Teamwork & Planning

I think we should improve the defenses this place has already fallen once. if we're going to connect it to the river so we can dock there we may as well get a moat with a draw bridge or easy to destroy/ rebuild bridge.

Josh said: I think we should improve the defenses this place has already fallen once. if we're going to connect it to the river so we can dock there we may as well get a moat with a draw bridge or easy to destroy/ rebuild bridge. Leoavor nods, thinking. "Maybe I could research some defensive spells to help, like something to strengthen the main gates. A moat is a great idea, too."

Kraggan suggests "The Reclaimed Fortress" as the new name for your HQ, while Leoavor nominates "The Waypoint."

I like Way point but should suggest Limars lair of luxurious lifted looms, we'd have to go steal some looms at some point to make it work but it would be worth it to see the L.L.L.L.L on the map. -or temple of the dragons, I am planning on getting shrines to the other draconic gods put up when i can. Tiamat will be the next. can i put out word for clerics of the others in water wend? - we could all call it different things to confuse everyone. With puelossi dead Limar thinks it would be a good idea for him to go an try to take over the tiamat church in the stonefare and either incite conflict or play the long game an betray rith later. of course he would have to sell the doing good now for greater evil later bluff or appraise 8 find a magic item or spell that would let him look like a black dragon long term being a easy to pull off disguise since they both breath acid. would like to stop by    Ryelly's Wondrous Vault and see if he has anything like and just check up on his newest wares. while you guys go get the buried treasure. or something. hiskel would join you so i wouldnt be left out.

Josh  said: -or temple of the dragons, I am planning on getting shrines to the other draconic gods put up when i can. Tiamat will be the next. can i put out word for clerics of the others in water wend? Hamanap purses her lips at the idea of a shrine to Tiamat. "I suppose if there are shrines to several, it would be less troubling..." Roll a Gather Information check to put out some feelers. Josh  said: With puelossi dead Limar thinks it would be a good idea for him to go an try to take over the tiamat church in the stonefare and either incite conflict or play the long game an betray rith later. of course he would have to sell the doing good now for greater evil later bluff or appraise 8 find a magic item or spell that would let him look like a black dragon long term being a easy to pull off disguise since they both breath acid. Leoavor points out, "A disguise might still not work... black dragons shoot a stream of liquid acid, very different from your gas cloud. Besides, green dragons are usually evil too, why not just use an alias while you're down there?" Josh said: while you guys go get the buried treasure. or something. hiskel would join you so i wouldnt be left out. Did you mean you want to visit Ryelly's while the party is treasure hunting, or you want to go play politics in the Stonefare while the party is treasure hunting? If the former, you can just do it the same day you meet with Black Sabbath and get the letter.

gather info 22, 2 gold got any suggestions for evil dragon names then? I'll have to leave my armor behind it has that way finder symbol on it an travel light. play politics while the party is hunting treasure or bug bears which ever kraggan decides. visit ryelly when ever it is conveniant  -for the books Hiskel is interested in could Leo transcribe them to common or draconic since he knows the comprehend langauge spell? or just read them to her. book club time.

Josh  said: gather info 22, 2 gold You hear a rumor about a mysterious wandering priest who passed through Waterwend a few weeks ago, and did some business with the Church of Nerull. The story is that he claimed not to worship Nerull, but refused to reveal who he  did  worship, and left town after making some enemies in the city's underground by refusing to respect the established order. Knowledge (religion) applies. You also hear a story that the merchant lord Koran Bateman sometimes consults with a priestess he keeps on retainer, who is said to live in the wilderness south of the city. The only other good lead you come across is a story passed on from some adventurers, who claimed they found a hidden underground temple of Garyx, the chaotic evil dragon god of fire and destruction, in the territory of Zorall, the red dragon power to the southwest. They supposedly fought a red-dragoness cleric of his there, as well as humanoid followers of various races, but had to flee with their lives. They were hunting for one of the vast hoards of treasure Zorall is said to keep hidden in the levels of the Catacombs he controls there. Josh said: got any suggestions for evil dragon names then? I'll have to leave my armor behind it has that way finder symbol on it an travel light. Leoavor considers for a minute, then suggests "How about 'onuresvir'?" which you know means 'the evil beneath' in Draconic. "A fitting name for an evil dragon staking out his claim in the Catacombs, no?" Josh said: play politics while the party is hunting treasure or bug bears which ever kraggan decides. Okay, cool! We can play out Limar's solo sidequest in PM's while the party is treasure hunting with Hiskel. It'll be a good test run for her, too, and get her some experience working with the other Wayfinders. Josh said: for the books Hiskel is interested in could Leo transcribe them to common or draconic since he knows the comprehend langauge spell? or just read them to her. book club time. Leoavor says "Sure, I don't mind transcribing them for you, Hiskel. I can only prepare the spell so many times in one day, so it'll take a bit... I think I can probably have them ready by the time you return from Litheria's forest."

Drus been reincarnated yet? 

Josh said: Drus been reincarnated yet?  Yeth just confirmed that Drus will answer the spell's call, so we'll do a little retrospective roleplay scene of her revival next session.

So we have 8 guards and a self sustaining fort, Thats all good for peace time and stuff but since we're about to go to war  we are already hearing off aggression from the bugbears north of waterwend and various raiding groups around bowhery. I Suggest dipping into our 10k party fund and hiring 10 more guards and buying a bunch of food rations incase the raiders prevent the farmers from working. -maybe put a bounty on the bugbears so other adventurers can deal with them while we work around Bowhery. -maybe hire 100 mercs so we have our own army.

