The Last Paladin IC - Part II

[Frosty]

Karrin smiles as her allies ready themselves. When Kensin and Berich return, the paladin considers the different options. "In your opinions, which targets are of highest strategic value in the upcoming battle between Whiteveil and this force? While I'd like to scatter the conscripts so I don't have to kill many of them, they might not have contributed much to the battle anyways. As for the war beasts, do you think there's any way we can start a panic'ed stampede, and get them to trample their own army? Even if not, if we take care of the handlers, I wonder if the beasts will still fight us? Of course, taking down the mages will weaken this army significantly I'm sure, but it is also likely the most difficult."

She looks at the army and sighs. "Gotta remember that we're not here to take the targets out, but merely to give them the slip, but damn I want to take out those mages..."

[Maquise]

Berich responds, "Attacking the mages would both significantly weaken the siege and put us closest to the front gate. It would be the hardest fight, though.

As for the beasts, it depends on their temperament, along with how good they are trained. They aren't likely to be very intelligent, though, so we would have the advantage there."

[Frosty]

"Well, I think I would like to attack the mages, but I won't force you all to if you are all dead set against that since our primary objective is to reach Whiteveil. Let's start with you Grembler. What do you think? Under the assumption that we will be fighting that we will help in the city's defense later on anyways, we may make the fight easier for us later. Danger now? Or danger later. That's the choice."

[Maquise]

"Maybe wrong question. Maybe, danger with friends, or danger by ourselves? We go into big city, we get help. We fight out here, have no help," Grembler says.

[Frosty]

"Hmm...that is a good point. Let's take on the war beasts and see if we can cause a stampede on our way through. Any opinions?"

[Maquise]

"We shall have to be cunning," Kensin says. "The beasts are strong and vicious. More than a few have wings as well. I spotted a pair of forest drakes, gryphons, along with several war ogres, heavily armed and armored."

[Frosty]

"Grembler, do you have any abilities that can sow chaos amongt the beasts? Make them hit each other or something?"

[Maquise]

"No, but that be interesting spell to learn. Grembler do have... way of confusing bad folk. Can make them 'fraid, too. You like me to get those wierdings ready, or to summon more creatures?"

[Frosty]

"Yes, do it. Don't you also have wierdings that you...don't need to prepare? That you can just do on the fly?"

[Maquise]

"Mmmh... I can do a bit of healing, and I can make the badfolk not fight as hard. But these wierdings only work once on a guy."

[Frosty]

"Is that because you don't try hard enough?" teases Karrin. "We've got to get you a small crossbow or something so you can defend yourself in case you run out of wierdings. Please tell me when you are done with your preparations. The rest of you, any preparations or suggestions? I say we save the confusion magic for the stupidest yet strongest looking enemies."

[Maquise]

Davkas steps forward. "I am capable of confusing opponents. Perhaps, though, we should wait until the evening. A few of us could pass through them undetected, and sow chaos amongst them. Or perhaps we could go into Whiteveil and retrieve aid."

[Frosty]

"If you can sneak through undetected y yourself, that could help. Maybe get Whiteveil to coordinate a hail of arrows right before I charge in and kill a handler or two and then we RUN for the other side. Grembler should be riding on my horse behind me for this one, making the beasts confused."

[Maquise]

"I can go," Lyanna says, "I think that I'll be of most help that way."

"I wonder the best time to strike," Kensin says. "Normally I'd try in the night, but these beasts may be advantaged then."

[Frosty]

"Who is going with Lyanna? Going alone is dangerous. Lyanna, do you know if many of those beasts can see in the dark?"

[Maquise]

"They all can, to a degree," Lyanna says. "But I should be able to avoid them. I can see fairly well in low light."

"I can accompany her," Kensin says, "I am quite skilled at discreet movement."

[Frosty]

"If they all can see in the dark, then you might as well do the sneaking in the daylight right? Anyhow, whenever you're ready..."

[Maquise]

The two of them depart, moving silently down the plains, quickly disappearing from sight.

