In The Pass

[A.B]

{{OCC: Pretending to be a merchant caravan to draw out the enemies of the mine(s) have them think they are ambushing us when we are doing the ambush instead. So some are pretending to be fat, wealthy merchants while some of the others pretend to be their escorts/bodyguards and the rest hide within the armoured wagons waiting to spring the trap and ambush the ambushers. We are now in the process of sorting out who sits where and acts what role of the above. I think Abraam being a heavy tank sort of warrior will probably either be one of the escorts/bodyguards or one of the hidden units. If I am wrong about any of the above someone please correct me.}}


Elan'fal sits where Zem shows him and waits their departure.

[Zergrinch]

This entire post is out of character.

(OOC: I am completely lost and Have no idea what the intention are here. Can someone please clarify what Abrams role in all this is please)

{{OCC: Pretending to be a merchant caravan to draw out the enemies of the mine(s) have them think they are ambushing us when we are doing the ambush instead. So some are pretending to be fat, wealthy merchants while some of the others pretend to be their escorts/bodyguards and the rest hide within the armoured wagons waiting to spring the trap and ambush the ambushers. We are now in the process of sorting out who sits where and acts what role of the above. I think Abraam being a heavy tank sort of warrior will probably either be one of the escorts/bodyguards or one of the hidden units. If I am wrong about any of the above someone please correct me.}}

A.B. got the gist of it, but here's the to-do list in detail

• We want to clear out the mines and save the hostages.  To help us with this, the village has provided us with 2 dragonborn fighters and 2 dwarven miners to help navigate.
• There was a concern on how we can get to the mine without being molested along the way.
• Zem hatches a plan where the party goes out as a merchant caravan.  Two possibilities, either we get attacked or we don't get attacked.  If we don't get attacked then we would have reached the mines safely and can start clearing it out.
• In his original plan, he wants to bait an ambush (to weaken the gnolls further before the mine assault) by putting weak-looking party members in front, and only some token protection.  The heavy-armored people will all be hiding inside the wagons to spring an ambush on the gnolls, after the weak-looking party members 'surrender' in event of an attack.  The positioning can be seen here, under the two-wagon configuration.
• D'Naranth has objected to item # 4 so that plan is dead (my character is not likely to defend it vigorously; that said, the half-orc paladin would be way more aggressive about it).
• Since no one has proposed an alternative, I suppose we'll be riding out as a heavily-defended caravan with what looks to be highly-desirable trade goods. This means Abram rides on his warhorse as an escort.

I hope it clears up any confusion as to what the intentions are.  No matter what, our original objective is to assault the mines and rescue as many hostages as we can.

Allow me to say, as a player and not in character, that it is rather disheartening to draft a plan, have it shot down without any alternatives provided, and later on be criticized for doing your own thing and not having a plan. The way I see it is I made a good faith attempt to coordinate already, so I'd wash my hands if things fall apart due to lack of coordination. Don't get me wrong - I'm not insisting that everyone should follow what I say. It's just that it's much more helpful if you give alternatives instead of just saying "No" and having your character storm off and pout in a corner or something.

[Kyle Aarons]

Alright I am assuming, (bad idea with gamers) that you all are going toward the cave with the two wagons.

 

You were given two dragon-kin guards and two Dwarven drivers to aid.

 

Is there anyone who wants to tell me anything about where you are, or any special information before I move forward?

[Zergrinch]

Your assumption is correct, for Zemzelett at least. For my character, almost everything in my post (see link) still applies, including what he's wearing, where are all his stuff, and what he's going to do as we enter the Pass:

The exceptions: instead of being seated besides Elan'fal or Quelten, he is seated next to Innil. Also, instead of an unidentified potion, he got one of the illusion school ones.

[Jeikor]

Which pretty much covers where Innil is. However will remind that Innil is only wearing the superior sword; the other sword, his longbow and arrows are within arm's reach on the wagon.

 

Oh yeah, he still has his daggers too.

[A.B]

Elan'fal is wherever Zem placed him

[Kyle Aarons]

Still waiting to here from a couple of you all. will post by end of day if no one else responds

[Rilbur]

{{ OOC:  Hrm... just in case you're waiting on me, all I know has already been covered.  We're heading for the pass again with wagons, seeing if we can lure out another ambush for a counter-ambush. }}

[Kyle Aarons]

Sorry, this has just been a nightmare couple of weeks and I can't seem to get things back on a decent schedule.

