Something Wicked this way Comes...

Weary and beleaguered the column of worn soldiers and refugees moves away from Citadel at a crawl.

Slow as you are, the immensity of the barbarian army is slower still. And though you spend the first several hours jumping at every off noise, expecting frothing raiders to appear bearing down on you, they never do appear... A fact only sets your frayed nerves even further on edge...

Still, come nightfall, your outriders maintain that the coast is clear, and circling what wagons you've got, you settle in for the night.

With the coming onset of winter, the night air is frigid, and you are troubled by snow flurries and brisk winds coming off the mountains... Where Bejal left you supplied with sufficient provisions and heavy blankets, you are disastrously short on fuel to keep fires burning through the night...

By the time you reach the town, another hundred of the wounded have died of their injuries and the cold...

Long Road began its life as a camping point between Ork Watch and Citadel. It sits about an average, full-day's ride North of Ork Watch. When caravans coming from either direction passed here, they began trading with each other, rather than completing their journies, and the town was born.

As you arrive, you find the evacuation in full swing... Mostly.

Your messenger informs you that the town's rather low ranking nobles had fled immediately, taking most of the town guard with them. A shopkeeper named Alder Gint has taken it upon himself to organize the retreat, and has done a reasonable job. Most of the farmers are refusing to leave, however... Unable to transport their winter stores, most will be left destitute at best... Many will likely starve.

Regardless, Long Road boasts a number of inns, as well as a temple to Ayailla, lesser goddess of light and celestial radiance, who's priestess and acolytes are willing to house and aid the wounded...

If nothing else, you won't be sleeping in the cold tonight.

Taalkar sits in the overcrowded common room of an inn. His pallor grey, his head hung down. He rests slouched in the chair staring at the dusty floorboards. The throng occasionally brushes him and a careless step often lands on his feet. Still he sits, unmoving, ashen faced, a stone warrior cast in marble.

So many dead, he mumbles to himself, his lips dry and split from the weather, his beard caked with gore and filth. All dead while I ran, ran from my home, ran from the giants, ran from the screams.

Those screams of death still rang in his ears. The hollow cry of his helpless family as they were slaughtered. The shrill scream of hopeless soldiers separated from safety by a few feet of stone and unhappy circumstance. The low crying of pain as limbs and lives were overtaken by cold in the night.

Once he had purpose. Once he had life. Once he had fire. Now he wasn't sure he would find either one again.

There was his brother. Working to save those that he could. The cold stone. The steady stone. He never wavered or broke. Perhaps he could learn a thing a two from his ever-faithful brother.

He harrumphed a loud sigh, his cloudy thoughts further darkening his spirits. His head nods a hair lower as the fatigue of battle and travel take over.

Karazi

Seeing the wounded tended to, for at least a good nights rest in the temple brings a little relief. Folks getting out of the cold where they can amongst the bustle of the town still trying to pack up whatever they can.

Walking down the street some he lets himself into a Tavern that Alder told him was the favorite of the areas many farmers. Settling down on a stool and getting an ale before addressing the murmuring farmers.

"Settle down a second here and listen, I know this ain't good news and many of you want to stay and see to your farms. But just a few days north is a sight that'll shake you to your core. Barbarians so thick you can't see the ground, all the way to the horizon. Now don't get me wrong, I know you want to protect what you've got and are willing to take a chance they'll pass you up.

But they're going to need food pushing through here, and I highly doubt they've got both the morals and the supply train enough to ignore your stockpiles. You're going to get hit and hard.

So realizing that your farm already lost, why don't you at least attempt to save the lives of yourself and your loved ones.
That's all I'll say on the matter, please reconsider staying...Good night to you all. We're leaving at dawn."

Finishing his ale and stepping out into the brisk night he heads back to the Inn they'd settled into for the night.

Stepping inside he sees Taalkar somewhat out of sorts...Heading over he puts a hand on his shoulder and leans in "Get some rest, we'll need your fire tomorrow brother..You're stronger for enduring during these painful moments. Let the steel within you cool for the night, for tomorrow I need you as hot as ever to keep us alive and moving"

While the intention was to leave at dawn, getting the train moving proves more trying than forseen. With the remains of the town joining in, your column swells to nearly four thousand in number, all dragging what worldly possessions they refuse to leave behind...

Karazi's speach at the tavern seemed to have te Desiree effect, and the grater portion of the farmers have joined in with you, bringing wagons packed with grains, teams of cattle, stacks of firewood, and a variety of tools that might be turned to martial use, should the need arise.

