Kheldor had stayed silent for most of the various discussions, but decided to speak up now "I will use all the means available to me to prevent our deaths and to ensure our victory. Including poison, alcohol, trickery and deceit. I am sorry that is not your way Anton, but it is mine. Why must I bow to your wishes?"
"Some things offend the gods," Arkady says shortly. "If Anton wishes to fight the Stag Lord, I will not stand in his way, but I would rather not fight the Stag Lord and his men all at the same time. The more we can convince to flee or surrender, the better, and men do not fight as well if their leader is not with them."
He steps into the stirrup and heaves himself into Gildas' saddle. "Time to ride. While we head south, Kheldor, do you have any ideas for getting into the Stag Lord's fort, or surprising those who dwell inside?"
Kheldor adds his piece. Anton draws a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "My wishes do not matter. You want the aid of the Lord of Battles, he makes few demands for his divine blessings, which are yours through me. He only demands bravery and no trickery that would prevent a battle. Deceitfully drugging this bandit king would fall beyond the line Gorum he stands for. It's little enough, other than that, he cares about nothing. I care about a great deal more but must serve my god as you strive to serve yours. Why complain about a price that is only rarely so inconvenient. And get a reputation for trickery, expect it to be used more often against you. And I support everyone here in their goals except as my faith requires otherwise. Everyone accedes to someones wishes sometime or another."
Arkady takes command. Anton responds. "If the men lose their courage that's on them. Take down their leader without trickery and seal their fate. But if you use that level of deceit proposed and Gorum withdraws his gifts, blame no one but yourself."
Anton mounts up.
Kata steps up and mounts her horse. "We are united in our desire to remove the Stag Lord. Let's head south and see what we find today."
While there are no mules, one of the horses is fairly sickly and Oleg hands it over without asking for payment. After asking after the saddlebags or rich cloth he's able to drum up some. He asks for 50 gold in a sheepish voice, obviously embarassed to have to ask. "Anton is correct." Kesten says, his anger clear. "I'd rather face a man on his feet than put him on his back with your treachery." Kesten clearly feels the matter closed. "The Stag Lord's fort is supposed to be on the northern bank of the Tuskwater yes? That should be nearly straight south from here."
The group passes through familiar territory the first day, stopping shortly beyond the area they've explored.
"Well they're certainly not just out here waiting for us yet, but I suppose we will need to be even more wary tomorrow."
Arkady frowns at the setting sun. The weather is apparently kind, but that may not last.
"They will likely be gathering at the Stag Lord's fort before heading out, so any he has north should be heading south. I doubt there will be much danger until we reach near there, but we must be careful nonetheless."
As we settle in for the evening meal, Kata is quiet and thoughtful, perhaps thinking of the conflict ahead.
"If he really has such men to gather then it will take time, we should get there well ahead of it." Anton helps with camp tasks. Later he ask Kesten, "How do you intend to do this? Scout, of course, but are you looking for an good moment or do you have a deeper plan?" Anton is just curious.
"That is my plan." Kesten says, his smile carefree. "Though I'll not go up against them unless I think we can win. Odds are he's got less men than he claims, but more than we'd be comfortable with, so right now I'm treating this mission as scouting with the possibility of violence."
As you wake in the morning and pack up for more travelling you come to a quite large hill. At the top is a Sycamore tree, which seems meaningful to you for some reason.
"Well, here's a dilemma. This looks like it might be the Sycamore tree that Kressle told us about where the mites live. But, that would be a distraction from our current mission unless we were able to learn more about the bandits from them. Shall we just mark the location of this tree and come back to it after we deal with the Stag Lord?"
"I doubt the mites will assail if we let them alone for a time", says Arkady, "but the Stag Lord gathers men to strike us now. The more urgent threat must claim our swords. And I doubt mites know the Stag Lord's plans."
To Kesten. "Well and good then glad to have you with us." The sycamore tree comes up. "The mite's den, of course, that's what was familiar about it. Trouble for another day, let's ride on. Wait, is that an animal on the trail behind us or a rider?"
