#1
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In the field
![]() Your Assignment Vesade's agents have secured intelligence containing the routes of several Zarathian supply wagons headed for the front lines. Your mission is simple, disrupt those shipments. Agent Erlan in Rustov Village will be your contact. He will guide you to the caravans. - Carsen Now the first caravan is passing through a narrow pass at noon today, and you are laying an ambush in the crowded space. It was rather poorly defended, with only four true soldiers and a captain leading the conscripts, in addition to the drivers. Last edited by TheMystic; Mar 21st, 2014 at 06:57 AM. |
#2
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#3
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Introducing Bait
![]() The terrain they were in were similar to the rocky alcoves of his home in the north and the mission was not unlike those that his clan executed on unsuspecting merchant caravans. Raids like this reminded him of his home and the clan that he spent his early years. And as he remembered, the thoughts of his family and their ultimate end, his smile faded, replaced by a look of cold, simmering anger and determination. Bait begins to explain his plan to the others as they begin the trek to Rustov Village. He knew the others well enough to know that this was not a closed debate, that their input would undoubtedly improve upon his initial thoughts. However, as the Trapmaster of the Advanced Scouts, leadership on this particular mission was unquestionably his purview. "Ambushes such as this are commonplace among my kin. The key is to divide the enemy, to lure them into traps and then double back. We fight only when we must and then use superior numbers and the advantage of surprise to quickly finish off the enemy. We do not kill the non-combatants or those that surrender unless there is a need. We will disfigure and maim those who would come our way. Nothing is more demoralizing than a permanent reminder of being soundly defeated by an enemy. Besides, for every one that we incapacitate, another has to care for them - and that means fewer warriors they are able to field" the kobold says without mercy as he studies the map and considers where it would be best to lay his traps. "We put simple punji traps here, which will break the legs of the horses as they move past it. 20 feet beyond that, we put a simple series of spikes, which will prevent them from continuing should the horses miss the traps" he begins. Pointing to a low elevated area to the east, he continues. "I will begin here, hurling a few darts at the enemies and taking care to show my face. The fools will believe it is a kobold ambush and will not expect the truth in our real strength. They will come after me, thinking to end the threat quickly. I will draw the warriors away, leaving the drivers and non-combatants without protection. One you you must remain in the back, to stop any who would seek to flee. I have caltrops you can spread on the path that will prevent them from fleeing too far. The rest of you will be here" he begins, pointing to elevated area to the east. When I have drawn the warriors off, kill or subdue those that remain -- quickly. "I will circle back with any who manage to survive my maze of traps, so that we can overwhelm them with our superior numbers. From the time they crest this hill, you have two minutes. You will need to work fast" he finishes, looking to the others for input on his plan.
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#4
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Dalton observed in silence as the kobold laid out a plan of attack. Group tactics weren't his area of expertise and so he had no problem deferring to the voice of experience, moreso because he'd heard no shortage of tales regarding this kobold's ability to scatter forces of superior size and strength through advance planning. At the mention of a solo agent Dalton spoke up. "I can handle the cleanup. I'm used to working alone, and I can adapt if things go south." |
#5
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Strider sat at the table with the others as they purveyed over the map and set strategy. His cowl was down revealing his brown mane with the trifling highlights of gray. He took a long pull on his pipe and let the smoke coil as he slowly puffed out leaving looping wisps to climb towards the ceiling. The group had been composed for two months now and was beginning to come together. Bait was a peculiar one, not only for being a kobold which was odd in itself, but his overall performance. Offbeat or not though he had substantiated himself already as a talented trickster and earnest combatant fooling many with his small stature.
Dalton, while comparable to Strider in tactics did his differently. Where Strider had groomed most of his skills as a common man learning the ways of the rangers, Dalton had unique capabilities, a magic of sorts and the ability to control parts of the natural world through his mind. While at first this eccentricity for both Dalton and Carnesir perplexed him, he had seen how effective it was and it proved just as good as or maybe better than his years of training. Time would tell but he was sure of one thing, he was glad they were alongside him instead of against him. Kiril was the one that really had Strider questioning all he had known. He had met witch doctors in tribes along the wilderness before, but the negligible magic they performed was mostly due to natural herbs and remedies from the woods. Kiril instead had true magic and it was impressive. Yes, this band of scouts was definitely coalescing and he looked forward to many extraordinary things for them to accomplish. This ambush was rather mundane, but would give them another opportunity to sharpen their team and maybe find others ways to balance each other. He listened to Bait’s plan and with the comment from Dalton he spoke up, “Good points from both of you, between Bait’s traps and Dalton and I from a distance we should be able to catch them off guard and seed confusion amongst the conscripts. The first target should be the captain since he would be the one that would try to hold them together and not panic, which is what we want. If Dalton and I are near the front in the rock here and here,” pointing at two points on opposing sides of the riverbed they are using, “then we can catch the captain in our crossfire. As soon as we spring the trap then Bait can do something to draw attention and lure as many as he can into this area here,” pointing to an open area surrounded by the rocks. “Once in there then we concentrate on the captain and the trained soldiers leaving the conscripts for cleanup. If any try to run then Dalton or I can chase them down. Bait, you will need to make sure you put something here and here as well that can block the road so they can’t run off.”
