>>24207234
Holy shit, thought you'd abandoned us forever.

How long until the assault? If I remember correctly, it was pretty much imminent.

>>24207372

I apologize for the repeated delays. Life got hectic.

>>24207408

You've got about an hour and a half until dawn and the attack.

Oh, also, the machine I'm on doesn't have Skype, so if anyone in the Daemon Quest Skype group is currently reading, I'd appreciate if you'd let that group know the quest is up.

>>24207501
Have we scouted out the camp thoroughly? I think it's important to keep an eye out for blood guards and the potential daemons that may be hanging around them.

>>24207630

You have. There are a few Blood Guards, but none of the mobile tent-shrine things that usually signify the presence of a daemon. Unless the daemon they're traveling with happens to be the sort who prefers to travel more incognito. There's only about five Blood Guards here, though, so that's one for every twenty-five Golgothans or so.

>>24207687
Well, this battle should be easy enough, then. Checked last thread and the officers are apparently all escorted, so perhaps it would be best to simply find the commanding officer and await the battle. The chaos of battle should make it easier to place dementations unnoticed.

>>24207880

It takes you until dawn to find the commander at all, the grey light making it more difficult to sneak around. Before dawn has even fully broke, Golgothan watchmen shout a warning of an approaching Dorriki army. With little point left in stealth, the Dorriki let out a shout and charge the enemy, hoping to reach the enemy lines before they can get themselves turned around and properly prepared from a hit to the back.

Dorriki light cavalry breaks through Golgothan lines before they can reorient themselves, scattering the soldiers of the main camp as a bloody melee breaks out. The cavalry have the advantage of momentum and height, but they are badly outnumbered. The Dorriki infantry charge behind and will provide much needed reinforcements soon, however, and on both sides arrows fly thick in the air, the defenders of Norfin joining in the volleys (though only the strongest of their archers can send the arrows flying far enough to matter).

>wat do?

>>24208154
How far is the commander (and ourselves) from the Golgothan front and rear? How is the commander responding to the attack, is he still sorrounded by guards?

>>24208372

The commander is in the center of the camp, keeping an eye on both the front that's being actively attacked and the front facing Norfin which he knows may be attacked any minute. Some of his guard have run to join the frontline but there's still a pair of soldiers next to him, plus a runner for relaying commands.

>>24208462
If it's still dark/shadowy enough, we could try blinding him and the guard, grab his weapon and murder him outright. Though the Dorriki tactics are somewhat simple, so I don't know how much worse off the Golgothan will actually be without him. A delusion might be more effective, even if his guard may hear us. Perhaps "Norfin are too broken and exhausted to prepare an assault". Hopefully, that will get him to move his troops to the rear and open himself up to the assault Norfin is supposed to launch soon.

Also, it's awfully quiet in here tonight. Sure hope more people will show up.

>>24208659

It's still dark enough to blind three guys. You might have enough shadow close enough to blind the fourth as well, or maybe not, though if you wait until he sends the messenger to deliver a message, you wouldn't have to worry about it. On the other hand, you'd have to wait for him to do that. The Delusion is also something the others would hear, but might not mention, since these guys are just grunts and thus not even close to the same level as the captain. Which course of action are you going to go for?

Also, yes, it is pretty quiet. Probably because the quest has lost a lot of momentum from scheduling weirdness. We should start picking up steam again after a day or two. Hopefully.

>>24208782
I'd prefer to try the delusion first. If it works, it should damage them much more. Killing him afterwards would just be a bonus. And if the delusion doesn't show any signs of working as intended within a few minutes (that's quite a while in a battle), we can just try to murder him.

>>24208978

"Norfin are too broken and exhausted to prepare an assault," you say. The guards turn around to try and find the source of the voice, squinting carefully, but the captain's response is more favorable. "Send to the front and tell them to reinforce the rear," the captain says, "if we can hold the line we may be able to beat these savages off." The messenger is off immediately and the guards too busy searching for the source of the voice to be baffled as to why he'd give that order.

On the downside, one of them spots you and drives a sword straight through you. You don't care, because you're incorporeal, but your cover is blown. "A shadow with no body, one of the spirits of the woods!" the guard shouts, hacking ineffectually at the patch of dirt you're on.

>>24209239
Oh well, more reason to draw some blood ourselves for once, isn't it? The command has been given, we're probably not going to get him to do anything more stupid than this.

