Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Nihal]

"It was about time to one of you returned! Aye, we need to know what Ankari intends to do, otherwise we might even put he or the Crow in danger." I lower my eyes, thinking. "He is taking too long. See if he caught one of them—or heard their conversations—and discover what he learnt. Do you remember the lizard he caught? He must have a knack for it.

"About those cliffs, are the enemies looking down? If they are not too long..." I shrug my shoulders. "In any case our enemy is in no rush, I do not see why should we rush either."

 

[Keitsumah]

I block out everyone -no one seems to be in a mood for civil talk at the moment apparently- and instead focus on the berries.

Bagging the new good berries, and storing the rest for later, I stand, hearing the last snippets of the information we now have. I swallow.

"We could taint their water with a sleeping powder -or poison it. If it ends up coming down to waiting them out, we will have the edge." i mutter quietly.



((From LS: Moved rolls to Act II, but left Keit's reaction and berry-organizing here in Act III))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I tell Mauve, "Your plan for a distraction is perfect. Will you be safe? Safe enough to keep Branwen with you?" The spell can fail. "You know what I mean by safe… but if you direct her to stay fifty feet away, she'll listen."

I don't waste my breath on the similarities between her plan and mine, or how the second in command will not be an obvious target like the alpha. For some reason, she's civil to me in a whisper after attacking me aloud.

Alin obviously heard the bickering. "Welcome back." Does he know I was civil the whole time? Does he know Mauve lost it, whether due to corruption or anger? Am I guilty by association?

 

[Nihal]

"I hope." I put Branwen down, kneeling and patting on the ground. "Stay."

Getting to my feet, I raise my hands, palms turned to Branwen and repeat. "Stay." With this I start to retreat, guiding her back to the place I left her if she tries to leave and repeating my request.

 

[SeverinR]

Happy to be away from the hostility, but seeking out the ranger.

I move with all caution to where I am a stone throw away from the ranger. I toss a small pebble just behind him to get him to see me before I approach.
Accidental wounds by a..."friend" are as deadly as those by a enemy, and they take longer to heal completely as the friendship festers worse then the wound.

I move up to the ranger when he sees me.

"The group awaits direction, they are doing their required pre-battle bickering, I am hoping they are about done with it. Come back and share what you have noticed with the group and give us your take on how best to handle this."

 

[SeverinR]

[just adding some information I just recieved, that would have been part of the previous report]

"My estimate is the total enemy seems to be around 30.
I noticed one patrol moves around the Crow and three patrols circle the town.
The sentrys have arcing patrols around the town, that include the cliffs. One pair is always at the cliffs."

I look towards the ocean,
"At the docks, one larger boat has a sail and oars, could hold all the group. There are two smaller boats that could hold five people each, these have only oars. If we send Burnbright on a boat, we need to ensure no other boats will be available to follow her. We must scuttle or set them adrift."

[carry on, I am waiting for Ankari to answer me.]

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"We could take all of the boats. If there's a small number of people in the Crow—less than ten according to Egil, meaning they can all fit on the boats—we can rescue everyone… or we can rally them to fight.

"Mauve, I agree that we should assess the situation in the tavern before engaging the enemy or making our presence known. I actually think if there's room on the boats, it's worth trying to get people out. If the enemy is ready to torch the place, fighting from inside the tavern is suicide. Shooting from the roof would be okay since the flames wouldn't cause the place to collapse quickly… but we don't want the place torched!

"Of course, we'll know more when Ankari reports, but I want to know where we stand—no bickering, just straight answers—on the following:

"Boats - do we bring all three with the intent on getting people out if there's room?

"Rooftop - do we shoot, or just make our escape and let the enemy think people are trapped inside while we attempt to move them out quietly? Granted, they'll hear people boarding the boat, so this won't last very long. The question I'm really asking is this: distract from the rescue by shooting, or just rescue?

"Mauve—your distraction - when does it happen? Are you watching us on the boat from afar, intent on distracting an enemy as we get the boats by the Crow?"

 

[Nihal]

"To get them to safety you must do something about the patrollers on the cliff. Depending on how much time they take to switch places that can work."