Your the healers from citadel and the acolytes of Ayailla have worked tirelessly through the night, and though many of the wounded are still in serious condition, you look forward to not losing many more.

With so many mouths to feed, rations remain meager at best. Still, the road to Ork Watch is far easier than the roar from Citadel was.
-----------

In the time of King Gunter the Fist, Ork Watch and Stone Watch were established as a forward outposts protecting Timaril against the mountain tribes and the Dwarven Holdings respectively.

Over the years they've grown into well established cities in their own rights, sitting on busy trade routes, and, while both still owe fealty to Timaril and are ruled by the republic's nobles, they are sufficiently distant that their populations can get away with things that might not otherwise be acceptable under Timaril law.

Mercenary troops are thick as flies in Ork Watch. Nearly every company on the continent holds a barracks here, and given enough gold, a man could walk in alone one day, and leave the next with an army ten thousand strong at his back. (Though mercs are notoriously dishonorable when not being fed a constant stream of gold, and even then...)

The city is grown up around a stout fortress that is by no means even near the hulking monstrosity that Citadel was, but appears to be strong in its own right none the less.

Your column is spotted by the city's watch miles before you reach it, and by the time you get there, a 'welcoming party' is waiting for you. Three men in garish silk garb and frilly armor, and two dozen soldiers lined up behind them, all mounted.

The apparent leader steps forwards at your approach. A slimy man with red hair and a curling mustache. He gives you a disdainful once over, and sniffs.

"... And who, pray tell, might you be?"

Karazi

"Oh we're here for the wedding, you should have me down as -Karazi, plus a few thousand-"

Slapping his knee and chuckling a bit at his own joke before goin on to explain "Sorry sorry, couldn't resist a bit of fun with ya ! it's been a rough few days it has. See, long story short...there's a whole slew of Barbarians headed to the Holy City.

Seeing as how they didn't want to be dead, we're trying to get these nice non-combatants to some safety."

Taking the man aside a bit "Now why don't you show us where we can setup for the night...as it's been a long day and I can fill you in on the details over a nice warm meal"

The man sniffs, and gestures to the western side of the city.

"You may camp on the outskirts, and Lord Jarryn has graciously agreed to supply rations and basic supplies. You'll need to see to your own security, however, unless you've the gold to hire it."

Settling down in the outskirts of town takes a few hours, after things have gone quiet he sits down with a few of the more outspoken leaders in the caravan of refugees.

"Well, I've done what I can to get you folks to some relative safety. You shouldn't have much trouble finding a place here with your skills or money.

Hell maybe even hire up some mercs to escort you to another city if you've got the hankering. If anyones got connections in Deep Mote and wants to try their hand there...they're welcome to come with us."

Standing up while merely gazing into the fire "It's been a rough week for most of us I'd say, I know this ain't how you expected it to turn out. But I need to get back to Deep Mote and make sure they know what's happened. Too many messengers have been delayed or died already so I'll be heading out with my Hammer company in the morning.

I wish you nothing but luck...be ready in the morning if you feel the need to come to the Mote"

Calling it a night shortly after talking with them, he spreads the words to the troopers to be ready to move come the dawn.

Come morning, there are a few who gather with the company to make for Deep Mote, but not very many. They shouldn't slow your pace by much.

As you depart the camp, you spy a lone rider galloping down the road towards you... One of the messengers you sent to Deep Mote...

Reaching the company, he dismounts, and staggers forward. His horse is flagging badly, and its clear that be probably hasn't slept for several days.

"Karazi Strongstone!" He calls before breaking down into hacking coughs as he gasps for air. Regaining himself, he continues...

"... Jory Forrest, as it please you, sir." He states breathlessly. "They killed Kester on our way to the 'Mote, sir. The foothills were thick with the tribesmen when we passed. I made it through, though, an' got your message to the Ironjaw. He grilled me right good for two days, before sending me back to you..." he hands you a crumpled envelope.

"... I saw the horde on my way here to you, sir. They'd reached Longroad a day ago, and sacked it, 'far as I could tell. I dunno if they're coming here, but if you're returning to the 'Mote, you should circle eastward, an' stay off the road."

The man stands unsteadily before you, awaiting your response, and you suddenly realize how young he is... Sixteen, perhaps, maybe less.

