Tarithnesti's Defenders
30 Newkolt 349 AC
Ra’ziir settles Redclaw into one of the impromptu stalls, “I’ll try to find some snacks, my friend…” he says as he unsaddles and brushes the griffon.
“I am going to need to see a map and have your scouts show us where they saw the army encampment. And a description of what they encountered as numbers of goblins, worgs and, Heaven forbid, hobgoblins." Shadow grins, "We can go out tonight and snatch a goblin or two to get some insight into what we are up against. Then the real fun begins. I've got a plan to even the odds a bit before our friends get here.”
The Bladesinger will confer with the others, agreeing that striking out against the enemy targets as soon as possible is a priority, but emphasizes the need for a coordinated plan. “What do we know so far? Where are the closest targets? We need to cut them off from the main host… capture a few for interrogation.”
The commander unrolls a map. Notes have been scribbled in the margins with arrows pointing to different locations. Parnitha touches one of those spots. "There is a small clearing, about ten miles north of here. Last night, three of my archers were scouting the area and spotted a platoon-sized element of the Second Brigade encamped there. Close to two dozen goblins and worgs. My men pulled back when the wolves started to perk up. The goblins noticed that the wolves were sniffing the air and began arming themselves."
Ra'ziir looks up from the map. “Well, it looks like we have a target for our first sortie… I recommend we attack at sunrise. The darkness will provide us little to no advantage."
“Ra’z, should we try to get a little buddy and some information first? Charm a goblin and take him out to dinner and drinks. Ask him about work and who the goblin boss is and what he looks like? And what worg is the meanest of the bunch and who rides it?” He pauses looks at the and points back into the dragon held areas. “We can scry on the fleeing Worg like we did the Dragon. Or... we could polymorph into our goblin friend’s likeness and make our way back into the next camp. We have options to consider before I hit the Spellbooks.”
And Shadow says “I will also set up one of Rom’s teleport targets for us.”
Kysek nods, “We have to figure out how to draw out the Worg Riders into a funnel point where we can take them out. It will have to be done on foot, flight of any kind would draw archers and spell casters. Once we lead them to the choke point; we can unleash hell upon them and eliminate that threat.” Kysek states. “Perhaps I can talk Dusk into scouting from the air; I can cast Greater Invisibility upon her and use my ring upon myself. Blackflame will keep us silent as we fly. If you agree; I’ll go speak with Dusk. She didn’t seem to like the idea of invisibility the last time I brought it up. But I think I can bring her around to it," Kysek adds.
Commander Parnitha blows out a long breath, "If you can talk your griffon into trying, I am fully on board. My men can kill the goblins and hobgoblins well enough, it's the worgs who are causing most of our losses."
Grotto looks to Kysek, "I'll be the point of the spear. I will draw out the filth and their vile mounts on foot. My axe has waited too long to taste goblin blood! Send me and a few others so we can draw them out and chase us into the ambush, into their certain doom!" Grotto says with a sneer.
Kysek goes to Dusk; the elf places his right hand on the left side of her face. “I have a mission for us girl. You’ll need to hear me out as this mission requires a great deal of stealth. It’s a scouting mission to pinpoint an ambush point for our enemies. Once we find this funnel point, we formulate our ambush, and decimate the goblin worg riders. You didn’t seem very enthused at the thought of invisibility before; I get that. You want to be the fearsome creature you were born to be. I promise you; after this mission, your ferocity and our capabilities together will be seen and held in awe by all who witness it. What do you say? One quick scouting mission in stealth, then open a can of whoop ass on some worgs and goblins?” the elf asks plainly in a reassuring voice.
Dusk lowers her head and huffs, her wings drooping at her sides. She softly butts Kysek with her head and looks at him and huffs again.
“I know; I know… you never know, if you try it; you might like it. Think of it not as being less noble or ferocious. Think of it more as hunting with distinct advantages. Think of the terror in our enemies eyes when all they see is us right before our attack and we disappear to do it again and again! You think they fear you now? You’ll become the ferocious ‘Ghost in the Darkness’ that our enemies will fear and tell stories about!”, the elf starts plainly gradually building in intensity until his Ghost in the Darkness crescendo when he adds, “C’mon; you must admit, that has a nice ring to it?”
"Thpppt..." is all Dusk has to say but she but she lifts her head and places it over her new master's shoulder.
Kysek says, “Let’s do this; you’ll see. It’ll become your favorite. Granted; we will not be attacking from invisibility this time. But it will show you its advantages.” The elf mounts his trusted stead and instructs Bubo to stick to the tree lines below. He asks his familiar to hold as much of the terrain in his memory as he can. He casts greater invisibility upon Dusk, and engages his ring, then wills silence from Blackflame.
Dusk goes stiff beneath him when her body vanishes. After a few seconds, Kysek can feel her pawing around on the ground, her claws drawing lines in the frozen soil.
About a minute later, she spreads her wings but only walks around. Snow on the ground eddies as she touches her wings to the earth. It falls from branches as she reaches out with those wings, as if she is testing their length. It takes nearly ten minutes of Dusk walking in circles and touching... everything before she begins to flap her wings in earnest. She lifts from the ground in fits and starts, knocking more snow loose from branches as she climbs clumsily into the air.