Another few hours riding leads to the intersection of the Thorn and Shrike rivers. The river grows extremely shallow here, less than 3 feet deep and it seems like a natural ford over the Thorn. In the distance you can see the northern shores of the Tuskwater lake and a small dot of a building you take to be your goal. Once you cross here you head towards it until nightfall, in the meantime seeing it grow into the ruins of a small fort about two stories high on the edge of the Tuskwater. The fort sits high on a hill and there is only one long approach of hard packed road. The hill surrounding it is devoid of vegatation, but dotted with larfrge boulders which could cover an approach. The fort itself has a pallisade of large wooden stakes from which the second floor of the stone fort peeks.
Arkady reins up as the fort comes in sight, "We are scouting, for now. Let us not approach so closely that they see us in turn. The Thorn River camp had watchers posted; we must assume that the Stag Lord is no less capable than his lieutenants. I suggest we ride a wide circle around the fort, seeing if there are any tracks of incoming bandits. We may be able to estimate their numbers so."
As we approach closer to the fort. "They have cleared the brush and grass from around the fort. Someone there knows what he is doing. A pity they were too lazy to clear the boulders as well, but perhaps they have no engineers. We might be able to make use of those, if we have no other way to get inside the fort. Speaking of which, do any of you have any ideas?"
Kheldor lets out a low whistle at the sight of the fort "So, we're going to attempt to attack this place, without any form of trickery or deceit? I think Anton is secretly is a priest of Groetus, as only madness would give forth such an idea." He says shaking his head at just how bad an idea this is.
"It would be handy if Blackthorn could fly, but I have little to offer unless we can find watchers or a way through the walls by negotiation, force or trickery. I agree with Arkady that we should scout around the edge of the walls. I do have a spell I could prepare tomorrow that would create a misty vapor around me, but it only extends for 20-feet on each side of me so I fear it may be too evident that it is a spell."
"A good enough plan Sir Arkady, I have no better suggestion." Anton lifts an eyebrow at Kheldor outburst. "Once again you misstate my views. Trickery that totally avoids a battle or strips all choice, all the meaning from valor is bad. Otherwise I have no objection. Do you have some cleaver trick to gain us entry in mind?"
Anton rides behind Sir Akaday prepared to do a days scouting.
Perception What's what?
"'Night is the friend of scouts', my father says. Perhaps one of us could sneak near in the darkness and listen, or find what watch they keep?". Arkady glances at the others, inviting them to comment.
He looks around at the countryside. "Let us keep out of sight of the fort as we search for trails. We are near a lake and a river here. The ground should be wet and leave good impressions, if no rain has washed them out. And there will be mist in the morning, making Kata's small patch of fog less obvious. We might try an arrival in the early morning fog, knowing the password to enter the gates. Or a late night arrival, hoping to catch many of them in bed or unaware."
"Finally, they must be getting food from somewhere. We have seen no farms, no markets in these lands, and this is early spring, the hungry time with no fruit or berry ripe. They may get goods by water, but more likely they hunt, and hunt often with many mouths to feed. Let us keep careful watch for hunters, and drive away any game if we come across it, or rustle any hidden herds of cattle. They cannot keep many animals on that hilltop."
"I remember a story when I was still back home, about one of the unassailable fortresses that gets talked about in legends so often. Turns out, there was a sewer which a group of heroes were able to sneak in through. We should look for something similar."
"That's a great idea Kheldor. Do not many fortresses have some extra way out? For escape or as a means of sending men out to surprise those outside. I think there is a name for it, but it escapes me. Soldiering was not something I received a lot of education in. Arkady also has some good thoughts. Perhaps we do a little scouting from a safe distance while we have light and see if they send anyone out for hunting. When it gets dark, we can look for a secret passage. My mists might also be easier to hide at night."
Marcus rode after the others had departed, easily following their trail in the soft earth. Thoughts of how to overcome this challenge filled his head and he had to admit that he wasn't sure how they could do it.