Within the envelope is a letter from Ironjaw:

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Karazi and Taalkar,

A bloody mess this has turned out to be. We got word of the attack on Beluvah about four days after you left, and it sent half the kingdom into righteous fury, and the other half to plotting and scheming.

When your boy got through with word of the invasion from the North, it only made things worse. The Coucil is in a bloody riot. The King has called the banners, but no-one can agree on where to send them, or if we should be marching at all.

As such, I need you to send your Hammar Company home, as we'll be needing every man we've got whenever this mess gets sorted.

I've got separate orders for the pair of you: In order to help get this mess sorted, I need you two to go to Beluvah, and have a look at what we're up against.

Keep your heads down. We don't know how the other cities are responding yet, and we don't yet know who our friends are, or if we even still have any.

Good luck,

Ironjaw

Grimly reading the letter, with the occasional grumble. He eventually looks back up at the lad "You've done well getting these missives delivered..You'll need to see about taking care of your kin now I suspect. They're camped at Ork Watch just a few hours back, My deepest thanks for your service here"

Turning to Taalkar he mutters a bit "Seems we're to go scouting...Ironjaw wants more eyes on what's going on in the blasted Holy City"

Turning to his Company he searches out the Sergeant New orders for us, but the company is needed at Deep Mote. Continue on and report in to Ironjaw, he's got a different task in mind for my brother and I it seems"

"Now you heard what the messenger had to say about the Hordes movements, so I expect you all to stay out of trouble until otherwise ordered...no need to bring back heads to Ironjaw !"


Pulling some of his gear free from a pack mule as he sees Taalkar doing the same, they make haste to get on with their newly appointed task.

"Travel safe my friends and don't do anything Taalkar might consider a good idea"

Your new orders in hand, you part ways with your company, and return to the bustling streets of Ork Watch.

The smell of war is in the air, as you make your way through the squares and alleys thick with mercenary conscripts and elite soldiers alike, squandering their remaining gold, or treating and stocking their arms and armors.

The air filled with the cacophony of hammers ringing against metal, mingled with the rauchous laughter and cries spilling out of taverns and brothels, as you push and shove your way through the crowded streets in search of sundries, and reliable, or at least capable, escort.

Supplies stocked, and escort hired, you depart Ork Watch, and cut Southeast across country to Stone Watch, shaving a day or so off the easier travel by road.

Cresting a hill, you find Stone Watch to be a smoking mess... The closest major city to Beluvah, it is swamped in refugees. Thousands of them are camped outside the walls, huddled around pit fires, and standing about in ration lines, the city is all but besiged by them...

Indeed, as you approach closer, it becomes clear that the cities gates are closed, and for miles around the land might have been plagued by locust, so picked clean of eatables it has become...

... Winter is a bad time to go to war.

You are uninformed of the real situation, but you know it has been at least two weeks since Beluvah fell... These people have spent all that time settled in this camp, while food runs short, and temperatures steadily drop.

Without major support from Timaril, you doubt it will be long before the rabble assault the city...

But your duties lie elseware, and the plight of these people is not one you can aid at this time.

Circling wide around the city, you press onwards towards the Holy City.

The land around is empty and desolate. Not a soul walks the usually heavily traveled highway... You heard it told that while refugee's flooded out from Beluvah initially, it was only a day or two before the torrent slowed to a trickle, and then stopped all togather... And none have gone back since, that you're aware of.

You are a little over a day's ride from the city when the first oddity catches your eye... A dried, husk of some barky, pinkish fungus... As you travel, you see more spots of the stuff sparsely scattered across the landscape where it had grown a little before drying up and dying. You find a few places where it has managed to take ahold and keep living, mostly in heavily shrubbed or shadowed areas, but not many.

As dusk approaches, you settle down to make camp. It's cold, and there is a steady snow falling, but only a fool would risk a fire this close to potentially hostile terratory.

Setting a watch, you huddle in for a miserably cold night...

For Taalkar:

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You toss and turn through the frigid night, huddled against your brother's back. Your watch comes and goes without incident, but you never manage to get fully to sleep... Perhaps for the best, because you'd probably freeze...

Suddenly, your ears perk up... It's Karazi's watch, and you can hear him stomping of somewhere, keeping watch and trying to stay warm, but it's Slim, the archer you picked up... Sitting on a broken log, whittling something, he suddenly makes an odd gurgling sound, and as you peer at him, you become aware of a long, bizzare, crystalline spike protruding from his chest...

