dangelo
Link to the  OOC Thread 
   Banners &amp; Blood  
 IC thread 
  
The River Lands had once been a beautiful province, with green fields and blue skies that stretched into horizon as far as the eye could see. Limited by the Silver Moon Peaks to the north, the Crown Lands to the east, and the Great Lake to the west, the land was split into three, raked by mountains like fingers grasping the earth. With access to the sea and a strong fleet to secure it, the River Lands were a safe province for one to live.

But now it was ravaged by war. A foolish war, if there was ever a wise one, waged by a false king and a usurper. To gain the undisputed support of the Church of Pelor, Wilhem had granted them lower taxes, persecuted pagan faiths, exiled druid circles, and raised several paladins to Generals, promising them lands and castles that would soon be taken from "the false King Harald and his blind followers", as he called them.

All because one time, over a century ago, the Church of Pelor saved the kingdom from falling into the hands of conspirators by appointing the king's brother to the throne rather than his son. At the time, it was said that the Morninglord "sent a vision to the High Priest" announcing that death and calamity would plague the realm should the prince sit the throne instead of his uncle. And because the Priests of Pelor held so much power, and because a handful of lords and ladies believed the prince to be a bastard, the intervention was successful and the kingdom was saved.

Now, over a hundred years later, the current High Priest claims to have had the same visions; That Lord Wilhem was to sit the throne instead of his nephew King Harald, and that the realm would be thrown into an age of darkness should Harald refuse to leave the throne. A foolish, foolish war.

The sky was black with smoke. It billowed from wheat fields and orchards and meadows, and also houses and mills once their inhabitants had been cleared out. "Lord Wilhem is supposed to defend them", King Harald had said, as he commanded his troops to sail to the Western River Lands and set fire to everything between the Great Lake and the Spine. "Let the smallfolk find sanctuary in the Riverlord's Keep, and soon he will run out of grain to feed them. My uncle has limited resources, and cannot bear to wage a long war."

Thus, While Wilhem's fleet sailed to the capital, Harald deployed a stealthy unit around the Inner Sea and deep into enemy territory, a smaller elite army lead by four hand-picked vassals: Percilla the goblinknight, Luna the emissary of the druids, Ginarie his First Ranger and Cheshire his spymaster. With no more than three hundred horse, they were to act quick and strong, and sail back home without many losses.

It took them less than a ten-day to ravage the West. The River Lands lacked proper fortifications by the sea, leaving only town garrisons and scattered lawmen to stand in their way. Most of them surrendered at the sight of the column of armored knights, others barricaded behind their palisades, but all lost their courage at the sight of their crops ablaze.

It was late in the afternoon when Harald's messenger reached the camp. The sunset sky had a queer reddish glow from the crops ablaze and the smoke that rose from them. The plan was to stay there and draw as much from Wilhelm's forces as they could, but that messenger changed everything.

The commanders gathered in their tent when two knights burst in, escorting the messenger and his exhausted mount. He bore the colors of King Harald on his gambeson, and clutched letter with the royal seal:

 "My Three Hundred and Four,

It is with a heavy heart and grave concern that I dispatch this missive unto thee. Dark tidings have befallen our realm, as treachery festers within our midst like a foul disease. Know ye that certain lords, sworn to our banner, have turned over to my uncle's side, forsaking their oaths of fealty in pursuit of base ambition and nefarious plots.

The shadows of betrayal loom large, casting doubt upon the very foundations of our kingdom. Our enemies gather strength, emboldened by the weakness of those who once stood by our side. Peril surrounds us, and the hour grows late.

In this dire hour, I beseech thee, my loyal vassals, to stand steadfast and resolute. You are to abandon the last mission I assigned you and return to the capital as fast as possible. I hoped to face Wilhelm in open field, but that won't be possible with his numbers. Return to me, and together we shall weather this storm, and emerge victorious against the tide of treachery that threatens to engulf us.

May the gods grant us strength and wisdom in the days ahead.

Yours in steadfast solidarity,

King Harald." 

In addition to it, the messenger said "Wilhelm has withdrew some of his fleet to patrol the coast, my ladies. It will be dangerous to sail back home." And earlier that day, outriders had informed them that an infantry unit was marching south from Riverlord's Keep to push them away from their land. According to their report, they were at least six hundred foot and maybe one hundred horse.

Percilla, Luna, Ginarie and Cheshire gathered in the commander's tent around a sheepskin map of the River Lands. The enemy pressed them from the north and the south, and to the east their way was blocked by the Spine. They had to make a decision - Hundreds of miles away, King Harald's forces desperately needed their help.

One of the knights, Sir Brennan, asked the question that everyone was thinking: "What are we going to do, my ladies?"

   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
The red cross marks your position, blue arrows mark Wilhelm's forces. We'll use proper tokens for this, but I'm posting from work now so this is all I could put together. Thanks for your patience!
 
Flashkannon
((Hope you all don't mind if I speak for you - cribbed a lot of this from the ooc chat))

There were a few moments of silence around the table. Percilla leans over the table, studying the map.

"The northern force is 600, with the addition of the cavalry... if we fortify a township, we may be able to stand against them. Going north to fight them knowing what they have is a slight advantage over the unknown of the ships."

Luna pipes up, "If we're fortifying, I could turn the plants in the area to our aid!"

Percilla nods, as a soldier rushes into the tent, and hands the messenger a second message, which he reads, before clearing his throat.

"My deepest apologies, my lady, we did receive word on the southern force just now - they number about a hundred, on the boats."

Percilla shifts her gaze to the southern half of the map. "If they number only a hundred, then we should head south, catch them in or near a village."

"Mh, hold on." Ginarie swallows the last bite of the apple she'd been working on and points at the map, between the forces, measuring distance. "I was thinking, if we go that way, they'll have a lot of time - a few days, really - to fortify themselves in the port. Maybe they'll sink ships too, I don't know, but we'll really be pincered if the 600 catch us while we're driving them out. I'm thinking the only solid threat is the enemy cavalry - we've got horses, and so do they - so we hamstring them, and then go about our business. Get close, then run. People  always  chase when you run." She grins, wickedly.

Percilla considers, then addresses the messenger, her mind made up and resolve hardening her expression. "Pack up, we're moving north - get together men for a detachment to bait the enemy. We'll destroy the cavalry when they follow our detachment, then head for the mountains."

"Yes, my lady!" The messenger salutes, then beats a hasty retreat.

With just the four commanders left in the tent, Cheshire comments, "Sounds very good to me." with a nod, her blank eyes fixed on the map.

The plan settled, everyone moves to start their preparations. Ginarie puts a hand on Percilla's shoulder, and says, "So, I wanna go on that lure mission, if you don't mind." Ginarie lets her hand drop, and balances on her heels for a moment, adjusting her scarf with a smirk on her painted black lips. "I've got a feeling the upright knights here might want on a little guidance on the perfect time to retreat."

"Granted." Percilla replies, with only a slight roll of the eyes. "Does anyone else wish to accompany the diversionary force?"
samduke
Mounting her steed, riding out to the 300 knights as they assemble. Addressing them boldly. Work together as a solid unit and you will live to see the sun rise another day. break formation and not only may you die but you may cause others to also die. Look to your left and right that man is responsible for you and you for them.

Commanding Presence
When you make a Charisma (Intimidation) check, you can expend one superiority die and add the superiority die to the ability check.
 (1d20+2)[ 19 ]  +  (1d6)[ 1 ] 

We will march north and take the village and you will fortify it. We your leaders will go forth and draw out the enemy cavalry and draw them into the village where we expect you to kill every last one of them.

When done with her speech Percilla will wait for the other leaders before turning the knights north.
dangelo
The three hundred fall in formation quickly at the blow of the horn. Since this is a dangerous campaign in enemy territory, King Harald commanded that no camp followers or squires were to tag along, and so the knights look after themselves. They break camp with the discipline of soldiers and are ready to march at first light. Percilla and the other commanders find them organized in a column, thirty rows of ten knights each, dozens of them flying banners with a golden crown over blue-and-silver.


 
 Originally Posted by Percilla 
 "Work together as a solid unit and you will live to see the sun rise another day. break formation and not only may you die but you may cause others to also die. Look to your left and right that man is responsible for you and you for them." 
 

They bang their swords against their shields in response and exchange cries of encouragement between themselves.  "We fight as one!"  One of them bellows.  "King Harald!"  Goes another, and then  "Death to Usurper!" , and  "We ride home! We ride home!" . Some of them cry out the names of their own Houses, or the castle where they serve, displayed on the colors of their individual shields.

They wait patiently until you command them to march, then they will move steadily in a gentle trot.

Exploring the mountains:
 
 Spoiler 
Once you reach a mountain hex, you may roll Survival to being your search for a way to go through them with 300 mounted knights. A success will tell you if the passage is north or south of you. A failure will tell you nothing. You can only explore each hex once, and it doesn't cost you any time to do it, you just analyze the terrain as you travel.
 
Flashkannon
Ginarie shades her eyes with a hand. "Ah, men in uniform, chanting in formation. Even under the light of the sun, it's a sight to see." She states to no-one in particular.

"Alright, Commander Percilla, ready when you are. I'll happily travel by day or night, I don't think it'll make much of a difference for this mission."
Lioslaith
Standing just outside the tent flap, the tall Eladrin paladin known as Galinmorn nods as the others exit.  He follows behind them as they prepare to depart.    "Our course is set then?"  
dangelo
Two days go by, the Spine growing higher and higher in the horizon as you near them. The terrain grows tougher, and the column now has to go around rocky hills to advance.

Riding ahead of the column and up high hill, Ginarie observes the terrain and concludes that the mountains can probably be crossed in this region, but a few leagues to the south.

On the night of the second day, your outriders bring you gruffy looking dwarf mounted on a huge aurochs. He wears mismatched armor and carries battle scars all over his body.

 "I am Durin "Ironcloak", of Clan Merdûk." He introduces himself without any courtesies. "Our leader, Gizmur, wants me to inform you that these mountains are our territory, and you are not to enter. We care little about squabbles of men, so long as you keep your battles away from our rocks."

"He sends this as an offering." He holds out a dwarven battle-axe, beautifully forged and decorated with thick emeralds. Magic is palpable within the weapon. "A gift, along with the warning."

He waits patiently for your reply.
Flashkannon
Ginarie regards the axe with some interest, but she's not capable of wielding it, so her attention wanes quickly. She sets her eyes on the horizon, squinting in the bright sunlight.

"You and Galinmorn are going to fight for the axe now, right Lady Percilla? Don't worry, I won't take sides." She whispers to Percilla, her scarf up over her mouth to prevent lipreading. "More to the point, we have to just... give the army the slip and head north? It'll be hard foraging in fields we burned, though."
samduke
(Presumed the dwarf is still around)
Master Dwarf of Clan Merdûk. please bring word to your leader, Gizmur we wish no battle with your people.
But if we have need to cross these mountains we will do so in the least intrusive manners possible, a few leagues to the south of here.

Ginarie, I have no need of an axe, give it to Galinmorn and if he does not wish it send it back to Gizmur with Master Dwarf of Clan Merdûk.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn steps up and takes the axe reverently in hand, trying to get an impression if it's made more for the mantle or the battlefield comparing it to his own axe.    "The king nor his men wish to draw you and your's into a battle, but we have been called back to the capital and need to get there with some expediency.  We only wish to cross these mountains, not wage war in them."  
Flashkannon
"Well don't go tellin' them, what do they need to know?" Ginarie hisses, having handed off the axe. "They've seen our numbers - they clearly think they can outlast, outnumber, and/or outfight us, so they're imposing their will on us. They've got the defensive emplacements, we don't have the full king's army behind us right now, since civil war and all that. So long as our enemies don't get through either, that's fine enough."
Lioslaith
  ”Perhaps a mission of dire import conveyed from the king might help to convince them we have a legitimate reason to need to cross over the mountains instead of wasting days going around?”  
Flashkannon
"See, the best way around the mountains for us is just going north, and, like, we're going that way already."
dangelo
Durin reflects on the matter. "Your Lord Wilhem has requested that we set up a trap for your army in the pass. Our chief refused his request, wishing to remain neutral in your squabble."

"If we let you pass and still your King Harald loses the war, the mountain clans will be in a terrible position. Wilhelm will wage war against us, and our merchants will not be welcome in the River Lands anymore. Unless you can guarantee our safety, we won't join one side nor the other."

"The Narrow Path is too dangerous at this time of the year, anyway. It is wyvern's mating season. Even the mountain clans avoid it if we can."
Lioslaith
  ”If Harald loses because we were delayed by the stubbornness of the dwarven clans do you think Wilhelm will be satisfied with simply letting you be?  Either one can cut off trade now without having to venture into the mountains.

Also, the wyverns are looking for things that smell like wyverns, the males likely aren’t even eating much this time of year. Too busy chasing tail, as it were.

It is good to hear you refused his request and I would point out the Harold has made no such approach to you or your kin.

Let us pass, we do not hold any responsibility to you or yours for our safety. That is for us to procure.”  
samduke
No my fellow leaders we shall respect the dwarves request and remain out of the mountains, we will go north and skirt around the infantry
Lioslaith
  ”Bah.”   Galinmorn puts on a sour look as he resigns himself to the others wishes.   “I still say taking our chances with the hole diggers is better than possibly running into Wilhelms forces and possibly running low on food.”  . He nods to the dwarf and takes his leave, heading down the road to reroute the troops.
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 [B][COLOR="#000080"]Also, the wyverns are looking for things that smell like wyverns, the males likely aren’t even eating much this time of year. Too busy chasing tail, as it were. 
 

" Har!  Good luck with that, sir. Them lizards become more protective of their territory during mating season. You'd be wise to fear them. If we could face them, believe me, we would have. Would make our lives much easier if we could just ignore them, or even just slay them, for that matter."
Lioslaith
  "Mayhaps when we win this war, we can come back and solve your problem for you."  

Once he is away from the dwarf Galinmorn will cast speak with animals and see if he can get a butler or some other common bird that follows armies to keep tabs on the rival group. And ask it to report back should anything happen like a change in direction towards us, etc.
dangelo
Harald's Three Hundred wound their way through the foothills of the Spine when Golinmorth approached a pair of mountain falcons, a kind of bird of prey who mates for life. With the wyverns agitated, a lot of them had been hunting in the foothills rather than the peaks.

 "They've come to this side of the mountains. They wear blue. Yes, they wear blue indeed, they wear blue."  What to many would have sounded like a simple raptor's call, to Golinmorth took the form of clearly spoken words:  "On the other side, nothing. No men, no colors. They've all come here." 
Lioslaith
  "Dwarven wishes be damned, we need to cross these mountains.  There are no troops on the other side.  
Flashkannon
"Neat bird trick, never seen a hawk lookd determined. Maybe we can follow the river? I don't see the point, though. They're all concentrated on this side? Good. That means when we crest the mountain ridge, there won't be a squad waiting to ambush us. As long as the infantry here are eating our dust, we can make it to the capital unopposed."
dangelo
Camp Report, day two
Twentieth Day of Summer

 Harald's 300 horse:  [NW] [N] [N] [NE]
 Wilhem's 600 foot:  [S] [S]
 Wilhem's 50 horse:  [SW] [S] [S] [S]
 Wilhem's 100 foot:  [N] [NW] [N] [NW]
 
 Spoiler: Day 2 (tall map) 
   
 image url code 
 

Morale is high
Food is plentiful (20 days worth of rations and plunder)
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Camp Report, day two
Morale is high
Food is plentiful (20 days worth of rations and plunder) 
 

Ginarie partakes in a few more apples from the stock, and gazes out, down the river.

"They're working so hard to get south and catch us, but we're already much further north. I wonder, are they trying to meet up with the southern force? If so, they'll be way out of position when we reach the capital." She snickers at this thought.
samduke
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   "Dwarven wishes be damned, we need to cross these mountains.  There are no troops on the other side.   
 

I will not incur the wrath of the dwarves we may yet have need of them as an ally. No We march north and go around the long way. take a short rest here and then we march on we need to cover distance and tomorrow we will rest.
Lioslaith
  "You would risk the lives of 300 in order to not make some hole diggers mad?"  
Flashkannon
"Ugh, this extra marching sucks. Good thing we have fruit still, or I'd complain." Ginarie noshes on an apple, to mask her tiredness.
Lioslaith
  "We need to stop, give everyone a rest."  
dangelo
You feel hot under your armor. It's summer, and you ride under a glimmering sun for hours and hours. Sometimes a scarce grove or lone tree offers a friendly patch of shade, but most of the time you're marching over rugged rocky hills and under the unrelenting sun.

The knights show signs of weariness too, but hide them well behind their full helms. When it is finally time to make camp, the smell of sweat is stronger than in the past days, both from the horses and from the soldiers. Outriders report that enemy troops are changing course to give chase, but you've put a good distance between you and them already. Despite being saddle-sore, the knights drink to the successful maneuver.  "Hail King Harald! Hail the crown!"  they sing.  "We ride home! We ride home!" 

-

Camp Report, morning day three
Twenty-first day of Summer

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


Morale is high
Food is plentiful (19 days worth of rations and plunder)

-

Razed fields and abandoned villages spread over the land to the North and Northwest. To the East, the Spine blocks the way like a huge wall, stretching into the distance. The knights break camp and fall into formation, ready to march.
dangelo
The long march took its toll on your stamina, but it had great effect on morale. The knights believe Wilhelm's forces to be left behind for good, and any additional troops he could send their way will have to detach from his main host besieging the capital. You are already saving King Harald, even from far away.

You make better time on the morning of the fourth day. It's a nice refreshment to leave those rocky hills behind, and after one hour or marching you reach the fords of River Whiteflow, half a mile wide, but shallow enough that your horses can wade through.

The three of you ride ahead of the column to scout the river. From a lone hill, a safe distance away from the fords, you glimpse a humanoid form walking up and down the waters of the Whiteflow. Its body is entirely composed of water, and it seems to be patrolling the fords like a guardian. If you wish to cross the river, you and your troops will undoubtedly run into the elemental creature. It hasn't spotted you yet.
Lioslaith
  "We will have to appease the creature if we are to cross.  Let us hope we are more successful than with the dwarves."  
samduke
A man like creature made from water , we should use caution
dangelo
A red deer finds its way to Galinmorn during one of his patrols, and pads along the way for a while. "The river is angry, master. Something angered the spirits who live there." It reports. "We fear to get close, even to drink. It all happened after the men in blue came."
Flashkannon
Ginarie listens to the deer give its report, though her understanding of it is limited. Not something they really teach in academies where she's from, but oh well.

"Sounds like the river spirit's in some sort of a tizzy. We could spend some time, try to talk our way past. That deer say why exactly?"
Lioslaith
Before he answers Galin will ask the deer if it knows what the blue soldiers did to piss off the river spirit?

  ”The deer was not specific but he said the river spirits are angry and have been ever since the men in blue came.”  
dangelo
The deer does not know because it happened during the night, but it leads Galin to a tiny cavern where a bunch of bats live.  "We saw it, we heard it, we sniff it, it was evil, master."  The bats flutter around chaotically.  Oy, there were lights by the river that night, when the men in blue crossed. And smell. Incense . Sulfur. Herbs. Blood."  Each of the bats say in turns.  "It was magic, master, foul it was." 
Lioslaith
  ”Do any of you know how to appease the river spirit?”  
dangelo
 "We never got close enough to ask, master. It is dangerous.  The bats reply.  "It's angry,"  they repeat.
Lioslaith
  ”Well let’s go see if we can appease it.”  
samduke
Very well I urge caution however , when we go to this spirit of water
Flashkannon
Ginarie crosses her arms, and purses her lips. "Well, we know where the ritual was conducted. We could clean up the site, maybe knock out whatever's keeping it here. It wasn't arcane stuff, so maybe this is divine or wild magic? If we can't end the ritual, I  guess  we could appeal to the spirit."
dangelo
As soon as any creature approaches the river, the elemental rises in its humanoid form (Large), and a water trident forms in its hand. The other hand raises in the universal sign of "stop."

"No one may pass," it says in Common, heavily accented with Aquan. "The river is closed."

A light blue, jelly-like core bubbles within the creature. There, a druidic seal of Transmutation seems to have been branded by fire.
Lioslaith
  ”Tell us how we can release you from your forced servitude?  We need to pass but would do you this kindness before we do.”  

Galinmorn will offer up a purified water spell along with his persuasion.
dangelo
The elemental receives the purified water and takes it to the bottom of the river without opening the waterskin. "You have my gratitude." Its large humanoid form bows, and the spirit seems to calm. "However, I cannot allow you to ford the river. I must protect it for three more days and three more nights, until the new moon rises black in the sky. Only then, and not a second earlier, will I be released from my duty. Then the river will flow normally again, and you will be free to pass."

You realize that the elemental is intimately connected to the river, a spirit that inhabits this specific region. This means that whoever commands it did not summon it from the Plane of Water, but captured and subdued it within the Material Plane itself. If you travel a few miles upstream or downstream, you might find another stretch of the river protected by a different elemental.
Lioslaith
  ”Sadly we need to cross sooner than that. The blue army will be here and try to kill us. Do you perhaps know who bound you to serve?  Perhaps we can persuade them to release you early?”  
dangelo
"Aye. The one who commands me bears the same blue insignia." The elemental explains. "If they attack you by the river, I am also to join their forces and crush your army."

It bows respectfully again. "You have my gratitude - However, I am bound to my master by powerful magic. It is beyond my will to allow you to pass. Should you attempt to ford my river, I shall face you in battle and crush you, or be destroyed in the attempt. And I advise you against throwing your horsemen at me, for I will drown them in the glimpse of an eye."
Lioslaith
  ”Do you know where the one who bound you is?”  
dangelo
It thinks for a moment. "Sometimes he comes from the south, and sometimes from the north. He moves fast around these River Lands. Not sure where he went... But he was here when the blue men crossed. He told me to allow them through and only them, no other man nor beast, nor elf nor dwarf, be them running or flying or swimming."
Lioslaith
  Our intention is to free you not fight you. I wonder if we could somehow make the caster think his spell has failed to draw him back here.  Would that be something you might be interested in helping with?”  
samduke
 Percilla 
We have no time to go hunting down the one who bound this spirit. From what it sounds like to me the one who did is in league with the enemy forces that we wish to evade.

Speaking to the elemental
We mean to cross this river, I and all these that follow. if you stand in our way we shall destroy you.

Percilla proceeds to enter the river
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   Our intention is to free you not fight you. I wonder if we could somehow make the caster think his spell has failed to draw him back here.  Would that be something you might be interested in helping with?”   
 

"My own interest matters not - But I will you, my master won't immediately know if I am destroyed. Sometimes he comes to check on me during the night."


 
 Originally Posted by samduke 
  Percilla 
We mean to cross this river, I and all these that follow. if you stand in our way we shall destroy you.

Percilla proceeds to enter the river 
 

"It will be an honor to fight you, knight." The elemental readies the trident in its watery hands. "I will take your soul as an offering to the river."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn shakes his head,   ”Perhaps give it a night to see if the Druid will come before engaging?”   He says to no one in particular as the two begin to fight.
Flashkannon
"Whoa, whoa, hold on! Boss leader, c'mere, I had an idea."

If Percilla listens, she'll whisper, "clearly the river spirit didn't consent to this, and it's bound by conditions - instead of trying to fight them, how about we just turn our uniforms blue? Then we can just pass right on through, easy as pie. Just for a bit, of course."
Lioslaith
  ”That …. Is a stellar idea!    
samduke
Turning before the river, very well, make camp we will try it your way
Flashkannon
"Now, see, it's not just about not fighting here, our enemies have seen the path we're taking, and they have time to set up barriers like this. If we fight our way through every time we'll lose men, and I'm happy to knock enemy heads, but where they shackled unwilling agents like this? Well, that's basically a free ride. Why fight fair, like they expect us to?"
dangelo
The spirit of the river remains silent. It assumes a guarding position at first sight of any unwanted presence, its watery trindent in hand.
Flashkannon
Making sure they are out of earshot and eyeshot of the spirit, Ginarie starts a little huddle. "Okay, so the land is all scorched around here, yeah? We can't get enough dye to make everyone look like Wilhem's men, but we can disguise them, kinda. I had hoped to save this reveal for a little later, but whatever. One of you hold this, and make sure its kept above the water. When unstoppered, it will produce a smoke cloud large enough to cover our whole army, as long as we keep close. Honestly, the men should have some practice being in its cloud, because I'll be using it in future battles. I'll disguise myself as an enemy officer with a special trick of mine, and we wade on through. Simple, yeah?"

With the assent of her comrades, and enough time for the cloud to billow to its fullest, Ginarie pulls up the hood on her cloak, and twirls in place in a small tornado of leaves. In her place stands a human woman wearing armor emblazoned with the heraldry of Wilhem. She puts on a voice, sounding just off enough from Ginarie to pass under the radar.

"Well, all of you under fog cover, follow me, keep moving in the same direction, and I'll not steer you wrong."

She strides up to the water spirit, and says, confidently, "I and my loyal soldiers of Wilhem will be fording this river." Leaving room for the water spirit to reply, she begins doing exactly that.
samduke
Taking the object from Ginarie holding it as instructed in one hand, the other her mounts reins. Waiting long enough for Ginarie to enable the disguise and talk to the elemental. Waiting only long enough for a response, then marching the 300 soldiers to the water. with expectations of a battle with the elemental, while hoping to avoid it.
dangelo
The three hundred show apprehension with the idea of marching blindly, but grow more confident after a few rounds of practice. Their noble steed remain steady as long as they can see the back of the horse in front of them, and thus the column moves along without major complications.

Hills open to reveal the half-mile stretch of the ford, and beyond, the way to save King Harald. The elemental rises in its humanoid form, facing the wandering cloud and the general in blue that Ginarie has become. If there be any malice or insight behind its watery eyes, the creature does not seem capable of showing it. He identifies uniform and bows the same way he does every time anyone approaches him.  "Say the name of our foe, and you shall pass." 
Flashkannon
"Our foe? None other than Harald, the usurper of Wilhem's righteous crown." Ginarie states with confidence. Surely they wouldn't institute a password system - their enemy was honorable knights, who would never stoop to trickery such as this. But Ginarie wasn't a knight, nor was she honorable.
dangelo
 "Aye, the false king Harald and his blind followers."  The spirit of the river says. It does nothing to keep the three hundred and four from fording the river, and then it adds: " I shall inform my master of your passage."  

It takes almost a whole hour to ford the river. It is half a mile wide, and your knights keep a low, steady pace within the fog cloud, but in the end you emerge successfully on the other side. The spirit vanishes, and the scorched fields lie ahead. A small hamlet with a water mill used to thrive by this river, before you kicked its inhabitants out of their homes and put their fields to the torch barely a week ago - but they will thrive again. Once King Harald is restored to his throne, he will protect this people like Wilhelm could never have done. Their fields will grow again, and peace will reign all over the realm.

During a ranging on the evening of the forth day, Ginarie spots a small camp in a scarce grove just twelve miles (2 hex) north of you. It features a single campfire and a tent made of animal hide. When Ginarie tries to figure out where this mysterious person could have come from, she finds no tracks at all. It's like nature refuses to keep track of their movements.

Ginarie brings this information back to Percilla and Galinmorn in the commander's tent. Outside, the three hundred break bread and drink wine under a waning moon. Some of them play flutes and handharps, and all of them sing loudly:  But heed the tale of Sir Gallant, who tripped upon his cloak! A knight so bold in battle, yet the camp’s own jester folk! 

Sir Brennan, the highest ranking of the three hundred and your trusted lieutenant, stands dutifully by the entrance of the commander's tent. "Morale is high, my lord and ladies. They feel especially brave after escaping the enemy  and  'defeating the spirit', as they have been calling it. But what now? Will it be safe to march towards Riverlord's Keep, even with Wilhelm off to the East?"
Lioslaith
  ”According to our ariel scouts, yes. It should be clear, but I do not know if they are keeping track of movements.”  
Flashkannon
"Heh, the spirit called him King Harald. And his blind followers!" Ginarie chuckles at the irony. "I don't doubt it was fooled for a moment, but we really got away with that! Still, it informed its master, and I can only assume the camp ahead was that of the master himself, likely a traitor druid of some variety who sided with Wilhem against his kin. Or their kin, if the spirit wasn't using master over mistress on purpose. Either way, I don't think I can overcome his magic, but I doubt he can overcome mine by that same token. We'll have to watch out for killzones in natural arenas, I can only imagine a traitor druid would be able to have the plants themselves trap us. Basically, it's ambush or be ambushed. Luckily for us, I know the magic he'd use for that, and he can't move an entire army the same way as he could himself - well, maybe a small squad, but not too many, less with horses."

"In any case, we should tell the men to be on the lookout for animals acting unnaturally, in case it's our enemy spying in disguise."
dangelo
Camp report. Day five, morning
Twenty third day of Summer

 
 Spoiler: tall map 
 
 


Morale is high
Food is plentiful (17 days worth of rations and plunder)

-

To the North-East, the Spine stretches a slithering arm of rocks and rubble. To the North-West, the Western Riverlands. You can't see the Moon Peaks from here, but you know they're dozens of miles to the North, and mark the northern boarder of Wilhem's territory. The Riverlord's Keep is nestled against these rocks, many leagues to the East.

-

In addition to those shown on your map, the River Lands are filled with smaller streams over which your mounts leap with ease. These brooks rush swiftly down from the crest of the Spine, spreading across the Eastern Riverlands like a fishing net cast over the land, and joining the main river in its way South.

At one of these streams, Galinmorn consults a school of fish, but finds them strangely skittish.  "No! No! You are not our master!"  the fish say in unison.  "Go back to where you came from!" 

Animals that run or fly continue to bring reports to Galinmorn, but those that swim remain disinterested in helping, or defensive of their territory. They sometimes refer to their own master before rushing away.
dangelo
You make good time on day five. The day after that, you finally reach the last peaks of the Spine, and manage to put it south of you. The troops grows even more confident with the possibility of reaching the capital without losing a single man, and there is bantering every night.

On the night of day six, however, almost as a bad omen, Ginarie spots the same strange druid camping alone, one hex south of your army. Again, he vanishes mysteriously before sunrise.


Morning of day seven:

"My lord and ladies, there is something I must tell you." Sir Brennan bows by the entrance of the commander's tent, his voice heavy with worry. Outside, the three hundred are steadfastly breaking camp to once again resume traveling. "It's about the horses, commanders, some of them are getting sick. Sir Edgar begs you to come look at them. He says the animals are feeling weak and losing pace, and some are sneezing along the way, and walking crooked besides. We have more horses than men, so the animals have already been relieved of their burden... But we're afraid whatever's been making them ill might spread."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn gets up and walks with Sir Brennan to see about the horses.    "I cannot help them today but I can speak with them and perhaps help them after 8 hours."  
Flashkannon
Earlier that night, on the news of the druid camp having been spotted, Ginarie mutters to herself, "oh yeah? Stalk us, will you?" She packs a few essentials, readies herself for a fight, and goes to her co-leaders.

"Galinmorn, Percilla, I'm going to go sneak up on that freaking druid. Pretend I'm still here, I'll slip away."

And with that, she exits the camp folding herself under the quieting cloak of nature's embrace to Pass without a Trace, and taking special care to avoid any animal's sightline, or where they see her, bribe them with a bit of food to say they didn't. She can't hold a conversation with an animal, but conveying simple ideas is something she doesn't even need magic for.
dangelo
It was no mere chance that Ginarie ascended to become King Harald's First Ranger. Behind the glory of a king lies the technical support of his vassals, and in war, scouts are often more valuable than knights.

Ginarie spots the camp by one of the many streams that crisscross this region. Smoke billows from the animal-hide tent; A musky, spicy scent wafts from whatever concoction the druid is brewing in his cauldron.

Hours pass and Ginarie remains hidden, still as a stone, watching and waiting. A gaunt, ragged man emerges from the tent and prays to the waning moon for a long while. Then, he sharpens his bone and horn weapons, smokes a bit of pipe-weed, and consults with the shoals of fish in the stream, the snails, the frogs, and all the creatures that crawl in the mud or swim in the water. Before dawn, he dismantles his tent and plunges into the stream, taking the form of an otter.

-----

Edit:

Galinmorn learns very little about the illness from the actual horses; These stallions are proud creatures, bred and trained for the battlefield, tall, lean and strong, and even aggressive towards stranger. They refuse to admit they're in pain, and insist that you  "Put my rider back on my saddle, for my honor a soldier." . Finally, they also reveal to the paladin that the symptoms started two days ago.

The symptoms are those of a parasite contracted by drinking contaminated water. This parasite needs one day to incubate, so it must be three days since the contamination. It doesn't look like it's spreading.
Flashkannon
And it is this moment, when Ginarie makes her move. She's studied with druids, she knows their ways. She's studied casters as well, and she knows their weakness - sight. But to exploit that, she first needs to cut off his escape. She's lucky the man chose to escape before dawn - the sun will not impede her, and even if he can see in the dark, her secret arts render her unseeable to all those who stalk the night - her prey.

Holding her breathing steady, she looses three arrows, aiming for the otter's back.

"How disappointing - a simple Invisibility spell was all it took for me to catch you off-guard. Wilhem will be displeased." She says, giving away her position in the darkness, then she channels the power within her, fading back into the natural surroundings, and relying on her magic and skill to mask her presence as she skitters a good 10 feet further than a normal set of legs could carry her, riding the adrenaline rush of her entry into this bloody contest.
dangelo
 Thud-Thud-Thud.  Three arrows find their way into the unnusually oversized otter, and the animal's squeak of pain turns into a human grunt, and a curse in Druidic. The third arrow still clings to his ribs as the gaunt old man rises from the water.

He looks around, his quarterstaff in hand, searching for the point of origin of the attack, but sees nothing.  "Coward!"  He yelps before attempting to shapeshift again.
Flashkannon
This time she stays silent, letting her bow do the talking. She looses two shots, only one of which connects. Meanwhile, she hides herself again, and creeps closer to the river - angling herself to get a good shot, should he try to flee in the water's rapids. It takes time to transform, afterall. The adrenaline has worn off, and now there's only the hunt - familiar territory for a druid, only now he's the prey.
dangelo
With yet another arrow in his flank, the druid quickly heals himself and bolts. His cloak billows, his thin arms stretch above his head, and he takes up to the skies in the form of an eagle. It moves 80 ft away from the general direction of the arrows.

Bonus Action: Cast Healing Word on himself
Action: Wild Shape into Giant Eagle
Movement: 80 ft away
Flashkannon
"Really, you call me a coward and then you run away?" Ginarie, seeing this attempt at a flight, is feeling more confident. She remains wary, staying out of fire's light, she fires twice more, pinning the eagle with two arrows before it falls to the ground.

"If I were you, I'd start talking. Perhaps you'd turn traitor a second time, run back to the druid circles? Or maybe you have an excuse of some sort."

She masks herself with her cloak, staying low to the ground and minimizing her footsteps. In the dark, she's practically just a shadow on the ground, her arts inuring herself to the gaze of all that see through the darkness.

Action: Attack (Extra Attack)
Bonus Action: Hide (Nature's Mantle)
Movement: 30 feet diagonally towards the druid, making sure not to step in water.
samduke
Percilla leads the army along out and away from the river
dangelo
The giant eagle takes wing and flies for its life, bloody arrows jutting from its body. While there's no way Ginarie could chase it down on horseback, she manages to find traces of the druid's blood leading East: He seems to be flying straight towards the northern section of the Spine. Maybe he's off to hide and lick his wounds, maybe he plans to intercept your army again. Once thing becomes clear: this is his territory, and for that he has the advantage.
Flashkannon
"Feh, hypocrite." Ginarie dismisses the druid-turned eagle, and makes back for camp.

"I've driven off the druid, and he's retreated back to the mountains. If we make haste before he can recover, it may take him at least a day to catch us. I'll be keeping a tighter perimeter from now on, but I've confirmed - at least at night, I'm a poor matchup for him, and he knows that." With a mild sense of pride, if not the fulfillment of having completed the hunt, she stalks off to a late night snack and her bedroll.
Lioslaith
Galinmorm scoffs at the poor match statement   ”Poor match, yet you single handedly drove him off. Should he return to average his pride we can take him.  Well done.”   After that he explains what is happening with the horses.
samduke
 Percilla 
 I do not wish to remain long for the enemy is far to close for my liking.  

Percilla will rest just long enough, then encourage her fellow leaders and troops to move along. heading northeast / east around the mountains
Flashkannon
"I mean, he's a poor matchup against me. I don't want to give away all my secrets, but there was no way he could have won that battle unless he got super lucky." Ginarie brags, obscuring the multiple ways in which that could have gone wrong. "He only managed to escape because I was prioritizing defense over offense. I'll adjust my strategy next time, and with a little luck not even his giant eagle form will be able to escape me."
Lioslaith
  "I'd wager most are a poor matchup with you, Ginarie. And I agree, Percilla,  let us make as much haste as possible.  The longer we delay the closer that army gets."  
Flashkannon
"Yeah, we should make haste, though that eagle form of his means he can catch up, his troops will not be so endowed. I'll grant him that - that form is lightning quick. You just can't keep up, even on horseback."
Ginarie muses, a finger to her painted black lips.

"We'll have to see how I fare with the sun above my head, but I'm confident I could drive him off as long as we're in my element. I'll take your praise, I really am that good, but that's just because I cheat." She winks, and goes to pack up to get moving. "Most people up here are suckers, you know?"
dangelo
It seemed like the gods of fate had blown winds of fortune upon the Three Hundred of King Harald. Percilla the goblinknight, as she was known, Galinmorn the wild champion, and Ginarie the First Ranger, wounded the River Lands with daring and nerve, pushing through the weariness that settled on their shoulders until the thick of Wilhem's forces were left behind.

The column marched around the northern end of the mountain range known as the Spine. The Riverlord's Keep would soon become visible in the horizon, reigning over the narrow strip of land and its long fingers that reached between the rocks, evergreen valleys where hundreds of streams ran southwards to the Inner Sea. Every day the three hundred leapt over dozens of those streams, some of them muddy, some of them rocky, all of them brimming with life. From schools of fish to frogs and snails and fat rodents that dashed from one bush to the other, and a few scattered wild boards roaming the plains or resting under the shadow of straggler trees. None of them turn hostile, but any attempts from Galinmorn to parley with them resulted in a variation of  "You are not my master!" 

Outriders kept the three commanders updated on the position of their enemies, who had turned back to chase them over the land. The reports were all positive: the distance and the rough terrain was bound to delay them, and their horses were tired from the trek. But on the morning of the th day, Sir Adrian rode into camp at full speed, bearing dire news.  "The ships, m'lords."  He leapt off his horse and ran into the commander's tent.  "They have boarded the ships." 

