Planning the Assault
Subject: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Cadfael crunches off through the underbrush, circling the tower. The rest of the group waits, keeping an eye on the tower itself. Mission keeps his crossbow trained on the tower doorway without wavering.
Everyone is trying to stay quiet, but finally Farron says in a low whisper, "Should it take him this long? It seems like he's been gone a long time."
Sa'id is just getting ready to answer when there is a low hoot from the side of the tower. It is clearly Rennik hooting, but what this particular hoot means is anyone's guess. A moment later, the doorway turns dark again. Mission strains to see what is happening, and it looks for a second like someone is dragging something heavy through the doorway [spot 23]. Then the doorway lights up again, as whoever was blocking it moves away.
Then there is silence again, and the tower looks exactly like before. But Cadfael does not return.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Farron again whispers, "Someone should find out what Rennik wants. It does not bode well that he is signaling rather than returning, especially since Cadfael has not returned. Do you think he could have gotten to Rennik without raising an alarm in all that armor?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
"I want to kick myself," Sa'id whispers to Farron, "for sending Brother Cadfael off alone. I clearly wasn't thinking." He pauses. "I'm not sure that we can avoid a confrontation anymore, but we shall see."
Stepping back, Sa'id mutters off a quick incantation, and a low hoot identical to Rennik's sounds from roughly where Cadfael moved to [Prestidigitation].
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Garyth whispers, "We need to know what Rennik is calling about, and given how long Cadfael's been gone, it can't be good." He thinks a moment. "Mission, you are the stealthiest among us; you'd have the best chance of getting to Rennik. But if something has happened to Cadfael, it could happen to you as well. We can't afford to split the party..."
He surveys the clearing briefly. "If we circle around to the back side of the tower, where Rennik is, before you head out, we can keep you covered on your approach. Then you can either return, or tell Rennik to signal the rest of us ahead."
He looks to the party. "What do you say?"
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Mission nods. "There were four people within the tower when Rennick saw them; two when you and Cadfael approached. Since we saw one, now, reentering the tower, there is still one unaccounted for."
He shrugs. "Keep your eyes open. And your ears."
He will then stealthily circle around the tower, following as best he can the path Rennick took-- the path that avoided the wizard's alarm. He will put away his crossbow for now to keep his hands free.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
OOC: We're all circling, right? Garyth will take up his bow and nock an arrow when they reach the stopping point.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
I would like raja and karl to check in and let me know if they are circling too.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Yes, I'll circle too.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Farron interjects, "We do not know that the one entering the tower is one that was seen before, do we? Isn't it possible in fact that the group in the tower could have any number of friends keeping watch in these woods?" Farron begins to scan the trees behind and above him. "We need to get to Rennik as quickly as we can."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; thump in the night
Farron will stay with the party. If we're circling (which he thinks is a good idea) he will circle with them.
From: Ty
Subject: Crashing the party; sneaking around
The party agrees that getting to Rennik seems like a good idea. Everyone moves single file around the tower, staying well back in the forest. It is not the finest example of sneaking. It is still pitch black. Keeping out of the clearing means that almost no light from the tower illuminates the path. Much of the trip consists of people stepping on the back of someone else's foot, or running into branches. Fortunately, it appears that no one is watching, as no cry of alarm is raised.
After several minutes of this, Mission stops the group. "That hole is where Rennik went. I will go get him."
Mission takes only a single step when something moves in the dark next to the hole. There is a brief moment of alarm, but the shape and size of the person outside the hole is clearly the halfling. Mission moves over to his side and Rennik whispers, "What are you doing here? I am just getting ready to climb up the side of the tower. Look for another way in higher up. Who got captured? I heard them talking about a captive."
[Matt, feel free to add any other info you want. I'll wait until you check in before we move any further.]
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
"Cadfael," Sa'id whispers. "Like fools we sent him off into the dark to try a Detect Evil charm. He did not return." His voice is quiet, but his ire is clearly growing.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Cadfael, of all people. They choose to send the shiniest, clankiest one off alone into the dark forest. Rennik feels like a parent who turns his back for just five minutes to return and find his children leapfrogging the firepit. Part of his mind sympathizes for his poor father.
His voice quiet, he responds to Sa'id.
