>I, on the other hand, can sneak inside and see what's going on with the infiltration team.  Hopefully, nothing's wrong, but if it is, I'll open the gates.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 408):

Keef looks up at the open skies, then down at Choso.

I just want the cathedral to burn.  Where can I go to start that?

Boreas turns to keef with a smile.  Can you cast an invisibility spell?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 410):

Keef turns to Boreas.  For a split second, he appears to be attempting to bore into the ranger's very skull with his gaze, but that quickly passes and Keef's normal cheeriness returns.

Sure, I mean, easily I can.   Why?

In reply to Keef (msg # 411):

I can't turn invisible, but I can rain hell fow from above while the rest of you sneak in.

Maybe hold off on that until we get the gate open, but once we do, I know we'll be grateful for any hell you can rain down on the guards.

He turns to Keef.  Want to sneak in and throw the gate open?  Once that's done, we can assemble the others and head for the cathedral.  What do you say?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 413):

...head for the cathedral.  Yes.  That sounds good!

"Have fun storming the castle, boys!"

While Boreas and Keef make plans on how best to enter the cathedral stealthily, Maeve plots on how to do precisely the opposite: not enter the cathedral whilst making as much noise as possible.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 415):

** The Day of the Dragon **

Team Aerial Support

Choso, Maeve, and Auriel spend no small amount of time adjusting hypothetical troop deployments on the battle map. Between the three of them, they command a formidable combination of tactical knowledge spanning Drynnian, Aestrenian, and Gaelian military schools of thought.

The rest of the evening is spent field-repairing gear, chatting, resting, and definitely not searching for camp followers to ease the long and lonesome night.

Morning, when it finally creeps into focus, sheds a hazy light upon troops with dampened tents and bedrolls, but spirits that remain unsodden.

"The first decision for this morning is a matter of principle," the Tyrant says as you finalize the day's plans over breakfast in his command tent. "Should we divide our forces to encircle the eastern side, or leave it be? There may be some psychological warfare element to leaving them to wonder why did not not apply forces to that side, but on the other hand, they wouldn't truly be surrounded if we don't."

He smiles grimly.

"Besides, if we put siege engines over there, they will need to commit troops and masons and the like to more places, spreading them out more thinly. Unfortunately, anything on the eastern side will be harder to leverage once the gates are open. Thoughts?"


** Crossroads **


Team Infiltration

To combat the infiltrating team's long head start, Boreas and Keef depart for the tunnels immediately after dinner. The empowered woodsman is entrusted with a map of the tunnel system and known city entrances. Though incomplete, it does outline a direct path toward their destination.

The tunnels are carved of stone and covered in ancient runes that neither Boreas nor Keef recognize -- though both the Primal Voice and Ká fill them in on the details in their own way.

The runes, they learn, are written in a language called Old Umbrian. From this knowledge, the pair glean that the network of tunnels was created long ago by the precursors to the Trueborn race: an ancient sect derived from a banished faction of the Sylvan. Masters of shadows, bone etchings, subterranean living, and things that lurk in the darkness, it is thought that they eventually evolved into the darker elves that now inhabit Drynn.

Of course, if the Matron's forces knew about these tunnels, they certainly didn't volunteer that information during the planning of the siege.

Moving swiftly with the aid of a map and powerful magics (OOC: Multiports, expeditious retreat, flying, take your pick), the pair manage to meet up with the main group a few hours before dawn.

The group's lookouts identify Keef (though Boreas is invisible), and soon Boreas and Keef are among the rest of the group.

"Welcome back," Rachel says when they arrive. "We're still getting into position, but I'm glad you're here. We need a tie-breaking opinion."

"Foist wants to slip into the city during the chaos of the day, one at a time, at various intervals. To gather information to be used tonight to infiltrate the gate and open it."

"This tunnel opens up into what appears to be an old warehouse. I'd rather use today to build the siege engines, and then coordinate a spontaneous attack on the gates after they are complete."

"Carnaue wants to just wait around down here doing nothing until night falls, then slip into the city sight-unseen to open the gates. We won't have as much information that way, but it also gives us the greatest chance of remaining undetected 'til then."

She looks at Keef and Boreas, both of whom look a little tired.

"But no matter which plan we take, I think you should probably try to catch a little shut-eye first. What do you recommend?"

** Crossroads **
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:57, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

Auriel steepled his fingers, gazing down at the troop dispositions with an experienced eye. "The goal is to prevent as much damage to the city infrastructure as possible, correct?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at Choso. "Other than serving as a distraction for the Serpentsworn from the infiltration team, our siege engines will only be brought to bear if the gates cannot be breached from within." Auriel tapped his lip with his forefinger pensively. "We risk nothing by leaving the eastern wall unopposed. And with no gates on the eastern wall, they cannot sally to attack us from that direction. I say we focus our forces where we know the fighting will be heaviest - the north and the south. They'll expect us to concentrate our siege on the gate quarters anyway."

He pointed to the pieces arrayed on the campaign map. "If the situation changes, or you really feel we ought to truly surround the city, then I recommend rotating the armies clockwise around the city. The giants are mobile siege in and of themselves - have them shift to the eastern wall. They will be less hampered by the swamp than our engines. The Matron's forces can rotate to the northern gate, and your forces can cover the south and west."

