Signaling back to the others to wait and gathering her gear closer, Coloua turns the corner and creeps down the corridor to the doors.
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Upon entering the tower, Coloua takes a look around the initial room and then whispers to the group that she'll scout ahead while they investigate. She quietly treads out of the armory into the hall, keeping to the shadows as much as possible and watching for guards.
"This is a perfect place to fall back to if we run into trouble in the tower. With all these provisions we could stay here if needed instead of heading back to our rooms in the inn. It's less visible and more defensible." She heads over and places a foot on the ladder. "Shall we?"
Well I'm working my ass off too, during working hours. The boring is coming from the fact that living alone and teleworking and no RL evening social activities means I only see a human every couple days. Getting a bit stir crazy even with online games and streaming movies.
Stopping in to say hi!
"But why risk exposure by bluffing our way in past guards when we already have a completely unknown secret entrance tunnel from the cellar here?" Coloua stands up and starts to pace. "I think it's time to just use it during the night when the majority of the troops will be asleep and see what we can find inside"
"In terms of the priests, I observed the tower for several days and never once saw any of them entering or exiting, so I think any clergy in the tower remain in the tower. We shall have to find their chapel and take care of whatever they have there while inside." "I have a special place in my heart for the use of poisons and diseases against the supposedly pure bigots, so I think that if we can use it to our advantage we should, but we need to move quickly now, there is little time before the bugbears become restless and start losing their order. We need to get inside the tower soon, at the very least to scout out targets but hopefully to start removing some as well. There's merely days, potentially a week, left and there is no way we will be able to do everything inside in just one sweep of our group." "I propose that we start tonight. We could do an initial foray as a group, or if you feel that we need more intel before taking action then my friends and I could attempt to scout it out as much as possible while the main troops are abed."
After enjoying her meal and chatting amiably with her companions, Coloua makes some room on the table to place her copied map of the tower along with notes on what they have discovered so far. Taking the occasional bite from a plate that she has left to the side, she starts the planning discussion. "Based on what the hobgoblins said, we are now in the window for signaling their attack. Although we've gathered a lot of information and taken at least one of their leaders off the game board, we have much more to do before they are weak enough to take down and only about a week maximum to do it." "I meditated on the situation last night, and think that it is probably time to head into the tower itself. We have the tunnel leading into there from here, and based on the little scouting we did it seems that it is hidden on the far end as well. This means that there are few, if any, soldiers who are aware of its existence. This means we can use it to enter and exit as needed, and potentially even use it as a safe haven if we are wounded." "Personally, I think that the three targets of highest priority are the signal tower, the chapel, and the captain. Without their birds they cannot send for help in a timely manner, without their priests they will be disheartened, and without their leader they will be disorganized. We should try to prioritize these targets and take them out as quickly as possible, and then proceed to hit whatever other targets of opportunity we find once inside." Looking up from her notes, she looks around the table "This is just my proposal, however. If anyone has a different plan, or a modification or improvement to this one, please bring it up so we can identify the best course of action."
"I follow a tenet of self-indulgence and satisfying pleasure when possible. Although of late I don't often have the opportunity to indulge it, I felt this would be a good time to pamper ourselves a bit before planning." Coloua chews thoughtfully as she ponders Ileosa's statement. "In my mind, subordinates do not matter when it comes to courtesy, and one must provide superiors their due while they are still superior. These are merely the effects of placement and do not count as true courtesies to me. It is my peers that I give the most respect to, as I would never ask them to delay their gratification for my sake, and assume the same from them. If that does not mesh with your philosophy I ask your pardon, but it is intended as a compliment not a lack of restraint."
Coloua looks languidly over at the first two to arrive, as she lounges beside the table. Reaching out, she snags a piece of meat. "Feel free to partake while we wait for the others. I'm not one to let simple courtesies keep me from enjoying myself, especially among peers. I would not expect you to do so either."
After wrapping up in the kitchen and collecting up the supplies she is borrowing from the Matron, Coloua heads upstairs to set up dinner. Remembering Godfrey's almost obsessive desire for cleanliness, she checks to be sure that the young woman she'd tipped so well has properly scoured the room of all dirt. Taking all of her gear and stowing it out of the way in a corner, she sets the low table in the center of the room and covers it with her black velvet cloth. She surrounds the table with cushions and blankets, creating a soft nest where each member of the group can recline to dine and converse in comfort. Carefully setting the stage, she places the tender cuts of beef and the sides of starches and vegetables in the center of the table surrounding a fine silvered candelabra. A bowl for soup sits at each place along with clean plates and cutlery. She collects up her notes and the map of the tower and has them on hand for when the meeting officially commences, and she awaits the arrival of her companions.
