The Art of Warfare (IC)

[playswithfire]

You have all been brought to a Bohiqin secret military encampment. Or, at least, you assume it must be a secret as you were blindfolded during your journey to it. Upon arrival, you are instructed and, if necessary, forced to turn over your weapons to a pair of goliaths in Bohiqin military uniforms while a similarly attired but higher ranking dwarf makes note of the weapons and promises their return.

You are then led to a large tent and told to wait.

A map covers the entirety of the large table in the center of the tent and various reports and smaller maps are attached to the walls, the latter covered in various military notations. There are chairs scattered around the tent, including a larger one at the head of the table.

[vikingofdoom]

Nole, a strikingly tall man with piercing golden eyes and ebony feathers, studies the map, aiming to divine its purpose. He asks of the guards, "Why have you taken us here, and where is here?"

[playswithfire]

The guards simply half-shrug and then glare at you before closing the tent flap, remaining outside. You get the impression that while they clearly know where they are, they likely don't know why you're there any more than you do.

The map is simply a map of the continent. Small stacks of colored blocks and forked wooden rods along the edges suggest that the map on the table is used for planning military maneuvers.

The entrances to the tent remain closed until another 'guest' is ushered in.

[Rumel]

Hey you! the fire elf says pointing at the stranger Where are we? Who are you? Why are we here? he asks in rapid succession

[vikingofdoom]

"My name is Nole, but I unfortunately can't answer any of your other questions. Don't bother trying to ask the guards anything, they won't answer. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me your name?" the raptoran replies, not looking up from the map while he tries to decipher what was being planned on the map.

[hunt11]

After feeling a slight burst of anger Grexnok forces himself to stay calm. Looking around the tent he sees the big map on the table, deciding that he had nothing better to do he sat by the table and started to look over the map in an attempt to figure out what they wanted with him.

[playswithfire]

The tent flap on the opposite wall from where you entered opens and a short human enters, an open piece of parchment in his right hand. His bearing and the size of his rank insignia make it clear that he has been in the military for many years, but the neatness of the uniform and the spectacles on his face imply that he has spent most of his recent service behind a desk. He looks at each of you, then down at the parchment, raps his other hand against it and frowns.

Turning his attention back in your direction, he puts the parchment in his pocket and claps his hands once. Obviously waiting for that signal, the two guards from before enter the tent and take up positions on either side of the tent flap.

The human addresses you all. Well, there are supposed to be more of you, but I'm bu... this is time-sensitive, so we'll have to get this briefing started and you three can get the other two up to speed later.
He moves to the large chair at the head of the table and moves two clusters of blocks onto to the map, gesturing to the elf to join the other two at the table. Short version. There are, at present, two convoys on the move; one from Taurqi to Pyrchi, the other vice versa, containing items the two nations intend to exchange to mark and ensure and end to the recent hostilities between them. Your mission is to intercept this one, gesturing to the more westerly block pile, and bring its contents to our agent here, gesturing to a blue block in Ch'ukal. From our intelligence, each convoy is a single carriage with a retainer of guards, somewhere around half a dozen. Questions?

[Rumel]

Do we get to kill em'? the elf asks smiling

[playswithfire]

He raises an eyebrow at that being the first question but recovers quickly and answers, Operationally, this mission can be a success whether the guards survive or not. However, the optimal outcome would probably be for you to let one escape and report the theft. Your weapons and armor will be subtly glammered to resemble those favored by Ch'ukal soldiers and their preferred mercenaries and a report of a Ch'ukali attack would be beneficial, though, as I said, not required.

[Rumel]

So... I can kill em'? he asks again, a little more serious

Spoiler

Show

I'm playing Rumel as a bloodthirsty barbarian (like Belkar from the comic

[vikingofdoom]

"Yes, my blood-thirsty accomplice, it appears that we can kill them. Please try to restrain yourself in battle though, as we want one of them to survive and report our..." Nole pauses here, searching for the right word, "activities. I am assuming that this is an attempt to prolong the war, correct?" Nole tries to commit the landmarks on the map to memory, aiming to be able to piece together the view from the air. He then continues, "But if am to serve you, I would like to know where we are and who we are fighting for."

