"That would fall under my purview," the gnome illusionist replies demurely.

"Very well, what did you have in mind?"

"Quite splendid Pock! Though I do hope the application of your adage ends at the bottom of the hill for us and goes no further!"

"I should very much like to see these markings in the crevasse as reported. Furthermore, I suggest a bit more reconnaissance. If we spring our trap upon the morrow, we'll have plenty of time to observe the goings on, perhaps we'll even get a better measure of their numbers and temperament..."

Harald seemed more the tourist which overpaid for his vacation tour but was determined to get his money's worth nonetheless.

Regdoc stopped in his tracks and listened to the scouts' report without bothering to turn around. He kept his gaze forward toward their goal, but the sounds of his worn teeth grinding together could still be heard by the group behind him.

Finally he spun about and stomped back to where the congregants were gathered. "You people are daft!" He blurted. "Attacking a fortified position filled to brimming, no doubt, with critters trained from birth to pilfer, ransack, gut and torch anything of whim? No, you fools, Pock at least has the right idea here. We'd need thrice their number to form an assault, doubtless we're outnumbered by that ratio..."

Within the moment, the venting ended and Regdoc's voice lowered an octave. "Brother Brodd, let us call upon our Deities in this challenge. I know that He Who Wanders is quite often He Who Is Also Thirsty... I've seen several instances where He Whose Boots Have Trodden the Never-Ending Trail has granted a miracle to turn a skin of water into wine... If we both petitioned, I reckon we could churn out several gallons by morning. We leave the wine where it might conveniently be discovered and then we wait a few hours until springing Pock's plan. The only thing easier than shooting fish in a barrel is shooting drunken fish in a barrel... or so I've heard the saying go."


OOC: We can cast Water to Wine as a 0-Level spell to create lots and lots of rank swill for our greenskinned foes!

Manaku remains silent and observant. Battle tactics was not his forte, so now was time to listen, and perhaps learn.

Brodd nods understanding, enlightenment in his eyes. "Good idea Regdoc!"

Leohart sits apart from the group, listening, ready to go along with the group's decision.

"Perhaps there's a way to soften their defenses before we attack by sneaking in. Snapping bowstrings, setting fires and such."

"I cannot believe this!" Alietra gave her forehead a slap.  "I mean, I really can't believe it!"      She addressed the pair of priests.

"All this time you've had a spell that makes wine out of water, and we're just hearing about it now? That's great. Brother Brodd, here I always thought you were such a forthright guy!  Anyway, the plan is first rate. If it does come to sneaking in to snap bow strings and tie boot laces together, I'll go."

The gnome rubs his temples and admits he's not really a tactician but since he has been asked...

"We would start a real campfire, distant from the barracks but also easily observed from there. This campfire would also be a mirage: a merchant with a few guards, traveling by wagon through these parts. Not so many targets such that the entire barracks emerges but not so few that only the two guards come to investigate. When the inebriated swine swarm about the fire, we KILL THEM ALL."

He coughs and then adds, "By we, I mean most of you all. I'm kind of a one-trick gnome."

A drunken foe is not honorable. But it does bring their numbers to a more comfortable level. I like it.

PM

[The sigils aren't familiar to any of you, but the elves do see some nature motifs in them, marking shadows for the solstices and such.]

"Scoundrels and deceivers, reminds of an old saying...something about falling in with thieves...I sort of like this.

However should the minotaur appear, my code forces an attack on the strongest opponent.

Valiant yet suicidal.

I was a starry eyed youth when I chose the Way, however the real world have somewhat dimmed those lights."

"So...even if we can lure them out and surprise them, we could be badly outnumbered. Knowing how many they are would be very useful... There is no point dying gloriously if there is nobody left to sing our tale." The elf glances at the bard.

"If our initial strike can break their morale, the rest of them may scatter and run hiding under rocks. That would be desired outcome, I think. So the first strike - it should have very heavy impact. I have seen a powerful magus, an fellow elf, hurl burning ball of arcane fire, which then exploded among our enemies. I'm speaking that kind of impact.

...Actual means to achieve that kind of shock effect, I do not know, unfortunately ."

Pock takes out his wand and wonders if it is capable of such a conflagration or if it just whips up omelets.

Alietra nodded sagely.  "Definitely not honorable. But, look at it this way - they get to go to the Hells with a good buzz."

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 61): PM



"Ha!  I bet you haven't ever had your lights properly dimmed!  When this is over, we can all go find a good ale house and fix that!"

She listened to the talk of occult fire, and glanced at the gnome's wand.  I'm trying so hard not to imagine what roasted orc might smell like... 

PM

By the campfire light, Gorn sketches the outline of the barracks in the ground with a stick.

"I suggest we set up outposts in these rocks where we can watch the barracks securely. Then we send a squad of our stealthiest members; Alietra, Amalrik, Travis, and myself. Our squad moves at dawn when the sun is in their eyes, for these orcs cannot stand the light. Should they start to chase us, you can open fire with missiles and magic from cover of the rocks to aid our escape."

He looks to Pock.

"I don't think a troll will fool these louts, especially if we have to run past it instead of away from it. Perhaps you can fake an avalanche? Or crossbowmen in plate to distract their return fire?"

Pock nods, "I could do the latter more than the former. I don't know that they would be tempting targets for orcs in hand to hand combat. I'm still inclined to draw a number of them out."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:30, Fri 01 May 2020.

"I'm glad we're on the same side!"

"If you're going to make an illusion, why not trick the Orcs into thinking the building is on fire? When they evacuate, we can move in."

I like Creston's idea. Ahh the power of flames ...

Alietra nodded. "That's good.  Does what we need, and we get to see them all stirred up and freaked out. But don't have to smell them burning."

"Lots of great ideas, let's put some sort of order to them and consider a 'what if' plan and a rally point in case things go bad."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Tue 05 May 2020.