Rolls for GM: Initial Diplomacy was 17.
While spending the afternoon in the kitchen with her "teacher", Coloua chats away, meandering around topics much like a halfling girl might do. Although she seems to chatter aimlessly, she carefully steers the conversation towards specific topics of interest hidden among the gossip. During the afternoon she tries to determine the hostess's attitude towards religion, whether she is devout or ambivalent towards Mitra, her thoughts on marriage and love, any substantial feelings she has for the village or her neighbors, and similar topics. The hostess chats back without suspicion, as these are all topics that a young woman would commonly be interested in, especially the topics involving relationships and romance.
As the afternoon reaches the end, Coloua catches her breath, an alarmed look on her face. "Oh! I almost forgot! I agreed to prepare my room for a private dinner with my masters so that we could discuss the properties we viewed without distraction. If it is at all possible I would like to have a low table brought to my room, along with as many cushions and soft blankets as can be spared for an evening. We also need tonight's finest cuts of beef and enough sides for a full meal along with 5 bottles of wine to be brought up please!" After haggling a bit (but not too much as "cost is no object, this is an important meal") she takes her leave of the kitchen and proceeds to her room to set up for the others to arrive.
Upon returning to the inn, Coloua stops in to the common room to purchase a bottle of wine and their special of the day, and retires to her room. After taking stock of the room to check for any indication of intruders during their time in the woods, she takes off the circlet to resume her normal form spreads a piece of black velvet on the floor and settles comfortably next to it to dine. Opening the wine, she takes her time with the first glass as she arranges the food on the cloth. First a bowl of the corn and barley soup, and then another small glass of the wine. Today's special was leg of lamb with saffron and vegetables, and again she was pleasantly surprised at the skill of the innkeeper's wife. This is consistently better fare than one would expect in a military border town. This woman has some skill, and we should find a way to utilize that. After finishing the meal, she removes a small package from her bag and opens it. Inside is a piece of rotten meat from a meal several days prior, which she quickly pops in her mouth while reciting a quiet prayer. Cleaning up the meal, she carefully folds the velvet and places it back in her pack, and dons her circlet just long enough to leave the empty plates outside the door so that anyone performing housekeeping duties will not interrupt her solitude. Extinguishing the light, she retires to her nest of pillows and blankets in the corner and snuggles in with the remainder of the bottle to meditate and commune with her patron, her familiar, and her goddess. --------- In the morning, feeling very much refreshed and relaxed, she again dons her circlet and heads to the common room for some tea and to watch the world pass by. She decides that until their meeting in the evening, she will spend her time in contemplation and relaxation. Noticing the innkeeper's wife exiting the kitchen, she stands and approaches her demurely. "Mistress, the entire time that we were surveying properties I was responsible for the meals for my mistress, her lord, and their guard. Although I did my best, I could not help but think of how much I missed your meals. Your skill is much higher than one would expect in a small town such as this. I wish that we could steal you away to be the personal chef for our modest group." Inclining her head respectfully, she pauses as if hesitant to continue. "I have this day to myself, and if it would not be unseemly, would I be able to assist you in the kitchen again? Any assistance that I could provide would be worth the effort as I could pick up tips that might help fine tune what little skill I possess." Happy to see the little one again, and surprised at the request, the lady of the inn smiles and nods. "Aye, if you wish you can join me again this afternoon. Just be sure to follow my instructions carefully and do not get in my way, and know that there will be no discount on your stay or anything similar. This is purely about you helping and learning, not earning your room and board." Coloua smiles and claps her hands gleefully "Thank you, mistress! I shall endeavor to be a useful, respectful, and obedient assistant, I swear it." Turning from the woman, a small grin appears on her face. She exits the inn and heads to the market to look for trinkets or indulgences that may catch her eye, making sure to return at the mid-day meal so that she can take her post in the kitchen for the afternoon. Throughout the afternoon she assists the woman while keeping up the friendly patter of a common worker chatting and gossiping with one of their peers.
"Whatever it is that we do, I think we should take a day to gather our thoughts. We need to have a story as to where we have been the past few days in case anyone is suspicious. I propose that if we are asked that we say we were surveying a possible property that Ileosa and Godfrey might want to purchase." "After a trip, it would not be suspicious at all for us to take a day of rest, so let us take care of personal business and meet tomorrow evening to make our next plans for the tower?"
