New Frontiers #9

[GM Mad]

New Frontiers #9


After the bandits depart on their marathon run to Pyris, Sherwood steps up to Po and Saladin. "Gentlemen, we are giving you the chance to willingly assist us. As Lord Validar noted earlier it is possible for you two to be kept on as retainers. The work is not easy, nor would it be without peril. But you'll be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem. What say you?"

Po shyly mumbles something and simply nods his head. Saladin simply shrugs and says, "It beats the alternative."

Assisted by Ivy and Chareos, Po and Saladin are given back their basic equipment and get ready to ride. They each take one of the good quality riding horses, leaving the other two for the charmed lieutenants Brant and Jermyn.

Sherra covertly keeps an eye on the two new recruits as the company travels closer to Twin Forks. Po seems like the shy and nervous type in her eyes. He's constantly looking around as if expecting to be attacked at any second. Saladin is more laid back and seems to be enjoying the ride. There doesn't appear to be any unspoken communication between the two.


The journey passes without incident and the group is just a few hours outside of Twin Forks. The evening is spent forming the basic strategy to capture Lothar.


The group is on the move next morning. The weather remains much the same as it has been for the last several days. High temperatures in the low 50's, chilling off to the low 40's overnight. The day is overcast and it looks like rain is coming in from the west.

About an hour into the trek, Sherwood moves the group off the main road and across open woods. The forest is thicker here then it had been for most of the trip and does slow travel. About an hour later, the travelers come to the Helleck River, the northern spur that flows past Twin Forks. A spot is located for the riders to safely cross.

Sherwood now turns to a more southwesterly direction that follows the river. As the group rides along they see woodsmen cutting down trees, removing limbs, and hauling them to the riverbank. Once there, the tress are dragged into the river and added to a small collection trailing behind a river barge. Once there are enough trees, the barge sets sail for the Twin Forks lumberyards. Sherwood ignores the workers for the most part.

Continuing on, the forest breaks out into farmland. Before entering the farming area, Sherwood changes into a more southerly course and skirts the area. By mid day you've reached the bank of the Grayhare River with which makes up the southern branch of the Twin Forks.

The expedition comes to a stop near the edge of the forest. From this vantage point you can see several farms and far off in the distance chimney smoke from Twin Forks buildings can be spotted. At a full gallop it would only take about ten minutes to reach Twin Forks.


Night falls in just a few short hours, thanks to the shorter late fall days. As the twilight begins to build, the scouts are sent in to explore Twin Forks. Laucian, Kylie, and Sherra are dispatched to perform the task.

The scouts discover that what they guess to be guards have been posted around Lothar's house and boat. More guards can be seen in the area around the warehouse and bunkhouses.

Laucian notes several horses tethered beside Lothar's house, but they are all within plain sight of the guards.

Sherra will spot Lothar himself, based on Sherwood's description of him. He appears to be arguing with two other men who match the descriptions of Artur and Arkane. Lothar seems to be angry and will abruptly stalk away from the other two. Artur and Arkane turn and make their way back to the Twin Forks Inn. Sherra will also note that the riverboat is now guarded and appears to be loaded with supplies.

Kylie finds Twin Forks to be a simple village. There's nothing remarkable about the houses and none of them suggest great wealth. Still, there's a homey kind of charm to the place. A far superior place to grow up than in Dog Alley.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

I've relocated all the relevant WebPages for New Frontiers so the old links will no longer work. The pages can be accessed by taking the New Frontiers Pages link up at the top of the page.

In that section, I've updated the Twin Forks map to include the positions of the guards, labeled BG. The 'h' on the map is the location of the horses.

I've also relocated the XP Table & Group roster to a regular Web Page. No one has been updated since the last time I handed out XP's, but I did add Sherwood to the page.

Kylie, contact me if you wish to do anything extra on your scouting trip.

Now what?

[Sherra]

Sherra:

Sherra covertly keeps an eye on the two new recruits as the company travels closer to Twin Forks. Po seems like the shy and nervous type in her eyes. He's constantly looking around as if expecting to be attacked at any second. Saladin is more laid back and seems to be enjoying the ride. There doesn't appear to be any unspoken communication between the two.

Sherra is not sure that Saladin will work out. His earlier comment about "beating the alternative" seemed too uncaring and comfortable for someone in his situation. He would probably move from group to group not caring who he worked for. Not someone to trust in a situation where loyalties count. Po on the other hand might work out well, Sherra reasons. Both of them have a long way to go on proving themselves regardless.

Sherra keeps her eye out as we move past the loggers and skirt the outlying farms. It doesn't appear anyone notices or cares about our passing, but better to pay the extra bit of attention then regret it later.

Sherra will spot Lothar himself, based on Sherwood's description of him. He appears to be arguing with two other men who match the descriptions of Artur and Arkane. Lothar seems to be angry and will abruptly stalk away from the other two. Artur and Arkane turn and make their way back to the Twin Forks Inn. Sherra will also note that the riverboat is now guarded and appears to be loaded with supplies.

Sherra smiles to herself how easily Lothar could have been assassinated. Not her line of work, nor what we would want to accomplish anyway, but it still is comforting to her to see him making "human" mistakes. Going on a cruise? she asks in her mind, although she knows Lothar won't be answering her. She will try to see if Lothar returns to his house or goes somewhere else.

Plenty of places to hide on the boat, but getting there is going to be a challenge, and the prospects of a spell are pretty much non-existant. Sherra will do her best to commit the appearances of the guard(s) around the boat to memory in case she has to use any subtle "charms" later on. Also Sherra will listen to try to catch any of the guard's names, although from the distance she doubts she will have much luck in that regard.

Making her way back to the others and waiting for the other scouts to return, Sherra tells of all she witnessed. "It's a full house tonight, although they probably won't be around in the morning. It appears that Lothar doesn't like house guests since Artur and Arkane were heading back to the inn. I don't think their arguement was anything that would cause them to not stand united against us however."

[Grondar]

Grondar:

When Validar asks for input on the assignment of teams, Grondar replies, "Just one, Validar. I'm concerned about putting both of our best healers in one group and our best warriors in another. It seems that mixing them up might provide for the most flexibility." Later, Validar offers to trade places with him, to which Grondar agrees.

"Hmm... So if the support group is going to approach from the east, then they can be responsible for flushing Lothar, once Lauthian has chased off the horses, and he and Kylie have found their elevated sniping spots. That leaves the main group to focus on Artur and Arkane, assuming they're still in town. If not, there are still a dozen or so other bandits to be rounded up."

When Ivy professes as to her ability to move quietly, Grondar nods. "That is good to hear, Lady Ivy. I did not mean any offense; just trying to consider all possibilities."

The next day's travel is wearying, but Grondar holds up stoically as usual. Now that they are close to Twin Forks, he focusses his mind on the assault to come the next morning. Grondar makes sure to get a good night's sleep so as to be well rested. He also takes great care in his devotions in the hope that Berronar with be with him on the morrow.

Grondar rises in the morning and listens to the news brought by those who snuck into town. He then commits to memory any changes of plan brought about by that news.

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Kylie stares at Sherwood wide-eyed. "You chat with Mystra?!" she gasps. Then, something occurs to her. "You're teasing me, aren't you?" she asks, disbelief painted on her face. "That's it, you're making fun of me. I should have known." Surprisingly, she sounds just a bit hurt.

Not terribly concerned with what the others will be doing, Kylie focusses on her assignment as usual. "Okay, if Lilia's going to take the roof of 'A', and if Laucian will take the roof of 'C', I'll try for the roof of the building marked 'B'. That way, I'll have an angle on the inn to help out there, and my spells will also be available if Lothar manages to avoid Ivy's enchantment."

The next day proves pleasant enough as they make the trip to the area east of Twin Forks. Kylie finds herself enjoying the ride through the woods and along the outskirts of the farming area around the town. While some part of her cynically dismisses the locals as uncultured hicks, Kylie is surprised to find that a larger part of her feels a sense of loss and envy for those who have the opportunity to grow up in such a place. From what she can see, both in riding past and sneaking about the town in the evening, Kylie can tell that - without the presense of the bandits - this must be a very nice place to live. It is hard to imagine what her life might have been like had she had the opportunity to grow up in such a place.

Returning from her scouting, she shares information with the other scouts and the rest of the group. "As best I can tell, getting to the boat, is going to require that we quietly remove these three guards." Kylie points to the locations of the two behind Lothar's house and the one behind 'B'. "Any of them would be in a position to see what Sherra and Ivy are doing and sound an alarm.

"Additionally, the one between Lothar's house and building 'A' will need to be taken out in order for Laucian to remove the horses."

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

When the scouts return, Validar is not surprised that the guards have been placed. Hopefully there will be fewer as night goes on or their concentration will lapse a bit as the evening drags on.

"It is good that Lothar as well as Artur and Arkane are all still in Twin Forks. The battle may prove more difficult, but the results will be much more satisfying. The fact that the barge is loaded with supplies indicates that Lothar may be leaving soon, so our timing has been very good so far. We should not delay our assault."

Making her way back to the others and waiting for the other scouts to return, Sherra tells of all she witnessed. "It's a full house tonight, although they probably won't be around in the morning. It appears that Lothar doesn't like house guests since Artur and Arkane were heading back to the inn. I don't think their arguement was anything that would cause them to not stand united against us however."

"Sherra, do you think you can get close by the water route and is it possible for Ivy to accompany you? Or to come in behind you?"


Kylie - Returning from her scouting, she shares information with the other scouts and the rest of the group. "As best I can tell, getting to the boat, is going to require that we quietly remove these three guards." Kylie points to the locations of the two behind Lothar's house and the one behind 'B'. "Any of them would be in a position to see what Sherra and Ivy are doing and sound an alarm.

"Additionally, the one between Lothar's house and building 'A' will need to be taken out in order for Laucian to remove the horses."

"What are the best methods that each of us has to either immobilize, silence or eliminate these guards?"

When Validar asks for input on the assignment of teams, Grondar replies, "Just one, Validar. I'm concerned about putting both of our best healers in one group and our best warriors in another. It seems that mixing them up might provide for the most flexibility." Later, Validar offers to trade places with him, to which Grondar agrees.