If we blind the three of them, we should be able to trip the guard that saw us, take his weapon and get to business on them. Really we just have to be careful not to get hit by a blind swing.

>>24209451

You blind the three of them, step out of the way of the guard's furious hacking, and rise up from the ground, solid once more. A quick shove sends him off-balance and you're able to wrench his sword from his hands and slit his throat. The other two are easily dispatched. The forces from the front are coming your way, but the gates of Norfin are opening and the defenders charging out. The Golgothans, for their part, are falling back to the sides, escaping between the two forces into the woods. Unfortunately for them, the woods are full of prowling Estercoast archers, who begin sticking them full of arrows as they run. The Golgothans are already routing and full flight is imminent, but in the meantime you're in the middle of their camp. Anything else you want to do, or do you just want to go incorporeal and watch?

>>24209680
Sounds like everything is playing out just fine on its own. Might as well just watch the show for now. We'll probably have something to do when Norfin is to be convinced to join the army.

>>24209811

With the leadership all having mysteriously caught a case of molarthroat, the Golgothans begin a disorganized rout through the woods, harried by Estercoast along the way.

In the aftermath, Gant joins the other three leaders outside the village walls, while the various Dorriki clans are busy celebrating their victory and the Norfin in particular head out to hunt for a much-needed feast.

"We came to this village for reinforcements," Vierre is saying when you arrive (though, as usual, no one notices), "we did not save you out of love for Norfin."

"I made no agreements," Gant says. "A favor I owe you, but not a suicide mission. The army at Golroute is too strong and those thrice-damned gold grubbers will fight in support of them."

"Scared of them?" Vierre asks.

"Hardly," Gant says, "but the Golgothans hide behind great numbers. Greater than your host, and they have high walls and black magic on their side. It's impossible."

"We've spirits of our own on our side," Dekker says, "all we need is the numbers. Numbers that you can provide."

"Spirits?" Gant asks, "you have spirits marching in your army?"

"Aye, a great beast of stone you'll no doubt notice sooner rather than later," Jens says, "and two more besides."

>wat do?

>>24209996
No harm butting in here, it's practically tradition by now:
"Nothing less could make the men of this land stand by one another against their enemies, or so it would seem. And if even that matters little to you, remember that the fate of Norfin is now irrevocably tied to this army If it falls, Golgoth will have time to call in reinforcements and crush any resistance, starting right here."

>>24210178

Gant's reaction is the usual mixture of surprise, suspicion, and a little bit of fear. It was kind of novel the first time but ten thousand years later it's gotten pretty routine. "Spirits?" he says, both cautious and ponderous. "That does change things. Hrm..." He thinks on it a moment, and then says "I shall need to speak with my village, of course. I may fight worth a dozen Golgothans, but a dozen isn't much in a war of hundreds."

"If not thousands," Jens says.

>anything to add?

>>24210347
I think he got the message, and I'd rather reserve the ACTUAL threats until later. There is the matter of barkface swearing death upon those who won't fight, if I remember correctly. We should probably attend when he speaks with his village, though, they may not understand the importance of dying in the name of our vengeance.

>>24210548

Gant returns to Norfin, where most people are now busying themselves dragging the corpses of the dead outside the village walls. He confers with several of the other villagers for a while. Reports of Girdin coming in on the trail of the Dorriki army soon spread through the village, however. Half of Norfin empties out to see him and he, as usual, doesn't bother saying a word, though he glares menacingly at anyone who comes closer than about ten feet. They take the hint.

Girdin's presence lays the debate amongst the Norfin to rest. Gant returns to inform the others that they will march on Golroute with the others.

>anything else you want to do here before you leave? If not, anything you want to do on the way?

>>24210749
We should be working on a way to get Girdin back in the fight, would be hugely helpful against the Golroute fortifications. Unfortunately, I don't think I can keep myself awake any longer, and I'm not sure anyone else is still here.

Looks like we may be dead in the water. Hopefully this has more to do with the late start and different image than with my audience having evaporated. I'll still be around if someone starts replying again, but I'm clearing my name and just hanging out on /tg/ now.

>>24211014

Oh, never mind, missed this completely somehow.

That said, he's on his way out. So, yeah, looks like we're dead.

I'm just going to bump this so that hopefully it'll still be around tomorrow and I won't have to start a new thread.

Rolled 50

>>24214653
bunp

Starting a bit late, but we're here. Trickster Daemon Quest is now back for reals. I really hope that image isn't the reason why we didn't get many responses last time, because this thread is sticking around for at least one more day.