The exhausted knight drank avidly, and poured some water over his helmet. He stank of horse. "The six hundred have boarded the ships. With the wind blowing on their favor..."

Sir Brennan spat on the ground. "So they call him  Riverlord . Let them come -- We'll bleed the usurper's forces in the field."

The knights look at the three commanders, waiting on their insight on the situation.
Flashkannon
"Riverboats, huh? Plenty of ways to stop those, but we can't afford to slow down, or to have them come up behind us at the big battle with twice our numbers. Really, I wish we had one of those druids, that would make this all easier, we could block the river and the shore for a long ways. Though I wonder - if we capture the druid attacking us, maybe we can coerse him into casting for us? All we need to do is lure him out. A chaplenge, maybe? I don't know how honorable he is, but I suppose we could challenge him for dominance of the rivers?"

Ginarie ponders for a moment, biting into a fresh apple. "Those trout are always badmouthing you, right Galinmorn? Maybe you could use them to bring a message to the druid."
Lioslaith
  "I think our best course is to make all haste home.  Perhaps send a warning ahead of us."  
Flashkannon
"Well, it's effective, I suppose. Ah well, no second act duels today, not when there's a kingdom to save." Ginarie shrugs. She'd have to settle her score another day.

"Thinking on it, they can't really catch up with us, even with the wind on their side. We'll see if they have any tricks up their sleeves, but we've got a huge lead. Maybe we march a little extra one of these days, or if one of the cavalry units tries to overtake us and slow us down we show them a bad time." She ponders.

"Still, we should keep the druid in mind. Perhaps he has some water spell to cast, or maybe he'll get out in front of us. That eagle form could do it for sure, and doesn't have the disadvantage of needing to follow the river. Perhaps there'll be a peasant or animal militia between us and our destination?"
samduke
 Send a couple of scouts ahead of us, I want to know if anything is coming at us from the east, we should make haste, if the winds stay in the favor of those boats they can catch us easily.  Breaking camp and riding east looking for ways to travel faster without exhaustion.
Flashkannon
"That works. Riverboats really only help them if we're near a river. I'll get on the scouting."
dangelo
 Reports from scouts and outriders, summarized by Sir Brennan: 

"Commanders, a wicked wind blows from the west day and night, and Wilhelm's ships are moving much faster than we expected. Once they unite their forces, we are looking at six hundred foot and one hundred horse on this side of the river. We have never seen this kind of sailboat move so fast, especially upriver." The knight spat on the ground. "Damn these turncloak druids and their black magic."

 What Ginarie spotted: 

A tent made of animal hide placed by a stream, just one hex ahead of the army.

 New scene 
The three commanders gather in the evening of the eigth day, leaning over a map of the River Lands. Torches illuminate the interior of the commander's tent, a glorious pavillion with its own campfire and decorative banners.
 
 Spoiler 
 
 
samduke
 Percilla 
Upon receiving the news about the winds.. to the other commanders:  I do not like this at all, I say we pack up and get moving and keep moving for a day or two without rest , then goes and prepares the knights to move out

 Perception/Con Checks 
Flashkannon
"No, no, I think we stay the course. Well, the army stays the course. I, and if you want to come with me, you two, have a druid to hunt down. It's clear that unless I actually  kill  him, or at least break his fingers, he's not going to go away. So, I'll do what I did before, and this time, I think I know a good way to make him take a tumble. Not to mention, now that I've confirmed he can't see in the dark, I can be much more flexible about my distance."

"Well, either we do that, or we lure him out into the open somehow. He's a rogue piece we need to sweep off the board. Ugh, this is why it was nice having Clerics at my back back home; casters cancel eachother out. Of course, the clerics back home are high maintenance as all nine hells together, so there's some downsides, but better the devil you know than the devil you don't."  She sighs, and shrugs.  "This is going to play havoc with my rep, though. Like, fighting round two with a fool? That happens to other people."
samduke
Walking over to the Knight group leader.  Myself and the other commanders are going to go hunt and kill this druid, take the men and head east south east for two days then rest hopefully by then we will have caught up, other wise continue to march east.  Then walking back to the other commanders,  Well lets go end this druid  with that Percilla mounts up.
dangelo
In the dark of the night, Ginarie, Galinmorn and Percilla detached from the army and set out in their own stelthy mission. Sir Brennan was left in charge, and the troops remained disciplined even without direct supervision from the three commanders. Some of these knights were sons of Barons and Dukes, others simple nameless knights with a brave heard and a lance in their hands, but all of them were professional warriors with a lifelong of training in the arts of war.

The trio crossed a dozen streams on their way east, slight hills unfolding underfoot as their horses galloped over water and mud and grass. Fireflies lit the way under a moonless sky, and noises of frogs, crickets and owls filled the chilly night air around them. Riding fresh mounts (the Three Hundred of Harald had more horses than men, so scouts and outriders could leave their exhausted animals and take fresh ones), they made good time and spotted the druid's tent in less than twenty minutes.

[Stealth 27] From then on, Ginarie leads the trio through the shadows of some straggler trees, and manages to scout the enemy from a safe distance of 300 feet. Sweet-scented smoke billows from the chimney hole of the druid's tent. If you stand still in complete silence, it is possible to hear his voice in the distance, chanting in some ancient druidic language.

[Perception nat 20] From the back of her horse, hiding under the shadows of the trees, Percilla spots two large figures crawling in the mud, lying perfect still. They are bigger than a normal person, but being so far away and in a moonless night, it is impossible to make out their details. They are lying just 30 feet away from the tent, 300 fett away from the trio.
dangelo
 

In the dark of the night, Ginarie, Galinmorn and Percilla detached from the army and set out in their own stelthy mission. Sir Brennan was left in charge, and the troops remained disciplined even without direct supervision from the three commanders. Some of these knights were sons of Barons and Dukes, others simple nameless knights with a brave heard and a lance in their hands, but all of them were professional warriors with a lifelong of training in the arts of war.

The trio crossed a dozen streams on their way east, slight hills unfolding underfoot as their horses galloped over water and mud and grass. Fireflies lit the way under a moonless sky, and noises of frogs, crickets and owls filled the chilly night air around them.

Riding fresh mounts (the Three Hundred of Harald had more horses than men, so scouts and outriders could leave their exhausted animals and take fresh ones), they made good time and spotted the druid's tent in less than twenty minutes.

[Stealth 27] From then on, Ginarie leads the trio through the shadows of some straggler trees, and manages to scout the enemy from a safe distance of 300 feet. Sweet-scented smoke billows from the chimney hole of the druid's tent. If you stand still in complete silence, it is possible to hear his voice in the distance, chanting in some ancient druidic language.

[Perception nat 20] From the back of her horse, hiding under the shadows of the trees, Percilla spots two large figures crawling in the mud, lying perfect still. They are bigger than a normal person, but being so far away and in a moonless night, it is impossible to make out their details. They are lying just 30 feet away from the tent, 300 fett away from the trio.
Flashkannon
 Other figures, stalking the same prey? This could be trouble. Or worse, the wrong target. Even if they can't be clearly seen at this distance, perhaps there's something of theirs that can be scented, beyond the druid's dinner. She sniffs the night air, and primes her pointy ears, daring them to make some kind of noise to identify themselves. 
dangelo
[Perception 18] The silhouettes are completely still, hidden in the tall grass and caked in mud in order to blend in with the environment. These are sentinels in camouflage, and they have their backs to the camp and are facing outwards.
Flashkannon
 Aha! Their identities revealed. Ginarie smiles a hungry smile. The druid must have thought - with sentries, he'd be safe. With other eyes to watch his back, he'd have some safety from an ambush. Unfortunately, none of these things are true. It seems that, in the night, the man did not get a good read on his adversary - with the same magic he uses to cover his tracks, Ginarie will subvert his sentries, moving where they are not and sticking to the shadows. Let the sentries come - if the druid falls, this night will remain productive. She guides the group closer, carefully keeping the sightlines of the sentinels in mind. It would be nice to take them out, but eyes must remain on the prize. 
samduke
Pointing out the two figures laying near the druids tent, then motioning towards the chimney in a downwards motion. drawing her blade
hand motions are to depict somewhat of a diving motion indicating going trough that chimney. as well as pincering around behind the guards but into the sides or front of the tent.

Percilla is "Jumping" down the chimney, then going straight for the druid without hesitation.
Flashkannon
 Ginarie motions left, and motions Galinmorn to go right. This was her element. It'd be better if the sentries were standing, but she has a contingency for people playing hard-to-shoot. Ginarie draws her rapier from its sheathe, and after encouraging Galinmorn to charge on the right sentry, she selects the left for herself, her horse barely making any sound as it gallops over to the man. She approaches the sentry, hopping off her horse. At the last moment, she casts Hunter's Mark, and lays into the man, stabbing him in his prone position thrice. 
Lioslaith
As the fighting breaks out, Galinmorn takes his cue and attack his designated target. As soon as he is in range he casts Hunter’s Mark on his troll then as he closes he takes a couple swings with his sword…
dangelo
Chaos breaks out in the druid's camp. Trolls were hardly known for being sneaky, but these sentinels beared a green mark on their foreheads, a special brand that forced them to obey the commands of their master. The were hungry and tired, but would remain vigilant until dawn broke. When Ginarie and Galinmorn take them by surprise, it is almost with relief that the giant creatures receive their blows. They had been hoping for a fight to happen ever since the druid summoned them to protect his camp, after Ginarie almost took him down in a surprise attack.

Ginarie deals 68 damage to Troll 1
Galin deals 61 damage to Troll 2

Both creatures are bloodied (less than half their hitpoints).

Inside the tent, Percilla drops from the open chimney like a meteor and brings down her blade on the druid with all the impact of her fall. The ragged man is bloodied by her first two attacks, and would have been able give combat, but the third and the fourth hack of Percilla's sword left him too wounded to fight. The druid went to the ground and tried to crawl away from Percilla, defeated. (0 HP)

Outside, the trolls cry to each other:  "Save master!" 

End of the first round (surprise round)

 Round two: Ginarie, Percilla, Galinmorn 
Flashkannon
"Save him? You're mistaken. It's yourselves you'll need to save, now that it's three on two."  As her opponent turns from her, she lays into it twice more with her rapier, readying in her off hand her bow - she suspects she'll need it soon, as her enemies run into the light of the fire, where she dares not tread. 
Lioslaith
As the troll stands confused, torn between being compelled to save its master and defending itself.  The brief hesitation gives Galinmorn another chance to slice at it again.
samduke
 Percilla 

Moving in for the kill, striking with her blade showing no mercy
dangelo
The druid gasps for air, but only blood comes out of his mouth. The green mark on the trolls' foreheads disappear, and the giants throw their weapons on the ground. Being badly wounded and free from their master's rule, they try to bargain for their life.

"Us trolls... Us  free  trolls! Us hunt and kill, but only for us." The point at the druid. "Master do magic to us. Let trolls go, and trolls will stay clear of your path! Troll can tell other trolls to stay clear too! Master has friends, master friends do magic too. Master friends have more trolls."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn lowers his blade,   "Do you know where the masters friends are?"  
dangelo
The troll looks at the River Lands around them. "All around. In the water. They are half beast, half peoples. And cowards."
Lioslaith
  "If we were to try and free as many of your brethren as we come across would you agree to try and slow the ones who pursue us?  They are the ones who wear the blue colors."  
dangelo
The trolls exchange a wary look. They aren't used to pacts and alliances like this, but having seen how deadly this trio can be, they are quick to accept. "Yes, us see blue soldiers. Blue soldiers come talk to master sometimes. But we never see blue army. Blue army far away."

Galinmorn's Insight roll:  (1d20)[ 10 ]  plus modifiers

Result: These trolls aren't lying, and will follow through with the pact. However, they are likely to break the pact and run away if they see the blue army coming near.
samduke
 Percilla  

Seeing that the trolls have surrendered, she loots the body of the druid and all of the contents of the tent, she then beheads the druid and mounts the head on a pike outside the tent.

 Come we must catch up to our force soon 
Flashkannon
"Hey, I'm all for going back, but I think that head's better served with us. Anyone got a sack? Just imagine the next druid confronting us and we just drop it at their feet - it'll be priceless!"

 She smiles, a little mercilessly.  "I bet they'll run in terror. Or,  or,  they'll add to the collection! We could just take the face, but that's a pain, and a little more on the 'atrocity that will motivate them for revenge' side."
Lioslaith
  "Let us have at least a modicum of respect for the dead.  We need to go an catch up to our army."    As he says this he turns one last time to the troll,   "Troll, do you have a name?  I am Galinmorn."  
dangelo
"Troll's name is Kruhg." Says one of them.
"Troll's name is also Kruhg." Says the other. "Kruhg gives his word, aye, you leave trolls alive so trolls can fight more and kill more."

By this point, both trolls have already regenerated their wounds. They put their wooden clubs on their shoulders and set off across the River Lands, leaving a very noticeable trail through the tall grass. "Kruhgs fight more and kills more!" They cheered to one another.

--- Evening of the next day (9th day of the campaign) ---

The trio is woken up by Sir Brennan. "Commanders! A rider in the night! You must see to this at once." He says, startled. "One of our scouts has returned from the Riverlord's Keep with urgent news."

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


"So  this  is the secret behind Wilhem's numbers." Sir Brennan and the three commanders lean over the map. "The Riverlord's Keep is protected by two hundred horse on this side of the river and another hundred on the other side... except they are not human, my lord and lady commanders."

He points to the drawing of a castle that represents the Riverlord's Keep, the original seat of Lord Wilhelm. " Yrch. " The name brings disgust to the knight's comely face. "Orcs of the Lightning Tribe. They ride huge wargs, and can endure long marches. They live in the Veil Peaks to the south, and come to the River Lands during the summer to raid our villages and rob our merchants. Wilhem was supposed to be hunting them down and keeping the River Lands safe... What a wicked man. There is no honor left in him."
Lioslaith
Sighing as he looks over the map,   "It does not appear that we can out maneuver this new threat.  Ideas?"  
samduke
 Sir Brennan did our scout get spotted do you think? maybe if we go far enough south we can circumnavigate around them to the south, closer towards those mountains to the south and east of here just across the river.  

(we are the red horse, so from us the plan would be to move 2 hexs south, then south east diagonally 3 hexes, which puts us across the river, then make a b-line for that village that is on the river to the east south east direction.)
dangelo
"I don't think he was spotted, my lady." Brennan replies. "But if we are close enough to scout them, they are close enough to scout us. We can expect them to give combat the moment we march too close to the city."

(The yellow troops will move in and attack you if you come within range. They move 4 hexes, but can force a march too)

The knight traces the river with his index finger, indicating Percilla's plan. "The Usurper can send one hundred or one thousand men in our way, and we will gut them like dogs... But we must fight in only one front. Moving south would certainly help with that."
Flashkannon
"No, no. We got as far as we did because we could outmaneuver our foes. Here, we've got our backs to the wall - we're  already  too close to the city. They're on wargs, not horses, after all. I wouldn't want to bet on their running speed, and the endurance of the orcs means they could force march themselves down our throat before we know what's what."

 Ginarie pauses, thinking, hand covering her mouth.  "I'm thinking... we set in. If we can complete fortifications in the night, we can catch those orcs off-guard when they no doubt rush at us tomorrow."  She places the little fortification marker on the map  "With the fortifications, I'd give us better than even odds. This will give the guards a chance to catch up, of course, but once we smash that larger orc battalion down to size, we can break through with little resistance. Really, we just need to avoid being caught by the infantry, or off-guard by the larger orc battalion, and we're set. You know, barring that underhanded usurper having more hands up his sleeve. Still, it'd be really funny if he hears about this and sends some of his frontline troops to intercept us."

"We just need to make sure the orcs attack. They're typically raiders - perhaps we send a defaced flag of theirs? If they know the common tongue, I have some things that will really burn them. You know, imply that only cowards would hide behind walls made by man, and that they're mere slaves to the whim of a mere human. Of course, by then we'll have walls of our own. I can practically picture their anguished faces! Hahaha, I'd say- oops! No, I don't want to squander my material without an audience."
Lioslaith
  "Would we not be better served by just avoiding them altogether?"  
Flashkannon
"Eh, looks like I'm outvoted."  Ginarie shrugs, and snags the fortification marker from the map.  "We'll do that, then. With any luck, they won't be able to force march us, or we could be in a sticky situation really quick."
dangelo
After several days marching east, the Three Hundred of Harald make a sharp turn south and avoid the Lightning Tribe at the Riverlord's Keep. Over the next day, their surroundings change into a more wooded version of the River Lands, with more straggler trees and scarce groves here and there, and faster, winding streams running south to the ocean. Less muddy and more rocky, the way south leads to the Veil Peaks, homeland of the Lightning Tribe orcs, and further on to the Druids' Valley. Nine days ago, had you decided to face the Wyverns and venture into the Dwarven Pass, you would have emerged in the heart of this valley, nested between The Spine and the Veil Peaks, and would have ventured north until this very spot.

In the ninth day, after 8 hours of travel, Ginarie goes on a ranging and finds that the enemy is not stopping for the day just yet. Under a fanfare of wardrums and blowing horns, two hundred face-painted mean-looking warg-riding orcs of the Lightning Tribe wound their way through the riverlands. Their mounts, Ginarie notes, are fed fresh meat every day, even though these scarce groves don't have enough game to feed such a large army. They are feeding on Lord Wilhem's resources, instead of pillaging for them as they usually did.

The three hundred only stop to water their horses and munch on their rations, facing two more hours of marching with brave hearts and high spirits. Towards the end of the second hour, after wading through a river thousands of feet wide, the commanders spot the enemy "cavalry" far away in the horizon, over three miles away across a vast sea of grass. As the Veil Peaks draw near, more rocky hills decorate your surroundings, and one hilltop in particular seems like it would make a fine spot to place your forces.

Whichever side manages to secure the Elephant Hill will be able to assault the other from a better position. With that in mind, both the orc leaders and the three commanders spring ahead of their forces.

Preparing for combat:
 
 Spoiler 
 

Please pick any square along the bottom row to start at Round 1. Since you're all benefitting from Galin's Aura, Percilla and Ginarie must be placed within 10 ft of him. Enemy champions will start on the top row, so you can still enter Stealth if you wish.

Each round you are  not  hidden, you can make a free Perception check to notice something about the enemies (noise of armor, traces of magic, etc). You may roll Investigation or Arcana against a lower DC, for a more specific result.

You don't have access to your horses in this battle. They will be waiting for you outside the battlemap if you wish to flee. Horses move faster than wargs, so you can safely run away if you wish, giving up Elephant Hill.
 
dangelo
 
 Each colored line is a 10 foot climb. 
Athletics or Acrobatics DC 15 to climb, and then you must spend 20 feet of movement to climb it since Climbing is considered difficult terrain. If you fail the check you can't climb that round, unless you spend your Action to try again.

Voluntarily leaping down 10 feet won't cause any fall damage.

You may use a High Jump to boost your climb (3 + Strength modifier feet). You may also use Dexterity in place of Strength to calculate your jumping distance.

Altitude
Yellow: 10 ft
Orange: 20 ft
Red: 30 ft
Pink: 40 ft
Purple: 50 ft

-------------

 Round one, no one is surprised. 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie motions silently that she plans to go around the left for a sneak attack. She shades her eyes from the sun, blazing as it is above their hilltop scramble. That communicated, she whispers the words to a familiar spell, Pass without Trace, and cloaks herself with her Mantle, and presses forwards, over the small incline and up the first cliff. As she begins the climb her handhold crumbles, and after catching herself she circles left to find somewhere else to climb, muttering quietly about the sun in her eyes. 

NW 10ft, then W 20ft.
samduke
 Percillia 
motioning up at what she thinks is the leader drawing her blade and shield, sneaking straight up the hill towards what looks like stone stairs
dangelo
War drums and blowing horns sound in the distance. It will be several minutes until both armies arrive. Champions of both sides will have to fight on their own to conquer the Elephant Hill and guarantee a tactical advantage in the upcoming skirmish.

Round 1: Percilla climbs over the first barrier. Galin and Ginarie move west, circling around the hill instead. None of you can see the enemy, but they are  not  Hiding.

Orc leader #1 casts  Flight  and moves up to the top of the hill.
Orc leader #2 fails to climb but succeeds the second time (9 and 26, rolled on discord)

Map:
 
 Spoiler 
 

Vertical movement explanation:
 
 Spoiler 
 
 

 

 Round two: Percilla, Ginarie and Galin are up 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie finds her handholds, and scampers up the cliff just in time to see an orc soar upwards, towards the top of the cliff. She pauses for a moment, thinking. She adjusts, mentally, the path she had planned to take and the spot she had intended to lay her ambush. She'll delay opening her bottle a few more seconds. Then, she scrambles up another cliff, and positions herself so that those atop the cliff cannot see her easily. 

Up 20 ft, N 10ft, Dash, N 5 feet, Up 20ft, N 5ft.
samduke
Percilla will continue straight up the hill towards the stone stairs
dangelo
[Round 2]

Percilla and Galinmorn climb the slope with their sheer strength, while Ginarie runs up a big rock and somersaults up to the next elevation.

Currently you can see neither of the enemy champions, and they can't see you. Both sides have full cover because the elevation is blocking everyone's vision.

Orc leader #1:

 "Behold the might of the Lightning Tribe!"  His voice boomed from the hilltop.  "The Elephant is ours! The earth trembles beneath our feet! Who dares challenge us? Let them come! We shall show them the true power of the Lightning!” 

This orc is tall and strong, with deep green skin covered in tribal tattoos. His long, black hair is decorated with feathers and bones, his yellow eyes shine with power. He wears furs and leather, and carries a twisted staff with a glowing crystal on top. A necklace of teeth jingles around his neck, and his eyes are covered by a bloody strip of cloth. He doesn't seem to have any trouble seeing, though.

 Orc Shaman  (leader #1)
Bonus Action: Summon Skeleton.
Action: Cast  Bless  on himself, on Orc leader #2 and on the skeleton he just summoned.

Orc leader #2 manages to climb this round (athletics 27) and Dashes. 30 ft up.

----


 Round 3. Percilla, Ginarie and Galinmorn are up. 

Updated map
 
 Spoiler 
 
 
Flashkannon
 The handholds crumble at Ginarie's touch a second time. She curses under her breath, trusting her magic to cover her, and switches to a more radical plan. She dismounts the pile of rocks she was using to climb the next tier, and motions to her two co-commanders. They're going dark, and she'll whistle them towards their foes. Otherwise, as she was leaving the shadow of the rock for the bright light of the sun, she'd be all but useless. As she gets to a fairly central spot, her pointy ears alert her to a rattling of bones, and the grandiose speech of the orc currently straddling the Elephant. He'd choke on those words soon enough, whether from a few of her arrows or the blades of Galinmorn and Percilla. Still, how kind of him to give her an approximate read of his position. Her echolocation would do the rest. She raises the stopper on the smoking bottle at her hip, and the sun is blotted out, leaving only darkness. 

E 10ft NE 5ft E 10ft NE 5ft E 5ft, action to open the bottle.
samduke
round 3 Percilla dashes 60ft towards the top gaining her bearings on the orc leaders, determining the shaman to be the bigger threat she starts towards the shaman

Action Surge-&gt; see ooc for combat
dangelo
[Round 3]

Galin advances, Percilla dashes at the shaman, and Ginarie opens her eversmoking bottle.

 Orc Shaman  (leader #1)
Bonus Action: Summon Skeleton
Action: Dodge
Move to V-23

Both skeletons attack Percilla with Disadvantage (can't see target)

 Skeleton #1 
 (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  +  (1d4)[ 4 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 16 ]  +  (1d4)[ 3 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 9 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 22 ]  +  (1d4)[ 3 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  +  (1d4)[ 2 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 5 ]  slashing damage

 Skeleton #2 
 (1d20+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 10 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 10 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 11 ]  slashing damage

 Orc Champion  (leader #2)
A towering orc with rugged green skin and a mane of black hair. He’s heavily scarred, muscular, and wields a massive, jagged battle axe besides dozens of javelins on his back.

Action: Throw 2 Javelins at Percilla with Disadvantage (can't see target)
 (1d20+7)[ 25 ]  +  (1d4)[ 1 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  +  (1d4)[ 4 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 5 ]  piercing damage
 (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  +  (1d4)[ 2 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  +  (1d4)[ 4 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 8 ]  piercing damage

Updated map
 
 Spoiler 
 
 


----

 [Round 4] Percilla, Ginarie and Galinmorn are up 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie's ears pick up instabilities in the rock as she hears the clash of Percilla and the orcs in the smoke, so she decides to quietly ascend the stairs. She's almost a ghost in the fog, shrouded from all senses as she is, protected by the very forces of nature itself, especially in this shadowy cloud. It's sense vs sense here, and she's the one with the pointy ears. She strides, light on her feet and silent towards the highest point, where she can start to hear the clash of steel and the heaving of exerted breaths, quickened for the rush of battle. She draws her rapier, and pads close to the Shaman and his ally, holding her breath and keeping still. They can't see her in this fog, but even she'd have trouble finding someone as quiet as herself. 

NE 15ft, N 20ft, NE 15ft, E 5ft.
samduke
 Percilla Round 4 

Swinging at the shaman brutally attempting to knock the shaman prone with her long arms she is able to avoid most of the melee blows that the shaman swings at her.
dangelo
[Round 4]

Galinmorn casts Shield of Faith, Percilla closes in on the Shaman, and Ginarie advances in complete stealth.

 Orc Shaman  
Bonus Action: Summon Skeleton 3
Action: Cast Burning Hands on Percilla  (3d6)[ 6 ]  fire damage, dex for half  (1d20)[ 14 ]  plus modifiers
Move to Z-25

 Skeleton 1  attacks Percilla and moves to W-22 (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 1 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 7 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 12 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 4 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 4 ]  slashing damage

 Skeleton 2  Dashes to X-22

 Skeleton 3  attacks Percilla and moves to Y-22 (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 4 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 10 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 18 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]  slashing damage

 Orc Champion 
Action: Attack Percilla 3 times (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 5 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+7)[ 13 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 16 ]  slashing damage
 (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 2 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 12 ]  slashing damage
Move to W-23

Total 8 damage to Percilla (3 fire, 5 slashing)

Map
 
 Spoiler 
 
 

----

 [Round 5] Percilla, Ginarie and Galinmorn are up 
Flashkannon
 The shaman is hovering where she cannot precisely target him on sound and smell alonr, but the Chieftain is right where she wants him. Ginarie sheathes her rapier, moves 10 feet to the West, mutters a quick incantation, and looses three quick shots in the gap between Percilla and the skeletons, all of which find their target, egged on by the Hunter's Mark she placed on the man. Without stealth to hide her for the moment, Ginarie decides to back up 10 feet to the South West, and then a further 5 feet South. She'd be listening and waiting for her next opportunity. 
samduke
Percilla taking a blow and getting slightly singed watch's as the shaman attempts to move away from her reach, not one to let an enemy escape she moves after the shaman brining the shaman back within her mighty reach striking at the shaman attempting to knock the shaman prone
dangelo
[Round 5]

Galin casts Moonbeam, Ginarie shoots the shaman thrice and retreats into the smoke, and Percilla climbs her way around the peak of the Elephant Hill.

44 damage on the shaman.

Seeing that Percilla had managed to break into their formation, the enemies immediately change strategies. The shaman retreats, the champion attacks Percilla and all skeletons close in on Ginarie.

 Orc Shaman 
10 damage from Moonbeam
Bonus Action: Summon Skeleton 4
Action: Disengage
Move around Percilla and jumping off the cliff to C-25.
Reaction: Feather Fall.

 Skeleton #1  suffers 15 damage from Moonbeam - Destroyed!

 Skeleton #2  suffers 10 damage from Moonbeam, then attacks Ginarie (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 22 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 25 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 9 ]  (hit)

 Skeleton #3  attacks Ginarie (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 25 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 25 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 5 ]  (crit)
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 25 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 7 ]  (hit)

 Skeleton #4  attacks Ginarie (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 11 ]  (hit)
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 9 ] 
 Orc Champion 
Action: Attack Ginarie 3 times (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 7 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 6 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 6 ] 



Map
 
 Spoiler 
 
 


----

 [Round 6] 
Flashkannon
 They're locating her despite the smoke... Ginarie adjusts her mentality as she adjusts her clothes to the white sections aren't overlapping with any wounds so she'llstill look relatively uninjured, if anyone were to see her later - time to switch from offense to defense. Those skeletons in particular need a touch she cannot provide. She whistles for Galinmorn. He should even the odds. Though, that chieftain was going to get his hash settled, even if it was going to take a few more arrows to do it. 
"Come on, big guy, you're doing worse than literal corpses. And you call yourself an orc? Pathetic."  Ginarie taunts the orc, and falls back quietly, fading back into the smoke. With any luck, they'll follow her back to Galinmorn's waiting blade. Certainly she can't just stand there and have that happen a second time. 

23 damage to the chieftain, bonus action hide for 11 (sadly), SW 15ft, S 10ft
samduke
Percilla watching her prey the Orc Shaman jumping off the cliff to C-25... takes a good run at it jumping off sword pointed right at the shaman intending to impale the shaman from above

Second Wind: bonus action to regain hit points equal to  (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 

Perception:  (1d20+5)[ 9 ] 

Athletics:  (1d20+8)[ 15 ] 
DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check to clear a low obstacle, if applicable

Strength:  (1d20+8)[ 10 ]  (30ft movement) 60ft movement if a dash is required to reach the shaman
Long Jum⁠p: over a number of feet up to your Strength score (20ft) if you move at least 10 feet on foot immediately before the jump, each foot you clear on the jump costs a foot of movement.

Athletics: Athletics: (1d20+8)[10] *see ooc
When you land in difficult terrain, you must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to land on your feet, if applicable

Athletics:  (1d20+8)[ 15 ]  to not take so much damage from the fall..

After falling onto the shaman, she strikes twice with vigor
dangelo
Galin moves his Moonbeam south and advances to cover for Ginarie. Ginarie deals 23 damage to the chieftain and retreats further. Percilla jumps after the Shaman (each take 8 damage) dealing 19 damage with her sword (total 50 damage dealt to the Shaman; Shaman is down to 0 HP)

The Sword of Vengeance impales the Shaman and thrusts into the dirt, spilling his blood everywhere... but the skeletons don't stop coming. A blackened magic skull rolls from the shaman's hands to the ground, an eerie red glow emanating from its mouth and eye sockets. The strike that impaled the Shaman also damaged the skull, making the magic artifact unstable. It shakes and jitters by itself, voices of the Other Side escaping through it in deathly whispers.

 Lair Action : Summon Skeleton 5

 Skeleton #2  attacks Galin (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 12 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 10 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 6 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 10 ] 
 Skeleton #3  attacks Galin (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 11 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 23 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 8 ] 
 Skeleton #4  attacks Galin (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 7 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 25 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]   hit 
 Skeleton #5  attacks Percilla
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 7 ]   hit 
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 10 ]   hit 
 Orc Champion 
Moves through the Moonbeam up to R-13
Con save  (1d20+8)[ 27 ]  for half of  (2d10)[ 5 ]  radiant

Action: Attack Ginarie 3 times (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+7)[ 19 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 8 ]   hit 
 (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 11 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 14 ]   hit 
 Action Surge: Attack Ginarie 3 times (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+7)[ 21 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 12 ]   hit 
 (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 15 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 6 ] 
 (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  for  (1d12+4)[ 13 ]  
Edit: Since Ginarie fell on this first Attack action, the chieftain won't spend his Action Surge this round. Saving it for later.

  "FOR THE LIGHTNING TRIBE!!!"  

Map
 
 Spoiler 
 
 


----

 Round 7 is up 
Lioslaith
Galin attack the 2 skeletons, hoping to take them down and at least reduce the sheer numbers against them.

 
 Spoiler: Attacks and Damage 

 (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  Attack Skelly 1
 (2d8+5)[ 10 ]  damage

If that takes down one then he will turn to the other, if not he will stay on one until it is down
 (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  Attack Skelly 2
 (2d8+5)[ 11 ]  damage

Most everything I have requires an action so possibly healing next round.
 
dangelo
Galin destroys two skeletons, Percilla finishes the Shaman and destroys the skull.

Upon being destroyed, the black skull releases a foul wave of necrotic energy, causing  (6d6)[ 23 ]  damage on both Percilla and Skeleton #5 (CON save for half, DC 15)
Percilla  (1d20+5)[ 11 ] 
Skeleton  (1d20+2)[ 20 ]  (takes 11 damage, still up with 2 hp)

The necrotic energy subsides. A will-o'-the-wisp materializes from the remainings of the skull.  "I am free..."  Its ghastly voice says. The spirit glows red and vanishes in thin air.

 Skeletons stop spawning. 
 Skeleton #4  attacks Galin (Disadvantage, can't see target)
 (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  or  (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  for  (1d8+3)[ 6 ] 
 Skeleton #5  attacks Percilla but misses

 Orc Champion  drops his greataxe on the ground, draws a one-handed axe and attempts to grapple Galinmorn, but fails 3 times.

 Action Surge!  3 more attempts. He manages to Grapple Galinmorn and drag the paladin 15 ft to the north, away from Ginarie. 2 attacks with the one-handed axe miss.

Galinmorn is Grappled
 
 Spoiler 
A grappled creature’s speed becomes 0, and it can’t benefit from any bonus to its speed.
The condition ends if the grappler is incapacitated (see the condition).
The condition also ends if an effect removes the grappled creature from the reach of the grappler or grappling effect, such as when a creature is hurled away by the thunderwave spell.

Escaping a Grapple: A grappled creature can use its action to escape. To do so, it must succeed on a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check contested by your Strength (Athletics) check.
 


----------


 Round 8 is up 
Lioslaith
Feeling himself being drug away from Ginarie, Galinmorn curses under his breath.    I'll never be able to find her in this damned smoke.    He focuses his attention on his attacker

 
 Spoiler: Att and Dam 

 (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 11 ] 
 (3d8)[ 12 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 11 ] 
 (3d8)[ 13 ] 
 
samduke
Hearing the sounds of battle above Percilla climbs part of the hill then heads back towards the stone stairs to climb the rest of the hill as fast as she can move
Lioslaith
As the cheiftan falls, Galin turns in the direction he thinks Ginarie is in.  Finding his path blocked by an unsure skeleton he sweeps his axe from low carry to high, the skeletons ribs popping as the axe rises through them.  He squints hard and manages to find Ginarie, kneeling down he Lays on hands to her.
Flashkannon
 Ginarie's eyes open, and she gets to her feet, then listens to the scene before saying,  "Ugh, that chief guy is dead, isn't he? I was going to insult his performance in bed. I hate wasting good material. Oh well. We're about done here, yeah? I can hear one set of rattling bones down near the bottom of the cliff, but that's it."
dangelo
The Elephant Hill is cleared! It will be just a matter of minutes until your army arrives to set up a line of cavalry at the base of the hill and a line of archers at the top. For now, however, you have to take care of Ginarie and loot the fallen enemies.

Orc Champion loot:
 
 Spoiler 
1x Greater Healing Potion (4d4+4)
2x Healing Potion (2d4+2)

 Trollblood Amulet  (requires attunement)
The wearer of this amulet regains 10 hit points at the start of their turn. If the wearer takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn't function for the rest of the encounter. Additionally, when the wearer takes acid or fire damage, the amulet has a 5% chance to break. This chance increases by 5% every time the wearer takes acid or fire damage.

(The chieftain was inside the smoke most of the time, you didn't see him regenerate)
 


Orc Shaman loot:
 
 Spoiler 
1x Scroll of Scorching Ray
1x Scroll of Fly
3x Scroll of Jump

 Totem of Spellcasting  (consummable)
This small totem is small enough to held in the palm of your hand. Upon activation, it increases your Spell Save DC by +2 for one round.
 
samduke
 Percilla 

Eventually makes it back to the top of the hill bruised and battered from combat. Upon seeing the rest of the commanders alive and well...  I hope that the other enemy commander was not to much to handle I ended their shaman that was summoning all of those skeletons. 

Then as loot is being gone through ..  If you guys do not mind I think I could make good use of that Trollblood Amulet , We should gather our forces and continue or move east as soon as we recover from our injuries  
dangelo
Warhorns sing in the distance. Within minutes, the Three Hundred of Harald reach the Elephant Hill. They are split into three blocks of one hundred each, ten rows and ten columns of heavy steel on huge stallions, lances shimmering gold under the afternoon sunlight, crimson banners flying proud.

When the worg-riding orcs of the Lightning Tribe appear in your line of sight, cresting the hills to the east, the Three Hundred blow on their warhorns and prepare for battle. You rain arrows on them, but they never break, charging uphill against an enemy that outnumbered them three to one. These are fierce, fearless warriors.

Finally, the impact comes and you fall on your enemies, lance against greataxe, hoove against tooth, steel against iron. Worgs leap and climb easily, but your knights stand much taller than worg-riders on the back of their warhorses, so the orcs find it difficult to advance past the point of their lances.

The orcs retreat, hoping to drag the fight to the bottom of the valley, but your knights don't fall for the trick; You retreat to the top of the hills, and rain arrows on them again. The Lightning Tribe charges again, holding their shields above their heads, but once again you push them back. A dozen orcs and the double of worgs are left dead in the battlefield when the orcs retreat for good.

You  celebrate the victory, but while the sun is already setting, this day is not over. An ever larger band of orcs is on their way here right now, so your knights spend the next hour placing bonfires and torches around the Elephant Hill. The sight of two hundred worg-riding orcs is much more intimidating than one hundred, but still your army drives them off.  "King Harald! King Harald!"  They cry.

The dead orcs are dragged into a pile and burned, and the knights celebrate around it.

--- Evening of the 10th day of the campaign, 28th day of Summer ----

 
 Spoiler: Map 
 
 


Morale is high
Food is plentiful (12 days worth of rations and plunder)
samduke
Allowing the troops to take a well earned rest. Percilla attunes to the amulet and in the morning rallies the troops and fellow commanders.

 We need to get moving and stay ahead of what is following us 
Flashkannon
"You'll get no argument from me. I'm not eager to abandon the high ground, but we're in a bit of a rush. And besides, we just decimated holdout troops. We'll see if their fury is enough to drive them all to their deaths. That would be fun, at least."

