Planning the Ambush
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Marching to War
Pensive listens quietly to the men's joking, and shivers. Pickle. What was this fascination with humans and sex? Spreading their seed around like. . . like. . . Pensive cannot think of an appropriate metaphor. He shivers again. That's what started this whole thing. . .
No. He'd stop blaming Mission. Mission was worthy of the Kaishin. The shadow that blew on Huss was not dependent on the stupid child that Mission had been. Penance and Mission-- stupid children. But maybe, becoming a father would heal Mission's stupidity. He is worthy, Pensive reminds himself, gritting his teeth.
Why am I not?
The ground where Nesalin's army has massed is thick with the smell of men and beasts. Pensive remains close to Garyth as the army prepares to embark, watching how he binds himself to his new men, to the cleric Osred, how the binding between him and Rennick is changing. . .
And then the reins to a horse is passed into his hands. Pensive looks up at the creature's eyes, a bit suprised. How does one go about riding a horse? There are some fellows not far away already sitting astride their mounts, patting the long, muscular necks as they chatted. How did they get up there? The men are in armor, so they couldn't have jumped. . . Pensive walks cautiously around his own horse, looking for some sign, some. . . clue as to how to get up on its back.
Well, _he_ was not in armor, and he _could_ jump. Fastening his hand to the horse's mane, he swings himself up into the saddle. Blood and stone. Now what? From this vantage point, he can see the stirrups, placed far too low to be of any use to him. And the reins, out of reach. The horse whinnies at him, and gives a little dance to the side. Pensive sways in the saddle precariously.
"Be forgiving, horse," Pensive says, patting it like he'd seen the men do. He leans forward and runs his hand along the animal's muscular neck, feels it shake, and calm. "We are to be tied together through misery and war-- let us both be kind to one another. Forgive me my natural incompentence, and I will forgive you your wide ribcage."
He lights out of the saddle, and finds the latch and buckle to the stirrups. Adjusted to elf-height, they make excellent foot holds, though his thighs are already starting to burn. He looks at Rennick and Melani's war ponies with a glimmer of envy, but says nothing. This was to be his horse. The Path is not straight nor is it soft.
***************
The Path is infinitely softer than a horse's back, Pensive decides, when Sir Jonas calls Garyth's group over. Oddly, it wasn't as bad riding full-out; it was the trotting that was painful.
He listens carefully to the commander's description of the witch, and remains quiet until he has moved away.
Then he says to Garyth, "A mage expecting battle is likely to have protection against arrows. That protection may still be on her when she returns behind the hill, in addition to her powers of flight. This will be a difficult bird to net." His eyes flash, and he feels a dark thrum in his gut. "She will have expended much of her magery in attacking the forward calvary, though, and perhaps her protection will have weakened."
Perhaps. Pensive looks beyond Garyth, to the hulk of a ruined farmhouse. Sand and shadow had passed this way. The thrum in his gut pulls as taut as a bowstring. Pensive grits his teeth against it, and puts his fingers inside his sleeves to touch the smooth silk cords wrapped meticulously around his forearms. There is strength there. Blood and Stone, he hopes it is enough.
From: Ty
Subject: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
It is sort of disconcerting, peeling off from the main body of troops. Garyth's little squad of nine watches the mass of soldiers continue marching to the south, as they head off south by southeast. Garyth leaves his men little time to reflect, as he begins pushing them and their mounts to greater speed. Soon, the army is far behind.
Within a few hours, the hill in question becomes visible, though it is too distant to see anything on it. Melani points out [successful knowledge roll] that a natural draw in the land to the north of the hill would provide some cover for their approach. The group is able to use it to move to within half a mile of the east side of the hill. Melani and Rennik believe that attempting to move closer on horseback would be too risky. Garyth guesses the time as an hour or so before noon, so the group has time.
Corporal Vincy takes the horses to a small group of trees and ties them up. Pickle and Robert take out and load light crossbows, and the other men draw their swords. Osred says, "What now, Captain?"
[Ok. The group is in a natural depression about half a mile from the north side of the hill. There is some limited cover between the draw and the hall, but it is mostly scrub brush and small trees. No one is visible on the hill from this point. Rennik thinks it would take about 20 minutes to get to the hill, if everyone was staying in cover as much as possible. So, let me know what you want to do.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
How much time does Garyth estimate we have before we have to be ready?
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
Just a few weeks ago, Garyth would probably have charged in to take up positions for ambushing the witch. Just a few weeks ago, though, he had never felt his strength seep away with the blood drawn by a more skilled enemy's blade. This is too easy; there must be more to it.
He turns to the group. "It looks clear, but we don't know what sort of magics the witch may have used." Memories of the tower float to the surface of Garyth's mind. The guilt over what happened comes with it, but Garyth pushes the feeling down. There's no time for that. "She may have left an alarm or a trap. For all we know she may have cast some spell to hide sentries." He looks to Osred. "Do you have any way of sensing any magic she may have used, or any hidden troops?"
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
Osred purses his lips, squinting at the hill. "No, curse the luck. The spells I prayed for this morning had more to do with hurting the enemy than finding them. Even if Heironeus had blessed me with a way of detecting the bitch's craft, it wouldn't work from this distance."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
Garyth nods. It had been an outside chance, anyway. "We'll have to do it the hard way, then." He glances toward the hill, taking in the distance. "Squads of three in a bounding overwatch. Rennik, Melani, and Pensive in the first group." The quietest and sharpest-eyed in the advance. That, and he knew how good they were. "The rest of us will provide cover. Osred, Pickle, and Munch on the left flank, Vincy, Robert, and I on the right." He unlimbers his bow and nocks an arrow, looking to Rennik. "Agreed?"
OOC: Basically the idea is to "leapfrog" by squads. 1st squad (Rennik, Melani, and Pensive) go ahead first a short way, the rest cover them until the first group finds a place to cover while 2nd and 3rd squads advance to the first position. Repeat until we get there.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
IC: The group breaks from the main unit and heads to the hill. As they are riding Melani remembers that she had once been in this area many years ago. She closes her eyes, trying to recall the terrain and how they might be able to use it to their advantage. She recalls a draw on the north side of the hill and lets the Captain know about it. She is gratified to see that the Captain takes her advice.
Soon the are at a patch of woods, as close and she and Rennik think they can get on horse. She would have liked a bit more cover and a bit less light, but you work with what you have.
She talks with Rennik in halfling." I think I should scout ahead a bit and try and find the best path to the top of the hill. I think that I have the best chance of remaining hidden and silent. I am going to try and find a path that all of us can take with out too much noise, except the one in the metal suite."
Melani waits to hear what Rennick has to say.
Mark
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Hunting the Witch
Rennik responds to Melani with a nod. "This is wise, but two pairs of eyes may be better than one."
He moves toward Garyth and motions Melani to follow. The guardsman was finally learning caution, but he was not using all the resources at his command. He steps up to Garyth to speak quietly, not wishing to challenge his authority in front of his men.
"Friend Garyth, your men are well trained and capable fighters I am sure, but it might be wise to know what we are heading into first. If Melani and I scout the area ahead and return back, you will have better understanding of our enemy's position. We will have more time to plan our attack, and you will have a better understanding of where to place your force."
"I think we can be out and back very quickly if we each scout a different angle to the hill. It will give two perspectives and extra time to plan. If you feel two is too risky, then at least send one to report back on what there is to see. If only one is to be sent, I would recommend Reth'tenn Melani - as first scout of the Kalama, her skills in this area surpass mine, and she has a better knowledge of this area than myself."