Validar agrees and he feels that if Corley is to be a Silenced warrior to attack the mage, then Grondar and Lord Corley must be in the same group. "With all the guards in the town, flexibiility is now even more important.


Grondar -"Hmm... So if the support group is going to approach from the east, then they can be responsible for flushing Lothar, once Lauthian has chased off the horses, and he and Kylie have found their elevated sniping spots. That leaves the main group to focus on Artur and Arkane, assuming they're still in town. If not, there are still a dozen or so other bandits to be rounded up."

"I do not think any of us will be bored in this attack, friend Grondar. And Sherwood may be our ace in the hole that can solve any problems that develop from his aerial vantage point."

"Here is my suggestion for taking out the guards. Anything that anyone wishes to add or correct, I would appreciate it."

"The two guards at the water front are the most vital to remove since we can expect Lothar to try to escape by boat. It is the fastest way and he may not expect us to also have a waterborn travel mode, nor a skilled boater in Sherra. Therefore, I propose that Sherra and Ivy 'borrow' a row boat and approach from the area around building G South of the fork. Their landing target on this bank should be somewhere between this tree near the Inn and the side of building B. From here, Ivy can hide in the boa or just on shore and Sherra will be responsible for taking out the guard at building B near the water. This is the most important of the guards since he can be seen by the one at the dock. Perhaps Ivy with a Silence and a Hold Person could assist in this?" Validar will point to the areas as he mentions them for everyone to see.

"Meanwhile, Kylie will be approaching along the river bank from the East. She needs to time her arrival to the dock guard near the same time or slightly after Sherra makes her move and this may prove difficult, unless they can work out a signal between them. Perhaps Sherwood can assist in this step?", Validar asks.

"With the two guards at the waterfront removed, Sherra can return to the boat and advance to the barge allowing Sherra and Ivy to proceed as before. Both will need to remain there however until things get out of hand. I do not think we can risk trying to rendevous Ivy with my group now."

"Kylie can then proceed to building B and take the vantage point she requested and indicated. From here she could initially draw the attention of the guards near the house with fire from Lilia as well, who is going to have the easiest approach to building A. When the arrows start flying at those guards the support group will move in as quickly as possible."

"Laucian will move in ahead of Lilia and try to reach his point. If the horses cannot be driven off then this is a minor point. Perhaps as the arrows start he can set them free then continue to fire from the ground. Lilia is technically with the Support team, but she should move into town in advance, slightly behind Laucian and take up that vantage point at A. Together, her, Kylie and a ground-based hidden Laucian (perhaps hidden in the tress near the smithy?) should be able to get off a decent volley on the guards. I would concentrate on the one by the front door and eliminate him first. Then worry about the next. This may give Laucian a shot at the horses."

"If we can get an aerial signal for everyone to start simultaneously that would be great, Sherwood. Then the main group could move in as the attack begins. This would draw the guards attention to the north part of town. After a few moments, my smaller group comes in from the east and drives on Lothar's house. The main group would try to focus on the capture of the two at the inn."

"Have I forgotten anything or does anyone have a more effective way to resolve these issues?" Validar looks to everyone's faces, especially to the four of the scout group as they have the most important and most dangerous jobs initially.

As Validar's group, with Lilia advancing to a forward position in advance of them, consists of himself, Po and Brant on the group, the noble warrior will approach them seperately, along with Lilia to make sure they all understand their jobs. "I want the two of you to follow me wherever I go. I expect you to support me. We will form a triangular formation, which will allow each of us to assist the others in combat, with myself at the forward point. Lilia, once the first arrow barrage has commenced, you are on your own to support other battles and to help with the capture of Lothar. From A you have a good view of upriver, the road leading east, the smithy, building C and Lothar's house. Your spells may prove vital."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Listening to Validar's recommendations, Kylie has an idea. "For taking out the guards, I might be able to take out the two behind Lothar's house with a Sleep spell, if they're close enough together. I'm also hoping to Charm the one behind building 'B' so that he can help defend me while I'm on the roof.

"If this works, the main problem is the one between 'A' and Lothar's house, since he'll be in a position to spot Laucian releasing the horses. Maybe Sherra or Lilia can take care of him?"

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"A very wise observation, Lilia. I agree with your assessment whole-heartedly. That would make Laucian's best spots around the houses labeled either B or C, I should think. Either has a view of the Inn although, it appears B is the more advantageous overall considering its proximity to Lothar's dwelling and also the road to the warehouse and the bandit bunkhouses."

The Elf Maiden will nod in response to Lord Validar's praise. It was a very logical deduction and it would have been foolish to disagree with it.


The next day's ride is pleasant enough. Lilia is surprised by the logging operation. She knew that humans cut trees down to gain lumber, but the sight of such a thing in action sickens her. What these men are doing without any afterthought would be punishable by death in the Elfholds. Fortunately, these are not mighty Elven trees that can be specially grown to be used as homes. Still, it is most unsettling.

When the scouts are sent out to explore the human village, Lilia will take the watch. She'll climb up a convenient tree and keep watch for them with her sharp elven sight. While not saying it, she hopes they return unharmed and quietly relieved when they do.

"Laucian will move in ahead of Lilia and try to reach his point. If the horses cannot be driven off then this is a minor point. Perhaps as the arrows start he can set them free then continue to fire from the ground. Lilia is technically with the Support team, but she should move into town in advance, slightly behind Laucian and take up that vantage point at A. Together, her, Kylie and a ground-based hidden Laucian (perhaps hidden in the tress near the smithy?) should be able to get off a decent volley on the guards. I would concentrate on the one by the front door and eliminate him first. Then worry about the next. This may give Laucian a shot at the horses."

"I see no problem with this, Lord Validar. It is my intention to use magic to give myself wings for flight. It will be a simple matter for me to keep pace with Laucian and act as needed. If my fellow clansman is unable to remove the horses, I could toss a Web around them insuring that they will not be used while not harming them. Perhaps even capturing the guard there as well. If the area is in darkness others my accidentally rush into the Web, removing themselves from the conflict."

As Validar's group, with Lilia advancing to a forward position in advance of them, consists of himself, Po and Brant on the group, the noble warrior will approach them separately, along with Lilia to make sure they all understand their jobs. "I want the two of you to follow me wherever I go. I expect you to support me. We will form a triangular formation, which will allow each of us to assist the others in combat, with myself at the forward point. Lilia, once the first arrow barrage has commenced, you are on your own to support other battles and to help with the capture of Lothar. From A you have a good view of upriver, the road leading east, the smithy, building C and Lothar's house. Your spells may prove vital."

"But of course, Lord Validar," the Elf Maiden answers matter of factually. To the two former bandits Lilia will add, "I will be watching from my position with my strong elven sight. Betray Lord Validar at your own folly." There is more than just a hint of a threat in the Elf Maiden's voice.

Once we are ready to begin, Lilia will ask Laucian if she can ride with him. Just before we arrive at the combat area, Lilia will slip off the mount and invoke her magic to gain wings for flight. She'll then follow Laucian in and then land on house A. Proceed from there as Lord Validar outlined.

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Sherra will try to see if Lothar returns to his house or goes somewhere else.

After leaving Artur and Arkane, Lothar will briefly converse with a guard before entering his home. The house has two entrances: a front door and a rear door near the boat. She'll pick up a couple of names as well: Gareth and Endarsin.

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

Kylie - Listening to Validar's recommendations, Kylie has an idea. "For taking out the guards, I might be able to take out the two behind Lothar's house with a Sleep spell, if they're close enough together. I'm also hoping to Charm the one behind building 'B' so that he can help defend me while I'm on the roof.

"If this works, the main problem is the one between 'A' and Lothar's house, since he'll be in a position to spot Laucian releasing the horses. Maybe Sherra or Lilia can take care of him?"

"The Sleep idea is a good one, young Kylie. If it works, then it would be most advantageous. While Sleep is generally more effective against groups rather than specific individuals, if it were to take out one or both of the waterfront guards, so much the better. My suggestion would be to try it, with the earlier suggestion as a back-up, just in case. I think one or two guards can easily be eliminated by concentrated bow fire."


Lilia - "I see no problem with this, Lord Validar. It is my intention to use magic to give myself wings for flight. It will be a simple matter for me to keep pace with Laucian and act as needed. If my fellow clansman is unable to remove the horses, I could toss a Web around them insuring that they will not be used while not harming them. Perhaps even capturing the guard there as well. If the area is in darkness others my accidentally rush into the Web, removing themselves from the conflict."

Validar will nod approvingly as Lilia explains her intentions to arriving at her attack point. "I agree whole-heartedly with the Flight ideas as well as the Web for the horses. We should give Laucian the change to eliminate the horses on his own as the Web may prove useful otherwise, but it would be a perfect answer should he not be successful in reaching them unhindered."


Lilia - "But of course, Lord Validar," the Elf Maiden answers matter of factually. To the two former bandits Lilia will add, "I will be watching from my position with my strong elven sight. Betray Lord Validar at your own folly." There is more than just a hint of a threat in the Elf Maiden's voice.

Validar watches without a word as Lilia threatens the other two members of our grouping. Validar is prepared to have to deal with either or both of the men, should they turn on them. He hopes this doesn't happen, especially with regards to Po.

Validar is quite pleased with the way the plans are progressing as well as the interaction from all the members. This is going well.

[Corley]

Corley:

Lord Corley is content to listen as battle plans are batted back and forth. While his father is a master at this sort of thing, Corley is somewhat lacking in this area. He tries to pay enough attention to be aware of his own duties in the skirmish to come. However his mind and his eyes do wander to the lovely examples of feminine charms currently assembled here.

"Uhm, right. I ride with Grondar and am silence in case the enemy mage makes his presence felt. I understand perfectly. When do we ride?"

[Lilia]

Lilia:

Validar will nod approvingly as Lilia explains her intentions to arriving at her attack point. "I agree whole-heartedly with the Flight ideas as well as the Web for the horses. We should give Laucian the chance to eliminate the horses on his own as the Web may prove useful otherwise, but it would be a perfect answer should he not be successful in reaching them unhindered."

"Of course," Lilia responds in her typical stoic tone. "I have been trained for and seen battle before. I will respond in a prudent manner."