 She gives Galinmorn a lingering gaze. Surface elves and drow do not tend to get along, but she'd simply been placing that by the side as an act of 'loyalty' and 'trust', ideas she was still internalizing as applying to her. But he'd saved her life, after an unlucky confluence of circumstances allowed her opponents to lay her low. Something more to think about, that. 
Lioslaith
  ”Our resources run low, let us be off and try and get ahead of these pigs.”  . Galin pauses for a moment assessing the others.   ”Is everyone well enough to fight again?”  
Flashkannon
 Ginarie sighs.  "Good enough, but I'll be taking a more defensive tack, strategically, and I'll be sticking to my smoke cloud."

 No more embarassments. 
samduke
 We should get going 
dangelo
 
 Spoiler: Ambiance 

 
  
 
 


 

   Banner &amp; Blood

Act III  
  After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward, to come between the fires of the siege and the outer fields. Still they were unchallenged, and still Théoden gave no signal.... A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow of death. The horses were uneasy. But the king sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him.... They were too late! Too late was worse than never!.... 
(The Return of the King, 1955) 
 
  
The Three Hundred of Harald wound through the River Lands, leaving behind a trail of victories. The Usurper's forces gave chase with spears and torches, but the Three Hundred never waived. Sir Garth took an axe to the knee and would never walk straight again, but still he didn't give up the fight: The veteran knight had his brothers help him to his saddle, and night after night he charged and killed more orcs. Sir Roland took three arrows to the chest and although his plate armor kept them from killing him, he wouldn't be able to fight for the rest of the season. Others were exhausted, homesick, or simply feared for the safety of their king. Wilhem had sent 600 hundred of his foot and 200 of his horse to chase them down, so at the very least they had managed to thin his forces... But on the other hand, local druids, trolls, elemental spirits and hundreds of orcs from the Lightning Tribe had joined his ranks over the summer, so what more could the Usurper have up his sleeve?

On the 15th day of the campaign, the sun was already setting when Ginarie, Percilla and Galinmorn lead the column over a crested hilltop, unraveling a new landscape before their eyes. The sun glimmered silver on the surface of the sea, waves crashing against a rocky shore that stretched all the way from the southern end of the Veil Peaks and around the Inner Sea. This naturally protected bay was chosen by King Harald's ancestors, the kings of old, as the capital of their realm. Through the ages, his dinasty has sailed the Inner Sea and marched the countryside, where peasants and fishermen thrived, blessed with fertile, arable land, and mountains that protect them from neighboring kingdoms.

But now, the capital had lost all its grace. The sky was black with smoke. The once evergreen woods that surrounded the city had been burned to a crisp; Villages had been raided and sackd, and innocent folk had been killed. Unlike King Harald, who ordered his troops to spare civillians, the Usurper hired bandits and mercenaries to compensate his lack of loyal knights, who killed and sacked at will. Before the Three Hundred, the Crown Lands lay reduced to wasteland.

The capital had been built on top of a rock, overseeing the Inner Sea. Growing thick at the base of the rock, just outside the city walls, was a massive thicket of tents. Some were blue, belonging to the lords and knights who betrayed Harald and joined Wilhem's cause for personal gain. Others were leathery and adorned with tusks, where orcs of the Lightning Tribe drank and brawled.

---

The army makes camp for the night. Instead of gathering in the commander's pavillion, the three of you ride up to a nearby taller hill. From there, you can see the capital miles away, bathed by moonlight and by the orange glow of hundreds of cookfires that dotted Wilhem's camp.

The situation is worse then you expected. The Usurper's forces have breached the city walls and occupied the streets; Harald and what remained of his knights have retreated to the castle, but with so many reinforcements on Wilhem's side, they have been assaulting the castle walls almost every night. Soon the capital will fall. King Harald will be made a hostage, and Wilhem will sit the throne by force.

Watching the capital from a distance, mounted on your horses at the top of a hill, the three commanders discuss the next steps.

The capital is just one hour away on horseback.
Flashkannon
"Night is soon, I say we kill him. Wilhem. I say we assassinate him while he sleeps, and let his bannermen fight over who gets to lead his faction. We can commandeer a small boat - I'll cover it with my magic for a seamless insertion, we find out where he's sleeping, and we slaughter him.  He doesn't even know we're here, he won't be on guard."
J-H
      
   <span style="font-family: Century
Gothic">  Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus  
  
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "We should rescue the king first.  Two dead leaders just means more civil war, and they're set to take the castle tomorrow.  Who's to say Wilhelm's successors won't delay any conflict until they have a throne and treasury to fight over?  That's not something any of us wants.  Oaths unfulfilled, rewards not collected, people not safe."   Gnaeus, a stealthy infiltrator who'd joined up recently, offers his opinion.   "Wilhelm will want to be there to see the king himself, so you may get a shot at him anyway." 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by J-H 
  "We should rescue the king first.  Two dead leaders just means more civil war, and they're set to take the castle tomorrow.  Who's to say Wilhelm's successors won't delay any conflict until they have a throne and treasury to fight over?  That's not something any of us wants.  Oaths unfulfilled, rewards not collected, people not safe."   Gnaeus, a stealthy infiltrator who'd joined up recently, offers his opinion.   "Wilhelm will want to be there to see the king himself, so you may get a shot at him anyway."  
 

"Feh, rescue the king? And what would we do with the King, once we had him? Find another, better fortified castle to hold with only three hundred?"  Ginarie puts her hands on her hips, and leans over.  "By that point, the usurper will be actually sitting on the throne, and lords currently siding with the King will flip - Wilhem could even pretend Harald died in the fighting, and then we'd have to fight another war just to prove that he is who he says he is. Rescue the King? We need to make sure he keeps sitting on that throne, or we might as well quit here."

 She leans forwards a little more, and taps the map, as if to drive her point home. 
"We behead the snake, and while they're fumbling for the purse strings and promises to keep ahold of all of Wilhem's mercenaries and outriders, we behead the snake again, or poison their food supply, or burn their tents, or arm the peasants. It's not like the castle will fall tomorrow. Trust me, a succession crisis kills any alliance of convenience. I've been around enough to know. Nine hells, a succession crisis got us into thus mess to begin with! Without Wilhem that rebellion is dead in the water, and all we'll have to do afterwards is mop up rioters and looters, assuming the turncoat nobles don't turn coat again and clean up for us in the hopes of ingratiating themselves with the winner of the conflict."


 Ginarie sighs, and leans back, crossing her arms. 
"If you're not convinced the castle will hold, we can send a messenger to the castle, or investigate ourselves, it's easy enough."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
Rurik raises an eyebrow at Ginarie,   Ye want ta abandon tha king in his hour o' greatest need? Leave him ta tha wolves? I kinna do it. Let Wilhelm dash his men against tha castle walls an' we will go out an' meet him. But we kinna leave tha king's side.   The dwarf's frown deepens,   Me clan chose ta leave tha king, an' i stayed back ta do what's right.  
Lioslaith
Galinmorn speaks up finally   ”He does not have to take the castle, he has the city. All he need do is wait. Eventually he will starve the king out of his hole and then he will have him.    He looks around at the others as he pauses for a beat or two.    ”We may be able to get a small group of us inside, asses what is happening and from there plan how we defeat Wilhelm.   
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
  Aye, ye both might have a fair point, and takin' down Wilhelm mightn'be the best way to safeguard the king. But few are keen on a long siege, even usurpers. I worry they're thinkin' the same; sneakin' a bunch in to kill the king. Who then will be by his side?  
Flashkannon
"I dunno, his knights and royal guard? His attendants? If we snuck in and got him out of there, sure he might survive, but the riverlands are overrun, and the crownlands are burned. If Wilhem takes the castle, even if he doesn't kill the king, that's the same as a loss. And the king didn't hure me to lose, he hired me to win."
 Ginarie emphasizes this with a pointed finger. 
  Then, she thinks for a moments, and shakes her head.  "What say you to this - we split up. I take elf-man over there and we enact my plan, making sure the attack is at least uncoordinated. You two take a rowboat and sneak into the castle, and get your orders directly, and protect the king and all that. Or, if you don't think you can get in undetected, I can pull double duty with my spell to get in and out."
dangelo
Fifteen days ago
19th day of summer

"What now, Sire?" Asked the King's squire, a boy of fifteen and Harald's second cousin. "With part of our forces out in the field, shouldn't we retreat to the castle?"

Harald adjusted himself in the saddle. The old king and his squire watched the evergreen Crown Lands from the top of a rocky hill. "Worry not, child. My brother has already lost this war."

"How come, Sire? If it pleases Your Grace to explain."

The king pointed to the west, then to the east. "The Goblinknight is setting fire on everything between the Inner Sea and the Moon Peaks. Rurik's Stone Warriors are blocking the mountain paths to the north, and Lord Bartholomew is patrolling the Inner Sea. Wilhelm's only option is to abandon his people to fight this war... With time, his people will come to hate him. Learn this lesson, child: No claim to the throne is stronger than the favor of the smallfolk. With pitchforks and torches, peasants can make or break a king."

"I understand, Sire."

"Now come, we must keep moving. I wish to face Wilhelm in open field." Harald wheeled his stallion to the side and kicked it forward. "You are right to assume we have better chances by retreating to the capital... But this is a matter of honor, not strategy. We have the numbers to crush my brother in open battle, and that's what we shall do. The people in the city does not deserve to suffer through a siege."

But everything changed that night. While the camp slept, several of Harald's higher-ranking generals, many of them his relatives through marriage, abandoned his army and rode to the River Lands to join the Usurper. They took their men, which cut Harald's forces by half, forcing the king to retreat to the capital after all. In addition to the treason, Lord Bartholomew suffered a defeat at sea and Wilhelm's ships would soon join the assault, and hundreds of orcs from the Lightning Tribe were among the mercenaries hired for the war. What King Harald had predicted to be a glorious victory now threatened to be come his final defeat.

--

Today
34th day of summer

Ginarie, Galinmorn and Percilla watched the Crown Lands, now ravaged by war, from the top of the same rocky hill. The Three Hundred made camp behind the rocks, so Wilhelm's outriders wouldn't spot them unless they rode right over the hill.

They saw the reinforcements before Sir Brennan even arrived to inform them: To the west, a small fleet of warships flying Harald's colors deployed five hundred men to the stony shore. To the east, a whopping number of seven hundred dwarves (called Stone Warriors by humans who don't know much about their clans and surnames) returned from their mission.

The three returned to the commander's pavilion to gather with Rurik (the general of the Stone Warriors) and Lord Bartholomew (the captain of Harald's fleet). Along with Bartholomew came Gnaeus, the king's spymaster and a skilled saboteur. Sir Brennan announced them each by name.

Outside, the sun threatened to set. Percilla talked to the new arrivals, shook their hands, and suggested: "Lord Bartholomew, commander Rurik, let me guide your men into battle. With all these numbers, we can attack any part of Wilhelm's camp while you infiltrate and take everyone by surprise. Take this warhorn and blow on it when you want me to strike. I'll keep the men hidden behind the hills until then."

Lord Bartholomew expresses that he is no good at infiltration, and would rather join Percilla at leading the soldiers. They both leave to rally and organize the troops, leaving Ginarie, Galinmorn, Gnaeus and Rurik (and the lieutenant Sir Brennan) to their planning.




 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "Night is soon, I say we kill him. Wilhem. I say we assassinate him while he sleeps, and let his bannermen fight over who gets to lead his faction. We can commandeer a small boat - I'll cover it with my magic for a seamless insertion, we find out where he's sleeping, and we slaughter him.  He doesn't even know we're here, he won't be on guard." 
 


 
 Originally Posted by J-H 
       
   <span style="font-family: Century
Gothic">  Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus  
  
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "We should rescue the king first.  Two dead leaders just means more civil war, and they're set to take the castle tomorrow.  Who's to say Wilhelm's successors won't delay any conflict until they have a throne and treasury to fight over?  That's not something any of us wants.  Oaths unfulfilled, rewards not collected, people not safe."   Gnaeus, a stealthy infiltrator who'd joined up recently, offers his opinion.   "Wilhelm will want to be there to see the king himself, so you may get a shot at him anyway."  
 


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "Feh, rescue the king? And what would we do with the King, once we had him? Find another, better fortified castle to hold with only three hundred?"  Ginarie puts her hands on her hips, and leans over.  "By that point, the usurper will be actually sitting on the throne, and lords currently siding with the King will flip - Wilhem could even pretend Harald died in the fighting, and then we'd have to fight another war just to prove that he is who he says he is. Rescue the King? We need to make sure he keeps sitting on that throne, or we might as well quit here."

 She leans forwards a little more, and taps the map, as if to drive her point home. 
"We behead the snake, and while they're fumbling for the purse strings and promises to keep ahold of all of Wilhem's mercenaries and outriders, we behead the snake again, or poison their food supply, or burn their tents, or arm the peasants. It's not like the castle will fall tomorrow. Trust me, a succession crisis kills any alliance of convenience. I've been around enough to know. Nine hells, a succession crisis got us into thus mess to begin with! Without Wilhem that rebellion is dead in the water, and all we'll have to do afterwards is mop up rioters and looters, assuming the turncoat nobles don't turn coat again and clean up for us in the hopes of ingratiating themselves with the winner of the conflict."


 Ginarie sighs, and leans back, crossing her arms. 
"If you're not convinced the castle will hold, we can send a messenger to the castle, or investigate ourselves, it's easy enough." 
 


 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
       
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
Rurik raises an eyebrow at Ginarie,   Ye want ta abandon tha king in his hour o' greatest need? Leave him ta tha wolves? I kinna do it. Let Wilhelm dash his men against tha castle walls an' we will go out an' meet him. But we kinna leave tha king's side.   The dwarf's frown deepens,   Me clan chose ta leave tha king, an' i stayed back ta do what's right.   
 


 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 Galinmorn speaks up finally   ”He does not have to take the castle, he has the city. All he need do is wait. Eventually he will starve the king out of his hole and then he will have him.    He looks around at the others as he pauses for a beat or two.    ”We may be able to get a small group of us inside, asses what is happening and from there plan how we defeat Wilhelm.    
 


 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
       
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
  Aye, ye both might have a fair point, and takin' down Wilhelm mightn'be the best way to safeguard the king. But few are keen on a long siege, even usurpers. I worry they're thinkin' the same; sneakin' a bunch in to kill the king. Who then will be by his side?   
 
Lioslaith
  ”The idea of splitting our small group makes a foul taste in my mouth. Let us see what goes on inside while Wilhelms forces are distracted out here.”  
Flashkannon
"Sure, and do you think our 1000 can beat their numbers? I'm not so convinced. With a surprise attack a lot is possible, but I'd feel better if I knew there was no hand guiding the reins unilaterally."
Lioslaith
  ”Definitely not ruling out an assassination attempt. But I want a good grasp of where we stand from inside the castle first.”  
Flashkannon
"I can see why you'd want to reassess,"  Ginarie stresses this word, neutrally  "but what are you expecting to find in the castle, that would change the situation enough that Wilhem's head isn't an appealing target to sow unrest to be worth... well, maybe just my and Gnaeus's time?"
Lioslaith
  ”Honestly I do not know what awaits us in the castle. That is the very reason I want to see what it holds.”   He sighs a moment,   “Given how well as the fight atop the plateau went do you really want to lessen our numbers to try and take wilhelm?”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   ”Honestly I do not know what awaits us in the castle. That is the very reason I want to see what it holds.”   He sighs a moment,   “Given how well as the fight atop the plateau went do you really want to lessen our numbers to try and take wilhelm?”   
 

 Ginarie crosses her arms, and frowns. "This and that are different! Way different! Remember when I singlehandedly drove the druid into a rout, or when I got all of us close enough to finish the job? In cover of darkness and in ambush is when I do my best. And besides, those things got really lucky. You couldn't see it, because of the smoke, but I did! Every miss somehow rebounded off the ground into a hit, or they blindly hit on where I was going to dodge the last attack. It was a fluke, I tell you. I'm confident we can take him because if I can get him off-guard, he's already half dead."
Lioslaith
  ”You are very good at what you do but this is no fight atop a flat rock. They are expecting you.”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   ”You are very good at what you do but this is no fight atop a flat rock. They are expecting you.”   
 

 Ginarie smiles, confidently. "Ah, ahah, see - this is precisely  not  a fight atop a flat rock. At the fight at the top of the rock, they were both expecting me, and had the ability to both narrow down my location and predict my range of movement. Wilhem is expecting assassins, sure, and he knows we survived his gauntlet, but he doesn't know we're here yet, nor does he know the full range of my abilities, or those of my companion assassin, nor does he have a reasonable expectation of either the vector of my attack, or the means by which I will be infiltrating his camp."

 She stalks a pace or two around the table restlessly. 
"Plus, there's visual and physical cover in the forms of both buildings and tents. Perfect ways to bamboozle the fools in that camp."
Lioslaith
  ”If you can wait until we figure out the castle portion I will accompany you.”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   ”If you can wait until we figure out the castle portion I will accompany you.”   
 

"By the time we row to the castle, get the situation firmly in mind,  and then row back, and  then  ride over to the rebel camp, the attack will likely be underway. They're ramping up as we speak. Sure, I could assassinate Wilhem mid-battle, but I'd need to know his location, and there's always the chance he leads from the front, which makes that job nigh-impossible."
Lioslaith
  ”Then it seems this is where our paths diverge.”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   ”Then it seems this is where our paths diverge.”   
 

"Well, yeah, that's what I was just suggesting. We can't do both plans unless we split up, so we split up, and you send a messenger if the situation is drastically different enought to warrant a change in the plan. Meanwhile, we sneak in to the camp, kill the usurper when there's an opportunity, and then signal the cavalry to charge into his back lines before they can reorganize their command structure. Classic maneuver, seem it dozens of times. Admittedly, this is the first time with actual horses, I'm used to lizard cavalry."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
  Oi, hold yer horses, lass! It’s already a mad venture goin’ after Wilhelm with the four of us. Now ye want to take on the camp with just the two of ye? What gives ye the confidence to pull that off? I’m not sayin’ it’s a bad idea, but we need a plan that sounds a bit less daft!   The dwarf tugs on his beard and thinks back to what Percilla said,   Aye, I reckon Percilla's onto somethin’. If we can get ourselves in position, she can rally the others to launch a strike on the camp, stirrin’ up a right ruckus. That might just give us the opening we need to take down Wilhelm. And an attack on the camp could keep the siege from breakin’ through the castle walls. What say the rest of you?  
Flashkannon
"I think we could do that, but his hosts outnumber ours four to one. To stand a chance, we'd need an edge in our favor to prevent them from using their numbers effectively. It's not like Wilhem is some legendary immortal warrior or something."  Ginarie dismisses Wilhem casually.  "He's a competent leader and he's got a silver tongue - I'll give him that, but that's exactly why we need him gone. He's mended fences we need busted down. Assassination is just the most expedient means of removing him from the coming battle without going through his armies.

Look, you haven't worked with me before, but at nighttime, I can't be beat. It's simply not possible, as long as the sun is not hanging in the sky over my head. Escaped, maybe, but not beaten. With hours to go before the sunrise and another competent individual by my side to seal the deal, I'm sure I can reduce his command tent to a bloody heap."
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaeus offers his agreement.   "If we sneak in, there are a lot fewer arrows flying around addressed to "To Whom it May Concern."  It's actually safer than striding around a battlefield, boldly daring people to shoot at you." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
Rurik rolls his eyes,   Aye, if it’s just confidence we need to win a war, we’re already unbeatable! Now spill the plan, and remember,   he points to his spiked armor,   I don't fight quiet.  
dangelo
Under Ginarie's  Pass Without Trace  spell, slipping into Wilhelm's camp becomes an easy task. Outriders come and go several times a day, although they never ride too far from the city: Security is tight, but in a smaller radius, which shows that Wilhem has a very limited number of scouts to send away. The guards at the wooden gates greet you and allow you to pass, uninterested in your true identities. (Stealth 23, 22)

The palisade gate swings open to a path lined with tents on both sides, wide enough for six knights to ride abreast. The camp is extremely organized and divided in sections: to the right there are training grounds and an archery range, and a construction site where siege weapons are assembled, all empty since Wilhem is about to launch an attack. To the left is a supply storage area packed with resources sacked from the Crown Lands, and a medical pavilion where dozens of wounded soldiers linger. Only acolytes are tending to these soldiers at this moment, while usually a priest would be in charge.

You ride by Lightning Tribe camps, common soldier barracks, and finally a good number of fancy blue tents, each area assembled in a smaller ring around the commander's pavilion located right at the center. Blue flags fly proud from the great tent, showing Wilhem's new sigil: A silver cross against an azure field, now decorated with a golden crown.

60 ft away from the main tent, you spot Lady Sasha running the pavilion instead of Wilhelm, wearing full plate armor over mail and boiled leather. Sasha is Wilhelm's wife and used to be a close friend to King Harald, and became famous in the realm even before she was wed to the king's brother when she disguised herself as a man and won this Tournament of the Lake twenty years ago. Now, even in her forties, Lady Sasha (Princess Sasha through marriage) continues to act as her husband's First General.

Wilhem is not here. It's not hard to overhear some conversation and you quickly find out that he is already by the castle walls, inside the city, with the thick of his forces. He is currently waiting for his engineers to position all catapults and calculate the best angle to hit the crenellations on top of the castle walls.

Security is not tighter within the city than around the camp. With your current Stealth rolls, you can go in the same way you did the camp. You may also report to Lady Sasha as if you were scouts, it you so desire. You may also leave and rendezvous with Rurik and Galinmorn without raising suspicion - but you might raise suspicion if you come back again, since outriders are supposed to scout for a few hours before returning.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Stealth DC 18 to come back after leaving (without horses this time, climbing over the fence or infiltrating some other way)
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Gnaeus gently bumps Ginarie's shoulder, and whispers to her quietly out of the side of his mouth.   "Here and now, take her down while she's in the open and unsuspecting.  It'll be a great distraction for whatever we want to do next." 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Having decided to seize the opportunity, Gnaeus quickly prepares the ground, making sure to look like he's just pacing back and forth having a quiet argument while dropping ball bearings and caltrops onto the ground.  After that, he stands near Ginarie.  After a few quiet words, The two draw their bows and listen, each releasing an arrow upon the fourth exhale.

 
 Spoiler 

Thanks to Fast Hands, I can deploy two bags per round, so this is fast.
A double row of caltrops 5 squares wide x 2 deep (10 bags, half my stock)
Behind that, 3 bags of ball bearings, each 10'x10'
The two of us are then 5' farther south than on the map posted in Discord, meaning anyone taking the direct route to us must cross two rows of caltrops and one of ball bearings.  That's 3 dex saves, two of which stop movement and the last of which may put someone prone in front of us.
 
 Spoiler: Effects 

 Caltrops (bag of 20) 
As an action, you can spread a single bag of caltrops to cover a 5-foot-square area. Any creature that enters the area must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or  stop moving  and take 1 piercing damage. Until the creature regains at least 1 hit point, its walking speed is reduced by 10 feet. A creature moving through the area at half speed doesn't need to make the saving throw.

 Ball bearings 
A creature moving across the covered area must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. A creature moving through the area at half speed doesn’t need to make the save.
 


Initiative  (1d20+4)[ 23 ] 

Attacking from surprise/hidden with elven advantage
 (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 25 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 14 ] 
For  (4d6+4)[ 18 ]  piercing damage

 BA:  Hide 38 with PWT so they don't even know where I am yet.
 
J-H
Gnaeus gets off a second shot before anyone can react.
 
 Spoiler 

Elven advantage again  (1d20+7)[ 13 ]  or   (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or   (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
for  (4d6+4)[ 17 ]  with sneak attack
BA Hide  (1d20+20)[ 35 ]  thanks to PWT
 
dangelo
Then queen lets our a roar of pain as three arrows suddenly jut out of the gaps between her plates.  "What is the meaning of this-"  She tried to articulate, but more and more projectiles rained on her.

  "We're under attack -- protect the queen!"   Cries the lord commander of the Queensguard, a grizzled man well over his fifties.

(They are surprised and won't act)

Queen Sasha flips the large table in the middle of the commander's pavilion and ducks behind it. Then she retrieves a potion from her pack and drinks it.

The queen turns invisible as soon as she drinks the potion.

Interact with Object: Flip the table
Action: Drink  Potion of Invisibility 
Bonus Action: Improved Second Wind  (1d12+10)[ 14 ] 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Then queen lets our a roar of pain as three arrows suddenly jut out of the gaps between her plates.  "What is the meaning of this-"  She tried to articulate, but more and more projectiles rained on her.

  "We're under attack -- protect the queen!"   Cries the lord commander of the Queensguard, a grizzled man well over his fifties.

(They are surprised and won't act)

Queen Sasha flips the large table in the middle of the commander's pavilion and ducks behind it. Then she retrieves a potion from her pack and drinks it.

The queen turns invisible as soon as she drinks the potion.

Interact with Object: Flip the table
Action: Drink  Potion of Invisibility 
Bonus Action: Improved Second Wind [roll0] 
 

 Ginarie rolls her eyes. Invisibility? She's not a chump. If little miss Queenie didn't have knights around her, and an army within relatively easy backup range, she'd just whip out the smoke bottle, but things could get out of hand fast, especially with her sun-basking elven... no, no, she worked for Harald, the same as him. Anyways, she'd been assasinating powerful women before Sasha's mother was a gleam in her grandma's eye. A little drow trick was what was called for here - Faerie Fire. 

"I'm lighting her up - she'll be hard pressed to hide like that, but I'm dropping the other spell. Keep on your toes."  Ginarie whispers to Gnaeus. 
 She casts it, ensnaring the 'queen' and as many of her hapless knights as she could. Then, with a swish of her cloak, she blends into the shadows and repositions herself to get another good shot, keeping her exit strategy, her target, her distance from her target's allies, and her ally in mind. 
dangelo
 "Gods be damned, you must take down that spellcaster, whoever it is!"  Queen Sasha complains to her men.

 "Right wing, go deep! Left wing, give them cover!"  The veteran knight rushes out of the tent, leading his men and exposing himself first. In his hand he brings a great warhorn, on which he blows at the top of his lungs.

 Whooooooooooooooo!  the warhorn sings.

And then a second time, even more powerful:  Whoo-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 

The other four knights pour out of the commander's pavilion, each clad ib steel from head to heel and wielding a different kind of polearm.  "Sir Darek, stay behind and protect the queen! If she's hit by another arrow, gods forbid, I will hang you for treason!" 

Actions
QG1: Blow warhorn
QG2, 3, 4: Dash
QG5 (Faerie Fire'd): Dodge, putting himself in front of the her

The knight in front of her improves her Half Cover (from the flipped table) to Three Quarters Cover.

Arrows that miss Sasha by 5 can still hit Sir Darek in front of her. Arrows that miss for 6 or more just miss. This extra cover doesn't apply to melee attacks.

---

400 feet to the south, the guards by the palisade gate hear the warhorn sing. From their hideout nearby, Rurik and Galinmorn see the guards abandoning their posts and rushing inside.

 
 Spoiler 
 I'm assuming Galinmorn and Rurik are hidden next to the city walls, rather than all the way back at the rocky hill with Percilla and Lord Bartholomew
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Ginarie's spell foils the queen's plan, letting Gnaeus fire another arrow in from the dark.  The guards will likely see it, so he steps slightly to the right and turns, putting his form against the side of the tent to conceal his position afterwards.
 
 Spoiler 

Unseen attacker, elven advantage.  Best of:
 (1d20+7)[ 9 ] ,  (1d20+7)[ 8 ] ,  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
For  (4d6+4)[ 17 ] 

BA Hide  (1d20+10)[ 12 ]  and sidestep about 10' right to be next to the tent.
Still keeping the two rows of caltrops and one of ball bearings between himself and all the guards.
 
dangelo
While Ginarie and Gnaeus infiltrate the camp, Galinmorn and Rurik hop onto their mounts and ride for the Stony Shore. Once there, it's easy to find a rowboat among the abandoned fishermen villages, and with two sets of strong arms rowing together, you disappear behind the waves and approach the seaside section of the castle walls.

You manage to go ashore, but find the gates sealed where otherwise it would be open for merchant caravans and seafaring scouts. No one is patrolling the walls on this side of the castle; Harald seems to have his garrison concentrated on repelling Wilhelm's attack.

You hear hundreds of arrows flying in the distance. This is the first step of the bloody dance that is Wilhelm's assault: Atrows and more arrows, for hours if necessary. Harald's garrison respons with crossbows, and Wilhelm's line or archers retreats only to come back with another volley in a minute.

Rurik and Galinmorn can't see this - all you can see is the seaside face of the castle looming 100 ft above you. But you can hear the noise of battle, and you know it is about to start. It might take a minute or it might take an hour, but it is coming.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn reaches the gate and pounds on it loudly.  After waiting for a bit if he gets no response he will turn to his dwarven companion   "Hold for a moment, let me see if I can get this open."    With that he will Misty Step inside the castle and if there are no guards he will open the gate.
dangelo
Galinmorn vanishes in a misty cloud and reappears inside the gatehouse. The fortification is completely abandoned, and you manage to pull the huge mechanism that swings the great doors open. Even a small army would be able to walk into the castle now.

The way ahead leads up a cobbled lane to an outer courtyard, up to yet another gate. This one has a small porticullis built into it, which you manage to push open and reveal the entrance to the main courtyard.

The fires of siege illuminate the sky beyond the castle walls. While you can't see the flames themselves, they cast a flickering orang glow against the night sky. Wardrums sing in the distance. Catapults creak and rock as engineers and soldiers pull them into place.

 "To me! To me!"  You hear the booming voice of King Harald rallying his knights at the top of the courtain walls, all the way on the other side of the courtyard and 50ft above you. For every knight armed with a crossbow there is a squire reloading and readying the next one - after each shot, they just toss the used crossbow at their squires and get a reloaded one.  "These walls have kept us safe for hundreds of years! No usurper will breach through them!" 
 "King Harald! King Harald!"  The knights cry in response.  "Death to the usurper! Glory to the king!" 

The defending forces haven't spotted you, already inside the castle

Edit:

Queen Sasha"s pavilion

Round 1: Gnaeus and Ginarie attacked
Round 2: Gnaeus attacked, Ginarie cast Faerie Fire. Sasha drinks a potion, knights move in formation. A warhorn can be heard within the vicinity of the camp.
Round 3: Gnaeus hits Sir Darek, now it's Sasha's turn:

The queen tosses the empty flask aside and draws her own longsword.  "Kill these intruders, now! The king will see you as heroes!"  She cries, bolstering the knights' confidence in battle.

Queen Sasha readies her action to use it in response to Sir Darek's action. She doesn't move this round so she can move during her readied action.

  Leadership:   Using her action, Queen Sasha can bolster all allies within 30ft that can see and hear her with an effect identical to the  Bless  spell. The effect is broken if Sasha is defeated or demoralized in combat, or vanishes after 1 minute. She can use this ability once per Long Rest.

This will only take effect during the Queensguard's round.
Flashkannon
 Ginarie leaps from the tent, and rolls into a run, drawing her dagger, and hiding around the corner of the pavilion. She chuckles, darkly. She wants to taunt Sasha, but her better judgement wins out - maybe she could remember the name of a noble, and implicate them. Then, she flourishes her cloak to hide herself and keeps moving as much as she can. 

(16 to Hide)
Lioslaith
Galinmorn will approach the King and his entourage slowly hands where they can be seen.  Trying to be as non-threatening as he can be.
dangelo
The four Queensguard hustle down the central lane, hoping to find the culprit just around the corner. Three of them carry halberds, while the commander has a longsword and a torch.

They almost trample one another when the commander suddenly stops: an iron caltrop almost pierced through his steel-covered foot.  "Haaaalt!"  He opens his arms to keep his men from falling in the same trap, but they were too eager to save their queen

But the dashing Sir Edmond didn't listen to the commander and zig-zagged over the caltrops, only to slip on tiny metal balls and fall on the packed dirt ground.  "It's invisible! It's invisible and it's attacking us!"  One of the knights meant to swing his weapon blindly.  "It's dark magic. We should retreat and protect the queen." 
 "Stop this nonsense at once!"  The Lord Commander of the Queensguard booms at his men.  "We're dealing with a trickster, that's all. The floor is trapped -- They are somewhere on the other side!" 

Sir Edmond moves 30 ft (dodging one caltrop square and moving at half speed through the second), falls prone, takes the Dash action, spends 15 ft to get up, and moves his remaining 15 ft.
His standing long jump distance is more than enough to jump over the remaining square of Ball Bearings.

The knight runs by the lane between tents where Gnaeus is hidden. The commander's torch doesn't illuminate around the corner and Sir Edmond doesn't have a torch, so the elf is still in the shadows.

 (1d20+1)[ 4 ] 

The knight glances at the shadows where Gnaeus is hiding, but immediately looks away to the other side of the lane. They culprit could have gone anywhere.

Unable to keep moving this round, the other three take the Dodge action.

Inside the tent, Sir Darek readies his action to move alongside the Queen on her next round.

---

On the other side of the city...

 "I don't want a single bolt gone to waste! One shot, one kill! Do ye hear me, men?"  King Harald was commanding two dozen knights on top of the curtain walls when his squire tugs at his arm and points to Galinmorn and Rurik on the other side of the courtyard. "Who...?" Fifty feet above the ground and well over his fifties, King Harald's eyes have a hard time making out their faces. "It can't be -- the gods must have listened to my prayers.   Galinmorn of the Eladrin, and Rurik of the Stone Warriors!"  The king bellows. "Sir Edvard, the wall is yours until I return. Don't let his line get too close to the castle, or Wilhelm will cast his wicked stairs at us. Sound the horn twice if tries anything."

The king receives Rurik and Galinmorn in the great towers of the gatehouse. From here you can see dozens and dozens of catapults, and long lines of soldiers carrying rocks to fuel them, while others dig ditches while lines of archers keep trying to get near the curtain walls, running back and ducking behind cover at the slightest hint of retaliation.

"It has been like this every night for the last fortnite." King Harald removes his gilded helmet and places it on a small table. Black circles have settled under his eyes, and his shoulders seem heavier than usual. "What news do you bring? How did you escape the Usurper's fleet?" Even asking for a report, King Harald sounds commanding.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Taking advantage of the guard's inferior senses, Gnaeus quietly scales the tent, one hand and his feet sticking to the taut canvas as he pulls himself up and crouch-walks along the top to the other side, where he aims at the glowing faerie lights around the would-be usurper's general and won't-be queen.
 
 Spoiler 

Using Spider Climb to go up the tent to somewhere around the top center where I have a shot through the entry.  Any extra movement is used to go "right" on the map.  BA hide at the end of the turn.
Elven advantage due to Faerie Fire
Attack  (1d20+7)[ 20 ] ,   (1d20+7)[ 20 ] ,   (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
for  (4d6+4)[ 20 ]  including sneak attack damage

BA Hide  (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
 
dangelo
Queen Sasha and Sir Darek advance 30 ft. Darek moves as a readied action. At the end of her movement, Sasha uses the Dodge action.

Ginarie is up.
Flashkannon
 Sasha was being tricky, no doubt, but not tricky enough to fool Ginarie's sensitive ears. She tracks Sasha's armored footsteps, and then puts two arrows right where her throat should be. Rewarded with two small holes in the pavilion canvas and a sight of Sasha clutching her new arrow wounds, Ginarie winks (though she doubts anyone but Gnaeus could see it, here) and regains the high ground, this time atop the pavillion. 
dangelo
 Outside the pavilion  

The Queensguard follow their veteran's command. "I can't see them anywhere!" Says Sir Desmond, his eyes scanning the alleyways while Gnaeus disappears above him. "If we run we may catch them!"

"No!  Stop! " Cried the commander. "We are falling for their trick, gods be damned." He glances over his shoulder just in time to see a new arrow hitting his belonged queen.  "Your Grace!  Retreat, all of you, retreat  now! "

Sir Desmond runs 10 ft and leaps his full Long Jump distance (16 ft rounded down to 15) and has to deal with only one caltrop square, so he takes the Dash action and moves through the at half movement.

The other three knights never made past the first caltrop square, so they step out of it at normal speed and Dash towards Queen Sasha. Their speed is only 20 due to the the caltrops effect, so they move 40.

 Inside the tent  

Sir Darek, startled by his queen so wounded, takes drastic measures. The young knight picks up a torch from a nearby sconce and hurls it at the roof of the tent. "Let's move out, Your Grace!" The flames spread quickly through the fabric, and Ginare feels the structure creaking underfoot.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn bows his head in deference to the king.    "We escaped by our wits alone, sire."    He chuckles at his joke but then tells the king how they did it.    "But, how may we be of aid here?  Our sneaks are harassing the camp below and Percilla awaits with a horde of dwarves just beyond the hills for some sort of signal from the camp to attack and try and draw Wilhelm's forces in twain."  
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus fires another arrow, then moves back to his left and off the tent, intentionally kicking a few ball bearings to rattle them against the caltrops, then ducks back and presses himself up against the wall of the tent.
 
 Spoiler 

Elven advantage thanks to FF and being unseen.
Attack  (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  or   (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  or   (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 
Damage  (4d6+4)[ 24 ] 
Move 2 squares down/4 squares over, down the side of the tent, kick some ball bearings to make a bit of possibly audible noise as an object interaction, then move another square back to the right and hide against the tent (pressing flat up against it in the darkness) in the row that's got the blue highlight on the current map.
BA Hide  (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
 
dangelo
"This is good,  mellon . You bring me good. My last hope had died with the sun tonight - I was ready to face a glorious death. But now there is a chance we might live to fight another day."

"I never doubted you. But when days turned into weeks and there was no sight of your troops, I feared the worst." The king sweeps his sweaty hair away from his face. "Even if you hadn't returned, mind you, your deeds would already be notable. Whatever damage you caused in the Western River Lands, it was enough to make the Usurper send his fleet away. Now he can't launch an assault by sea, and we can concentrate on the main gate. For there I thank you all, and I will see that you are properly compensated." He shifts his gaze to the narrow window of the tower, watching the fires of the siege. "We shall sort out the details once we've killed my brother."

"The Goblinknight must launch her attack some time after the Usurper. When his men start pouring over our walls, that's when she must strike." His eyes remain fixed in the landscape, the once evergreen countryside of the Crown Lands now laid to waste by Wilhelm's troops. "Let him come. The castle walls will fall, and we will retreat to the keep. That's when you must sound the horn."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
Rurik rises from bowing,   Aye, that’s if Wilhelm breaches the wall, Sire. The others are assaultin' his camp as we speak, lookin' for Sasha. If he catches wind of his wife's fate, he might just retreat. We ought to be prepared for any eventuality!  
dangelo
"You expect too much from a traitor, general Grimfate " A shadow of grief touches the king's face. "Wilhem has little love for me or Lady Sasha. He won't risk his operation to save her."