As they approach the town, Coloua stops the others for a quick chat. "OK, we have the secret entrance and the map of the tower. I don't think it's a good idea to head inside yet, unless we can be very quiet about it. As soon as they see any evidence of activity they are going to be more alert and it'll be harder to do anything. We gave a window to signal the hobgoblins that opens tomorrow and closes in two weeks, and I think the best way to do that is to take out as much as we can inside the tower then launch the signal from the roof." Looking around at the tired, dirty group, she continues "I know you all probably want some rest, but we should figure out what our next step is sooner versus later. We need to either lay low and prepare for an assault in a a few days to a week, find something else we can do to weaken them in the interim, or just go in for the big finale."
Coloua breaks out of her reverie when Godfrey speaks and smiles up at him as she reaches down to the soon to be corpse. The small swarm of insects run up her arm and back into the wound the man had given her. "We can dispose of them whenever you want. The little ones don't get to see the world very often as they are too busy keeping things running. I just wanted to let them have a little fun." She grabs the sickle off of her belt, runs it across the man's neck, and wanders off to look at the horses.
Coloua crouches down over the helpless guard, letting her familiar wander over him cleaning out his wounds. She smiles and plays idly with the swarm that she had released from her wound. Wanting to finish him, but also wanting to let her pets have a warm meal as long as possible, she decides to finish him slowly. She directs her familiar to bite, while she watches with a gleam in her eye.
Still grinning at the silliness of a confused man with an arrow in his lung, Coloua growls and leaps. "You're not even worth expending arcane energy on, you pitiful creature"
She continues to taunt him, daring him to strike back
Turning from the now strangely shaped corpse of what used to be the guard, Coloua sees the new appearance and strides towards him. Laughing at the sight of Ileosa's crossbow bolt sticking out of the confused man, she stops short and stares at him boldly.
Seeing the guard alert to their movement as she enters the tent, Coloua spins and grabs at her belt to send a spell his way to keep him quiet. Unfortunately as she is pulling out her bone marionette and starts manipulating it she realizes she was too slow and his voice is already carrying through the camp. Growling, she finishes off her movements and watches to see what comes.
In case Coloua needs to roll stealths too:
Smiling contentedly, Coloua moves in close to Ella and whispers in her ear "You seem better suited to finishing them quickly, so let us continue with the rest. I will keep watch while you do the deed, and silence any that stir." She slips out of the tent and points to where the rest of the men lie.
Coloua sees the large one slipping off and raises up from the tree under which she'd been dozing. Nodding to the two remaining, she slips off behind Ella to keep an eye on her and help if needed.
RETCON HEALING: Healing done before last night rest:
Healing done after rest:
This is in addition to any healing done overnight by the rest itself.
Nodding to Godfrey, Coloua silently approaches the edge of the camp, remaining in the shadows of the trees and scanning the area carefully. She quietly releases her centipede and directs it to patrol through the enemy camp area looking for any enemies.
Not wanting to join in the conversation, Coloua silently watches as the others talk with the kobold, trying to decide if he is completely trustworthy.
Coloua stops when she sees the tuft of hair and stays behind the larger folk.
While the others search for any sign of the kobold, Coloua stops in the trail where the tracks disappeared and slowly turns in a circle, searching out any sign of unusual or occult activity that might be causing their difficulties.
While Ileosa points out all of the benefits of the clearing, Coloua notices everyone glancing over at the nice cover of the cave. After the horses are tied up and the firewood is gathered, she heads towards the cave entrance. "I know that the clearing is safer and closer to water and the horses, but we should still check this out...I'll do some quick scouting to make sure there aren't..." She looks innocently at the others "any dangerous beasts in there we need to be aware of" Before anyone can object, she ties up all her gear to better move quietly and slowly enters the cave keeping in the shadows near the walls.
"I agree" Coloua states as she starts to climb down off of her mount. "Let's let the horses get some rest and start up again as early as possible"
"I agree, following the kobold seems to be the option with the most chance of success. He's still marking the trail so he must have a reason he wants us to come this way."
Coloua starts to head down the path following the fresh tracks, signaling for the others to come along. She whispers back to them "I'm not sure why he doubled back and went a different way, but we might want to be careful. If you'd like I can try to sneak ahead and see, or we can just all go together"
Pausing for a second, Coloua reconsiders. "Actually, we should follow the most recent markings, as the little guy wouldn't have returned and taken a different route unless he meant to lead us that way." She studies the markings carefully.
