Hollie
*Law enforcement have been trying to track down a group of smugglers, but they've found that they were too slippery, always somehow getting away. Angered, they decided to enlist the help of professionals, and found you two from New Sunlight: Sirdan and Yukine.*

*Through a series of deductions and strategizing, you've been able to figure out that the smugglers always use this one particular path, disguised as normal merchants. Now, you've decided to ambush them and catch them off guard. It's dark out, and some of them might be sleepy.*

*You have 20 turns to prepare! Set traps, make a plan, etc.*
Kevin
*The first thing Sirdan did was try to recall the information given to him by the quest giver.

He hoped to make sure that **There is no innocent merchant passing through**. He also wanted to know **The rough number of enemy he can expect - if given a number**

Sirdan brought along his summoned horse, and went to the ambush site with Yukine possibly riding the other horse. Both of them carried some tools, chains and rope for capturing people alive.

But the most important of all were around **300, 3 inches tall caltrops**, he bought them en masse from the New Sunlight smith.

He asked Yukine first.*

"Yukine, do you have any spell that could hit someone from range, preferably, something that could kill or maim a horse?"

**He examined how tall the grsses were around the road, and whether the tree could hide a person behind**
Tom
While riding with Sirdan in the direction of the path, Yukine released Stormi so that the bird would fly over them and watch until someone arrived. The Falcon maintained a safe distance and a high height, so that it would not cause any suspicion in anyone who ended up seeing it in the air.

Looking at Sirdan, she started to speak.

"Yes. Would fireballs be enough?"
Hollie
*Sirdan would easily be able to recall the man's words.*

*"No merchant passes through there, really. Most opt to go for the open roads."*

*"As for numbers, I would say 6 or 7. Though not all may be willing to fight.*

*Both the grass and trees easily allowed for concealment.*
Kevin
"Hmm. It will send a horse into panic. But so be it."

Sirdan unsummoned his armored horse, and then started summoning his soldiers. Both of them would be summoned with sword and shield, and he handed them his spare spear, one for each.

Then he had them lay down caltrops somewhat evenly along the side of the path. Eight meters away from the main path there would be no caltrops at all, creating a safe zone for Sirdan, Yukine and his summons to operate.

He placed around 30 caltrops in the front of the road, at the end of the ambush zones, using any natural depression in the ground to hide them from sight.

He left four evenly spaced, one meter wide path without caltrops for his soldiers to advance from.

"Once they encounter the caltrops, I want you to take out the leading horse - preferably no killing, just maiming. I will do the same for the rear one."
Tom
Yukine would get off the horse, looking up to confirm that Stormi was okay. She would look down again, trying to keep all the positions the caltrops were in, so that afterwards she wouldn't end up stepping on one if she had to fight.

"Hm... Okay. I'll try not to hit them with the fireball, but I don't guarantee anything. After that, what if they want to fight with us?" 

Yukine raised an eyebrow at the elf, placing a hand on her waist. *'Ah, I can't miss.. I don't want to set this place on fire unintentionally.'* She sighed.
Kevin
"Well, people prefers to live. Fireball can't kill a horse - so just feel free to see them on fire and startle the horse. It will run wild into caltrops and they'll have to spend time putting it out. Don't worry too much about it." 

Sirdan assured her, and then looked at her.

"You got any armor or spell to defend yourself?" 

He examined what equipment Yukine were carrying.
Tom
"If you say so, then I won't worry. I'm just sad to see the poor animals suffering..."

She raised an eyebrow and touched it a little, looking at her own outfit.

"Eh, well... Someone from New Sunlight had told me to get defensive spells, but you know... I haven't had time to learn it yet. But don't worry, I always found a way to defend myself even though I didn't have armor or spells for it."
Kevin
"Ah, in that case, how about I assign you one of my soldier - He'll do the job of protecting you, and making sure you stay safe." 

He offered, looking at her... Complete lack of armor.

"If anyone come close, order him to defend you - in fact, that's what he'll do in general, while you sling out spells and make sure they can't escape. Threaten them, and pretend our party's bigger than it is. Make sure all of them turn their back and drop their weapons. Sounds good?"

"As for the animals... Well, such is the way of war."
Tom
Yukine looked the soldier up and down, and then turned her attention to Sirdan, with a small smile on her lips.

"Okay, I'll stay with him so if you don't mind."

"I think I even know how to make them think that we are with a large group of people. When they arrive, we'll see if it works." Yukine had a smile on the corner of her lips, excited by her own thinking about the 'fight'.

She waved her hands in the air slowly, her ears and tails glowing slightly red. After a few seconds, her tails and ears would disappear.
Kevin
"Hmm... Well." Sirdan decided to re-evaluate his own plan. Naturally he is the most well protected of the group. 

"I'll assign both summons to your command - I am the most well protected - relatively. So I'll take point and intercept them near the rear. You and the two soldiers ambush them near the front. And when they realize what is going on, I attack the rear of their column."