Catching Lord Corley watching her, Lilia looks back at him with a curious eyebrow raised. He turns away a moment later.

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Kylie stares at Sherwood wide-eyed. "You chat with Mystra?!" she gasps. Then, something occurs to her. "You're teasing me, aren't you?" she asks, disbelief painted on her face. "That's it, you're making fun of me. I should have known." Surprisingly, she sounds just a bit hurt.

In almost fatherly manner, Sherwood will put his arm around Kylie. "I'm having fun with you, Kylie, not at your expense. There is a difference. We lead dangerous lives and sometimes a good laugh is necessary. And you did kind of set yourself up for that one. There are far more important and learned mages in the world then I, so why would the Lady of Magic seek conversation with me was the gist of my jest, weak as it was."


With the adventurers nearing their destination, Sherwood takes the lead position. Not that his skills are better then Laucian's, they are not, but because he is more familiar with this area. We come to a stop near midday and wait until night falls. While this is going on, Sherwood will take a quick nap to refresh himself for the evening to come. When the scouts depart, Sherwood wishes them will and tells them not to do anything foolish. This is just a simple reconnaissance mission.

He is pleased when they return with their reports. Sherwood listens as Validar begins to draw the elements discussed into a coherent plan. The man's grasp of tactics is as good as Sherwood has been lead to believe. There is very little for Sherwood to personally add.

"Meanwhile, Kylie will be approaching along the river bank from the East. She needs to time her arrival to the dock guard near the same time or slightly after Sherra makes her move and this may prove difficult, unless they can work out a signal between them. Perhaps Sherwood can assist in this step?", Validar asks.

"I can cause a little fireworks that could act as a signal," Sherwood casually states.

"Pyrotechnics," Lilia chimes in with a knowing look on her face.

"Indeed," Sherwood tells her, mimicking her own stoic vocal mannerisms. "The only real question that remains is when do we move out?"

[Ivy]

Ivy:

When Ivy professes as to her ability to move quietly, Grondar nods. "That is good to hear, Lady Ivy. I did not mean any offense; just trying to consider all possibilities."

"I took no offense at your words, friend Grondar. My order does not permit the wearing of armor, so I can move quietly should the need arise. Obviously, I am not as skilled in such things as those trained to move in silence or our elfin friends, but I should be adequate for what this situation calls for."


When Ivy notices Lord Corley staring at her, she'll smile back and then look away, as if slightly embarrassed.

Ivy is glad that all the discussions are finished and that we are on the move once more. She'll ride near Po since he seems the most distraught over the current situation. The priestess will casually try to engage in conversation with the man, but will not force the issue.

The ride into the outskirts of Twin Forks passes quickly. Before the scouts are off to explore, Ivy will give them a quick blessing. "May the Blue Lady watch over you all." Ivy will sigh in relieve when they return unscathed.

When the subject of Hold spells comes up, Ivy will add, "The magic has a considerable range to it, so I could cast it far enough away to not even be noticed by my targets. Much like the Sleep spell, it is desirable to cast it upon a group, but one lone individual will work as well. Perhaps even such action might cause other guards to converge on their strangely acting friend allowing on of the mages to cast Sleep on a larger group?"

Before the assault begins, Ivy will seek out Sherra. "It appears that we will be moving together. This is more your type of operation than mine. I will follow your directives to the best of my abilities."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

The young woman of mixed blood looks at Sherwood for a moment. "Fair enough. Perhaps we both need some work on our humor." Despite her capitulation, Kylie stills seems a bit inclined to pout.

Noting Corley looking her way, Kylie smiles back. For whatever reason, she reads no sexual intent in the look, thinking it merely friendly instead. Besides, she finds the large warrior rather handsome, even if not the brightest star in the sky.

=====

Returning from her scouting trip, Kylie has more information to relate. "I did some snooping around the warehouse and supply building." She points to the buildings on the map the bandits drew in the dirt. "The supply building is basically one big armory. There are tons of armor and weapons inside; plenty to outfit far more men than we have seen so far.

"As for the warehouse, I believe I discovered how all of this is being financed." Kylie pulls a small tiger-eye gem from her pocket. "I found a wagon in the warehouse containing ten crates - all full of these. While one of these isn't particularly valuable, such a huge quantity of them must make for a veritable king's ransom. If we can grab the money, not only will we all be rather wealthy, but it would surely hurt whoever is funding all this."

Kylie pauses a moment to catch her breath. The thought of that much money still leaves her a bit breathless. "It appears that a small group of men - around half a dozen - have been billeting in the warehouse. The main group should look out for the possibility of them coming in on their rear as the press toward the inn.

"One final note. There are quite a number of kegs of lantern oil in the warehouse. Be very careful. One spark could send up the whole place, and much of the town, in flames."

[Grondar]

Grondar:

"I would agree, Validar; there is plenty for everyone to do. I just wanted to be sure that everyone had a clearly-assigned task." As the discussion winds to a close, Grondar finds he has little more to add. There are some points that still concern him, but they'll have to adapt as they go.

Grondar wanders over to Lord Corley, then beckons Chareos to join them. "I have a spell I believe will benefit us all if I cast it just as the battle begins. If no one objects, I will provide you both - and our two bandit companions - with such blessings as the Revered Mother grants."

[Sherra]

Sherra:

Sherra will keep in mind the names she overheard in case it proves to be needed. She will have done her best to associate the names with who they most likely would have belonged to.

"Sherra, do you think you can get close by the water route and is it possible for Ivy to accompany you? Or to come in behind you?"

"I could swim and come up out of the water near the guard I would need to dispatch. Cold water does not bother me, and would in fact be quite refreshing," Sherra smiles. "My close fighting weapons will not encumber me underwater and the enchantment on my leather should keep the water from damaging it, at least for the duration I will be submersed. Ivy would not be able to accompany me with this option however," she will glance at Ivy for a moment. "So that changes that tactic a bit, but it sounds like her spells have considerable range."

Listening to Validar's recommendations, Kylie has an idea. "For taking out the guards, I might be able to take out the two behind Lothar's house with a Sleep spell, if they're close enough together. I'm also hoping to Charm the one behind building 'B' so that he can help defend me while I'm on the roof.

"Also, no offense to your spellcasting abilities Kylie," Sherra will look over at Kylie for a second, "but you're suggesting casting a couple spells on top of one another. I can eliminate the vital guard behind building B this way and you can charm anybody that's missed in our initial strikes."

Regardless of whether or not any protest is brought up about this option, Sherra will still comment after a brief pause. "A rowboat has too many disadvantages to it, even if we were magically silenced. If we are caught out in the river one of us would not be able to fight having to row to keep the river's current from moving us away and we would not be in the position we needed to be to eliminate the guards and engage Lothar."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Hearing Sherra's remark, Kylie looks at her with a puzzled expression. "I was suggesting casting Sleep on these two behind Lothar's house," she says, pointing to the map. "And casting Charm Person on this one behind building 'B'. I don't see any overlap. It seems to me that the difference is whether you kill the guard, or I get him to help us. I would think that an extra sword arm on our side is a good thing."

[Validar]

VALIDAR-

"Uhm, right. I ride with Grondar and am silenced in case the enemy mage makes his presence felt. I understand perfectly. When do we ride?"

"That is correct, Lord Corley. I suggest we make our assault around the midpoint of the night. All of the bandits will be the most sleepy and give us more time to make our assault." Validar notices Corley's wandering eyes, but as long as he understands enough of the plan, it's not a problem. Not that the women assembled here aren't something to behold, but there is a time and place for that sort of thing.


"Of course," Lilia responds in her typical stoic tone. "I have been trained for and seen battle before. I will respond in a prudent manner."

"That is good to know, Lilia. You appeared to be seasoned in battle from your demeanor, but I would not presume to make assumptions."


"I can cause a little fireworks that could act as a signal," Sherwood casually states.

"Pyrotechnics," Lilia chimes in with a knowing look on her face.

"Indeed," Sherwood tells her, mimicking her own stoic vocal mannerisms. "The only real question that remains is when do we move out?"

"That will be good. Nothing too outlandish, just enough for those of us looking for it to see. Maybe it might draw the guards attention for a brief moment as the assault begins."

"As for moving out, I suggest we wait for a few more hours to give the town a chance to settle in its slumber."


When the subject of Hold spells comes up, Ivy will add, "The magic has a considerable range to it, so I could cast it far enough away to not even be noticed by my targets. Much like the Sleep spell, it is desirable to cast it upon a group, but one lone individual will work as well. Perhaps even such action might cause other guards to converge on their strangely acting friend allowing on of the mages to cast Sleep on a larger group?"

"That is good to know. I have some knowledge of battlefield magicks, but the more information, the better. I do not think that it is wise to instigate an assembly of the guards. That will happen quicker than we wish on its own. We can attempt Sleep on the waterfront guards, then use the Hold as a back-up should it prove necessary on either of them, meaning Sherra will have to assist you in getting close enough to see them both and cast your spells. Sherra will be the more permanent alternative if both spells fail to take them both out. Kylie also needs to be ready to eliminate her guard if the magickal result fails."


Returning from her scouting trip, Kylie has more information to relate. "I did some snooping around the warehouse and supply building." She points to the buildings on the map the bandits drew in the dirt. "The supply building is basically one big armory. There are tons of armor and weapons inside; plenty to outfit far more men than we have seen so far.

"As for the warehouse, I believe I discovered how all of this is being financed." Kylie pulls a small tiger-eye gem from her pocket. "I found a wagon in the warehouse containing ten crates - all full of these. While one of these isn't particularly valuable, such a huge quantity of them must make for a veritable king's ransom. If we can grab the money, not only will we all be rather wealthy, but it would surely hurt whoever is funding all this."

Kylie pauses a moment to catch her breath. The thought of that much money still leaves her a bit breathless. "It appears that a small group of men - around half a dozen - have been billeting in the warehouse. The main group should look out for the possibility of them coming in on their rear as the press toward the inn.

"One final note. There are quite a number of kegs of lantern oil in the warehouse. Be very careful. One spark could send up the whole place, and much of the town, in flames."

Validar listens intently as Kylie offers a wealth of information. However, the information is somewhat disturbing as well. "It appears that there are a few more men here than we originally thought. And they are obviously gathering for an attack somewhere or supplying one. We need to end this tonight."