Josh said: So we have 8 guards and a self sustaining fort, Thats all good for peace time and stuff but since we're about to go to war  we are already hearing off aggression from the bugbears north of waterwend and various raiding groups around bowhery. I Suggest dipping into our 10k party fund and hiring 10 more guards and buying a bunch of food rations incase the raiders prevent the farmers from working. -maybe put a bounty on the bugbears so other adventurers can deal with them while we work around Bowhery. -maybe hire 100 mercs so we have our own army. Leoavor nods as you discuss this around the dinner tables in the main hall. "I have to agree with Hiskel, and I suspect Limar would too, especially since he took 3 of our guards with him into the Stonefare. We've barely got enough to fill the watches... if we're attacked here by even a small force, they could storm the walls and take the Waypoint back from us. I don't think we can house a hundred, but 10 more guards would go a long way." There's a lot of nodding from those dining with you as he pauses for a drink of wine. "And a bounty's not a bad idea either, maybe offer 5 gold for every right thumb they bring us?" Hamanap frowns at this last point, chewing and swallowing her mouthful of roasted mutton crusted with herbs. "Defense is one matter, but we should not encourage violence against sapient creatures... not every bugbear is evil, or has enacted grave crimes. If we pay for an innocent man to be killed, it is as if we had committed murder ourselves."

"How about we ask the town how many bugbears have attacked them and use that number as a limit?" 

Ritt K. said: "How about we ask the town how many bugbears have attacked them and use that number as a limit?"  Hamanap tsks, gently scolding. "Imagine that the leader of your town back in the Kingdom of Provincia declared war against another town, Xankoris. Then in retaliation, the lord of the enemy town put a bounty upon people from your town, limited to the number of soldiers seen attacking his people. Bounty hunters came to your town, looking to collect on it, and killed two of your family members, innocent people who had never even held a sword, simply to satisfy the quota set by the lord of the enemy village. What justice would there be in that?" Leoavor chews his mutton thoughtfully, but one of your guards, a human woman named Helra eating nearby, chimes in "Justice? Killin' bugbears is always justice! You seen what those sonsabitches do to civilized people? Hell and haberdash, death is too good for 'em."

We could put the bounty on the bugbears leadership, gurak an his priest, crush their will to fight. It'd have to be a bigger pay out though maybe 5000 to get the attention of stronger adventurers might try talking to that assassin guild in treefall.

Josh said: We could put the bounty on the bugbears leadership, gurak an his priest, crush their will to fight. It'd have to be a bigger pay out though maybe 5000 to get the attention of stronger adventurers might try talking to that assassin guild in treefall. Hamanap seems mollified, and Leoavor grins. "Clever! More assassins trying for the leaderships' heads will force them to keep a stronger guard around themselves, which means fewer goblins on the front lines. It wouldn't even need to be that big of an offer, maybe just a grand, to lure a bunch of wannabes out to distract Gurak."

If you want me to keep my cover then We've got about a month an a half before limar/Onuresvir is expected back at the Stonefare with a boat full of small arms/ armor and some vegetable seeds for the kobolds. this will also probably be the best time to get you past the gate as guards or hidden among the items.

As you're preparing to leave Base Camp for Bowhery on the morning of Starday, Planting 8th, Kraggan recieves a  sending  from Hamanap. The message is: "News from river merchants: Waterwend attacked during Dragonboat Festival by bugbears and werewolves. Deathwalkers drove them back, with help of mysterious, powerful human monk woman." Kraggan's reply was: "Military to back up Bowhery. On the way to fort now, then to waterwend. see you in 7 days. contact me if emergency."

Leoavor helped transcribe Hamanap's questions and the answers from Silverlime's head. Here's a copy for you guys to discuss if you like: Hamanap:  What are the goals of your alliance? Silverlime's head:  The changeling wishes to take the cities. For wealth, for control. To break the standoff of ages. It was seen by the shadows in Celene. Hamanap:  Where will the next 3 major battles be? Silverlime's head:  The changeling waits to see how the rats answer. But the rats scurry about, and have no leader. The turncloak will not wait. He makes his own rules. He was white, then gray, and soon his cloak will be red with blood, the red of a king. He lures away the cats, so that the rats have no one to protect them. Hamanap:  Who will take your place as commander of the grimlocks, now that you are dead? Silverlime's head:  Neuromancer must lead, but she will fail. She is too cautious, a mind of beakers and flasks. She prefers her cards and her experiments to conquest... but she must obey the shadow. Celene will rise, and she will serve, and struggle, and perhaps survive... cowardice has its benefits. In your previous discussions, Kraggan suspected the "the changeling" may refer to the head of the alliance, possibly the Coiled Lady herself, though Leoavor thought it might mean Grizzled One, who is a shapechanging werewolf. Hiskel knows that Celene is the smaller of Oerth's 2 moons, blue and associated with magic, though not with lycanthropy. Verne suspected the "turncloak" is Leeman Kendling, and knows that Neuromancer is Moonshadow's other cultist, a researcher who's rarely been seen outside the heart of her territory.

once everyone is done with their in town stuff I suggest we ask the death walkers for aid and go attack the bugbears and werewolves to the north. -I insist rather, time to stop being so defensive.

