"Good idea, Delvindra, honey!" Duwamilly seems excited at the idea "We (and me in particular, considering how I fooled him as soon as we met) should be perfect as bait".
"I could even send Firion an insulting message with the Sending Stone, showing off confidence and making fun of him because he couldn't stop us..." the ex-preceptor giggles "That scamp is powerful, but not always too wise. He might lose his clarity and focus on us more than on anything else".
"What about the spell that you used to duplicate yourself? Are you able to have the copies spread out? I think it would be too dangerous for us to split up for real but if we could distract the enemy and divide their attention with illusions..."
"Oh, no, it's not possible" Duwamilly explsins. "The illusory duplicates constantly stay near me... I can invoke a single duplicate of a different nature who has a little more freedom... but it can go only a few steps away from me, still not very far".
Delvindra's tail coils around her leg and her face hardens into grim determination.
"Then we have to do it, unless we're content to just hide in the castle while other people fight and die for us."
Her bow to Lord Akkron drips with formality and submission.
"This is your kingdom, your battle, but I believe we can help turn the tide. If we place ourselves somewhere where we might be expected to unexpectedly hide, or where our powers might seem to be a useful defense, Firion might not guess at our true purpose. Once he's 'found' us and sent in the bulk of his forces to capture us we can 'flee' towards whatever ambush you have made ready."
She rises, a devilish smile on her lips, "let him chase us until we've caught him."
Very well... he says after a moment. If you wish to fight openly, then you could simply fight here at the fortress... I do not doubt that Firion and his fanatics will come in full-force if everything he wants is in one place, which will in turn divert his attention from the civilians who live here. As most of you are casters, you could provide some additional magical backup to troops. Zander and Cal would also be valuable on the front lines, though I am somewhat reluctant to put two of the items Firion wishes to capture into the most vulnerable position on the field...
He pauses.
But... perhaps it would be better for you to fight in a more enclosed space. I have no doubt that the cultists will come with many dragonnels, and possibly a few true dragons as well, so denying them the areal advantage may be key to success... it may be best to try to draw them into the catacombs. Some of the space is being used as a safe haven for civilians, but there is a vast network below our feet and thus there would be almost no risk of bringing the fighting to them by accident. I do not know for sure if Firion himself will come after you or if he will try to fight me here, but either way splitting their forces could give us the edge we need...
"We will force them to give you that edge, then!" Duwamilly approves, enthusiastically "Better still if you know a spot in the catacombs where the ceiling could collapse easily, My Lord! Delvindra, here, is quite a fiery kid - if we locate a spot where one of her explosions can cause the ceiling to collapse over our enemies, we will have an even greater advantage!"
"In any case, even if nothing of the kind exists, forcing the invasion forces to fight in the narrow spaces of tunnels they don't know should give us a good advantage" the ex-preceptor is convinced. "I believe we can do it".
Having listened to the lengthy converstion with nothing much to add, Yasmina nods in agreement with Milly. "Facing the enemy in the catacombs sounds like a good plan. Do we have any idea of when they will be coming or should we stay on constant alert from now on?" She asks the Lich.
Most likely we have 48 hours until the bulk of their forces arrive based on where they were last spotted and how quickly they are moving, the lich says. But there is a distinct possibility that a smaller force will arrive ahead of them to try to soften up our defenses. If that is their plan, we can likely expect the strike team in 24 hours or less.
"Well, it still seems like enough time to find a place in the Catacombs to organize our resistance" Duwamilly comments. "Do you want us to go and explore on our own, My Lord, leaving you free to worry about other things? Or do you already have some good places in mind and are quick to show them to us?"
I will send a guide with you, the lich says after a moment. The dead know the catacombs well... so I shall send one of them with you to lead you safely through the tunnels. I would advise you to avoid interacting with any undead you find in the catacombs.
He reaches under his cloak and pulls out a large amulet.
So long as you have this in your midst, most of the undead on the island will leave you alone if you show them the same courtesy, he explains. It will suppress the aura of life that draws the undead and provokes their wrath... but do not let your guard down. Most undead are mere shadows of their former selves motivated entirely by instinct, but there are a few more dangerous creatures on the island which will not be fooled.
(Is there anything else that any of you would like to do before setting up your ambush in the catacombs? If not, Lord Akkron will call upon the services of a phantom warrior to guide you safely through the maze of tunnels. If you wish, you may also bring up to three soldiers with you to help with the ambush)
Duwamilly, as far as military details are concerned, trusts the 'kids'... She will not request the accompaniment of the military herself - but neither will she object if that will be asked by others.
