Tarithnesti - Defenders' Final Preparations

02 Deepkolt 349 AC

Shadow gathers the companions together and tell them, “Good hunting, my friends. Let us banish this goblin scourge from these lands.” As he stands before them in obviously mismatched goblin clothes and gear covering his own, he has a mischievous look in his eyes. “I figure we will fly until we get close to the camp and then I will take the form of one of the goblins, Skulk, what’s his name. And tell them that I encountered a black elf asleep last night and stole his magic. And now I can FLY!”  The Drow spreads his arms and runs as a child would flying around his friends like a bird. “Then I will pull out the scroll and cast mass charm on them to help them believe in my cause to take over!  Then, we unleash chaos on the camp. And my favorite kind of chaos is uncontrolled fire.” With that, Shadow steps back and crosses his arms, adjusts the goblin gear a little bit. He looks at Grotto and says “how do I look?”

Grotto looks at his friend, "Very convincing. I feel my blood boiling just looking at you! It's all I can do not to gut you right now!" Grotto says with a laugh. "I'll have to be careful not to attack you! I have a few new tricks up my sleeve! Should be a welcome surprise for our side!" Grotto says with a mischievous grin of his own.

Ra'ziir, his expression serious, addresses the group. “Attacking at dawn, or just prior, will give the troops a chance to finish the defenses and get some rest before heading out to the choke-point…”

“Then, once the infiltration is set and the fireworks commence, we will drive or lead the enemy to the ambush where the scouts lie in wait to finish off the rest."

“I suggest someone play the quarry… and take off toward the choke, while others continue the attack from the rear to encourage them to give chase, retreat, and/or follow the quarry to the ambush.”

“I will be the prey," says Cedron. “I will fly in to the choke point invisibly. I will then cast a great illusion of Elves troops closing in on the goblins. The illusion will then draw the elves away towards the choke point then I will disappear and fly away while you destroy the goblins in their confusion.”

Kysek chooses to wait until after the upcoming battle is complete before preparing his new spells and casting them upon himself and Dusk. He thinks it best to keep his offensive spells prepared since we don’t know for sure the plans of our encamped enemies. He shares his spell selections with his companions. He says, “I can provide aerial support watching for the goblins movement. As they approach the choke point, I have two Web spells prepared that I can cast to impede their movement through it even more.”

Shadow says to Kysek “Great use of you and Dusk. Please keep an eye north for any dragons. Would hate to have them show up uninvited. And those Web spells will be perfect for trapping goblin scum.”

Grotto consults the others about where to put the worg bait. "Come battle time, I will place the stinky sticky stew in the trap. I will then double back to cut off any who try to retreat." He feels the glee of retribution flowing through him. He says a short prayer, "Vengeance will be ours! Justice will be served! Guide our blades through them, Kiri Jolith!"

He feels his shoulders burn with righteousness from the spots the runes were burned into his body in his dream.

Grotto grins in anticipation, highly looking forward to killing the vermin goblins! He waits in silence until the trap is sprung!

“That’s what I thought. Having someone aloft definitely gives us an advantage in spotting incoming support; especially dragons. We know they’re not going to walk in.” Kysek says with a smirk. “I can also call out the arrival of warg riders and the direction they approach from," he adds.

Romulus points at a spot on the map, one slightly south of the choke point. "I will position myself here. As the goblins close in, I will need all of our forces to be clear of the corridor of approach because, while I can shape the spell I cast to avoid allies, I need to be able to see our forces to leave 'holes' in the spell to keep it from affecting them."

Raven nods, "Ornforithalas and I will split the scouts, one-third to either side of the trail at our choke point. Our forces will remain concealed until after Romulus unleashes his magic and then rain arrows down upon any enemies who somehow survive his onslaught. Eilra and Cassidy will be with me."

Ornforithalas' smile is grim, "I will take the eastern side of the approach with Kysek’s scouts."

The kender frowns, "I am afraid that I won't be able to contribute much to the battle. Maybe I can help somewhere else?"

Eilra puts a hand on the kender's shoulder, "I will take Shadow’s troops and hold them in reserve behind Romulus. You will find a high vantage to watch the fighting from and signal me when reinforcements are needed."

Shadow hands Cassidy a wooden wand made from scorched ironwood. “Point this at the Goblins and say ‘Zamper’ and watch them disappear.”

With the plan essentially set, Raven tells everyone to get some rest. He will wake the scouts early so they can march to the chokepoint and get into position.

03 Deepkolt 349 AC

Raven begins waking the scouts about two hours after midnight. Commander Parnitha's men are already in the common room of the tavern that has become the de facto mess hall. Other members of the party begin filing in. Romulus and Cassidy walk in, side-by-side, with the archmage telling the minstrel, "and if things go wrong, you get to Macula and hold on tight. He will get you out of there."

Cassidy frowns and asks, "What about you?"

Romulus turns to the kender, "I have other options available," and winks, "No need to worry about me."

About an hour after Raven departs, the rest of the group moves out, heading north through the elven woods toward the goblin camp.