 

The ride back in the direction of the cave starts out peaceful enough. there is some small talk between the Dragon-kin and the Dwarves which gets relayed to all of you. Most of the talk centers around hoping this works since there are some goods they would like to see available again, and with an open trade route some of the stockpiles of goods within the enclave will be able to be moved out.

 

The only problem is the expected attack does not happen. You ride by challenged.

 

Not wanting to appear obvious, the wagon drivers continue on for a full kilometer before stopping.

 

Reld glances over, "OK, so we either forget this whole thing or circle back around and take them from this side.

 

"Or they are tailing us from a long ways and waiting to attack us once we bed down for the night." Vorador grumbles. "That's what I'd do."

[Zergrinch]

Zemzelett scratches his head - his face a mask of confusion. He was certain that a caravan this juicy would have been attacked, and yet they were permitted to ride by unchallenged. Were the gnolls waiting for an opportune time? Were they that severely weakened? Or are they simply nocturnal creatures?

* Attempt Nature (Intelligence) check on gnolls. What do I know about gnoll traits, habits, and tactics? *

Burning with curiosity, he hops off the wagon, and takes his crossbow, viol, and rapier (leaving behind the ten foot pole and backpack).

"This is weird. I'll go take a look. Be right back!" he says as he skulks off into the distance, staying away from the main trail and trying his best to duck behind any brush or outcropping as stealthily as he can as he moves towards the mines.

[Jeikor]

Innil shakes his head as Zemzelett heads away. He dons his bow and quiver of arrows, grabs hold of his second short sword and hops off the wagon. After he disappears behind some cover he straps on his sword and follows Zem at a distance while keeping the half-elf in sight.

[Quelten]

Quelten sighs.  "Time for plan B.  Brute force always works, right?"

 

"Everyone arm yourselves and get ready for battle!" he orders.  "If they don't care to offer us battle on their own, we'll have to advance against them."

[Eghas]

"NO!"  Eghas said as he looked around and sighed.  "i propose we make camp and see if they will attack tonight.  if not, we head in early, that way we are all fresh, and have the entire day to do what we need to."

 

Eghas looks around to see what everyone else thinks.

[D'Narenth]

D'Narenth looks around and does a double face-palm. "By all the Gods and Demons! How did you guys ever survive in your own lands? Going off by yourselves... Eghas! Get control of your people!"

[A.B]

"Zem, Innil get back here!! They'll attack at night we still have surprise by our side." Elan'fal tells his two friends and stays with Eghas, D'Nareth and the rest.

[Jeikor]

Having been to the mine opening last time and having trained in stealth Innil soon was able to get in front of Zemzelett and stop him. 

"Young One, we need to go back with the others. This is the mistake we made last time with everyone separating and doing their on thing. We elected Eghas as leader so we need to see how he wants to proceed."

 

Innil turns Zem around and nudges him back towards the wagons following close behind.

[Zergrinch]

Part of Zemzelett is annoyed that he isn't trusted enough to be given freedom to scout ahead on his own. It was in the half elf's nature to pursue his own whims regardless of any authority, much less an authority he doesn't completely accept given the tiefling's antipathy towards Quelten, and his tendency to sulk whenever he doesn't get his way. It was a trait that often for him in trouble with his father, though as a fellow free spirit herself, his mother condoned to a certain extent.

On the other hand, he is, at the same time, touched that he is cared of enough that his welfare was a concern for his companions. He briefly thinks of making a run for it, but quickly decides there was no way he can out-stealth or out-distance a fighter, never mind an elf. Maybe he can out-think him instead?  He decides to stand his ground, and talk it over with the fighter, but in a subdued tone.

"Uncle Innil," he protested, deciding to use terms from dragonchess, "we currently have the initiative - it is our move. Would it not be folly to cede that tempo to our enemies? I can predict what Sir Eghas will do. He will listen to the very cautious dragonborn who sees shadows lurking in every corner and believes one can coordinate easily during a chaotic battle. I bet we'll just end up setting up camp and wait to be ambushed by them."

He gestures to the mid afternoon sun. "We have a couple of hours of sun left. Enough time to scout the area and get a feel of what the enemy is doing, and even launch an attack and catch them flat-footed. We'll be at a disadvantage should they attack at night.  The enemy will have freedom to choose when, where and how they will launch their attack; the defender has to hunker down and try to guard against all avenues of attack. It is clearly harder to defend, especially when our heaviest fighters: Abram, D'Naranth, Reld, Quelten, and the two other dragonborn cannot see very well in the dark."