"We will be able to help a number of the unfortunate who have lived under Lothar's shroud here in Twin Forks if your estimate of the treasure is accurate as well as lining all of our own pockets quite nicely."

"This situation has all the makings of something much bigger than a bandit and an assassination attempt. Everyone be on the look-out for anything that might offers answers and it is imperative that we at least take the three leaders alive tonight. Lilia, if someone tries to escape with the wagon from the supply station, having wings will allow you to put a stop to that." Validar is also confident that Sherwood would be available for such an endeavor due to the help it will make available to the general population.

Sherra - "I could swim and come up out of the water near the guard I would need to dispatch. Cold water does not bother me, and would in fact be quite refreshing," Sherra smiles. "My close fighting weapons will not encumber me underwater and the enchantment on my leather should keep the water from damaging it, at least for the duration I will be submersed. Ivy would not be able to accompany me with this option however," she will glance at Ivy for a moment. "So that changes that tactic a bit, but it sounds like her spells have considerable range."

"No slight intented toward your abilites at stealth, but we'll use the suggestion to get close along with the spell attempts first. Sherra, you get Ivy close enough to cast her spells if they are needed and then you can swin to the docks and be ready to eliminate anyone who does not fall and also take your position on the barge to take out Lothar."

"Also, no offense to your spellcasting abilities Kylie," Sherra will look over at Kylie for a second, "but you're suggesting casting a couple spells on top of one another. I can eliminate the vital guard behind building B this way and you can charm anybody that's missed in our initial strikes."

Hearing Sherra's remark, Kylie looks at her with a puzzled expression. "I was suggesting casting Sleep on these two behind Lothar's house," she says, pointing to the map. "And casting Charm Person on this one behind building 'B'. I don't see any overlap. It seems to me that the difference is whether you kill the guard, or I get him to help us. I would think that an extra sword arm on our side is a good thing."

Sherra will still comment after a brief pause. "A rowboat has too many disadvantages to it, even if we were magically silenced. If we are caught out in the river one of us would not be able to fight having to row to keep the river's current from moving us away and we would not be in the position we needed to be to eliminate the guards and engage Lothar."

"I think in this instance we should allow the spellcasters to give it a try first. Removing the water guards is vital to the plan and we have three chances this way. I am not sure if chancing Charm is a good idea however Kylie. We can give you the opportunity, but then if you are unsuccessful, then that is the guard that the archers must pincushion. I do not see one more sword as making much difference in the overall result of this battle, but it cannot hurt and it certainly will make certain members of this group much more satisfied." Validar will give a known look to Grondar and Ivy as he says this last bit.

"If you feel the rowboat is not a good idea, then you know better than I, Sherra. In any case it is your job to get yourself and Ivy close enough to complete your tasks. I have total confidence in all our scouts."

"I think we have as strong a plan as we can offer, given our limited knowledge. You all did well in attaining information and I am certain that when morning rises there will be a new feeling in this town. We have a few hours to rest. I suggest that the scouts move to positions where they can view the town from afar to make sure we do not miss anything that may happen during that time. In a few hours, Sherwood can do his Polymorph and tell everyone to move out, that will save us time." Validar will make the rounds to each of the five advance members of the group (Laucian, Lilia, Ivy, Sherra and Kylie) and offer them wishes for a safe battle.

After those five have departed, Validar will ask, "Sherwood, may I speak to you in private?"

[Grondar]

Grondar:

Listening as Validar puts the final details of their plan in place, one thing strikes Grondar as a potential problem. "Excuse me, Validar. Are you sure you want to conduct the raid in the middle of the night? While it's true that some of us can see pretty well in the dark, I suspect it may be a problem for others. I believe this is why we originally discussed attacking right at dawn; there would be enough light for everyone to function at their best, but most of the bandits would still likely be in bed."

[Validar]

Validar -

"My suggestion for moving it up is to avoid them making an early start with the barge in the morning and also to give us more time to complete our attacks. This situation has gotten a bit more complicated due to information the scouts learned. I think waiting may not be the best choice."

[Laucian]

Laucian
Laucian listens and begins to look over both Po and Saladin. Both men seemed to be willing to help us, he cant but wonder why they seemed to happy to help. Saladin mentions something about it being "better than alternative" this doesn't sit well with him and makes it a point to watch him closely in the coming days.

As they are riding through the country side Laucian looks around at the country side. He thinks to himself that this would be a nice place for these people to live unfortunately they have a thorn in their side by the name of Lothar and his Bandits. 'this thorn shall be removed.' he thinks to himself.
As they move among the countryside Sherwood moves us accordingly through the area. Soon after he calls for a stop. As night falls the time has come for the scouts to leave for their duties.

Checking is equipment before he rides out he turns to the others. "We will be back as soon as possible." And the Crimson haired elf turns and moves towards the town.

Laucian begins to move amongst the shadows and comes to a stop near a pile of split logs. He begins to look around at the surrounding area for possible "sniping" areas, as well as where the guards are positioned. Soon after taking note of the guards positions and trying to make out their weaponry he spot a group of horses thethered nearby Lothar's house. He softly curses to himself in elvish as he sees that they are within plain sight of the guards. "This is going to be a little more difficult than I anticipated."
After watching the guards for several minutes studying them he back tracks to where they left the others, watching his back as he goes to make sure he wasn't followed. As he approaches camp he notices that he is the last of the scouts to return. He is happy that no one was caught and moves among the others.

"It appears that we have a full plate to deal with tonight. I saw a few guards posted here and here,by the smithy and just south of it." motioning to the ones closet to the pens. Their equipment appeared similar to those that we fought earlier. The horses are tethered under plain sight of the guards they will have to be dealt with if I have a chance of getting to them."




"What are the best methods that each of us has to either immobilize, silence or eliminate these guards?"




"Sadly there isn't enough cover to sneak up on them and silence them quickly. Seeing how some of the guards are within sight of the other may cause a problem as well . Though if they do fall asleep at their posts they can be dealt with quickly or by passed completely."

"Placing me within the trees would be fine. There was enough cover that I could go unseen. If anyone approached from the smithy or warehouse they wouldnt know what hit them before it was to late. As well as I could quickly drop out of the trees and move quickly to the pen and remove the horses. The other benefit to having me there is if the fighters run into trouble I can be ready with both bow or blade and come to their aid."
"Considering we have decided to do a night raid, I do have a spell that may come to be useful. Ehlonna has granted me use of a spell called Faerie Fire. Seeing how several of us can not see in the dark this would Illuminate Lothar and no one could mistake him for a common bandit."

====OCC
Sorry it took me so long to post guys

[Sherra]

Sherra:

Hearing Sherra's remark, Kylie looks at her with a puzzled expression. "I was suggesting casting Sleep on these two behind Lothar's house," she says, pointing to the map. "And casting Charm Person on this one behind building 'B'. I don't see any overlap. It seems to me that the difference is whether you kill the guard, or I get him to help us. I would think that an extra sword arm on our side is a good thing."

Sherra shakes her head, "I didn't mean overlap as far as spell effects, I merely meant how long do we think these guards are going to stand around and wait while one spell after another is cast. Our initial attack is where we need to do the most damage. After the first spell, arrow, knife, sword or whatever is used or swung, our element of surprise will be gone and they will respond in kind with whatever forces they have left. That is why I mentioned your suggestion of casting multiple spells might not work as easily as we envision it."

"No slight intented toward your abilites at stealth, but we'll use the suggestion to get close along with the spell attempts first. Sherra, you get Ivy close enough to cast her spells if they are needed and then you can swin to the docks and be ready to eliminate anyone who does not fall and also take your position on the barge to take out Lothar."

Sherra realizes suddenly that everyone in this group is hinging everything on magical attacks. She is a bit surprised when Validar throws his lot in with this way of thinking, having thought he was one who put more trust in abilities and steel, especially with his conversations earlier about not desiring magic to be cast upon his person.

At this point Sherra simply slips away from the discussion, keeping a false demeanor that she learned at such an early age to hide any thoughts and feelings she is having, and walks over to Ivy. "I'll be your escort tonight Ivy, lets go over how to get you into range." Sherra will spend the remaining time letting Ivy know what she needs to try to do and how the two of them will approach so that Ivy is in spell range.

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Sherwood listens as Kylie reports her findings.

Returning from her scouting trip, Kylie has more information to relate. "I did some snooping around the warehouse and supply building." She points to the buildings on the map the bandits drew in the dirt. "The supply building is basically one big armory. There are tons of armor and weapons inside; plenty to outfit far more men than we have seen so far."

"The weapons and armor could have simply being cargo stolen by the bandits. Instead of reselling it, they save it for their own use."

"As for the warehouse, I believe I discovered how all of this is being financed." Kylie pulls a small tiger-eye gem from her pocket. "I found a wagon in the warehouse containing ten crates - all full of these. While one of these isn't particularly valuable, such a huge quantity of them must make for a veritable king's ransom. If we can grab the money, not only will we all be rather wealthy, but it would surely hurt whoever is funding all this."

Sherwood isn't surprised that Kylie seems amazed by the finding of the gems. While they may be a king's ransom to the young woman who grew up poor, it's probably not as much as she suspects. In fact, gem exporting is big business in Elcadan, especially since the recovering of the Dwarven city of Illefarn. It could simply have been a shipment from Elcadan that had been intercepted. However, Sherwood remains quiet on the matter than undercut her excitement.

Kylie pauses a moment to catch her breathe. The thought of that much money still leaves her a bit breathless. "It appears that a small group of men - around half a dozen - have been billeting in the warehouse. The main group should look out for the possibility of them coming in on their rear as the press toward the inn.

"One final note. There are quite a number of kegs of lantern oil in the warehouse. Be very careful. One spark could send up the whole place, and much of the town, in flames."

"Well done, Kylie. Well done all of you. We'll have to be careful in employing fire-based magic."

"Also, no offense to your spellcasting abilities Kylie," Sherra will look over at Kylie for a second, "but you're suggesting casting a couple spells on top of one another. I can eliminate the vital guard behind building B this way and you can charm anybody that's missed in our initial strikes."