Hours pass, the sun moving slowly across the sky. You watch the siege lines carefully, noting how the troops move. "They aren't being very careful," notes Berich. "We haven't had to evade any patrols yet. Their commander is either very arrogant, or very stupid."

"Aren't those the same?" Mirabelle asks.

"Something is wrong," Davkas says. "We should have heard back from them by now."

"Don't be impatient," replies Berich. "Nothing is certain in war. I think we can afford to wait a bit longer yet."

[Frosty]

"Watch for any signals or movements from Whiteveil. If they got through to Whiteveil they might start an attack from that side to give us an opportunity to charge in."

[Maquise]

You continue to wait, as the sun sinks towards the horizon. Your companions, Mirabelle in particular, seem to grow restless.

"There are strangers nearby," Davkas says in a whisper. You discreetly examine your surroundings but don't see anything. "They are very stealthy. Small too, members of the little folk. They remind me of Underbough's gang, perhaps they are halflings."

"Do they look hostile?" Mirabelle asks, slowly reaching for her sword. "They could be for either side."

"I cannot say, but they are definitely well armed."

[Frosty]

"Where are they? I want to confront them without them running away if possible. Show of strength, but not hostility."

[Maquise]

"We are now surrounded," Davkas says.

"Alright then," Berich says in a loud voice, hammer in hand but at rest at his side. "Why don't you come out and we speak face to face like civilized folk."

From out of the shrubbery, a halfling in a yellow-green cloak emerges. He carries a sling and has several knives on his person.

"I assume you must be the friends we were sent to get in. This could be tricky, but not impossible. Are you ready?"

"Sir," another one of them says, "What about the prisoners?" She indicates the soldiers you brought with you.

"Our orders were to get everyone in. Cover their eyes and gag them."

[Frosty]

Karrin oes go gag and blindfold the prisoners. "Sorry to impose. You've been very cooperative so far, and I will note that in any report I make."

Turning back to the halflings, Karrin asks, "Alright, what is the plan to sneak past the beasts?"

[Maquise]

"Simple. We don't. At least, not my companions and I. Our master says that if you wish to fight, now is the time." He loads a stone into his sling. "Either way, this siege will be broken. At dusk, the Knights of Whiteveil ride from the gate. We will draw the enemy's attention to us, and put their backs to the gate."

[Frosty]

"We will fight. I think I'll be able to draw the attention of these beasts. So, we shall wait until near dusk, then attack the enemy, and then the knights will ride out and gut the beasts from behind?"

[Maquise]

"Indeed. We had best get ready," the leader says, indicating the position of the sun, just above the horizon.

"So what is the plan?" Mirabelle asks. Trombe is the only trained warhorse, and only you have mounted combat training.

(Map. Dark grey is impassable. Light grey is difficult terrain. Green is tall grass that provides partial concealment, or full if prone or small. Enemies can be examined further by moving closer.)

[Frosty]

ooc - are the drakes grounded right now?

[Maquise]

(The drakes and gryphons are grounded, yes)

[Frosty]

(should've asked this before, but since combat hasn't started, it's all good probably)

Before they leap into the fray, Karrin says, "You halflings ought to hide tall grass and surprise the enemy when they come for the rest of us. Target the handlers if you can. We will move a bit closer first so I am within charging distance of the lead drake. Grembler, if you need to be somewhat close to land your wierdings and curses, then ride with me. Otherwise, hide the horses and fight on foot like everyone else. What can anyone tell me about drakes and gryphons? What do we know about them?"

[Maquise]

Grembler nods and hops up on the saddle. "Methinks I could do better up here," he says.

One of the halflings, carrying a bow, answers your question. "Gryphons are magical beasts native to the highlands north of here. While they normally don't take sides in the wars of humanoids, it wouldn't surprise me if Angrove either recruited or pressed them into service. Drakes are primitive cousins of dragons. Fiercely tempered and vicious, though not as inherently magical or intelligent as their larger kin."