Discussion (out of character thread)

[Leitz]

At this stage of the battle there are two main options:

1) Frontal Assault using the mass combat rules.
2) Heroic Foray where the PCs risk facing the enemy separate from their units.

Given the strength of the PCs and henchmen you can form a platoon or two on your own. So you can form up and choose to be either a normal platoon or to risk a foray.

To use magic Morwen must foray otherwise she is just as likely to hit your own troops.

I vote we foray. Morwen has access to the scrolls we recovered in the first battle, and we need to destroy the cult. Not only because they might strike from darkness, but the Jings are seen as of a different faith. Fighting the enemies of the Lawgiver is a way to build the relationships.

Everyone else, what are your thoughts?

[Leitz]

Draft Foray Plan

Feel free to improve it.

JJh, Si-woo, and company ladder up the walls near the gate, cross over, and deal with anyone trying to shoot out of the fort.

Dramm (with potion of giant strength), Barnaby, Bofur, Gurav, and the dwarves charge the gate and tear it open.

Morwen and her Ravenkin use altitude to observe the cult leader and defeat the evil magic.
Roobeastie, here's the scroll list

Sir Tylar et al charges through the gate and tries to keep up with the dwarves who will be chopping up ogres.

Rolton and his troop zip in, break right or left, and disrupt any organized reserve defense.

Jared and the heavy foot come in as quickly behind the knights as possible to prevent encirclement.

The Margrave's archers shoot anyone trying to leave the fort from the other side.

[tibbius]

Barnaby would want to go bolster the archers as he thinks the big risk is the bandits fleeing and then regrouping to return. The archers are the ones who will end that ploy, and also are likely to be overcome without support.

Dramm would be very cheerful about quaffing Giant Strength..

[Leitz]

The archers should be okay; there are ~36 archers and 10 crossbow vs only a hundred humans and 3 ogres if everyone runs out immediately. Part of Rolton's task is to disrupt a mass exit, easing the load on the archers and resolving the brigand issue with vigor.

[tibbius]

If Dramm will in fact be able to bash right through the gate with Giant Strength, Ji-ho Si-woo et al. could simply abandon the ladders and follow through the gate. On the other hand, the ladders could provide second and third fronts to divide and confuse the defenders. Probably better to keep with the ladders plan.

Any road, Barnaby remains skeptical about the prospects for the archers. "M'lord Margrave, you know your people better than any of us outlanders. What do you think - will they need my voice to steady their hands?"

[GreyWolfVT]

as split units are we sure that is the best plan? Do we have healing if needed in each unit?

[Leitz]

as split units are we sure that is the best plan? Do we have healing if needed in each unit?

Once through the gate almost everyone will be together. Rolton and the squires will be a little bit away, but I doubt the camp is that big.

[Leitz]

If Dramm will in fact be able to bash right through the gate with Giant Strength, Ji-ho Si-woo et al. could simply abandon the ladders and follow through the gate. On the other hand, the ladders could provide second and third fronts to divide and confuse the defenders. Probably better to keep with the ladders plan.

The first time the group met the bandits, they had a lot of missiles. The Jings will disrupt the missile fire so Dramm, the knights, and the foot can make it through the gate.

[roobeastie]

I'm good with the plan!

[Leitz]

While Jiho does his usual "nap for months after a battle", I think it's a win for him. Hopefully Barnaby will be able to spin a wonderful tale.

[scarik]

While Jiho does his usual "nap for months after a battle", I think it's a win for him. Hopefully Barnaby will be able to spin a wonderful tale.

You have all the healers here this time at least.

[scarik]

Despite how big a deal this sidequest is in RP terms its XP awards are relatively low. And its pretty complex to work out. Its effectively like so:

XP for...
enemies defeated: 1540
successful mission: 500
spoils: 635
TOTAL: 2675 divided among all PCs and henchmen.

But I think I'm just going to award PCs 1000 and Henchmen their normal portion of that (500 for 3rd level, 250 for 2nd, 125 for first).
The 635p is spoils is for everyone except Morwen. She gets enemy casualties as her share.

[Leitz]

The 635p is spoils is for everyone except Morwen. She gets enemy casualties as her share.

JJh will quietly offer to the PCs and NPCs that he will cover their share of the 635p so the spoils can go to the families of the woodsmen and loggers who died.

[scarik]

The 635p is spoils is for everyone except Morwen. She gets enemy casualties as her share.

JJh will quietly offer to the PCs and NPCs that he will cover their share of the 635p so the spoils can go to the families of the woodsmen and loggers who died.

Oh. No this is the portion the Margrave doles out to you. He technically takes it all but then shares out half among the soldiers. The other half he will be using to pay expenses and then giving away as alms for those impacted.

If the PCs would like to give their portions away that will improve your results to attract settlers.

[Leitz]

Sounds like a plan.

[Leitz]

In this treasure post there a few items we have not been able to identify. Can it be done either in Borderton or SpringKeep?

Suit of human armor
1 clerical scroll
3 scrolls not clerical scrolls
8 Arcane scrolls
1 potion

On a different note, Darfilla will be spending her time at EastFort brewing potions and what not. That makes Morwen the adventuring group's mage, so she should probably be taking care of the arcane scrolls. Hemia will have the clerical ones, and work with Borav Kograk to figure out how best to use them.

On another different note, the Margrave inducted Jiho into the Brethren of the Sword, is that a specific order, or just a general term for knighthood?

[scarik]

In this treasure post there a few items we have not been able to identify. Can it be done either in Borderton or SpringKeep?

Suit of human armor
1 clerical scroll
3 scrolls not clerical scrolls
8 Arcane scrolls
1 potion

On a different note, Darfilla will be spending her time at EastFort brewing potions and what not. That makes Morwen the adventuring group's mage, so she should probably be taking care of the arcane scrolls. Hemia will have the clerical ones, and work with Borav Kograk to figure out how best to use them.

On another different note, the Margrave inducted Jiho into the Brethren of the Sword, is that a specific order, or just a general term for knighthood?

You can continue to work on identifying things yourselves or pay someone to ID them for you. Morwen now has a library and workshop that can be used to allow a re-roll on the arcane scrolls, potion and the armor. Hemia would need to avail herself of a similar resource (s Sir Kyl will let her use his) to ID the clerical scroll. Barnaby can also try to ID anything due to his Tales and Travels Bardic ability. His success chance is lower but its a chance.

Brethren of the Sword is a generic term. Both Jing Ji-ho and Rolton are Knights Errant. They are members of no Order and have no liegelord. If you want to found your own order you could do so. You just need a banner and be willing to answer any challenges to your legitimacy with your sword.
The Margrave could eventually be JJh's liegelord but for now he hasn't actually given you any land so you aren;t a vassal. He simply said publicly that he will not contest your land claims 'to the west of the high road'.

[Leitz]

Okay, let's let Morwen, Barnaby, and Hemia do their thing. They'll have the winter, so it might be easier.

JJh is happy to increase the value of the western lands, knowing it will increase the Margrave's prestige. JJh and Rolton do need to work on their heraldry symbols.

In those books I mentioned, the main character got to add to his shield different symbols of orders or awards he was granted. Interesting stuff, though 100-200 years later than this game, IIUC.

[roobeastie]

I'm trying to work out a plan for Morwen to get Ravenswell back to good and actually bringing in money, but I'll make sure to add in those rerolls once I do. I'm going to assume we have a mutual defense pack with JJH's lands, and obviously if JJH wants help digging trenches Morwen can provide some... non-alive helpers to make things go quicker.

[tibbius]

Barnaby certainly will try to identify things ...