Into the frying pan
Subjet: Turn
Ok I will let you guys have until noon on Tuesday to figure out what you are going to do next. Then I will write up the next turn.
In particular, I need to know where every one will be, in relationship to the front gate and what they will be doing I also need to know where the horses will be.
From: Rob
Subject Rescue
Bel says " I am sure they will be asleep long enough for us to take care of them. We can't have them waking up on us and sounding the alarm, can we?".
From: Derrell
Subject Rescue
Fal is intrigued by this new plan. He's not much of a military strategist, but is all for anything that would minimize the chance of us getting slaughtered. He doesn't want to compromise the mission either. Fal wants to hear what the others think of the newly suggested plan. He'll go with whatever plan will best insure the safety of Rochelle.
OOC: Mark, I think you're doing a great job as DM. You've been a lot of help to me.
From: Kevin
Subject Rescue
Harp, upon hearing the new plan, says: Surin, while I trust in your abilities to get in and out quietly, does this not seem too easy? Walking in the front gate of an enemy compound? But, you have been inside the camp, and I have not. I will bend to your suggestion, though I am concerned that there is something there waiting that we have not seen.
Ran, since I am not still fully healed from our earlier fight, I will go back to where the horses are and leade them around the to the front of the camp as best I can. I don't imagine that we will want to run around the camp and through the woods to get to them.
OOC: Mark, can I take a 10 on controlling the horses if I take my time getting from where we hobbled them to a safe place on the eastern side of the camp (or even a point up the road toward where we came from? In order to help the planning, how long would you expect it to take me to get to that point? I do not have a good idea of the surrounding terrain, but Harp would at least have an idea of where he could meet them.
From: Mark
Subject spells
Fal knows that that the range on his sleep spell is about 140 feet. At his skill level it will last for 4 minutes. It is a 10 foot radius area of affect, which means it is 20 feet in diameter. According to the map that should be enough range to cover both the guards.
From: Mark
Subject Horses
Since you are not riding them and unless something attacks you, you should be able to lead the horses with no problem. Keeping enough room between you and the compound will take some time, upwards of 1/2 an hour.
I don't know if most of you have looked at the world map but the fastest way home is due east/south east from here. The next country over to the east is Camlost. If you follow the edge of the mountains that direction you will get to Camlost.
Or you can run back through the pass and then turn east/SE.
The terrrain on this side of the camp is light forrest with it getting denser the further west you go. The camp is right on the wood line so to the east is grassy plain. Low light vision people can see as well on a moon lite night as they can during the day. That means the elves, half elves and the goblins all can see as well as a normal day, since it is just past a full moon.
There is a spot about a quarter mile from the camp, on the east side, where you can hobble the horses.
It has been about 15-20 minutes since Surin talked to Rochelle.
From: Kevin
Subject Horses
OOC: Assuming that we come up with a "final" plan, Harp will move back to the horses and lead them out of earshot around the north side of the camp to that spot you mentioned. He will also make sure that the others know where he will be.
From: Karl
Subject Plan
I must have missed an email. What is this "new plan"? The past 6 or 8 emails have thoroughly confused me. Before that the last email I got was the one where Surin put the axe in the watchman he didn't kill with his dagger.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
Look at the 4/22/05 archives. Also there were alot of e-mails yesterday about the new plan.
I will put those up at the archives today.
From: Mark
Subject Plan
Ok Harp is going to lead the horses to a staging spot on the east side of the camp, far enough away that they will not be seen or heard.
Fal is going to cast sleep on the guards.
Surin is going to take care of the guards and any goblins near the front of the camp.
Salix, Ran, Kal and Surin are then going to go in and resuce Rochelle.
A couple of questions.
What are Bel and Cai going to do and where are they going to be?
Are you planning on attacking the 1/2 orc no matter what or is that only if he wakes up and comes after you?
From: Karl
Subject 1/2 orc
Salix thinks we should let sleeping 1/2 orcs lie. If he wakes up and comes after us, though, he's all for sicking a hypogriff or sumpin on 'im.
From: Kevin
Subject 1/2 orc
OOC: While Harp is not going to be up close with the rest of the guys, he agrees that unless they can get in a good sneak attack while the beast is sleeping, let him go. Our mission is to rescue Rochelle and waking the beast will imperil that mission. If he wakes up due to noise, then all bets are off.