"Willem is a wicked man. An oathbreaker. To me, he is no different from a ghoul or a goblin, or a specter who doesn't belong to this world. He won't risk his operation for anything."

"There is more you must know." Harald scratches his grizzled beard, pacing around the chamber. His mantle trails behind him, muddy and thorn after two weeks of siege. "Wilhem is dangerous by himself, but watch out for  Solemnos , the High Priest. He doesn't ever leave the Usurper's side, and is capable o powerful magic.

 In the Commander's Pavilion  
 "Out of the pavilion! Now!"  The queen leads her men away as the inside of the tent is filled with smoke. She moves 30 ft and takes the Dodge action again.

Ginarie is up. Moving across the burning roof requires a DC 15 Acrobatics check not to fall through and prone. Note: Even if you make the check this round, next round the roof is collapsing anyway.
Flashkannon
 A cornered rat bites - this is always true, and Ginarie had expected that, to a degree. This wasn't going to be clean. While she could have sprinted over and put two arrows in the queen's head right now, she'd leave herself wide open for a counterattack when the tent burned away and she fell into an inferno. Instead, she could make a down payment on the violence they'd need to clean out the queen's guard so they could ransack the camp and put a timer on Wilhem's siege. Nothing like a starving belly to force a course of action.

Two quick arrows to a headstrong knight, and a shadow disappearing in smoke. She ran around behind the tent, holding her breath in a plume of smoke. It wasn't her smoke, but it was a classic exit. With any luck, they'd pursue her, and find nothing but smoke and darkness, or they'd stick with their queen, and she'd put another two arrows in her. 
dangelo
Sir Edmond manages to cover his vital points, and Ginarie's arrows hit him where his armor is thickest. The arrowheads still graze against his flesh, piercing through mail and boiled leather, finding their way between the gaps of his plate, and lines of blood drip from his wounds.  "I see the scoundrel!"  He fights through the pain. His voice breaks when he bellows - the dashing prodigy knight is barely a man grown, and already a proud champion.

 "Queensguard! To me!"  The veteran commands, and all but one of the knights immediately fall into formation. "Sir Edmond! I said --  To me!" 
 "Coward!"  Sir Edmond ignores his master and dashes after Ginarie, dodging the flaming structure and cutting a hole through what remains of the cloth.

All knights take the Dash action.

Gnaeus is up for round 6
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Gnaeus moves back along the side of the tent to stay in range, aiming another arrow at the glowing Sasha.
 
 Spoiler 

Moving along the side of the tent with spider climb to end up 5 squares forward of his current position.  I don't know how far the light from the tent is going yet, but he's staying out of it.
Not hiding his position, we want them not running away.
Should still be unseen, and she's FF, so advantage.
 (1d20+7)[ 21 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 12 ] 
For  (4d6+4)[ 27 ] 
 
dangelo
Sasha activates an ability:

 Battle Fury.  As a Bonus Action or as a Reaction when she is reduced to 0 hitpoints, Queen Sasha may enter a new combat phase. She gains the following benefits:

 
  Haste  for 1 minute, identical to the spell (including lethargy) 
 Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing damage 
 Immediately recovers 30 hitpoints 
 
 "This is the battle of your lives, my loyal Queensguard! We stop these scoundrels at once!"  The queen rushes towards the tent where Gnaeus is standing and hacks at the wooden canvas with her longsword (first attack). With one of four poles destroyed, the whole structure collapses, bringing Gnaeus down with it. Sasha follows up with impressive speed and attacks him two times.

Fall damage  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
Gnaeus is prone

Multiattack: Queen Sasha attacks 3 times with her longsword
Haste Action: Dash

Advantage due to Gnaeus being prone
 (1d20+8)[ 20 ]  or  (1d20+8)[ 19 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 9 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20+8)[ 12 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 7 ] 

Ginarie is up
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  68/68  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  --  
 
  
Rurik nods,   Ye know the traitor better than I do, me king. If that be the case, do we have a way to signal the Goblinknight from here?   He looks to Galin,   I’ll stick close to ye, to shield me from Solemnos' dark magic.  
dangelo
"No, my general. You fail to understand me." Harald shakes his head, adamant. " You  will signal the Goblinknight. I will stay and defend the castle. Wilhem mustn't know you have come to my aid. I want him to come at me with all his strength."

"Fear not: Wilhem will breach the walls, but the Main Keep is a fortress on its own. That's where I'll retreat to, and that will be your signal to strike."

"Take them by surprise. Kill the Usurper. The traitors will run in exhile, the mercenaries will disband. The High Priest will be forced to crown me again." He rests both hands on the table. "Good men will die, but for a good cause. Glory; Righteousness; For blood and honor."

"Kneel." The king commands. Once Rurik and Galinmorn are on their knees, he draws his sword and rests it on both their shoulders, one at a time. "I name thee Kingsguard, warriors among warriors, knights among knights, to serve me from now until I release you, or you die, or the world ends. I give thee authority to act on my behalf, and tô evoke the Voice of the King when I'm not present. If I die, I trust you to guard the throne and ensure that my firstborn sits it. You may rise, now."

Rurik and Galin each gain the following benefits

 
 1 point of Inspiration 
 Kingsguard. As a Reaction, whenever an ally who's adjacent to you is targeted by an attack, you may force that attack to target you instead. 
 +10 permanent hitpoints  
 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie hears the queen rush off to attack Gnaeus. She was acting as bait for him to finish off Sasha, but there's no reason she can't get the final shot. 

"Too bad for you, mister bigshot 'queensguard', looks like you fail today. Your queen exposed her back. Gee, I hope your liege-lord won't execute you if his wife dies."  Ginarie taunts the man in front of her. Diving through a plume of smoke she straightens out and puts two arrows into the queen's back, between her armor plates. As the knight's eyes follow the trajectory of the arrows, she makes herself scarce, flourishing her cloak and pressing up against the tent, going still and counting on the darkness and chaos to cloak her, at least for a few scant moments. 

(27(crit) and 25 to hit, 24 and 10 damage)
dangelo
The commander and two knights Dash after the queen, but with a penalty of 10ft to their movement, they fail to catch up

Sir Darek, who didn't step on caltrops, catches up and Dashes to engage with Gnaeus.  "Here's the scoundrel! He's disguised as one of our own!" 

Sir Edmond looks all around, his helmet blocking his peripheral vision. "The other one is around here somewhere!"

 Countdown : It's been 5 rounds since the warhorn was blown

The sound of galloping horses fill the camp as ten mercenaries ride into battle. Five of them come from the construction site, five from the palisade gate. They wear mismatched armor and wield low quality weapons; Their horses are gaunt and agile, and carry no barding at all. They cry and scream as they come swinging their blades in the air, but these were savage  yehas  rather than a knight's cry of battle.

Despite being Lady Sasha's circumstantial allies, these mercenaries don't benefit from her  Leadership   ability.

Three of them spot Ginarie (perception 15, 18, 20 against stealth 15) at shoot her with arrows. The other seven take turns riding by Gnaeus and swinging their swords down at him. They all end their movement away from Gnaeus. They all have advantage since Gnaeus is still prone.

All mercenaries have AC 15, Strength 14, Dexterity 14 and Proficiency +2
(Consider this your characters ability to read a soldier's fighting capacity)

Short sword at Gnaeus
1.  (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
2.  (1d20+4)[ 13 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 9 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
3.  (1d20+4)[ 20 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 15 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
4.  (1d20+4)[ 9 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 16 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
5.  (1d20+4)[ 24 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 17 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 
6.  (1d20+4)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 17 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 
7.  (1d20+4)[ 9 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 20 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 8 ] 

Short bow at Ginarie
8.  (1d20+4)[ 11 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 
9.  (1d20+4)[ 22 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 4 ] 
10.  (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 

Gnaeus is up for round 7
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --
  
 
  
Rurik frowns,   Aye, I don’t like the thought of leaving ye and the castle while Wilhelm seeks to breach the walls, but I trust ye, my King.   He kneels when commanded and receives the honor of Kingsguard. Rising, he has a look of determination and resolution,   By stone and steel, I swear my loyalty. For honor, for justice, and for the heart of the kingdom, I shall stand and fight until my last breath, that Wilhelm will rue the day he thought himself a usurper!  
 
 Spoiler: Kingsguard Benefits 
Hit points added, Inspiration added.
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 12/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus rolls to his feet, wielding his sword to block any attacks as he hops onto the tent and runs down it and away.
 
 Spoiler 

Stand from prone (15')
BA disengage.
Move 15' and dash 30'

Up the tent 10'
Move 35' south with a jump in there, which probably puts Gnaeus on top of the NEXT tent down and about 10' to the right of the big 25' wide open lane.
 
dangelo
 "They're trying to divide us!"  The queen bellows, not even feeling the new arrow that juts from her back. "Forget about this one! Take the other!" 

Sasha uses her Haste action do Dash, moving 22 squares and engaging with Ginarie

Three attacks with Longsword
 (1d20+8)[ 11 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 15 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 18 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 10 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 15 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 8 ] 

Ginarie is up
Flashkannon
"We're trying to divide you?"  Ginarie chuckles,  "You misunderstand. But then, you're a tournament knight. Admittedly, you're tough, tougher than I gave you credit. And you made the right choice, coming over here to engage with the only other powerful woman on the battlefield. But I digress! You fight setpiece battles, you win duels, and it's easy to see how. But you don't know how to win wars. Not really. See, you were always just a bonus, here. So come, have your climactic duel with me, but be warned, I don't play by tournament rules."  Ginarie whispers her command word to the Eversmoking Bottle, and instantly the camp is consumed by a thick, impenetrable fog. 

"Anyone who sets fires earns themselves a place on the winning side! Anyone else, let the fire hunt begin!"

 Ginarie giggles, growing to an outright maniacal laugh as her words echo. Then, it's silence time again. She tiptoes carefully around the assembled knights, and plays for a little distance. If she can, she'd like one of those horses. Easier to pull, in the smoke. Then she can match the knight's speed. 

(Bonus action hide, nat 1 for a total of 8 because Pain. At least this gives them all disadvantage on Perception, and reduces their passives by 5)
dangelo
The queen and Ginarie cross blades several times, stepping in and out of a bloody dance. Her strikes are firm and steady, wide cuts with two gauntlets grasping the hilt of her castle-forged (magic +1) longsword. She barely manages to scratch at the Drow with the tip of her blade, swinging it around her body and swiftly transitioning from one posture to another. "Aye, I win duels. I fight with  honor! " Queen Sasha cries as she puts her whole body into each motion.  "Coward! Come back here and face me like a warrior!" 

4 knights (QG, QG, ED, DK) make the Perception check. ED moves and attacks Ginarie, the rest Dashes. ED and DK both have their full movement speed. The QG who failed the check simply follows his brothers and Dashes too.

Sir Edmond attacks Ginarie twice (Disadvantage from Unseen Target, +1d4 from Leadership)

Halberd
 (1d20+6)[ 21 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 14 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 4 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 7 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 18 ]  or  (1d20+6)[ 24 ]  plus  (1d4)[ 4 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 

4 mercenaries make the Perception check and and shoot arrows at Ginarie, guessing her location by the trail she leaves in the smoke. These are seasoned warriors, even if they lack formal training - many of them were outlaws in times of peace, and one thing outlaws understand is how to navigate a chaotic battlefield on the back of a spooked horse.

Short bow
1.  (1d20+4)[ 18 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 
2.  (1d20+4)[ 15 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 
3.  (1d20+4)[ 14 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 4 ] 
4.  (1d20+4)[ 10 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 8 ] 
(disadvantage rolled on discord: 14, 9, 14, 23)

The other 6 mercenaries use their Actions to look for Ginarie again. Even if they spot her, they don't charge at her - these warriors have no intention of dying for any king or queen.

Perception (Disadvantage)
5.  (1d20)[ 20 ]  or  (1d20)[ 4 ] 
6.  (1d20)[ 19 ]  or  (1d20)[ 19 ] 
7.  (1d20)[ 2 ]  or  (1d20)[ 2 ] 
8.  (1d20)[ 9 ]  or  (1d20)[ 4 ] 
9.  (1d20)[ 7 ]  or  (1d20)[ 19 ] 
10.  (1d20)[ 16 ]  or  (1d20)[ 1 ] 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 12/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus quietly hops back onto the first tent, staying in the shadows and nocking an arrow.  His keen elven ears listen for the sound of Queen Sasha's battlecries and sword-swings.
 
 Spoiler 

Move 3 squares up 6 squares right to a closer tent spot still in darkness.  If that puts me in the dim light, don't move so far up.
BA Hide  (1d20+10)[ 17 ] 
Readied action:  Shoot Queen Sasha when she gets into melee with Ginarie so I get sneak attack.
 (1d20+7)[ 23 ]  for  (4d6+4)[ 20 ] 
 
dangelo
Queen Sasha dashes after Ginarie, hacking her sword at the smoke

Disadvantage because of Unseen Target. Ginarie can see her with Blindsight, so no Advantage for Unseen Attacker.

 (1d20+8)[ 28 ]  or  (1d20+8)[ 21 ]  for  (1d10+5)[ 12 ] 

10 damage taken from Gnaeus
dangelo
Ginarie deals 12 damage to the queen

All 10 mercenaries ready their actions to shoot at whoever reveals themselves next

All 5 knights dash towards their horses (they're just beyond the boarder of the battlemap to the practical north)

Gnaeus is up
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaeus drops down behind the tent, drinking a healing potion and intentionally being noisy.
 (2d4+2)[ 7 ] 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The queen and Ginarie cross blades several times, stepping in and out of a bloody dance. Her strikes are firm and steady, wide cuts with two gauntlets grasping the hilt of her castle-forged (magic +1) longsword. She barely manages to scratch at the Drow with the tip of her blade, swinging it around her body and swiftly transitioning from one posture to another. "Aye, I win duels. I fight with  honor! " Queen Sasha cries as she puts her whole body into each motion.  "Coward! Come back here and face me like a warrior!"  
 

"Oh, oho, the knight that drinks potions is calling me a coward? Fifteen on one is a fair fight? I told you I don't play by tournament rules, but as cheaters go,"  Ginarie boops Sasha's nose,  "you're the champ. You say you want a fair duel and you don't even send your knights away for it. My honor depends on me standing still and dying, does it? And all for your failure of a husband.

 She pauses, for an instant.  "This isn't personal, really, but if it was, that'd be why. What loyalty should you have to him? He's your  husband . This should be your rebellion, you should be out there on the frontlines while he babysits the supply train. That's men's work! Instead you're taking an arrow rightfully aimed at his traitorous neck, and for what? Do you really think he'd do the same for you?"   Ginarie laughs. 

"Well, whatever. If you have any honor as a knight, or any honor as a guard of supplies, you'll send your host to defend them and finish me yourself. Come on, you know you want to. You have the bloodlust in your eyes, and the fury in your blood - I can smell it. You want your duel, and you'll have it. By now you know how far I can run. I'm sure you'll find me. We'll finish this honorably, skill against skill. A dance to the finish."

 Ginarie sidles around the queen, and puts two arrows in her, from the direction she intends to go. 
dangelo
Ginarie shoots at the queen from the darkness, doing what Drows have been famous for doing since the dawn of time. Sasha's last reserves of adrenaline pour into her blood, putting her in a fight-or-flight condition.  "Enough of this foolery! Let's not waste our lives fighting shadows! Queensguard, to me!"  Queen Sasha takes the Dash action twice, moving a total of 180ft towards the castle.

By attempting to flee, Sasha is demoralized and the Leadership effect is over.
dangelo
The Queensguard commander takes the Dash action and gets close enough to illuminate Ginarie. Three knights also Dash, but Sir Edmond is close enough to attack

Halberd
 (1d20+6)[ 14 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 (1d20+6)[ 7 ]  for  (1d10+4)[ 5 ] 

10 mercenaries shoot arrows at her. The five on the other side of the smoke ride through the cloud before shooting.

Short bow
 (1d20+4)[ 12 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 8 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 7 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 8 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 15 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 17 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 20 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 10 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 5 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 6 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 16 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 3 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 8 ]  for  (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 

If Ginarie goes down to 0 hp, following attacks will be swapped for Dash actions, and the mercenaries will go after Gnaeus

Gnaeus is next
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaeus descends from the tent he's on, and slashes the long one in front of him.  Green flames run down his blade as he strikes, hopping to the cut edges of the canvas in front of him.  He moves 20' west.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn kneels and accepts the graciously given boon, all the while thinking to himself   We were just made Hands of the King  .   “I am honored and humbled to accept your boon and will serve you until my dying breath.”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  If there's naught else, me King, we ought to head back and share the plan with the Goblinknight. We must tread lightly, lest we draw unwanted eyes, so time is of the essence!  
Flashkannon
 Before Ginarie is attacked viciously, she saw the queen run away, and, as both a close-range skirmisher and a long-range expert, she rushed to the edge of the smoke, and a little ways beyond - there she was, running. 

"Hey, do you know what cowards get, Sasha?"

 Her first shot goes wide, but, after invoking her hunter's mark, she fires a second shot that hits home, and the queen topples to the ground. 

"An arrow in the back."

 As it was, that'd be a satisfying end to the evening, but there was still more to be done. A camp to burn, a queen'sguard to send after their ward. Surely at least one would go to check her pulse, right? No, no, that'd be too practical. 
dangelo
Ginarie and Gnaeus were long gone by the time the mercenaries returned to their posts at the palisade gate. Gnaeus has an easier time escaping on horseback as Ginarie draws all the attention to herself, and is soon riding back to the Rocky Hill over the ashed ruins of the kingswood. Night has fallen completely now, but the fires of siege burned hot around the castle.

Even a mile away from the city, the creaking and clanking of the catapults and trebuchets are audible. The second part of the attack has begun: huge boulders drenched in oil are set ablaze, and launched towards the castle walls, which forces Harald's garrison to break formation and run away from the impact, and then spend time and energy putting out the fires. To terrorize Harald and his knights, Wilhem also casts dead bodies into the courtyard, soldiers and knights who died bravely defeating their capital from the Usurper and his forces.

All the way over the Stony Shore, Galinmorn and Rurik row their way back to Rocky Hill. They can hear the battle progressing to a new stage as Wilhelm's siege weapons come into play. A wicked wind blows from the west, out of nowhere, shaking their rowboat and almost casting them to the sea, but they manage to get ashore without major complications.

Rurik and Galin are already back at camp when Gnaeus arrives, and Ginarie a few minutes later. She rides into camp with a captured Queen Sasha on the back of her horse, shouting commands for the knights to put up a prisoner's cage inside a tent.

Your knights take Sasha and set out to raise her tent. While they take care of it, the four of you rendezvous at the top of the Rocky Hill, from where you can see the capital and the blazing projectiles that are hurled at the castle walls at uneven intervals. The king's words echo in your head:  The walls will fall, but the main keep is a fortress on its own.  But how long can this fortress hold against Wilhelm's four thousand? Soon he will launch his stairs at the battlements, and mercenaries and Lightning Tribe orcs will pour into the courtyard like a swarm.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik is explaining the plan to the Goblinknight when Gnaeus and Ginarie return,   He wants us to hold until Wilhelm has breached the walls and is assaulting the keep. Then, you'll lead our forces to hit his flank, and we crush him against the tower walls.   Rurik looks over to see the elves,   The hammer's struck true, they've made it back!  
Lioslaith
Galinmorn holds a bit to let the hubbub of the troops taking Sasha and tending to her, then he quietly aks   "Gin, you are hurt, allow me to assist?"    He places a hand gently on her shoulder as he asks but waits for consent before healing her.

 
 Spoiler: Lay on Hands 
30 hp available
 
Flashkannon
"Oh, yes, quite hurt. I could use a good night's sleep. Keep your magic for a little longer, we may need it expediently. I can just get a few bandages and get a good meal, that will hold me. I tell you - that Sasha is a powerful warrior, and no mistake. She took maybe a dozen of my arrows before I got her, in the end. Wilhem's supply camp is wrecked, and his chain of command is without its strong second. We can sweep into the city with little resistance. I also made sure they could not follow us, though I will say - it cost me my most powerful spells."

 Ginarie stretches, cracking her knuckles. She produces an apple, and sits down heavily in a chair in the command tent.  "What a fight! It was a score against us two, though I held the majority of their ire while Gnaeus did his part of the plan. If those knights see me at the head of an army, they may well run for their lives! Especially if I come there riding their mistress's prize warhorse."

"That said, the king's plan is relatively sound - the enemy rushes in, and before their formations can restabilize we bottleneck them - suddenly, they're between a rock and a hard place with no mobility - fish in a barrel. Their numbers become a liability instead of an asset."
Lioslaith
  "As you will."  
J-H
 Gnaeus 
The elf takes the chance to bandage his wounds, stretch, and eat a snack.  He doesn't need to clean off or rehydrate because he never broke a sweat during the entire fight.
 
 Spoiler: hit dice 

 (4d6+8)[ 21 ] 
 
dangelo
The wind blows harder from the west as you ride southwards, carrying with it the smell of sea salt. You leave only a logistical unit to keep the camp running and Queen Sasha safe in her cage, and bring the massive column of over one thousand soldiers over the razed plains of the Crown Lands. Waves crash harder against the Stony Shore, as if the ocean itself rose in anger after a long sleep.

You find Wilhelm's camp burned to the ground and the palisade gates abandoned. The strong wind that started blowing tonight quickly spread the flames, and in less than an hour the whole camp has been reduced to ashes and debris. Of the Queensguard there is no sight, and the mercenaries' horses left tracks that indicate they went off to join the assault by the castle walls.

From here you can clearly hear the loud thumps and clanks of Wilhelm's war machines, and smell the burning oil on the other side of the city walls, and feel the earth shaking beneath your feet whenever a boulder explodes against the massive curtain walls. Orcs roar in rage, turncoat knights blow on their war horns, rows of soldiers bang on their drums,  boom boom, boom boom, boom boom, boom boom. 

Percilla and Lord Bartholomew are rallying the knights to enter the camp and the city when a moonlight glimmer draws your attention to the bay. The waves bring more than sea salt to the Crown Lands: A mast flying blue-and-silver emerges from the dark of the night, and then another, and another and another. Like a vision straight out of your nightmares, the Usurper's fleet  cuts through the waves of the Stony Shore, torches glowing orange on along the sides of the ships. Each ship is heavily packed with soldiers in full armor, knights and their horses, and hundreds and hundreds of archers.

A lightning strikes the sky. The black smoke that billows from the siege in thick clouds is barely enough to cover the sky, briefly illuminated by a the lightning. Heavy gloom far above your heads, and the first drops of train  clink  against your soldiers' helmets.

 They were too late. Too late is worse than never. 
Flashkannon
"When it rains it pours, am I right? At least the rain will reduce visibility. Alright, it's boom or bust time. I've got another fight in me, let's see what we can do. Of course, we could always have a bit of a naval sabotage trip, though... I'm not sure how I'd quietly destroy a ship. Disable the rudder? I'd need some waterproof glue or gum."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik squints out toward the bay and frowns, the creases on his face growing deeper,   Always lagging behind, even when we’re a step ahead.   His gaze returns to the enemy forces besieging the castle,   There’s naught we can do about it now; the King’ll have to hold the postern by himself. So we keep to the plan and smash Wilhem’s forces ‘fore he breaks into the keep!  
Lioslaith
  "It would seem that is our only option, friend.  Let us be set to the task and not stop until tis done."  
J-H
 Gnaeus 
 "Right, let's get to it without any further delay." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik bears his teeth at the sight of the siege,   Bah!   He turns back to his Stone Warriors and points to the ships,   Look there, in the bay! You see what I see. We were meant to flank Wilhelm, but now he’s the one flanking the King! The usurper’s got orcs, reavers, and traitors at his side. But what are they to the children of stone!   He bangs his hammer against his shield.

  The King and his castle are the anvil on which our kingdom is forged! We are his hands, and you his hammers! It’s time to hammer out the slag and reshape this realm!   His hammer rings against his shield again.

  Wilhem has the numbers but we are dwarves! Our skin is Iron, our will Adamantine! Our hearts burn with the fury of a thousand forges, since Moradin shaped us from the bones of the earth! They are making the ground quake with their engines, but we will make their hearts quake with fear! They are shaking the castle walls, but their arms and legs will tremble at the sight of us!   He bangs his shield again.

  Look to me Stone Warriors! The King has our loyalty, but now, more than ever, he needs our victory! They have made it into the bailey, let's make sure they never make it out! Crash forth and let them say of this day; the usurper knocked down the towers and broke down the walls, but there was one stone he could not tumble - King Harald's Stone Warriors!  

Rurik lets out a mighty roar, and begins the procession through the siege camp and into the walled city.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn grins as his friend rallies the troops.  When he finishes he nods to the 300 and spurs his horse into a gallop staying at the front of the warriors columns.
dangelo
The Fifteen Hundred of Harald come marching through the great city walls, now reduced to shambles, ruined by Wilhelm's war machines. The cobblestone road has been swept clean of debris, and your army easily gains access to the city in an organized column split in three sections: the Stone Warriors in the vanguard, on foot, steady and sturdy like a shield; the five hundred of Lord Bartholomew, a huge number of them archers and crossbowmen, used to fighting aboard a ship; and the original Three Hundred leading from the rear, a mighty unit of heavy cavalry ready to swoop in on the right moment. The whole army falls into 150 rows of ten, maneuvering with discipline and haste, never breaking, never moving faster or slower than they're supposed to.

The main street of the capital greets you with the warmth and the orange glow of the whole city ablaze. Half a mile down the road, the castle stands besieged: twelve trebuchets on each side, and double the number of catapults. Orcs gather in five great masses: Two on each side, casting stairs and climbing the walls, only to be repelled by Harald's knights, and another by the gates, battering a huge ram against the raised drawbridge. A few yards behind them, a thousand mercenaries rain arrows on the battlements and operate Wilhelm's siege weapons.

Even further behind is the reserve, where Wilhelm leads his modest cavalry: a thousand men in steel riding barded warhorses, bearing bloodstained banners of blue and silver and gold.  Boom boom, boom boom, boom boom, boom boom.  Soldiers bang on drums, knights cry commands, archers knock, draw, loose, and catapults go  ka-KLACK  and launch bundles of rocks onto the defending forces.

Willhem has little of his brother's regal poise. He is just as tall and heavy-built, but his eyes dart around in paranoia, constantly worrying about his plans, and he doesn't stand far as proud, his shoulders hunched and his helmet heavy on his head. At his side is Solemnos the High Priest, easily identifiable by the archbishop hat perched up on his bony head. Frail wisps of white hair trail down his back, his bony hands clench a beautiful ivory staff decorated with a silver eagle.

The army stretches to both sides, embracing the castle like a bear hugs its prey. Far over the main keep, Wilhelm's fleet deploys a dozen ships worth of soldiers by the sea gate, barely opposed by a garrison that was already struggling to repel one front. The first knight to spot your Fifteen Hundred blows on the warhorn one, two, three times. It takes a while for the commsnders to realize what was going on - none of the mercenary outriders has reported such a massive force marching around the Crown Lands. If that was the case, he would have kept half his forces under his queen's command.

Willhem orders his men to maneuver around and face the invasion, but his knights are mixed with mercenaries in the narrow streets of the capital, and the latter lacks proper battlefield discipline. His lines shatters, some of them struggling to fall in formation, others riding the opposite way to reposition in a wider street.

You meet at the town square, where usually there would be music, dancing, street theater, smiths banging on their anvils and merchants announcing their wares, and thieves and beggars and lords and ladies, and horses and donkeys and stray dogs and lazy cats... Now it is ablaze, inns and stores and houses burning in huge tongues of flames. Of the people who once barricaded themselves inside, there is no sight.

Your army falls into Wilhelm's. They cry  "King Harald! King Harald!"  and attack viciously those who were once their brothers and sisters, cousins, parents in law or simply fellow vassals of the righteous king. Only their love for the realm could be greater than the sense of self preservation that lives inside of every creature.

 Skill challenge time! 

The battle has begun in the town square (and other streets around). To get to Wilhem, you must make your way through his cavalry. Hr has a bigger army, but you caught him by surprise and out of position, like a dagger in the back.

Please describe how your character helps the army win this battle to reach Wilhelm. Then, pick a Skill that suits that narrative and roll for it. Two players can't pick the same skill. This will determine how much of your forces Wilhelm will manage to kill off before you inevitably reach him.

(Don't waste your roll to simply attack enemies - whatever you're doing, you're fighting enemies left and right at the same time.)
Lioslaith
Galinmorn uses his voice as well as his fighting abilities to inspire the troops around him, directing the ebb and flow of the battle.  Reinforcing area's with his presence and inspiring speech.

 
 Spoiler: Persuasion 
Used to inspire the troops [roll] 1d20+7[/roll]
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  We can't do nothin' back here Stone Warriors! PUSH!   Rurik and the dwarves move in formation and make themselves both an immovable object and an unstoppable force, advancing forward, and giving no ground as they do.

 
 Spoiler: Athletics with Inspiration 

  Athletics  - (1d20+10)[ 26 ] ,   Advantage  - (1d20+10)[ 11 ] 
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 40/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus' arms work his bow, firing arrows at short range with deadly precision into knights too busy to raise their shields against him.  The battlefield swirls in a hundred tiny whirlpools of chaos, each an obstacle to penetrating enemy lines.  Those with a keen eye, though, can spot enemies isolated, out of position, or with their backs turned.  Gnaeus calls out directions in his clear, carrying elven voice, targeting what seem to be gaps in the enemy line.

 
 Spoiler 

Perception  (1d20+6)[ 12 ] 
 
Flashkannon
 It was time for Ginarie to strut her stuff. From atop the queen's solid and well-trained warhorse, she makes herself a holy terror on the battlefield. An ordinary man would be slain outright by one of her arrows, and she is equally skilled with her rapier. Of course, that's not what her enemies see. They see their own queen, a guise Ginarie put together using her study of Sasha in captivity and a little of her own magic. Afterall, their queen fled the scene, and was not seen again. Who's to say if this is truly her or not? Can they really strike down their lady? And even if they can overcome their hesitation, is it even possible to defeat her?

Using Sasha's horse as a wedge, and a shield she borrowed from an injured knight, Ginarie lays waste to the knights, slaying them even as they stare bug-eyed at the apparent betrayal of their beloved queen. Ginarie smirks. Strictly speaking, she was just using an elementary trick - a simple illusion, and fighting them with no additional tricks. Almost a fair fight, really. Rather generous, if she does say so herself. 
dangelo
One by one, you defeat dozens of traitor knights who once fought under King Harald. Some of them yield after the first deep wound, others run away, and some fight to the end; Trapped between a rock and a hard place, they fail to take advantage of their mobility, and soon start to lose ground.

Your 1500 threaten to push past the town square, to which Wilhem responds by pouring his entire cavalry into battle, spreading his reserve thinner, but covering all battlefronts. This tactical move eliminates the thicket of knights packed between you and Wilhelm, and finally the Usurper and the High Priest ride into the town square.

Both sides hesitate, knowing that the next stage of battle will bring heavy losses to both sides.  "What is the meaning of this?"  He points his longsword at the fake Sasha.  "Is this an insult, or a trick? My brother's last hope is a bunch of scoundrels and dirty stonemen? I offer you one last chance to surrender and join my cause! Whether it's power that you seek, or riches, or glory. I can give you what my brother could never. Trust me, as the gods have trusted!" 

Solemnos raises his ivory staff, and a soothing wave of inspiration spreads through Wilhelm's troops. None of them seem to notice the magic in that gesture, but experienced generals like the four of you do: It is an effect similar to  Charm Person , but even more subtle and powerful.

It all starts to make sense; How else could Wilhelm have hired a thousand mercenaries without the coin? To convince Harald's most loyal vassals to buy the church's version of things and side with an usurper? To have the Orcs of the Lightning Tribe fight in a human war? The turncoats knights bang their swords on their shields as Wilhelm issues a challenge to the opposing generals.  "Or fight me here and now, and face death by my blade."  His longsword bursts in magical flames. The heat doesn't seem to bother the Usurper's gloved hands.
Lioslaith
  "Come now, usurper, let us test your mettle without the magic spell from your pet priest to enhance your speech."   
 
 Spoiler: Rolls 

 (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  persuasion to convince his follow he is full of crap
 (1d20+1)[ 9 ]  Initiative
 
dangelo
 "Lies, lies, lies!"  Wilhelm bellows. Solemnos casts a spell that makes his voice sound ten times louder than normal.  "Don't you see these are but tricksters? Cowards, deceivers, liars! Those who aren't strong enough to face their enemies rely on charms and tricks! Rise now, fight and kill, fight for the future of the realm!" 

Your attempts to dissuade Wilhelm's troops fail. It might be possible to do it under better circumstances, and more importantly, away from Wilhelm and Solemnos.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Both sides hesitate, knowing that the next stage of battle will bring heavy losses to both sides.  "What is the meaning of this?"  He points his longsword at the fake Sasha.  "Is this an insult, or a trick? My brother's last hope is a bunch of scoundrels and dirty stonemen? I offer you one last chance to surrender and join my cause! Whether it's power that you seek, or riches, or glory. I can give you what my brother could never. Trust me, as the gods have trusted!"  
 

 Ginarie snickers.  "What, you don't recognize your own wife? Could it be you have lost touch with the fairer sex since starting this war?"  She puts a hand to an open mouth and gasps theatrically,  "or could it be that, much like the service of your knights and mercenaries, you won the hand of your wife with the use of powerful, mind-clouding magics?"

 Ginarie leans over and smiles coquettishly,  "Ah, that must have been what gave me away - unlike your wife, I can talk and act as I please! Oh, so  sorry  your highness,"  Ginarie mocks him,  "I'll just get in line, give you few heirs, and busy myself in the army's kitchen!"  She laughs, long and hard. Ginarie is aware that supply train guarding isn't a shameful act, but one cannot deny that he sent his most powerful general to warm the bench in the most important battle of his life, and that said bench also included all of his food supplies, which she was intended to meter out. 

"If you want my service, have your man there wrestle it from me, if he even can."
dangelo
  "Mock away! Queen Sasha of the River Lands serves this realm with all her might and spirit! And yes, she has given me a dozen healthy, strong lordlings! They are here tonight, don't you see? My firstborn leads the assault while I'm here, dealing with you scum."   To which his knights cry  "Riverlord!"  and  "Hail Queen Sasha!"  and  "Death to the False King!" .

Wilhem let their exclamations die out before he spoke again, even though his magically enhaced voice would have washed over theirs. The Usurper lacks personal magnetism, but has been taught exactly how to inspire his inferiors.  "Now answer! What have you done with Her Majesty? And watch out, for depending on your words, my knights will see them at the point of their lances! 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie puts her hands on her hips, and raises her eyebrows.  "Oh, you wish to know, Wilhem of the Riverlands? Of course, I know where she is in great detail, but I don't see any reason I should tell you. Again, I invite your pet priest there to try and wring it from me, if he can."

 She drops the pose, persuades Sasha's horse to walk a few paces, and looks over her shoulder, tilting her head to the side with a vulpine grin.  "Perhaps I could say something else of interest! You know, I did see Lady Sasha tonight, we had a little soirée, she and I. A little dance, blade to blade, with all her knights in attendance, but unable to provide more than an inconvenience. Perhaps you should ask them what happened, but I'm happy to tell you - she fled before me, and despite that, she neither showed up here, nor did her corpse. What was the face she pulled? Oh, yes, I remember!"   Ginarie mimics the face of frustration and pressure Sasha was wearing as she was forced to retreat, before slipping back into her normal mannerisms.  "That should tell you a little about what went on. In any case, I'm the only Sasha you'll be seeing tonight."

 Ginarie stops, and looks at Wilhem directly, straight on  "Oh, and I must say, it did not escape my notice that you declined to contradict my claims, there. I was jesting, as is my nature, but are you saying that you in fact did ensnare your wife with sorcery? That your children were borne not of love or noble obligation, but of ensorcellment? You are quite the villain, sir!"
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik calls out,”Wilhem! We do not recognize any authority of would-be usurpers, traitors, turncoats, and all around blow hards.” He unscrolls the parchment signed by Harald, “While the one true King Harald defends the kingdom from your treachery, we speak with his authority as Hands of the King. Disband these men and amnesty will be considered for those under the foul magicks of your ur-priest. But for you and your brood, and for Solemnos there, you will answer directly to the King!”
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 40/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus quietly nudges his horse to the side, seeking a good angle from which to fire an arrow at Solemnos and catch the priest by surprise.  He makes sure to get within 80' (short range) if he can.
 
 Spoiler: Stealth on a horse? 

 (1d20+10)[ 13 ] 
Or if Deception applies, only +5
or if Sleight of Hand applies, +10
 
dangelo
  "You will address him as 'Your Holiness', you... Shameful stone-born creature."   Wilhelm's voice cracks out of anger.  "There is only one king! The ancient laws proclaim the second son as the King's heir, and the first as the King's Marshal. This is how it was meant to be by the gods themselves!" 

Solemnos puts a hand on his shoulder, their horses side by side. The Usurper takes a deep breath before continuing:  "I am not surprised Sasha was defeated. My wife is a lady and a warrior, and you are tricksters. Imps, or goblins. You fight with no honor, and with the darkest of sorceries."  Wilhem raises his flaming sword in the air. The thin rain falls heavier, faint droplets turning thicker. Still it wasn't enouigh to put out the fire that spread through the city, not yet at least.

 "I command you to stop lying!"  Wilhem cries, and Solemnos grips his staff tighter, intensifying the magical aura that emanates from it.

Your minds are filled with images of Wilhem as a glorious champion, ahorse, winning battles over the land, and later sitting the throne and ruling over the entire kingdom, and later his neighbors to the north beyond the mountains, and over the Inner Sea, all along the Bay of Kings, and a new crow is placed upon the the head of Emperor Wilhem the First!

Wisdom saves DC 15

Galinmorn  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Ginarie  (1d20+2)[ 22 ] 
Gnaeus  (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
Rurik  (1d20+1)[ 4 ] 

For reasons yet to be explained, any bonuses against being Charmed by Fey creatures apply to this. On a failure, your character becomes charmed by the staff, which effectively means you'll be Frightened of Wilhelm if you do anything that means him harm. This effect is temporary, but can be made permanent if you're exposed to it for several days.

Even if you fail the save, you are well aware that these feelings are false. You don't become mindless puppets like Wilhelm's knights until the effect has become permanent.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "I am not surprised Sasha was defeated. My wife is a lady and a warrior, and you are tricksters. Imps, or goblins. You fight with no honor, and with the darkest of sorceries." 
 