[Rumel]

I'd just like to point out, I don't actually care who I'm working for. I just want something to to kill. the elf states smiling

[playswithfire]

Rolling his eyes at the elf, the man turns back to Nole and the map. You're close, but not quite right. Hostilities between Taurqi and Pyrchi pretty much have to end. Neither of them can effectively beat the other and both armies have been depleted learning that fact. Which is the reason they've declared peace.

Tapping the map, specifically Ch'ukal, he continues, What they haven't learned is that Ch'ukal has been providing weapons to both sides. Initially, it seems, the arms were provided by regional governments who independently and legitimately supported their respective sides. Over time, though, the Ch'ukal government took over both sales to keep the fighting going. If Ch'ukal were found to be disrupting the convoys with the apparent intent of prolonging the fight, we expect, and will encourage, this fact to come out and result in the combined forces of Taurqi and Pyrchi uniting against Ch'ukal.

As if to himself, he mutters Two weakened armies combined can still take on one army. He clears his throat and taps the map at the intersection of Pyrchi, Taurqi, Ch'ukal and Bohiqin. So, you're disrupting the peace between these two and framing this third one. His finger slides towards Bohiqin and then he moves away from the table. Any more questions?

[vikingofdoom]

No, I merely wanted that question answered, and I am assuming based on your artful manoeuvring that you aren't going to tell us who hired us. I agree to help you on this endeavour.

[Bandededed]

A small commotion arises from outside the tent, before a halfling is shoved through the flaps, landing unceremoniously in a sitting position.

He manages a half-turn in the general direction of the entrance (as he is still blind-folded) and says, "A little less rough would be good! If you really wanted a song you could've at least waited until I had finished with that set...

and maybe had a chance to escape" he adds, not yet aware there are others about.

[hunt11]

Ignoring the halfing Graxnok says. "Since we do not have to worry about taking any prisoners I have no problems in doing this mission." As he finishes his sentence he thinks to himself. Hopefully I will be able to control myself this time.

[Bandededed]

"Wait, not taking prisoners?" he gasps, curling slightly in on himself. "I take it back! Don't kill me!

[playswithfire]

The man's head drops into his palm at the halfling's antics but he regains his composure and addresses the newcomer. You are not currently a prisoner, nor are you about to be killed unless you become overly irritating. You are, for lack of a better term, an employee, who is being hired, as I just told these three, to hijack the contents of the convoy represented here. He gestures again to the map and addresses the group. We expect the convoy to be at this convenient bend in the road in roughly eight hours' time and it will take you about five hours to get there, so I'd like to wrap this up, unless there are more questions.

He looks at the tent flap behind the halfing and speaks directly to him Did you see anyone else being escorted this way? There should be one more of you.

[Bandededed]

The man's head drops into his palm at the halfling's antics but he regains his composure and addresses the newcomer. You are not currently a prisoner, nor are you about to be killed.

"OhthankBahamut," Layan squeaks out quickly.

You are, for lack of a better term, an employee, who is being hired, as I just told these three, to hijack the contents of the convoy represented here. He gestures again to the map and addresses the group.

"Can't see, can't see," the halfling muttered as he timidly pulled down his blindfold. The map was fairly easy to memorize.

He looks at the tent flap behind the halfing and speaks directly to him Did you see anyone else being escorted this way? There should be one more of you.

"Er, no," Layan says, looking up from the map and holding a small hand to his throat, where his blindfold rested. "I was... somewhat suspicious of your men, and... well..." the halfling cleared his throat, "You saw," he finished, a fine blush rising on his cheeks.

[playswithfire]

After briefly looking up to the sky as if to ask whatever deity was listening why the four of you were chosen, the man quickly regains his composure Of course. Well, if there are no further questions, you may all retrieve your weapons from the camp clerk. Pointing as he continues Out the flap you came in, turn left, then right at the first path intersection. Someone will meet you there to treat your clothing as I mentioned. If you wish, he will also direct you to the mess tent, though, as I said, you'll need to be moving on within a few hours.

Having said his piece, he turns to leave. The four guards hold open both sets of tent flaps and the second pair move to follow the man out, but pause as he turns back at the threshold. One last thing. While I don't care what your names are, I do need to work together, so you might want to introduce yourselves to each other on your walk. And he departs, flanked again by his guards. The remaining two grunt and gesture for you to leave the way you came.