On Planting 23rd, Leoavor's familiar flies into Waterwend and delivers a scroll to Kraggan. Hurock, a raven with white wingtips, lands on the edge of the Merling King's fountain where she's stopped for a midday break. "I could not find Limar," the raven croaks in Common, "so you shall have to do. Give him this, would you? And perhaps a shiny token in payment, for the delivery, hmm?" Kraggan gives him a copper piece, which he snatches up with his beak before flying off back south. The scroll is an unsealed letter from Hamanap, summarizing the results of her research with Leoavor on the petrified gnome Limar brought her from the Stonefare. She says that he is actually a svirfneblin, or deep gnome, a more magical variety of gnome that lives deep in the Underdark, and that the stone he has been turned into is a mineral called serpentinite, which is dark green and especially hard. She goes on to describe how most creatures that can petrify tend to turn their victims into one particular mineral, usually something common, though there are legends of gorgons that could turn men into gold or diamond. The effect is reversible, with certain spells such as break enchantment  or stone to flesh , though neither she nor Leoavor are yet powerful enough to cast one. However, it seems that one of the gnome's arms was broken off sometime after he was petrified... if he is returned to living flesh, the arm will still be missing, and will leave a gaping, bloody wound as if it had been hacked off. She finishes by mentioning that the statue has been left in Limar's quarters.

well his hand is lost somewhere in stonefare so thats going to be near impossible to find with out some magic. and knowledge apply to know if a new hand is carved out out of the matching mineral an attached would it work as a replacement?

Josh said: well his hand is lost somewhere in stonefare so thats going to be near impossible to find with out some magic. and knowledge apply to know if a new hand is carved out out of the matching mineral an attached would it work as a replacement? That  is an interesting question. Spellcraft and Heal (trained only) apply.

spellcraft 17, that might be something I'll need Murnigs +19 to answer.

Josh said: spellcraft 17, that might be something I'll need Murnigs +19 to answer. Probably, yes. Though Hamanap and Leoavor may be able to figure it out with time as well, if you send them a message.

Limar went to visit his mother Kalemne north of waterwend and learned of another big army  " As Kalemne said, it spreads for miles east and west, though only maybe half a mile wide at the center. The forest has been cleared in the area of the camp, and is sparse for miles around, no doubt chopped down for firewood, stakes, and building material. You estimate that the soldiers number about a thousand, including bugbears, hobgoblins, goblins, werewolves, a smattering of other races, and over a hundred wolves as well (though there's no way to tell if those last are normal beasts, werewolves in animal form, or some kind of magical hounds). There are a few hundred noncombatants as well, mostly children, women, or slaves, from the looks of it. Within the camps, as many of the soldiers are armored as not, but at the edges you see many armed and armored sentries behind a wide, spiked latrine trench that runs for miles around the entire camp. In places, you can see wooden plank bridges laid across the trench to make temporary bridges, and see why after some searching--here and there, wolves run in the miles of sparse forest around the camp, hunting and scouting. You can see more piles of planks spaced around the edges of the trench, which means the army will be able to leave somewhat quickly or lead sorties if attacked.  The individual camps seem not to be tightly packed, but still not spread wide either. It would indeed be extremely difficult to sneak past so many to reach that inner core of pavilions, even if you could get past the scouts and get over both trenches unnoticed... though you also notice that they show a tendency towards racial segregation, goblins mostly staying near goblins, bugbears near bugbears, and so on. A similar, but smaller, latrine trench surrounds the core of the warcamp, where you see a cluster of large pavilion tents, heavily guarded and armored with shields laid like tiles over them. As you're examining these, a bird flies out of one and wings southwards over the camp." -I've got a plan that amounts to a daring midday attack on the core of the camp to kill their leaders. we fly over under one of Xankoris illusions as clouds drop in and murder them, Kalemne will then dominate or scare of the masses Kalemne has agreed to help carry who she can Limar can fly an carry hiskel Kraggan can shapeshift into something the can fly dont know if she can carry anyone. xankoris has a fly spell but also has to have the cloud illusion or invisibility  Drus cant fly Verne cant fly?  what do you guys think? if its agreeable I'll take it to oskar an see if the deathwalkers will come.

I don't think Xankoris can concentrate Invisibility, Flame wings, and Minor image altogether at the same time. So I guess I will have to use Minor Image spell while Kalemne is carrying him.

Josh said: Kraggan can shapeshift into something the can fly dont know if she can carry anyone. If she wild shapes into a dire bat, Kraggan could fly while carrying a Medium passenger. Ritt K. said: I don't think Xankoris can concentrate Invisibility, Flame wings, and Minor image altogether at the same time. So I guess I will have to use Minor Image spell while Kalemne is carrying him. Yeah, you can't cast or concentrate on another spell when fire wings  is active. Concentrating while riding a dragon's back would be somewhat difficult in itself, but possible. The Deathwalkers or Black Sabbath might also have access to some useful ways of flying. :)