"More of a warrior than you."  Ginarie sighs, long-sufferingly. 

 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
  "I command you to stop lying!"  Wilhem cries, and Solemnos grips his staff tighter, intensifying the magical aura that emanates from it.

Your minds are filled with images of Wilhem as a glorious champion, ahorse, winning battles over the land, and later sitting the throne and ruling over the entire kingdom, and later his neighbors to the north beyond the mountains, and over the Inner Sea, all along the Bay of Kings, and a new crow is placed upon the the head of Emperor Wilhem the First!

DC 15
Ginarie: 22 
 

 Ginarie feels the magic wash over her mind, and allows it to slip on by, failing to make purchase, the images fading as soon as they arrive.  "Heh."

"Heheh. Haha! Ahahahaha!"  Ginarie laughs, full-throated, pointing at Wilhem as the object of her ridicule. 

"I knew it! You overambitious lordlings are all the same. I prick your fragile, overinflated pride and you'll do anything,  anything  to make me bend the knee and recant. But you took your best shot, just now, I can tell."  She scoffs, dismissively.  "I wasn't just insulting you to trick you into responding, however - I meant every word. Your strikes are dull, little boy, and your plays at nobility are as pure as the mud you've trampled into the very seat of power over which you claim ownership."

 Ginarie shifts to a more noble bearing, a little similar, perhaps, to Sasha's mannerisms.  "Come, then, lordling. Draw your steel - if you want power, over me or this kingdom, you're going to have to fight for it, tooth and nail, with your own hands. Let us see what power you yourself possess, that is not borrowed from the fey, or stolen from the will-less slaves in your army and in your bedroom."
dangelo
Before the Usurper could reply, a roar of celebration spreads over his orcs an mercenaries, a quarter of mile away, when their ram finally breaks through the massive castle gates. Axemen jump in to finish the job, and soon Wilhelm's forces are pouring through the open gate, cleaving through the opposition and bathing the inner courtyard in blood.

King Harald and his garrison retreat to the Main Keep. Wilhelm's engineers order the mercenaries to move his trebuchets, aiming for the battlements of the keep instead of the curtain walls, and orcs carry their stairs away into the courtyard.

The rain shifts into a storm. Lightning cracks across the sky, wind blows from the west.

Gnaeus shoots an arrow at the High Priest, but it is deflected by a magic force field that is only briefly visible when the projectile hits it. The gilded vambraces the priest wears shines with magical energy (Mighty Bracers of Defense, +5 to AC when not wearing any armor or shield)

Initiative

Gnaeus 22
Ginarie 17
Rurik 17
Wilhem the Usurper 11
Galin 9
Solemnos the High Priest 2

Ginarie and Rurik are up next
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 40/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus takes aim at the high priest, holding his horse as still as possible, focusing on nothing but one shot.  His arrow flies true, right at the old man wielding whatever the mind-altering staff is ( perhaps nobody should have it ).
 
 Spoiler 

BA Steady Aim for advantage
 (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
for  (4d6+4)[ 15 ]  including sneak attack  crit: +15 from Discord = 30 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik feels the priest’s magic wash over him and doubt as to how to proceed fills him with indecision. The horse can feel his fear and becomes difficult to manage, “Blasted priest!” he mutters.

Unsure and unable to spur the horse forward, the path forward becomes clear when Gnaeus and Ginarie attack Solemnos, “Aye, let’s take down the sorcerer!”

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 

Bonus Action - Rage
Action - Attack Solemnos (roll in discord)

Horse - Dodge
 
dangelo
Ginarie and Gnaeus's arrows break through the priest's forcefield, lodging in his flesh, and Rurik's shield hit him right on the face. Solemnos spits a broken tooth along with some blood.

Wilhelm takes the Dodge action, Solemnos casts a  Bless  spell upon himself and Wilhelm.

Round 2: Interrupting Initiative.

Another lightning illuminates the sky. It falls right in the middle of the battlefield, blinding and deafening everyone. Before you can see anything, you catch the smell of flower perfume and fresh fruit filling the streets of the capital; A wild, tropical smell, followed by the growl of animals, the chirping of insects and the singing of birds.

You open your eyes to see a colossal magical portal open in the spot that was just hit by lightning. It shines with hues of pink and blue and green, and through it you can glimpse a thick jungle full of colorful mushrooms and trees and roots and herbs, and faeries and centaurs and satyrs, and a thick mist of everblooming raw magic.

Hundreds of water elementals pour through the portal, not organized like an army, but chaotic like a horde. They attack Harald's and Wilhelm's men at no discretion, cutting through their horses with watery blades and engulfing their riders with their bodies. Faeries of all colors and sizes join the fight, casting sleep arrows or charm spells at any humanoid on sight. Centaurs rain arrows through the portal before galloping into battle with curved bronze swords.

On the other side of the city, by the castle docks, another small army of water elementals merge into a single Colossal creature and start smashing Wilhelm's ships with heavy swings of its gigantic arms. Most of his men are already on land, but are still washed away by the powerful waves that now crash against the sea gate.

One fairy flies above the rest, shining ten times brighter than any other fairy. Her hair and her eyes seem to shift between all colors of the rainbow. She wears a beautiful dress made of leaves and a crown of diminute flowers that fits her tiny figure perfectly.

"This is the end of the tyranny of men!" The fairy princess declares. "This land once belonged to the Wild, and it shall once again! You steal our magic and use it as a toy! It is the end of your greedy crusade!"

You are filled with visions of an ancient past.

---

The Bay of King has been a disputed province since the times of yore. A long strip of arable, fertile land, squeezed between mountain ranges and the Inner Sea, the Bay was flooded by war for thousands of years, until the Kings of Old took hold of the land and swore to defend it until the end of times. Only a few centuries have gone by since, but long enough for Harald's dynasty to consolidate among their power among the smallfolk of the Bay.

Before lords and knights roamed this land, when the warring factions of the Bay of Kings huddled in wooden motte-and-bailey fortifications, the Church of the Morninglord was much less powerful than the Druid Circles who guarded the woods and offered spiritual guidance to the smallfolk, performed marriages, delivered babies and brewed potions without fear of persecution. Back then, every spring, the Circles would gather around their ancient stones to please the gods of nature, spread peace, and discuss the future of the province.

Back then, the druids opened a portal to the Feywild and forged a contract with the fairies: The Silver Eagle was made and hidden, a powerful artifact that could save the province from falling into the hands of tyrants in times of crisis.

The Eagle was hidden away, and its location, trusted to the Kings of Old from who Harald and Wilhem descend. But as centuries went by, the secret was forgotten and the Eagle became a myth, ancient folklore that the elderly tell their grandchildren to teach them about the world and its magic...

---

Solemnos wastes no time; He puts his hand on Wilhelm's shoulder once again and conjures his powerful magic. They both turn to light and are launched into the skies, Teleporting to somewhere inside the castle. His knights are left behind to be slaughtered by the Feywild forces, overwhelmed and terrified, running for their lives only to be caught and killed in the process.

Everywhere you look, knights of both sides are overwhelmed by Fey creatures. Wilhelm's mercenaries and orcs manage to retreat into the courtyard, leaving lines of salt on the ground around the walls, which hinders the ability of Fey flying over the walls. It seems like Wilhelm was more than ready to be attacked by Fey.

The fires around the city start to cool off under the heavy storm. The wind billows your cloaks violently to the east, washing your faces and leaving you drenched.

Many of your Fifteen Hundred retreat, realizing the Fey are attacking everyone in the vicinity of the capital, but not without suffering heavy losses. Wilhelm's knights suffer even further - Unable to ride through the masses of mercenaries and orcs who are closer to the castle, they are slaughtered one by one by the mighty Fey, leaving their blue-and-silver banners lying on the floor, soaked in their own blood.

Lord Bartholomew, fighting ahorse, bellows to the four of you: "Go after the Usurper! Percilla and I will lead the men to safety!" He dodges a faery arrow and slashes through a centaur who dares to cross blades with him. "Save the king! Nothing else matter right now! Save Harald!"

Bartholomew rides away to lead the troops, blowing his warhorn over and over. "Cavalry, to me! To me!"

 Lair Action:  Starting next round, every round that you remain within the city, one of you will be targeted by a random attack, decided by a d6:

 
 Faerie 
 Centaur 
 Water Elemental 
 Redcap 
 Satyr 
 Displacer Beast 
 
The castle is 4 rounds away at full gallop. The city walls are the same distance, the opposite way.
Flashkannon
"Oh, for all eight legs of Lolth, why do they keep running away? I swear, I use all my good lines to get them good and incensed, and instead of charging me, they run!"   Ginarie groans, the smug energy gone from her in a heaved exhalation.  "Am I flirting too much? Not enough? I swear, if those priestesses were right and I have to be wearing leather and carrying a whip for it to work right I'm gonna kill someone."  She looks around at her companions, and the frustration leaves her in an instant as she takes in all the blank stares.  "No, no, you're all men, I don't know why I'm asking you. It's fine. Really, it's fine. Forget I said anything."   She inhales and exhales again, centering herself behind Sasha's face.  "Alright, let's go save the king, and I'll bury my blade in that traitorous Wilhem's eyesocket."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik flourishes his warhammer, “There won’t be sockets left once I’ve brained the traitor!” He looks at the gauntlet of fey intruders and ensorcelled knights before them, “Look sharp and be swift. To the King!”

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 
Action - Dash
 
J-H
 Gnaeus 
A great shot, then they run away - disappointing.  Gnaeus is rather surprised at the fae portal, and glad to get away from that fight.  He joins the others in their rush.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn follows suit and turns his horse towards the castle
dangelo
 
 Spoiler: Dice Rolls 

 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 It's 4 rounds until you reach the castle. The target of each round will be determined randomly:

1. Galinmorn, 2. Genarie, 3. Gnaeus, 4. Rurik

Round 1 (1d4)[3]
Round 2 (1d4)[2]
Round 3 (1d4)[3]
Round 4 (1d4)[1]

Now rolling to decide which effect is gonna happen each round

Round 1 (1d6)[5]
Round 2 (1d6)[4]
Round 3 (1d6)[1]
Round 4 (1d6)[4] 
 


 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Round 1: Fairy. Fire Bolt on Gnaeus
(1d20+3)[19] for (1d10)[3]

Round 2: Redcap; Scythe attack on Ginarie
(1d20+6)[17] for (2d4+4)[12]

Round 3: Satyr. Ram attack on Gnaeus
(1d20+3)[4] for (2d4+1)[5]

Round 4: Redcap. Scythe attack on Galinmorn
(1d20+6)[9] for [roll]2d4+4[/roll 
 

Rolled in our  Dice thread 
 

You push your horses into a full gallop. The animals are terrified, but well-trained for war, and never even threaten to break. Magic spells and faerie arrows miss you by an inch, the rain washing over your faces under a blustering wind. As much as you try to be quick, there's no way to avoid the fight - displacer beasts pounce at your horses, faeries snipe you from above, and coming your way is a small troop of Redcaps.

The gnome-like Fey somersault around swinging their scythes, laughing madly, splashing arcs of blood all over the streets. You never even slow down, but they leap and climb on your horses and try to stab you from behind, push you off the saddle, or simply gut your mounts so you'll fall. A bunch of satyrs spring out of an alleyway, block your way, and lower their horns for the incoming impact, but you half trample, half leap over them, trusting your horses to never miss a step.

The storm rages on, the wind so strong it pushes your horses out of balance. Finally you reach the base of the rock on top of which the castle has been built, but now you must ride all the way around the switchback road that leads up to the gates, now in shambles. Once you cross the line of salt that has been placed around the castle, the Fey lose interest in you, and return to their task of slaughtering Wilhem's men.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Revitalized by the potion he'd drunk during the mad ride, Gnaeus sees the barricade ahead, as well as the archers.  Calling  "See you on the inside!"  he jumps off his horse and scrambles up the cliff, then launches himself up the wall and climbs it, his magical shoes letting him nearly run up the side.

 Spider climb; move, dash, BA dash = 90' movement up to the tower 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie spots some orcs along the walltop. Best to take them out. She can spot them easier than they can spot her. Once more, fools challenge her in the dark and they get their just desserts. She looses three arrows, two of which hit. Should down at least one. She spurs her pilfered horse towards the barricade. 

(11 damage + 20 damage)
Lioslaith
Galin follows Rurik to the barricade then dismounts and hurries around it.
dangelo
The five orcs on this section of the wall shoot a volley of arrows at Ginarie, Galin and Rurik. They all spend their actions to do a single area attack.

Area piercing damage  (1d8+1)[ 9 ] 

Dex saves DC 14 for half
Ginarie  (1d20)[ 1 ] 
Galin  (1d20)[ 5 ] 
Rurik  (1d20)[ 11 ] 
 "Ghashûk dâra! Ghashâk bagronk!"  One of the archers cries to the others. They start to make for the front gate, moving along the battlements of the curtain walls.

You are up.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus aims for the one in front, all the better to delay them with.
 
 Spoiler 

Assuming I have line of sight, Steady Aim.  If not, move to the edge of the battlements so I have line of sight.
 (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 6 ] 
If steady aim, Advantage  (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  and sneak attack  (3d6)[ 10 ] 
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The five orcs on this section of the wall shoot a volley of arrows at Ginarie, Galin and Rurik. They all spend their actions to do a single area attack.

Area piercing damage [roll0]

Dex saves DC 14 for half
Ginarie [roll1]
Galin [roll2]
Rurik [roll3]

 "Ghashûk dâra! Ghashâk bagronk!"  One of the archers cries to the others. They start to make for the front gate, moving along the battlements of the curtain walls.

You are up. 
 

 The arrows disrupt her concentration. One spell left. Unfortunate, but workable. Still, she repays it in kind - spurring Sasha's horse to jump, she nocks an arrow and, at the apex of its jump, looses the arrow, then nocks and looses a second arrow in almost the same moment. As Sasha's horse lands on the other side of the barrier, She hears orcs falling on the wall. All they would have seen was an arrow coming out of the darkness, way to late to dodge. 

"No more arrow showers. We'll meet Gnaeus on the other side of the wall, and then... ugh, we'll have to just go to the king's side. I'd hoped to just track that little mole of a priest, but it'll be harder, now. We're working on the back foot until we spot them again."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik pulls an arrow out of a gap in his armor,   Aye, no doubt we'll find 'em with da king!   Between his own tenacity and the trollblood amulet, it's as if the arrows never pierced him. He continues running up the path.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 4 
  Action   - Dash
 
dangelo
Ginarie and Galinmorn (and maybe Rurik, if he makes the skill check) gallop uphill, their hooves splashing water everywhere, hitting the cobblestones in a steady pace,  cla-clack, cla-clack, cla-clack,  arrows flying from above, the storm insisting on washing over the capital. You are over thirty feet above street level now, and can glimpse the entire capital and the bloody battle that still rages on. A small tornado is forming, destroying buildings and throwing knights into the skies. Here and there, the fires are giving out, but little is left of the buildings themselves. The mercenaries and knights are giving battle, and the streets run red with mortal blood and gold with Ichor. This might go on for several hours.

The gate itself is raised 10 feet above the ground, which can be accessed by a 20-foot wide ramp. The Lightning Tribe's battering ram has burst through the gates, so the way inside is free - except for a small host of glaive-wielding orcs that jump from behind cover just as your horses make the turn, crying horrible words in their orcish speech. They poke at you with the tip of their polearms, pushing you away from the inner courtyard.

Two Glaive attacks on Ginarie
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 13 ]  piercing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 11 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  piercing damage

Two Glaive attacks on Galinmorn
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 8 ]  piercing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  for  (1d10+3)[ 7 ]  piercing damage

Only two archers manage to get out of the battlements with their lives. They switch to the gate side of the wall and aim for the least armored target among Ginarie, Galinmorn and Rurik. With their targets right against the wall, they prefer to throw javelins instead of shooting arrows.

Two javelin attacks against Ginarie. Javelins are heavy projectiles, so these attacks do not suffer the same penalty as arrows.

 (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d6+3)[ 4 ]  piercing damage
 (1d20+5)[ 7 ]  for  (1d6+3)[ 4 ]  piercing damage

Behind the line of glaive-wielding orcs, you can see the courtyard where Galin and Rurik gathered with King Harald just an hour ago. The area is littered with dead orcs, hundreds of them piling on top of one another: the king's garrison must have thinned Wilhem's forces considerably by bottleknecking them at the Main Keep. But for your dread, the battle here is already over. Only these few orcs have been left here to hold your advance, and the rest has gone into the Main Keep with Wilhem.

You can hear the sounds of battle coming from somewhere within the keep. King Harald is currently retreating further and further into his fortress, higher and higher, one floor after the other. He has 7 floors to keep him safe - you must save him before Wilhem corners him at the top!
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus takes careful aim at one of the orcs on the wall, firing a single shot at the orc's neck.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Steady Aim
 (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  for  (4d6+4)[ 13 ] 
 
Lioslaith
Galinmorn does not hesitate. He charges headlong into the orc blocking the path to his king. Intending to bowl them over and clear a path inward.

 
 Spoiler: Att &amp; Dam 

 (1d20+8)[ 19 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 7 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 6 ] 

If one of those hit he will use his bonus action to cast thunderous smite
 (2d6)[ 4 ]  Strength save DC15 or be pushed back 10’

 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[?B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik brings his hammer and armor to bear against the orcs,   Out of the way tuskface!  
 
 Spoiler: Turn 5 

  Move   - Move if need be, but I believe orcs are adjacent to us?
  Action   - Attack orc, Recklessly
  Warhammer Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 9 ]  or   Reckless Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d8+6)[ 13 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  or   Reckless Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d8+6)[ 14 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Attack orc, Recklessly
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  or   Reckless Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
  Piercing  - (1d4+6)[ 9 ] 

Reckless Abandon - Rurik gains 3 temporary hit points when he uses Reckless Attack.
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The Lightning Tribe's battering ram has burst through the gates, so the way inside is free - except for a small host of glaive-wielding orcs that jump from behind cover just as your horses make the turn, crying horrible words in their orcish speech. They poke at you with the tip of their polearms, pushing you away from the inner courtyard.

Two Glaive attacks on Ginarie

Only two archers manage to get out of the battlements with their lives. They switch to the gate side of the wall and aim for the least armored target among Ginarie, Galinmorn and Rurik. With their targets right against the wall, they prefer to throw javelins instead of shooting arrows.

Two javelin attacks against Ginarie. Javelins are heavy projectiles, so these attacks do not suffer the same penalty as arrows. 
 

"Oh for - I know it's mind control, but this of suicidal loyalty thing is getting really inconvenient. Oh well, if you put wheat before my scythe, I suppose I'll take a swing."

 Ginarie had seen farmers at their work up here, with those long-handled implements, and seen quite a few illustrations that had likened the personification of death itself as a reaper and souls as stalks of wheat - that easily workable material they used up here in replacement for mushroom, which could not grow as plentifully under the sun's oppressive rays. It is to this she now alludes, metaphorically patting herself on the back for making a reference they might understand. She draws her rapier, and spins Sasha's horse 90 degrees to get herself in the orcs' guards, batting their glaives aside and stabbing them each once in the throat. As they crumple, she says,   "There, picked off the leftovers. You boys ride on through, I'll pick up our wallwalker and be right behind you."

(23 and 22 to hit, 15 and 16 damage on two separate glaive orcs)

 Ginarue watches Gnaeus leap over her head to the castle walls. "Nevermind. I'm with you, then. Let's get that traitor."
dangelo
The orcs of the Lightning Tribe don't even notice the shadow that slips over the wall and picks them off from above. Down below, Rurik and Galinmorn ride into the blockade with all their might, pushing lances aside and ramming their mounts into the enemies. They try to step aside, but meet the point of Ginarie's rapier before they can go anywhere.

It is a welcome relief to ride into the inner courtyard; While the rain still washes over your cloaks, the curtain walls keep most of the wind from blowing directly on you, and it is easier to talk and hear each other. On the other hand, you now see the Main Keep right up close, towering above you like a huge exclamation point that crashed into the surface of the earth, a constant reminder of how close you are from saving King Harald, and yet how easily he can be taken from your grasp.  Too late is worst than never.  A lightning crosses the sky again, illuminating the banners that fly above the Main Keep: Red and gold, the colors of the Crown Lands, of the First Son, the King and Defender of the Realm. As long as those banners aren't replaced by Wilhem's blue-and-silver, there is hope.

You glimpse the double doors that lead into the Main Keep wide open, revealing the way into a well-lit Great Hall. It seems empty.

60 feet above, Gnaeus scampers up the wall of the Main Keep at the height of the 6th floor. Through the narrow windows of the keep, you can see the royal chambers, two doors (one leading up, one leading down, most likely) and three lone knights fighting a dozen orcs that somehow have managed to pour through one of the doorways.  "Don't let them get through, for gods' sake!"  You recognize the voice of Prince Hector, Harald's first son, although his face is completely obscured by a gilded greathelm decorated with a lion's crest. Bright orange plumes jut from his shoulderguards, giving him the aspect of an actual lion.  "For the king! For the realm!" 

Prince Hector hacks and slashes and slices and dices - in a split second, the orcs are all dead around them. The prince falls to one knee, resting his weight on his longsword. "You. Run back up and tell my sister we cannot keep holding them here. The sixth floor will soon be theirs." One of the knights disappears into the other doorway, leaving the two to stand against the next assault.

A  Light  spell floats in the middle of the room, as it is usual for Harald's chamber -  "Reading under candlelight is hard on my old eyes,"  the king always said.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn checks his horse up only slightly as he gazes around the chamber, looking for the king or any enemies.  As he spots none he pauses   ”Upwards we ride to find the King. Are you with me?”   he ask the dwarf though he doesn’t really wait for an answer as he spurs his horse towards a stairway and up.   “And keep those gods be damned spikes out of my back!”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  The sooner we make it to the fight, the sooner my armor's off your backside! Let's go, For King And Country!!  
dangelo
 "Haaaalt!"  Someone cries as Galin rides into the hallway. Up ahead, in the Great Hall proper, a total of six orcs jump out of cover, and their leader ahead of them. You recognize Wilhelm's first son, the thirty year-old Prince Wilmar. His helmet is long gone; Ironically, Wilmar takes a lot after his uncle, and looks more like Harald than like Wilhem.

He wears a bright white cape and a silvery plate armor. The inside of his cloak is dark blue, decorated with patterns of waves that remind you of the shore of the River Lands. "You cannot pass. Drop your weapons and surrender, and the new king will show mercy."

He brandishes a mace above his head and it shines like the full moon. A strong magical aura emanates from the weapon. "I am Wilmar, Lord of the River Lands and Prince of the Bay of Kings, First General, Marshal of the Realm and Hand of the King." He narrows his eyes at you. "The  one true king. "

(It is not super likely that you already know this guy, since he lives in the Riberlords Keep instead of the capital, but you certainly know of him, and he might known of you too.)
Lioslaith
  ”Hush, boy, you hold no more sway here than the orc who follow you.  You address the Hands of the real king and we would pass to be by his side. Stand aside or be trampled.”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Get me over there and I'll knock them out the way,   Rurik whispers to Galin.

  Initiative  - (1d20+2)[ 16 ] 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
  "Haaaalt!"  Someone cries as Galin rides into the hallway. Up ahead, in the Great Hall proper, a total of six orcs jump out of cover, and their leader ahead of them. You recognize Wilhelm's first son, the thirty year-old Prince Wilmar. His helmet is long gone; Ironically, Wilmar takes a lot after his uncle, and looks more like Harald than like Wilhem.

He brandishes a mace above his head and it shines like the full moon. A strong magical aura emanates from the weapon. "I am Wilmar, Lord of the River Lands and Prince of the Bay of Kings, First General, Marshal of the Realm and Hand of the King." He narrows his eyes at you. "The  one true king. " 
 

 She doesn't have time to get into his head or see what sticks when she pulls at his heartstrings, but maybe a brute force approach. Now, how would Sasha say it...? Agh, no use. These surface humans just don't have last names sometimes. Sigh. It just doesn't work right with only one name, like a stool with one leg. Instead, she gives him a withering look, staring out from behind his mother's eyes.   "Come on, boy. Stand aside, I've no special desire to kill a son while wearing his mother's face. Really, you're a victim in this as much as the average mind-controlled soldier. Do you have any choice but to obey your father? Sheathe your sword, and perhaps you'll be lord of the riverlands tomorrow.

Stay in our way, and... well, we killed our way this far. I, personally, slaughtered enough people to staff this castle in just the last hour or so, as has every warrior riding with me. Earlier this evening, I beat your mother in armed combat while her assembled personal guard and mercenaries were helpless to stop me, and I took her guise and horse for myself. She tried to  run  from me after she thought I'd best her, Wilmar, and she couldn't run fast enough to stop me. Do you really think, even if you stall us long enough for your father to kill his brother before we step over your corpse, we won't just kill him immediately afterwards? Stand down. Don't throw your life away in favor of the man who so abused the magic he found that the fae left their homes to exterminate him, and then left you to be a speed bump, as much as he left the quarter-score dead orcs we slew between the castle gates and here."
 The more mind-controlled thralls she kills, the more bothersome it becomes. Was Wilhem truly so pathetic as to need to use magic to compel his own firstborn's loyalty? 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Gnaeus prowls down the side of the castle, peering silently into the windows on the 5th floor.  The 6th floor is in friendly hands, so anyone trying to reach the king will probably come through this floor.  If it's clear, he'll go on down to 4.
 
 Spoiler 

Walking down the wall to see who's coming up the stairs, and shooting at the hostile furthest up.
Stealth  (1d20+10)[ 14 ]  plus I'm out in the darkness.
Attack if needed  (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  or   (1d20+7)[ 8 ]  for  (4d6+4)[ 13 ] 
 
dangelo
"My heart knows no fear! My father told me everything about you tricksters! There are two marksmen among you, one of them a shapeshifter. I see that's you." He points his shining mace at his lady mother, then the others at her side. "Plus the Stone Warrior and the savage knight. A nice entourage, and very competent at what you do... But you have nice grace. No glory, no honor, and more importantly, no manners. Let us be done with this quick, and wash these halls with our traitor's blood."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
As much as his heart burns to defend King Harald and defeat his enemies, Rurik can't help but wonder if the young prince is also under a mind control effect. Duty puts men and women in difficult places, and a young man would feel a powerful pull to defend his father.

But the kingdom cannot fall. Instead of caving the boy's skill in with his hammer, Rurik aims for the orc behind him and to the right, knocking him aside to make way for the group.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "My heart knows no fear! My father told me everything about you tricksters! There are two marksmen among you, one of them a shapeshifter. I see that's you." He points his shining mace at his lady mother, then the others at her side. "Plus the Stone Warrior and the savage knight. A nice entourage, and very competent at what you do... But you have nice grace. No glory, no honor, and more importantly, no manners. Let us be done with this quick, and wash these halls with our traitor's blood." 
 

"My father this, my father that. Whatever. If you have a choice to make, you made it. I'll show you exactly how much of a markswoman I am, boy. Markswoman! You hear that? Clearly your mother, despite her excellent example, didn't teach you enough about the power of women. I'll have to fix that, if I've the time, and you've the life remaining to learn."

 She aims at the orcs Rurik did not shove out of the way, loosing three arrows, two into one, and a third solidly into another, to clear the way of Wilmar's manpower, and rushing with the others through the gap that created. 

Attack: 23, 27(crit), 23
Damage: 13, 13, 10
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus rushes forward with the others, green flames running down his short sword as he stabs an orc in passing.
 
 Spoiler 

Moving through with the others, using Green Flame Blade against whoever's in the way and next to another enemy.
Attack  (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 10 ]  piercing +  (1d8)[ 5 ]  flames
Sneak attack if one of my allies is also adjacent  (3d6)[ 7 ] 
Fire also jumps to an adjacent enemy target, dealing  (1d8+2)[ 5 ]  fire damage
 
Lioslaith
Galinmorn takes a couple of swipes at Wilmar as he is passing by.

 
 Spoiler: Att &amp; Dam 

 (1d20+8)[ 23 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 6 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 6 ] 
 
Flashkannon
 As they reach a hallway too narrow for horses, Ginarie dismounts, and calls back at Wilmar  "Farewell, boy. Consider this ride-by an act of mercy - should you pursue, you may not get another."  And he would, of course, follow, and she'd shoot him. It was all so tiring. Where was the interplay, the dance, with enchantment like this? You can barely hold a proper conversation unless you cede the point the magic enforces. The satisfaction at having forced Wilhem to use magic to shut her up had faded by now, leaving only a hunger, a yearning for the completion of that fight. This mind-melted fare truly didn't satisfy. 
dangelo
Rurik brings his warhammer into the orc's chest, sending him off his feet and onto his back. Others try to swarm you, but Ginarie's arrows and Gnaeus' flaming blade quickly dispatch them. Wilmar himself tries to stop you, but finds resistance on the edge of Galinmorn's battle axe. You leap off your horses at one of the doorways that lead upwards into the keep, Gnaeus leaping off the walls and in between columns of grey stone.

You don't look back, leaving the queen's majestic stallion spooked and crammed in a hallway that is too narrow for him to maneuver in. By the time the orcs arrive, the stallion is rearing back and kicking anything that moves, desperately trying to get away.

You rush past the empty dining room in the second floor and run straight to the third floor, where the staircase ends. You find a boarded up doorway that leads outside to another set of battlements, and an open door that leads to a nondescript hallway. Signs of battle are noticeable here; Knights from Harald's garrison and orcs of the Lightning Tribe lay dead around you.

Just 20 feet ahead, the corridor leads right to a spiral staircase that will take you to the upper sections of the keep, and left to the king's study and to the other spiral staircase that would take you back to the second and the first floor.

 

A feminine voice crosses the air, out of nowhere.  "So you dealt with my brother, huh? I never expected too much from him, if I may... The gods made him so handsome, that they forgot to give him wits."  A giggle follows.  "You wish to go upstairs and save your king? Go, then. I promise nothing bad is gonna happen." 
Lioslaith
  ”Oh for the love of the Ancients, how many of this usurpers children are we going to have to kill?”   Galin says as he moves forward towards the door. Assuming he is going to get an attack from somewhere.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus listens for a moment, pausing as he tries to figure out if this is a diversionary trick, or an honest threat.
 
 Spoiler 

Perception  (1d20+6)[ 19 ] 
Insight  (1d20)[ 11 ] 
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 45/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Spying an enemy lurking in the shadows ahead, Gnaeus silently rushes forward with his sword tucked behind him, then stabs forward as he approaches, his sword rippling with green magical flames as it stabs forward from within his cloak.
 
 Spoiler 

 BA Hide  (1d20+10)[ 26 ]  to conceal my approach 
Move around the corner and hopefully surprise whoever is there!
Green Flame Blade Attack  (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 10 ]  piercing and  (1d8)[ 8 ]  magic fire  bonus crit damage (1d6, 1d8) 9 rolled in Discord 
 Advantage from sneak attacking around the corner?  (1d20+7)[ 14 ] 
Sneak attack damage if applicable  (3d6)[ 12 ]  

GFB damage to an adjacent enemy if there are 2 of them  (1d8+2)[ 7 ] 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik follows after Gnaeus and lays into the same target with his warhammer.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 

  Move   - Move adjacent to Princess. (35ft movement available)
  Action   - Recklessly Attack Princess.
  Reckless Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 14 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d8+4)[ 10 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 9 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d8+4)[ 7 ] 

Crusher - Rurik can shove her 1 square if he hits. If Rurik has enough movement to move behind the enemy, he'll push them 1 square closer to the party.
 
dangelo
The figure collapses without a sound. Gnaeus realizes he has stabbed some sort of mannequin, a human-like shape made of hay and covered in a full set of plate armor. While the elf inspected his blade, the actual enemy springs out of cover further up the staircase, wearing cloak and dagger and flourishing his blade at Gnaeus.

 (1d20+7)[ 19 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 16 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 9 ]  piercing damage

His voice and face are more similar to a woman's, and if it wasn't for a sharp edge on his chin, it would be impossible to tell this is a man. An androgynous, 20 year-old version of Queen Sasha crosses blades with Gnaeus, his beautiful black hair trailing after him along with his black cloak. He wears a light chain shirt underneath a dark blue gambeson, leather gloves and boots, and a set of knives attached to his chest. He fights with a rapier in a hand and a buckler in the other, flourishing and spinning away.

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure." He steps back after the brief exchange with Gnaeus. "I am Prince Lothar of the Riverlands. May I know your names, so I can write them on your tombstones?"
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
An androgynous man leaps out of hiding from further up the stairs to ambush Gnaeus. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure." The man steps forwards after the brief exchange with Gnaeus. "I am Prince Lothar of the Riverlands. May I know your names, so I can write them on your tombstones?"

  Aye!   Rurik says, charging in with his hammer up high,   Rurik Grimfate, General of the Stone Warriors, Clanless, and Spiked Hand of the King!   He brings his hammer to bear on the prince,   I'll add yer little needle of a weapon to the spikes on my armor!  
 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 
Attacks/damage in  this post .
 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie groans.  "Lolth's potent spinnerets, is there going to be one of you for every floor? I figured your father for a coward, but he's leaving a trail of his own children. You know what, I'm not going to slay you and give him the satisfaction. You're going to have a rough time though, boy, make no mistake."

 She unsheathes her rapier, whispers a few words of power while concentrating on the lad, and slides into position, stabbing him in locations that will likely not kill him, but will hurt him like there's no tomorrow.  "And don't think I didn't notice what you did! Misleading us with a feminine voice to make us lower our guard? Your mother should have taught you better. Hearing it was a woman didn't make me lower my guard, it made me raise it! Any woman worth her blade would have laid a more cunning trap. A dummy and a rapier? Where's the tripwires, fool? Where's the spells?"  She lectures the prince harshly.  "If this is all you had prepared, you've already lost."

Hunter's Mark cast
Attack: 26, 21, 24
Damage: 21, 13, 18 (total 52)
Lioslaith
As the others strike at the next brother, Galin will Add his axe to the mix.


 
 Spoiler: Att &amp; Dam 
Attacking the prince
 (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 8 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 11 ] 
 
dangelo
   Aye!   Rurik says, charging in with his hammer up high,   Rurik Grimfate, General of the Stone Warriors, Clanless, and Spiked Hand of the King!   He brings his hammer to bear on the prince,   I'll add yer little needle of a weapon to the spikes on my armor!   

"I admire you Stone Warriors! To stay by your king when the rest of you chose exhile... It is a pity that we meet as enemies." The prince raises both rapier and buckler together to intercept Rurik's attack, but the dwarf is coming at him like a battering ram, so he resorts to one of the tricks hidden up his sleeve: As a Reaction, Lothar casts the spell  Shield,  which bumps his AC from 18 to 23. It is still not enough to stop Rurik's first attack, though, and his hammer breaks through his chain mail, sending a bunch of broken rings flying into the air.

Lothar scampers up the staircase, almost tripping over the steps. He manages to stand up just in time to deflect Rurik's next attack, wiggling his rapier-and-buckler around himself.


  Ginarie groans.  "Lolth's potent spinnerets, is there going to be one of you for every floor? I figured your father for a coward, but he's leaving a trail of his own children. You know what, I'm not going to slay you and give him the satisfaction. You're going to have a rough time though, boy, make no mistake."

"And don't think I didn't notice what you did! Misleading us with a feminine voice to make us lower our guard? Your mother should have taught you better. Hearing it was a woman didn't make me lower my guard, it made me raise it! Any woman worth her blade would have laid a more cunning trap. A dummy and a rapier? Where's the tripwires, fool? Where's the spells?"  She lectures the prince harshly.  "If this is all you had prepared, you've already lost." 

"Whoever you are, you've earned my respect... But it is hard to take you seriously while you wear my mother's face." With the help of his  Shield spell, the boy-princess deflects one of Ginarie's attacks, but takes the other two. "Oh, I see now! She's also a better swordswoman than you. I would never have blocked even a single attack from her, and I blocked one of yours." He manages to snicker, despite the blood that drips from cuts in his arms and legs, and the bruise on his chest.

But that smirk vanishes from Lothar's face when Galinmorn breaks through his magical shield and slashes at him with his axe, sending even more broken rings flying from Lothar's chain mail, and this time also a splash of blood. "Okay... This is not funny anymore."

Round 2

Lothar casts  Misty Step . He reappears just a few squares up the staircase, over Ginarie and Rurik, and takes the Dash action to climb the rest.  "Retreating!  His light voice rings over corridor.  "They're coming to the Fourth Floor! I need backup!" 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/0  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Everyone knows magick then?   Rurik grumbles. He lowers the visor on his helmet, growls in anger, and takes off up the stairs.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 

  Move   - Move up the stairs full 35ft
  Action   - Dash up the stairs further
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "Whoever you are, you've earned my respect... But it is hard to take you seriously while you wear my mother's face." With the help of his  Shield spell, the boy-princess deflects one of Ginarie's attacks, but takes the other two. "Oh, I see now! She's also a better swordswoman than you. I would never have blocked even a single attack from her, and I blocked one of yours." He manages to snicker, despite the blood that drips from cuts in his arms and legs, and the bruise on his chest. 
 

"Oh, you can talk back? Color me impressed, boy. I didn't think any of your brood had a thought in their head. Well, I appreciate the banter, so I'll let you in on a little secret - you don't need to be the best swordswoman to win a fight. That's a little something I taught your mother earlier tonight. That I'm standing here and she has not so much as showed up to this battle should tell you the rest."

 She smirks, as he teleports away, then runs. Flourishing her magic cloak, she follows silently, blowing past the orcs with nary a sound or a twitch, following him up the stairs. He bore her hunter's mark - he would be seeing her again soon enough. She counts his spells in her head. He must have been fresh, unbattled as of yet, to fritter them away so freely. She thanked the college mages of her hometown gor their example of how not to cast. Spells like that could be used with reckless abandon, but soon enough, you run out. For her own use, she preferred less flashy spells - spells that can ladt and last, even between skirmishes. She had had some bad luck with broken concentration earlier, but in addition to her current mark, she still retained one spell she could use hidden within her own blood. That would be her holdout weapon.

King Harald, according to Gnaeus, was higher up, but there were only 7 floors total, so she was, after bypassing the fourth floor with the orcs, at most two floors from the battle. She'd need to remain cautious and swift. Plenty of blind alleys here, but as long as she keeps her distance from the torches, her cloak will keep her hidden. 

