The Tearing of the Veil

[Tibalt Graf]

Tibalt Graf, a Necromancer of Karrnath

It would be quite a coup if we could kill a Thranish cardinal. The armistice will fail - they always do. Still, this is the wrong unit to take on the mission, although I'll bet if we all hit him preemptively, he'd not live long enough to ask his god to blast us out of existence.

Tibalt lingers near the Cardinal to hear his reply, and perhaps a few of his intentions with regard the skiff.

If they intend to take or destroy it, then perhaps we have no alternative but to attack.

He is alert for magic on the part of the priest, ready to dive into a nearby object ... or perhaps soldier ... to avoid notice.

 

[Andrinor2]

Well, it looks like a fight is coming, depending on their actions. Since few have been forthcomming with their personal information, I shall start. To plan this, I need a better understanding of our potential.

At this point I will assume that we have at least given our names, though only half have really done so.

As you can see, I am...or was...a member of House Deneith. I was Captain in the League of Bitter Blades which is part of the Blademark Guild. My unit was here to assist Karrn soldiers in Shadukar. That is all I know about this mess.

As for me, I am a well-trained and battle-hardend fighter. I have lost few men under my command. Though always ready for a fight, sometimes there are better ways to procede. But once past that, it takes many to hold me back, and few can stand before my cold iron blade.

I know little of religions, only a bit of magic that relates to me, and even less of the undead condition we have apparrently found ourselves stuck in. I have yet to figure out what it is I have become, or am becomming. I only wish to get through this curse and get back home, if I can. There is much I have left behind.

Now as for you six, here is what I know:
Lon, you are an armored Karrnathi officer and a ghost. Fighter maybe? Weapons maybe?
Carmilla, as you have said, you are a vampyre with a 'y'. You have said, or shown little else of your fighting ability besides your undead state.
Tibalt, another Karrnathi officer and a specialist of the Division of the Dead. I wish to know more about that! You are able to become invisible, yet confuse me utterly as to your skills. One of those necromancers, maybe?
Halden, yet another officer from Karrnath. Did any of you people have regulars, or are you all officers in Karrnath? Anyway, you have no armor, but field a longsword and crossbow. You must be sure of yourself without armor, and a good fighting man.
Dukar, with a bow and light chain, I am guessing a Ranger. Am I close?
And lastly, Grefe, little more than a morningstar at your side. Cleric type, perhaps?

So does anyone else care to divulge a bit more so that we can coordinate ourselves into some kind of ragged fighting unit? Or am I just wasting my time? I don't wish to offend with this questions. These are my guesses based on what I see and what you have offered up. You may all be able to tromp my ass into the sand. For now, I have no idea. I believe that we must work together to unravel this puzzle.

 

[Muleke]

Carmilla

"Tis true I came but ill prepared for trial of steel. Yet if some friend would loan me a blade I'll give these luckless mortals fat reason to weep!"
"Give me the word, and ere we strike shall I summon a plague of devils to nip their hides. Would that please your strategy, Andrinor?"

 

[Halden Kraal]

Halden Kraal

While I don't enjoy combat, if it comes to it, I have been trained. In a fight I am better close up than far away. Should battle commence, the good cardinal may wish that we had done a song and dance, rather than face me.

 

[Lon Deslo]

Lon Deslo

I'm not convinced that now is the best time for this, but there is some merit in what you say. Rather than argue, I shall attempt to satisfy to the extent that I can.

I'm not at liberty to discuss much of what brought me here. It is enough for you to know that I was on a mission to recover property of the Crown here in Shadukar when my compatriots and I were discovered and set upon by a armed body of Thranes. From there things became rather chaotic, and I must admit my memory becomes faulty. I remember seeing several of my companions die in the subsiquent fighting. Obviously at some point I did as well, though perhaps not surprisingly I am unable to recall the specifics of the event. At this point I assume that any who remain of my company are scattered. More likely though we all died.

As for weapons, I knew how to fight in my time. Having been killed may cause you to doubt this, but rest assured I know how to use a sword, and am a fair shot with a bow. Of course now unless I concentrate very hard, the weapons that I possess are mere whisps and largely irrelevant aside from the terror they may cause. I imagine the actual articles lie scattered amongst the refuse in Shadukar.

Still it could be worse. I could be a filthy stinking corpse, driven by an unspeakable hunger which unless sated becomes unable to think straight as its brain rots from within. Fortunately in my current state I'm releived of olfactory concerns. Of course if the wind shifts, the Thranes may not need their Cardinal to tell them that we are here.

 

[Grefe]

Alton Grefe, Sorcerer and Seige Engineer for House Deneith

A wry smile upon his withered lips, Grefe begins:

I am a sorcerer, hence my lack of armor, and I still retain my arcane talent. I was serving as a seige engineer for the Deneith company posted in Shadukar. As far as I have ascertained, I am merely an animated corpse; not a vampire, ghoul, ghost or wight. I feel no need for sleep, food, water, blood or flesh. Perhaps I have become a zombie with my intellect, for the moment, intact. However, I have not made a great study of the undead.

I can defend myself in melee and have brought down more than one hare with my sling. As for the arcane, I fear I am not skilled enough to deal death to a score of fighting men.

From his position at the base of the rise, Grefe observes the squat stone post at the top of the rise. He then looks about for other stone structures: a watch tower, a tomb, a fort, or even a barrow.

 

[Andrinor2]

As the gathered talk, Andrinor seems to be analyzing the situation. Or something. He peers over the dune to look at the other party and the skiff.

Come on down Dukar and chat with us a moment. We seem to be safe for the moment.

I think the best plan is to hit them when they try to unmoor the boat from the beach. But only if the Priest is still on the beach. He can't get in the boat before we get to him. He has a 60ft. reach on us, so we need to be inside of that. But if they try to burn it or push it out to sea, we need to act.

They are out about 200 feet. That is quite a long way for us visible folk to surprise someone. There is no way that we can cover that distance with a straigh on attack and get to him before we lose the initiative.

I have an idea for a distraction. If we can split them up, we have a better chance. If our ghost brigade, Lon and Tibalt, were off in the distance down the beach, they could make some noise. Something like fighting. Some Karrnathi shouts maybe. Even if they are not fooled, some will be sent to check it out. The cleric will most likely stay at the waters edge. The scouts will either find nothing, or pissed off ghosts who eat them for lunch.

The rest of us could try to run in at them from the opposite side and get there before they realize what is happening. A plague of devils could be useful at that time. Does anyone have a spell or something else that would help?

He pulls a punching dagger from his belt and hands it to Carmilla.

Can you use this?

 

[Lon Deslo]

Lon Deslo

I can't speak for Tibalt, and have no means of communicating with him, so we can't include him directly unless he returns before we begin. However, if you want a distraction, I could possess one of the guards picketed on a fringe far from the cleric and opposite your chosen approach.. There is a danger that doing so could alert the Cardinal to our presence (if he hasn't detected us already). However if successful it would be a simple matter to feign sickness or start a fight, automatically tying up atleast two of our foes (my vessel and his caregiver/assailant). Even if doing so does draw the Cleric's attention it might be focused away from your approach, buying you some extra time.

 

[Tibalt Graf]

I am interested in doing a bit more scouting, and thus haven't returned to join the conversation.

 

[Halden Kraal]

Halden Kraal

The plan sounds workable, if it comes to it. Are we set on attack then, or waiting for them to make a move? I was thinking that if we break up their cohesion enough, get them to spread out, the cardinal cannot help them all. Alternately, we could just lure them away from the boat and take it, thus avoiding a battle all together.