I take a deep breath. "A message spell is relatively safe and has a good reach, but they will perceive it only as a whisper. The effect would be to make them reallocate some of their forces to a certain place, looking for hidden intruders. It would put them on alert.

"Will it be possible to see the boats from there...?" I squint my eyes. "I want to wait until you are at the sea. I can use other spells as distraction, they would be more effective but they might give off my position. I shall save them for a moment of need." Letting my backpack hang on my shoulder, I look for the map.

"I can not join you in the cliffs with peasant's eyes on me. This map is old, it does not have Srilkind, however, it is still functional. Let's set a meeting place in case anything goes wrong or I see myself unable to join you without revealing myself.

"Oh, and if the druid is not there see if she left the staff behind. It will help our casters."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

Aldars eyes widen, "I have heard of a staff from silkrind, Could you describe it to me, I am almost sure i have a scroll on it here somewhere.. What powers does it grant the caster?Let me have a look"
Aldar begins fumbling through his large rucksack looking for the map.
"I know it's here somewhere..."

 

[Nihal]

"No."

((Sorry, I had to do this! XD))

 

[SeverinR]

[response before I left to find Ankari, from previous update.]

"If Mauve does a distraction, we will need to pick her up or leave a boat for her somewhere to meet us. As long as she doesn't get caught, she should be able to get to a boat that is away from the docks without problem. We need to know a place in advance though."

"when dealing with numbers such as these, I would side on non-violence. We sneak in, sneak out with as many as can go down a rope and no one dies on either side."
"If we are noticed we must be united, if we are noticed with our forced divided, we are lost. No way can we hold off thirty people in undefendable groups, such as half at crow level and half at water level. Or even worse, groups on roof, on ground and on sea levels."
"There is something to say about a stealth entry. Ankari and I go in silent, gather the occupants and lower them to the waiting boats. While the others are standing ready to defend from the boats. Burnbright must be first out, and if need be, that boat might need to leave the rest. If this occurs, do not wait for Ankari and I. We will try to sneak out and away from town and will meet at the location we set for Mauve.
One problem, when they find the escape, the ones in the boats must know when to flee. When all are off the cliffs, know there will be no more fleeing. Any left inside will probably die. Ankari and I will try to slip away from the people before they realize they are probably not going to survive.
I point out the flaws, because I don't want anyone believing this might not get innocents killed."
"If Ankari and I tried to get people out, it would guarantee we would get caught, and we would be killed with them."

"Now for the violent side, If we fight from the roof, we could kill alot. They might break through. We might kill enough to cause them to flee. But they could overwhelm and kill us all and Burnbright would be in their hands. This path would mean alot of death. We would need to kill three for everyone of us. I think it is possible with our group. We would have a great mental advantage if we suddenly appeared in a building they were watching. We would be ghosts..."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Replying to Alin…))

"I'm not stealthy, but I can row as quietly as either of you. I can swim if I take up too much room in the boat… in which case I need to remove my armor beforehand.

"When Ankari's back, let's choose the violent way or non. I want Burnbright safe above all else. While I wish to stop the monsters here, when they split to search for Burnbright, maybe we can handle the smaller groups."

 

[Nihal]

((Answer to Aliron as well.))

"To fight or stay depends on what you learn from the people inside the Crow, doesn't it? It is possible to sneak out taking them if they are few or fight if they are many and capable. If you decide to fight let me know. Fire; get a torch and a bucket, expose the torch and cover it three times so the light will blink three times for me.

"You are right, I can swim, however, Branwen will be in danger if she stays with me and we fight or I get forced to swim.

"My best distraction is the most dangerous, the sound. I may be able to do something with light or darkness... Even if all better than the whisper, I do not know how to make them compelling enough yet."

((@SP When you post later it'll be helpful to learn about the surroundings of the city. Hills, cliffs, forests, where it meets the sea, so they can use the terrain to their advantage.))

 

[SomethingToPonder]

The one thing im concerned about either way is once we are in the boats, if we are exposed, Whats the chances of them being able to sink us? we could be in a very stickysituation if that happens

 

[Steerpike]

((All of the buildings except for the Crow are burned to one degree or another. The map is crude, thanks to my map-making skills, but should give you a general idea of things. Yellow=dog-faces; Green=goblins; White=wargs. The arrows for the creatures closer to town are meant to show roughly the pattern they walk on patrol. If they don't have an arrow, they're staying more or less put. The dots on the outer edges of town represent creatures that are patrolling at the town limits. They are not where they are shown in this map, but are on the edge of town in the direction indicated by their arrow.