BA hide for 22, dash action, moving up the stairs.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 41/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus moves up the stairs and around in pursuit, watching the orcs for tells and jinking, ducking, and dodging to make his course unpredictable.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Dash 60' to catch up
taking the Dodge action, so attacks on him have disadvantage
 
dangelo
The next floor is a guest chamber, then the next is the king and queen's royal chamber, and then the princes' common chamber. They are all empty, with bodies of knights and orcs lying around. It seems like the battle has reached the highest sections of the castle, and you know you did well by ignoring Wilhem's children and rushing to the top.  Too late is worse than never. 

You finally emerge on the terrace of the eigth floor, greeted by the strong wind and the neverending storm that hits you right on the face. This floor stands 30 feet taller than the curtain walls, so while you have a privileged view of the entire capital, you are also unprotected against the gale that torments the city.

Beyond the curtain walls, the rain has finally put out the fires around the city, and the few of Wilhem's knights who survived the slaughter are well away, riding towards nowhere. The army of Fey scavenges the streets, looking for any soldier that might have hidden among the debris and executing them, but also healing and helping the innocents who survived the fire. It is true: Wilhem ordered his men to put the city to the torch, knowing the smallfolk was barricaded inside their houses. So many died, either choked by the smoke or licked by the flames, but the sudden storm and the Fey rescue seem to be reducing the number of casualties significantly.

   

The eighth floor consists of an enclosed chamber with several doorways that lead out to another set of battlements. Harald was taking care of his wounded soldiers here, but even they had to take up arms and fight. The spiral staircase continues to the 9th floor.

A line of four orcs block your way, but you can see the battle over their shoulders: The Lion Prince is cornered by three orcs, while Wilhem and Solemnos have managed to push Harald up against the battlements. Wilhem brandishes his flaming longsword, while Solemnos casts a  Guiding Bolt  at the king.

"Traitor! Usurper!" Harald cries as he and Wilhem exchange a violent whirlwind of cuts. "I took you for my brother, Wilhem! I loved you! You were supposed to be my Hand and help me rule the kingdom!"

"I will take no less than what I'm owed." Wilhem steps back for a moment - Harald has always been a better sword than him. The Usurper knows he can't beat his brother in a straight duel.

"Sire, we must end this quickly!" Solemnos begs his king in his frail voice.  "They are here!" 

Initiative
Rurik  (1d20+2)[ 13 ] 
Ginarie  (1d20+4)[ 21 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 6 ]  (Advantage from Revised Ranger?)
Gnaeus  (1d20+4)[ 21 ] 
Galin  (1d20+1)[ 4 ] 

Wilhem, Solemnos and Orcs  (1d20+1)[ 14 ] 
King Harald and the Lion Prince  (1d20)[ 13 ] 

Everyone is aware of everyone. Each of you will "spawn" in the pink box and move however you prefer.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 41/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus emerges up from the stairs, jogging up the wall.  He hops to the ceiling, striking down at the orcs with his sword aflame to clear a path for the others before bypassing the orcs.
 
 Spoiler 

Move 15' to over the "corner" orc in the L.  Striking at the orc on the small side of the L.
Green Flame blade attack  (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 8 ]  and  (1d8)[ 1 ]  fire damage.
On hit, fire jumps to the corner orc for  (1d8+2)[ 4 ]  damage.

Bonus action disengage, move 15' further, ending up on the ceiling above the square just below the foot of the middle bed.
 
Flashkannon
 First things first. That little lordling had run away with her Mark. She'd need it to mill through the opposition, and the kid had demonstrated an ability to deal damage where it hurt. If she left him alone, he might get a shortbow and snipe the king from the floor above. Still, it wouldn't do to let herself get entirely distracted. Just enough to retrieve her mark, then back to the business at hand. She clonks the boy over the head with her rapier, then one in the breadbasket,  as he crumples to the ground. That done, she fades back into the darkness, putting her bow away in favor of Lothar's. His seemed better, in closer quarters. 

Attack: 19, 25, crit
Damage: 14, 14, 25

Hide 15
dangelo
Prince Lothar falls unconscious after Ginarie bangs his head against wall - just hard enough to knock him out without cracking his skull or damaging his brain. She ends her turn within the staircase, between the eighth floor and the top terrace just above.

Two orcs from the L formation step forward, while the bottom left orc leaves the formation, turning the L into a I. Now both ways of the staircase are blocked (Ginare too would have to kill or climb around the orcs to enter the room or to move back to the seventh floor)

The orc who left moves and attacks Gnaeus, who is just 5ft above him.
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 14 ] 

Two orcs who were guarding the doorway also move in to attack Gnaeus
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 15 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 5 ] 

Three orcs attack the Lion Prince
  (1d20+5)[ 13 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 4 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 15 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 15 ] 
 (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 5 ] 

Wilhem attacks Harald 3 times with advantage (Guiding Bolt, rolled in the OOC thread)
  (1d20+9)[ 15 ]  for  (1d8+6)[ 10 ]  slashing +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  fire damage
  (1d20+9)[ 12 ]  for  (1d8+6)[ 13 ]  slashing +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire damage
  (1d20+9)[ 26 ]  for  (1d8+6)[ 10 ]  slashing +  (1d6)[ 3 ]  fire damage

Solemnos casts a  Wall of Force  to block the doorways that the two orcs just left unguarded. "I have sealed off this side, Sire! Watch out the other way!"

Total of 45 damage to Harald this round. He has 12 HP left.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik runs up the stairs and sees the orcs standing before them blocking the way, he can see the fight behind them, the prince cornered, and no sign of the king, but he can hear the brothers shouting in battle, and Solemnos, the traitorous priest, casting his magic.   Move or be moved!   Rurik crashes into the orcs with angry howl, grabbing two of them and shoving his way onto the terrace proper.   By the gods, if we're too late for Harald, the prince must live at all costs!!  
 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 

  Bonus Action   - Rage!
  Move   - Move in front of middle orc, adjacent to all three (10ft).
  Action   - Reckless Attack southern orc.
  Reckless Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 18 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 19 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d8+6)[ 12 ] 
 Hit Effect  - Push orc 1 square away directly south.
 Extra Attack  - Grab middle orc.
  Athletics  - (1d20+10)[ 24 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+10)[ 19 ] 
  Move   - If Grab is successful, move forward 2 squares, pushing orc back 2 squares while grappled (20ft).
  Move   - Move to bottom of bed, still adjacent to grappled orc (5ft, not dragging orc so doesn't count for double).
 
dangelo
Both the Lion Prince and King Harald take the Dodge action.
Lioslaith
Galinmorn makes a sort of stutter step towards the fray then disappears in a mist. Appearing behind the cleric and moving to attack him. Striking him once.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 34/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus spins his sword in a threatening whirl to distract the orcs below him as he moves away, from ceiling to doorframe to exterior wall, bringing his blade around in a fiery stab at Prince Wilhelm.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Disengage
Move to one square north of Wilhelm, on the wall a bit above him.
Green Flame Blade attack!
 (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  for  (4d6+4)[ 16 ]  plus  (1d8)[ 5 ]  fire.
Sneak attack since Harald is also adjacent to Wilhelm.
 
Flashkannon
 An orc had taken up watch - with Lothar's bow and arrows in hand, she stows her rapier, and fires on the orc nearest her, whose upright torso was blocking her way down the stairs, but whose corpse graciously allows her passage. His body falls, and she takes another - a second arrow at the orc guarding the exits to the balcony. Once more, the poison does its work, and the orc falls. Ginarie flourishes her cloak in the dim light, her own magic dimming her presence in the orcs' eyes enough to allow the cloak's magic to hide her passage, all the way onto the edge of the balcony, where she sees the battle in brogress. Galinmorn had the priest locked down, but Wilhem was still attacking King Harald. She had her eyes on him. In a moment, she'd be ready. She hoped Harald could keep his life in his hands for that long. 
dangelo
[Lothar's shortbow was crafted out of silver birch wood by the best bowyer in the River Lands, and later taken to the depths of the Silver Moon Peaks, bathed in the waters of the Crystal Caves and enchanted with a spell that guides its arrows to their targets. The already pale wood has been made brighter with a combination of oil and crushed chalk brushed all along its front side, while the inside is painted with sky-blue enamel. Curlicues made of silver and aquamarine ink decorate the entire length of the bow; A weapon worthy of a prince.]

 "Gûl durbuk! Gûl Wilhem!"  The orcs immediately retreat from Rurik, their brains wired to protect Wilhem.

Orcs 4, 5, 6 attack Gnaeus

4.  (1d20+5)[ 22 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 8 ] 
5.  (1d20+5)[ 14 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 13 ] 
6.  (1d20+5)[ 24 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 14 ] 

Orc 7 attacks Rurik

7.  (1d20+5)[ 22 ]  for  (1d12+3)[ 7 ] 

Wilhem attacks Harald 3 times (AC 18) at Disadvantage because of Dodge.
If Harald takes 12 damage, the following attacks will be directed to Gnaeus. Ignore the Disadvantage rolls.

 
 Originally Posted by dangelo;26097861
(1d20+9)[27 
  or (1d20+9)[16] for (1d8+6)[7] slashing + (1d6)[2] fire damage
(1d20+9)[10] or (1d20+9)[20] for (1d8+6)[9] slashing + (1d6)[6] fire damage
(1d20+9)[13] or (1d20+9)[19] for (1d8+6)[12] slashing + (1d6)[1] fire damage 
 

Seeing that Harald parried all his attacks, Wilhem commands his High Priest: "Solemnos, end this now! I don't care how much magic you'll waste!  End this now! "

Solemnos upcasts Magic Missile to 4th level, targeting Harald:

 (6d4+6)[ 23 ] 

Arcana DC 14
 
 Spoiler 
Both Wall of Force and Magic Missile are arcane spells, not divine spells. Solemnos is casting them through the Silver Eagle staff.
 


Harald is reduced to 0 HP, end of encounter.

---

The king lets out a loud cry when Solemnos' magic throws him on his back. He summons his last strength to say: "So this is the end... Beaten by dark magic and tricks. Take me as your hostage, then. Build your empire upon my misery. I surrender. At least allow my son to leave your kingdom and meet his mother in exhile, and I will be yours"

Wilhem raises his flaming sword in the air. "Aren't you tired of the politics, brother? Of the games? There are much bigger things in this world. There are other kingdoms beyond ours, and other worlds besides this one. We fight and kill for a piece of dry land and a bunch of peasants to tend to it..." He laughs. "We are shallow, you and I. But Solemnos has showed me the true way. He has showed me it doesn't have to be like this."

The Usurper downs his sword at Harald, piercing through his ringmail deep into his chest. The orange flames glow brighter with the king's blood. "Truth be told, I never cared for you as a brother. If you must die for the prophecy to be complete, so be it."

A wisp of smoke comes out of Harald's body through his eyes, nose and mouth, and is immediately absorbed by the Silver Eagle staff. His body remains there, apparently dead.

The Silver Eagle shines with a blinding light identical to the  Daylight  spell. Solemnos holds it high above his head, and the entire battlefield is stunned for a moment. "You did well, Wilhem the Usurper."

Wilhem frowns at the name, but still bows to the High Priest. "We have done well, master. We have the soul of the rightful king. The ritual is complete."

Solemenos casts a spell of excruciating pain, this time at the Usurper. Wilhem falls to his knees, struggling to hold back a cry of agony. " My  ritual is complete, you fool. Your is part is done. Go back to your precious River Lands and put another child in your wife, since that's all you can do."

The High Priest takes to the skies, his eyes glowing with magic, his cloak billowing as he flies around the Main Keep through the ongoing storm.  "Now, for you champions of Harald..."  His voice booms, enhanced magically as he has done to Wilhem earlier.  "The soul of your king belongs to me, now. Obey me, and he shan't be destroyed. Challenge me, and I'll make him suffer like no mortal has ever suffered in this land. What do you say?" 

New phase of the encounter, new initiative:

Rurik  (1d20+2)[ 17 ] 
Ginarie  (1d20+4)[ 17 ]  or  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
Gnaeus  (1d20+4)[ 23 ] 
Galin  (1d20+1)[ 4 ] 
The Lion Prince  (1d20)[ 9 ] 
Solemnos the Ascended  (1d20+1)[ 17 ] 

- All orcs are now  Frightened  of Solemnos and will run away, abandoning the fight.

- Solemnos is now resistant to all non-magical types of damage.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 16/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "How about not?"   Gnaeus looses an arrow at the evil priest as he moves up to the top of the tower, crouching behind the battlements.
 
 Spoiler 

Attack  (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 5 ] 
I'll move up to the top and hide behind the battlements.  If he doesn't have line of sight behind the walls, BA Stealth  (1d20+10)[ 11 ]  and move to one side or the other so he doesn't know precise location.
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The High Priest takes to the skies, his eyes glowing with magic, his cloak billowing as he flies around the Main Keep through the ongoing storm.  "Now, for you champions of Harald..."  His voice booms, enhanced magically as he has done to Wilhem earlier.  "The soul of your king belongs to me, now. Obey me, and he shan't be destroyed. Challenge me, and I'll make him suffer like no mortal has ever suffered in this land. What do you say?"  
 

 Ginarie scoffs as she focuses her mark squarely on the priest. "What do I  say?  For someone undergoing apotheosis, you're dangerously underestimating your opponents. You just took his soul and 'completed the ritual'. If you needed to consume it to do so, you would have already. That you have not shows me you still need his soul - as such, you can take your silly little bluff, stick it on top of your shiny staff, and shove it down your throat."

 She punctuates her words with arrows. Three of them, to be precise, all hitting their mark and dealing their payload of magic and poison, despite the pouring rain. 

"Thank you Lolth, for delivering a shot at the mastermind."  She prays, quietly, to her goddess, both for strength in this moment, and in thanks, both for the betrayal she witnessed, and for the words she actually said. She rushes inside, towards the prince, neatly switching affects to the one she uses for speaking to those whose station she does or is forced to respect.  "My Lord - this may turn out either way. someone will drag your father inside, but from the way your uncle and the priest were talking, if King Harald somehow dies, that man will be coming for your soul. Don't let him have it. Be wary, one of Wilhem's sons, Wilmar, lurks on the floors below - we bypassed him, to reach you when we did."
dangelo
Solemnos smirks at Ginarie's response. "I never said I would kill Harald, child. I said he would  suffer!"  He flies another 30 feet up in the air, his white cloak billowing in the storm. "You cannot kill me now, fools! I am too powerful! With the Silver Eagle I shall become the Holy Emperor of this and many other kingdoms! My armies will walk this earth and kill in my name! Men will die for me! I shall be loved! You may accept it now, or  die!" 

Solemnos touches his own holy symbol and casts the  Heal  spell, regaining 70 hitpoints.

Spells used by Solemnos so far:

6th. Heal
5th. Wall of Force
4th. Magic Missile
1st. Guiding Bolt, Shield
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Solemnos smirks at Ginarie's response. "I never said I would kill Harald, child. I said he would  suffer!"  He flies another 30 feet up in the air, his white cloak billowing in the storm. "You cannot kill me now, fools! I am too powerful! With the Silver Eagle I shall become the Holy Emperor of this and many other kingdoms! My armies will walk this earth and kill in my name! Men will die for me! I shall be loved! You may accept it now, or  die!"  
 

"You said, and I quote, 'Obey me, and he shan't be destroyed.' Are you so senile you forget your own words the moment you say them? Whatever, you've tipped your hand entirely, fool. You can't make me kneel, and you can't threaten credibly. King Harald would rather suffer than surrender his kingdom to a usurper. He proved that, with this war."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik curses as the orcs fall back to swarm the king,   Not so fast!   he growls at the one has has hemmed up. It strikes back awkwardly with it's glaive, but the hit barely registers on the seasoned dwarf,   Ye'll have to do better than that!   Suddenly Rurik can hear the King and his brother shouting through the storm, only to hear Wilhelm proclaim victory, and that he has the soul of the king,   NO!   Rurik cries. Another commotion and a radiant light cuts through the rain and the storm, causing Rurik to gasp. In the throng of the orcs cowering from the presence, Rurik can hear Solemnos betray the usurper. The orcs flee in terror and Rurik lets go of the one in his grip. He rushes out onto the terrace just in time to see Galin smiting Solemnos as the priest ascends into the air. Behind them, Harald's lifeless body is slumped against the parapet,    My King!!      My Prince, you are the King now! Protect your father's body, and we will deal with Solemnos!   Rurik catches the battleaxe that Galin tosses and moves forward, launching his shield at the priest ascendant. Once the shield returns, the dwarf grumbles,   I can't do much from here,   and runs toward the stairs leading up.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 
Rurik takes 7 damage from Orc 7, resisted to 3 damage, which is absorbed by the temporary hit points.

  Move   - Move to terrace (3 squares)
  Action   - Attack Solemnos with Boomerang Shield w/ Disadvantage due to Range
  Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  or   Disadvantage  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d6+4)[ 9 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 23 ]  or   Disadvantage  - (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d6+4)[ 7 ] 
  Move   - Move toward the stairs (remaining 4 squares of movement)
 
dangelo
The Lion Prince looks from Rurik to Solemnos and back to Rurik. "My father's body..." He looks at Harald, defeated, before rushing in to help. "Yes, my Hand. I will be back soon." Harald and his armor are is too heavy, so the Prince grabs him by his royal armpits and drags him towards the stairs, where he will be protected from the fight.
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 16/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus works silently, his fingers a blur as he pulls the rope from the side of his pack, knotting one end into a lasso.  If the priest keeps flying higher and higher, he'll be almost impossible to reach.  He stands, hurling the rope.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Fast Hands to tie a lasso.
Probably advantage from being an unseen attacker.  Assuming this is a non-proficient Dexterity-based attack roll (ranged improvised weapon) to hit.
 (1d20+4)[ 22 ] 
Advantage?  (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 

If it hits, not sure if I can use movement to pull Solemnos down, or if that'd be next turn.  If I can, Athletics  (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
If he wants to untie it, probably an opposed roll against Sleight of Hand?  (1d20+10)[ 12 ] 
 
Flashkannon
"Ah, convenient."  Ginarie positions herself in the darkness as best she can, and looses two more arrows from below the priest. This new bow - its lack of shot power was compensated for with its magical bonus, but the range wasn't the best. Still, it was enough for now. Two shots, two hits.

For a moment, Ginarie remembers the king she's serving. As well, she has two Goodberries left. She fishes one out of her pouch, trotting over to the arch to the indoors, and tosses it to the lion prince  "Here, feed this to him, if he starts weakening. It's only a little magical healing, but it'll help."   and she ducks into the shadow of the rain, keeping still and quiet. 

Attack: 23, 22
Damage: 19, 15
Hide: 11
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik burst onto the top floor of the tower and in the brief illumination of a flash of lightning, he sees Gnaeus lasso Solemnos and pull him down.   That's the right idea!   the stone warrior shouts, and runs across the roof, stowing the battleaxe and grabbing the rope. Bracing himself, he tugs on the rope, looping it over his shoulder and around his elbow for another tug.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 3 
  Move   - Move to rope
  Action   - Pull Rope
  Athletics  - (1d20+10)[ 20 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+10)[ 26 ] 
 
dangelo
The Lion Prince nods at Ginarie and takes the Goodberry dutifully before retreating to the staircase. He takes this round to move Harald's soulless body cautiously down the stairs.

-

Solemnos whirls through the air, but Gnaeus expertly throws the lasso at him, adjusting for the wind to compensate the trajectory. It wraps across his chest and immediately halts the priest's flight, giving him the aspect of a bird with a string tied to its talons. Ginarie lands a few arrows while Rurik pulls him down 35 ft (his full movement speed)

 "So you wish to face me up close!"  Dozens of voices echo from Solemnos. His Silver Eagle trembles with power, lost souls whispering in despair.  "So be it!" 

He dives at the balcony and shapeshifts into an Earth Elemental, landing with a powerful shockwave. The creature towers above Rurik and Gnaeus, a quasi-humanoid shape of animated rocks. It raises both oversized forearm above its head and slams the floor beneath Rurik.

-

 Arch-Fey Shapeshifting.  Solemnos the Ascended can cast a  Polymorph  spell with a Bonus Actions to shapeshift into an Elemental creature of his choosing.

The Earth Elemental deals double damage to objects. A medium stone object has 18 HP and AC 17, although I'll grant Advantage on the attack since the floor is much easier to hit than an object. A miss will be interpreted as the stone resisting the damage and/or Rurik parrying off an attack.

Two Slam attacks against the floor beneath Rurik; If the first is enough to break the floor, the second will target Gnaeus instead.

 (1d20+8)[ 13 ]  for  (2d8+5)[ 18 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  for  (2d8+5)[ 8 ] 

16 damage on the floor beneath Rurik
J-H
      
   <span style="font-family: Century

Gothic">  Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus  
  
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 16/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
The floor cracks under Rurik, but holds.  Gnaeus takes advantage of the priest's distraction in this shape, lining up a stab at the earth elemental's hip joint.  His blade, limned with chartreuse flames, leaps forwards in a lightning-fast lunge.

 
 Spoiler 

BA: Steady Aim.  Elven Advantage.  Green Flame Blade
 (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  or  (1d20+7)[ 22 ] 
 (4d6+4)[ 13 ]  non-magic piercing plus  (1d8)[ 8 ]  fire
 +crit damage in Discord: 4d6(11), 1d8 (4) .  Total 24 non-magic piercing + 12 fire
 
Flashkannon
 The fight had been taken to somewhere she couldn't see, on the top floor. Still, she has her ways. She retrieves a plundered scroll from her bag, and recites it, casting the Jump spell on herself. More where that came from, but it'd boost her enough to get up without wasting a lot of time running up the stairs under that shaking ceiling. She plucks the helpless Wilhem's sword from his unconscious hands, and preps herself. This might not be easy, but it'd save time. She jumps up to the railing, then to the roof. She cloaks herself in her magic, and heaves a breath at the exertion. 

(Nat 1 on hiding, total of 8)
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
The roof quakes beneath the elemental's powerful slam attacks, but Rurik is a dwarf, forged from the earth by Moradin in the time when rock still flowed in oceans of lava. He remains steady, peering up at the massive creature,   Oi, yer hittin' the wrong stone!   He plows into Solemnos with Galin's battleaxe, then tackles into him with his spiked armor before repositioning away from the cracked roof.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 4 

  Action   - Attack Solemnos, Recklessly
  Battleaxe Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 25 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 12 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 25 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 8 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Spiked Armor Attack vs Solemnos
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
  Magical Piercing  - (1d4+6)[ 10 ] 
  Move   - Move to a spot on the roof that isn't cracked from Solemnos' attack. Preferably without provoking, if possible, but will provoke if need be.
 
dangelo
Solemnos the Earth Elemental parries off some of the hits, but the magic weapons manage to break and crack his rocky shape here and there. He continues to growl and roar, now changing strategies and descending his fists at the elven thief who has lassoed him.

 (1d20+8)[ 20 ]  for  (2d8+5)[ 13 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 17 ]  for  (2d8+5)[ 9 ] 
Lioslaith
Galin takes the opportunity to step in between Gnaeus and the elemental and attacks it.    "Back up, switch to ranged."  
 
 Spoiler: Att and Dam 

 (1d20+8)[ 11 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 12 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 25 ] 
 (1d8+5)[ 6 ] 
 
J-H
      
 
   
 Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus

    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 1/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus follows the suggestion, skipping backwards and pulling out his bow and firing a quick shot before ducking into cover.  His arrow misses due to his haste.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Disengage
Move back and towards the stairwell, fire a shot, then try to get in the stairs to break line of sight.
Shortbow  (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  for  (4d6+4)[ 17 ]  with sneak attack because allies are adjacent to Sol.
 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie stalks around a little, putting herself closer to the stairs than not, and placing the sword gently on the ground. If she's going to be pushed off of the roof, she'd rather fall down a stairwell than tumble from the tallest tower down to the cold, hard ground, an opponent she could not outwit. Still, in front of her is an enemy, who had not brought any light with him to the roof. She fires two arrows, both of which crunch into the priest's earthen shoulder and spine. 

"Gee, that head looks a little knobbly for a crown, don't you think?"  She heckles him, lightly, before she flourishes her cloak, returning to the shadows to line up another shot. 

Attack: crit, 21
Damage: 25, 17
Hide: 17
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Ya cannae ignore me forever Solemnos. I been workin' stone me whole life. Tonight is no different!   Rurik bites into the elemental with the battleaxe, and slams into it with the spikes on his armor.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 5 

  Action   - Reckless Attack vs Solemnos
  Battleaxe Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 12 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 10 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 25 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 9 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Spiked Armor Attack vs Solemnos
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 19 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
  Magical Piercing  - (1d4+6)[ 7 ] 
 
dangelo
Solemnos maintains concentration on the spell despite all the damage he suffers, but his Elemental shape isn't enough to hold. While normal steel weapons would bend and break after hitting solid rock a few times, enchanted blades and arrows manage to break it down to its core, until the elemental is too damaged to have even a semi-humanoid shape. It reverts back to Solemnos' original form, with glowing eyes, a silver eagle scepter in his hand, and his bright white High Priest robes.

"Infidels..." He leans over his scepter for balance and suddenly  Misty Steps  to the battlements. "Keep this castle, then! I shall find somewhere else to raise my Empire. Perhaps the Riverlord's Keep will serve me well."

Solemnos leaps off the parapets, casting  Feather Fall  on his way down.  Once he's at the bottom, the Ascended High Priest takes the Dash action and runs for his life, making for the castle docks.  He takes the Dodge action while still in the air.

The battle is already over by the docks, and the Water Elementals seem to have disappeared after smashing Wilhem's fleet to bits. A few hundred men-at-arms lie dead over there, both by the gates and underwater. There's no ship to take him home, but Solemnos doesn't care about that.

 Edit:  Feather Fall only allows a character to fall for 60 feet each round, and you are currently at the 8th floor, so around 80 ft.

At the end of this round, Solemons is still in the air, 20 ft above the ground, falling slowly.
Lioslaith
Cursing to himslef under his breath Galin drops his axe and draws his bow for the first time.  He fires a couple of arrows straight down casting ensnaring strike as he does so.

 
 Spoiler: Att &amp; Dam 

 (1d20+4)[ 16 ] 
 (1d8+1)[ 2 ] 
 (1d20+4)[ 8 ] 
 (1d8+1)[ 6 ] 

DC 15 Strength save
 
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 1/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus rushes to the edge of the wall, then down the side of the wall silently until he can see Solemnos.  He ducks back into the castle on the 7th floor.
 
 Spoiler 

BA Stealth  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] 
Using spider climb to get down into darkvision range to shoot him.
 (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  for  (1d6+4)[ 10 ]  non-magic piercing
Elven Advantage &amp; sneak attack if he doesn't hear me coming.  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] ,  (1d20+7)[ 16 ]   (3d6)[ 12 ] 
Duck into 7th floor with end of movement
 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie evaluates her options, as she fires two arrows at the priest's rocky, descending form. On the one hand, it would be really cool to do a kickflip off of his head as he floats down. On the other hand, the potential consequences are maybe fatal if she misses. She shelves that plan, and her lips tighten as she actually misses a shot. Feh. This rain was getting annoying. Once the priest fell all the way to the ground he'd be out of the easy hit range of Lothar's bow, too. Speaking of, she still had the kinslayer up here, Lothar was hanging around, and Wilhem was on the ground. It'd take at least an hour for Lothar to regain consciousness after the beating she gave him, and who knows when Wilhem was going to wake up. Too many angles to cover. Better to foil the assassination than to make sure all the assassins hung, anyways. Frustratedly, she picks up Wilhem's kinslayer sword, and hucks it over the edge in one smooth motion, towards the priest. Maybe it'd hit, maybe it would stick blade down in the ground and be picked up in a dramatic fashion, but whoever found it would have to actually find it. Whatever. Piece off the board. She'd take as many of those as she could. 

"I'm going to run down the tower. Freaking mages. We might have to deal with Wilmar on the way out. Someone grab Wilhem, if you can. I don't like leaving him wild, but he's too heavy for me. Or toss him off the battlements, I guess, I don't care."

 They just kept running from her. It was hard to work up the energy to be mad about it, though, considering the circumstances. It was high time for a little professionalism, so she shelves her bitter feelings, and calms herself. She does, however, make a mental note to buy a whip later, and consider tighter pants. She flips her cloak, and heads down the stairs as fast as she can, neatly sidestepping Lothar's unconscious form. 

Attack: 16, 10
Damage: 11
Hide: 9
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik looks over the parapet,   Oi, Solemnos! I bet you didn't know dwarves can fly!   Without warning, Rurik scrambles over the parapet and leaps over the edge, falling at Solemnos and roughly grabbing onto the priest to break his own fall. Once hanging on, he stabs the priest with his spiked armor.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 6 

  Object Interaction   - Stow Battleaxe
  Move   - Leap over parapet wall onto Solemnos
  Fall Damage  - (6d6)[ 18 ] 
Solemnos must make a DC 15 Dextery saving throw to avoid taking half of the fall damage
  Action   - Grab Solemnos
  Athletics  - (1d20+10)[ 26 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
Assuming grab succeeds, attack Solemnos Recklessly
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 16 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
  Magical Piercing  - (1d4+6)[ 10 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Attack Solemnos w/ Spiked Armor
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 11 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 25 ] 
  Magical Piercing  - (1d4+6)[ 9 ] 
 

[roll=
dangelo
 
 Spoiler: Current Map 
     
 

Solemnos and Rurik reach the ground floor in a stumble, the Ascended High Priest desperately calling upon his magic to free himself of the Stone Warrior. "Sinners... Traitors... Blind follower of a false king...!" With another quick spell, he vanishes from Rurik's grasp and reappears further ahead, leaving a trail of blood from his multiple wounds. In a matter of seconds, Solemnos is out the back door of the castle.

Another lightning shakes the earth. The storm rages on, and the sea crashes louder and louder agaisnt the rocky shore, until you realize the waves are growing  too  loud. Those still atop the Main Keep get a privileged view of the shore as the sea level rises, rises, rises, until it engulfs the docks, bursts through the gate and floods the outer section of the castle. Waves claw at the foundations of the curtain walls, sending tremors through the inner courtyard, and Solemnos is swept away by the current and you see no more of him.

 
 Spoiler: New Map 
     
 

Three Water Elementals reach the gates from the outside, facing Rurik. Their hollow eyes squint at the dwarf before they move in to attack. All three creatures join the fight at initiative  (1d20+2)[ 19 ] .
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 10/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Gnaeus drinks a potion and runs down the side of the castle two floors, ducking back in on the 5th floor, assuming it seems safe.
 
 Spoiler 

Healing potion  (2d4+2)[ 9 ] 
Move/BA Dash, spider climb... if there are hostile orcs on the 5th floor, don't go in.
 
Flashkannon
 Ginarie sidles up to Galinmorn, pulling out another scroll of Jump.  "Listen, the priest is in that whirlpool out there, I don't think they elementals are on his side. We'll bypass them, and jump over to the curtain wall. I still have a few scrolls of Jump - Rurik is already on the ground, and Gnaeus can climb walls and sprint with ease, so it's just us that need to jump. I'll cast it, you grab me and jump."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn nods and Ginarie lays out her plan.  Scooping her up with one arm he sprints towards the wall as she reads the spell.  Playfully he says   "Oooff, what the hell have you been eating lately?  You weigh hardly anything at all."  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 Galinmorn nods and Ginarie lays out her plan.  Scooping her up with one arm he sprints towards the wall as she reads the spell.  Playfully he says   "Oooff, what the hell have you been eating lately?  You weigh hardly anything at all."   
 

 Ginarie finishes casting the scroll, and it crumbles to dust, which she releases, the scraps floating onto the ramparts as they disintegrate.  "Moonlight, the tears of my enemies, and a few crsip apple slices. When we win this, I might take a few bites of rainbow, maybe a little morning dew, too. I wouldn't want to waste away to nothing."
Lioslaith
 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
  Ginarie finishes casting the scroll, and it crumbles to dust, which she releases, the scraps floating onto the ramparts as they disintegrate.  "Moonlight, the tears of my enemies, and a few crsip apple slices. When we win this, I might take a few bites of rainbow, maybe a little morning dew, too. I wouldn't want to waste away to nothing." 
 

Chuckling as they vault over the side   "I just figured you were full of smoke and shadow like all dark elves."  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 Chuckling as they vault over the side   "I just figured you were full of smoke and shadow like all dark elves."   
 

"Oh, no, no, no. For one, smoke's real hard to get down in the caves. Shadow, spiders, and jealousy, now there's your average drow. I really came up here because I liked crisp apples, and that's even harder to get than smoke. How about you, ever try any smoke?"
Lioslaith
As they arch over the ramparts and begin the decent   "Well currently I am in summer season so when I misty step there is fire and yes, you guessed it, smoke."  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 As they arch over the ramparts and begin the decent   "Well currently I am in summer season so when I misty step there is fire and yes, you guessed it, smoke."   
 

"You'll have to let me have a bite, some time, then. I'm sure surface smoke is quite different.

Oh, hang on, you can see him clearer now."  Ginarie points down at the priest spinning in the whirlpool.  "Look at him, swirling in there. I wonder how many enemies that staff's making him."
Lioslaith
 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "You'll have to let me have a bite, some time, then. I'm sure surface smoke is quite different.

Oh, hang on, you can see him clearer now."  Ginarie points down at the priest spinning in the whirlpool.  "Look at him, swirling in there. I wonder how many enemies that staff's making him." 
 

  "All you need do is ask."    Galin looks to where gin is pointing   "We need to take it from him."  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   "All you need do is ask."    Galin looks to where gin is pointing   "We need to take it from him."   
 

"Alright, you jump on his head, I'll fill him with arrows, and if we're lucky, everyone will catch up. It's really a race, these days."
dangelo
Galinmorn and Ginarie have a privileged view of the battlefield as they vault over the courtyard, cloaks billowing in the air. The paladin's heroic build, powered by the magic spell, carries them both across the night sky, battling the rain that insists on washing over their faces. Galin lands on the curtain walls safely with a loud  clank  of his armor, and they glimpse Solemnos trapped in a whirlpool just outside the gate, struggling to keep his head above the water.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


Two of the water elementals follow Ginarie and Galin with their hollow eyes, and retreat through to gate to defend the whirlpool.  "Greedy short-lived creatures... You shan't have the Silver Eagle!" . They Ready their Actions to attack anyone who approaches Solemnos within 5 ft of them.

The remaining elemental attacks Rurik with its huge watery fists.
 (1d20+7)[ 25 ]  for  (2d8+4)[ 12 ]  bludgeoning damage
 (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  for  (2d8+4)[ 8 ]  bludgeoning damage

 
 Spoiler: Map 
 
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Two of the water elementals follow Ginarie and Galin with their hollow eyes, and retreat through to gate to defend the whirlpool.  "Greedy short-lived creatures... You shan't have the Silver Eagle!" . They Ready their Actions to attack anyone who approaches Solemnos within 5 ft of them. 
 

 Ginarie grins.  "So, you can talk, eh? Then, hear this: the man in there, Solemnos, and the king's power-hungry brother colluded to abuse that thing - the Silver Eagle. We're going to kill him, and we're going to take the rightful king's soul out of the Silver Eagle, and that'll be the end of it. We don't  want  the Silver Eagle, see? You all can just put it back where it's supposed to go when we're done, and I couldn't care less. Hells, you could unmake the thing and I wouldn't blink an eye, so long as we got what we need out of it."

 Ginarie nocks an arrow, with one more clutched in her palm. She doesn't draw it back, yet.  "But make no mistake, if you object to us taking back the king's soul, come and fight us."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik's fist closes on itself as Solemnos vanishes from his grasp,   Confounded mages!   he curses. He looks around trying to spot where the priest went,   He disappeared!   he cries out. But then he catches a glimpse of Galin leaping to the curtain wall with Ginarie in his arms, and he thinks they can spot Solemnos there. He can hardly process the thunderous sound of rushing water when elementals appear nearby and one flows over to him.   Outta the way!   he yells, laying into it with Galin's battleaxe.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 7 
  Heal   - 10hp from Trollblood Amulet
  Action   - Recklessly Attack Water Elemental
Reckless Abandon - Gain 3 Temporary Hit Points
  Battleaxe Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 22 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 14 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 8 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+8)[ 10 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+8)[ 12 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d8+7)[ 10 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Spiked Armor Attack
  Spiked Armor Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 9 ] 
  Magical Slashing  - (1d4+6)[ 10 ] 
 
dangelo
Solemnos struggles to keep his head above the water, holding onto the staff with the little energy reserves his body still has. The Elementals that are trying to capture him face Ginarie and Galin:  "We fall not for the trickery of your people! Elf or dwarf or man, you are all the same! You may think you don't desire the Eagle, but once you put your hands on it, greed will speak louder than valor." 

One of the elementals hesitates. It seems to recognize Ginarie and Galinmorn. "Must we destroy both blue and red?", it asks the other one, to which the second replies:  "Blue or red, it matters not! There shall be no kings in this land ever again." 
Lioslaith
Hearing this Galinmorn stops his attacks.   ”This can end peacefully, give us our man’s soul from the eagle. We will convince him no king is needed or wanted. At least let us try before we try and wipe each other out.”  
J-H
      
      Gnaeus Petronius Columbanus    
 Elven Thief 
 AC: 17 HP: 14/45 
 PPer: 16 PInv: 15 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Gnaeus heads down the side of the castle quietly, drinking a healing potion again, and trying to keep the water elemental from spotting him.
 
 Spoiler 

Potion  (2d4+2)[ 4 ] 
If the keep isn't a flat wall, there may be shadows and balconies to hide behind.
Stealth  (1d20+10)[ 24 ] 

Move 30' down
 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 Hearing this Galinmorn stops his attacks.   ”This can end peacefully, give us our man’s soul from the eagle. We will convince him no king is needed or wanted. At least let us try before we try and wipe each other out.”   
 

 Ginarie looks at Galinmorn, a little irritated. She half-whispers,  "Do you hear what you're saying, man? Look, we don't need the Silver Eagle to enforce it, but central power and organization is a necessary force for organizing humanoids on any larger scale. You need it if you want civilization, and I want civilization, or at least the products of it."

 It takes a second for Ginarie's thoughts to catch up with her rhetoric. She sighs.  "We can talk about that later."  For her audience down below, she says:  
"Look, for your purposes, all you need to know is - release the soul, and this can all go back to normal."
dangelo
The elementals exchange a few sentences in Aquan, the words a mix of gutural sloshes and splashes. Finally, the one in charge adresses Galin and Ginarie in Common, its voice echoing through the storm:  "Whether you are honest or a liar, there is nothing we can do for you. I do not dare to operate the Eagle, and no one is to touch it. My task is to bring it to my mistress, and that is what I shall do."

