Commander Locke smiles thinly. "They're a favorite target, particulary because so many of their troops are lowlander slaves," he says and spits in disgust to the side. "The commanders have been using chaos shield and arrow shield spells on themselves, more so than usual lately. I think it was either that or get rid of their fancy war helmets. Tieflings apparently prefer fashion over safety. We only put our best archers on the commander for that reason. We have a dozen fiend-bane arrows we can give you to target them when you have a clear shot, but only when you have a clear shot. Let them wear out their magic on our normal arrows before you commit to those," he says in his heavily accented Elven. "I know you know that, but I just have to say it, please understand."Tailspinner said:
~~~
Starman said:
"Well I-" the archmage begins, but is interrupted by a camp runner. They confer briefly, and the mage curses under his breath. "Duty calls, I must leave you for now. Ivarin! Show Galanorthrim our scroll store and let him pick a few out for tomorrow's battle." The archmage ducks out as a younger lowlander man comes to show Galan a locked chest of scrolls. "I don't think Archmage Glorion has had more than three hours of uninterrupted conversation, at best, this entire day," Ivarin says with a chuckle. Unlocking the chest, he carefully unrolls a scroll to show the elf the inscribed inventory. "Let me see your spellbook, I'd hate to give you duplicates... all right, let me see... We have screaming explosion, always a nice one. You know the fireball spell, right? Same thing, but with sound instead. Too many of those legionnaires are partially immune to fire to use the original form of the spell. Expeditious retreat, a bit misnamed, but good for both running to and from a battle when needed. Oh, and ray of enfeeblement, that's an easier way to capture prisoners if you need to. If they're too weak to fight back...
"Summon swarm I've found to be useful, particularly against summoned creatures that fly! Darkvision may be useful if you find yourself on their side of the lines. Sometimes they write messages, warnings, even passwords in paint that can only be seen if you have darkvision. Hmm... alter self is very versitile, good for protecting yourself in many different ways. Oh, and haste and slow, more uses than you can throw a stick at. Shrink item is actually very useful if you've stolen something large, bulky, or heavy and need to sneak it out. So, any of those of use to you?"
~~~
"Yes, I've considered that, but we've had times where we change our tactics, sometimes for no purpose they can discern. We like to keep them on their toes, murdering scum. Now, I have called for reports from the archers and mages, and I expect them to be here within the hour, so we have a brief break before we have to get down to business," Sir Terra says. The two knights can speak of pleasentries or war for a bit, as the mood strikes them. Sir Terra had been studying to be a knight since she was five years old, working as a page, then a squire, and finally gaining her knighthood at eighteen. She was drawn to the elite Knights Adamant as soon as she knew about them, and spent several years fighting and learning, fasting and praying, to be considered worthy of entry.Widowmaker said:
She also bears an unusual intelligent sword, blessed by Alharra Dawn-Bearer. The sword seems to be forged of gold, and gleams with the glow of the dawn. "She is called 'Justine,' and I found her in the midst of one of the oldest battlefields between the Kingsmarch and the Dominion. I can find no mention of her in tales of ancient heroes, and she does not speak of her origin. She says she was sent for me. But at least she can carry a tune, as I certainly cannot!"
After some time, a camp-runner returns with two things. One is a report from the mages and archers, that confirms Sir Terra's orders to have the knights attack in the third wave. The second is Ssiran. "Ssiran, I understand you're in an odd situation. You have some mystial abilities, but they cannot be used at such along range as our mages and archers. I have notes here that they wanted us to find a solution for you, unless you or you, Sir Aravir, already have one in mind?"
~~~
The tiefling doesn't even look at the money, but makes it vanish quickly into his tunic breast. His squad loosely surrounds the small group and begins to march toward the far glow of the summoning pits. Ebony notices one of the tieflings is eyeing him with appreciation; a woman with horns like black antlers, but a very pleasing athletic form nevertheless. Haedyn finds the lowlanders watching him with unusual intensity, he can practically feel their eyes boring holes into him.doghead said:
The group takes about a half-hour to reach the slave pits; the guards take a rather rambling route, checking in with other groups briefly, and not mentioning their companions at all. The fire-lit glow of the summoning pits is close now, the scent of blood, sulfur, and fear is thick in the air, and cries of despair echo from the large pit closest to you. The still forms of bodies litter the bottom like broken dolls, while a chain devil toys with the few remaining living victims.
The slave pit the guards come to is tied down at several points, runes marked in blood and shimmering dust smeared upon the earth and the bars of the pit. After speaking with the guards, your guide opens up a hatch and steps back a few paces to let Winter AnniDarkis to look inside. No torches are provided, but Hiitar doesn't need them. Inside the deep pit lie several dozen half-starved and beaten bodies, wearing filthy rags and haggard expressions. Nearly all are human, mostly lowlanders, but a frailer form with dark hair bears the characteristic horns of a tiefling, in his case the slender ridged horns of the Zangala ibex. The slaves cry and scream when the hatch opens, and faint chuckles are heard from the guards.