"He is inside, and I think he may be poisoned. Regardless, he is bound and kept at the farthest side of the tower away from the door. The spellweaver has gone to a higher floor for a commanding view, and has instructed his men to clear out if he yells, as he will be casting powerful magics."
"They do not know of my presence. I don't think they know there is a door on the other side of the large sled leaned against the wall, which makes me think they know nothing of Manut's imprisonment."
"They were cautious of our approach and didn't think Cadfael or Garyth had left. They sent out a scout, and he came back with Cadfael's body, saying something I couldn't really hear about a poisoned dagger."
"They know there are more voices in the woods and have shored up their defences, putting two against the door, one with Cadfael and the mage up top. They expect us to come and plan to hit us hard."
He pauses, almost in thought, then continues.
"My plan had been to burst through the barrier inside, give Cadfael my vial of antitoxin, then set the staircase ablaze to worry the wizard. That is impossible with three combatants on the ground floor, but they can be distracted."
"Garyth, could you and Mission sneak around the walls of the tower, being careful not to pass in front of cracked openings, to either side of the door in front? Mission, would it be possible to tumble in through the doorway, then fire your crossbow back at the men on either side of the door? If you could shoot at one and have him come at you, his back would be to the door. That could allow Garyth to attack him while you focus on his companion."
"Farron and Sa'id, is there anything you can do about the wizard upstairs? If Garyth can shout as he comes through the door, I will crash into the room from behind the sled, and focus my attentions on restoring Cadfael. I will give it a moment so your attack will draw off the man guarding him."
"My only fear is that cursed wizard. If these were only fighters, this fight would be over before it began. I only hope you can do something to stop him, or we could all be dead before dawn."
"What say you?"
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Pausing for answers, Rennik again cuts in just as someone was about to speak.
"Though that way is risky, and gives them the high ground advantage."
Then, after another brief pause.
"I had thought to climb the tower to get a better look a moment ago, but now I think it may prove an archer's aerie, where I could provide cover fire and meet the spellweaver on his own ground. If you give me some moments to get into position, I could again make the hoopowl call to signal the attack."
Rennik seems torn, his cautious woodsman mind clashing with the impulses of the rage in his blood wanting to bloody his axe.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Poison. Chaos and magery. Mission tightens the dark cloth that hides his hair and grimaces. "I suppose apologising to them outright for our lack of trust is out of the question, isn't it."
He shakes his head. "I don't think I can tumble through two armed men and hold onto a loaded crossbow, Rennick. In any case, the wizard's alarm will catch me before I get close enough to suprise them."
He nods at Rennick's second suggestion. "Climbing the tower might be a better idea-- I was about to suggest it, myself. If you can remove the wizard from the battle quickly, this will go much more quickly."
He takes a quick breath. "I will tumble through the doors and try to draw the men there to me. Without my crossbow, unfortunately, methinks. Garyth, you must attack quickly-- I don't have any desire to end up on the wrong end of a pike.
"They don't know our numbers, or abilities." Another grimace as his eyes flick over the mages. "That's our advantage."
Mission will do as outlined above-- sneaking to the sides of the door, then tumbling in. If it's allowed, he'll tumble in with a loaded crossbow, and fire off a bolt at the man with the pike. If not, he'll try to tumble as close as possible to the man guarding Cadfael, and attack him with trip.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Garyth peers up at the tower. "Allowing them to maintain the high ground is undesirable, but it may be unavoidable. Face it, Rennik, the likes of us have no defense against wizardry. No, we must use ourselves where we can do some good--steel against steel--and let magic face magic. If we can bring your first plan off, I think that gives us the best chance. We can only hope that the wizard will not risk harming his own men to get us." He looks to Farron and Sa'id. "Can you give us any protection, or, if not, do anything to distract or disable the wizard?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Sa'id turns to Mission. "What apology would they accept? We are not in the wrong, but I doubt very much they see it that way. If we could trust them to keep him alive 'til daybreak then we could simply wait, but from what Rennik says I'm not sure we can take that change." He pauses and looks to Garyth. "I have no useful protective magics for you, but Farron does know Haste. However, I know a fair amount of combat magic and will focus it on the wizard. If Cadfael was not inside, I would consider using my spell of Fireball again, but with him in the tower it's too risky. Is there a way I can get upstairs?"
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
OOC: Sarcasm is wasted on mages, apparently.
:)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Crashing the party; sneaking around
Just this one in particular :)