"However, my brothers and sisters tell me they have seen you before. According to their account, you have encountered them and spared them a battle, and allowed them to disobey the Blue King and let you pass. Now say once and say true, what were your real intentions? What do you fight for? What motivates you to turn against your equals?" 
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The elementals exchange a few sentences in Aquan, the words a mix of guttural sloshes and splashes. Finally, the one in charge addresses Galin and Ginarie in Common, its voice echoing through the storm:  "Whether you are honest or a liar, there is nothing we can do for you. I do not dare to operate the Eagle, and no one is to touch it. My task is to bring it to my mistress, and that is what I shall do."

"However, my brothers and sisters tell me they have seen you before. According to their account, you have encountered them and spared them a battle, and allowed them to disobey the Blue King and let you pass. Now say once and say true, what were your real intentions? What do you fight for? What motivates you to turn against your equals?"  
 

 Ginarie considers, and lowers her bow.  "Yes, that was us. I have a distaste for mind control - it's often the tool of pathetic men who can't get what they want with their own wits, and the elemental there seemed like they were being coerced. As for my motives here, I'm being paid to stop the blue king's insurrection, which turns out to be a misuse of the Silver Eagle. Additionally, that man down there currently holding the Silver Eagle has earned my ire - I want to end his life for personal reasons, in addition to him being a traitor to my employer. I don't know what you'd call him, but he has stolen the soul of my employer - a man who has, to my knowledge, never used or touched the Silver Eagle, until his soul was stolen."

"I may have a solution, to the impasse of your orders. I noticed you have not removed the Silver Eagle from the grasp of the man down there. Is it because you cannot? If so, we could compel him to release my employer's soul with words, and then you can do with the Silver Eagle as you please. In the other circumstance, if you can remove the Silver Eagle from him, but merely have not done so yet, take us with you to your mistress, and we will negotiate with her directly."
Lioslaith
  ”My obligation has all but ended should the man’s soul that the staff carries not be released. I seek only to restore his life as my family swore to do millennia ago. Beyond that I have no quarrel nor obligation to this land or this man.”  
dangelo
The elementals pay close attention to their reply, but when Ginarie takes the opportunity to offer: "I may have a solution, to the impass of your orders," the creatures simply lose interest, but their attention is perked up again at the mention of their mistress. It is not clear if they are unwilling or unable to touch the staff, but their purpose is clear.

The elemental fighting Rurik halts, ready to attack again if necessary, but watching the conversation for now. The rain lightens up and the seawater recedes from the gates, back and forth the waves retreat and leave Solemnos dazed on the ground, reduced to nothing but than a vile old man. He mumbles words like "infidels" and "Holy Emperor", but the wounds he has taken are taking their toll.

Another portal materializes behind the elementals, not a colossal gate like the one that unleashed the army of Fey in the city, but a small one, and a single person comes through. You see a tall woman of sharp features, very similar to a High Elf, but not quite. Her silver hair trails behind her back, her body clad in mithral. An elven blade rests on her hip, but she doesn't seem too interested in wielding it. All three elementals bow to her in respect.

She steps into the material plane and scans her surroundings. "It is a pleasure to meet circumstantial allies. I am Nimriel, daughter of Veleriel, Queen and Ruler of the Eladrin of City of Silver." Her eyes travel to Galin. "I've heard stories about your lineage. Many of us thought you had disappeared, or were hunted down by humans. Needless to say, I didn't expect to see one of ours in the company of Drow. But it was fate that brought us together, and of that I have no complaints."

"You ask for your king's soul back. That is possible. But do you understand the consequences of someone traveling to the realm of dead and then back to the living? This will forever change him. Why put him through such horrible process? Why not let him rest? Why do you care so much about politics of short-lived men? There are better kings and queens to serve. Better wars to fight."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn bows,   ”That better exist I have no doubt, my queen. However I am not bound by oath to those and this am unable to choose who I am loyal too.”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik moves away from the elemental and through the gate to join in the conversation. He glances up at his comrades on the wall, and then eyes the elementals, the eladrin woman, and Solemnos floundering in the whirlpool.

  I believe the feyfolk know a thing or two about bonds, and oaths. We took oaths to the king, to the soul bound in that staff. And we are his Hands, made to carry out his orders wherever we are, as if he were there himself! And I can't imagine him not wanting to return, see the kingdom through this, and continue preparing his son for his time on the throne. We are oathbound to recover that soul,   Rurik says solemnly.
dangelo
"Ah, such loyalty. Very well. My people had our fair share of squabbles with Dwarves in the past, yet I must admit your values are written in stone. Loyalty is important. Those who managed to understand that have built their empires around that concept. I shan't ask you to break your oath."

The seawater recedes further, the whirlpool vanishes and Solemnos is left on dry land. "But there is one question that begs to be asked... How do you know that the Red King has never used the Silver Eagle against you?" The Eladrin Queen of the City of Silver lets her question ring in their ears before continuing: "Those under the influence of the Eagle are completely unaware of its effects. It was the Red King's ancestors, along with a Circle of Druids, who have contacted the Feywild and forged this staff hundreds of years ago. Legend says that the hiding place of the staff was forgotten... But who's to say it wasn't just kept a secret? That the Red Kings of old and new have been using its power to make their followers blindly loyal... you included?"

"If that is your final decision, I will release your king's soul from the staff before I destroy it. But if I do so, you will never truly know if your loyalty is real, or if it was forged by the Eagle. Are you prepared to live the rest of your days with that question in the back of your minds? Would you rather live in peace, or would you rather know the truth? I can grant you one or the other, but not both."
Lioslaith
  ”I know my own heart. I know that I will not fight you should he not be restored. That is enough for me.”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The seawater recedes further, the whirlpool vanishes and Solemnos is left on dry land. "But there is one question that begs to be asked... How do you know that the Red King has never used the Silver Eagle against you?" The Eladrin Queen of the City of Silver lets her question ring in their ears before continuing: "Those under the influence of the Eagle are completely unaware of its effects. It was the Red King's ancestors, along with a Circle of Druids, who have contacted the Feywild and forged this staff hundreds of years ago. Legend says that the hiding place of the staff was forgotten... But who's to say it wasn't just kept a secret? That the Red Kings of old and new have been using its power to make their followers blindly loyal... you included?" 
 

"At times like this, I wish we had a suitably powerful diviner to answer those questions for us, but we don't have that luxury. That fool there lying on the ground used it on me, earlier today. It didn't work, of course, but I didn't recognize the feeling, or the staff. The wash of false loyalty, the images in my mind - I wouldn't soon forget that. Unlike the others assembled here, I am a stranger to this land, and to its people and customs. I'm not 'loyal', in the same way they are. I'm not an honorable knight, I have sworn no oath, and I owe no debt. I don't revere the king as a holy figure - he's the head of government in this nation, and I've liked his policies, as far as I've experienced them - his handling of the peasantry in times of peace, and even his orders to make sure that his burning of the riverlands did not leave the smallfolk without recourse. I chose to live here, to sell my services here, and I have few regrets in doing so."

 Ginarie looks at Solemnos  "Still, if someone would know the answers, it'd be that man on the ground, seemingly the originator of this plot. If someone has a truth spell, a spell to take answers from a corpse, or a means to peer into a mind, we could extract them."
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaues emerges from the castle to join the others.  He's not quite as waterlogged, but his clothes have rust-colored bloodstains in several places.  He considers what the fey says before responding with something calculated to intersect with her argument.   "Not all of us fought out of simple loyalty to the king.  Money was certainly a part of it for many - you will find no army on this plane that fights without promise of pay or some form of betterment."

"You speak of possible better kings, and there may be some, but they do not often arise through violence or assassination.  King Harold's natural time had not come.  The only reason he lies dead is from the misuse of the staff, and the only reason the staff could be used to unnaturally tear his soul out is that it was first used to foment and strengthen the rebellion.  He was a good enough king that without magical interference, the rebellion would never have done the damage it did.  Restoring him to life is a matter of righting a wrong, of fixing that which has been torn asunder.

Also, our understanding is that his soul does not walk the paths of the dead; it resides, stuck, in that staff, which we are not going to give over to you or anyone with the king's soul still trapped in it." 
Lioslaith
As Gnaeus joins the group Galin pays him on the shoulder healing him
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik looks at the eladrin woman, and then at the staff still clutched in Solemnos' hands. The thought had never occurred to the dwarf that he may be under the eagle's spell and his mind races at the other dwarves and clans that had remained outside of the conflict, him being outcast; had he fallen under the staff's spell?   An oath is an oath,   he says slowly,   and I vowed to give my life for the King. I don't know if that's the eagle or not, but I do know it's the oath I made, and I will see it through.  
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   ”I know my own heart. I know that I will not fight you should he not be restored. That is enough for me.”   
 

The Eladrin lowers her gaze in disappointment. "You have wasted too much time among these mortals, Galinmorn. You have learned with them and become one of them. How many centuries until you grow bored of these games? Of playing champion for some  monarch ..." The word rings like an insult in her sharp tongue. "You are bigger than this, Eladrin."


 
 Originally Posted by J-H 
  Gnaeus 
Gnaues emerges from the castle to join the others.  He's not quite as waterlogged, but his clothes have rust-colored bloodstains in several places.  He considers what the fey says before responding with something calculated to intersect with her argument.   "Not all of us fought out of simple loyalty to the king.  Money was certainly a part of it for many - you will find no army on this plane that fights without promise of pay or some form of betterment."

"You speak of possible better kings, and there may be some, but they do not often arise through violence or assassination.  King Harold's natural time had not come.  The only reason he lies dead is from the misuse of the staff, and the only reason the staff could be used to unnaturally tear his soul out is that it was first used to foment and strengthen the rebellion.  He was a good enough king that without magical interference, the rebellion would never have done the damage it did.  Restoring him to life is a matter of righting a wrong, of fixing that which has been torn asunder.

Also, our understanding is that his soul does not walk the paths of the dead; it resides, stuck, in that staff, which we are not going to give over to you or anyone with the king's soul still trapped in it."  
 

"Righting a wrong, is that so? Answer me, Elf, who will remember this tale in a thousand years? What was the last time you worried about the injustices suffered by the birds? Or the vermin? The Kingdom of Men will be gone in the blink of an eye. When we look up to the stars rather than into our hearts, we learn that these petty wars simply don't matter. There are better causes to sacrifice yourself to."


 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
 Rurik looks at the eladrin woman, and then at the staff still clutched in Solemnos' hands. The thought had never occurred to the dwarf that he may be under the eagle's spell and his mind races at the other dwarves and clans that had remained outside of the conflict, him being outcast; had he fallen under the staff's spell?   An oath is an oath,   he says slowly,   and I vowed to give my life for the King. I don't know if that's the eagle or not, but I do know it's the oath I made, and I will see it through.   
 

"I envy you." Her expression softens. "To be able to close your eyes and take a leap of faith... The ability to trust requires bravery. Any king would do well to keep you among his highest ranking officers, as I can see you are as fierce as you are loyaI." A long moment of silence, and the queen completes: "I wish I could be that ignorant."


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "At times like this, I wish we had a suitably powerful diviner to answer those questions for us, but we don't have that luxury. That fool there lying on the ground used it on me, earlier today. It didn't work, of course, but I didn't recognize the feeling, or the staff. The wash of false loyalty, the images in my mind - I wouldn't soon forget that. Unlike the others assembled here, I am a stranger to this land, and to its people and customs. I'm not 'loyal', in the same way they are. I'm not an honorable knight, and I have sworn no oath, and owe no debt. I don't revere the king as a holy figure - he's the head of government in this nation, and I've liked his policies, as far as I've experienced them - his handling of the peasantry in times of peace, and even his orders to make sure that his burning of the riverlands did not leave the smallfolk without recourse. I chose to live here, to sell my services here, and I have few regrets in doing so."

 Ginarie looks at Solemnos  "Still, if someone would know the answers, it'd be that man on the ground, seemingly the originator of this plot. If someone has a truth spell, a spell to take answers from a corpse, or a means to peer into a mind, we could extract them." 
 

"I does not please me to engage in conversation with the dead. But it would please me less to engage in conversation with a High Priest."

With the smallest of sighs, Nimriel draws her rapier and shifts through the battlefield, blinking up to Solemnos and driving her blade steadily through his heart. The old man dies without a word under the emotionless eyes of the queen. She pulls his head back by his frail white hair and casts a spell at the corspe:  "Órenna, gladhren na i sîr." 

"Ask away."
Lioslaith
  ”Until the debt is paid.”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik's eyes go wide as the queen casually dispatches Solemnos. He watches as she grabs the priest's corpse and casts a spell on it. He squints at the corpse, the body now ready to speak. The dwarf looks at the eladrin and chooses his words carefully,   You mentioned the King's mind might not be the same. It would be useful to know if there is anything you can do for the King's mind once his soul is returned to his body.  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 With the smallest of sighs, Nimriel draws her rapier and shifts through the battlefield, blinking up to Solemnos and driving her blade steadily through his heart. The old man dies without a word under the emotionless eyes of the queen. She pulls his head back by his frail white hair and casts a spell at the corspe:  "Órenna, gladhren na i sîr." 

"Ask away." 
 

"If you'd planned his death, you could have given me the satisfaction of doing it myself."  Ginarie sighs, annoyed.  "But the moment is past, and I can at least take solace in his demise. I'll ask the first question, then - Solemnos, what are the exact circumstances under which you learned of and acquired the silver eagle staff?"
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
  You mentioned the King's mind might not be the same. It would be useful to know if there is anything you can do for the King's mind once his soul is returned to his body. [/COLOR] 
 

"His body will be fine. It's his mind that you should worry about." The queen explains; "If his mind isn't strong enough, he will go mad. Few mortals can sustain having their soul ripped apart and toyed around by a wizard."


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 Solemnos, what are the exact circumstances under which you learned of and acquired the silver eagle staff?" 
 

The dead man speaks in a rattling voice, eyes gone white, blood dripping from his old chin. "In my initiation, years ago... Generations of High Priests have been looking for the Eagle in secret... Hidden deep in the catacombs of the capital... Demons and guardians guarded the treasure..."
Flashkannon
 Ginarie considers. If there were guardians, then lack of dust couldn't be used to prove that it hadn't been used before Solmnos had gotten to it. She resolves to rethink a way to obtain that information, and then asks her next question.  "Then, if you and the church found it, what did you need Wilhem's help and Harald's soul for?"
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
  Ginarie considers. If there were guardians, then lack of dust couldn't be used to prove that it hadn't been used before Solmnos had gotten to it. She resolves to rethink a way to obtain that information, and then asks her next question.  "Then, if you and the church found it, what did you need Wilhem's help and Harald's soul for?" 
 

The corpse speaks in drawn out, frail sentences, as if each word took most of his breath.

"The Church needed Harald's soul... because the soul of his lineage sealed the Eagle... and only the soul of his lineage could release its power... Or so was written in stone when the Eagle was forged... To ensure it could never be taken from them..."

"But The power of the Eagle is subtle... People won't believe something until they secretly wish it was true... We needed a monarch with a solid claim... A marionette.. and a warrior to slay the demons and guardians in the catacombs below..."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "The Church needed Harald's soul... because the soul of his lineage sealed the Eagle... and only the soul of his lineage could release its power... Or so was written in stone when the Eagle was forged... To ensure it could never be taken from them..."

"But The power of the Eagle is subtle... People won't believe something until they secretly wish it was true... We needed a monarch with a solid claim... A marionette.. and a warrior to slay the demons and guardians in the catacombs below..." 
 

"So it's magic was still mostly sealed when it was used on me... hm. Solemnos, I ask you this: to your knowledge, did Harald himself or his representatives ever use the Silver Eagle after his coronation?"
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Solemnos, who are the co-conspirators that we do not know that still pose a threat to the King, the realm, and the Prince?  
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
   Solemnos, who are the co-conspirators that we do not know that still pose a threat to the King, the realm, and the Prince?   
 

"The church... North and south, east and west... There are foreign kings... who kneel to the Church of the Morninglord... Bishops everywhere have learned about the Eagle... and are ready to betray their own kings... Give up their land... for a seat beside the Holy Emperor..."


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "So it's magic was still mostly sealed when it was used on me... hm. Solemnos, I ask you this: to your knowledge, did Harald himself or his representatives ever use the Silver Eagle after his coronation?" 
 

"The Eagle... was hidden... in the catacombs beneath the city... The royal lineage... knew nothing of it..."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "The church... North and south, east and west... There are foreign kings... who kneel to the Church of the Morninglord... Bishops everywhere have learned about the Eagle... and are ready to betray their own kings... Give up their land... for a seat beside the Holy Emperor..." 
 

"Purging the church of the Morninglord sounds like a good endcap for this little rebellion."


 "The Eagle... was hidden... in the catacombs beneath the city... The royal lineage... knew nothing of it..." 

"And there we have it. Unlikely that Harald used it on us, at best. If anything remains of the guardians, one of us can have one raised to confirm, but this is about as good as we need for the moment."
J-H
 Gnaeus 
 "Indeed, and Solemnos was the power behind the throne."   Gnaeus glances up at the fey.   "The king was betrayed by those who should have been honest.  One of the best ways to prevent a recurrence is to show that taking actions such as this is futile."

"It does appear that the king does not need the staff, since he and his forefathers made no use of it."

"A final question for Solemnos.  Wilhelm's forces, his knights, his mercenaries, orcs, and other hired soldiers must have been bought at a high price; the eagle creates loyalty, but even a loyal soldier will refuse to fight for long without coin. Where are the money and magics used to pay them, and how can they be recovered?" 
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by J-H 
 Wilhelm's forces, his knights, his mercenaries, orcs, and other hired soldiers must have been bought at a high price; the eagle creates loyalty, but even a loyal soldier will refuse to fight for long without coin. Where are the money and magics used to pay them, and how can they be recovered?"[/I] 
 

"Enchantments... and illusions... are the powers of Fey... and so are the powers of the Eagle... There is no gold... There never was... They received chests filled to the brim.... with pinecones... gravel... and sand..."
Lioslaith
With the questions finished Galinmorn huffs and turns away.  He looks for Wilhelm's sword and awaits the queens judgement.
dangelo
"Mortal creatures are indeed fascinating." Nimriel says with amusement. "So be it. I shall release your king's soul and destroy the Eagle for good. However, I have one condition."

She pointed at Galin with a slender index finger. "Galinmorn of the Eladrin is to return to Feywild with me and spend his centuries fighting for his own kind. There are other tyrants we must take down, in this and other planes. War that are worth fighting."
Lioslaith
  "You would need to convince the king to release my debt to him.  Otherwise I cannot leave."  
dangelo
Nimriel thinks about the paladin's words for a moment. "If you accept my proposition, you break your oath to your kind. But if you refuse me, I will destroy his soul forever, and you will break your oath either way. Don't you see the contradiction?"
Lioslaith
  "Is it really breaking an oath when I am left with no other alternative?"  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik steps forward,   That soul of King is the only thing keepin' us from givin' ye the same fate as Wilhelm and his lot. Ye’re a trespasser, and ye’ve brought armed forces onto our land. I don’t take kindly to that—no, not at all.  
Flashkannon
 Ginarie rolls her eyes. "Pf, this is why I don't bother with this oaths and knighthood stuff. Look, just wait to collect him until Harald dies of natural causes. Five years, twenty or thirty at the most. That's no time at all."
Lioslaith
Galin ponders the Queens ultimatum for quite a while.    "I am not one to play with semantics and minutia.  That said, technically my oath to Harland ended with his death. Technically I am free to choose my path at this point.  I would choose to follow my queen and fight her battles for her."   
Flashkannon
 Ginarie looks at her fellow general, the only one that had been with her the entire campaign.  "Oh? I'm surprised. Well, far be it from me to keep you."
Lioslaith
  "The friends I have I do not wish to leave, the kings service I have undertaken I do.  this ... queen ... has decided she wants me to fight her battles for her.  So I shall."  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   "The friends I have I do not wish to leave, the kings service I have undertaken I do.  this ... queen ... has decided she wants me to fight her battles for her.  So I shall."   
 

"Hey, you're an adult, I won't make your choices for you."  Ginarie shrugs, and shakes her head.  "I didn't think I'd see a woman with this kind of power on the surface, frankly. It's refreshing, but..."  Ginarie looks at the queen, and addresses her.  "Well, let me ask, before we agree - all due respect, your majesty, are you just snapping him up because you have an issue with his lifestyle? There were a number of comments to that effect. Or is it me that you disapprove of? Thinking on it, I can't say as you've directly addressed me this entire time."  Those familiar with her would know, that tone that she takes with people sometimes, the beginnings of a smirk in the corner of her mouth - it often presages one of her bouts of especially audacious defiance. 
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
 Rurik steps forward,   That soul of King is the only thing keepin' us from givin' ye the same fate as Wilhelm and his lot. Ye’re a trespasser, and ye’ve brought armed forces onto our land. I don’t take kindly to that—no, not at all.   
 

"I have no desire to wage war against your people... Yet I am willing to, if the reward is bringing one of ours back to the Wild. To my eyes, Galinmorn is a hostage in need of rescue, just like your beloved king is to yours."


 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
   "The friends I have I do not wish to leave, the kings service I have undertaken I do.  this ... queen ... has decided she wants me to fight her battles for her.  So I shall."   
 

Nimriel nods in encouragement. "Deep down, I believe you always knew your place was not here. You will find a seat of high honor in my court, and together we will bring freedom to the Planes. Tyrants much greater than this old man are expanding their borders this very second. I guarantee you will find your purpose with us."


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "Hey, you're an adult, I won't make your choices for you."  Ginarie shrugs, and shakes her head.  "I didn't think I'd see a woman with this kind of power on the surface, frankly. It's refreshing, but..."  Ginarie looks at the queen, and addresses her.  "Well, let me ask, before we agree - all due respect, your majesty, are you just snapping him up because you have an issue with his lifestyle? There were a number of comments to that effect. Or is it me that you disapprove of? Thinking on it, I can't say as you've directly addressed me this entire time."  Those familiar with her would know, that tone that she takes with people sometimes, the beginnings of a smirk in the corner of her mouth - it often presages one of her bouts of especially audacious defiance.  
 

A single twitch of annoyance threatens her lips. The queen meditates on Ginarie's words for a moment, then says: "Yes, it displeases me to see one of my own enjoying the company of Drow. All creatures born in the Material Plane are inheritely inferior to us, but Dark Elves are particularly vile; You certainly know that, otherwise you wouldn't be here in the surface, fighting for a human king." She turns her gaze to Galin with relief. Even looking upon Ginarie seems to make her uncomfortable.

"If I was to meet an Eladrin in the material plane, I would expect him to be surrounded by a court of High Elves, and no Drow around." Her eyes shift to Gnaeus, but still she still adresses Galinmorn. "How about this... retainer of yours? Will he squire for you in the Wild?"
Lioslaith
Galinmorn chuckles,   "He is far from a retainer.  His path is his own to choose and he would be welcome no matter what he decides."  
J-H
 Gnaeus 
 "No, I'm happy here.  Not interested in living on some other plane, even if it's one you like.  I'm more of a cities-and-people elf than a trees-and-wild elf." 
dangelo
The queen quickly loses interest in Gnaeus and his fate in the Material Plane, and turns to the staff to complete her part of the bargain. But her hand stops halfway to the staff, and she looks at the party instead. "I don't wish to touch this artifact. You have proven to be honest - It is only right that you save your king with your own hands." She steps back from the Silver Eagle.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 A single twitch of annoyance threatens her lips. The queen meditates on Ginarie's words for a moment, then says: "Yes, it displeases me to see one of my own enjoying the company of Drow. All creatures born in the Material Plane are inheritely inferior to us, but Dark Elves are particularly vile; You certainly know that, otherwise you wouldn't be here in the surface, fighting for a human king." She turns her gaze to Galin with relief. Even looking upon Ginarie seems to make her uncomfortable.

"If I was to meet an Eladrin in the material plane, I would expect him to be surrounded by a court of High Elves, and no Drow around." 
 

 Ginarie sounds a little mad, her smirk a few hairs towards a grimace. "Oh, I'd say we dark elves have our charms. Certainly charm enough for even Corellon Larethian, wouldn't you say? I'm not a religious woman at all, but even I know the name Araushnee. Face it, we're fruit of the exact same tree, you and I; your people would be where mine are now, but for the events of that long-ago day. So don't act like the fact of your birth makes you better than me."  She pauses for a second, taking a deep breath and exhaling, resuming her pointed but smiley attitude.  "Ah, haha, while I won't sit back and let you call drow inferior as a race, I'm not saying I back everything my people do, I'm obviously not a drow loyalist. I'm here on my own two feet, as an individual, so I'll thank you to treat me as such."

 Ginarie grows more confident as the continues speaking.  "But, it'd be remiss of me not to say, with all due respect, your majesty, if the members of your court had realized the guardians of the Eagle were being slaughtered, this war and the abuse of the Eagle would have come to a swift and tidy conclusion, if it even began at all. But what's past is past, we who stand before you and the loyal 'mortals' under King Harald'sbanner resolved it. As it stands, while I won't belittle or diminish the accomplishments of my compatriots that were essential to our victory, so often, mine was the hand guiding events. Mine the hand that allowed the river spirit to slip the noose of the orders they'd been compelled to follow. Mine the hand that tracked down the druid that ensorcelled the spirit. Mine the hand that called for your presence here, in point of fact, when negotiations were at an impasse. If you desire Galinmorn as a tool for the war against tyrrany, surely you would desire me just as much. I'm a mercenary, I believe I mentioned, and my contract is up."  Ginarie holds her tongue on the final sentence, 'Or do you care more about your supposed racial superiority than the lofty goals you claim to serve' - leaving it a mere implication, a rhetorical dagger on a string hanging above the conversation.  
Lioslaith
Galinmorn steps forward and picks up the staff.
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
  Ginarie sounds a little mad, her smirk a few hairs towards a grimace. "Oh, I'd say we dark elves have our charms. Certainly charm enough for even Corellon Larethian, wouldn't you say? I'm not a religious woman at all, but even I know the name Araushnee. Face it, we're fruit of the exact same tree, you and I; your people would be where mine are now, but for the events of that long-ago day. So don't act like the fact of your birth makes you better than me."  She pauses for a second, taking a deep breath and exhaling, resuming her pointed but smiley attitude.  "Ah, haha, while I won't sit back and let you call drow inferior as a race, I'm not saying I back everything my people do, I'm obviously not a drow loyalist. I'm here on my own two feet, as an individual, so I'll thank you to treat me as such."

 Ginarie grows more confident as the continues speaking.  "But, it'd be remiss of me not to say, with all due respect, your majesty, if the members of your court had realized the guardians of the Eagle were being slaughtered, this war and the abuse of the Eagle would have come to a swift and tidy conclusion, if it even began at all. But what's past is past, we who stand before you and the loyal 'mortals' under King Harald'sbanner resolved it. As it stands, while I won't belittle or diminish the accomplishments of my compatriots that were essential to our victory, so often, mine was the hand guiding events. Mine the hand that allowed the river spirit to slip the noose of the orders they'd been compelled to follow. Mine the hand that tracked down the druid that ensorcelled the spirit. Mine the hand that called for your presence here, in point of fact, when negotiations were at an impasse. If you desire Galinmorn as a tool for the war against tyrrany, surely you would desire me just as much. I'm a mercenary, I believe I mentioned, and my contract is up."  Ginarie holds her tongue on the final sentence, 'Or do you care more about your supposed racial superiority than the lofty goals you claim to serve' - leaving it a mere implication, a rhetorical dagger on a string hanging above the conversation.   
 

"I never knew the Eagle had been recovered until the war had already started. Did you expect me to stand guard in those catacombs and fight off the priest with my own blade? It is far beneath me to babysit some kingdom. It was not by my authority that the staff was forged, but still I took it on myself to end its existence. Consider my intervention a favor to humankind."

"If you were gentle to my servants while the Usurper enslaved them, and hunted down the corrupted druids that roam this land, it was simply because that was the path of least resistance for you to accomplish your goals, not because you are capable of good. You are a vile creature, and you forever will be."

"Yet, you could be useful to me, here in the Material Plane. You have the murder instincts of a dark elf, but the illusion of freedom of a human. Tell me, Drow, how much gold would be a 'large quantity' for a creature like you?"


 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 Galinmorn steps forward and picks up the staff. 
 

Power surges through your veins the moment you touch the staff. It is much lighter than Galin expected - It seems like only the figurehead is made of silver, while the shaft is simply pale birch wood, but it vibrates with power, and your hear the distant whisper of suffering souls trapped inside of it. The Silver Eagle taps into your conscience, showing you blurry visions of the past: You see different human tribes coming together to hunt down a wayward fey, and the moment the innocent creature is saved by a great warrior who calms their emotion with inspiring words, the same man who later becomes their king and leads them through a glorious campaign to unify their province. There were so many warrior-kings back then, when dozens of warring factions fought for land, that the province was later known as the Bay of Kings. But for a thousand years, there has been only one king in the Bay of Kings, and Galinmorn has been there to see the last three hundred and fifty years of its glorious dinasty.

But why stop there? Galinmorn's existence symbolizes the friendship between humans and fey. If he was to remain in the Material Plane, Galin could become not a Holy Emperor, but a Peacebringer, the Good Fey, and make this province a place where humankind and nature can peacefully coexist. And even then, why not bring this peace to the other kingdoms beyond the mountains? Even those beyond the sea? Why leave it up to human monarchs to be tyrants, to hunt down magical creatures, to burn the fields of their enemies, consumming and destroying anything that stands in their own, caring little about balance or peace or freedom. Nimriel would never understand that - she thinks too little of this world to care about it. To see the beauty in it. Perhaps Harald's sacrifice was the last one that had to be made. Perhaps it  is time to stop worrying about the past and start looking up to the bright future. A future where you, Galinmorn, wielding the Silver Eagle, can become the Peacebringer of Nature and Men, and make this world a better place for everyone who lives in it.

For those watching the Paladin, it is visible that the staff is resonating with him, but this is all happening in a split second.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik sees the surge in power and his instincts tell him to run forward. Dropping the battleaxe, he grips Galin's free hand in a fist and calls out to him,   Remember who ye are Galin! Remember why we're here!  
Lioslaith
Galin gives the dwarf’s hand a squeeze.   ”I am not as gone as it may appear.”   

He lets the hand go then “searches” the staff for the kings soul.
dangelo
It is easy to "find" Harald's soul trapped in the Silver Eagle. The magical artifact simply begs for someone to use it, to take control of it and release its potential, as if centuries of knowledge and magic from Feywild unraveled between your fingers. As easily as you would read a scroll or drink a potion, you break the chains that hold Harald's soul, and along with it, hundred of other kings and queens of the past, who have once ruled over the Bay and are now buried deep in the catacombs beneath the capital. The soul is only briefly visible flying up the Main Keep to find and reunite with its body.

"Very touching." Nimriel lets out. "I will come to find you in three days, Galinmorn. Be ready to leave by then."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik sighs in relief and recovers his battleaxe,   Sorry lad, these fey magicks... foul things.   He turns to Nimriel,   Seein' as Galin is retrieving the King's soul, we've got little use for you. Take your... soldiers here and leave, before I quench my thirst and drink 'em.   Suddenly he catches a glimpse of the King's soul,   Galin ye did it!  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "I never knew the Eagle had been recovered until the war had already started. Did you expect me to stand guard in those catacombs and fight off the priest with my own blade? It is far beneath me to babysit some kingdom. It was not by my authority that the staff was forged, but still I took it on myself to end its existence. Consider my intervention a favor to humankind."

"If you were gentle to my servants while the Usurper enslaved them, and hunted down the corrupted druids that roam this land, it was simply because that was the path of least resistance for you to accomplish your goals, not because you are capable of good. You are a vile creature, and you forever will be."

"Yet, you could be useful to me, here in the Material Plane. You have the murder instincts of a dark elf, but the illusion of freedom of a human. Tell me, Drow, how much gold would be a 'large quantity' for a creature like you?" 
 

 Ginarie laughs. She can barely keep her breath, she's laughing so hard. "Are you... are you kidding me? I'll get to the absolutely  beautiful  expression of the swirling muck in your soul in a moment, but are you really saying that warding the place was too much for you? That your mighty, 'superior' race was too good to hand out a single Sending Stone? Hells, a messenger pigeon or something. Communicate, for the sake of all the gods, if you have something important you're protecting. Was the best solution you could come with in a few seconds standing tomb personally? My gods, really. I was being polite, because of your station, and the power you're wielding, but come on. I'm no wizard, but you could just set up a Glyph on the staff with a Sending spell embedded, easiest trick in the book."

"Now, as for the glittering spectacle you just made of yourself, do you really, truly believe what you just said? It doesn't match with what you know of reality - events you just directly witnessed. The delusional, violent one here is you - whose armies she sent to murder indiscriminately and without warning, who killed a defenseless enemy by stabbing him in the back, because you didn't feel like talking to him. Now that's barbarism! You know your own nature - despite your high-handed speech, you couldn't touch the Eagle, for fear that it might overtake you."
Lioslaith
After releasing the souls Galin looks inward   Are you able to transform, staff?  Could you become a sword?  You have seen my inner nature. You know what I am.   
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Lioslaith 
 After releasing the souls Galin looks inward   Are you able to transform, staff?  Could you become a sword?  You have seen my inner nature. You know what I am.    
 

When the king's soul was released from the Eagle, it ceased to be an intelligent artifact. It is now only capable of charming friends and frightening foes, as it was when Solemnos recovered it from the catacombs.

"Are you done with the Eagle, Galinmorn? It is time to destroy it." Says Nimriel.


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
  Ginarie laughs. She can barely keep her breath, she's laughing so hard. "Are you... are you kidding me? I'll get to the absolutely  beautiful  expression of the swirling muck in your soul in a moment, but are you really saying that warding the place was too much for you? That your mighty, 'superior' race was too good to hand out a single Sending Stone? Hells, a messenger pigeon or something. Communicate, for the sake of all the gods, if you have something important you're protecting. Was the best solution you could come with in a few seconds standing tomb personally? My gods, really. I was being polite, because of your station, and the power you're wielding, but come on. I'm no wizard, but you could just set up a Glyph on the staff with a Sending spell embedded, easiest trick in the book."

"Now, as for the glittering spectacle you just made of yourself, do you really, truly believe what you just said? It doesn't match with what you know of reality - events you just directly witnessed. The delusional, violent one here is you - whose armies she sent to murder indiscriminately and without warning, who killed a defenseless enemy by stabbing him in the back, because you didn't feel like talking to him. Now that's barbarism! You know your own nature - despite your high-handed speech, you couldn't touch the Eagle, for fear that it might overtake you." 
 

"Yes, I fear the eagle. It is the greatest Fey artifact I've ever laid eyes on, and it is known to corrupt the hearts of those tho touch it. I would much rather have you take it; I could dispatch one of you if you were corrupted, but I couldn't get rid of my own mind."

"Now, what are the rules of war, Drow? You call me craven for taking your soldiers from behind, but every single one of them was ready to die tonight. Let us respect their legacy and not cry over their deaths like children. They lived and died like warriors. That is the fate of a soldier, when their general is bested in the field."

"Lastly, I will admit; I didn't know where the Eagle was hidden. It has been a long time since it was forged, and as I have said before, it was not under my supervision. I cared little about its fate, but the outcome of its creation bothered me much. Thus, I intervened only when I learned of the situation. A messenger pigeon won't find it way to the Wild, and into the City of Silver."
Lioslaith
  ”Do you need me to keep it until I am back in the feywild?”  
dangelo
"No, Galinmorn. The Eagle is too dangerous even without the king's soul. It must be destroyed now. Are you giving in to its power?" She says with a hint of suspicion.
Lioslaith
Galin drops the staff in the mud at the queens feet.   ”Do with it what you will then.  I was asking because you bade someone other than you touch it.”  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "Yes, I fear the eagle. It is the greatest Fey artifact I've ever laid eyes on, and it is known to corrupt the hearts of those tho touch it. I would much rather have you take it; I could dispatch one of you if you were corrupted, but I couldn't get rid of my own mind."

"Now, what are the rules of war, Drow? You call me craven for taking your soldiers from behind, but every single one of them was ready to die tonight. Let us respect their legacy and not cry over their deaths like children. They lived and died like warriors. That is the fate of a soldier, when their general is bested in the field."

"Lastly, I will admit; I didn't know where the Eagle was hidden. It has been a long time since it was forged, and as I have said before, it was not under my supervision. I cared little about its fate, but the outcome of its creation bothered me much. Thus, I intervened only when I learned of the situation. A messenger pigeon won't find it way to the Wild, and into the City of Silver." 
 

"You misunderstand - I'm not mocking you for the fact that you deployed your army or that you wasted mortal lives - I know you don't care even a single, solitary shred about things like that. I'm mocking your leadership skills. You used your army like a cudgel, when even a brief review of the facts or a mild interest in the course of events would have allowed you to deploy it in a much more surgical and effective manner - one that would have produced far less casualties for your own faction, and obtained the Silver Eagle handily. Mishandling of your own army aside, it would have been easy for someone with your level of power to spend a little time, or delegate an underling to do a little research to locate it at any time before now, if you cared at all before it started making you look incompetent. Pray tell, how was it, then, that you learned of the situation? No, I'm not calling you craven, I'm calling you a lazy, self-interested blue blood whose only care for sentient creatures applies to those of her own kind.

Here you stand, in front of the people who solved your problem for you, and you can't even muster up the respect to call us by our names, except the one person you're using your influence to force under your command."
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaeus slips into the background, unnoticed, up against one of the walls, just out of sight of the fey queen.  This conversation has taken a dangerously unprofitable turn.  Nimriel is far too divorced from the normal values of this world.
 
 Spoiler 

Deception  (1d20+5)[ 10 ] 
Stealth  (1d20+10)[ 25 ] 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  I don't know what the meanin' of all this is, but I have to check on the King and the Prince.   Rurik looks to Nimriel,   You killed Solemnos, and for that you've been allowed to say your peace. But your peace don't sound too peaceful. If I return and you are still here, I will defend the King's realm with my life.   With that warning, Rurik heads back into the tower to check on the Harald.
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
 "You misunderstand - I'm not mocking you for the fact that you deployed your army or that you wasted mortal lives - I know you don't care even a single, solitary shred about things like that. I'm mocking your leadership skills. You used your army like a cudgel, when even a brief review of the facts or a mild interest in the course of events would have allowed you to deploy it in a much more surgical and effective manner - one that would have produced far less casualties for your own faction, and obtained the Silver Eagle handily. Mishandling of your own army aside, it would have been easy for someone with your level of power to spend a little time, or delegate an underling to do a little research to locate it at any time before now, if you cared at all before it started making you look incompetent. Pray tell, how was it, then, that you learned of the situation? No, I'm not calling you craven, I'm calling you a lazy, self-interested blue blood whose only care for sentient creatures applies to those of her own kind.

