CH. 3: Mages, Mages Everywhere

[HorizonsDream]

"Didn't someone say there was a cavalier that we were going to have to deal with?" Kendra asks.

[Haahque]

"That's right, a right snob who'll deserve everything he's got coming and probably more. Just think of all the inn jouglers, court jesters and traveling entertainers he's probably ridiculed and dismissed."

[BishGada]

"What is pocketdoor? And could it block the ally mouth only?" Tulbas asks Haaque. "Traps could be dropping oil on the ground from bottles tied with strings, then light them up, tie crossbows with strings in the alley mouth or from windows nearby and then pulling the strings will shower arrows on them, also rolling boulder or wagon or sacks of grain on the leader. But those traps might endanger Daxia, so if you could think of improvements to them that would be nice."
Looking at Kendra Tulbas says, "Yes, their leader is a cavalier. Maybe if we could roll sacks from the rooftop we could separate him from the rest, or even crush someone while doing that. Also if the Holy Guard should appear you can tell them to attack the Ergothians and they will probably do that as fellow soldiers."

[djhyland]

Darga shakes his head at the elf's suggestions. "Traps like that ain't gonna do much besides make it harder fer us ta get th' girl. If we got ta deal wit' dodgin' 'round burning oil an' bottles swingin' on strings, that'll hurt us as much as it'll hurt them. An' settin' that kind of stuff up ain't quick."

Darga pauses a moment to consider. "I think th' first thing we need ta worry 'bout is gettin' th' girl to us. If she's ransom, they won't wanna risk killin' her 'fore they can get their reward, an' that gives us a leg up. Once she's away from them, then we get away fast as we kin. Mebbe we have ta fight them later, but if we do, we fight 'em at a place of our choosin'."

[JadedDM]

"I think Darga is right, any traps we set up are just as likely to hurt us or Daxia as they are the Ergothians," Kynaston says. "We need to plan this carefully, as we're outnumbered here. But we have the element of surprise and a spellcaster, which is more than the Ergothians have."

The big warrior thinks for a moment, pacing back and forth around the area, and looking around, before returning to the others. "Here's what I'm thinking. Tulbas and Haahqae on the rooftops. Gregeddin and I hiding in the northern alley, Kendra and Darga in the southern alley. When the Ergothians are right in the middle, Tulbas begins casting his spell. That's the cue to act. Gregeddin and I rush out and attack them from the front, Kendra and Darga strike them from behind. Hopefully it causes enough confusion to give us a big upper hand. We'll then work to take out any of them that Tulbas' spell failed to knock out."

He continues, "Kendra and I will target the cavalier as soon as we can. I suggest the rest of you target the remaining soldiers; leave the cavalier to us. Haahqae and Tulbas can rain down attacks from above, offering support to whoever needs it the most. They'll be safe up there and the height will make it easier for them to aim. If you get too badly hurt, withdraw and run. No sense in wasting your life. Whether we succeed or fail, we should have a place to fallback on if we get separated. How about my house?"

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(OOC: Some out of character notes. Ranged attackers get a +1 bonus to hit when they have a height advantage. If he's lucky, Darga should be able to get in at least one attempted backstab--or back 'thwack' if he uses his staff--when the fight first begins. Gregeddin can try using his bard song, but as it has a range of 20 feet it will probably just affect him and Kynaston and only for 2 rounds at that, but hey, every bit helps. Kendra is wounded, but if she's willing to drink her Potion of Heroism, that would give her an additional 3d10+1 HP and a +3 to hit, which could make all the difference.)

[HorizonsDream]

"Your house will be fine," Kendra says. "And the plan seems sound enough. It would be best to try to keep the cavalier's attention upon you while I attack from behind. I think I have a potion that might be able to help me out."

[BishGada]

Tulbas nods his agreement. "OK, that sounds good to me as well. I guess we can use the time we have to collect enough sling stones and put them in pile on the roof. We should be back in time for your initiation."

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(OOC: Does Tulbas have enough time to report Raetmal their findings and ask him if he has some scroll that might help?)

[djhyland]

Darga relaxes a bit at Kynaston's suggestions. "That sounds like good sense ta me. I'll try an' get th' girl away from her captors. An' I still say that if we do, we all get away as soon as we can. No use in riskin' our necks after we've rescued her."

Darga turns to Kendra and nods towards the alley. "Let's get ready. D'ya got any suggestions on how ta do our part?"

[JadedDM]

Kynaston nods to Kendra. "I'll do my best, but I'm not sure how long I can last against a cavalier. Hopefully we can take him down before he takes me down."

He continues, "We don't want to start preparations too early. The people who live around here might stumble upon them. I say we meet back here an hour before the exchange. The exchange is supposed to be at Late Watch, so let's meet here at Afterwatch then. Most of the locals will be asleep in their beds, so nobody should bother us."

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(OOC: Does Tulbas have enough time to report Raetmal their findings and ask him if he has some scroll that might help?)

(OOC: Depends. Do you mean time before the initiation or time before the exchange? If the former, probably not. If the latter, absolutely.)

[Haahque]

"But then there'll be no one to talk to while we prepare." Haahqae moans, "Physical labor is just laborious without jolly conversation to go along with it."

[HorizonsDream]

"It seems like everything kind of depends on Tulbas, so no, not really," Kendra admitted.

[mgbevan]

He nods along in agreement with the others, "She is the prize we must save after all, better to escape with her, or our own lives than die in attempted glory. I've got plenty of torches back at my folks place that I'll bring down." Gregeddin says.

He adds, "This is coming together rather nicely, it feels much better than that last plan from the mines already." Looking around the sky to gauge any omens that may befell him.

[JadedDM]

"Alright then," Kynaston says. "Until Afterwatch. In the meantime, Haahqae, Tulbas and I better get back to the cultists before we're missed."

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(OOC: If anyone wants to do anything before the party meets at Afterwatch, let me know. Otherwise, we'll skip ahead.)

[HorizonsDream]

OOC: I don't think there is anything Kendra needs, so I'm cool with jumping ahead.

[BishGada]

Tulbas nods to Kynaston, "Yes, we should hurry up. But I'm glad we could make the plan together with Kendra." Tulbas walks with Kynaston and Haaque to the cultists warehouse.

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(OOC: Tulbas would like to go to speak with Raetmal after the initiation ceremony. Besides we should start planting seeds in the cult for the next adventure: exposing Darewind)