Strategy Talk: plans & player discussions:

[gurusql]

Proposed Marching Order (for the city)

Fawkes & Goran - Thieves up front
Olleg & Brick - Fighters to back them up
Durrant & Edel - Wizard row
Mortar - Since the little one is invisible
Galadria & Vennar - Rear Guards

[Edeldhur]

Agreed!

[Edeldhur]

Vennar

"Agreed Durrant"

I would be happy try and plot a course, but I am missing where on the map we are starting.

As far as I remember, we disembarked to the westernmost jetty.
And I feel we are going to have a hard time moving forward without a Caller
It is also 4:10am, so we will soon need to rest anyway? So my suggestion is to head to the abandoned church, hunker for the night, maybe there are homeless who can be a source of information regarding the best path and time of day to get to the Temple.

[Rex]

Marching order looks good.

[Ythgar]

That slave girl may know something of use and a few less hobgoblins is a good thing.

Goran has some dice if our half-orcs want to go claim that she is there slave while others ambush.

[Stirling]

Your destination is a few minutes and a few streets away.

By 'a few', I am thinking only two or three turns, not an hour or more. If we go without mishap.

It is also 4:10am, so we will soon need to rest anyway? So my suggestion is to head to the abandoned church, hunker for the night.

No! We came in the pre dawn hours precisely to use cover of darkness to get inside the ruined Temple. We can if need be rest there hopefully but I think we should take for granted we are all fully rested and ready.

MO looks workable for me. I think dangers will come from all sides and angles.

[Ythgar]

Distracted Hobgoblins are a relatively easy take is my guess.
The slave will know more about the city than we do.
The slave likely knows how to avoid the patrols.
The Slavs may have heard something about the icons.
The slave may know something about temple entrances - it seems obvious to me that the one the icons used likely is compromised or is the hardest way in.
If we can't handle hobgoblin now (fully rested), let's get the exp and dash back to the boat to rest

[Edeldhur]

Ok, I will go along with whatever the group decides.

[Howman]

The proposed marching order looks good to me.

I think we specifically came into the city at this time of early morning to take advantage of the darkness and sleepiness of the city. I see no need to rest right now when we are fresh off the boat.

The hobgoblins look like an excellent opportunity to me, since we should be able to catch them unawares and the slave girl could offer some information. I think going directly to the temple without learning more about the area could be risky. I'm especially concerned that the back entrance the Icons presumably used to enter the temple could be compromised or, at the very least, heavily trapped. Information about alternative entrances and what to be wary of in the area could prove invaluable.

[SCREE]

If we can pick them off quietly I see only benefits. +1 to investigating the hobgoblin situation. Is there any way we can prevent them alerting anyone for re-enforcements? Can we cut off their exits with a group this large safely?

[Scott308]

I think there is an opportunity to learn some helpful information if we deal with the hobgoblins, depending on what exactly the advance scouts learn through a more detailed recon.

[Howman]

Just for my understanding, we are splitting up?

I don't think the main party is splitting up right now, since we're just about finished dealing with the hobgoblin hovel. Mortar is by himself, but heading towards the ruined temple, so the rest of us should presumably be able to meet up with him soon.

Once we free the slave girl in the hovel and check for any loot on the hobgoblins, it seems like the way should be relatively clear to sneak to the ruined temple. Any other thoughts on how to proceed?

[Ythgar]

You forgot searching the hobgoblin hovel for the secret entrance to the hobgoblin lair that then leads to an old abandoned tunnel loaded with forgotten treasures (including a pair of short sword flame brands usable only by halflings) and which then leads to a secret entrance to the temple.

I'm sure the dwarf can find that secret stone entrance for us!

[Stirling]

Just for my understanding, we are splitting up?

We spilt up when Mortar turned invisible and went to check out the Lighthouse watchtower and we moved up this alley.

I think remarks were made to chalk a sign behind us to show which way we went though ooc, Mortar and captives are going the long way around.

Bravo. Nicely done Mortar, (and Straither, the scene was dramatic). So does Mortar just set the captives free, recruit them to join the group (healing clerics always helpful!) or does he sell them as slaves to get us access into the Slaver's Temple?

[Edeldhur]

Fair enough!

I must admit I am a bit lost between all the separate group actions, but it plays well into my ‘aloof elven wizard’ look

[Ythgar]

I would vote for a change self spell to look like a slaver, and then "deliver" them to the temple, and then let the rest of us in the back door.

[Straither]

I must admit I am a bit lost between all the separate group actions, but it plays well into my ‘aloof elven wizard’ look

Sorry. I put Mortar in his own update as he is separate from the group.

The others are altogether and I updated as three areas; those in the yard, inside the hovel and outside in the alley. The update ends with you all being able to act as the same group.

I won't railroad the two scenes together though with a single destination in mind, paths may cross eventually.

I would vote for a change self spell to look like a slaver, and then "deliver" them to the temple, and then let the rest of us in the back door.

all good ideas and thoughts in the thread. But these are just ooc and whatever happens will be solely down to Mortar until the groups combine again.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry for the confusion!!!

I wasn't actually planning on leaving the group as soon as we arrived. Like most instances in these games.....it just sorta happened.

I do like the noted suggestions so far though.

[Howman]

I propose splitting the main party into two groups, one on either side of the road the main party is in the process of crossing, and then ambushing the cart if the kobolds are successful in diverting it along the east road. If the cart is diverted, then it should be a good opportunity for the group to free some more slaves. With the element of surprise, we should be able to deal with the kobolds handily.

However, if the cart maintains its current course south, then I think the main group should just take advantage of the distraction and continue to the ruined temple. Without knowledge that Mortar is involved, chasing down a runaway carriage through the city streets could put our "stealth mission" at risk and doesn't particularly make sense to me. Any other thoughts?

[Stirling]

Good plans I think. If the wagon runs over the Kobolds or shakes them off, no worries (and good for Mortar, sure we will meet up eventually),

If the Kobolds succeed in diverting the wagon, then we ambush them in order to free more captives/slaves (not knowing Mortar is with them) with the intent to recruit them as torchbearers or even just use the wagon and if what this Esther says is true, there is a gate merchants go through to buy slaves, then we proceed with that if the team feel we can pull that off.

Maybe Olleg can cross over to Goran and I and will take one side of the wagon, leaving Brick and the clerics to sweep clear the other side.