"Sherra does have a point here. Magic has many uses, but it is not infallible. As I see it, each spellcaster is only going to get off one spell at the start of the battle without problem. From there things can get tricky. Moving about unnoticed is Sherra's specialty. Her talents should be used in concert with the magical efforts, not instead of."

"When I cause the fireworks in the sky, that will be the signal to act. It should divert the guards attention enough to allow other magicks to be invoked and those with stealth to reach their desired targets."

"As a word of advice, Kylie, attempting to use a Charm Person in combat just too complex a proposition. The person you Charmed would regard you as a valued friend, but that doesn’t mean that he'll simply switch sides and fight his friends for you. He would only do that if they attacked you. Plus you need to be in communication to direct the Charmed man. A bit too much to ask during the heat of battle."

[Corley]

Corley:

Lord Corley squirms a bit uncomfortably under the weight of Lilia's gaze. The Elfin woman is attractive in an exotic sort of way, but she's so tiny! Ivy is a feast for the senses that is only amplified by her passions. When Kylie smiles at him, Corley will grin right back.

Grondar wanders over to Lord Corley, and then beckons Chareos to join them. "I have a spell I believe will benefit us all if I cast is just as the battle begins. If no one objects, I will provide you both - and our two bandit companions - with such blessings as the Revered Mother grants."

"I have no problems with your plan, noble dwarf. As long as you don't turn my skin purple, I'm game!"

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"That is good to know, Lilia. You appeared to be seasoned in battle from your demeanor, but I would not presume to make assumptions."

"You are wise not to do so. Clan Grunalf lies the closest to the Broken Lands in the Elfholds. We see frequent humanoid assaults because of this. All able clan members receive basic combat training. I had such training before turning my talents to the magical arts. My greatest skill lies in my bow, but I have been instructed in battling with my shortsword."

Lilia, if someone tries to escape with the wagon from the supply station, having wings will allow you to put a stop to that." Validar is also confident that Sherwood would be available for such an endeavor due to the help it will make available to the general population.

The Elf Maiden will nod her understanding. "I will do so should I notice the attempt in progress. The warehouse is a long way from my position on top of house A, so it may slip past in all the excitement."

Validar will make the rounds to each of the five advance members of the group (Laucian, Lilia, Ivy, Sherra and Kylie) and offer them wishes for a safe battle.

"Fight well, Lord Validar. My bow will have your back."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Hearing Laucian's suggestion, Kylie nods her head. "That sounds like a good idea. Less chance of Lothar being slain in the confusion. If you get the chance, I'd recommend doing so."

=====

Kylie listens as Sherwood suggests that the gems might have just been a normal shipment that was stolen. She hadn't thought of that.

His praise brings a smile to her face. "Thank you, uncle Sherwood."

Validar weighs in on the issue of magic versus weapons. Kylie nods. "Of course. I will have my bow ready in case any of the spells fail."

Sherwood seems to agree with Sherra, which surprises her. "Uhm... okay. I had figured that the Sleep spell and it's effects would be pretty quiet, and thus not alert the other guards unduly. As for the Charmed bandit, I had thought to leave him on the ground by the building with the request that he protect me, his new friend, from any attackers.

"So you're saying that I would have to tell him when to swing his sword and what steps to take and all that? I guess my inexperience is really showing, huh?"

=====

Validar stops by to provide encouragement before they move in. "Thank you, Validar. Good luck to you as well."

[Grondar]

Grondar:

Validar replies to Grondar's question, and Grondar shrugs in response. "If you think that is best, Lord Validar. You're the tactical expert - not I."

=====

Laucian's mention of there being many guards causes Grondar to grimace. "It seems that they will see us coming and that we will have to battle every step of the way." This causes the dwarf some sorrow; he hoped to resolve this without having to kill any more of these men than necessary.

=====

When Kylie shows the small gem to the group, Grondar asks to have a look at it. He then examines it with the natural interest of a dwarf, though he has no special skill in this area. "A pretty little stone, isn't it?" he says, handing it back to the young scout.

=====

Lord Corley's comment leaves Grondar laughing. "No, no, my friend. Nothing like that. It would just extend some small measure of Berronar's protective embrace to you in the battle. I don't believe it has any visible effect."

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

More on the plans:
Laucian - "Placing me within the trees would be fine. There was enough cover that I could go unseen. If anyone approached from the smithy or warehouse they wouldnt know what hit them before it was to late. As well as I could quickly drop out of the trees and move quickly to the pen and remove the horses. The other benefit to having me there is if the fighters run into trouble I can be ready with both bow or blade and come to their aid."
"Considering we have decided to do a night raid, I do have a spell that may come to be useful. Ehlonna has granted me use of a spell called Faerie Fire. Seeing how several of us can not see in the dark this would Illuminate Lothar and no one could mistake him for a common bandit."

"Those trees should be a perfect location for you and your skills Laucian. As for the spell you suggest, it could prove helpful if you get the opportunity to utilize it. However, it may be difficult to get a chance as the battle progresses."


Sherra shakes her head, "I didn't mean overlap as far as spell effects, I merely meant how long do we think these guards are going to stand around and wait while one spell after another is cast. Our initial attack is where we need to do the most damage. After the first spell, arrow, knife, sword or whatever is used or swung, our element of surprise will be gone and they will respond in kind with whatever forces they have left. That is why I mentioned your suggestion of casting multiple spells might not work as easily as we envision it."

"I would have to agree, to a point. It is possible with this progression that the first two guards could be removed without notifying anyone else. However, once the second stage is reached then indeed the question of surprise will be gone. However, the spells are vital to the first stage (eliminating the water guards) as it can be done without alerting anyone. From that point on we will all be relying on our own special talents."


Sherwood - "Sherra does have a point here. Magic has many uses, but it is not infallible. As I see it, each spellcaster is only going to get off one spell at the start of the battle without problem. From there things can get tricky. Moving about unnoticed is Sherra's specialty. Her talents should be used in concert with the magical efforts, not instead of."

"I agree completely, which is why we have three progressive options for removing the guards: Sleep, Hold, steel. If we are successful with this first stage, then there is the possibility that it will go completely unnoticed, as they are hidden from the other guards."

Sherwood - "When I cause the fireworks in the sky, that will be the signal to act. It should divert the guards attention enough to allow other magicks to be invoked and those with stealth to reach their desired targets."

"Once that happens, then it is important that we do not hesitate. Everyone's actions are based upon and support others actions. At least in the beginning. Once the combat heats up, we have to act as the tide takes us."

Sherwood - "As a word of advice, Kylie, attempting to use a Charm Person in combat just too complex a proposition. The person you Charmed would regard you as a valued friend, but that doesn’t mean that he'll simply switch sides and fight his friends for you. He would only do that if they attacked you. Plus you need to be in communication to direct the Charmed man. A bit too much to ask during the heat of battle."

Validar tends to prefer the more direct methods of spells anyway, so not having this as an option does not concern him.

Lilia - "You are wise not to do so. Clan Grunalf lies the closest to the Broken Lands in the Elfholds. We see frequent humanoid assaults because of this. All able clan members receive basic combat training. I had such training before turning my talents to the magical arts. My greatest skill lies in my bow, but I have been instructed in battling with my shortsword."

"You are blessed with a wide range of battle skills then. I applaud Sherwood's choice of your addition to this cause."


Kylie - Validar weighs in on the issue of magic versus weapons. Kylie nods. "Of course. I will have my bow ready in case any of the spells fail."

"That is an option, Kylie. However, I was imagining that the removal of these guards, should the spell options fail, be done at arm's length. I am not convinced that we will be able to eliminate a guard quickly enough by one person's bow. There are too many chances for things to go wrong."


Grondar - Laucian's mention of there being many guards causes Grondar to grimace. "It seems that they will see us coming and that we will have to battle every step of the way." This causes the dwarf some sorrow; he hoped to resolve this without having to kill any more of these men than necessary.

"Perhaps not every step of the way. The sooner we eliminate Lothar and the two others, the sooner this assault will end."

Validar replies to Grondar's question, and Grondar shrugs in response. "If you think that is best, Lord Validar. You're the tactical expert - not I."

"Most caravans start out at dawn if not before and the light cavalry of Pyris is ready for the their first duty before dawn. I would hate to be late in them launching that supply-loaded barge downriver and completely miss our chance at the capture. I thought we had one more day, and we might, but it is not worth the risk. We should be fine attacking at night. The sky is somewhat clear tonight."

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

GM MAD asked me to recap the plan one more time so that he and everyone is explicit on what's supposed to happen. (Not good if the GM is thinking one thing and everyone else thinking something else!)

The groups:
SCOUT - Kylie, Laucian, Sherra, Ivy, Lilia (technically)

SUPPORT - Validar, Po, one Lt.

MAIN- Grondar, Corley, Chareos, Saladin, other Lt.

FLEX - Sherwood

The scouts move out in the remaining part of the preparation stage. They take up areas where they can see and move to their assault areas. Sherwood will polymorph and fly around to each of them to signal the start of their moving in closer. In the meantime, they all watch the town to make sure nothing unexpected happens.

Once the signal is given, they proceed to complete stage 1 and 2.
Kylie moves in along the river from the east Sherra and Ivy come in from the west and converge on Lothar's house. Laucian moves to the trees near the smithy and Lilia takes her place atop House A.

Kylie attempts to cast Sleep.
Option 1: Both guards are Slept and taken out. Then Ivy and Sherra move in to set Ivy's spell at the dock and Sherra commandeers the barge. Ivy then hides with Sherra or near Lothar's house (preferable). Kylie moves to B and takes up her position.
Option 2: One guard is slept and the other is not. Then Ivy tries to cast Hold on the one still awake. If successful then proceed as above. If not successful, then whichever scout is closer takes out the guard with a bow assistance from the other. Then proceed as above.
Option 3: Neither guard is affected by Sleep. Ivy tries to cast Hold on Kylie's guard since he is closest to the dock. Proceed as in 2 based on result. A slience spell by Ivy could still save the day.
Option 4: All hell breaks loose. Neither guard gives in to spells and they aren't killed or silenced before sounding an alarm. Sherwood signals everyone with a special blue fireworks display and everyone converges on Lothar's house as quickly as possible.

If the guards are removed as above without an alarm, then proceed to stage 2.