'Grant me but a fraction of thy wit, Garl. It is all one could need' the cleric prays privately, fully trusting in the assistance of the benevolent gnomish deity.
"Fear not, My Lord," the ex-preceptor smiles "we already have enough enemies in the invaders... we will not actively search for more in the catacombs!" and she is ready to be guided by the ghostly escort.
During thet trip, Duwamilly will try to get acquainted with it, by the way - asking things like: "Hello, I am Duwamilly 'Planewlaker' Gerinell, ex-preceptor and current friend of Lord Matic Akkron! You as is your name?" "How come you wander the world as an undead? Are you afflicted by a curse?" "How long ago did you live?" "May I know how you died?" and so on...
Delvindra will also be disinclined to endanger any of the soldiers by bringing them along.
Hesitant at first, if none of her companions takes responsibility for the proffered amulet, Delvindra will take it and immediately offer it to Yasmina.
"Until you can call on Lord Amir again, you're the most vulnerable among us,"she offers by way of explanation.
On her way into the catacombs she does her level best to ignore Duwamilly's prattling, interjecting only to whisper that it may be rude to inquire when she asks their guide why they are undead and how they died.
Yasmina listens attentively to the Lich's suggestions and accepts the amulet handed her by the Tiefling with a curious look. "Well, at least I am the one they won't even find."She retorts with a sly smile, pulling the hood of her cloak up and disappearing from sight. "And thank you for your offer Lord Akkron but I think we will do without the help of your soldiers." The now disembodied voice of the Half-Elf says.
Stealth: 14 (Disadvantage to notice) Perception with help from Al-Asfeh invisible on shoulder: 18
Unknowingly to the others the red-haired Half-Elf would roll her eyes as Milly starts chatting with their undead guide, but she does not interfere, instead quietly following along, occasionally tugging playfully at the Tiefling's sleeve to reassure her she is still there.
The spirit isn't nearly as talkative as Lord Akkron. Granted, that's probably in large part because he doesn't have nearly as much to talk about. He was once called Marlin, but his memories of his mortal life are mostly lost to time. What remains is his duty: to protect the island and those who call it home.
The spirit leads you several miles away to the remains of an ancient chapel, and from there he shows you a long spiral staircase leading into the tunnels beneath the island. As you enter the darkness, the musty air is nearly suffocating, heavy with the scent of dust and decay.
There are two types of locations that could be used as possible battlegrounds:
1) A burial chamber at the end of a long hallway. This location will make it impossible for more than two of the cultists to attack you at once, and it would be relatively easy to set up traps in the hallway, but it would be in a very enclosed space with no way to retreat. The mummified remains of diplomats, priests, and other prominent individuals are still within these burial chambers. Because of the amulet Yasmina was gifted, they will not react with hostility due to your presence alone, but they may be angered if there is a battle in their final resting place. If you choose to use a burial chamber, the safest thing to do would be to find a way to relocate or dispose of the mummies before the cultists arrive.
2) A large cavern with a high ceiling. This cavern has several exits and entrances, which would give you more options if you feel that it is necessary to retreat, but also makes it easier for the cultists to attack from multiple angles. The bones of commoners litter the ground in these caverns, and their spirits drift lazily above their remains. Like the mummies, they are not going to be immediately hostile towards you, but might get agitated by a violent confrontation. How they might act when agitated would be unpredictable; most of them would probably attack the cultists, but there is a distinct possibility that some of them could turn on you as well.
(What Yasmina sees with her Perception check depends in part on which battleground the group chooses to utilize, as the burial chambers of the wealthy are well away from the caverns where the paupers were laid to rest)
"The most important thing is not allowing the items to fall into Firion's hands. If we make a last stand in the burial chamber then there's only two options. Total victory or total defeat..."
"Unless... Milly, do you still have a use of your portals remaining? If so, then we still have an escape route available. One where Firion's followers might not be able to pursue us..."
She turns to Duwamilly and Yasmina, "I say we go to the burial chamber. If the battle starts to turn against us, the two of you have to make sure that at least some of the artifacts escape Firion's reach. Between the cube and Lord Amir you should be able to defend yourselves and avoid Firion until you and Lord Akkron comes up with a new plan."
She turns to Cal and Zander, "For our part, we'll escape with them if we can but, if it comes to it, we have to hold the line until Milly and Mina have made their escape."
She gives Cal a nod, there's no question in her heart that the paladin will stand and fight until the others are safely away.
"If we have to flee, Zander should fall back first. Then Cal. If I go last I can unleash a fireball into the room behind us. If Firion thinks we died in the blast it will buy us even more time to regroup."