In the next moment, the spike dissapears, and the archer crumples face first onto the ground.

For All:

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Taalkar, you may sound the alarm.

Please roll Initiative.

Go ahead and roll for Karl, Morgan, and Arrin too. Slim, I'm afraid, is dead.

Taalkar's eyes bulge as he sees the arrow pierce Slim. Like a hammer on a cooling piece of Iron, it beats away the cold, melancholy exterior revealing the red hot metal underneath. He rolls neatly to the sit and springs into a squatting position holding his large axe at the ready.

To Arms He says, hopefully loud enough for the camp to hear. Wouldn't hurt if their attackers know their presence has been spotted. His magically enhanced vision searches the night for traces of the attackers.

Karazi looks around startled, not sure exactly what's going on but trying to take stock of the situation.

Speaking a word in Terran Sid quickly heads to his side as they look into the darkness.

the night is black as pitch, and while the heritage of your people as adapted your eyes to seeing without light, the men with you have a harder time as they scramble to get their bearings...

Even still, the things assailing you are quick, and difficult to keep track of, flitting through the trees, back and forth, springing in to attack, before falling back... You think there are perhaps six of them... They're small... Smaller than the men, and even smaller than you, though not by much.

In the scuffling, you hear Arrin cry out as two fall upon him, and Karl and Morgan are soon clearly embattled as well.

The Map:

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http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/...ps276b4ffc.jpg

S- Slim
A- Arrin
Mo- Morgan
K- Karl (crap, used K twice... Karl is next to Morgan)
F- Sid (Familiar)
K- Karazi (Next to Sid, as F... This totaly makes sense to me, damn it.)
T- Taalkar
M-Monsters.

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Monster 1 attacks Arrin:
[roll0]
Damage:
[roll1]

Monster 2 attacks Arrin:
[roll2]
Damage:
[roll3]

Monster 3 attacks Karl:
[roll4]
Damage:
[roll5]

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crit confirm for Monster 1

[roll0]

Damage:

[roll1]

Karl barely dodges the slash, rolling out of the way quickly as Morgan takes a step back and tries to slam his spear through it's gullet !

Karazi seeing some enemies finally picks out something to whammy, Whistling at Sid to charge one nearby.

Spoiler

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Karl takes a 5ft step forward, Attacking Monster 2
Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

Morgan takes a step to his right and away to start to setup a flank
Attack [roll2]
Damage [roll3]


Karazi Casts Flaming Sphere on Monster 1
Damage fire [roll4]

Sid charges at Monster 1
Attack [roll5]
Damage [roll]1d8+8 [/roll]

Taalkar sizes up the situation pretty quickly. Seeing Arrin attacked viciously, his base instincts kick in. He takes an aggresive posture and charges in. Leaping high in the air, he makes to strike at the attacker.

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Current Stance: Punishing Stance
Manuevers: Iron Heart Surge, Claw at the Moon, Mountain Hammer, Steel Wind
HP: 54
Base AC: 19

I am going to make a charge at M3. Full round to move into range and attack. Leaping the last 10 feet: (Jump Check: DC10 [roll0]) +100% PA Damage
Power Attack: +4 damage, -4 ToHit
Charge: +2 ToHit, -2 AC
Punishing Stance: +1D6 Damage
Using Mountain Hammer: +2d6 Damage

ToHit:[roll1]
Damage:
Weapon - [roll2]
Stance - [roll3]
Manuever - [roll4]

Flailing blindly, Karl swings his heavy broadsword at his assailant... He misses, but in dodging, the creature slips, falling to the ground, where Morgan finds it, and spears it handily.

It's not enough, however... Even pinned to the ground, the creature lashes out with it's bizarre, crystalline blade, cutting through greave and flesh, and nearly crippling the warrior...

Karazi, Sid, and Taalkar rush to the priest's aid, but it's too late... Even as flames erupt, and Taalkar severs the head clean off one of the horrid creatures, the priest crumples forwards, his heavy staff falling listless to the ground.

The remaining creature shies from the light of the fire, but is unbothered by the terrible heat, and you have a moment to witness the beast...

... It's a goblin, you suddenly realize, but so bizarre has its shape become that you hardly understand how you came to that conclusion... Misshapen and malformed, as of generations of inbreeding, it's flesh is scarred and pitted, and neumerous weeping sores cover it... It's right arm has been surgically removed, and a strange, deadly, crystalline spike has been attached, or perhaps grown, in it's place. An odd, tough, almost treebark-like fungus has taken root in its wounds, spreading from the 'arm' across the better portion of its chest and face... It's upper lip has also been removed by a clean, surgical cut, and caps from the fungus have grown over and obliterated one of its eyes, and sprout from one of its ears.