You've got reinforcements from Norfin Village. Your forces are now about even with those of the Golgothan forces at Golroute. Clarbel Village is still fighting a guerilla campaign against the Golgothans down south, if you've decided you want to do something about that before routing the main force. A council of the four village leaders is being held, but it's mostly just getting Gant up to speed with the current plan which is to defeat the Golgothans at Golroute. Nobody talks about what the next move will be, mostly because it's not worth risking a major disagreement dissolving the alliance before Golroute is razed.

>>24218769
>dat roll

>>24221553
Golroute seems like a hard nut to crack. The wards make it difficult to play our favorite card and our battering ram is a pacifist. We should ask Barry if he has anything at all at his disposal that could help with that wall.

>>24221820
Seconding this, if hes starting to regain his power a little he may have some tricks up his sleeve to help us.

>>24221820
>>24221880

You find Olberek. He's at the center of some bizarre ritual with his dire wolves, surrounded by several pack leaders who are howling and occasionally wrestling with one another, but if memory serves he's doing that basically all the time and doesn't especially mind being interrupted. You're pretty sure it's just how he passes the time.

"Olberek!" you shout, "I need to talk to you."

"Excellent!" Olberek says. Well, at least he's in a good mood. "Come, we can watch them fight for the favor of the daemons while we speak!" Two of the alpha males (or females? Now seems like a bad time to peek between their legs) have begun wrestling and snapping at one another as you enter the circle.

"The army's marching on Golroute now," you say.

"Yes, soon they shall suffer the wrath of the woods!" Olberek booms. "They shall rue the day they sided with their invaders."

"They've got that wall of theirs, though," you say, "and our battering ram is a pacifist. Is there any way you could bring it down?"

"Hrm," Olberek says, stroking his mossy beard. "The trees whisper to me, and the wolves are at my command, but...Neither of these shall bring down one of those wretched walls." He sighs. "Once I would command the trees to march, roots tearing away at foundations until naught was left but rubble. Alas."

>>24211181
>and different image

Probably should stop doing that and just use the same image each post.

>>24222239

Usually I do. This image was just because my schedule has been irregular and the quest nearly non-existent for two full weeks. Next thread we'll be back to the usual ambiguously menacing cathedral pic.

>>24222176
"Then I suppose we will have to convince Girdin to help with the matter."

Lets go lumber on and find our giant semi-friendly golem, and try to ask him if he'd be willing.

Sorry if my posts are slow, the right side of my spacebar broke so I have to alter my typing style.

>>24222339
Stone is stubborn as fuck, and he's probably a few "levels" above our current state, so a delusion is unlikely to work. Plus he'd be pissed if he realised we were trying that on him. We're probably going to need some kind of clever way to persuade him. Simply asking if he's changed his mind on the matter is probably the best thing we have at the moment. Perhaps a conversation will reveal something we can play on.

>>24222421
Oh I'm of the same mind, but this stupid half broken key is making my will to type long theories fade away. I'll try nonetheless.

>>24222339

You leave Olberek to whatever it is he's doing and go find Girdin. As usual, he is standing in one spot staring straight ahead, contemplating something or other.

Now, question is, how exactly do you plan to ask him about the subject?

>>24222477
Last time we talked to him, he was distrustful of us, thinks that we just want to manipulate him into fighting our fight. Which is true, I suppose, but given that prejudice, it may be best not to try to manipulate at all. Perhaps we should simply be requesting a favor for a favor?

>>24222588
This is actually a clever idea. We could bring up that we promise to make a stop at one of his friends' homes since he seemed pretty eager to meet up with some of his old buddies.

>>24222681
I think that was already the purpose of him coming along anyway, and he could just leave and go there himself. Pretty hollow offer. I was hoping that simply "a favor" would hold some value.

"Girdin," you say.

Girdin tilts his head in your direction. "Yes, Anomaly...What is it?" he asks.

"I need a favor, Girdin," you say.

"A favor...What sort of favor?" Girdin asks.

"We need you to bring down the walls of Golroute," you say, "without your help we don't have much chance of getting past them."

"Hrm," Girdin says, and contemplates for a while. "This...Is not a small favor you ask...Not a hard thing to do, and yet...It has great implications...You do not ask me to bring down a wall...You ask me to join your war."

"I'd owe you a favor in return, of course," you say.