[Validar]

Validar -

Stage 2

After the guards are dealt with and assuming we get to stage 2 (see final note in Stage 1 if all hell breaks loose), then the Scouts will all move to their designated spots or at least as close as possible given the current situation.

Sherwood will then do his signal (perhaps green this time instead of the blue for bad).

The scouts will then remove one of the guards with arrows by concentrating their fire. Ivy is on her own to preform as she sees best, hopefully aiding Sherra in capturing Lothar.

As the guards are being attacked from above by arrows, Laucian will try to drive off the horses, or Lilia will Web them in place. Laucian is preferable as Lilia can then save the Web for bandits. Kylie, Lilia, and Laucian will then be free to assist with spells or arrows or blade where necessary. Lothar is prize one. The mage prize 2 and Arturs the 3rd most important to capture. If Sherra is able to provide arrow support so much the better, but it may not be possible unless a battle spills onto the docks.

When the signal goes off, the main group will ride into the town. Grondar will cast his Silence for Corley and the group will proceed towards the Inn and Lothar's house. Their goal is to avoid bandits and to confront Arturs and Arkane and maybe Lothar (depending on which direction he runs).

The Support group will ride in from the east road. Both groups will be close to the town when the assault is set so that riding time is reduced to a minimum. The Support group will head directly to Lothar's house, acting as a net if he should try to flee east and drive him back towards the dock or possibly the Main group.

Everyone will act as they see fit beyond that and everyone understands their initial duties. Anyone can be the hero here since we all have considerable skills. Sherwood is the self-assigned extra man, observing from overhead to assist with any problems that we cannot handle.

Any questions?

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Kylie listens as Sherwood suggests that the gems might have just been a normal shipment that was stolen. She hadn't thought of that.

Actually, Sherwood thought that but chose not to speak it at the time. He didn't want to burst Kylie's bubble, so to speak.

Sherwood seems to agree with Sherra, which surprises her. "Uhm... okay. I had figured that the Sleep spell and its effects would be pretty quiet, and thus not alert the other guards unduly. As for the Charmed bandit, I had thought to leave him on the ground by the building with the request that he protect me, his new friend, from any attackers."

"So you're saying that I would have to tell him when to swing his sword and what steps to take and all that? I guess my inexperience is really showing, huh?"

"What I am saying, Kylie is that magic is not foolproof. The spells you are seeking to cast may not affect the targets at all, requiring a mundane way to deal with them. I've found it better to make use of all of my talents in this type of operation, not just my skill with magic. A spell not having its desired effect is something that can and will happen, so a prudent mage is prepared for that eventuality."

"Normally, I would not recommend using a Charm spell while in combat for the reasons I noted earlier. However, if you can cast it so no one else will notice and instruct the Charmed man to simply protect you, then that would be a workable plan, provided the spell has its desired effect."

"Jallarzi is an excellent instructor in the arts arcane. However, practical application of magic in the field is a whole other matter. Jallarzi has taught you how to cast spells now I'm going to show you how to make practical use of them. Another reason you were assigned this mission."

"I would also make mention, and I should have done this sooner but my mind has been elsewhere, that the lieutenants that I Charmed may also turn against us once the battle begins. My best advice would be to leave them behind to tend to the horses we leave behind. Should they enter into battle, they would have to be watched closely as they could break the spells hold."

Option 4: All hell breaks loose. Neither guard gives in to spells and they aren't killed or silenced before sounding an alarm. Sherwood signals everyone with a special blue fireworks display and everyone converges on Lothar's house as quickly as possible.

"One minor note here, Validar. The Pyrotechnics generates a display of multicolored fireworks. I do not have the option of selecting a specific color. Once the spell is cast, everyone in the immediate area will be aware that something is going on, but exactly what will take them some time to discover."

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"You are blessed with a wide range of battle skills then. I applaud Sherwood's choice of your addition to this cause."

"Indeed", Lilia will say in her typical stoic manner. However there can't help but be a measure of pride in her face. "The skills of Sherwood Elf-Friend are well known among my people."

Lilia will prepare herself for the battle to come. She will examine her bow and prepare her arrows for use. Her spell components will be checked and rechecked for ease of use and location of storage. The Elf Maiden does not seem nervous in the least at the prospect of the battle to come. In fact, it's refreshing to be the aggressor in such a campaign. For too many times battles had been fought from the standpoint of defending the Elfhold.

[GM Mad]

GM Note:

"Most caravans start out at dawn if not before and the light cavalry of Pyris is ready for the their first duty before dawn. I would hate to be late in them launching that supply-loaded barge downriver and completely miss our chance at the capture. I thought we had one more day, and we might, but it is not worth the risk. We should be fine attacking at night. The sky is somewhat clear tonight."

Actually it's overcast, as noted in the main post. Rain is moving in from the west and could hit during the combat. Temps should be in the mid-forties overnight.

[Kylie]

Kylie:

"That is an option, Kylie. However, I was imagining that the removal of these guards, should the spell options fail, be done at arm's length. I am not convinced that we will be able to eliminate a guard quickly enough by one person's bow. There are too many chances for things to go wrong."

Kylie looks at Validar and shrugs. "Frankly, I'm more deadly with my bow than with my knife. However, I'm willing to leave that job to Sherra, if you prefer."

"What I am saying, Kylie is that magic is not foolproof. The spells you are seeking to cast may not affect the targets at all, requiring a mundane way to deal with them. I've found it better to make use of all of my talents in this type of operation, not just my skill with magic. A spell not having its desired effect is something that can and will happen, so a prudent mage is prepared for that eventuality."

Kylie pouts, her lower lip jutting out enough for a bird to perch upon. "I never said I wasn't going to use all my skills, or that I was depending on the magic to work. I just felt that the magic provided the best, most efficient and quietest method of producing the desired result. As I told Validar moments ago, I will be ready with my bow should any of the spells fail."

"Normally, I would not recommend using a Charm spell while in combat for the reasons I noted earlier. However, if you can cast it so no one else will notice and instruct the Charmed man to simply protect you, then that would be a workable plan, provided the spell has its desired effect."

"As for Charming the guard behind building 'B', I only intended to do so if we had successfully eliminated the guards behind Lothar's house without alerting him and before the main attack commenced. After all, the idea was for me to get into position on the roof before the attack starts and the bandits are alerted to our presence. Thus, he would not be in combat and unaware of my presence until the spell is cast. If successful, I'll have him help me onto the roof and defend me. If not, I'll fill him with arrows or let Sherra silence him her way. Okay?" Kylie's tone clearly conveys her annoyance.
__________________________________________________

Kylie moves in along the river from the east Sherra and Ivy come in from the west and converge on Lothar's house. Laucian moves to the trees near the smithy and Lilia takes her place atop House A.

Wouldn't it make more sense for Sherra and Ivy to approach from the East since house 'A' is east of Lothar's house? Kylie could approach from the west, but she's more likely to be noticed by the guard behind 'B' while she's casting her Sleep. I recommend that they all approach from the east around the back of house 'A' so that they're out of view of the guard between Lothar's house and 'A'.

Sorry for the 'oops' on the gems!

[Grondar]

Grondar:

"Perhaps not every step of the way. The sooner we eliminate Lothar and the two others, the sooner this assault will end."

"I just meant, friend Validar, that with so many of the bandits on guard, that we would have to fight our way through many of them to get to the real targets. I would have preferred it if we could have gotten closer to the principles before the combat started, but I don't see it happening that way under the circumstances."

Grondar will cast his Silence for Corley and the group will proceed towards the Inn and Lothar's house.

Grondar holds up a hand to get Validar's attention. "Unfortunately, this particular fragment of the Revered Mother's power has a fairly short duration. I would recommend that I hold off on casting it until we're close to the mage; either as we're entering the inn or as soon as we spot them."
________________________________________________--

Both groups will be close to the town when the assault is set so that riding time is reduced to a minimum.

So are the main and support groups entering on horseback? For some reason, I was envisioning them entering on foot.

[Validar]

Validar -

Sherwood - "I would also make mention, and I should have done this sooner but my mind has been elsewhere, that the lieutenants that I Charmed may also turn against us once the battle begins. My best advice would be to leave them behind to tend to the horses we leave behind. Should they enter into battle, they would have to be watched closely as they could break the spells hold."

"That's a bit of a disappointment to learn at this late stage. It shouldn't affect the Main Group but it does lighten the numbers of my group to only myself and Po. We shall have to make do." Validar is a little disgruntled, but tries not to show it.


Sherwood - "One minor note here, Validar. The Pyrotechnics generates a display of multicolored fireworks. I do not have the option of selecting a specific color. Once the spell is cast, everyone in the immediate area will be aware that something is going on, but exactly what will take them some time to discover."

"Is there any way to vary the intensity or number of them or anything? Or do you simply have no control over the effects? If so, is there some other spell that we can use to signal everyonein one case and use this in the other?"

Actually it's overcast, as noted in the main post. Rain is moving in from the west and could hit during the combat. Temps should be in the mid-forties overnight.
Okay, my understanding was that cloudy meant full clouds and that overcast mean that there was some clear spots. It was not clear in the description at all that rain would hit overnight. It just stated that rain was moving in. We still need to attack before dawn.


Kylie looks at Validar and shrugs. "Frankly, I'm more deadly with my bow than with my knife. However, I'm willing to leave that job to Sherra, if you prefer."

"The plan already defers most of the manual guard removal to Sherra, but it may be necessary for you to do so. If you feel as though you are more effective with your bow, then with Sherra's assistance you both should be able to remove them if necessary."

Wouldn't it make more sense for Sherra and Ivy to approach from the East since house 'A' is east of Lothar's house? Kylie could approach from the west, but she's more likely to be noticed by the guard behind 'B' while she's casting her Sleep. I recommend that they all approach from the east around the back of house 'A' so that they're out of view of the guard between Lothar's house and 'A'.

"The guard behind B is one of our waterfront targets," Valdar points out on the map. "Here and here," indicating that one and the one at the boat. "The guard here between A and the target house won't see you approach up the river. However, if all three of you are together, there's more chance to be seen. Since Ivy could be Silenced, the two of them seem most likely to be able to approach from the West. There's also two of them to deal with surprises. House A really doesn't affect Ivy and Sherra since that is Lilia's point to take."