As far as Bel and Cai, I will defer to Randy if he responds prior to your cutoff. If he does not, as second in command, I would suggest that they place themselves at either side of the gate, so they can see the rest of the camp and anyone who may be roused. They will also be able to give some cover should the group heading to the shack have to make a run for it.
But this is only if Randy does not want them somewhere else.
From: Randy
Subject 1/2 orc
Ran agrees that we should only fight the 1/2 orc if it is necessary. The mission is what is important. Bel and Cai can do just as Harp suggests and only enter the fort if they sense that we are in danger.
From: Mark
Subject The rescue continues
?What is the problem?? Ran asks Surin.
His voice pitched low, Surin replies. "I'm not so sure we picked the best spot to come in--looks like most of the goblins are camped down there. We make any noise coming through--and believe me, this lot's all manner of brave, but they ain't terribly sneaky, so you can bet there'll be noise--we'll get swarmed, like as not. I'm thinkin' it might be a better bet to come in by the front gate.
I could definitely take out one of the guards, but I'm a bit worried that the other one'll see his friend drop. Might be we could have an archer or two--three maybe, to be on the safe side--waiting to pick the other one off before he can sound the alarm. 'Fore we get started on the guards, though, I reckon I should check the tents in this area. Most of 'em are empty, but it might be a good idea to clear he rest," he gulps at the euphemism, sickened for a moment before the halfling ring glints in his mind's eye. "So, I take care of anybody in the tents, then we take care of the guards together? Without the guards to man it the gate'll be a cinch to open. " Ran thinks for a minute and replies. "Sounds good. Cai, Bel, and I will be at the ready to take out the other guard once we see the first one fall.
I hate to change plans at the last minute, but you are the only one who has seen the layout. Once the second guard falls, the rest of the plan will go ahead. Salix, Kal, and I will go in, rescue Rochelle, and dispatch the 1/2 orc.
Cai pipes up. "While I'm more than willing to take out the other goblin, it occurs to me that our arrows are not as... precise... as our friend Surin. What I mean to say is, while I have no doubt as to our ability to kill this goblin, there exists a reasonable possibility of him crying out and alerting the rest if we shoot him. Might it not be better to have Fal put them to sleep? If he puts them both to sleep, Surin can simply let us in. If one falls asleep, he can take care of the other, and if neither falls, well we haven't lost much. We can still try shooting it. "In case we do have to shoot the one, however, how will we know at what time we should fire?" Surin nods at the elf's comments. "Now that's a good idea Cai. I was a little worried about him getting a chance to shout before he was finished. Sounds like a little magic'll be just the thing. How long'll they stay out, d'you reckon? And how asleep will they be? Don't want to have them wake up just as we're leaving."
Bel says "I am sure they will be asleep long enough for us to take care of them. We can't have them waking up on us and sounding the alarm, can we?" He has a grim look on his face as he says this.
Fal swallows a bit, realizing how much will depend on his spell casting. ?They should sleep for several minutes and no normal noise should wake them. If they are shaken for a short period of time, they can be roused. However, if the goblins can see as well as I can in the night, we might have a problem. I will need to be within 140 feet or so my spell to be effective. Surin thinks about this for a few seconds. ?How about before I go back in I find a nice place on the north side of the camp for you. Well into the woods so you will not be heard, but close enough for your spell. When you are done casting, you can start moving towards where Harp is keeping the horses. I am sure we will catch up with you, unless things go wrong. At least you will be able to report back to Angelwing and Quarion what happened.? ?You can have Lenore sit on the compound wall on the north side. I will signal her when I am ready for you to sleep them. Can she handle that?? Fal nods, gratified to be useful in this situation.
Lenore can handle it. Let me tell her what to do.? And with that he starts talking to the bird.
Harp and Ran quickly decide that due to his injuries, Harp should lead the horses to a spot on the east side of the camp and wait there for the rest of the party members. He is to keep an eye out for members and guide them in if needed. Harp nods and leads the horses in a circumspect route around the camp and out onto the plain. He is easily able to accomplish this in the ? hour Ran has given him.
Ran confers with the rest of the party. ?Surin goes in and clears out the tents near the gate. He signals to Lenore who notifies Fal. Fal sleeps the guards and Surin finishes the job. He then opens the gate and the four of us? he points to Surin, Salix, Kal and myself will go rescue Rochelle. Cai and Bel you stay at the gate and provide cover if needed. If we get her out with out notice we beat a hasty retreat to where Harp is with the horses.? He looks at the other people and they nod in agreement.