"But...Can I trust you...To honor a favor so large?" he asks. "My neutrality in these wars...It is not something I give up easily."

"But it's already half gone," you point out, "you've already fought in one battle."

"True..." Girdin says, narrowing his eyes and pausing in deep thought for at least five minutes solid.

"A favor for a favor...An acceptable trade, but...Only if you understand, Anomaly...This is not a small favor...What neutrality I still have...Is precious to me."

>sound good?

>>24223128
Sounds good. Let's go inform the leaders that the walls of Golroute shall be take care of, and see if they have some sort of battle plan.

>>24223128
There's not much harm in agreeing. I don't intend for us to break the promise, but if he asks too much later, we wouldn't have much of a problem with it. Best not to though, having a friend in fucking Stone is a good thing.

"I understand your position. I too would rather enjoy peace and freedom from war, but the enemy is not of such a mind. We have an agreement."

>>24223391
>>24223288

You accept. Girdin is with you. Excellent.

You return to the camp where the four leaders are discussing their plans. "If we cut them off from supplies, they'll starve," Dekker says.

"But we may starve first," Vierre says, "and they may bring in reinforcements. Better to storm the walls."

Jens nods. "We can make ladders to scale them, cut down battering rams. It will slow our advance and give them more time to prepare, though. We should surround them first, then make our siege weapons."

"Even with siege weapons, the walls will give them an advantage, and our numbers are even," Gant says, "we should starve them out for a few weeks before we strike."

>wat do?

>>24223619
"A few weeks could be enough time to call in reinforcements, perhaps even their troops engaged to the south. The results of a prolonged siege under such circumstances has been demonstrated effectively, I think. Golroute should fall as swiftly as possible. My friend of stone has agreed to lend his strength with regard to that wall. That just leaves their swords and arrows to handle."

I apologize for the delayed response. There was lunch.

>>24223969

"We have men enough to deal with swords and arrows," Jens says. "With the dire wolves on our side and the wall brought down, we will have victory. Though it will be a hard fought battle."

"All the more glory for us!" Vierre says.

"For the survivors, you mean," Jens says, "but we have to fight this battle one way or another. Golgoth won't just leave."

The council deliberates for a few minutes longer, but with Girdin on their side they quickly agree to attempt to storm the town immediately.

>anything you want to do en route? If not, what do you plan to do upon arrival?

>>24224702
Well it's usually fun to check up on Mari. Besides, we haven't got a kill count from her yet. Let's find her and see what she's doing.

>>24224702
Our usual briefing with Mari I imagine, and we need to discretely warn her that they have ways of detecting magic cast inside the confines of the camp. She needs to stay outside the perimeter to be safe. Also check in with her and just make sure she's still doing alright I guess.

Other than that once we arrive lets see how the enemy responds to our army showing up, see if their defensive patterns have changed and if it appears any reinforcements have shown up or not.

>>24224875
We can move faster than the army, as usual. Would be worthwhile to look for indications of what intel they have on us, such as if they know the fate of their Norfin deployment.

>>24224863

Mari unsurprisingly sleeps like a log throughout the night, but by the time you've finished convincing Gant to join the Dorriki army and bring Norfin with him, speaking with Olberek, Girdin, and the mortal leaders, it's been the better part of a day and Mari is awake again. She's also hammered. The victorious Norfin have been celebrating the end of the siege with their new allies, and Dorriki custom is that anyone old enough to join a battle is old enough to drink to victory.

"Hello," you say, and she turns her head towards you.

"You!" she says, sounding excited, "I've been looking for you. I can't tell anyone else...Everyone else I just have to say I shot arrows at the lieutenants and killed them that way, but then sometimes someone's seen a corpse and says they have all their teeth in their throat right? And I can't tell them about that 'cause then they might decide to just hand me off to Golgoth 'stead of fighting Golroute. But I killed 'em! All of 'em! The officers, I mean. 'Cept the commander, he was already dead."

>>24225226
"Hitting the tankard a little too hard, Mari? Good work though, you do deserve some recognition for your contributions at any rate. Just remember to be cautious, alcohol loosens the tongue with enough plying. Now then, I have some important news for you."

Go ahead and reiterate the previous warning we were going to give her about the wards, and the battle plan.

>>24225381
Add a sarcastic apology for bagging the commander before she got to him "Oh, and sorry about stealing the commander. Sometimes I need to have some fun too. You understand, right?"