Grondar - "I just meant, friend Validar, that with so many of the bandits on guard, that we would have to fight our way through many of them to get to the real targets. I would have preferred it if we could have gotten closer to the principles before the combat started, but I don't see it happening that way under the circumstances."

"I would agree with you, my dwarven friend, but circumstances work against us this night. We must respond to the situation at hand. With luck we can capture our targets and keep this from becoming a slaughter."

Grondar holds up a hand to get Validar's attention. "Unfortunately, this particular fragment of the Revered Mother's power has a fairly short duration. I would recommend that I hold off on casting it until we're close to the mage; either as we're entering the inn or as soon as we spot them."

"I understand the duration you mention, my friend, and your concern but I believe that trying to cast close to combat may just result in problems. I think that casting it just before entering the town is best. Corley can break through to the Inn very quickly and 10 minutes is a very long time in battle. I would be surprised if the initial contact lasted any longer than that. I expect that the Inn will empty before you reach it and you may be going from one battle to the next. We have applied this tactic before in battle with the Seekers and the spell's duration has always been sufficient."

So are the main and support groups entering on horseback? For some reason, I was envisioning them entering on foot.

"I understand your consternation about riding, however speed is of the essence in this endeavor. Chareos can assist you to ride in and then you can dismount to engage in combat as soon as you enter the town. I would imagine that only Lord Corley is more comfortable in the saddle to do battle than standing on their own feet anyway. We cannot afford the time it will take to move in on foot, in my opinion."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

"Yeah, between Sherra and I, we ought to be able to handle it." Kylie winks impulsively.

"I guess that makes sense, as long as Ivy and Sherra wait until the pair behind 'A' have been taken care of. Then they can help me with 'B'."

[Grondar]

Grondar:

The dwarf nods his head in agreement with Validar. "I agree. Under the circumstances, it may be a good idea to go back to the plan of Ivy joining you once she's cast her spell. She should be able to slip around the back side of building 'A' while the scouts are taking up their positions - after the guards are eliminated, of course. Then she can join up with you as you approach 'A'."

Validar's comment draws a grimace from the dwarf. "You may be right, but my experience has been that combat always takes longer than you expect. Still, I'll do it your way and hope young Corley doesn't get left out to dry, as it were.

"Sounds reasonable. Horseback it is. I'll just have to manage as best I can."

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

I have to apologize to everyone as it seems that I missed a guard on the map completely. I guess the BG near BOAT threw me or something and have been thinking there is only two guards along the river between A and B. No idea how that happened.

In any case, now we have three guards to eliminate by Kylie (still coming from the east) and Sherra & Ivy (still coming from the west).

"Kylie, do you not think it prudent to carry two Sleep spells instead of the Charms? My experience in combat situations in the past such as this has proven that Sleep is a quick and effective way to eliminate large masses of basic troops like we will be facing. I think that you will be much better served with two or even three of these effective spells."

Kylie will still be first and try to catch all three of the guards on the water with sleep. Ivy will use Hold Person on any that are not Slept and they will have to deal with any who the spells do not take by hand or bow, including using Ivy's Silence which should be cast just before Kylie's Sleep on a stone and given to Sherra as she advances. That way she can eliminate a call for alarm and give them time to remove a guard, if necessary.

"Looking at other spell tactics: Chareos, we would be well-served if you were to cast your Mirror Image when Grondar casts his Silence on Corley just before moving into the town. That will make our numbers seem much higher in the Main Group and may give the bandits pause that so many are assaulting. It will also likely draw the attention of the higher ups as well, not to mention protecting you in the combat to come."

"Another Suggestion I have, Chareos, would be place your Web spell here," pointing to the map between buildings E and the Supplies building. "That will help to cover the back side of the Main Group and protect your rear from bandits you bypass or that try to surround you."

"Also, perhaps Kylie can cast her web to capture the two guards on the north side of Lothar's house, as well as blocking that north door. Even if you could catch one of the guards and the door, Lothar may stumble into the Web and make our job very easy."

"Lilia, we seem to have a large number of people with Pyrotechnics spells. Perhaps something else for this combat would be more effective. Unless we can somehow use the different spells as different signals. are the effects different based onthe caster? If not then three Pyro spells are too many for the group when we could use other combat spells."

"Also, I am sure everyone realizes this, but it is important so cannot be stressed enough. Save your magic missiles for important targets only, especially spellcasters. Chareos' Flaming sphere could be very effective in clearing a path through the bandits to give the Main Group a path toward the Inn."

"Forgive me if I seem to be telling everyone what to do, but I cannot assume that each of you has had combat training involving large quantities of troops. Tactics are different than when dealing with smaller groups. And as you can see I am somewhat proficient in the use of spells in combat, regardless of whether I appreciate their use on my person. I believe that all weapons at hand should be used."


Kylie - "Yeah, between Sherra and I, we ought to be able to handle it." Kylie winks impulsively.

"I guess that makes sense, as long as Ivy and Sherra wait until the pair behind 'A' have been taken care of. Then they can help me with 'B'."

"I have nothing but confidence in the abilities of you three to effectively eliminate all three guards without them sounding an alarm, or making any other guards aware of what happened." Validar is quite sincere in his comments. He has to be. The entire battle hinges on their efforts and ability to accomplish their task quickly and quietly. Fortunately, there are enough back-ups to this stage to cover even the unexpected problem.


The dwarf nods his head in agreement with Validar. "I agree. Under the circumstances, it may be a good idea to go back to the plan of Ivy joining you once she's cast her spell. She should be able to slip around the back side of building 'A' while the scouts are taking up their positions - after the guards are eliminated, of course. Then she can join up with you as you approach 'A'."

"As we only have the two of us," Validar gives Po a reassuring look of confidence, "Having Ivy re-join us may indeed be a prudent suggestion. However, I think to minimize the confusion Ivy should stay near Lothar's house and we can meet up quickly with her. That way, she can be in position to respond to anything unexpected, which she would not be able to do if she were moving away from the house. If Ivy remains near Lothar's house, then she could also assist Sherra if Lothar makes his break early in the attack. Good suggestion, Grondar."

Validar's comment draws a grimace from the dwarf. "You may be right, but my experience has been that combat always takes longer than you expect. Still, I'll do it your way and hope young Corley doesn't get left out to dry, as it were."

"Lord Corley relishes this sort of situation, my dwarven friend. And I can think of none better, except perhaps for my old comrade Stephanie, to engage in this tactic. My concern is for the mage and that Corley doesn't slay him outright." Validar will give a knowing look to Corley, but he seems to be looking at Ivy instead and didn't even catch Validar's joke or praise. "Ten minutes should be long enough or else that tactic will not be needed anyway. If the battle lasts more than ten minutes then we've had to kill all the bandit guards and either the others are escaping or we have a final showdown where we outnumber them greatly. The abilities that your patron have granted you will be more than sufficient for this use."

"If Chareos is effective with his spells and he seems to be playing a very instrumental part in the group's progressing through the town, then he should be able to secure the rear as well as open a path for Corley and the rest of you to advance through. Remember the scouts will be in place to assist near the Inn and Lothar's house as well."

"Sounds reasonable. Horseback it is. I'll just have to manage as best I can."

"I am sure that you will be at the forefront of the victory, my dwarven friend."

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Sorry for the 'oops' on the gems!

OOC: No problem. Kylie is turning out to be a bit more sensitive then Sherwood expected, so he's trying to be more positive towards her than negative. At this point just where the gems came from is not an issue, so no reason to delve into it.

"Is there any way to vary the intensity or number of them or anything? Or do you simply have no control over the effects? If so, is there some other spell that we can use to signal everyone in one case and use this in the other?"

"No, the caster has no control over the specifics of the spell once cast spell. It's either this or nothing.

"Lilia, we seem to have a large number of people with Pyrotechnics spells. Perhaps something else for this combat would be more effective. Unless we can somehow use the different spells as different signals. Are the effects different based on the caster? If not then three Pyro spells are too many for the group when we could use other combat spells."

Sherwood will field this one. "As your not a mage, Validar, then you are unaware of the other properties of Pyrotechnics. The spell requires a source of fire to be consumed to invoke the magic. As such, it’s a very good spell for putting out fires. Should fire magic be used in the battle and invoked near the oil, the spell might be able to save the town from extensive fire damage."

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Just a quick note on spells in memory. In the last post I asked for what spellcasters had in memory for today. You gained the particular spells that you wanted and then traveled to the outskirts of Twin Forks. The scouts went in and came back with their reports. The attack plan was modified according to the new information and is going to be carried out later on this evening of the same day.

Simply put, changing spell selections is not an option unless you want to wait until morning to do your attack. Either make due with what you have, or push back your attack. Your call.

Lets get this all finalized. I'm going to start running the battle this weekend.

[Validar]

Validar -

Just a quick note on spells in memory. In the last post I asked for what spellcasters had in memory for today. You gained the particular spells that you wanted and then traveled to the outskirts of Twin Forks. The scouts went in and came back with their reports. The attack plan was modified according to the new information and is going to be carried out later on this evening of the same day.

Simply put, changing spell selections is not an option unless you want to wait until morning to do your attack. Either make due with what you have, or push back your attack. Your call.

I guess I was thinking there was a little more time available. Forgot about the rest first part. Haven't done this for a long time. It's also part f the nature of the disjointedness of this type of game. Only have a short bit of time each day to focus on this.

We will have to make due as we are and make the attack. It will remind me to have us think about our spell selection as a group in the future however!

On that note, is everyone's current spell list in the thread for that? just curious...
----------------------------------------------

Sherwood commenting on Pyrotechnics spell - "No, the caster has no control over the specifics of the spell once cast spell. It's either this or nothing.

"Very well. As I said, I may have some tactical knowledge of spell use and have received some training in such, but I am certainly no mage. There is much I have to learn just about the effects and uses of the more basic spells. Do you have a suggestion for another option for signaling or do we simply need to be very observant to the beginnings of the battle? Of course, it is all a moot point if Kylie, Sherra and Ivy are as successful as we expect."

Sherwood will field this one. "As you're not a mage, Validar, then you are unaware of the other properties of Pyrotechnics. The spell requires a source of fire to be consumed to invoke the magic. As such, it’s a very good spell for putting out fires. Should fire magic be used in the battle and invoked near the oil, the spell might be able to save the town from extensive fire damage."