It's other eye, however, gleams sharp and clear, before Sid smashes into it, knocking it back...

Just like that, more appear... Karazi left alone, standing back from the battle, Taalkar, with his back to an open flank, and Karl, blind in the darkness...

Spoiler

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Goblin 4's attack vs. Karazi:
[roll0]
Damage:
[roll1]

Goblin 5's attack vs. Taalkar:
[roll2]
Damage:
[roll3]

Goblin 6's attack vs. Karl:
[roll4]
Damage:
[roll5]

Goblin 2's attack vs. Morgan:
[roll6]
Damage:
[roll7]

Goblin 1's attack vs. Sid:
[roll8]
Damage:
[roll9]


Note: Any bonus you recieve vs. Goblinoids applies.

The Map:

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http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/...psf5a4d27d.jpg

Taalkar spins towards the new attacker and spots two. Shifting his feet into a more stable position, he moves between the goblin and Karl. Heaving out with the long handle of the ax, it's deadly arc reaches out in two strikes at the Goblin attacking the young mercenary, hoping to distract the goblin from the easy kill.

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Stance: Stonefoot Stance
AC returns to 19.

Move due south 5' (between K and G5)
Attack G6 with full attack action - PA:3 (gives reach)

ToHit:[roll0]/[roll1]
Damage:[roll2]/[roll3]

Receiving a deep slash into his flank Karazi grimaces and tries to focus through the pain. Taking a step back he summons a Large Ape to guard him.
Which immediately starts attacking the nearby Goblins.

Falling backwards a bit from the blow, Sid flails back at the goblin, hoping to put it down.


Absorbing the mighty blow best he can Karl swings again at the nimble ...thing, now able to see a little something from the flaming sphere nearby tries to skewer the blasted goblin.

Morgen manages to duck the attack and takes a step away, attacking once more.

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Karazi takes a 5ft step towards the others, then summons the Ape between/to the side of him and the goblin.
Ape full attacks the goblin.
Atk 1 claws [roll0]
Atk 2 claws [roll1]
Atk 3 Bite [roll2]

Damages
Claw 1 [roll3]
Claw 2 [roll4]
Bite [roll5]
Grapple [roll6]

Sid attacks
Attack [roll7]
Damage [roll8]

Morg
Attack [roll9]
Damage [roll10]

Karl
Attack [roll11]
Damage [roll12]

Putting your back against the fellow warrior, you lash out at the attacking creature. Your first cut scrapes a deep gash across its chest, but as you whirl the aft of your axe around, the goblin arches back in a sickening posture, narrowly evading the blow...

Stepping back, the forces of earth and stone swirl around Karazi, forming into a creature holding all the strength of those elements, the beast smashes into the mutant thing. Its first blow sends it tumbling back, but the goblin creature is nimble, and skitters and rolls away as the apish beast presses the attack, jabbering in some disgusting language, before dissapearing into the woods.

Sid makes progress against his quarry, knocking the thing upside the head, and sending it tumbling for a moment before it regains itself... Strangely, as it rolls away, it catches up the ankle of the corpse of is fallen comrade with it's one good hand. Strong, it races off into the woods, fast, and uneffected by the burden of the body.

Taalkar watches in disgust, as the terrible wound he inflicted already begins to scab and heal, the flesh binding back together like squeezed dough into a horrid scar, even as the creature disengages, and flees into the night.

Behind him, the last two creatures take one more stab at Morgan and Karl, the last punching through the big man's chain shirt, and gutting him, before also pulling back and fleeing into the woods...

Spoiler

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Creature 2's attack vs. Morgan:
[roll0]
Damage:
[roll1]

Creature 6's attack vs. Karl:
[roll2]
Damage:
[roll3]

All the wounded goblins heal 4 hit points.

Almost as quickly as it began, it's over.

Morgan rushes to Kar's side, lifting the soldier as blood pumps out of the gaping hole in his chain shirt...

"Healer! Get yer arse over here! He's dyin'!"

Behind, Arrin lies dead in a spreading pool of blood...

Somewhere in the confusion, Slim has disappeared... A grisly stain, a knife, and a bit of whittled wood still mark the spot where he fell, but his body is gone.