>>24225381
>>24225451

"Yeah," Mari says, "I'll just kill 'em from the outside. No big deal, right? I mean, there's gonna be a big hole in the wall, isn't there?"

>>24225698
"If everything goes well, there shouldn't be much of a wall left at all. Try to save some strength, though. I suspect there may be... special enemies in there. If so, your help could be extremely valuable."

>>24225832
Yep, going along with this.

>>24225832

"Yeah, sure," Mari says, "just line 'em up, and...Knock 'em down!" She grins and apparently thinks she's been at least moderately funny. And then trips over a root, stumbling to her knees, before getting back up and kicking the tree in irritation. Which results in more frustrated swearing from her than from the tree.

>done here?

>>24225973
Add in a final joking "I wouldn't kick the trees, they might tell Olberek on you."

Then we're off ahead of the army like the other anon said to fulfill our agenda.

>>24226020

Mari snorts. "Let 'em tell. Olbereks still made of flesh, isn't he? Unlike these stupid fucking trees..." And then she wanders off, to find someone else to talk with or to find someplace to sleep off her inebriation, or perhaps to help her take revenge on the tree. Whatever.

You slip ahead of the army. It'll take them four days to reach Golroute, and you make the journey in about a day and a half, so you've got plenty of time to investigate/muck with things. How do you plan on getting in this time? Where do you plan on going, and what will you do when you get there? What is the plan here? Wat, in other words, do?

>>24226155
Actively disrupting these guys is difficult with the warding. If we could get much done in that regard, we wouldn't have needed to visit Norfin. What IS valuable here is trying to find out what intel they do have. Do they know of our trip to Norfin, and if so how are they responding, do they even know the size of our army. The best source of this info would be the room where we last found the officers discussing strategy.

As for entry, the usual method of carefully sneaking about in shadow form at night should work, unless they've seriously tightened up security.

>>24226311
Right, pretty much sums up my thoughts on how to figure out if they're on to us. Plus just figuring out what has transpired with deployments since we left is important.

>>24226311
>>24226363

You wait for a passing patrol and then hop into a shadow, and from there hop from shadow to shadow until you reach the hall the officers held their meeting in previously. Unfortunately it's now empty, though there are still maps and other documents rolled up lying around, still heavily guarded. And in one corner, the mysterious armored creature sits and waits, unmoving. You can't tell if it's awake or sleeping standing up or what.

>>24226511
Aww, now I really want to try messing with it instead of actually doing what we were supposed to do. I'm not sure I ever got to test if it was susceptible to delusions...

>>24226632

So are you going to actually do that, or just sit around for two days, or what?

So yea, kinda sucks that they're all rolled up, no way we're going corporeal here. Either we'd have to wait until someone DOES want to discuss strategy, or find a way to distract the guards and the walking suit of oversized armor. If we had a "hide in plain sight" equivalent, that might have worked.

>>24226759
I'd actually love to, but it may be best not to alert them at all this time. I'd wait out the night to see if anything does happen here, or if armorman actually decides to move.

>>24226759
>>24226911
Sorry had to get up for a few. I'd say we wait a bit to see if armorman moves, maybe get a little closer and see if we can make out any interesting tidbits about him.

>>24226911

It's several very boring hours before the officers show up towards the end of the night, but they DO show up, at which point the armored creature springs to life, occasionally pointing or writing as it did the last time you were here.

"We know an enemy is headed our way," one of the captains said, "we should consolidate and fortify before they arrive."

"The advancing army is all the more reason to deal with Clarbel while we still can," another says, "it would only take a single battalion to raze the village outright, and then we could withdraw the battalion there already to aid in the defenses."

"If we're going to be withdrawing battalions, we should withdraw from Norfin. They won't pursue," another captains says, "We can lay siege again once this army is dealt with."

"If Norfin is still there," a third captain says, "the Dorriki have had days to find and rout them. Even if they're hanging on, they're caught between Norfin on the north and the Dorriki army on the south, and the only way out is through the woods, hardly an ideal line of retreat. That battalion is lost."

"How do we know they haven't sent a smaller force to Clarbel?" another captain asks, "a smaller, stealthier force to fight the same fight Clarbel is already fighting wouldn't leave tracks that a scouting party could easily find, especially not when nature has already had two days to retrieve them. But it still might be enough to deplete or even rout the battalion."

The officers go on deliberating the subject for a while, the armored creature observing silently while pacing back and forth behind them.

