Herkimer takes a moment to feel the world around him, the eddies and currents, to feel what mana was available to him to twist and turn the world to his bidding.


22:15, Today: Herkimer rolled 9 using 3d6.  Mana Levels (13+4-3=11).

In reply to Herkimer (msg # 452):

The Mana seems normal ... certainly much better than in Caithness (Low or nothing)

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 453):

"So we may have to fight our way in. Any idea of numbers and spread, Herkimer?"

Herkimer shakes his head.

"No, I only came within a mile or so, and despite the hawk's eyesight it is still not capable at those distances of such feats. I can always fly ahead and scout further as we approach. Also, fight our way in? Perhaps. While a teleport at this distance would be tiring and require rest between, if we are nearby and within visual range of where we need to go it should be much easier to ferry people within the castle, as long as the mana levels hold out."

He pursed his lips at that point, as if deep in thought but neglected to offer anything further. He sought out Jaeleen's company at that point and inquired to how she felt and apologized for not paying more attention to her recently.

In reply to Herkimer (msg # 455):

I am well enough, but concerned that we have no clue who else may stumble down this path ... I am glad you have narrowed down our location tho'

In reply to Jaeleen of Fairfields (msg # 456):

"Or some of us may be better outside the city. But getting Emelia in I think is important. With that in mind, we need to get moving, now that we know where to. Good job, Herkimer."

It will be dark within the hour Thomas.

In reply to Jaeleen of Fairfields (msg # 458):

Thomas sighs.

"So, could we travel at night to reduce our chances of being detected?"

Wulfe wandered, listening carefully and then added "we're not a strong enough force to counter the sieging army directly, but with stealth we could perhaps sabotage their siege weapons. At least, with that as our first task, it could provided some relief for our allies.

All armies using such equipment need engineers, killing them and breaking the equipment would hamstring the army and force them to use older methods of siege - waiting out the defenders.

Once that is completed, a judgement call could be made about what is the next wise action.

In reply to Wulfe The Pretty (msg # 460):

"Of course, the army will be aware that they are relying on their engineers, and they will probably be protected by, Oh, I don't know, the army?

Wait, I do have an idea, though. Siege weapons are made of wood, right? So a swarm of termites might be just the thing, as long as they don't see them. Perhaps I could create them and have them crawl into a container, or a beam of wood, and someone sneaky disguise themselves as a labourer and take it into the camp near the weapons. Then, during the night, I can command them to come out to sabotage the weapons, eating them out from the inside so they don't know until they try to use them. Of course, to do that, I might just need to be incapacitated for several days in order to maintain them. Much more subtle, though."

Herkimer nods. Thomas' proposed method had much more subtlety than the efforts he himself typically employed but it was sound reasoning.

"Is there any way that Jaeleen and I could be useful to boost the number of termites? Or could we use all the strength of our little group to perform this spell as a ritual? I put Jaeleen's entire village to such a task to heal someone when my own fatigue could not be jeopardized."

In reply to Herkimer (msg # 462):

"Termites do not move fast or subtly, so your abilities in getting them there, perhaps disguising a person to transport them, might prove the best way to assist. Once they are there, it is simply a matter of time, getting them to eat away the wood from the inside without being noticed."

Wulfe asked, ignoring the sarcastic comment, "What about wood rot? (OOC: fungus, etc.) could that not be cast on the siege weapons?

Getting to the siege weaponry would be easy enough, oil and fire might do work enough to damage them beyond repair also.

There is also the possibility of attacking the people. Causing fear or dismay, or damaging the supplies of the army will make it ineffective and have people lose the will to fight, or stay even.

Herkimer pondered the problem further after Wulfe's comment.

"The sickness we induced across the fields outside that castle...*snap*...*snap*"

Herkimer started snapping his fingers in rapid succession, as if something was on the tip of his tongue then he lost it.

"Well whoever's castle it was, near here, the sickness we put over the army won the day if I recall. Killing on a massive scale may not be necessary".

In reply to Wulfe The Pretty (msg # 464):

"Wood rot would be obvious, as would oil and fire. The point of termites is that they would not notice until they went to use them, making them waste much more time for us to try something like the sickness Herkimer is suggesting."

But of course fire makes them useless too and makes standing around out there waiting for new ones to be made, somewhat useless as well.  My castle, which we assume this is, does not need to come out for food, water or communication. Thus they must knock down the walls to take it, and if they can't, they are beaten.  Once the Dragons aided us.... what chance they might again some night?

In reply to Emelia Hill (msg # 467):

"I can but ask, my dear."

He will send Rascallion off to ask for such aid...

"It doesn't matter too much whether the destruction of their siege weaponry is obvious or not. As long as they don't work, they can't break the walls, unless they have magic.

If you recall, Magic doesn't work well around my castle ...

In reply to Emelia Hill (msg # 470):

"Hmmm, true. If I create the swarm in a higher mana zone, and I stay there, will that effect me maintaining the spell in a lower mana zone though?"

[OOC: Would Thomas or Herkimer even know the answer to that?]

In reply to Thomas O'Leary (msg # 471):

You'd have better mana but a significant distance modifier...

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 472):

Does the distance modifier apply to maintained spells too?

Yes it should...

In reply to Master of Fates (msg # 474):

That makes the termite swarm untenable then...

I will presume that you all are able to make your way to Emelia's castle, aided by the night attack of the dragons on the siege equipment and the enemy castle belonging to the Solencae Clan, who are much reduced in power by the fires and losses involved.

That alleviates the problem and everyone is able to return to Carricke.  The Two Templars are interrogated magically and their plans to aid the Solencae attack on Castle Thelmond.  They are actively tryingto become more involved in the conquest of Caithness and in undercutting the current power of the Hospitalers.  The Silver Hand feeds this information back to the Hospitalers, stoking the internal struggles within the Megalian hierarchy.