Josh said: -I've got a plan that amounts to a daring midday attack on the core of the camp to kill their leaders. we fly over under one of Xankoris illusions as clouds drop in and murder them, Kalemne will then dominate or scare of the masses -Since no one has said no to the flight plan, I'll try an get kraggan, Oskar an Draz to try an get their teams in the fight and finalize it. Kraggan approves strongly of the general idea, and covertly approaches the leaders of the other parties to arrange a secret war council. On Waterday, Planting 26th, the Deathwalkers, Black Sabbath, and the Wayfinders' away team all gather in the plains south of town, where Nell veils them within an illusion of an enormous boulder. Spellcraft applies. Zanean Fain sits just outside it to the north, pretend to sharpen his gritty black longsword, Darksteel, and listening to the discussion while keeping his sharp elven eyes and ears trained for anyone approaching. Craft (weaponsmithing) applies, trained only. Once Limar has gone over the information he gathered with everyone twice over (at the Deathwalker Guildmaster Oskar's insistence), everyone discusses their capacity for flight. "I could cast fly on four or five people, who could then carry others, but it will only last about 9 minutes", Nell summarizes. "From what you've described, we won't be able to cross the area their wolves are scouting in that kind of time. Even if I recasted each time it ran out, it might only be enough for one person to fly carrying another. This Kalemne could carry 2 human-sized riders, Limar can carry his cohort, Moonflower can fly and carry someone with her dragon wings  spells, and Kraggan can probably carry one in her dire bat shape. If I ride Kalemne and do the illusion instead of Xankoris, he could fly with his flame wings spell. But that leaves us with 8 pints and a half-pint unaccounted for," she concludes, giving Garion a teasing wink. "Perhaps we should discuss leaving some of our numbers behind to guard the city against surprise attack," Viktor suggests. "Aye, the weakest ones. They're the least likely to die, Sunshine," Jonas quips dryly. Viktor seems mildly annoyed by the nickname as usual, though its source is clear: the human paladin's long blonde hair and boyish good looks make him seem a ray of sunshine during these dark proceedings. "M-maybe we should contact Callanhall for advice," Tussa suggests quietly, the human woman always rather shaky. "Or Rurik. He might have some powerful magic to help us." "Don't you have people back at that Fortress of yours still?" Polgara asks Limar, stroking the iguana on her shoulder idly. Black Sabbath's half-elf sorceress is showing as much cleavage as ever in her light summer dress. "Maybe you should get in contact with them as well, see if they have any ideas." "I think you overlooked something as well, Nell," Selmidra points out, Polgara's teammate of full high elven blood. "If you use all your fly spells getting us there, how do we get back ? Even if we can assassinate Gurak and Grizzled One, I doubt their armies surrounding us will be in a very forgiving mood afterwards. "My son already lost his father," Moonflower, the wild elf dragon-sorceress adds, "I don't intend to let him grow up with a mother as well. We need a solid escape plan, whether things go well or not." Grahm, Black Sabbath's cleric of Hanseath, frowns deeply behind his thick black beard. "I don't like this plan one bit. Hanseath is the dwarven god o' war, but even a war should be fought with some hope o' winnin'."

Craft (weaponsmithing) check: 8 "I have an idea," Xankoris spoke. "You may not like it but it might make us win this siege; Because Kalame and Limar can fly for an hour since they're a dragon, why don't we make the same old bottle bomb that I had made when we tried to burn down the church? I think if we have at least one hundred of it or more, we could make some good bombardment. And Kraggan also can help by controlling the weather to make the wind breeze greater, so the fire can spread faster."

Contact who you want, chose who you leave behind . I have 3 weeks or so before I need to head back to the stonefare to resume my disguise . Victory is the way out once we've taken out the leaders and their guards we will turn their own deffences against them, they'll eventually flee, bow or add to the pile of bodies. If you dont want to risk death then you should leave Waterwend as it stands we're just waiting for them to send a 1000 strong  army to wash us away. no xankoris that would put the prisoners at risk, we have to be precise. 

"If what you want is just precision, that's simple. We just have to do some trick, and one of that trick is diving directly at targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb we drop. Because diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows us to keep visual contact throughout the bomb run. And when the bomb dropped, we just have to get upward as quickly as possible, then repeat. Sounds good, right?"

you seem to be missing the point of a bomb to do, to do damage over a large area, if we're being precise enough to hit just the soldiers then we are just wasting their potential and our gold for what is not even a guaranteed kill. The same effect could be achieved with 2 spell casters on kalemne, but we should save her for when we're ready to finish this otherwise they'll adapt  and have archers ready after the first air raid. I know I cant take a 100 arrows to the face an keep going. If you want to focus on draining their numbers instead of going after the leaders then we can set up some ambushes on the paths the raiders take to water wend, once they stop sending raiders we can move up an take out their patrols an focus on raiding their camp, but if we're annoying enough they'll just move south before they lose to many to take Waterwend. -since Silverlime said the chageling ( who is apparently the leader of all the evil armies) was waiting and the armies dont seem to be moving right now, we could use this time to gather more allies -petition the Merchants in Waterwend to hire more mercs. -would the death walkers or strongtown be able to send more aid to waterwend? -we could take silverlimes head to the red king since he was fighting the moonshadow before this war started and ask him for help.