Here you stand, in front of the people who solved your problem for you, and you can't even muster up the respect to call us by our names, except the one person you're using your influence to force under your command." 
 

"We are circumstantial allies, so I will answer your questions." The queen wipes the blood out of her rapier and sheathes it in a single motion. "But I have little interest in whatever point you are trying to make, and I believe we both shall be happier when we go our separate ways. You are wrong to assume I have  mild interest  in this matter."

"I learned of the war through druids who refused Wilhem and contacted the Wild, and from Elementals like these who returned to the Planes complaining of cruel masters and a Blue Army. I massed my forces and simply waited for the best opportunity to take you all by surprise."

"Does that answer all your questions?" She patiently waits for the party's reponse.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "We are circumstantial allies, so I will answer your questions." The queen wipes the blood out of her rapier and sheathes it in a single motion. "But I have little interest in whatever point you are trying to make, and I believe we both shall be happier when we go our separate ways. You are wrong to assume I have  mild interest  in this matter."

"I learned of the war through druids who refused Wilhem and contacted the Wild, and from Elementals like these who returned to the Planes complaining of cruel masters and a Blue Army. I massed my forces and simply waited for the best opportunity to take you all by surprise."

"Does that answer all your questions?" She patiently waits for the party's reponse. 
 

"Seems everyone else has already taken their leave. No matter, I've made my point, there's little I can do to force the truth on unhearing ears. I will say though, once more for the record - you're wrong about my people, and you're especially wrong about me.

 Well then, you said you had a job? I prefer to hear the job before I quote a price."
dangelo
"There are corrupted druids still roaming this land. They enchanted the rivers and bent the winds to support the Blue Army, and whether they did it under the influence of the Eagle or by their own will, it's still a wrong that must be made right. Additionally, the Church of the Morninglord can't be trusted. They know about your King Harald's friendship with the fey, and will try to exploit that in the future. "

"If you can neutralize these agents, I shall pay you a handsome sum for every corrupted druid or greedy bishop that you take down. Kill them, charm them, touch their hearts and turn them into good people... I don't care how you achieve it, but they must be neutralized."

--

On the first floor of the Main Keep, Rurik and Gnaeus run into the Lion Prince carrying his father in his arms. The orange plumes remain on his shoulderplates, but the lioncrested helmet is long gone. His hair and beard are painted orange to give him the aspect of a lion, but now his face is wet with his tears, and he doesn't look quite so fearless."He's mumbling." He manages to say. "I was crying over his death, and then he started mumbling."

King Harald breathes. He is severly wounded from the battle, but manages to open his eyes and raise his hands to his generals. "My brother... Is he dead?" A grunt of pain. "I must know."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "There are corrupted druids still roaming this land. They enchanted the rivers and bent the winds to support the Blue Army, and whether they did it under the influence of the Eagle or by their own will, it's still a wrong that must be made right. Additionally, the Church of the Morninglord can't be trusted. They know about your King Harald's friendship with the fey, and will try to exploit that in the future. "

"If you can neutralize these agents, I shall pay you a handsome sum for every corrupted druid or greedy bishop that you take down. Kill them, charm them, touch their hearts and turn them into good people... I don't care how you achieve it, but they must be neutralized." 
 

"I can guess a commonsense meaning for 'neutralized', but as you're the client, I'll ask to make sure - 'neutralized' in this case means that they are no longer willing and/or able to use their powers against the fey.

That aside, there's no conflict of interest there, payment description seems fine - though, gold is of limited marginal utility past a certain point - I'm sure you can provide alternates. I'll send over a contract with Galinmorn, but consider the deal as verbally outlined provisionally accepted."
dangelo
The Eladrin queen seems relieved to finally end the conversation, and doesn't even say another word. Then she casts another spell -  Disintegrate  - at the Silver Eagle figurehead, and the magical artifact explodes in little pieces. Nimriel looks at the remains, disgusted, before she simpy turns around and leaves through the open portal, taking with her the three Water Elementals. One of them gives Ginarie a respectful bow before leaving.

The portal is closed and the night falls quiet again. The rain lightens up further, reduced to a faint drizzle. All around, the sounds of battle die away into silence.

--

On the first floor of the Main Keep, Rurik and Gnaeus run into the Lion Prince carrying his father in his arms. The orange plumes remain on his shoulderplates, but the lioncrested helmet is long gone. His hair and beard are painted orange to give him the aspect of a lion, but now his face is wet with his tears, and he doesn't look quite so fearless."He's mumbling." He manages to say. "I was crying over his death, and then he started mumbling."

King Harald breathes. He is severly wounded from the battle, but manages to open his eyes and raise his hands to his generals. "My brother... Is he dead?" A grunt of pain. "I must know."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 King Harald breathes. He is severly wounded from the battle, but manages to open his eyes and raise his hands to his generals. "My brother... Is he dead?" A grunt of pain. "I must know." 
 

 Ginarie enters calmly, glad to be rid of the racist eladrin, and provides a simple sitrep.  "Last I personally saw when I disarmed him, your highness, he was breathing, but held hostage by some effect Solemnos cast. Solemnos is now deceased, and the artifact he was using is ash in the wind, so I imagine your brother has had maybe a minute to consider himself, if the death of his priest released him. His son Lothar is also unconscious on the stairs up to the roof, in a shadowy spot, and Sasha, of course, I captured. This means Wilmar is in the wind, but I'm not expecting him to make an appearance after his miserable failure to stop us. I expect you'll want us to head up the stairs and finish this, then? I can go another round or two today, if need be. And, of note - this was apparently a major church conspiracy, so I'd assume any priest is by default compromised, for the moment."
Lioslaith
As Ginarie sums up, Galin casts cure wounds on the king.   ”Last we knew he still drew breath.”  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik rushes to help the Prince Hector set his father down,   My King!  

The King mumbles through grunts of pain about his brother.

  Solemnos betrayed him in the end, and he lies upstairs, unconscious. How do ye feel?   He steps aside to let Galin heal the King.
dangelo
The king takes the healing with a sigh of relief. He grabbed onto the most important words that were said to him, his vision still blurry and his body taken by pain. "Solemnos... Betrayed him..." He asks no one in particular, facing the dazing array of silhouettes that kneel by his side. It takes him several breaths to form a sentence, so he closes his eyes to focus on his words. "His children and Sasha should die for treason... Yet, I beg you to spare them."

His breathing speeds up as he struggles to speak. "I feel alive... barely." Harald cracks a tragic smile at his own condition, reaching a blind hand to Rurik. "But I mustn't rest while my brother lives. The realm is not yet saved."
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 3/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Spare them?   Rurik says,   Your will shall be done Your Grace! Let us deal with your brother.   He looks to the others,   Let's finish this then.  
J-H
 Gnaeus 
 "At your command, of course."   He offers a healing potion to Prince Hector to give to the king once the king is able to drink it.  Too much healing too fast is said to be a bad thing... he thinks.  Maybe it was too much strong drink too fast?

 "Shall we make sure Wilhelm doesn't make a last minute escape?  Is the tower clear of orcs?"   He flicks his eyes to the prince, who has obviously made his way down.
Lioslaith
  ”Drink that king, and rest. We will handle Wilhelm.”   As they get ready to depart to find the usurper Galin takes the axe from its holder on his back and hands it to Rurik without saying a word.
dangelo
"I found no one on my way down." The prince replies. "The orcs ran away, and there's no sign of my cousins."

The four generals launch themselves up the stairs, but find floor after floor empty. Only at the eighth floor they glimpse the Usurper laying on the ground, his son Lothar kneeling over him. "So you've come to finish your bloody work." The young man's delicate features twist into hatred. "At least let me say my goodbyes before you slay my father."

There is no sign of Wilmar. He must have left with the orcs, but whether he survived the slaughter in the streets or not, it is impossible to know.
Lioslaith
  ”Hush boy, no one is killing anyone, yet. Move away and be silent. You will both face justice and answer for your crimes against the king and his people.”   Galin moves in to secure the ‘prisoners’ and take them into custody.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 The four generals launch themselves up the stairs, but find floor after floor empty. Only at the eighth floor they glimpse the Usurper laying on the ground, his son Lothar kneeling over him. "So you're come to finish your bloody work." The young man's delicate features twist into hatred. "At least let me say my goodbyes before you slay my father."

There is no sign of Wilmar. He must have left with the orcs, but whether he survived the slaughter in the streets or not, it is impossible to know. 
 

"Hate us if you must. The moment your father raised his banner in open rebellion, he decided that either he or his brother should die. I'd say you had an argument to make that he'd been under the control of the staff, but we just learned that he was the one that slew its guardians in the first place, so, no dice there. Say your goodbyes, thus war is just about over."
Lioslaith
Galinmorn moves forward and scoops up Wilhelm,   ”Follow, boy.”   He turns to take the usurper back to face the king directly.  Maybe if he sees his face he will let his brother live.  He thinks to himself as he carries them back.
J-H
Gnaeus keeps an eye on Lothar, walking silently behind the young man.  If he moves to attack, the elf will strike him down.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Trollblood Amulet
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik motions to Galin to stop for a moment and meet him off to the side,   Galin, a word please.   Once they are beside each other, he speaks to the eladrin in hushed tones,   What are you aimin' at? The King told us to kill his brother. With the stress he is under from his soul returnin', do ye really want to execute Wilhelm in front of him?   
Lioslaith
  ”I hope that the king will make a different choice once they are face to face. If not then we can take him away and execute him him elsewhere.”  
Flashkannon
 Ginarie sidles up to Lothar.  "You're a resilient guy, I'm shocked you're back on your feet this quickly. So, what next for you, after the war is over? I've nothing more to gain from being coy now, so I can say that, as far as I'm personally aware, your siblings and mother didn't die in the battle."
dangelo
When Galin approaches to take the Usurper his arms, he raises a hand in plead. Wilhem is in bad shape, but still much better than Harald, and manages to speak in full sentences: "Give me a minute, and I will be able to walk. Let me face my fate with some dignity, if it pleases you."

Lothar gives Ginarie a look of fear and resentment. "Is this some cruel jape? I am my father's Second Son. The heir of a traitor. You will hang me, and I will face that end with a proud heart. I fought for my family, and would do it again a thousand times over."
Lioslaith
  ”As you will.”  
dangelo
Leaning on his son for balance, Wilhem carefully takes on the steps, one at a time, all the way down to the first floor. The Great Hall was once vibrant and full of life, with balls and gatherings and Harald holding court from his cushioned chair; Now, there are only blood splatters and silence. The king lies on the floor, his son kneeling by his side. The eyes of the prince light up in anger when he spots Lothar and Wilhem, and he stands of a sudden.

 "You brought him here...? Aye, I see. You are my generals, not my butchers." Harald opens his eyes to see his brother standing before him. There is a hint of pain in his dutiful gaze. "Prince Wilhem of the Bay of Kings, Lord of the River Lands, I hereby sentence you to death for crimes against the crown." He sighs. "I beg you to take this traitor away from here."

The Lion Prince does not soften up. He glares at his uncle, standing beside Harald as if someone could still jump him.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik steps forward and nods to King Harald,   Your Grace.   He kneels beside the king and lowers his head, removing the necklace tucked under his spiked armor,   Keep resting Your Grace, and attune to the magic in this amulet, it will heal you.   With Hector's help, he places the Trollblood Amulet around the king's neck.

As Rurik and the others take Wilhelm and Lothar away, the dwarf pulls Wilhelm to the side,   When we found ye, ya spoke of dyin' with dignity. Hear this; the King has spared yer wife and lads. Before yer sentence is carried out, speak to yer son. Tell him to live the rest o' his days in peace, and yer wife to do the same. He's to seek out Wilmar and convince him to think the same. Don't let 'em fester in anger or seek revenge. Let the bloodshed end here and let your line carry on. Make it yer final wish. Do this, Prince Wilhelm, so I can know the job's done.  
Flashkannon
 Ginarie gives Lothar a small pat on the back. "No cruel jape; that order didn't exclude you by accident, nor was it an accident that I struck the final blow with the hilt of my rapier, not the point. I imagine Rurik is saying something similar over there as we speak. Sure, there'll be a death in your family, but no worse than you tried to inflict on your cousin, or the fates of the commonfolk and soldiers who did the bulk of the fighting. I'd imagine you get to go home, even. Merciful, really. Where I come from, the losing house was burned to the ground and every last member slaughtered. Thank your lucky stars that's not how they do things up here."

 She gives Lothar a moment to reply, then steps back out of whisper range. 
dangelo
 
 Originally Posted by Dr.Samurai 
 As Rurik and the others take Wilhelm and Lothar away, the dwarf pulls Wilhelm to the side,   When we found ye, ya spoke of dyin' with dignity. Hear this; the King has spared yer wife and lads. Before yer sentence is carried out, speak to yer son. Tell him to live the rest o' his days in peace, and yer wife to do the same. He's to seek out Wilmar and convince him to think the same. Don't let 'em fester in anger or seek revenge. Let the bloodshed end here and let your line carry on. Make it yer final wish. Do this, Prince Wilhelm, so I can know the job's done.   
 

Wilhem raises his eyes to meet Rurik. "The Tradition of the Second Son doesn't end with me." He insists. "One day, my lineage will take up arms and rise against the False King once more. Wilmar is out there. You just wait patiently for his return, and I will watch your defeat from the afterlife."


 
 Originally Posted by Flashkannon 
  Ginarie gives Lothar a small pat on the back. "No cruel jape; that order didn't exclude you by accident, nor was it an accident that I struck the final blow with the hilt of my rapier, not the point. I imagine Rurik is saying something similar over there as we speak. Sure, there'll be a death in your family, but no worse than you tried to inflict on your cousin, or the fates of the commonfolk and soldiers who did the bulk of the fighting. I'd imagine you get to go home, even. Merciful, really. Where I come from, the losing house was burned to the ground and every last member slaughtered. Thank your lucky stars that's not how they do things up here."[/b] 
 

"So my uncle means to keep me and my family around?" Lothar shakes his head in disbelief. "Only to be frowned upon by his court? To live a shameful life? I would rather face the block."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "So my uncle means to keep me and my family around?" Lothar shakes his head in disbelief. "Only to be frowned upon by his court? To live a shameful life? I would rather face the block." 
 

"Hey, not like I know what they plan on doing, but, while I liked your ingenuity earlier, your insight is a little lacking. Keep your ears open and your mind working, I'm sure you'll find something with which to occupy them. Where life remains, so too does possibility. But only as long as you're willing to see it."

 It was a strange sort of resemblance, but Lothar was starting to remind her of her brother - he, too, never knew quite when to turn his cloak. 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Wilhem raises his eyes to meet Rurik. "The Tradition of the Second Son doesn't end with me." He insists. "One day, my lineage will take up arms and rise against the False King once more. Wilmar is out there. You just wait patiently for his return, and I will watch your defeat from the afterlife."

Rurik sighs, the gesture tinged with genuine sadness and frustration,   No, I don't think you will,   he says. He doffs his shield so he can grip Galin's battleaxe in two hands,   Lothar, come, you should be here for your father's final moments.  

When Lothar is brought over, Rurik says to him,   Your father says his lineage will take up arms against your uncle or cousin yet again. That you or your brother will defeat us in the end. Is this true? Your uncle has spared you. Do you swear to live out your days in peace, or will you plot against the crown and support your brother?  
dangelo
Lothar and Wilhem exchange a meaningful look, one full of encouragement and pride. Finally, Lothar shifts his gaze to Rurik and let all the emotion fade from his expression. What comes next is a dull, lifeless mantra: "I am the son of a traitor. If King Harald will pardon me, I will gladly accept it, and swear fealty to his banner."
Lioslaith
Galin steps forward a bit behind Wilhelm and makes an almost casual swing with his new sword. Cleanly beheading Wilhelm.   ”The usurper is dead. You are free by the kings orders only. Pray you do not try this again.”  
dangelo
Lothar faces the floor during his father's quick execution. Wilhem's blood joins that of the men he slew in this very hall, lives that were shortened by his greedy crusade.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik watches as Galin separates Wilhem's head from his neck, and the would-be usurper falls dead. Rurik regards Lothar,   I wish I could believe ya boy. I will let the King know ye plan to betray him again. Look long and hard at yer father Prince, ye look upon yer own fate when the day comes you choose to dishonor your uncle's mercy.  
J-H
 Gnaeus 
The elves exchange glances, raised eyebrows, and slight tilts of the head.  After a few moments and a nod at the king, they decide to spare Lothar.  The young human man would likely never realize how close he came to death in that moment.
Flashkannon
 Seems Lothar did get her message. Perhaps they'd be doing this again in a few years, perhaps not. Spymaster's problem now. 
dangelo
Morning threatens to break through the arrow slits of the main hall, nothing but a wisp of gold raising above the Inner Sea. Prince Hector drags his father to a more comfortable place while the four generals reunite by the main gates. From there, you oversee the entire city.

Blue knights and mercenaries litter the streets. Some of your Fifteen Hundred were also killed in the onslaught, including half a dozen dwarves, but it seems like the thick of your forces managed to retreat from the vicinity and avoid the Fey invasion. Whatever remained of the commonfolk, a fraction of the original population of the capital, gathered in the streets to behold the aftermath of the siege. The war is over, but still there is no cheering in the streets.

There is still much to be done. When the Eagle was destroyed, what happened to the orcs in the Riverlord's Keep? To the corrupted druids that roam the Bay of Kings? Who will bring justice to the Dwarves of Clan Merdûk, who refused to let the Three Hundred through their mountains? And of course, there is Wilmar, gone in exhile.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Morning threatens to break through the arrow slits of the main hall, nothing but a wisp of gold raising above the Inner Sea. Prince Hector drags his father to a more comfortable place while the four generals reunite by the main gates. From there, you oversee the entire city.

Blue knights and mercenaries litter the streets. Some of your Fifteen Hundred were also killed in the onslaught, including half a dozen dwarves, but it seems like the thick of your forces managed to retreat from the vicinity and avoid the Fey invasion. Whatever remained of the commonfolk, a fraction of the original population of the capital, gathered in the streets to behold the aftermath of the siege. The war is over, but still there is no cheering in the streets.

There is still much to be done. When the Eagle was destroyed, what happened to the orcs in the Riverlord's Keep? To the corrupted druids that roam the Bay of Kings? Who will bring justice to the Dwarves of Clan Merdûk, who refused to let the Three Hundred through their mountains? And of course, there is Wilmar, gone in exile. 
 

"Well, would you look at that! A sea of work, yet to be done. Never so neat and tidy as a victory, then a victory feast, eh boys? What say you, orcs, priests, or druids first? There's an appeal in all three. I imagine they're all scrambling to rip off their badges and disappear, once they hear the news, of course. Well, maybe not the orcs. I'd imagine they're rampaging in the last remaining unbroken citadel in the country, no?"  Ginarie laughs.  "The work of governance is never really done. For me, I'm voting druids."
Lioslaith
  'I'd rather sleep first before we try the druids."  
dangelo
Morning is upon you, and the people of the capital put themselves to work. There are buildings to be rebuilt, and fields to be sown. Wounded soldiers scatter about the city, saved by a group of common priests who roam the streets giving out healing to whoever they find on the way, burning incense and praying.

Outside the city, a column of over a thousand soldier crests the Rocky Hill. Lord Bartholomew rides ahead of knights and Stone Warriors, ready to join the surviving forces to start rebuilding the glory of the capital.

Lord Bartholomew joins you at the castle gates, followed by an entourage of dwarves who greet Rurik chest bumps and hugs. "It seems like the storm has passed my lords. There is much to be done, and my ships are yours to command. But first, we must gather in the Great Hall and prepare a celebration. The war is indeed over, I believe? The king is saved?"
Lioslaith
Galin scans the throng, looking for Sir Brennan.  He will heal the king once his Lay on Hands recharges for the day, and cast any healing spells to get his back to full health.  Helping where he can.  He waves off the idea of a celebration,   "There is much left to do."  
Flashkannon
"The enemy command is smashed, now we have to stop the next war. Crush the support base that made this possible, you know?"
J-H
 Gnaeus 
Gnaeus looks around.   "Yes, a celebration a few days from now.  Right now, there's a lot of work to be done to make sure others don't die." 
dangelo
Bartholomew's expression hardens as he looks upon the ruined city. "I don't think we have to worry about their base of supporters, my lords." He insists, unaware of he conspiracy that has taken over the church of the Morninglord.
"Few of his knights have survived the onslaught. We saw them running south as we retreated to the Rocky Hill. No doubt they have ran into exhile and became outlaws. Give us a few summers, and we ought to hunt them down."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Bartholomew's expression hardens as he looks upon the ruined city. "I don't think we have to worry about their base of supporters, my lords." He insists, unaware of he conspiracy that has taken over the church of the Morninglord.
"Few of his knights have survived the onslaught. We saw them running south as we retreated to the Rocky Hill. No doubt they have ran into exile and became outlaws. Give us a few summers, and we ought to hunt them down." 
 

"There's more than you know, but let's not put the cart before the lizard here - at the least, someone's going to need to deal with the orcs in the riverland keep."
dangelo
"We sail to the River Lands, then." Lord Bartholomew nods. "Are we taking Lady Sasha with us?"
Lioslaith
  "I think the King would prefer her to stay in his court where he can keep an eye on her.  Any news of Ser Brennan?"  
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "We sail to the River Lands, then." Lord Bartholomew nods. "Are we taking Lady Sasha with us?" 
 

"I believe the king is reserving her for his personal court. I suppose all the better to keep an eye on her, her side on the recent conflict considered."
dangelo
"Your lieutenant took a wound in the battle, but lives." Bartholomew clarifies. "I will arrange our voyage, then. If you excuse me."

---

Three days later

Night falls quietly in the Inner Sea. Bartholomew's  Harald's Grace  leads a line of twelve warships, wounding through the peaceful waters in a straight line to the River Lands. Once the fleet reaches the coast, they woud sail upriver and deploy the troops as far north as their heavy warships could reach.

Watching the sea unfold beneath the pale moonlight, alone in the deck of  Harald's Grace , Galin is suddenly aware of the presence of Nimriel. This time there is no flashing magical portal, no army of Elementals, no blades on her hip. She steps softly onto the deck, so light the wood refuses to creak under her weight. "The time has come, Galinmorn. Let us return to the Wild, where you shall live among your equals."
Lioslaith
Without turning around to meet her gaze,   "I am living where I want to live now."  
dangelo
"For now, yes." Nimriel joins him by the edge of the ship, staring off into the horizon. "But how about your future? Do you really care about these humans that much? You've seen this king and other kings be born, grow into men, and rule until they die. To what purpose?"
Lioslaith
Galinmorn softens a  bit.    "It is what they are capable of becoming that drives me to stay and observe now.  Before it was duty and obligation that drove me to serve, now it is a choice I am able to make on my own.  I would stay and see what becomes of this kingdom and rulership.  To that end it would not be so long to wait for us."  
dangelo
Nimriel sighs in disappointment. "This is a great warship." Her eyes shift to the weapons mounted on the side of   Harald's Grace . "Tell me, Galinmorn. If we were to replace all parts of this ship, piece by piece, in order to repair it, improve it. After a while, we come to the point where not a single part of this ship is the same. Is it still the same ship?"

She leaves the side of the ship and wanders about the deck. "The same goes for this kingdom. In a hundred years, every noble in the Bay of Kings will be dead and buried. Why would it be the same kingdom? Harald's ancestor was a friend to the Fey, but that says nothing in favor of Harald himself."
Lioslaith
  "Indeed it does not, however I say that he is a good man, for a human, and that should be enough, yes?    He leaves the rail, pondering her words,   "I think to answer your question, yes and no.  It is still the same ship, different in make up but still the same ship.  It is more than just the sum of it's parts.  As are we all."  
dangelo
"Yes, we are. But so are the fish in the sea, and we don't meddle in their affairs." She insists. "There were others like you in the past. Eladrin who lived among humans. It can be good for your ego, but I promise you will grow tired of them, sooner or later. I just hope my door will still be open by the time you decide to wake up and leave this little life behind."
Lioslaith
  "If it does not, then mayhaps I will find another door open to me."  
dangelo
The queen vanishes with the wind without saying another word. It will be a long time until their paths cross again, if they ever do. For now, the Eladrin Crusade won't be part of Galin's problems, and he turns to the matter at hand: besieging the Usurper's former castle and re-establishing order in the River Lands.

---

A few days later

The night falls on the Riverlord's Keep, but the battlefield remains aglow by the fieres of siege. Horsemen gallop left and right with torches in their hands, some soldiers trench and spike the perimeter while others fall trees and build war machines. It is still the first day of siege, but with only a few hundred orcs to hold the castle, it should be a clean job.

Behind the siege line there is a swarm of red-and-golden tents, and a great commander's pavilion where Ginarie tends to her maps. Sir Deremont, serving in place of Brennan while the lieutenant recovers from his wounds, slides into the tent escorting Lady Sasha. She was relieved of her armor and weapons, but allowed to follow camp and return to her home in the Riverlord's Keep by the king's decree.

"Lady Commander. Lady Sasha begs to see you with a request." He steps aside to reveal Sasha. She looks less like a soldier in a tunic and with her hair down, but her broad shoulders and strong arms betray her build in any outfit. "She offers her services in this battle to win back her homeland. That she is given a horse and a sword and nothing more, so she can free her dear children currently held hostage by the Lightning Tribe."

Sasha herself remains silent, her eyes locked on Ginarie.
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "Lady Commander. Lady Sasha begs to see you with a request." He steps aside to reveal Sasha. She looks less like a soldier in a tunic and with her hair down, but her broad shoulders and strong arms betray her build in any outfit. "She offers her services in this battle to win back her homeland. That she is given a horse and a sword and nothing more, so she can free her dear children currently held hostage by the Lightning Tribe."

Sasha herself remains silent, her eyes locked on Ginarie. 
 

"You're dismissed, Sir Deremont." She waits until the two of them are alone 

"Now, I can't disparage your sword arm, we have crossed blades, but I can't help but question your..."  Ginarie gesticulates. She knows what words she's going to use, but this moment allows Sasha to make her own answer, and her relief or dissappointment will tell Ginarie what that answer is.  "...loyalty to the cause, let's say. I said a lot of things while wearing your face, and your husband was recently executed, so I can imagine this being the point where you'd turn coat, use the orcs as your army to retake the riverlands, and lay siege to the king."  either that, or she had something hidden in the keep she wished to retrieve in a chaotic moment in or after the battle - such a moment would inevitably come. Not that Ginarie would suggest this out loud, it would only dissuade Sasha from seeking this something out, when she had the opportunity, were that to be the case.  "Convince me that this is not the case. That your love for your children outweighs your hatred for your husbands' killers and the indignities you have faced, and that the rush of battle and thrill of victory - for there will be victory - will sway neither your heart, nor your hand.

Perhaps you'll mention the Eagle, or say that you married out of obligation. I implied as such, to your late husband - curiously, he did not deny it, and responded by using magic to make me slavishly loyal to him as well. It would be convincing, perhaps. Or perhaps you'll say that you'll follow no man ever again, to appeal to my personal background - I'll admit, that was part of why I spared you to begin with, where I had initially sought to assassinate you - there are vanishingly few women on the surface with any real power, and I enjoyed our fight. That might convince me as well."  She prattles on, letting Sasha know that her answer has been considered in advance. Ginarie isn't looking for an easy answer. 
dangelo
"I won't apologize for being a loyal spouse to Wilhelm. You stripped me of my honor, not of my grace." She sustains Ginarie's gaze with nerves of adamant. "King Harald pardoned me of all crimes against the crown. I swore to serve him to the end of my days. Why do you insist in getting another oath from me?" Her eyes narrow just the slightest. "Do you not trust the king's judgement? Would you have me me to kneel and beg for your kindness? You would keep me from the battle for my children and my homeland... For leverage? Against someone who has fallen out of grace?"
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "I won't apologize for being a loyal spouse to Wilhelm. You stripped me of my honor, not of my grace." She sustains Ginarie's gaze with nerves of adamant. "King Harald pardoned me of all crimes against the crown. I swore to serve him to the end of my days. Why do you insist in getting another oath from me?" Her eyes narrow just the slightest. "Do you not trust the king's judgement? Would you have me me to kneel and beg for your kindness? You would keep me from the battle for my children and my homeland... For leverage? Against someone who has fallen out of grace?" 
 

 Ginarie rolls her eyes. A transparent dodge.  "Oh come now. I didn't ask for excuses, an oath, or grovelling. I want you to unsheathe your blade of rhetoric. I want you to  convince  me. You aim to put yourself as a weapon in my hands, but how can I wield such a weapon when I do not know its shape? Were you any ordinary swordswoman, I would not need to know this - but you are a mighty weapon, and a potent leader. Convince me that you will not turn aside when I swing you. Convince me that when you are loosed, you will land where I aimed you. It shouldn't be hard - you have a solid base, I've weeded out the weaker talking points myself. Don't hide behind false civility, and this should be simple."
dangelo
"And where would I go,  Lady Commander? " Sasha raises her voice to a note of annoyance. "I have no gold to hire sellswords, and no supporters to my late husband's cause... Which I couldn't take on, either way, since I swore an oath to the king that I would always remain loyal. Either you seek to humiliate me, or you don't trust Harald's judgment. Perhaps he should be warned of that."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 "And where would I go,  Lady Commander? " Sasha raises her voice to a note of annoyance. "I have no gold to hire sellswords, and no supporters to my late husband's cause... Which I couldn't take on, either way, since I swore an oath to the king that I would always remain loyal. Either you seek to humiliate me, or you don't trust Harald's judgment. Perhaps he should be warned of that." 
 

 Ginarie sighs. Does she really have to pluck heartstrings to get an answer?  "Again, a dodge, and a threat on top of it. You're  wasting my time ."  She emphasizes each of the last three words separately.  "Have you no thoughts in your head? No feelings in your chest? Have you nothing to say to me? Who are you? Why are you here? Speak in words that are your own, and not of your oaths. Speak freely, and speak truly. You said yourself that you now lack honor - abandon this pretense and answer me. I am aware of the reasons I should put a degree of faith in Sasha of the riverlands, championship-winning, loyal knight of King Harald. I want to know what drives Sasha, mother of a dozen lordlings trapped within their own home, knight stripped of her honor, traitor once more under the banner she rejected. Tell me what that woman is thinking. I want an honest answer, not a convenient one, or a polite one."

 A monologue. A monologue! If she missed something from back home, it was that it was easy to get someone monologuing. Hells, she did it herself, just to get people talking. 
dangelo
Sasha shakes her head several times throughout Ginarie's monologue, but when it was her turn to speak, she was suddenly too weary for words. A look of exhaustion settles on her face.

"I am tired." She confesses. "Tired of wars. Of claims to the throne, of unrelenting greed. I'm tired of the evil that taints the hearts of men, and turn them from gallant champions to cruel tyrants."

"I simply wish to go home. I believe there is peace and quiet to be had even in a dishonored existence, and these orcs are standing in the way of that. There is no politics. There are no games. There is a castle, and we must take it. That, in itself, is the point. I gain nothing by fighting besides a light conscience."
Flashkannon
 
 Originally Posted by dangelo 
 Sasha shakes her head several times throughout Ginarie's monologue, but when it was her turn to speak, she was suddenly too weary for words. A look of exhaustion settles on her face.

"I am tired." She confesses. "Tired of wars. Of claims to the throne, of unrelenting greed. I'm tired of the evil that taints the hearts of men, and turn them from gallant champions to cruel tyrants."

"I simply wish to go home. I believe there is peace and quiet to be had even in a dishonored existence, and these orcs are standing in the way of that. There is no politics. There are no games. There is a castle, and we must take it. That, in itself, is the point. I gain nothing by fighting besides a light conscience." 
 

 Ginarie smiles  "There, that's what I wanted to hear. Very well, we'll get you home, and you will fight by my side. Women like us should get along, no? In fact,"  Ginarie whistles, summoning her attendant.  "fetch the armor, and the weapon."  Referring to Sasha's armaments, of course. 

"I'll return your horse as well, of course. You're much more effective, appointed as you are used to. I'd hardly send such an impressive knight to get cut down in nothing but her clothes. Of course, this is a pragmatic decision - your capability will make this all the easier overall, but I won't lie, I wanted to see you properly on the battlefield, at least once."  Ginarie winks. 
dangelo
Thirty days later

With the Riverlord's Keep wiped clean of orcs of the Lightning Tribe, the generals of King Harald turn their eyes to other pressing matters. Earlier this summer, Ginarie, Galinmorn and Percilla tried to cross the mountains, but found their way blocked by the Dwarven Clan  Merdûk , who refused to get involved in the "squabbles of men." Now, lead by the Stone Warriors, Harald's army marches towards their citadel to bring them the king's justice.

The dwarven citadel of Merdûk rises proud before you, perched on a peak and only accessible through a narrow path that winds all around the mountain. There's no way to actually storm its rock walls, so the generals have decided to sit outside of their gates and starve them out until they yield.

It is late at night when Lord Bartholomew withdraws to the commander's pavilion to find Rurik and Gnaeus still up. "I am afraid I don't carry the brightest of news, my lords. The citadel can't hope to stand against us, but they have been scouring their fields and stockpiling resources since the others were here last, ready for retaliation. It might a whole year before we starve them out."

Lord Bartholomew pulls out a chair and rests his helmet on the hardwood table. "The victory is ours, but will require patience." He pours himself a goblet of wine, then offers to serve Rurik and Gnaeus some. "And what will be of the future, if it pleases my lord commanders to speak?"
J-H
 Gnaeus 
 "There will need to be consequences besides the siege - probably a change in leadership and a memorable penalty of some sort, but not one that produces future ill-will.  Dwarves live almost as long as we elves do.

Perhaps a delivery of aid in money, goods, or services to help rebuild damage from the war that might have been averted if the dwarves had done their duty?  If it gets them out of their mountain and seeing the people they harmed by inaction, it's more likely to stick." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Rurik Grimfate, Hand of the King 
  Dwarf Battle Rager 6 
 AC:  18  | HP:  78/78 [B] | THP:[B] 0/3  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +2(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  +0  | Wis:  +1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  14 |  PIn:  14 |  PInv:  13
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Inspiration:  0/1
 Resistances:  Poison
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Rurik has been sitting with his chin resting on his fist, a sour look on his craggy face. The dwarf has been puzzling over what to do about the other dwarves all day. He has hardly heard a word that Bartholomew has said, when Gnaeus speaks up. Suddenly, the general shifts and stands from his position.

  I think ye speak wisdom Gnaeus. Every idea I have is like hammering a hammer against an anvil. I can't see how to enact the King's justice without hardening the dwarves' resolve. Me and me kin are stubborn folk, as you know.

But yes, a change in leadership is in order. And each clan will tithe an amount to help with rebuilding, as well as lend their builders and masons to assist in the rebuilding. The action they refused to take when the King was in need, will be taken now to help restore what has been done.  
dangelo
Twenty years later

All the high ranking officers under King Harald attended the funeral, but also landed knights and petty lords, and a mighty flock of peasants, cobblers, priests, and all sorts of common folk who loved their king. The main street of the capital was lined with soldiers in shiny plate to make space for the procession. Fore and aft Harald's counselors drove the parade: Ginarie and Galinmorn on the rear, Gnaeus and Rurik on the van, Lord Bartholomew trotting ahead while blowing a trumpet. Sasha and Lothar watched from among nobility, along with five other of her children, now men grown. Lothar himself had a few white hairs sprouting from his beautiful hair, and Sasha had finally stop wearing her armor at well over sixty years old. Everything had changed besides the elves and dwarves in the city.

The Dwarves of the Merdûk Clan, leal vassals of the Bay of Kings for 20 years now, guarded the cathedral where the body was being taken to, a litter of red-and-gold carried on the shoulders of a score of soldiers. Once Harald was brought inside, the people was welcome to come in and pray besides the late king, first the highborn, then the knights, and finally anyone who wished to pay their respects. Ginarie, Galin, Gnaeus and Rurik were the first ones admitted inside, escorting the Lion Prince.

The young man was now as old as Harald had been during Wilhelm's rebellion, but had only a fraction of his father's experience. The five of them were alone in the church besides a few acolytes and King Harald, lying on his back with his hands on his chest, clutching a jeweled greatsword. The priests had washed and dressed him in his finest robes and a gilded breastplate.

The moment was sorrowful, but not tragic. Harald had died a good death, at seventy years old in his own bed, surrounded by family and loved ones. Still, Prince Hector cried. "I cannot do it alone. I will never be as good a ruler as my father, not without your help." He turned to his father's four ministers. "The realm needs you.  I  need you. And if I don't feel ready, what will be of my children when it is their turn?"

The next couple of weeks dragged on as usual. King Hector spent uncountable hours behind a desk, meeting lords and ladies and gathering with his ministers. A king's death - even a good one - was a delicate moment prone to political foul play, but it seemed to transpire peacefully.

But news travel the world, and soon word of Harald's death reached the lands beyond the mountains north and south of the Bay of Kings. It was a sunny spring morning when Wilhelm's banners appeared in the distance and trumpets singed among his ranks.  Ahoooooooooooooooooooooo  they sang, louder and louder.

It wasn't Wilhelm riding ahead of them, for dead men ride no horses, but his first-born Wilmar. Exile took its toll on his physique; Once a strong, broad-shouldered warrior, Wilmar had aged fast and poorly. Beside him, a female chieftain of the barbarian mountain clans rode strong, his new wife. Most of his forces were clansmen, dressed in furs and leathers and carrying long axes and iron swords.

The druids of the Bay of Kings, their order rebuilt over the last two decades, flocked to the capital to offer their aid in the war. They hadn't forgotten how Wilhem hunted them down during the rebellion. Hundreds of dwarves joined the Stone Warriors and Clan Merdûk. The Holy Church of the Morninglord, now powerless and forbidden to train their own army, had nothing to offer their former allies besides praying. Still, Hector was just a king in training, and would need every bit of counselling he could get.

It was the dark of night when Ginarie, Galin, Gnaeus and Rurik reached his pavilion in the king's war camp. "Ah. You're finally here." King Hector leaned over a wooden table, reading his maps. "Let us talk. There much to be discussed."

* * *

The end.