"I know little of castle-building," Arkady says as the party rode slowly through the brush, "but secret passages are not unknown. Still, we might look long before finding an exit. A route for escape must be secret, and so grass might grow over the entrance for years. A sortie route is likely to be larger, but still well hidden. And even if there is such a tunnel, it may have collapsed or filled with water over the years. Particularly if the bandits do not know of it, or do not care to clean it out. Very much worth searching for, though. A pity we have no gnome to ask the moles and badgers what they know of under-earth. Marcus might know more."
There are no boats near the fort, but the smoke of fires can be clearly seen against the sky several times through the day and night.
Kesten frowns and seems to work something in his head a moment. "That fort's too small. Doubt it would easily house 40 men. Perhaps 30, though it would be a little cramped. Either the Stag Lord has exaggerated his numbers or they haven't made it in." The sallow man considers. "Which means we can pick them off as they come... or take out hunting parties, they have to eat somehow." His grin is wolfish. "I say we camp out here for the night and see what we see in the morning."
Devlin is unable to find tracks, to an almost suspicious degree. One wonders if they ever use anything but the road approach.
Anton scouts with the others at distance looking for anything unusual or suspicious. He'll be sniffing the wind as it comes off the fort when he is downwind.
Perception
"Some good points, all of you, I'm not sure such a small fort would have an escape route, they are expensive. No harm in looking though. Feeding even a few men is hard, many near impossible. Mother is a hard charging firebrand but in her duties as a captain she spends more of her time seeing to supplies than all other tasks combined. You might think I spent all my time training to fight or bow courteously but doing inventory was all too common, and even more boring than it sounds. I'm growing more sure that the warning was a bluff, if we stop attacking his raiding parties he wins a cheap victory. Still he may be recalling a few men from outer camps. Camping a bit away, while keeping watch is good. No fire, even the smallest might be noticed."
Anton listens to Devlin failure to find any tracks. "I wonder if there are orders to kill anyone who does not walk down the road. All the men of his I've seen are bowmen, it would not be unreasonable but would require more men than seems feasible with rest needed. Puzzling."
If Marcus is with us, Anton greets him. "Hello Marcus. Glad you decided to rejoin us. Any ideas on entry?"
Kata listens to the words of the men, "Not 40, maybe less than 30. That's good news. I'm suspicious of what Devlin is finding. Do you think they might have set traps? I'm wary of looking for a secret way in until we know more. I like this idea of camping away and watching for parties coming or going. If we can catch a few, there is much we might learn."
"A hill with no vegetation, and yet no tracks. Something is very wrong there - at the minimum, it should have long grass growing on it. I would be very careful. Did they poison the ground, or curse it with magic?". Arkady frowns, thinking hard. "I agree that capture of a bandit would serve us best. There are no tracks, though. Could they be meeting somewhere else? Or could we have outpaced any reinforcements he has called in? A few fires, again it points to not so many in the fort. I doubt they have the discipline to crowd together and eat cold food for days on end merely to surprise us."
As the sun rides downward, Arkady thinks again. "Might we put someone near enough the fort to watch the gate, hide for the day, and see how many go in and out? A day's watch might tell us more. The rest wait in call from the watcher, where we can ride against a sortie, or retreat with him if there are too many. Marcus would be ideal."
Marcus nods a greeting to Anton. "Figured you'd need the help," he says with a wry smile. Sitting on his haunches next to Arkady, he studies the fort.
"Doesn't look like he has as many as he thinks, or at the very least they aren't all here. Regardless, it's still a fort. I suspect the lack of vegetation is to allow his bowmen to see anyone trying to sneak up to the fort. No cover means easy pickings for any man with some training or a crossbow. Not much cover on the way up to the fort either. We're stuck with a frontal assault under the cover of darkness, or deception."
Marcus chews this over for a moment. "The safest option is to sit here, dispatch any parties that we see and try to starve him out. However that element of surprise will go afte the first couple of parties that we eliminate. We could send a runner back to Oleg's and gather up as many men as we can muster and assault the fort but without proper siege equipment, I suggest that path would result in too many deaths of our own mean. Or we could deliver a message of our own. Tie a piece of parchment to a bolt and fire it over the wall. Offer asylum and a fair trial to any man who turns his back on the Stag Lord. Leniency if they turn over any of his men? At the very least, it would sow dissension amongst his ranks. At best, it might even cripple him."