Sirdan continued surveying the ground in front of them.
Tom
"Right. I will attack the first ones who come, and you will go behind the rest. I still don't think there's a need for the two summons, but thanks."
Kevin
He gave a nod, realizing that his armor is constraining his magical ability just a little bit - perhaps by one third? 

Oh well, he has to be conservative with his own movement then. 

Sirdan decided to bring one of the summoned soldier to the northeast of the map, waiting behind a preset ambush path. He also brought along his bow and quiver, along with ten arrows he set on the ground. Then he rested a pollaxe against the floor, and his shield and saber also. He lied down in the grass, poking out just enough to see clearly at night. 

He made a hand signal to Bruna - unfortunately they're probably not mutually proficient in a sign language, so he signaled thumbs up to her.
Kirk
~~oh im in the quest, nice~~
Tom
Yukine and the other summon would go across the road, staying a little further from where the smugglers would come from. She and the soldier would hide behind a tree, and they would remain motionless there until it was time to attack.
Hollie
*After some time, the smugglers would eventually arrive. They would all be sitting down on a large cart, pulled by two horses, which couldn't be more than rounceys. There would be 6 members on it. Almost all of them had basic gambeson and some leather armor on top.*

*Smug 1 would be a macen with a shield and axe.*

*Smug 2 would be a dwarf with a long, barbed spear.*

*Smug 3 would be a mounted wood elf, and would have a spear.*

*Smug 4 would be a Mogash wielding a mace.*

*Smug 5 would be a mounted macen wielding a longsword.*

*Smug 6 would be dressed differently, in a Tatami-Do and a Nodachi by their side. Neither the armor nor the sword look like they match, so they're probably stolen.*

*On the cart were several chests. It's not seen what's inside.*

Smug 1: "Can't believe we've been able to get all this."

Smug 2: "Yeah, like you even did anything."

Smug 3: "Cut him a little slack. He acted like a good distraction."

*The rest of the smugglers, besides the armored one and Smug 1, all laugh loudly. Smug 6 talks to them in what seems like Runran. The voice is surprisingly high pitched.*

Smug 5: "Got it, boss."
Kevin
Sirdan realized there was a mild communication fuck up - there was supposed to be one person at the rear, and one person at the front. Instead. Both of them ended up at the same level as the summon. Screw it.

He grabbed his bow, and aimed at Smuggler 3 as he continued down the road - waiting for them to be diagonal to his position, roughly 5 meters ahead of where he is.

Then he let loose an arrow toward Smug 3's horse, aiming at its flank, before lying down rapidly and grabbing his pollaxe.
Tom
When the horses reached a point where no tree would get in the way, Yukine pointed her hand in their direction and launched a fireball at the horse on which the Smug 5 was riding. Soon after making the attack, she would hide behind the tree with the soldier.

```Fireball Cast, 5 mana spent. Mana Remaining: 125/130```
Hollie
*Both Smug 3 and 5 would end up getting thrown off as the horses buck them off, throwing them into the caltrop fields. Their gambesons would help ever so slightly as their arms are pierced by the sharp points.*

*Smug 1 is off balance, trying to hold onto the cart, while Smug 6 and 4 jump off, but aren't balanced when they land. Smug 2, due to being a dwarf, is able to keep his balance on the cart.*

Smug 1: "We're under attack!"

Smug 3: "No shit Daryl!"

*Smug 1 has a frightened expression on his face.*
Kevin
"Salvainian Customs! You are surrounded! Weapons down!" Sirdan hollared at them, exposing his position. 

*He loaded another arrow quickly into the bow, and then shot out an arrow into the cart. He stood up on purpose, making a step right to that any impetuous idiot would charge toward him... Into the caltrop field.*
Tom
Yukine would let Sirdan speak, preparing to launch another fireball if she needed to.
Hollie
*Smug 4 would take the bait, charging straight towards Sirdan; until his foot slams down onto a caltrop that is. He yells out in pain, and tries to take it out.*

*Smug 6 visibly shakes their head, and draws their Odachi.*

*Smug 1 falls off, though regains his balance.*

Smug 1: "Oh shit! We've been caught!"

*Smug 6 says something in Runran. It sounds like they're disappointed in Smug 1.*

*Smug 5 knows that the fireball came from _somewhere_, so he heads towards where Yukine is.*

*Smug 3 heads towards where Sirdan is.*

*Smug 2 has somehow retained his balance.*
Kevin
Sirdan clapped his hands, and lifted up his enchanted pollaxe. He waited patiently for Smuggler three to enter his range...

Then stepped forward, ignoring any caltrops he stepped on - thanks to steel skin. He aggressively thrusted forward, trying to spike the man in the guts with the pollaxe's spike, purposely ignoring counterstrike he could've made.