[Beschoren]

A very large man with long beard walks in just before everyone leaves. Still blindfolded, he listens to the footsteps and elas his head

"Hum... the meeting has already started?"

[Rumel]

No, your just in time. Sit down and wait for the guy in charge... But you have to keep your blindfold on for, uh, safety reasons the elf says trying to trick the bearded man.

[Bandededed]

Layan peered at the elf quizzically. If there was a big guy who was to join them, then why wouldn't they want him between them and arrows?

Or, perhaps all of his new 'friends' were the type to take the direct approach. They had that look about them...

Damn it all... Well, at least they'd be between himself and the arrows. He couldn't always count on Link, he knew.

Nodding to himself, the halfling muttered - just loud enough for the newcomer to hear, of course - "I'm surprised your pants aren't burning for that..." before taking a deep breath and issuing a piercing whistle that brought Link, Layan's noble steed, from where he was resting just outside the encampment.

"Aw. Who's a good boy? You waited this whole time!" Layan pronounced, affectionately petting the few places on his dog not covered by the heavy, dark green barding.

[playswithfire]

One guard pulls back the tent flap and unceremoniously shoves Rumel out of the tent while the other pulls the blindfold off the bearded man and informs him simply Meeting ended. These four know what's going on; just go with them. They then herd everyone still in the tent outside. Pointing, the guard who hadn't spoken yet reminds you all That way, then turn right.

The guards walk off in the other direction.

[Bandededed]

"The guard is right, of course, my bearded associate," Layan says heartily. "We have simply to meet with a few fellows who have a caravan of goods, and, dare I say it, abscond with whatever we can,"

He glances at the others of the group.

"And, apparently, we don't need prisoners..."

[playswithfire]

As you walk through the camp, the occasional soldier reacts to your presence and some even go so far as to reach for their weapon before either remembering, or being reminded by someone next to them, that the five of you are supposed to be there. Despite the now-obvious paranoia of the camp's residents, you make it to the camp clerk's tent without incident.

Upon entering, you find one man in the same uniform as all the other soldiers sitting at a small desk, apparently in some sort of a trance, and another pacing the tent whose uniform is augmented with a black collar and cuffs. The latter nods to acknowledge your presence but holds up a hand to stop you from saying anything.

A moment later, the seated man emerges from his trance. What part of *mumble mumble* don't they underst... Ah, yes, finally, here you are. He shuffles some papers around on his desk and hands a single sheet to each of you. These papers will identify you to our man in Ch'ukal. He turns back to his desk and seems to tick off this event in a log book of sorts and nods to the other man who hands you back your weapons then says simply Stand still. and begins muttering and waving his hands in your direction for a moment. There, done. As you look at your clothes and weapons, you find them subtly different, but not in any significant way, at least to your eye. You're ready for your mission, but, if you'd like some food first, follow me. We walks back out the tent without waiting for a response.

[Beschoren]

Guan Yu keeps to himself, despite the elf's manners and the guard's paranoia. He takes on the vital information for the task, and after a while aks for each one of their roles and skills in battle, so he could better manage them in battle.

He accepts the lunch offer graceously. There's no need to fight hungry.

[vikingofdoom]

Nole considers whether it would be more important to get hurrying on this mission, or to join in the meal. He decides to be polite and have a bite to eat before flying off to scout out the path. During the meal, he tries to strike up a conversation with Guan Yu, apologizing for their elven companions rudeness during the meeting.

[Rumel]

Rumel follows the others to get food and eats quietly thinking of the raid to come

[playswithfire]

The food is not particularly appealing, but tolerable, much as one might expect from a military camp. The other soldiers continue to ignore, though the word "merc" can occasionally be heard in a derogatory tone. Once you finish eating, the same man with the black collar and cuffs leads you to the border of the camp, provides you with another copy of the map you saw in the tent.

You note three markings on the map: a square, an X, and a triangle. He points at them in turn and explains. Follow this path for about thirty minutes. You'll find a large square carved on a large tree. That's this first mark. The convoy will be at the X in seven hours and you'll meet your contact at the triangle once you've taken possession. Good luck and, of course, you were never here. There is, of course, no marking for the camp on the map.