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My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
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#6
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Lykaia is still adjusting to the "necessities" of war. There is much the kobold has to say that makes sense, but just as much of it revolts Lykaia for all of its practicality. He keeps his mouth shut while the plan is being laid out. For this meeting, the gruesome mask central to his magic is not being worn. It is held tightly in his hands, placed on his lap so that his companions may see his true face. Once the proposal has been laid out and opinions are being issued, this is when Lykaia decides to make himself heard.
"I agree with Strider. Mostly." Lykaia licks his lips and continues. "We are basing much on the idea that we can lure them out into an undisciplined chase. What if we cannot? I doubt the captain is a fool, and so if he remains alive long enough to give orders, I expect that this group will function in a more disciplined manner than we may wish them to. We should also prepare for the likelihood that that they do not try to chase at all, but instead take up defensive positions." Lykaia reaches out and touches the map at the places marked for Bait's traps and indicated by Strider for superior positions of ambush. "These are good places for our plans, but our primary objective is to intercept the shipment. Their objective is not to fight us, but to make sure the supplies get to the front. In their position, I would not attempt to fight, but instead to break out of an ambush. I trust Bait's skills with traps... but all the same, I do not believe that a contingency plan is out of place. Taking out the horses is the most optimal method of ensuring we can keep them contained. Once we ensure the wagons are immobile, then we may safely clean up the remaining combatants." It is quite debatable how useful Lykaia's opinion is: he is not a soldier or seasoned combatant in the same way that most of the other Scouts are. Indeed, he is something not quite wizard or sorcerer, and his presence is more a product of filling a void than for his tactical, strategic, or logistical acumen. "I can make it very difficult for the defenders to group up. If they form ranks for a counter-attack, I can make them pay for it. If they group up, wait for me to make them suffer. It will be quite obvious." |
#7
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Mahtan Carnesîr sat quietly for several long minutes, listening to the various assessments of the situation and their upcoming mission at the same time as he gathered himself and prepared in his own way. His companions had still not gotten used to being able to perpetually speak with one another and share their thoughts, so while it was a mild inconvenience Carnesîr had allowed the network of their minds to end at the conclusion of each mission. A simple meditation to re-establish the connection was all he needed to do to cause a mild tingling sensation at the base of the neck of his companions,Activating: Collective wordlessly requesting their permission to incorporate them once again into the network. As he prepared to provide his own input, Carnesîr considered the merits of each plan; Bait had a good idea with his traps and certainly there was no need to kill any of the conscripted soldiers. Dalton's skills at range would certainly be needed to contain the situation, Strider also. All it took was a moment to come up with a plan.
"If we first disable their captain somehow, a Telepathic Lashmental blast perhaps, while Bait simultaneously draws the conscripts into his traps then you Strider and Dalton can take out the horses to keep their wagons from escaping. Meanwwhile Lykaia can employ Entangle or Stinking Cloudone his methods to keep the soldiers occupied. Once the conscripts have been lured away, Bait and I can flank their soldiers while Strider and Dalton hold back for the ranged kill... If you set up your Middle right of the map, within the small gulleytraps here Bait and then draw their conscripts in there, if they rally then we can at least bottleneck them there and come in from behind where their numbers wont get the best of us..." |
#8
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"No" the kobold says softly, shaking his head as he clarifies.
"I will not be able to drive them away if we all act at once... If they are inundated from all four sides, by arrows and mind blasts, they will become overly concerned... They must think it is a simple kobold raid, I will throw my darts and lull them into thinking it is a simple kobold raid. I must attack first and wait for them to chase after me. I will target the Captain - hopefully I will be able to take him out with one lucky dart throw. Either way, we must get them to chase me BEFORE you join the attack. Once the battle starts, the only necessity is to prevent them from fleeing. Otherwise, your battle plans are your own. Kill, maim, incapacitate -- it doesn't matter -- just stop them."
