladin runs as quickly as he can out of the castle and back to the inn stables to grab Tammi back, so he and Boffy can join the others in their preemptive strike.
I suck at riding, good enough endurance so I will seek to hustle along. I also cant bloodrage while riding. Markus announces
Zsófia suggests that Chizzlall follow her as they figure out what is going to happen, promising to explain more as she goes. Together, they travel with Quince to the stables, where Zsófia looks at the elks gamely but suspiciously. "I have never ridden an elk before," she announces, "but 'when in Absalom,' as they say..." She consults with Chizzlall and takes a good look at all of the options available before choosing the most aesthetically-pleasing one: a large male elk with antlers that, to her, look like bramble stems. She imagines weaving leaves and roses into them. His coat is reddish-brown and smooth. "I'll call this one Wildflower," she says.
Vandomir will follow Zsófia, and make suggestions as she chooses her mount.
Hearing the others discussing plans Jorrast joins them. He'd like to see what they were facing. "So are we going to ride out and check out the army? Well, I've never taken time to learn how to ride an animal, but I'm pretty good at not falling off. Perhaps I could be a faux familiar for someone and just ride along?" He'll take fox form trots along looking for anyone that will allow him to ride.
Zsófia shrugs. "I don't believe it will be too crowded on this magnificent creature for another to ride with me. You are welcome to accompany me." She looks to Vandomir, who has been assisting her in choosing a mount. "But perhaps if our friend Vandomir does not object, it would be better for his mount to get acclimated to having you around her in your fox form. What do you think, sir?"
Jorrast has to shift back into his kitsune form to answer Zsófia. "Either is fine by me. I'll just curl up wherever I find a comfortable spot. I won't actually be a familiar so I won't be riding anybody's shoulder...."
Vandomir compares Jorrast's size to the size of his shoulder, and responds, "It would not be a comfortable perch, for either of us I should think. With that said, you are welcome to mount up behind me on Rocinian here, but should a fight break out, you'd be advised to dismount as rapidly as possible, for she moves pretty fast in a fight."
Xandarian's cerulean hair can be seen riding back up to the castle on a grey mare, with Boffy sitting comfortably behind the paladin.
"Mobile infantry, reporting for duty", Xandarian laughs as he approaches.
Jorrast grins at Vandomir's reply. "If we approach a fight you'll find that I'm gone before you even notice. I'll jump to whatever cover I can spot and work my way around the enemy until I can bring my best attacks against them. And don't worry if the jump seems too high. I'll float to the ground safely."
He vaults to the back of the saddle, shrinking down to his tiny fox shape. Considering the size of the mount he is barely noticeable.