There is about one hundred yards of clearance between the tree line and the edge of town on all sides. The villagers clear cut that area. The shoreline from the Crow all the way to the left of the image is rocky and the village is on a cliff. The walk from the Crow to the docks is downhill, and once you get to the docks the ground is even with the level of the sea. The walk from the Crow to the docks is also along a road around twenty feet wide. The houses just below the Crow on the map are also on the higher ground. From the docks, the only way into Srilkind is up the road, unless you want to scale either the sea cliffs or the side of the hills leading up to the houses.

The positions are based on what the scouts have seen most recently)).

 

[SomethingToPonder]

aldar takes va look at the map, pondering over it for a minute before looking rather stumped by what to do.
"so many options, so few correct choices..Ok, what do you guys want to do, lets decide."

 

[SeverinR]

[I think it has been stated, but what are the weapons of the enemy? Swords and spears?]

(Mauve)
"Thats why I think a boat would be best, you would be able to flee anytime, with or without us. You do your part then get out of the area. Even if you only go out far enough to stay out of range."

(Aldar)
"Unless they get in the water around the boat, they shouldn't be able to tip the boats. They shouldn't get that close."
Possibly, if they can get above us, they could throw heavy objects down, but we should be moving away by the time they get to that spot, and they might not find something fast enough."

to group:
"If we are able to get all the boats, we would have enough room to carry 5 people in one boat and maybe one more in the big boat. What do we do if there are more people then that in the Crow? If we make it all the way in without being noticed, we could signal Mauve to set off the diversion and flee back to her boat, then bring it around to the crow. Giving room for another 2 or 3.
Keit, Batos cannot climb, could he guard Mauve's boat? That would give Mauve some protection, if she is being chased and we wouldn't have a wolf taking up space we need for rescue."

"I don't remember, was there any liquor in the bar strong enough to burn? Nothing says good morning like a few flaming cocktails tossed into the crowd."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((@Severin, swords and crossbows - I put that in Baldy's side of the conversation.))


"So, shall we go west?—That's the right of that map, since water is south. If needed, I can swim to the boat nearest to the enemy—underwater, and coming up for air hidden by the dock itself. Otherwise, I fear we'll be spotted trying to get that third boat. Even I can be silent underwater!

"Mauve, will you go out on a boat to distract the enemy? That's much safer than being on a hill… as long as Branwen is safe. Our signal would be hidden by the Crow if we pull as close as possible before lighting a torch. We could let you know when a distraction is needed—a back-and-forth wave of a torch?—and use the torch-and-bucket signal if we need you to approach.

"Alin… the numbers are less than we thought earlier. If we fight, do you prefer to shoot from the rooftops, or we use windows and the doorway to our advantage. I know the dogs carry swords and the goblins crossbows. Were any carrying torches and such, that the Crow could get lit as we fight?"

 

[Nihal]

"Do not forget that they enjoy things on fire. No boat sinking is needed." I shake my head, disagreeing with Aliron. "You will need all the boats you have. If you allow me to keep this," I show the enchanted ring, "I can stand the sea. In this case you will have to take Branwen.

"Baldhart, if Nissa can show herself in the outskirts of the town while I am performing my tricks it would make them more believable. I am still deciding what I should do, but... Damn, I have something to tell you, it will take a few moments!

"Can you hold Branwen for a moment? My arms are getting tired," I lie, raising an eyebrow. "Please, follow me. I know I will regret it, but I am an idiot." I guide her to the cope of trees, looking over my shoulder. "Do not dare to follow me nor send your familiar, elf wizard! I'm watching you."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Girl talk," I tell the elf wizard. "Please excuse us.

"No… wait, I better tell you straight. We need Branwen to pee or poop if she must before we put her on a boat, so please, please don't follow."

I know Mauve wants something, but no reason this can't be truthful. I give Branwen a sip of water. "Time to water the flowers, Branwen." I said it while carrying her! Hopefully, she doesn't pee in my arms!