__________________
Now available in new GREEN color! Last edited by Squeak; Mar 24th, 2014 at 10:58 AM. |
#9
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Strider hears Bait speak up and agrees, “I see what you mean now. Instead of shock and awe we use your little trickster mind to get them out of balance and off guard them really hit them hard. If that is the case then Dalton and I can still be on opposite sides just in case. I can be on the side away from the group while you lure them into the master trap and then I can swing in from behind them.”
Strider takes a few more draws from his pipe letting the smoke linger as is streams from his mouth and he studies the map a bit more waiting to see if anyone else has anything to add.
__________________
My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
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#10
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As others in the group had little to add to his masterful plan, starts thin in motion even before they arrive. He begins to give direction to each member of his group, explaining the correct thickness of the stakes and how to properly whittle the end of them. The digging he does himself, his claw-like appendages perfect for digging the small trenches needed to create the punji traps.
After the stake blockade is set, as well as the punji traps, the kobold sets his bear traps in place, taking care to remember the placement so he would not get caught. Once the others are in position, he finds his own hiding place just to the east to the road, using his skills in camouflage to cover himself with debris, his darts out and within easy reach.
__________________
Now available in new GREEN color! Last edited by Squeak; Mar 28th, 2014 at 11:42 PM. |
#11
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"Good." Lykaia nods. If they are set on this plan, then it is because they know it will work, and Kiril needs say nothing else.
Waiting for the caravan to arrive, Kiril tends to his magics in the best way he knows, pondering the horrific mask he wears. He turns the peculiar mask over in his hands; those beside him may swear the grotesque mockery of life changes ever so slightly from time to time. At some point during the wait, Kiril applies his magic to himself. Though protective in nature, a large bruise appears across Kiril's chest. It looks painful, but ultimately cosmetic. Now, it is simply a matter of waiting for the ambush. He waits patiently, prepared to deliver his magic as needed-- if needed. |
#12
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Strider takes up his position and coaxes Roheryn to lie down with him in waiting like they have done many times before. He makes sure that both are comfortable knowing they could be there for quite some time and watches carefully as the other take their positions noting where everyone else is and Bait sets the traps in preparation.
__________________
My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
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#13
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Once the preparations are completed Dalton takes up his own position, slightly more exposed than Strider's but with a better view of the road as well. Before any mention can be made of it he closes his eyes in concentration for a moment and then begins to blend into the environment, soon nearly invisible even to the man crouched only a short distance away.
Last edited by AximusLokar; Apr 1st, 2014 at 03:38 AM. |
#14
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The time comes and the caravan draws near. The conscripts with their tunics and spears trudge disorganised around the wagons, the true soldiers march alongside each cart in heavy chain, while their captain rides alongside in shinier, finer chain atop his horse.
Everything's in place, including yourselves, when the troop enters the valley. Concealed above the ledges. All according to plan... until Lykia's foot slipped sending a rock clattering. Tense seconds pass as one of the conscripts breaks off, looking in the direction of the sound before a shout from the officer on his horse forces the man to move on. The man has more to worry about in just a few seconds however as two of his friends legs drive through the thin coatings of sticks that concealed Bait's traps. |
#15
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Bait winces as Lykia kicks a rock, forcing attention towards her. The worst part was that her actions stopped the caravan short, leaving the leader just out of range of the close shot he would need with his darts. The actions of the clumsy elf had cost them dearly, but he knew that ambushes seldom went as planned. So he did what he knew best -- he improvised.
A silent as a feather, the kobold stood up and shifted a bit closer to the group. He knew that it would take a moment for the drivers to reach their weapons, so instead focuses his attention on the another, one he believed was the leader of this group. With a feral scream, he bellowed in his native language "Inras!!", knowing full well that some of the caravan would know the kobold word for 'attack'. As the scream crosses his lips, he hurls his dart, hoping to take the man down with a single well flung missile. However, he also knew that success or failure of his attack did not matter, that it was his job to be the diversion. Lykia! Don't attack, make it look like you have been discovered and are running away. Everyone -- hold your attack!!! Let them come after me! he thinks hard, hoping the mental connection that Mahtan had told him about actually worked. After he hurls his dart, he looks up at the mountain where Lykia was hiding and a look of fear crosses his eyes. To the casual observer, it seemed that he was surprised the help he was expecting did not come.
__________________
Now available in new GREEN color! Last edited by Squeak; Apr 4th, 2014 at 10:32 AM. |
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