Karazi takes a moment to check on his newly bought allies as he pulls out his newly bought wand, casting a few minor healing charms from it to try and rejuvenate the wounded.

Looking around he tries to find a piece of the growths on those goblins, or perhaps some of the similar fungus growing in patches nearby...it bears some study.

"Well then, that was a hell of a thing to happen...what the hell was growing on those goblins, and the way they pulled themselves together...was quite disturbing."

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Not sure if Karl is dead or uncon, but Vigor on him if he's not dead.
And one on Morg, Sid and Karazi.

Lets study that fungus or whatever, got knowledge Nature and survival
Nature [roll0] +2 synergy
Surv [roll1] +2 Synergy

For Karazi:

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Thanks to Taalkar, you still have the head of one of the goblins to compare with.

The fungus is a subterranean sort. Not one you've ever seen before, but not so different from many of the types cultivated in Deep Mote. You could feasibly eat it, if you so chose.

The fungus on the goblin is definitely the same, and the two clearly operate in symbiosis. It's skin is rough and bark-like, much as the body of the fungus, and upon dissection, you find the fungus growing along side, and even replacing many of the vital nerves and organs in the creatures brain, and presumably through the rest of its body.

Aye. The one I cut, he shutters thinking about it, healed it right back up. Looking at the head of the one that was left, I guess they can be killed but that one was a lucky hit. I wonder how a straight fight would end.

Kneeling to look more closely at one of the fungiWhat is this stuff anyway?

"Not entirely sure...but it sure seems to stitch them back together right quick it does, if you hadn't taken his head I'd bet money he could have come back from just about any other serious wound."

And someone basically replaced that ones arm....it was definitely intentionally done, not normal goblins and weird limb replacement. Not sure what we've stumbled upon here"

"I'm going to bring the head along, maybe with some more study I can figure out this fungus that seems to have incorporated itself so thoroughly into his body

"Those little mutated bastards just dragged Slim right out from behind us..."

Poor Sod was already dead, but damn that's a hell of a way to end up. Well we'll patch up what we can and get a bit more rest...this night ain't over yet after all"

Brother, Taalkar strokes his chin thoughtfully, You sure the whole thing won't grow back from the head?

"Uh well...sure...maybe not. I don't think so ! how bout that."

As the quiet pervades the camp, and the nerves start to really calm down Karazi just sighs and takes a moment to himself.

Shaking his head he reaches into his sack for a shapestone tablet, shifting it into a solid shovel he sets to work for a little while, digging a none too fancy grave for the recently departed adept.

Pulling off the adepts sack of rations and his moneybag, which he tosses to the other two mercenarys he stretches a moment before rolling the adept into the somewhat shallow grave.

Sid comes a moment later with a decent sized rock rolling along the ground, settling it right next to the hole.

Hands glowing for a moment as he calls upon Nature to give him a hand, he places a hand on the stone. Quickly it starts to flow over the body forming a hard casement over the filled in earth.

"Wish we could have prevented them from dragging Slim off...but at least this one they wont get easily. Lets get a bit more rest and get back on the road...I'm sure this wont be the last of our troubles"

Morgan helps Karazi dig the grave, as Karl lays unconscious. The magics slowely healing his wounds, it will still be some time before he is operable again.

You discuss, for a time, the option of moving camp... But at this hour, any move you made would be trackable, and if the things were going to come back, doubtless they'd find you regardless.

And so you huddle in for the remainder of the night, shivering through the lasts few hours before dawn.

... ... ...

You are undisturbed come morning, and as the light filters through the trees, the party gathers itself to press forwards.

Your path to Beluvah, at this point, offers a few different options...

The Highway cuts through both forests and mountains leading directly to the city. The way is cleared for easy travel, however, and does not provide much cover... It will be difficult to make an approach unseen by this avenue.

Northward, the mountains rise sharply into the Silver Peak Range. The terrain is rocky and thickly forested, and while difficult to travers, the vantage points from the cliffs overlooking the bay would provide excellent view of the city, as well as heavy cover. Going will be slow, however, and it will likely take at least two more days before you reach a viable position.

To the South, the mountains fade into rolling foothills, and the forest diminishes into rough plains. This way, the traveling will be much easier, and the hills, tall grasses, and thick shrubs shall provide some degree of cover. A circuitous route shall provide adequate view of the city, though should you be persued, there will not be any real place to hide...