Ritt K. said: "I have an idea," Xankoris spoke. "You may not like it but it might make us win this siege; Because Kalame and Limar can fly for an hour since they're a dragon, why don't we make the same old bottle bomb that I had made when we tried to burn down the church? I think if we have at least one hundred of it or more, we could make some good bombardment. And Kraggan also can help by controlling the weather to make the wind breeze greater, so the fire can spread faster." "Now this  is a plan I like," Moonflower grins, her eyes flashing. " Flight of the dragon  will last more than an hour for me, so I could join in on the bombing raid." "Yeah, this sounds more my speed too," Nell adds.  Josh said: no xankoris that would put the prisoners at risk, we have to be precise.  "I'm not on board with any plan that would endanger innocents," Viktor says firmly, and Oskar nods. "Isn't Gurak a powerful wizard? He might be able to bring the fight to us in the air, or at least give chase," Mu Sha Zhun points out, the resurrected dragon style shifu of the Deathwalkers speaking up for the first time in her strong, clear voice. Black Sabbath's clever halfling thief nods. "I've heard that too," Garion agrees. Nell raises a single claw, though, interjecting "We can still use illusions to distract pursuers, though. Xankoris and I are both good at those. Maybe I can also sow some infighting and chaos among those on the ground with my enchanting." "And we'll still have Kalemne," Polgara says. "Fighting a dragoness in the air is not easy thing, wizard or not." Josh said: Victory is the way out once we've taken out the leaders and their guards we will turn their own deffences against them, they'll eventually flee, bow or add to the pile of bodies. Several people start talking at once, and the noise quickly rises to a tumult before a sharp whistle cuts through it all. Just outside the illusory stone wall, Zanean takes his fingers out of his mouth and scolds the council in a fatherly tone suited to his gray and grizzled appearance. "Keep it down, kids. The sound  isn't blocked, and it travels farther than you'd think on these plains. If anyone's passing nearby, they might hear us and come investigate." Everyone looks about at each other, and Oskar Strakeln speaks up again first. "If we do  take the inner ring, we could make the armies suffer terrible losses to retake it... but, at those numbers, they could afford it. A thousand  men and beasts? They could die until their bodies fill the trench, then still march across it with 30 times our numbers and overrun us. We've fought in sieges before, and been stormed... even with high walls, I'd give us small odds of survival. Without them?" He shakes his head slowly.  "That would not be such a bad way to die," Viktor Priest says softly, blonde hair resting gently around his shoulders as he stands tall beside his guildmaster, a mailed hand on the mountain dwarf's shoulder in turn. "Our lives, for the cost of half of their army. Waterwend might survive." "Speak for yourself, lad," Grahm says, Garion nodding beside him. "I've still got living to do. Waterwend's got some decent pubs, but it ain't my home." Selmidra pffts, the enchantress crossing her arms. " Big surprise, you two agreeing." "Maybe it wouldn't be, if you'd ever agreed with anyone in your life," Garion snaps back. "I have to agree with them both, actually," the scarred Draz Tinear says, his voice growly as always. "This ain't worth dying for. Fighting for, sure, but we need a solid escape plan." Selmidra frowns, but says nothing, in tacit subordinance to her leader for now. Josh said: If you dont want to risk death then you should leave Waterwend as it stands we're just waiting for them to send a 1000 strong  army to wash us away. "I'm a b-bit concerned about that as well," Tussa says shakily. "Yeah, speaking of, why hasn't the city council hired sellswords yet?" Garion asks, irritated. "They should have tripled their garrison a month ago. The Laughing Rogue knows, there are plenty of strong adventuring parties who do mercenary work. They could've even hired swords from a rival power to help fight Grizzled One's wolves with the city's support." "I've heard they've been debating it," Jonas says dryly. "You know how politicians love to debate. They'll be doing it right up until Gurak's executioner lops off their heads." "Well if we don't do something, we may as well leave the city. Limar's right about that. This place isn't suited to withstand such a horde," Selmidra says, and Polgara frowns, but reluctantly nods. Josh said: -since Silverlime said the chageling ( who is apparently the leader of all the evil armies) was waiting and the armies dont seem to be moving right now, we could use this time to gather more allies -petition the Merchants in Waterwend to hire more mercs. -would the death walkers or strongtown be able to send more aid to waterwend? "Jonas, could you take the lead on talking to the council?" Oskar asks, and the rogue nods. "Perhaps Xankoris and Garion could help? The sharpest tongues of our three parties will spill more blood than a hundred hired swords." Oskar gives an approving nod. "As to more aid from Strongtown, I'm afraid we're already stretched as thin as we can safely manage. Our city has its own enemies, and with Lord Darius and his knights off fighting the Suloise on the coast with King Leopold, the people we left behind there are all that's protecting it." "We do have allies in Blackreach," Viktor points out. Tussa twitches, and shakes her head. "It would take them too long to reach us, even if we called them all now. And I've s-seen Cora's war maps of Blackreach... if we abandoned either Bootswap Keep or The Spire, Gxlth and the Sword of Leshrac would take the other, and the entire territory would fall into Jorvasskar's control. He w-would be able to control trade with Dragoth from there, too..." "Blackreach is too important to our longterm goals," Oskar admits, with a frown and a heavy sigh. "We cannot so lightly abandon it." Josh said: -we could take silverlimes head to the red king since he was fighting the moonshadow before this war started and ask him for help. "I've heard that he's one of the few lesser powers who could be called heroic," Zhun says.  "His followers certainly seem to think so," Selmidra adds acidly. "I hear they all but worship him... practically a cult." "The enemy of my enemy," Moonflower shrugs. "We should at least send an emissary to treat with him, see what he has to say. Maybe one of your followers, Limar?" Ritt K. said: "If what you want is just precision, that's simple. We just have to do some trick, and one of that trick is diving directly at targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb we drop. Because diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows us to keep visual contact throughout the bomb run. And when the bomb dropped, we just have to get upward as quickly as possible, then repeat. Sounds good, right?" Nell, Jonas, Tussa, and Selmidra nod and murmur in agreement, their sharp minds immediately following Xankoris's logic. Josh said: you seem to be missing the point of a bomb to do, to do damage over a large area, if we're being precise enough to hit just the soldiers then we are just wasting their potential and our gold for what is not even a guaranteed kill. The same effect could be achieved with 2 spell casters on kalemne, but we should save her for when we're ready to finish this otherwise they'll adapt  and have archers ready after the first air raid. I know I cant take a 100 arrows to the face an keep going. If you want to focus on draining their numbers instead of going after the leaders then we can set up some ambushes on the paths the raiders take to water wend, once they stop sending raiders we can move up an take out their patrols an focus on raiding their camp, but if we're annoying enough they'll just move south before they lose to many to take Waterwend. "That seems like a much safer strategy," Draz agrees. "My skillset is better suited to hunting travelers on the roads than diving in from the sky anyhow." Zanean Fain speaks up softly, but loud enough to be heard over his shoulder. "Same for me. Breach here can take off a bugbear's head from a hundred yards," he brags, tapping the end of the fine longbow strapped across his back, a scar in the wood near its grip. "What if we try to infiltrate their ranks?" Garion suggests. "It might be easier to get close to the leaders from inside the camp." But Jonas shakes his head. "That would require top-notch disguises, and a knowledge of the language... how many of us speak Goblin?"  "Well, actually..." Polgara cuts in as Garion starts to respond, "We wouldn't need to blend in with the goblinoids. Grizzled One's people are mostly werewolves, and werewolves always have a normal humanoid form. We could simply wear his sigil and pretend to be some of his followers, a few among many. We'd only need change our appearances just enough to not look like ourselves, and maybe mix up our party compositions so we weren't recognized as a unit. Small teams, entering separately, converging on the central pavilions."