Since they have a little time to spare, Surin leads Fal to a spot north of the camp. He can clearly see the two watch goblins standing in their towers. He had not realized how far apart they were. The spell should be able to get both of them, as long as he aims it between the two. He claps the halfling gently on the back, nods, and sends Lenore off to sit on the wall.
Surin makes it back to the rest of the party. ?Let me take you to a place where you can get to the gate quickly, once the goblins are down.? He leads them through the forest to the south. He notices how well the rangers move but is glad that he did not have to sneak Ran and Salix into the camp. He thinks to himself ?You think a druid would move quieter than that.? He shrugs and remembers how the forest came alive at Salix's command when the orcs had attacked. That might come in useful. He finally finds them a spot in the woods about 100 feet from the gate.
When Ran, Salix, Kal and the two rangers are in place, Surin makes his way back to the west part of the camp. He climbs the rope and is quickly inside. Tying the rope back up and putting it in his backpack, he then climbs down and starts moving towards the shack. When he gets there he slides under the shack at the corner where Rochelle is. Placing his mouth right on the boards he whispers ?My Lady, are you ready?? He hears her reply ?I thought you had forgotten me, but yes I am ready.? ?A few more minutes, my Lady, while we take out the guards. My companions will soon be here to free you.? With that, Surin slips back out from under the building and starts his grim work.
He only finds 4 tents near the gate that have anyone in them. One has an old male goblin in it and two others have females. The last tent has a female and a child. He watches them sleep and can not bring himself to kill the child or the female. Instead, he places his hand over the mouth of the child and raps the female on the head hard with the hilt of his dagger. Her eyes flicker and then close again. Knowing that this is the lesser of the two evils, he then cracks the child on the head as well, knocking the goblin child unconscious. Hoping that they would be out long enough for the party to get away he slides back out of the tent and looks for Lenore.
He sees a dark shape on the north wall and waves his hand over his head, once. The bird takes wing and Surin turns to watch the guards.
Fal is standing in the woods, in the spot that Surin picked out for him. The bugs are chewing on his leg. He thinks ?I need to develop a spell that keeps away the little critters.? The time seems to drag while he waits for Lenore to give him the signal. All of a sudden he sees Lenore take wing. Breathing quickly to himself he concentrates on the location he has picked out and chants the words he had memorized. He points his finger and feels the energy flow from it towards the spot he picked. He does not even wait to see the effects of the spell. It went off according to plan. He starts on his way to where Harp has the horses.
Surin watches as the two guard's slump over. He is up the southern most ladder in a flash. Quickly taking care of the guard, he waves his hands over his head a couple of times and then climbs back down the ladder. He runs over to the other tower and finishes the job with the guard there. He is a bit disgusted with how easy this has become. It was one thing to kill in battle and another in the dark.
By the time he has the two guards taken care of the other party members are at the gate. Surin goes to the log that the goblins use to close the gate and lifts it. He is able to slide it to one side so that one of the doors opens slightly. There is a small creaking sound, but it is not all that loud. The 6 party members look at each other. Ran says ?OK let's do this.?
OODM: I will write more tonight.
From: Jason
Subject The gate
Before they seperate, Cai whispers to Salix "If you're discovered and we are forced to run, you might consider casting your wood-shaping spell on the gate in such a way that the goblins inside cannot open it. That might buy us a few precious minutes on the way out. Good luck."
From: Mark
Subject The gate
:)
From: Karl
Subject The Gate
"I don't cast 'spells'," Salix responds. "All I do is by the grace of Obad-hai." He touches the oak-leaf and acorn insignia in his leather armor reverently. "But good idea. I'll keep that in mind."
From: Mark
Subject Saves
I just realized that I forgot to list the saves for the goblins against the sleep spell.
DC15, 10-1=9, fail, 13-1=12, fail, both slept.
From: Jake
Subject Spells
OOC: Recognizing that there are a lot of turns yet to read, and that it may be a moot point now, I've got to say that if Surin finds out that the spell will only last 4 minutes he's going to be killing a couple of sleeping goblins.
From: Jake
Subject 1/2 orc
OOC: Again, knowing that it's probably too late for my post to mean anything game-wise, I vote for only attacking him if we have to. If at all possible I'd like to leave him completely alone.