>>24227325

If it wasn't clear, this is wat do. I'm waiting on you guys.

>>24227325
Well, they know our army is out there, but no indication that they know its size. It's funny that they can be so certain that their Norfin battalion is lost, but didn't send out a warning to them, but oh well. We should see if they actually reach a conclusion or they just hang around and discuss things without deciding anything. Are there places we can remain hidden, even past dawn?

>>24227523
I suppose I can get behind this. Nothing else comes to mind.

Starting to think armorguy might be a very cleverly made automaton/golem of sorts though. The behavior he exhibits seems too programmed.

>>24227523

Yes, there's plenty of out of the way chairs and tables you can hide in the shadows of indefinitely. Those shadows will move with the light, but not nearly fast enough that you might get caught out in the open.

They debate with one another a while longer before the armored creature steps forward and writes something down. You can't see it, but the others gather around to read it. "It's a good point," the commander says, "I have to say I concur."

The captains nod and one says "the wisdom of the heavens is evident again."

"Then the only question is who shall go," one of the captains says. "It'd be best suited to someone fast, mobile, maneuverable. Someone who works best outside walls. Not meaning to brag, I believe my skills are perfectly suited to the task."

"Are there any alternative suggestions?" the commander asks. The other captains and the armored creature all shake their heads. "Very well. Depart immediately, time is of the essence. I'm sure you understand," the commander says.

"At once, sir," the captain says, and immediately turns to leave the hall.

>wat do?

>>24227865
Oh hell no, we need to tail this guy best we can. This can only be trouble for us and our allies.

>>24227964
Unless they're super master minding and suspect they're being watched and he's just a decoy. But that's kind of silly. Hopefully it's not too bright and we'll be able to follow.

>>24228041
If a guard jumps out after he spots us yelling "STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!", that's about the worst case scenario really.

>>24228181
As far as we know, yes. Still, I've long since learned that displaying a notion of immortality tends to propel your god towards unfavorable outcomes for you. Best try not to cause too much of a ruckus.

>>24227964

You follow the captain in his shadow as he heads out of the village and into the camp outside. Along the way, one of the guards spots you, in that he does a double-take and squints in your direction. Fortunately, he's unable to get past your Unnoticed power. Unfortunately, you're unable to move while he's looking lest he spot you.

The captain isn't too hard to locate, since twenty minutes later his troops are packing up, saddling horses, and preparing to move out. You missed the orders he gave, so you're not sure where they're headed, but there's really only three or four possible destinations in the first place and it'll probably be obvious *where* they're going soon enough.

What's less clear is why they're going there. What did that armored creature point out? A strong point in favor of razing Clarbel? Some brilliant third plan? Nothing at all, and it's all just a ruse to make eavesdroppers think it's sentient when it's actually just doodling?

>wat do?

>>24228518
How many men is he bringing? Are they all on horseback?

>>24228637

He's bringing about two hundred men, swinging the numbers decisively in your favor for the coming siege, and all are mounted.

>>24228691
That's certainly no scouting force, he means business. Somewhere. Possibly a swift surprise attack on either Clarbel or us. If they're all on horseback, they probable intend to move faster than we can follow, and we can't extract information via delusions inside their camp. Seems that what we can do is watch which direction they leave in, then return to the strategy room and see if we can glean any more info from there.

>>24228834
Supporting this.

>>24228834

They exit along the road to the east, and you're able to keep up long enough to see them turn south. Looks like they're headed to Clarbel. By the time you sneak back to the war room, the council is over. There's still a day and a half before your army arrives, though. Anything else you want to do?

>>24229022
Well I don't see any way to stop this force from doing what they want to do. If they're really heading to Clarbel, then that's just too bad for Clarbel. What I'm most worried about is that they are in fact not headed anywhere and staying hidden somewhere near Golroute so they can flank the army they're expecting to attack them. Unless anyone can think of a way to retrieve information from the table, I would suggest scouting the area (are there woods or other ideal places to hide a large force nearby?) for any signs of an ambush. It's a large order though, so even if we find nothing that could just mean we looked the wrong places. Still, the idea worries me a lot.

>>24229279
And that was poorly worded. This is of course just an idea, not a fact.

>>24229022
Well that isn't a pleasant turn of events, but at least it temporarily lowers their defenses. I'd suggest that we figure out where the best spot Girdin could initially punch through the walls would be. Preferably somewhere that gives our troops room to maneuver without being archer bait.

