Re: Chapter #7d: A Desperate Plan
“Certainly, Mayor,” said the elf, standing and walking over to a nearby table on which laid a folded sheet of parchment. The elf brought it back to where they were sitting, unfolding it to reveal a well-marked map of Sandpoint and the lands surrounding it.
“I have,” she began. “Some disturbing news. But also an opportunity.” She pointed at a small, island-like landmass to the north of Sandpoint. “This is Thistletop. From what I have learned, and as Pisca just confirmed, this is the nerve center of the assault on Sandpoint. All of the leaders I have been able to identify are there: Ripnugget; a male half-elf we now know to be Tsuto Kaijitsu; a large, unidentified human male; a human female; and another, rumored female who may or may not be this Nualia. And yes,” she nodded at Pisca, “from everything I have been able to determine, Bruthazmus is there as well. Which does not surprise me. That bastard goes wherever he can cause the most pain to the most people.”
“Now, for the disturbing news. For some reason the leadership has accelerated its timetable for the attack on Sandpoint. From what I learned it was originally scheduled for next week, or even the week after that. Now? They are pushing for the attack to be ready in a few days. I estimate that we have four days at the most, but probably three; we can truly count on only two.” She surveyed the assembled group grimly. “Hundreds of goblins from all five tribes are staging into positions to attack Sandpoint. If they do attack, I can only describe the town's chances as ‘slim,’ even with all its preparations.”
“But,” she said, tapping Thistletop, “the hastening of the attack also provides us with an opportunity. From what I understand most of the goblins who normally live at Thistletop have left or will be leaving by tomorrow in order to participate in the assault, but the leadership,” she tapped the island again, “will not yet be going with them. Apparently the ultimate leader, who may be Nualia, requires additional time to prepare. She may be casting some sort of spell or performing some sort of ritual,” Shalelu glanced at Pisca, “perhaps to Lamashtu.”
“Whatever the reason, we have an opening. An opening for a small team of highly-skilled individuals to make their way through the goblin lines and assault the goblins’ leadership while it is relatively undefended. Make no mistake about it, though, this is not a mission of negotiation. It is one of assassination. If we kill Ripnugget, Tsuto, Nualia, Bruthazmus, and these two anonymous humans, the goblins will have no one to lead them. Their chieftains will fall to bickering and the gathered forces of the various tribes may well attack each other.”
“And I must be clear about the following. The chances for whoever goes on this mission to survive are not good It is likely that everyone involved in this attempt will be killed, and possibly not in the kindest way imaginable. Yet, this is Sandpoint’s best hope. So I give it to you. Those who have already done so much for Sandpoint. Are any of you willing to undertake this journey with me, as fraught with peril as it is?"