If we're not going to attack him directly then I suggest we split up to do what we do best. - I dont want to wait 2 weeks for a runner to get to the red King and another 2 weeks for a reply, I'll fly to the keep and pick up Silverlimes head ( i'll also send Leo to waterwend so you can consult him.) and go my self shouldnt take me more than week, though ill need to stop by Bowhery to ask Barenzia for directions to his place.  -Jonas, Xankoris and Garion can go do the court stuff, dont forget Koran Batemans favor note. -Oskar are you still able to do that stone shape spell? how long would it take you with the aid of Kalemnes kobolds to build a simple stone keep in her territory, bonus if its filled with traps and rigged to collapse when we fly out of it. -the rest can continue to deffend waterwend or partake in guerilla warfare - I suppose " Master Sergeant Verne Smith"  could ride to Fort Greenwall and ask them for help. -any idea how fast an army like that could move in a day? - when they start to move we'll lose Kalemne, she doesnt want to lose her hoard or eggs to Gurak. - can any of you decipher this intercepted note? we can reconvene in a week or so and see how things have changed.

Josh said: If we're not going to attack him directly then I suggest we split up to do what we do best. - I dont want to wait 2 weeks for a runner to get to the red King and another 2 weeks for a reply, I'll fly to the keep and pick up Silverlimes head ( i'll also send Leo to waterwend so you can consult him.) and go my self shouldnt take me more than week, though ill need to stop by Bowhery to ask Barenzia for directions to his place.  -Jonas, Xankoris and Garion can go do the court stuff, dont forget Koran Batemans favor note. "Going yourself seems wise," Selmidra agrees, brushing a strand of her long brown hair out of her face. "The faster the better, if the armies are almost fully gathered." Jonas raises a brow. "A favor note? Those can be quite useful. I could always prepare more of them too, if needed... though we best be careful, those government types have an eye for documents." Viktor frowns at this, but Oskar raises a hand to silence his complaints before things get out of hand. "Greater good, my old friend. Greater good. Waterwend's survival is at stake here." "But-" Viktor starts, and Oskar snaps " Enough. Moving on." Josh said: -Oskar are you still able to do that stone shape spell? how long would it take you with the aid of Kalemnes kobolds to build a simple stone keep in her territory, bonus if its filled with traps and rigged to collapse when we fly out of it. - when they start to move we'll lose Kalemne, she doesnt want to lose her hoard or eggs to Gurak. "Moradin can grant me that spell still, aye, but even with magic, a project like that... weeks, at least," Oskar admits, but Nell interjects, "If it's just a shell rigged to collapse, it might not take that long. We'd just need slabs and buttressing, and enough manpower to build the cranes and brace everything. A week could be enough with the right architecture." Oskar favors the tall tiefling woman with a smile. "Well, what did you have in mind with it, Limar? A trap for the invaders?" Josh said: -any idea how fast an army like that could move in a day? "An army that size won't move very fast," Grahm answers, taking a swallow from his hip flask. "With baggage trains, camp followers, slaves... probably no more than 12, 16 miles a day. Any faster and they risk their host coming apart." Verne's experience and military training agree with that. It means that once they start moving, if they go directly through Kalemne's lands, the combined army should reach Waterwend in 2-3 days. Josh said: - I suppose " Master Sergeant Verne Smith"  could ride to Fort Greenwall and ask them for help. - can any of you decipher this intercepted note? Verne, how about it? Jonas takes a look at the note, but shakes his head. "Looks enciphered. You'll need the key, or a damn good codebreaker." Josh said: -the rest can continue to deffend waterwend or partake in guerilla warfare we can reconvene in a week or so and see how things have changed. There's a general chorus of nods and agreeing sounds. "A week, then," Oskar says. "Those without specific tasks should take shifts guarding the docks, and the rest can head north to waylay raiding parties. Zhun, you pick a small team and search for Humei. Is everyone on board with these plans, as they stand?"