Kysek gives her a nudge, turning her north and she begins to fly. She rises much higher than necessary but once clear of the treetops, she moves with greater confidence.
The two search for a choke point to draw the worg riders into. The first spot they find is too far north and would require the elves to venture almost all of the way to the enemy camp itself. Still, Kysek files the location away, thinking a hit amd run attack that draws pursuers could pass through an ambush prepped along that route.
He begins to grow frustrated as he and Dusk fly above the Silvanesti woods. The elves of House Shaper sculpted and shaped the land for pleasure strolls that placed all of nature on display. Smooth, wide trails with almost no changes in width or elevation make for ease of travel. The only real obstacles to anyone crossing the forest are snow drifts built up where snow swirled around in the lees of large boulders or the most massive of trees.
It is in one of these areas with multiple drifts that Kysek concludes, "it's as good a spot as we're going to get."
He turns Dusk back toward Tarithnesti and as the two get ready to land, the griffon's flight becomes erratic. Each time she draws near the ground, she suddenly pulls up. Kysek finally steers her out over the river and has her fly straight up the center of the channel. Lower and lower she glides until finally she hits with a jolt, rattling Kysek's teeth as she stumbles to a stop.
As the Knight of the Barrie Grange unbuckles the straps holding him to the saddle, he realizes that Dusk is extremely visually-oriented. Not being able to see herself in relation to her surroundings is throwing off her sense of orientation.
Once they find the perfect place; they return to the makeshift aerie. Kysek dismounts, Bubo lands upon his right shoulder. The two approach the map and call others to show their findings. Kysek says, “Here is our choke point.” Bubo flies down from his shoulder and places his foot in position to point to a precise point on the map. “According to what we know; the enemies are encamped here!” Kysek states as he places a finger upon the map. “We bring the enemies to this point; we eliminate the worg riders.”, as Kysek moves his finger to where Bubo’s talon points.
EN ROUTE TO TARITHNESTI
"Is that wise? In four days, we are going to be neck-deep in goblin wolf-riders."
Raven nods. "I know. But, this is a war. Sometimes, these warriors will have to push themselves to reach a battle and still be able to fight while at the limit of their endurance. We need to find what that limit is."
Ornforithalas frowns but replies with a "Yes, sir," and gives the order while Raven drops back to the middle of the group to inform Romulus of his plan. The archmage, riding on Macula nods in agreement and summons a floating disk for Cassidy to ride upon. The kender, nearly overcome with giddiness, climbs aboard and pulls out his mandolin and begins to sing, providing a cadence to keep the troops in step.
🎶 🎵 "Where it began
I can't begin to know when
But then I know it's growin' strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believe you'd come along?
Hands
Touchin' hands
Reachin' out
Touching me, touchin' yoooouuuuu" 🎶 🎵
He follows his first song with another and another, each one, positive and upbeat, lifting spirits or at least taking minds off of the fact that they are hiking through a snowy forest in the middle of winter, possibly to their deaths.
By late afternoon, the sun is setting, pitching the woods into darkness. Romulus summons spheres of light and sends them floating along the line of fighters, illuminating their way through the dark. Cassidy, inspired by the sight, begins to sing again.
Has come
And the land is dark
And the moon
Is the only
Light we'll see
No I won't
Be afraid
No I won't
Be afraid
Just as long
As you stand
Stand by me" 🎶 🎵
Raven moves up and down the column, looking for warriors whose strength seems to be flagging, filing away his observations for later. When he returns to the end of the line, he finds Eilra struggling to keep up but marching without complaint, even putting on a show of singing along with Cassidy on the choruses of his songs.
At the end of the twelfth hour, Raven has Ornforithalas call a halt, with orders to wake the troops at dawn. A camp is quickly set, a cold dinner is eaten, and sentries are posted.
Romulus creates a magical, climate controlled dome to ride out the night, inviting Cassidy, Eilra, Ornforithalas, and Raven to join him. Raven elects to prowl around the perimeter on and off throughout the night.
As midnight approaches, Raven makes his way through the forest. He makes no real effort to conceal himself, aware that the jabber of goblins carries a long way in the dark, and heads toward the first sentry's watch post. He draws his Rauthar's dagger and slips it beneath the chin of the guard.
"What is your name, scout?" Raven's raspy voice asks from the dark.
"J-J-Jensolyn Paytonilia," the scout stammers in response.
"You just got killed, Paytonilia, and every scout under your care has just been put at risk. You need to pay attention," Raven melts away into the woods.
He makes his way to a second and third watchman. He repeats his approach with both of them.
"Njigba, sir" the second answers after Raven asks his name.
"And what do you want me to tell the mothers of each scout who gets killed in their sleep tonight, because an enemy got past you?"
The third, an archer named Vaelin, also finds himself answering questions at knifepoint. "While you're out here, not detecting the enemy, every swinging ^@%$ in the squad is getting his $%@ shot full of arrows by wolf-riding goblins."
Raven slips away into the darkness, and head back to the dome. He takes a short nap, wakes Romulus, and heads back out into the dark, more mayhem on his mind.
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