Duwamilly still converses with Marlin as much as she can, sincerely interested (both out of curiosity and empathy). She is relieved that he doesn't seem to resent his fate. 'Maybe some people just aren't meant to retire' she finally concludes.
"I would prefer the burial chamber too" the gnome cleric approves. "Thanks to Lord Amir, I only used one Cube charge - so I have two more available, more than enough to allow us an emergency retreat. So, we might as well choose the battleground that allows us the best defense".
"Even more so if we can somehow relocate the mummies into the corridor!" the ex-preceptor points with her wand "So the invaders will be forced to disturb their rest... and face their wrath. We would have allies at no cost".
"I think that we dying in a sudden explosion of flames not caused by his minions, is something Firion will never believe, Delvindra, honey" the Duwamilly muses. "So, if you want to throw the fireball as a final farewell during an eventual retreat, go for it... but don't expose yourself to unnecessary risks by doing so. It would not worth the trouble".
(Just popping in for a quick reminder that, even though Milly can open her gate, they have proven to be unstable thanks to the 'Blight' upon this island, as mentioned in post #988. In other words, there is a chance that a portal could snap shut prematurely).
(I can't speak for everyone, but that's a risk that Delvindra is willing to take as long as it means some of the Accursed escape. Honestly, if it comes to that, some of us are probably already dead or dying.)
Well... I remember, but I also remember that the portal did close prematurely, but still not very soon... we will have a round (probably more than one) to flee. We ahould not need more than that.
"Good idea, Delvindra, honey!" Duwamilly seems excited at the idea "We (and me in particular, considering how I fooled him as soon as we met) should be perfect as bait".
"I could even send Firion an insulting message with the Sending Stone, showing off confidence and making fun of him because he couldn't stop us..." the ex-preceptor giggles "That scamp is powerful, but not always too wise. He might lose his clarity and focus on us more than on anything else".
"What about the spell that you used to duplicate yourself? Are you able to have the copies spread out? I think it would be too dangerous for us to split up for real but if we could distract the enemy and divide their attention with illusions..."
"Oh, no, it's not possible" Duwamilly explsins. "The illusory duplicates constantly stay near me... I can invoke a single duplicate of a different nature who has a little more freedom... but it can go only a few steps away from me, still not very far".
Delvindra's tail coils around her leg and her face hardens into grim determination.
"Then we have to do it, unless we're content to just hide in the castle while other people fight and die for us."
Her bow to Lord Akkron drips with formality and submission.
"This is your kingdom, your battle, but I believe we can help turn the tide. If we place ourselves somewhere where we might be expected to unexpectedly hide, or where our powers might seem to be a useful defense, Firion might not guess at our true purpose. Once he's 'found' us and sent in the bulk of his forces to capture us we can 'flee' towards whatever ambush you have made ready."
She rises, a devilish smile on her lips, "let him chase us until we've caught him."
(Sorry I'm slowing down a bit again)
The lich nods.
Very well... he says after a moment. If you wish to fight openly, then you could simply fight here at the fortress... I do not doubt that Firion and his fanatics will come in full-force if everything he wants is in one place, which will in turn divert his attention from the civilians who live here. As most of you are casters, you could provide some additional magical backup to troops. Zander and Cal would also be valuable on the front lines, though I am somewhat reluctant to put two of the items Firion wishes to capture into the most vulnerable position on the field...
He pauses.
But... perhaps it would be better for you to fight in a more enclosed space. I have no doubt that the cultists will come with many dragonnels, and possibly a few true dragons as well, so denying them the areal advantage may be key to success... it may be best to try to draw them into the catacombs. Some of the space is being used as a safe haven for civilians, but there is a vast network below our feet and thus there would be almost no risk of bringing the fighting to them by accident. I do not know for sure if Firion himself will come after you or if he will try to fight me here, but either way splitting their forces could give us the edge we need...
"We will force them to give you that edge, then!" Duwamilly approves, enthusiastically "Better still if you know a spot in the catacombs where the ceiling could collapse easily, My Lord! Delvindra, here, is quite a fiery kid - if we locate a spot where one of her explosions can cause the ceiling to collapse over our enemies, we will have an even greater advantage!"
"In any case, even if nothing of the kind exists, forcing the invasion forces to fight in the narrow spaces of tunnels they don't know should give us a good advantage" the ex-preceptor is convinced. "I believe we can do it".
Having listened to the lengthy converstion with nothing much to add, Yasmina nods in agreement with Milly. "Facing the enemy in the catacombs sounds like a good plan. Do we have any idea of when they will be coming or should we stay on constant alert from now on?" She asks the Lich.