I did have an idea for a trap but anything we put in kalemnes territory they can move around and ignore. How many bridges are there to waterwend from the north? if its just the Lang bridge you should focus on fortifying it oskar. They'll ethier need to spend time building boats or take a toll on the bridge. -when you approach the council, I suggest you also ask them that when the army starts to move they order all boats to be grounded , except those meant to fight, to avoid any traitors helping them across

Josh said: I did have an idea for a trap but anything we put in kalemnes territory they can move around and ignore. How many bridges are there to waterwend from the north? if its just the Lang bridge you should focus on fortifying it oskar. They'll ethier need to spend time building boats or take a toll on the bridge. "The Lang Bridge is the only one close enough to be useful, and it's big enough to move a large force across quickly," Zanean Fain pipes up. Tussa humms, "But it's owned by Waterwend. We'll n-need the council's permission for any fortifications..."  "I suppose we'll need to talk to them about that , too," Garion sighs. Josh said: -when you approach the council, I suggest you also ask them that when the army starts to move they order all boats to be grounded , except those meant to fight, to avoid any traitors helping them across "Who would betray their own city to such monsters?" Viktor asks in disbelief. "You'd be surprised, Sunshrine," Jonas drawls. The tattooed Zhun nods gravely. "They surely have informers inside the city already, people who expect the city to fall--not unreasonably--and would rather make a few gold ferrying soldiers to fund their own escapes." Moonflower suggests "Why not commandeer the boats instead? Man them with guards and sailors, use them to patrol the river and harry those trying to raft across." Viktor nods approvingly. "A much better plan, I think. Instead of guards trying to watch the sailors on shore, they can be fighting the good fight." Garion rolls his eyes. "Until the sailors decide they'd rather live, and mutiny against the guards on their ships." The paladin and the halfling start to argue about it, until Draz cuts them off with a bark of " Enough , you two! Garion, just do your best with the council. As for me, I'm heading north to make sure the raiding parties don't reach the city. Who'll come with me?" Zanean raises two fingers, as does Selmidra. "I can help cause some havoc among them," the enchantress says. "I'll go too," adds Moonflower Filifar. "If things go badly or we see the main army moving, I can fly back to the city and raise the alarm." Tussa is the last to volunteer, saying quietly, "If w-we'll be in the forest, I can help with my herbology... and c-collect materials for healing after the invasion, assuming there's anyone l-left to heal..." Zhun speaks up next. "I'd like to bring Nell and Viktor with me to root out Humei. Your skillsets should complement each other well, and we'll need a small, quiet team that can handle itself in close combat." The tiefling and human nod in agreement, though Nell looks a bit disappointed, and glances at Xankoris.

"Do your best," said Xankoris while making a dryly smile to reply Nell's glance in the way that he doesn't get attention from the others.

Ritt K. said: "Do your best," said Xankoris while making a dryly smile to reply Nell's glance in the way that he doesn't get attention from the others. Roll a Bluff check to be subtle about it. Nell smiles back warmly.

Bluff check: 12

Ritt K. said: Bluff check: 12 A few others seem to notice the exchange of looks, but no one comments on it.

On Godsday, Flocktime 4th, Limar recieves a sending from Hamanap: " Several faction leaders of the Companions have been assassinated by highly skilled operators, leaving the organization in some disarray. 105th holding together Bowhery's defenses. " You can reply immediately with up to 25 words. Do you send one?

sure. A string of draconic curses w/ a stay safe at the end. "xsiol shio, xihuulina ilagoi , pox shafaer shio gireeni, svabol shilta si tir. Stay safe"

I would like access to the Bank account at the House of Tyild and Rodat, balance as of Planting 26th: 949gp, 6sp, 8cp     Known branches in: Waterwend for the purpose of hiring mercs to go form an army to fight Gurrak. -we may as well use it now cause if the city falls we will lose it any ways.

