After taking in the lay of the land and the situation behind the wall Miroslav says..."It would seem that Barmak has called this. I do not think Sviatos;av would be this far in yet and this does not sound like a regular battle but more like terror, looting and rape. When the others arrive in the morn we will have to hear their orders before deciding what to do...but a little scouting now could go along way to making the right decision."

he then orders the party to make camp about 200 feet from the wall in a clearing protected by a low hill.

"You cannot allow those bastards the freedom to rape and pillage such!" exclaims Dyanna.  "This is not what I signed on for, and I will not take part in such."

Turning to everyone she says, "I've a way to get to the top of the walls undetected.  Once there I can drop a rope and we can open the gates.  From there we can go in and at least mitigate some of the disaster being inflicted upon the local folks!"

"Who among you is brave enough to do the right thing?  Magyar?  Sir Jean?"

Turning, she says to the other woman, "You?"

Jaleh happened to already be in the process of getting off her horse and gathering her equipment for sneaking inside. Checking her rope, Jaleh stopped when she felt someone looking straight at her and looked back at Dyanna. "Was already heading that way myself. I'll take a lift though."

Dyanna flashes a grateful smile to the other woman and nods, then turns back to the men.

"And who else among you will come?" she asks stubbornly, crossing her arms and awaiting an answer.  "Gultunga?  Barmak?  Who else will offer rescue and comfort to those wailing in the fires and smoke within?"

"I'm game," shrugs A'kos, eying the woman before looking at Jaleh and grinning.  "Will you protect me with your bow, little Jaleh?"

The knight smiles approvingly at Dyanna's words "I am not much of a climber, m'lady, nor can I assure you of the stealth needed for the feat you propose, but I assure you I will cross those gates as soon as the slightest breach is seen."

Miroslav scratches his chin as he hears the others talk of opening the gates then says..."I did say we needed to wait for orders but if the gates happen to open on their own, then I will surely be right there alongside the rest of you. I have no love for Pechenegs be they the orcish or human variety! The citizens of this city are suffering for their own stupidity for using the foul Pecheneg mercenaries but we are to blame as well. Our attack triggered this most likely...but from my experience with the Pólovtsy...it is only a matter of time before they will turn on you. Eventually Sviatoslav will need to deal with Seluk and all of his people if he wishes his empire to be safe."

"That's the spirit, Miro," A'kos chuckles.  "C'mon, it'll be fun."

"Woman, lead the way and at least some of us shall follow!"

"Will I need to protect you big man?" Jaleh asked with a sly grin.

Loukas sat quietly while through the conversation. He still was not sure who this Dyanna was or when she had "signed on" to the Heart of Oak, but he appreciated her sense of justice. "It looks as if we are back to the plan we had when were put onto the beach to begin with yesterday. Funny how the more things change... If there is fighting in the city we shall doubtless not have any trouble getting to the top of the walls without being seen. The guards are all looking the other way. I shall join you Dyanna -- with two ropes we shall get over the wall quicker, eh?"

While the others jibber jabber, and chatter like grown-ups are prone to do, Pyotr hasn't even slowed down, riding his disc towards the wall.

Carefully eying the towers for occupants, if they remain empty for the moment, he will guage the height of the wall, and consider ways to see what is going n within.

Jean sat his horse listening. Obviously the idea of being able to take some action against the mercenary scum inside the city appealed to him.

"Enough talking. I do not need to be shamed into doing what any man should rightly do."

He points to the city.

"Go. Open the gates if you can and I will enter...or wait a moment and perhaps yon idiot child will get himself killed and trouble you no more."

Dyanna nods to Loukas, and says to them all, "Follow me to the wall, not the gates.  Loukas and I shall scale the wall, and throw ropes down.  Once several of us are up, we can sneak to the gatehouse and check for any mongrels.  Once clear we can turn the windlass and up the porcullis, then heave open the gates.  At that point the rest of you can ride in, leading the spare mounts."

        The Stridesman looks to Dyanna and replies . . .

        "Gultunga shalt go to the wall and assist ye in opening the
gates of the city to our forces."

"My thanks, Goodman," she smiles warmly, then turns her mount and says, "Let us away, then."

        The Stridesman mutters under his breath so's only Dyanna can overhear him, "As long as Gultunga doth not hath to worry about hurting his dang-lies in so doing!  The Norsemans countenance brightens with a smile as
he looks upon Dyanna.

The sound of her laughter drifts back to him as she kicks her horse into motion.

I can't help but being reminded of one of the Thunderkittens on Thundercats.

Um, anyway, Balthazar says, "I could use my magic, but I'm much happier holding it in reserve while the gate is opened by mundane means."  He waits alongside Miroslav.

"Will you always wait for others to do the heavy lifting, fat man?" laughs A'kos, grinning at the mage before riding quickly after Dyanna.

"Woman, I would climb the walls to help get the gates open - you'll have need of a strong arm and back to do so."

Loukas spurs his horse after Dyanna with a nod to Miroslav.

You know, I don't picture Balthazar as fat.

Anyways, he readies his longbow and scans the walls and countryside for danger.

Dyanna, A'kos, Jaleh, Gultunga, Barmak and Loukas thunder towards the wall on their mounts and within a few moments are at the base of the 40' tall section of wall about 100 yards from the gate itself.

I don't see Balthazar as fat either but there is only little of him we know due to a weak character description:) Perhaps it;s just the wizard robes that make him look bigger than he is?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:16, Sat 06 Feb 2010.

"We must be swift," Barmak says to Dyanna as the group rides for the wall, "and make for the gate as quickly as we may, that we shall have the strength of Miroslav and the knights behind us."

As they reach the portion of the wall that they mean to scale, Barmak dismounts and tests the stone, finding cracks and gaps where his fingers and toes may find purchase for climbing.

"Those of us who make for the gates may require a distraction, should our entry be noticed.  I suggest that fearsome A'kos, bold Gultunga, and eagle-eyed Jaleh provide this.  Dyanna, Loukas and I may move swiftly to open the way for our fellows.  What say you?"


OOC: Sorry for the late entry.  Barmak definitely would prefer to do the wall-scaling.

Once they have arrived at the wall, Loukas looks around for signs of guards. His suspicion is that there are none -- their focus on putting down the unrest within the walls. Nevertheless...

There are no guards visible from the the ground near the wall nor did they see any posted on their way towards the wall.

The walls are rough hewn stone, not smooth like the walls in the capital but not totally easy to climb either.