Coloua mulls over this new information from Godfrey. "I had the same thought, that he was circling their camp or cutting them off, I was just unsure about the animal tracks." She looks around at the group with a gleam in her eyes. "This might mean that we're nearing some excitement. I propose we follow the kobold's tracks and not the horse's"
"That's a good question. I doubt it would just have abandoned the tracking, so maybe they stopped for the night here and it was circling around to keep an eye on them. That wouldn't explain the wolf tracks though..." She looks over at Godfrey, pointing at the oddity in the tracks. "He's your kobold, do you have any idea what he was up to?"
Coloua wakes and stretches, greeting the others with a smile as she sees their discomfort in the morning. "Although I do like the beds we've been using lately, it is interesting to revisit my roots with some sleep time spent on the ground. I hope you all found it as refreshing as I did." Her insects meander over her skin while she packs up her gear, cleaning her more efficiently than Ella's bath in the creek could, and once finished she quickly walks through the group, eyeing their wounds and stopping to touch Ella's arm and drop a bit of something from a vial onto Godfrey.
All packed up and ready to go, she mounts and follows the others.
Proud of her always improving culinary skill, Coloua gathers a plate up and heads over to where Godfrey is standing watch. "It is important to take pleasure wherever possible, whether that be in the slaughter of pious Mitran pigs or in a fine meal after exertion. Godfrey, would you like some while you stand guard?"
Things settling down. Just enough time to copy/paste in all my games that I should be back to posting tomorrow. See you tomorrow!
Just had some not good things go down, so although I am still here I might be too distracted/busy to post regularly for the next week to 10 days. I'll try to keep on top of it but please bot me if I am holding up the game.
Coloua hears Ileosa's yell and rolls over grumpily. When she also hears something smash into the woman and Ileosa grunt in pain, she decides it might be worth opening her eyes. Seeing the boars she glares at the one by the horses, and slowly stands up.
After asking for a stepladder to get onto her mighty beast, Coloua wraps her hands tightly around the reins and tries to figure out how this creature works.
She quickly figures it out and revels in her newfound speed, trying to watch for trailsigns but often misses them in the joy of the ride. This beast is glorious! Speed, strength, and if the kobold is to be believed...a good feast afterwards!
Coloua strides along next to Ella, trying to keep up with her shorter legs. She glances at the mark that the changeling indicated, she scans for ones further down the path.
"I did not realize horses were delicious. Looks like I might have to experience some Kobold cuisine." Coloua nods her head as Ileosa speaks. "I think that if we are to try and take them out, we should wait until tonight when some of them will be asleep and the horses will be tied up for the night. Ella and I can do our tunnel scouting tomorrow night instead."
"I am completely free today, all of my plans involve a very short tunnel scout tonight. I could accompany you to check on our Kobold friend, I could perhaps see if my new cook friend could introduce me to this Mama Guisseppe, or I could just relax while watching traffic at the tower." Coloua finally begins picking at the breakfast in front of her in order to prepare for the day. "Just let me know where you think I would be most useful, and I'll be there."
"We're happy to help out with whatever you need during the day, or at least I am. I don't think it's a good idea to scout the tunnel until after nightfall anyways"
"Well, it doesn't make sense to try and get into the tower for the first time during the day, since more people will be up and about. I'd like to try and get in there tonight, even if it's just to scout enough to identify where inside the building the tunnel connects to." She looks over at Godfrey and his glorious morning hair "I can even do that part alone, if I'm just identifying the entrance. Perhaps a bit of outdoor scouting would be nice today."
Coloua heads downstairs for breakfast, excited about her news. She relaxes over a steaming cup of coffee while she waits for the others to arrive. The second they join her, she looks happily around the table. "It seems the dwarves have left, but Triss and I managed to get into their room before they cleared out. In my journal I have a full map of the tower for us to make our plans. On top of that, we still have the secret passageway that was discovered earlier. It's not on the map, but although that means we'll have to orient ourselves inside once we use it, it also means that we can be pretty sure the soldiers aren't aware it exists." With a big grin, she pats her journal and goes back to her coffee. "So, how did the drinking go? Were you guys responsible for them leaving?" She glances over at poor Godfrey who seems to be suffering, "and have you heard anything from your little Kobold scout?"
Seeing the group in the main room, Coloua smiles. "I hope everything went well with the hairy midgets. Triss and I found information, and it's probably even better than what we hoped to find. We should retire for the night, though, as the innkeeper's wife is still up and we don't want to attract attention. Let's meet over breakfast and compare notes."
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