>>24229279
Actually having seen this, lets do this during the day and the walls thing during the night.

>>24229337
That's an agreeable compromise. I consider both to be quite valuable intel.

>>24229279

All of Dorrik is pretty heavily wooded except right next to the coasts. Golroute has the trees cleared for quite a ways in all directions due to the construction of the town and firewood and such, but nevertheless is you go a mile in any direction, you'll hit trees. And in terms of marching distances, a mile is peanuts, especially with horses. So, yeah, you don't have near enough time to scour the entire forest, but you go ahead and give it a shot. You don't end up finding any trace of the cavalry, though you're able to confirm from tracks that they definitely went at least five miles along the way to Clarbel Village. Maybe they doubled back after, or maybe it just sucks to be Clarbel Village.

When scouting the wall for breach points, there's a couple of candidates. First off, there are several good points that are reasonably distant from any watchtowers and thus where a comparatively smaller number of archers will be firing at you when you enter. One in particular is a far distance away from the army's camp, which will mean the Golgothans will take a few minutes more to get their main force into the battle, and those few minutes could make a big difference. On the other hand, that location is further from where the Dorriki Army will arrive, which means the enemy will have more time to prepare for battle before the Dorriki get within combat range. There's another location that's also well-placed with regards to towers, but which is closer to the road the Dorriki will be arriving by.

>>24229594
I don't like this. Hitting Clarbel right away was already suggested by an officer, so if that's all they're doing, what WAS the "wisdom of the heavens"...

If that is all they're doing, the question is how quickly they can do it. Clarbel seems to be roughly the same distance from Golroute as Norfin, and we made that trip in a day and a half, cavalry could probably do the same. If my assumption holds true, and they really are headed all the way to Clarbel, they should not be able to return in time.

Another mystery that would be wonderful to uncover before the attack would be just what the nature of the armorman is, and how he would be defeated. But since the place is warded, and our previous stalking him revealed little, I'm not sure how to go about that except simply fighting him.

The best move now would probably be to return to the army to share what we've learned. The two suggested points of attack, and the matter of the cavalry force that departed.

>>24229873
Sorry had to get up again, agreeing with this.

>>24229873

Sorry for delay, stumbled into feels thread. I'd never seen that Thai commercial before.

Anyways, you return to the advancing Dorriki army, catching up with them just a few hours away from Golroute. The leaders aren't traveling together (they travel each with their own village), so it takes a while for a messenger to get around and get all four leaders walking alongside one another, which is as good a way to hold a conversation as any and none of the four is willing to call a halt when they've got hours to go anyways.

"I don't favor getting pincushioned by archers," Gant says, "and the more unprepared they are, the fewer of them will be positioned to shoot us. We should take the near entrance."

"I agree," Jens says, "but more because it's on the opposite side of the road those cavalry took. If they're planning an ambush, we want as much warning as possible. Putting the town between us and their last known position will give us a few precious minutes to prepare for them."

"About that flank," Dekker says, "do we prepare for it or not? If we concentrate troops on the flank we're less likely to take the town, if we concentrate troops in the front we'll be cut to pieces if they are preparing to flank us."

"If we concentrate on the front and take the town fast enough, we can use their own defenses against them," Vierre says.

"If we besiege the town, it'll give us time to root out the flankers before they can strike," Dekker says.

"Hrm," Jens says, "our enemy has split themselves. Perhaps now is the time to divide and conquer."

"The longer we're on the march, the worse morale grows," Gant says, "the season is young now, but we must think of more than just Golroute. There is Westercoast also that must be taken before Golgoth is defeated."

>any advice for the leaders?

>>24230435
"Attack swiftly and there's a chance of falling into an ambush. Hesitate and the enemy may return with additional forces from their offensive against Clarbel. Either way is gambling with unknowns.

On the larger scale however, failing to defeat the enemy before they can call for help from home holds the only certain result to this war: Defeat. A gamble is better than a certain loss."

>>24230775
This rings true, I'd also like to add that if they have been sent to Clarbel we can probably take and man their fortifications before they return.

>>24230775
>>24231013

"Through the near entrance, then," Vierre says, "the sooner the battle is joined, the better we'll be."

"And it'll put more distance between us and the flankers," Jens says.

"If there are flankers," Gant says.

>anything else you want to do before the battle is joined?

Also I apologize for the delay, I had to run an errand.

Looks like the delay killed it. Oh, well, it was getting late anyway.