In reply to Auriel (msg # 417):

Keef blinks.

A hammock?

Boreas laughs at Keef's quip.  I'm of the same mind, Keef.  As far as infiltration goes, Keef and I can sneak in invisibly and gather information.  If they don't have a means of spotting us, we can open the gate on your signal at any time, or we can report back with the information we find first.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 419):

Or just blow the gate and the guards up, Keef yawns, not making clear if this is another joke.

Without waiting for a decision, he wanders off to find some place to nap.

"Our main concern is to cause a distraction to allow Boreas and Keef to successfully infiltrate the cathedral.  I feel that we shouldn't do anything that would draw suspicion that our assault might possibly be covering for something else."

"I agree. Anything that looks like an obvious distraction won't work. Nor will inexplicable delays in starting our assault once our forces are in position."

Auriel looked at Maeve gravely. "I'm afraid that quite rules out our plan to fly around the battlements with targets painted on our chests yelling 'Oh hey, look up here!'"

He shook his head sadly. "It was a good thought."

In reply to Auriel (msg # 422):

Team Infiltration

"We don't know whether or not they can detect those cloaked in the shroud of magical invisibility," Carnaue says with a shrug. "I'd be surprised if they don't have at least a few lookouts equipped to do so, though, so it would be a risk."

He taps his eyepatch.

"Better in my eye to stick to the shadows, using the invisibility as a failsafe against detection. If you're both capable of that, we'll begin as soon as you've rested."

Team Siege

"Is your plan to strike out toward the cathedral immediately? Before even penetrating the gate? I was thinking we would take the gate first, and in the confusion that follows you and the others could break away toward the cathedral proper."

Auriel nodded. "Yes, I was intended to join the vanguard of your army for the main siege up until the gates were breached, or until we had to repel any counterattacks the Serpentsworn might launch."

Well, it's hard to beat invisibility and stealth.  Let's do it.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 425):

Team Siege

Maeve and Auriel enjoy a quiet day watching the city's walls. With the artillery silent, for now, and the army out of arrow range, the only thing the besieging army needed to do was keep anything from entering or leaving the city.

As of yet, nothing has tried.

The army is in high spirits, though there is a certain amount of nervous energy betrayed by forceful laughter and strained conversation. The soldiers were ready for something to happen, but knew better than to question the judgement or timing of their superior officers... not in public, anyway.

Auriel and Maeve are able to take to the skies to survey the surroundings, including taking note of their allies. The Marsh Giants to the north seem content to lounge about the swamp, hurling the occasional orb of mud and stone toward the walls out of boredom more than military necessity. You reflect that if the Tyrant's forces are bored, the giants' restlessness may soon become unbearable.

The Matron's forces, however, remain at perfect attention, arranged in neat and tidy formations that seem ready to move out at the snap of her fingers.

The sun reaches its zenith in the sky and begins to slowly amble into the afternoon without anything meaningful occurring.

Team Infiltration

After napping and refreshing themselves, Boreas and Keef meet with Carnaue to explore the topside. A cursory inspection of the tunnels' entrance point reveals that the path leads into an old storehouse. The premises appear abandoned, and Foist quickly directs his engineers to begin construction of siege engines within its ramshackle walls.

Cloaked in shadows and magical invisibility, the away team of Boreas, Keef, and Carnaue creep into the bustling city streets to get the lay of the land. In short order, the following information has been gleamed:

• The warehouse is in the southwestern part of the city
• The interior walls appear to protect an area of about 10 square miles of city, one of the largest areas you've seen as a completely enclosed space
• The cathedral stands at the center of the city, at least 2 miles away
• This places the southern gate at least 6 miles away. If you want reach it with any hope of getting back in time to coordinate with the others before nightfall, you'll need to hurry.

"So... priorities," Carnaue whispers. "Shall we split up, get the lay of the land, and return this evening to compare notes and settle on a target? We'll want to examine the northern gate, the southern gate, the cathedral, and the palace, I should think. Maybe set fire to the fletchery, armory, and the like."

His voice takes on a mirthful tone.

"So many ways to have fun. So little time. Thoughts?"

In reply to DM (msg # 426):

Set fire to it all?  Keef asks with a shrug.

In reply to Keef (msg # 427):

Team Infiltration

The goal is to capture this city, not raze it," Carnaue replies evenly. "Setting everything on fire will significantly increase the difficulty of occupying the city afterward."

In reply to DM (msg # 428):

For us, yes.

Keef thinks for a moment.

Set fire to the fletchery, armory and the cathedral then?

"This quiet is going on for too long. . . not sure how I feel about that."

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 430):

Team Infiltration

"The most important buildings are made of stone, and will be harder to burn. The fletchery and other shops owned and operated by peasants and slaves will be easy to burn, yes. The cathedral, government buildings, and the like will prove harder."

He pauses, considering the question.

"I would be ok starting a fire somewhere far, far away from the gates, if only to sew confusion and direct attention away from our intended target. How does that strike you?"

In reply to DM (msg # 431):

Keef narrows his eyes and for a moment there is a flicker of malice but it passes.

That sounds wise.  Confuse the guards, give the populace time to flee.  We can burn the cathedral later.