Rissa turned to their noble companion.

"Do you recognize the livery?  Or is this bandits we're dealing with?"

Lucien eyes the guard warily. "Before we approach the guard, we should see how he reacts to someone approaching without revealing ourselves. I can produce some magical effects that will draw his attention. If he attacks at once, we know what to expect."

"I doubt he'll do anything but attack if someone approaches," Lathan says. "And the way everything's set up, he'll quickly and easily spot anyone who steps into that clearing.

"What kind of magical effect are you thinking of, Lucien?"

Three Elks seemed content to hide among the brush.  He could wait for days if necessary to learn more about those before him.  The others may not be that patient.  He was about to offer to make the approach himself, but then Lucien offered a magical solution.

"I can create an image of a traveler. The image could not make sound, but I could make it move and approach the lookout. If the lookout gives a warning before attacking or raising the alarm, at least we would know that much."

"Do it."

Rissa nodded.

“Might want to sneak up near him. Otherwise he might call in others. Whose the sneakiest?”  Terminax said while rapping a gauntleted knuckle against his armor.

Throughout the whole matter, Gazira had simply followed alongside everyone with her warhammer strewn across her shoulders in a relaxed manner despite its size.  By and large she seemed content to let everyone chatter and scheme without interruption, though when it came to a question of getting the posted guard's attention through all sorts of subterfuge, she was left to scratch her cheek in dismay.

"If it's all th'same, how 'bout I just walk out there and say hello?  Ain't afraid of that little pig-sticker he's slingin'." She volunteered without a care.  Stealth and deception were far out of her wheelhouse and, if the party wanted a diversion to hold the man's attention, there was little more eye-catching than a giant green woman in plate armor strolling on up.

Rissa shrugged.

"Why not both?  Send the weaving up, and Gazira behind it.  The rest of us will slink around the back.""

She started to move, committing to the plan unless someone stopped her.

Lucien nodded. "It never hurts to have a backup plan." He then moved off into the woods in the direction of the lone sentry. He kept to the perimeter of the woods until he was as close to the watchtower as possible while staying within the cover of the trees. Pulling out the bit of fleece required for the spell, he spoke the command word and made the arcane gesture that caused the image of a human man wearing the armor of the Palfreys to appear a small distance away. He then directed the image to step out of the cover of the trees into plain view of the man atop the watchtower.

Lucien Nailo rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Stealth.

Three Elks remained hidden in the brush.  He was impressed by how well the group handled the last fight, but now there seemed to be some confusion as to how to proceed towards the structure.  Lucien seemed clever, but seemed to lack the authority of a leader.  He wondered just how long this group had been traveling together.  A story for another time perhaps.  For now, he waited, curious to see just how this new group as well as the guard would react to one another.

Lucien's spell seemed to go off before the Orcish woman could move out into the clearing.

The guard atop the watchtower immediately spots Lucien's illusion. He reaches behind him and pulls a lever of some sort. The sound of a ringing bell echoes inside the keep as the guard takes aim with his crossbow and fires a lazy shot at the illusory armored man; the bolt flies just past his head.

Lucien watched the guard's actions and made the illusion stop and dodge away from the bolt several seconds after it was fired. He then made the illusion put up its hands in a gesture of surrender and cast another spell with a gesture. A low shout seemed to emanate from the illusion. "Woah there! Careful! I meant no harm, I'm just lost is all!"

Terminax gives a look to the others at the sound of the bell, as if to say, "I knew there'd be an alarm?" Then, whispering to the others he says, "I say we count the number of guards that come a calling, make the illusion disappear like nothing to make the lookout seem crazy, and then cut the rope from the lever that leads to the bell so that we can sneak up on the lookouts after everything's died down. Keep the element of surprise, and maybe make them nervous that the Keep is actually haunted."

Lathan keeps still, swords drawn and ready, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of whoever or whatever the bell is summoning.

Three Elks continued to wait in hiding to see what forces they were facing.  He armed himself with his warhammer, and waited.  He did not yet know if he would be attacking, fleeing, or remaining hidden.  The archer atop the guard tower certainly did not seem interested in parlaying.

The guard fires another careless shot at the illusory man, again missing.

"Whoever that is, they know we are coming now."

Rissa mussed, sounding frustrated.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

Hostile, but their numbers are not so great that they send out an army or even scouts.  At least the loss of the element of surprise did not go to waste.  This information was good.  More would be needed before he dared to leave the protection of the trees.

We could wait till the cover of night before trying to cross the clearing.  The day can be spend making ladders to scale the walls. he said quietly enough for only those nearby to hear.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Sun 14 Apr 2019.

"I think we should try and talk to them."

She said, scratching at her chin.

"We don't know who they serve, or what they are doing out here.  We wouldn't want to start an incident, assaulting some Lord's men?"

She looked for a way to approach close enough to call out, that wouldn't put her in the path of a crossbow.

"If I'm wrong, we can withdraw, and return at night when they are weary from remaining vigilant all day."

"The guy who immediately started shooting arrows at us, albeit an illusion, doesn't seem the talkative type.  Of course now would be as good a time as any to approach the western gate.  The archer seems content on being distracted."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Mon 15 Apr 2019.

"Fair enough."

Rissa conceded the point, moving towards the Western Gate rather than following her original plan.

"Aye, he doesn't seem too talkative," Lathan says, motioning for Rissa to stay put. "Let's hold tight and see if anyone comes out. If not, we can wait until night to attempt to scale the walls."

"That bell is the real issue. Maybe there's some way we can disable it with the familiars? Or the handle itself even. Seems like it all just runs along underground somewhere." Terminax says and then sends his bat to circle the surrounding area.

Lucien continues to command the illusion to dodge back and forth in an apparent attempt to avoid more incoming arrows. He casts another minor illusion to make the apparition speak. "In the name of Count Palfrey, I order you to cease fire at once!" The elf seems to be keeping his focus on the magic for the time being while he waits to see if any reinforcements arrive.