"Who uses titles on a battlefield, anyway? Isn't that unpractical? Just bark an order using name alone and be done with it." The moon elf added.

"Not that I have any experience on the matter. Just a thought."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

[DM]

Catweazel trips and nearly collapses, if not for his staff. He stops and rests on a nearby rock.

"My Lady...I am an old man. I can barely lift a teapot in the sunset of my life, much less a sack of gold coins. I am scholar, not the sort of mage that breathes in magic from the scrolls. I would only be a hindrance to this small army you have assembled. I have helped raise you, and more than anyone else assembled here, I have faith that you will do the utmost to purge the Chaos from this land...but alas, I cannot accompany you. I will set up camp in the old tower we just left, since I have no boat to get back through these flooded lands. I shall wait for word of your success,and then we shall celebrate. Be Well, Lady Starshell. And may the Fates be kind to all of you."

Amalrik nods to the curiously named wizard. He would pause to help the man along the trail, but he seems set on staying here.

As Amalrik keeps moving, the occasional stray thought crosses his mind ... Who would name their child Catweazel ?? With a "Hrumph"and shoulder shrug, probably some sort of wizarding thing anyway ...

Leohart nods at Catweazel as he walks by him. "Take care, old wizard," he says.

Dwarghar grunts as they continue the march.

In reply to Catweazel (msg # 26):

"Farewell then, good wizard. May the days ahead be kind and peaceful to you."

Manaku walks on.

Einhard raises his hand in salute, perhaps he would be better off here...nothing but death and misery lay ahead and hopefully victory.

The band marches on quietly until they reach the crest of a hill, where a stone structure is visible on the next hill. The sun is is just beginning to touch the horizon and spread the colors of dusk.

"It normally holds twenty guardsmen, but who know how many orcs they've crammed into it now?"

Amalrik places his hand to block the sun's glare as he stares at it.How much longer to get there Lady Starshell ?? He ponders night approach vs a daylight approach.

Then Amalrik scans the surrounding terrain, any easy routes to flank it instead of the head-on
 direct route ...

Yeah, yeah...what's wrong with bawdy taverns, anyway?   More fun than trapsing another  dusty road listening to a bunch of flowery blather!  'Dame' sounds like grandma, and what good is being a glamorous noble, if you're stuck in a portable stove, and everyone calls you 'sir'?   

Alietra kept her disgruntled thoughts to herself, striding off to one side.   Naturally, she was envious of someone who wasn't born into hopeless, banal commonerhood as she'd been.  But, she wasn't going to admit it.  Not even to herself.  Feathering some orcs would be a good distraction...

"Orcs, you say? Well, I hope we'll get there soon then. I have plenty of arrows for orcs. All that I have in my quiver, in fact..."

The elf walks in silence several paces and then ponders aloud:

"What kind of man would ally himself with orcs anyway? They're dumb, cruel, untrustworthy and violent. All they know is killing everything non-orc. I'd wage they're more a liability than a resource."

Brodd continues to trudge along listening to the banter while leading Rose the mule by her reins.

The party sees Gorn and Travis climbing up the hill from a hidden path, ready to report.

Travis with Gorn approach Starshell and Einhard giving a short bow, awkward on how to properly address the two of them, “Umm.. my Lord and Lady, we have gone ahead and circled the Barracks, we are positive we left no sign of our approach. The main barracks is a two-story stone structure, and likely has rooms below ground as well. Two orcs stand guard outside the main entrance There are signs of three recent campfires outside of the structure. There is smoke coming from the main chimney. There is a watchtower, three stories high. It should also be noted that we were able to go without being noticed due to Orcs lack of vision in daylight.” He paused for a moment then continued. “On the way back we found a crevice in the side of the hill that could fit the entire party and a small circle of rocks for a campfire that looks like it hasn't been used in over a year.”

After his report he turned to Leohart. “I also noticed markings in the crevice markings unfamiliar to myself or Gorn with your arcane talents you may find them curious.”

Leohart listens and then nods. "Thank you for the opportunity," he says. "I look forward to seeing these markings."

So we spend the night in your grotto and hit the Orcs tomorrow morning?

We hit the Orcs whenever we can. Tomorrow sounds like as good a time as any.

"Excellent scouting, let's make our way to the grotto and prepare for an early assault tomorrow?

Perhaps at sunrise to blind our foes."

"Sounds like a good plan Einhard" Brodd agrees.

Bah
Dwarghar shakes his head at the great plan Einhard had made up and grumbles something as he makes his way to the grotto.

When the orc slaughter is ready - he'll be ready too.

"I wonder if we might…" begins Pock before the words trail off. It looks like the group has decided on a dawn assault on the barracks and wasn't in the mood for tricksy illusions or shenanigans.

Orcs at morning's sunrise. As good a plan as any ... While listening in, Amalrik takes a few moments to stretch and get the kinks out, then the crick in his neck, and finally a drink from the waterskin. Now for this grotto.

Einhard notices that Pock had started to suggest something and then became silent.

"Pock , did you want to add something?

Not all combat is direct assault."

Pock perks up.

"Instead of ambushing two at the entrance, why not draw out two or more to an ambush of our own? An adage comes to mind:

There's two bulls standing on top of a mountain. The younger one says to the older one: 'Hey pop, let's say we run down there and have one of them cows'. The older one says: 'No son. Lets walk down and have 'em all.'

The gnome scratches his head, pondering if what he has just said is actually applicable.

He shrugs.

"Let's give them something to investigate like a campfire with a couple of 'helpless' travelers. Then we KILL them all."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Sun 26 Apr 2020.

In reply to Pock Oneshoe (msg # 48):

"Why Pock, that is absolutely devious and underhanded...

I like it! Do we have anyone that can cast illusions?