"I'd hoped you had a map," Sir Moss says, giving Albali an encouraging grin. "Some of the loggers had their working maps, but since we mostly stick to the outskirts of the forest and let the druids raise up more trees, we don't have much information about the inside of the forest anymore. Living back there, whatever you have's more likely to work." Turilia gets a nod as she keeps her own peace; when the monk and Xarithe speak up, Sir Moss nods briskly. "We're still making sure of the final count, but it looks like we're missing 33 people, all children below the age of 12. We're not sure how many cultists there are... Lyla?"<br/><br/>The elf steps back forward. "I've been interviewing guards and bystanders that saw the attack, trying to get as many descriptions and numbers from them as they can recall. My best guess is that they attacked us with between 15 and 20 cultists, but with... significant magical assistance, enough to tear through our guard like it wasn't even there. They also had a few animals helping them, well trained perhaps but one druid was insistent that there was magical control. They probably have more back at their camp, but-"<br/><br/>"-our best guess is that this was their big gamble and they sent almost everything they had at us." Sir Moss finishes. "If they've got 50, then we're in trouble no matter what. Best assume the job's possible, or you'll never start. There seemed to be a lot of magic users scattered into their ranks, given how many different spells were going off everywhere we engaged them. The ones that weren't seemed passable tactically- after all, they beat us- and we didn't recover enough equipment to be sure of their equipment. Bet your asses it's better than random barbarian tribes though. Probably not to an army's level, but don't expect to go up against untrained rabble with pitchforks and straw armor either. We don't know anything about what their temple might look like or how big it is- anyone that got closed just... vanished. I don't like those implications and you shouldn't either."<br/><br/>Lyla adds, "Of the eyewitness statement, we have definite indications that half of them were either human or elf or something close enough to not be able to pick out at night in a stressful fight. A good number of orcs, and only two or three of the more exotic races." She punctiliously doesn't pause or say 'bestial races'.  "Nor, in case this is your next question, did they stop to eat anyone during their attack. The guards once they were out of the fight they ignored and moved on to their objective,"<br/><br/>"Which again speaks to a well trained force." Sir Moss and Lyla finish each others sentences and thoughts quite smoothly. "But I agree, Mr. Xarithe, about taking that detachment out first. That's around where we see them- they do some slight patrolling, but they're mostly there to make sure we don't send anyone up the logging road. If we attack, of course, they've threatened to start killing hostages, so if you do try to take out the pickets then make<span style="font-style: italic">sure</span>you don't let any of them get away to warn the others." Sir Moss's face seems the hollow a little, drawing more grave as he mentions that possibility. "We've seen four different cultists, looking at the patrollers. They're all wearing forest-colored robes so it's hard to pick out any details, though. We haven't been able to get closer."<br/><br/>"We haven't<span style="font-style: italic">tried</span>to get closer," Lyla smoothly interjects, staring straight ahead.<br/><br/>After a small awkward silence, Eiyre begins to talk; Sir Moss respectfully lets the woman talk, though when she says the bandits' lives are forfeit just for a second a scowl flits across his features. "Yes, there is that, isn't there? Outlaws and traitors, and I'm the imperial official who has to sign the warrant authorizing you you kill them... however you see fit. Prisoners would be welcome, but I suspect we won't get many." He remains silent, and then looks up at the ceiling. "The way we did things on the frontier, and now we're doing them that way here almost in the heart of the Empire. Gods, I'm thankful I'm not likely to see where this ends."<br/><br/>Lyla coughs, blushing. "You'll have your warrant. Don't worry. We're not ungrateful, and... it is effective." She pauses. "It does sound like you all pretty well agree that using Albali's map to circle behind the early warning sentinels and surprising them before moving deeper's your best plan. I'd go with you if I were<span style="font-style: italic">allowed</span>to," she puts a little stress on the penultimate word, though the Mayor doesn't react. "But I'm too much in demand keeping a lid on the townfolk. You've got the run of the shops if you need any supplies. Some shopkeepers will probably give you discounts. Remember, though, we are afraid that there's some informers in town, and we don't know if they might have a magical way of sending information back, so... be discreet."<br/><br/>Every weather sense that the druid has is screaming that there's going to be rainstorms before the day's out- thunderstorms, possibly severe aren't out of the question. It'd make sneaking around a lot easier, and erase tracks. It'd also make the hike a lot harder on people who weren't used to outdoor living.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">4of- That is fine! I am not going to be particularly nitpicky about formatting. And yeah, bake in all the modifiers you think you have into your rolls, and any you miss or that you don't know about I'll add in myself.</span>