[Kyle Aarons]

Reld lets out a long sigh, "Here I am, free for the first time in real memory and I am going to sit here and wait for someone or something to try to kill me when I am in a strange land with so much to see I can't even figure it out what I should be looking at."

 

Vorador actually grins at the comment. "So we have several hours of light. So if we stay put, it will look odd unless we start looking at a wagon wheel or something. Otherwise there is no reason for us to be stopping for the day. So you who are good with wood ought to make it look like you are working on a wagon while I go fishing!"

[Quelten]

Quelten sighs and buries his face in his hands.  Yet again they wind up going in twenty directions at once.  It was partly his fault, true, but... how the hell to get the group to start pulling together?  And how in the name of all the gods to get them to start thinking in the habit of moving as a group instead of splitting up and going twenty directions at once?

[A.B]

When all were present and Innil with Zem returned Elan'fal spoke, "I think it better and prudent if we pretend to make camp here for the night and wait for them. It is almost sure that they will try and attack us under the cover of darkness. What magic do we have that can blind them but not us? What does our leader think we should do?" He asks around.

[Eghas]

I think with all the noise we've made since we stopped, if anyone followed us, they know exactly what out plan is.  Hopefully they don't.  So.  Lets make it look like we broke a wheel, and are fixing it.  I want a sloppy 'watch' set up to cover the people who are working on the wheel.  Abram, i would like you, Vorador, Elan'fal, and myself to scout the area, and see what we can find."  He points to the older of the two dwarfs with them.  "Would you be willing to play the part of caravan master.   We need this to look right, which means someone has to be the caravan master.  It can't be me... that's for sure."  Looking at the other Dwarf.  "Please be the 'driver'.

 

"Quelten, Reld, Innil, you be our 'watch' remember we want who ever is watching us to think we're a push over.... Reld, you know how to play to the crowd, so start playing.  only this time i want you to play at being no where near as good as you are.  Quelten i want you playing the nervous fool.  you still young, so it would make sense."  He then looks to Zem.  "YOu too, but you are just along for the ride.  i don't want you openly carrying any weapons, but make sure you stay close to where you can get them.  for this deception, you are an entertainer catching a ride to another village."

 

Finally he motions to D'Nerenth.  "I would like you or the other Dragonling to be chief of security for our fine caravan master."  He looks around at everyone for a moment.  "Any questions?"

[Zergrinch]

Zemzelett is a little miffed that Innil interrupted his scouting mission... only for Eghas to order a scouting mission that excludes him.  Plus, he's splitting the party in half as well.  He lets out a shrug of resignation - everyone sees him as a weakling to be protected.  Sad, but that seems to be the half-elf's lot in life.

 

He tucks his rapier inside the set of fine clothes gifted to him by Quelten, and lays down the crossbow next to the wheel being repaired.  Standing close by, the bard takes out his viol.  Once the scouts vanish out of sight, he starts singing a song based on an old drinking song he heard before.

 

"Oh say can you see, by the afternoon's light?

Our wagon wheel broke; are we stuck in here tonight?

We've a rich wagon load, and some choice dwarven ale.

Can we move on post-haste, and earn coin in the sale."

 

He beckons to Innil to join him with his flute.

 

"Voice, fiddle and flute, no longer be mute!

We'll lend you our song, and inspire you to boot.

Does the wagon wheel still wobble any which way?

Please be fixed by today! Let us not be beast prey!"

 

Song butchered: To Anacreon in Heaven

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAIdVKv84g

[Jeikor]

{{OOC: very nice. You know that is a version of the tune for The Star Spangled Banner, the U.S. national anthem.}}

 

In keeping with Eghas' instructions Innil waits until they leave to scout then pulls out his flute and starts playing with Zem. However, his eyes are constantly watching the surrounding area.

[A.B]

Elan'fal agrees with Eghas and awaits orders.

[Quelten]

Quelten had to resist the urge to smile at his orders, mind already racing.  He remembered a few of his early training patrols.  He'd managed to avoid embarrassing himself, but...  "If I call out and invoke the name of Mithras', it's real," he tells them.  "If I yell about something else... it's an act."  

 

He turned and started walking a large, outward spiral around the group.  His shield ready to hand, he pulls his bow instead and knocks an arrow.  Yes, foolish me -- walking out towards the edge of the group, with a bow in hand instead of his mace.  "I'm just a foolish idiot," he mutters to himself, voice so low no one could hear it.  "I clearly don't know what I'm doing, and as soon as I hear anything, I'm going to waste my shot anyway.  I'm an easy mark, come, kill me..."