Josh  said:  -at the 2nd war council ask either the Red king or who ever the Terolous army sends to head it since they are far more experienced campaigners When the second war council is convened on Flocktime 5th, neither the Red King nor Verne and Polgara have returned to Waterwend yet. Of those waylaying raiders in the north, Draz, Tussa, and Zanean stay in the field, but send Selmidra to represent Black Sabbath and Moonshadow to represent the Deathwalkers from their away team. On the plus side, Leoavor just arrived in Waterwend today, and attends the council as well, bringing the fruits of his research: the completed cipher key for Gurak and Moonshadow's code! With it, you're able to completely decipher the original message Limar intercepted, as well as the second one from Moonshadow that Key delivered to Kraggan.  The first says:  "Moonshadow: we move against Waterwend soon, Zorall and Rith are handling Bowhery, you must take Litheria's territory. -Gurak" The second one says: "Neuromancer moves on Litheria with a third of our remaining soldiers. The Red Bastard plans something, send reinforcements once Waterwend is taken. -Moonshadow" Josh said: I would like access to the Bank account at the House of Tyild and Rodat, balance as of Planting 26th: 949gp, 6sp, 8cp     Known branches in: Waterwend for the purpose of hiring mercs to go form an army to fight Gurrak. -we may as well use it now cause if the city falls we will lose it any ways. And if he gets the use of the bank account or funding from Kalemnes  He will try an hire as many as he can to go fight the G&G army -if neither of those funds come through he will approach Koran bateman with the favor note. "Actually, the five major banks are insured nationally. Even if the branches in Waterwend fall to the enemy, your money is guaranteed. You just need to find another branch," Jonas explains.  "That doesn't mean it's not a good idea," Selmidra points out, smoothing her courtier's outfit--for once, it looks as rumpled and dirty as it did in the Stonefare, likely a sign that she had to come straight to the council without changing. "We need to do whatever we must to prevent the city from falling. What good is all our treasure if it can't help when the need is most dire?" Viktor nods in agreement, giving Selmidra a proud and handsome smile. "A favor note's not a bad idea, either," Garion points out. "There are some powerful people in the city, who could do a lot for our cause if we can get them involved more actively." "We can dip into our coffers a bit to help as well," Oskar Strakeln offers. "The Deathwalkers are a well-known guild now, we might be able to manage a fair bit on credit in the meantime."

I wonder what the red guy has planned, how is he going to take all of the Shadow moons lands an be in waterwend in a week. -Do you think we could beat the G&G army with the aid of the TA & RK? in the field that is Im still for attacking them. -there are surprisingly little mercs for hire in ww at the moment, 12 even if xankoris succeeds in convincing the council to hire more guards where will they get the man power?

Josh  said: So whats the next step? we wait for them to build their boat an engage in naval warfare? I want to raid their camps and free some of the slaves. "I wouldn't mind taking the fight to them ," Draz Tinear agrees, raising his mug of ale to Limar's suggestion over a dinner of roast mutton and brown bread. Garion, Black Sabbath's halfling rogue, nods along with his party leader. "Strike fast, in and out, cause some havoc while they're resting?" The Deathwalkers' forger, Jonas, seems to agree as well, swirling his glass of fortified wine. "It's always best to take the intiative. Fortune favors the bold, so they say." "Yes!" shouts Wyatt Ferris, leaping to his feet and drawing his rapier to raise in the air. "We'll cut down the scoundrels and free their captives in a daring mid-evening raid!" The human paladin 'Sunshine' frowns, though, tearing a chunk of barley bread in half with large, calloused hands. "A surprise attack is hardly honorable. We ought to ride forth and challenge them to send a champion for single combat!" Nell rolls her eyes and continues braiding a plait into her long, bright pink hair, towering over almost everyone else at the table. "Yeah, I saw how keen they were on single combat with you last night. What were there, seven of them surrounding you? Eight?" Across from her, Shifu Mu Sha Zhun toys with a chain of prayer beads thoughtfully, tattoos of Rokugani dragons peeking out from under her fine cotton saam. "A sortie is a good idea, but they are not honorable creatures. Nell is right. We must fight them on their own terms, but we do not need to wait for them to make the first move."

Me and hiskel could do some very quick in an out burning between my flight and her spells. but we do have a druid knowledgeable about forests and a bunch of fire starters, depending on the terrain we could make a controlled forest fire around the area where they are building boats to push them in to the river where we'll have our own ships ready to pick up slaves an cut them down. I'll take a look at their camp when I go check on Kalmene -I don't see how those 40 werewolves he lost were more valuable can't he just make more by transforming some of guraks bugbears?

Josh said: Me and hiskel could do some very quick in an out burning between my flight and her spells. Moonflower nods, beautiful as ever in her red and gold robes. "I've had the same thought. With them camping on the other side of the river, your plan of a fast airstrike is a lot more feasible. Nell could cast a flight spell on Zanean, and the four of us could fly in, strike hard, then fall back. We'd have to be fast, though--one bugbear with a crossbow is small danger, but hundreds could bring us down if given half a chance." "You'd better make sure not to hit any of their slaves," Sunshine puts in, long blonde locks framing his handsome face. " or  their prisoners. If you insist on going through with this dishonorable plan, aim for the densest pockets of foes." Josh said: but we do have a druid knowledgeable about forests and a bunch of fire starters, depending on the terrain we could make a controlled forest fire around the area where they are building boats to push them in to the river where we'll have our own ships ready to pick up slaves an cut them down. I'll take a look at their camp when I go check on Kalmene "I'm not sure your druid will be too keen on helping you start a forest fire," Garion quips with a wry smile. Black Sabbath's halfling rogue has as sharp a tongue as ever, and his best buddy Grahm chuckles into his mug of strong beer. "A scouting mission is a good idea regardless," adds the Deathwalker guildmaster, Oskar Strakeln. "The more we know, the better. Cora's taught me the wisdom in that." Josh said: -I don't see how those 40 werewolves he lost were more valuable can't he just make more by transforming some of guraks bugbears? Zanean Fain shakes his head, a world-weary look on the old high elf hunter's face. "Not any time soon. The first transformation happens when Luna is full, and she's only just started waning. It'll be nearly a month before the newly bitten become true werewolves. My best friend Cris was infected by one of Zanzibar the Mad's pack, and struggled against the affliction her whole life."

here's a little sketch, how do you want to do this? the trees are going to get cut down any ways might as well burn them to deny them easy boats.