"You are quite correct, Sherwood. I am not a mage and do not profess to be one. I was not aware of the extra properties of this spell and it could be useful then, especially with the number of flame spells that our mages may be employing tonight. Also forgive my ignorance about the alteration of spells. I still tend to think of them as interchangeable weapons like my lance and sword."

"We have those available that we have and I am certain of our victory this day regardless. I still believe that we may have one too many, but in this instance I hope we do not need to use all the ones we have."

[Chareos]

Chareos

As the scouts return from the night incursion,Chareos is happy to see them back and unharmed. As they tell of there findings he listens quietly and doesn't talk to much. When all the scouts tell of the guards around the town He groans to himself "This is going to be harder than we anticipated."



, Sherra tells of all she witnessed. "It's a full house tonight, although they probably won't be around in the morning. It appears that Lothar doesn't like house guests since Artur and Arkane were heading back to the inn. I don't think their arguement was anything that would cause them to not stand united against us however."




" It is unfortunate that this argument didn't work in our favor." he says with a smirk on his face.
Validar begins to speak of battle plans for capturing Lothar. Chareos listens intently making notes in his head as he goes along. His plan is sound in the mages ears and so he doesn't speak up.
Kylie speaks up with one last detail.


"One final note. There are quite a number of kegs of lantern oil in the warehouse. Be very careful. One spark could send up the whole place, and much of the town, in flames."





"I will be as careful as I can, Kylie ," scratching his chin," Unfortunately that leaves one of my spells useless in that area."



Grondar wanders over to Lord Corley, then beckons Chareos to join them. "I have a spell I believe will benefit us all if I cast it just as the battle begins. If no one objects, I will provide you both - and our two bandit companions - with such blessings as the Revered Mother grants."




"If you believe it will help us than please do." He chuckles at Lord Corley's remark.
When the meeting is over he will check his spell components and prepare his staff as well as place his sling where he can reach it easily if needed.

[Laucian]

Laucian

When Lilia Comes to him to ask if she could ride with him Laucian will reply "If you wish it, than so it shall be." extending his arm to help her up. Before they reach the combat area Laucian will come to stop and dismount as well. And take his position at the trees near the smithy.( if the trees provide enough cover he will remain on foot. If not he will climb one of the trees.) And than proceed as planned taking aim at the nearest bandit guard and waiting for Sherwood's signal.




Validar will nod approvingly as Lilia explains her intentions to arriving at her attack point. "I agree whole-heartedly with the Flight ideas as well as the Web for the horses. We should give Laucian the change to eliminate the horses on his own as the Web may prove useful otherwise, but it would be a perfect answer should he not be successful in reaching them unhindered."




"Considering the weather, your idea of flight is a fine one." Laucian will think a moment before he speaks. "You will have not misplaced your trust in me, my friends. The horses will be taken care of, but if I do fail, and I hope that I don't. It is comforting to know that it is in good hands."

Backing up a bit. -When Sherwood moves to the point of the party, Laucian will slow his pace to fall in behind. At first He doesn't know why he took point but his answer is quickly answered as he moves the party through the area rather quickly as if he has been here many times before.

When the plan is set and everyone knows there assignments Laucianwill wish them all luck thancheck his bow and arrows making sure they are ready. In turn he will unsheathe his sword and be seen sharpening it with his whetstone. When his preparations are ready he will take his holy symbol in hand and begin to pray for Ehlonna's protection over the party and himself. When he is ready he will gather his bow and return his sword to it's sheathe and mount up. He will offer his hand to Lilia when she comes to mount his horse as well. When they stop so she may dismount he will speak in elvish "Good luck clansmen."

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Shrugging at Validar, Kylie replies. "Two Sleeps might have been a better choice than two Charm Person spells, but since we're not waiting for morning, I have no way of changing my spell selection before the attack. I believe that is one of the reasons Grondar was recommending a dawn attack."

A nod. "A good idea, Validar. If I can see both of those guards, I'll be glad to give them a Web. Otherwise, I'll probably use it on those pouring out of the back side of the inn. Of course, if Lothar is still loose, he gets priority."

Kylie smirks at Validar's comments regarding Magic Missiles since she doesn't have any in memory anyways. His stated confidence in her abilities pleases her more than she would have expected, a feeling she finds puzzling, but she says nothing.

Kylie looks over at Chareos as he responds to her warning about the oil. "Thanks. Fortunately, since your group is making for the inn, you should be able to use your spell once you get past the warehouse."

=====

Eventually, the time comes to make the assault. Since Kylie is in the scout group, she'll prepare her gear as best she can. As her horse would only make noise that would get them spotted, she leaves Dapple, her grey mare, in the camp.

It takes some time to make their way into town. Moving as quietly as she can manage, Kylie glides along behind building 'A'. She'll get as close as she can to the men behind Lothar's house without giving her presense away. She'll watch the men, noting their movements, as the other scouts take up their positions. As she waits, she nocks an arrow so as to be ready in case of trouble or the failure of her spell to take the men out. Once everyone is in place, Kylie times the casting of the Sleep spell to catch the two guards as close as possible to one another.
_________________________________________________

On that note, is everyone's current spell list in the thread for that? just curious...

Kylie's spells are pretty much as posted, but since she has at no time discussed them with Validar, he has no way of knowing what they are (beyond the Sleep, Web and Charm Person - but not Pyrotechnics - that have been discussed in-character). This is also true of Grondar.

[Grondar]

Grondar:

Grondar nods in agreement with Kylie's conjecture regarding the timing of the attack.

Validar approves of the dwarf's suggestion for Ivy, with some modification. "You're welcome, Validar."

Grondar smiles at Validar's comments regarding Lord Corley. The mention of Chareos causes Grondar to glance over at the young warrior-mage. "I'm sure he will do his job well."

"The forefront is not really my place, but I shall contribute as the Revered Mother wills."

=====

Looking from Corley to Chareos, Grondar is heartened to hear that they are both willing to receive the blessings of Berronar. "Since you both agree, so will I do."

=====

As the attack isn't planned until well into the night, Grondar has plenty of time for his usual evening rites and devotions. Perhaps surprisingly, this is his favorite part of being in the priesthood; he always feels a special closeness to Her during his devotions.

Once the time for the actual assault draws near, Grondar girds himself for battle, as he has done so many times before. In many ways, his preparations have become something of a religious ritual for him as well. He has a very specific sequence of preparation activities that he works his way through, much as with any of Berronar's rites. Lastly, he kisses his mace reverently, says a last prayer, then hangs it in it's place on his belt. Now ready, he mounts up on his pony, StoneGrinder, and joins Corley, Chareos and Saladin.

Some time later, they arrive at a point just outside of the main assault area and await the signal to attack. While waiting, he loads a bolt in his crossbow and s it. Once the signal is given, Grondar will wait for Chareos to cast his Mirror Image while dropping far enough behind Corley as to not be in the Silence's area of effect. He casts the Silence spell, immediately followed by a Prayer, which has a shorter duration, making sure to get Chareos and Saladin in it's area.

Once the spells are cast, he follows Corley into town as best he can, casting Aid and Sanctuary on himself as he rides, then letting his crossbow speak for him.

[Validar]

VALIDAR -

Laucian - "Considering the weather, your idea of flight is a fine one." Laucian will think a moment before he speaks. "You will have not misplaced your trust in me, my friends. The horses will be taken care of, but if I do fail, and I hope that I don't. It is comforting to know that it is in good hands."

"We have tried to build in as many redundant parts to the plan as possible in the case that something unexpected occurs. Therefore none of us need to take unnecessary risks to complete a task. That said, I look forward to the upcoming battle with you, my elven friend."


Chareos - "I will be as careful as I can, Kylie ," scratching his chin," Unfortunately that leaves one of my spells useless in that area."

Kylie looks over at Chareos as he responds to her warning about the oil. "Thanks. Fortunately, since your group is making for the inn, you should be able to use your spell once you get past the warehouse."

Validar doesn't say anything but is pleased to hear Kylie's comments. She obviously has been quite attentive to the planning process to be able to clarify other's actions. And she is absoluelty accurate in her assessment too. In fact, Flaming Sphere from Chareos is a spell we are counting on.

*********************************
OOC - One side note: I apologize for assumptions on spells, but in the Seekers, posting your spell lists also was basically common knowledge to the rest of the group, or at least the leaders. For the next combat situation, we will be sure to address the spell side of the combat planning more accurately.
*********************************

Shrugging at Validar, Kylie replies. "Two Sleeps might have been a better choice than two Charm Person spells, but since we're not waiting for morning, I have no way of changing my spell selection before the attack. I believe that is one of the reasons Grondar was recommending a dawn attack."

"That is quite correct, unfortunately, my young friend. In the future we should have more cooperation and consensus between the spellcasters. We do not have a formal structure to this group and that may be causing us lost opportunities. When this battle is over we can rectify that situation. The flexibility would be nice to wait, but they could start out before we are ready and that would make our task here much more difficult. We will manage as we are."

A nod. "A good idea, Validar. If I can see both of those guards, I'll be glad to give them a Web. Otherwise, I'll probably use it on those pouring out of the back side of the inn. Of course, if Lothar is still loose, he gets priority."

Kylie smirks at Validar's comments regarding Magic Missiles since she doesn't have any in memory anyways. His stated confidence in her abilities pleases her more than she would have expected, a feeling she finds puzzling, but she says nothing.

"Any concentration or focal point is a good place for a Web spell," Validar says simply. The Seekers used so many Web spells in the past that it is a common part of Validar's arsenal really.

As for the Magic Missile comment, whether Validar knows the spell choices of th mages or not, most mages do carry them and they are VERY effective in combat. Even he knows that.

When the time comes for battle, Validar will leave his lance behind at the camp. He will advance with Po to a point just outside of the town and where their presence is blocked by the trees. Validar will tell Po that he has a chance to turn his life around and that he shouldn't take riskes in this combat, but to fight with conviction. Once the signal is given, Validar will ride as fast as he can to Lothar's house, trying to keep an eye on his sidekick.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed --- Again

That'll teach me to forget to lock the post down!