"If they're looking to ambush us, it's likely they've already made note of our numbers - probably too late to send some of us out to flank them as they'll account for that."
"Mmmmmm, right you are lass. Well, then, I guess there's nothing left for it but to make a full-on assault. Let's just charge into their midst and may the Darkness take the Hindmost! Who wants to live forever, anyway, right?"
"I think it unlikely that any of our forces are in place to ambush the humanoids. It is possibly, but very unlikely. If we are going to turn the ambush back on them we should know exactly what we are up against. Can we go thundering off one way or the other along the stream while one of our number hides and slips in closer? If we stir up enough dust and ride in a tight pack we might fool them. We move for 10 minutes or so and then work our way back to get a report from the scout."
What of the hatchlings? We can't ride into an ambush with them in our arms.
"Exactly why we should take the fight to them on our terms, instead of waiting for them to attack us. Someone can protect the waifs while the rest of us chase glory!"
Roak listens carefully before voicing his own opinion. "I agree with Nijel. We should charge them full on. Nothing like a cavalry charge to shake the enemy's moral. If they turn out to be friends, certainly they will announce themselves before we cut them down."
Sorry for the slow posting...extremely busy in RL at the moment.
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
There is slight problem with your idea. Maybe it's just my inexperience with horses, but how do you charge into the trees? What's to stop them from ducking behind a tree and shoot you from behind? Not to mention 'helpful' branches and roots within.
I think we should move cautiously and hail them once we are within reach. You can always charge if they start shooting. And you'd charge at a visible enemy and with the Light of Pelor.
"Yes, Roak, Andor has quite a good point: the trees complicate the idea very much. Does anyone have any ideas about how we can flush them out into the open? I doubt if our foes will fight honorably, or else we could simply issue a challenge for them to meet us on the field of battle...
But, thinking about this problem more, it seems to me that their arrows will also be useless in the trees. If we array ourselves before them in the open, then they will leave the trees to do battle with us, I feel certain. And we can choose the place and circumstances of the battle. If they will not do battle with us, then we can deride and taunt them loudly for the spineless cowards that they are!"
Last edited by Leif; 23rd November 2007 at 08:09 AM..
Well, I as said I could probably flush out two of them if they have any kind of metal armor or disarm two if they use metal weapon. If they speak our language I could [i]Command[/] one them to come out. That's about it as far as my spells can take us.
Once they are out I could support you with crossbow, but I'd rather not be too close with infant in my arms.
Why couldn't we call to them? Maybe they are on our side. Or recognize that they are overmatched. Or they are simple bandits using opportunity to plunder with all the orcs around. In that case they'll run once they hear that we have horde right behind us. Or...or...well, let's talk to them. We can always kill them if it proves neccessary, but I'd rather not kill first and ask questions later.
Of course, we still need to discuss tactics for any of these situations, but remember we don't have time to waste.
"What tactics need to be discussed? Roak and I will be in the vanguard, with Ewan and any others who wish to join us, the priests among us should probably remain further back in somewhat protected positions in order that they may also employ their spells to full effect, and the less martially inclined such as Aidan and Katherine and others should skirt the edges of the battle to best use their abilities to assist us as they have opportunity. Will this not be the best way to proceed?"
Yes, but what if they bolt? Do you run them down so they don't set another ambush. Let them go? What if they have spellcaster with them? Look we don't have much time so I agree we shold go there and not discuss this to any great length. Once we're there we'll handle it depending on their actions.
I need to know two things: Do I conserve spells for healing and do we talk to them first? Anything else is secondary to fast moving
OOC: I'll try to see combat over the weekend, but I promise nothing.
For DM: JA, in Heroes gallery under Spells->Normal is my current selection, Endure Elements is cast. I'd heal party after combat if needed, cast heat metal and command in combat, in combat I can heal from 30' with ranged touch (+6) attack if anyone drops dangerously low. First priority will be infant, no melee if I can help it even if it means running away from enemy.
"These are not questions that I can answer, or I would. Personally, my feeling is that we should pursue the hated foes to the death, but I will obey my orders in this regard, as in all others. One thing I know you are absolutely correct about: THE TIME FOR TALK IS ALMOST FINISHED. NOW IS THE TIME FOR DEEDS OF VALOR."
Strictly OOC:
I can cast bless for 4 minutes, that is, once we start toward ambush.
Conserving or casting was question for everyone in the party. Personaly I'd cast only if I have to.
Andor's history says he is a liutenant. What are the ranks of others? Is there anyone who could 'pull rank' on us? Nijel? Roak?
It's 9AM, I really should start working, so I'll check again in the afternoon and them probably wait for monday.
A wise suggestion, Kat. The one thing we can't have is a misunderstanding leading to allies slaughtering each other. It's better to risk losing surprise.
"I doubt if surprise is an option anymore. We've been paused here too long for them to think anything other than we noticed them. Shall we hail them and see what happens?"
__________________ "All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages."
Wm Shakespeare -- From As You Like It (II, vii, 139-143)
While the party debates, their horses take the opportunity and stretch out along the stream and start to drink. Even the unexperienced eye can tell that they are tired from the hours of hard riding even with a few rests along the way. The position of the sun shows it to be mid afternoon.
OCC: All the operatives hold the rank of 2nd Lt. No one has rank. Operations and missions were assigned by Baron Timberhome on a indiviudal/group basis as needed so the party has worked both on indiviudal and team missions the last six months.
Andor's history says he is a lieutenant. What are the ranks of others? Is there anyone who could 'pull rank' on us? Nijel? Roak?
OOC: I can't beleive that anyone would ever accuse Nijel of outranking anyone! Since JA says that we are all 2nd Lieutenants, Nijel must have just recently been promoted to Lieutenant, because he still thinks of himself as a Sergeant most of the time.
OOC: And Lieutenant Nijel says that we either need to mount up and continue our mission now, or else hurry up and attack these orcs/ogres/whatever they are. Talking is going to do nothing but waste time and possibly leave us open to their attacks. We know they are enemy, so let's either kill them, or pass them by and continue our previous mission.
OOC: "How do we know??" You mean besides the fact that they are ogres and orcs, and we are currently at war with ogres and orcs? Oh, I'm sorry, you're absolutely right, we do have to allow for that rare, mutant strain of Good-Aligned ogres and orcs, don't we?
OOC: I don't know about OVER-zealous, but "Zealous Paladin" is a moniker that Nijel will cop to easily. Zealous to the point of cracking some ogre skull, unless he is restrained, btw.
OOC: "How do we know??" You mean besides the fact that they are ogres and orcs, and we are currently at war with ogres and orcs? Oh, I'm sorry, you're absolutely right, we do have to allow for that rare, mutant strain of Good-Aligned ogres and orcs, don't we?
OOC: I was thinking that at this point all we've seen of the 'ambushers' are some glints of metal in the trees - they may very well be Orcs and Ogiers, and we should be suspicious, but we've not actually seen anything of this particular group other than hints that they're there. Did I miss it, too?
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