"Watching and looking for some event is the best. We'll soon determine if the Stag Lord's popularity is as he claims. Surprise is only useful if we can gain entry, unfortunately with the fort as it is, a few men can hold against many times their number. Still if he is the one besieged and starving and not us, we will have a victory. I doubt that any message would affect anyone already in the castle at least without a more convincing demonstration of power, then we have."
"I agree, but once we figure out what is going on with the hill and road, I think it might make sense to attempt a search for any hidden ways in or out."
"No fires tonight, or tomorrow," Arkdy says as they make camp, a couple of miles from the Stag Lord's fort. "We cannot risk light or smoke to give us away. A cold camp, I fear, but if anyone can cook or warm us without light, we can avoid that."
"Not a trick I've learned yet I'm afraid cousin. I can set a fire for you easy enough if I memorize the spell, but that isn't going to do us much good with this situation."
You awaken to the sound of a shout in the early morning. As you get out of your tent or bedroll, you find Kesten in the jaws of a serpentine dragon-headed green reptile at least 6 feet long. It has so far failed to penetrate his armor despite attacking from surprise, but Kesten looks to be in danger.
"What in the nine hells is that thing!?! Kesten, you're supposed to be watching for trouble. Did you think it would make a nice pet or something?"
Kata moves up to within 30 feet of the dragon and glares at it with a baleful look that would chill the blood.
Marcus rolls up onto his knee and brings his crossbow to bear. He pauses his breath for a moment as he fires at the beast. As soon as the bolt is away, he reloads.
Arkady, standing on the other side of camp looking into the darkness away from dawn, whirls at Kesten's shout. He races across the campsite, drawing his sword and bringing it down in a quick arc across the serpent's neck.
Kheldor speaks in a strange, bizarre tongue and fires off a bolt of force at the dragon like creature
Anton wakes takes a look around and sees Kesten in trouble; he stands fetching his blade from where it lay by his side.
Status: Beginning of Round one
Base AC: 13 in Studded Leather
Stance: Prone
Move: 30'
Current AC: 13
Max Hit Points:16
Current Hit Points: 16
Stands, drawing blade from scabbard at his bedside. One move action. Then moves to flanking position on the beast. One move action. Done.
Status: End of Round one
Base AC: 13 in Studded Leather
Stance: Standing
Move: 30'
Current AC: 16
Max Hit Points:16
Current Hit Points: 16
Note that his armor is less but mobility is greater.
The overwhelming response of violence sees the green scaled creature felled near instantly. Kesten takes a moment to place his blade into it's neck and make sure it's dead, then stands. "Damn thing caught me off guard. Didn't expect to see a tatzylwyrm out here, they tend to keep to the forest." He grins behind his bristles of beard. "Though it seems we have a head to bring back to Oleg."
"Well done. Remind me never to get the rest of you angry with me. Are you ok Kesten or do we need to see to some healing for you? I hope this is just coincidence that the tatzylwyrm was here and not some Stag Lord plot." She considers for a moment whether she has ever heard tales of men using the small wyrms before.
The shadow mage shrugs "I wouldn't worry too much about that Kata, as I doubt we'll know for sure one way or another. We might need to be a bit more careful in our journey however"
Marcus stands and nudges the beast with his foot.
"Anyone know which bits of this thing are valuable?"
"Oleg wanted the head. Maybe some of the hide and bones. I seem to recall it was a poisonous beast so I would be careful about anything else.". Arkady pokes around a bit, running over his memory of hunts and legends and recent conversations. He proceeds to sever the head and pack it in his saddlebags, as well as saving anything else useful.
Anton is ready to swing on the beast as it falls. Sighing Anton puts his unused blade away. He turns to Kesten, "Are you injured? Do you need the blessings of Gorum, Kesten?"
"'Tis, likely just bad fortune but it never hurts to be wary." Anton looks to the sky. "It appears to be time for my shift anyway, let everyone that should rest and I'll take watch."
Anton starts his watch carefully scanning the near area and sniffing the wind to catch anything or anyone in the darkness.
Perception What does Anton see or smell?