Tarithnesti - The Party Prepares Their First Move

30 Newkolt 349 AC

Cedron decorates himself with his two medals and begins a subtle campaign to raise spirits in the community. He moves from public place to lodge telling inspiring stories of communities overcoming odds for the greatest good “…for what greater good is there than life and preservation…” he tells any who will listen.

The elves he runs into, those few remaining civilians and the soldiers who heard him speak at the assembly shortly after the party's arrival take note of his general demeanor, his positive message, and the medals that tell them that he has achieved similar results before and find faith in the group, or the absent gods, or perhaps even the Speaker of the Stars for sending these outland defenders to their aid.

After he returns to Tarithnesti, Kysek stables Dusk and then heads to Commander Parnitha's tent to tell the party about to only decent chokepoint he found.

“This is what we have to take advantage of them. How do we draw them out? Any ideas? We still have a full day before Raven and our scouts arrive. If we can eliminate the worgs before they get here, they will have a distinct advantage on the ground. The downside; if the rest of the enemy forces become aware of what has happened, then we have dragons to deal with before our forces arrive. Perhaps we utilize Shadow's plans while we wait for our reinforcements to arrive?”

Cedron leans forward at the table, “What about poison? Can we set out raw meat or tainted field game in a way that appeals to the animals without being too obvious?” He asks his elven friend.

“Perhaps, but they are Worgs. I’m fairly certain that all they’re given is tainted meat.”, Kysek replies.

“No doubt. I’m certain we could concoct something foul enough to at least cause confusion. I think the idea of using passive defenses, traps, and confusion could really provide us with an edge in the conflict. Perhaps we can distort the terrain, using illusions and magic as well?” Cedron proposes.

“You do have a point; maybe Grotto has some tricks up his alchemical sleeves to create such a concoction? It would more than likely have to be completely odorless though.” Kysek says.

Grotto runs his hands together in anticipation, "I can easily make something that would smell of rotting meat. It would drive the worgs mad with hunger. Their riders would have to investigate to calm their mounts! Then we pounce, and take our prisoners to question, leaving few left alive! Once we've snatched a goblin, I suppose we could start off a bit more gently in the interrogation. But know, goblins only speak the language of force and pain. I can make a truth serum to help us. Don't know that we would want it brewed out here in the field. Alchemy is often smelly work. It may give away our position to the noses of their wargs."

Shadow listens to Kysek’s report and the assessment of the locations thought to be best for the ambush of the Worg riders and asks follow up questions, “Tell me about the second choke point closer to the main camp? How far away is it? How long would it take to fly there?” He listens intently to Kysek again.  “They have to use runners for messaging, either on foot or worgs. And supply runs. That second choke point maybe where we get to make some new friends.” He looks at the others and says “So do we attack the camp now or gather more information?”  

Ra’ziir makes preparations for the upcoming field mission. “If we are going to capture an enemy for interrogation, that should happen soon. Tonight, even. Then, if that goes well, we can hit them in the morning with Kysek’s plan.” The Bladesinger looks to the others, “Agreed? Or is there a better way?”

“Who wants to go with me to charm a goblin or two? Maybe even a Worg? I can fly there now. I see better than goblins at night. Hell, I was made to be snatching goblins. Oh, and does anyone else think we just polymorph into a group of those Dragonmen and just fly over there at dawn and attack them?” Shadow rambles and says, “I’ll save that one for later.”

Commander Parnitha, having been silent throughout Kysek’s briefing and the party's planning session rises. "I am both impressed and horrified by the casual way you lot just did that. How long have you been at this?"

With a plan basically hashed out, Ra'ziir departs to tend to Redclaw after promising to return shortly. He asks around to see if there is a butcher and is mildly annoyed to discover that these isn't one. However, there is a fish market. He acquires a few for Redclaw and stops by the griffon's stall “I’ll be back soon, hopefully with something tasty for you… rest easy, while you can my friend.”

While Ra’ziir is off tending to his mount, Grotto listens to the ambush plans and prepares himself to be bait in the trap.

Grotto's eyes narrow and a wry smirk crosses his face. "I hate goblins. I would love to help interrogate a few! They taught me well about their ways of interrogation when I was their slave. They practiced their arts on me often. I know how to make them talk!"

Shadow says, “Even dealing with goblins you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. My plan is simply to charm one, take him away from the others and bring him back here. Seriously, when they’re charmed you don’t have to beat them to get the information. Of course, you can beat him later if you want, I don’t care. Once the spell wears off, he will be not so happy to see us”

"But what of the worg riders we are hoping to subdue? We're we not going to thin their numbers?" Grotto asks Shadow and the group in general.

Kysek shakes his head, “We won’t eliminate the herd by catching a couple. We use the knowledge gained from the kidnapping; alongside the knowledge of the terrain. We create your smelly concoction to lure them to the choke point. Make certain your smelly concoction is lethal to the Worgs. The ones that survive, suffer horrible, painful deaths from our steel. A touch more complicated than I had originally envisioned; but if anyone can pull this off, I’d think we could. We have to start immediately if we’re going to accomplish this before our ground troops arrive!”

Shadow continues, “We should not settle for just Grotto’s Grand Gutbomb. Once they grab grub we should fly up and cast Cloudkill on all sides of them at once and walk it in on them.  As they try to squeeze out through the corners, Grotto will be waiting for them with a smile and dessert.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”, Kysek exclaims. “Let’s get the ^@*$ he needs to make this happen”, he adds.

Grotto's eyes narrow and a wry smirk crosses his face. "I hate goblins. I would love to help interrogate a few! They taught me well about their ways of interrogation when I was their slave. They practiced their arts on me often. I know how to make them talk!"

The hours pass and by mid-afternoon, the sun is creeping back toward the horizon. Ra'ziir rejoins the group who fill him in on what they talked about while he was gone. Once that is done, Shadow swiftly intones, "Χερσαία πτήση,"and begins to hover a few inches off of the ground. “Who wants to go?”

“I’ll go with you…” Ra’ziir responds.

"Thank you, my friend," Shadow says. "I’m ready whenever you are. Let’s go charm a goblin or two and bring them back with us."

EN ROUTE TO TARITHNESTI

01 Deepkolt 349 AC

An hour before dawn, Raven has Romulus begin casting illusions of howling worgs with goblin riders charging into the camp.

Vaelin responds instantly, his hand flying to his horn as he sounds the alarm. Less than half of a second later, Njigba's alert joins his comrade's. Elves begin emerging from tents with bows or spears in hand, some rubbing actual sleep from their eyes.

Payronilia panics when he sees the wolves approaching and drops his horn. He scrambles around in the snow to find it and by the time he raises it to his lips, the phantasmal enemy is past him.

Ornforithalas races out of the magical shelter, spear and shield at the ready only to hear Cassidy's laughter. "It's just a test! I overheard Raven talking to Romulus last night!"

The watch captain frowns. "A test? Are you kidding me?"

As the three squads prepare to break camp in preparation for the day's march, Raven moves amongst the scouts. "We move swift...we move silent...we move deadly... only one shake of those %#<*, ladies - anything more would constitute pleasure and we are not in that business..."

Raven gives a signal to Ornforithalas and the company forms up and moves out.