IC III

[thirdkingdom]

Moth leads the adventurers on through the winding passages until they emerge, blinking, into another room lit by sunlight streaming in through an open wall. A dry, not-unpleasant smell fills the room, along with a soft rustling, and it takes the companions a few moments to realize they are in a stables, but not populated by the horses they are used to seeing. Stalls line either wall before them, running for a good hundred feet before the open outside. Each stall contains what, at first glance, looks like a horse. Same rough size, same narrow head, four legs. But instead of coarse hair they have subtly shimmering scales, and their heads have a decidedly reptilian mien. "Your feresochi, milords," says the herald, head bowed, "they will bear you swiftly through the Lonely Woods to your destination." Another door opens and the same faun they had seen earlier emerges, short bow over his shoulder with a bindle dangling from the end. "And your guide. This is Drift," Moth says, "and do not let his nervous countenance fool you; he is a brave scout and a huntsman of some renown."

[shaidar]

Newton

"What beautiful creatures. Greetings to you, Drift. I look forward to working with a scout of the Fae. Are the feresochi only found in the fairy lands?"

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"What beautiful creatures. Greetings to you, Drift. I look forward to working with a scout of the Fae. Are the feresochi only found in the fairy lands?"

Drift

The faun scout looks unsure. "I've never been outside of Faery, sir," he says, "and have only explored a small corner of it, at that. I know they are uncommon outside of Lord Meraldan's realm, even in Faery." He goes on to explain how to ride the beasts. The fey-folk don't use saddles to ride them -- their scales provide enough friction without needing them -- and the feresochi are relatively intelligent and respond well to verbal commands, although they only respond to the fey language. "You'll find them fast moving and skittish," he says, "difficult to control in battle. Most -- all -- of you will likely want to dismount to fight. If you can master them, however, I think you will find they will be more than effective mounts."

[shaidar]

Newton

"Most interesting. Do you know if magic that allows communication with animals is effective on them?"

[Rex]

Shmara

"Beautiful creatures, it will be a joy learning to ride them."

She leads one out and mounts up, ready to ride.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"Most interesting. Do you know if magic that allows communication with animals is effective on them?"

Drift

"Uh, no idea."

[shaidar]

Newton

"No matter, perhaps I shall try once the princess is safe. Let us learn to ride these creatures and be on our way"

[kalstone]

Svenn

Svenn looks at the feresochi appraisingly. "I could get a fortune for one of these back in Junction."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"I would think that these creatures would not fare well away from here. They probably need special feed or something. Drift, can one of these things carry two people? I fear that their pace may be to much for Notai, who normally runs and does not know how to ride."

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

"I would think that these creatures would not fare well away from here. They probably need special feed or something. Drift, can one of these things carry two people? I fear that their pace may be to much for Notai, who normally runs and does not know how to ride."

Drift

Drift nods. "She can ride with me, as neither of us look to be very heavy.

The unusual mounts are led from the stables and walked through the streets, attracting curious stares from all manner of fey-folk. Leaving the confines of the town, the adventurers practice mounting and dismounting in a wide, grassy area, the feresochi standing obediently and, perhaps, somewhat bemusedly. It takes a bit a time to get used to riding saddle-less -- the faun is right, the scales provide an unusual amount of grip -- and on mounts that have a gait similar to, but different enough from, the horses they are used to.

When all of the companions seem proficient enough that they will not fall off (at least not immediately), Drift points towards the woods lining the southwest horizon. "The Lonely Woods are perhaps a half-day's ride in that direction," he says, "which is good, for we have a half day left. I suggest we head that way and make camp on the outskirts. The upstart earl's castle is perhaps five or six hours within the Woods."

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Lead the way Drift."

He turns to the rest of the party and says, "I'm trying to decide, should we address recovering the princess as more of a heist or an assault?...or maybe even a negotiation?

...negotiation doesn't feel like it would work..."

[kalstone]

Svenn

"Do we have anything of value to a faerie lord we could negotiate with? Assaulting a castle would be difficult, so I would lean towards a heist. Although, it all depends on what we find when we get there, I suppose."

[Rex]

Shmara

"I doubt negotiating is going to work."

[thirdkingdom]

Drift

The faun reaches down and says something inaudible to his mount, which shakes itself briefly and begins to lope in a very un-horse-like manner to the south west. "The Earl is a bully!" shouts Drift, over his shoulder, "enamoured with his own cleverness, or what he thinks is his own cleverness. Myself, I've only heard tell of him, but I think him a bigger fool than that one's father." He points at Tanglespice. "He's not a powerful a Lord as Meraldan, or even Nacknosh, but does have a fair number of ogre lackeys."

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus
"Tanglespice - do we have a shot at assaulting this palace or should we rely on subterfuge? Or is there some other custom of Faery we can utilize to have a chance at rescuing the princess?

[thirdkingdom]

Feargus
"Tanglespice - do we have a shot at assaulting this palace or should we rely on subterfuge? Or is there some other custom of Faery we can utilize to have a chance at rescuing the princess?

Tanglespice is not sure, having never actually met the earl, or visited his demesne. He does know that the earl is not technically a Lord, so it is possible he does not have the full suite of abilities that makes challenging a lord in their baliwick so dangerous. On the other hand, he has managed to amass a following and hold on to his territory, so he is not without some strength. "Dorrincort is proud but not subtle. He can likely be tricked or outwitted, but he could also be beaten in battle, perhaps."

[shaidar]

Newton

"I'm not sure we have time for too much subtlety

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"I'm not sure we have time for too much subtlety

Been swamped at work today. Will update ASAP.

[thirdkingdom]

Sixthmonth, Twentyfourthday?
Fourth Day in Faery

The adventurers make good time riding their faery-mounts, and by the time they are all beginning to feel saddle-sore Drift announces they are near the edge of the Lonely Woods. "We've got perhaps a half mile to ride before we enter it proper," he says, "but I advise we camp here and wait for the morning before we go in. The Lonely Woods are not safe at night-time, for mortals or faery-folk."

: 1d6 4

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"I've been thinking. Perhaps we make this a bit of a combination between a heist and an assault. We split into two groups...one creates a diversion, assaulting a part of the Holding. The other moves quickly inside to rescue the princess.

Two problems I see:

1. We do not know exactly where the princess is being held, nor what kind of guard she will have.
2. We will be splitting our strength

As a start, what do you think of this split:
Assaulting the Holding:
Feargus
Gardo
Shmara
Ribar 4th level priest(Newton)
Wulfka 4th level fighter (Gardo)
Toma 2nd level fighter(Newton)

Saving the Princess:
Newton
Whifflespice
Svenn
Mardan Cy 1st level bard(Feargus)
Wilter 2nd level thief(Newton)
Goshawk 4th level fighter(Feargus)
Notai 4th level Ceres Brave (Gardo)

I am open to suggestions.