He nodded to the VIPs, and endured Daminor's storytelling and obligatory flourishes, and finally the deabte to stand together in the city. He offered a few things he had noted about the army to help speed up their decisions, mentioning several of the special units that would have to be dealt with by the owlriders like the various flying units, and that the owlriders would be too busy to help defend if they left the city.<br/><br/>"I believe the best thing to do is a bit of both sides. Keep the majority of the healers and clerics at the cathedral and the fortress, so we have a pair of strong defensive points to fall back to should the worst happen. The giants will see to the walls falling, they are far more efficient than siege engines, and much more accurate. However, the presence of clerics on the walls will help the troops there, so what we could do is allow for a small group, maybe a dozen or so volunteers, to take station on the walls. However, make them agree that they have to immediately stop and make for cathedral should the walls be breached, regardless of what else is happening around them. The hobgoblins are not fools, and I have already encountered and eliminated one assassin sent in early to ensure as many clerics died before the battle as possible, and during the battle the clerics will be attacked first if at all possible.<br/><br/>The street fighting is going to be brutal, rough, dirty, and the most vicious will survive it, regardless of what the stories say. I would recommend that we tear down the nearest houses to the barricades, in a line toward the wall, to extend the barricade and to delay any flanking maneuvers the enemy attempts. Another idea would be to gather up as much oil as possible, and douse the barricades in it, as well as the ground nearest the outer walls. As the area begins to look lost, the oil can be lit, burning the attacking enemy and giving our troops time for an orderly retreat wihtout being harried the entire time. If any of the clerics or mages know the create object spell, have them start making as much oil as they can until the enemy has fully assembled. I would also recommend that the elves be turned loose from the city once the wall falls to begin harassing and burning enemy support forces and supplies."<br/><br/>He did volunteer to be the party recipient of the telepathic bond, though he mentioned that on the first day he was likely to want to stay in reserve to counter the red dragon, and then would use his remaining spells to kill as many of the giants as possible. He suggested putting Lady Tredora on the link as well, so that they could directly inform her as to when there would be a flux of casualties coming in. He also volunteered his mansion to house as many children and pregnant women as possible, so at least they would be safe regardless of what happened.