Most likely we have 48 hours until the bulk of their forces arrive based on where they were last spotted and how quickly they are moving, the lich says. But there is a distinct possibility that a smaller force will arrive ahead of them to try to soften up our defenses. If that is their plan, we can likely expect the strike team in 24 hours or less.
"Well, it still seems like enough time to find a place in the Catacombs to organize our resistance" Duwamilly comments. "Do you want us to go and explore on our own, My Lord, leaving you free to worry about other things? Or do you already have some good places in mind and are quick to show them to us?"
I will send a guide with you, the lich says after a moment. The dead know the catacombs well... so I shall send one of them with you to lead you safely through the tunnels. I would advise you to avoid interacting with any undead you find in the catacombs.
He reaches under his cloak and pulls out a large amulet.
So long as you have this in your midst, most of the undead on the island will leave you alone if you show them the same courtesy, he explains. It will suppress the aura of life that draws the undead and provokes their wrath... but do not let your guard down. Most undead are mere shadows of their former selves motivated entirely by instinct, but there are a few more dangerous creatures on the island which will not be fooled.
(Is there anything else that any of you would like to do before setting up your ambush in the catacombs? If not, Lord Akkron will call upon the services of a phantom warrior to guide you safely through the maze of tunnels. If you wish, you may also bring up to three soldiers with you to help with the ambush)
Duwamilly, as far as military details are concerned, trusts the 'kids'... She will not request the accompaniment of the military herself - but neither will she object if that will be asked by others.
'Grant me but a fraction of thy wit, Garl. It is all one could need' the cleric prays privately, fully trusting in the assistance of the benevolent gnomish deity.
"Fear not, My Lord," the ex-preceptor smiles "we already have enough enemies in the invaders... we will not actively search for more in the catacombs!" and she is ready to be guided by the ghostly escort.
During thet trip, Duwamilly will try to get acquainted with it, by the way - asking things like: "Hello, I am Duwamilly 'Planewlaker' Gerinell, ex-preceptor and current friend of Lord Matic Akkron! You as is your name?" "How come you wander the world as an undead? Are you afflicted by a curse?" "How long ago did you live?" "May I know how you died?" and so on...
Delvindra will also be disinclined to endanger any of the soldiers by bringing them along.
Hesitant at first, if none of her companions takes responsibility for the proffered amulet, Delvindra will take it and immediately offer it to Yasmina.
"Until you can call on Lord Amir again, you're the most vulnerable among us," she offers by way of explanation.
On her way into the catacombs she does her level best to ignore Duwamilly's prattling, interjecting only to whisper that it may be rude to inquire when she asks their guide why they are undead and how they died.
Yasmina listens attentively to the Lich's suggestions and accepts the amulet handed her by the Tiefling with a curious look. "Well, at least I am the one they won't even find." She retorts with a sly smile, pulling the hood of her cloak up and disappearing from sight. "And thank you for your offer Lord Akkron but I think we will do without the help of your soldiers." The now disembodied voice of the Half-Elf says.
Stealth: 14 (Disadvantage to notice)
Perception with help from Al-Asfeh invisible on shoulder: 18
Unknowingly to the others the red-haired Half-Elf would roll her eyes as Milly starts chatting with their undead guide, but she does not interfere, instead quietly following along, occasionally tugging playfully at the Tiefling's sleeve to reassure her she is still there.
The spirit isn't nearly as talkative as Lord Akkron. Granted, that's probably in large part because he doesn't have nearly as much to talk about. He was once called Marlin, but his memories of his mortal life are mostly lost to time. What remains is his duty: to protect the island and those who call it home.
The spirit leads you several miles away to the remains of an ancient chapel, and from there he shows you a long spiral staircase leading into the tunnels beneath the island. As you enter the darkness, the musty air is nearly suffocating, heavy with the scent of dust and decay.
There are two types of locations that could be used as possible battlegrounds:
1) A burial chamber at the end of a long hallway. This location will make it impossible for more than two of the cultists to attack you at once, and it would be relatively easy to set up traps in the hallway, but it would be in a very enclosed space with no way to retreat. The mummified remains of diplomats, priests, and other prominent individuals are still within these burial chambers. Because of the amulet Yasmina was gifted, they will not react with hostility due to your presence alone, but they may be angered if there is a battle in their final resting place. If you choose to use a burial chamber, the safest thing to do would be to find a way to relocate or dispose of the mummies before the cultists arrive.
2) A large cavern with a high ceiling. This cavern has several exits and entrances, which would give you more options if you feel that it is necessary to retreat, but also makes it easier for the cultists to attack from multiple angles. The bones of commoners litter the ground in these caverns, and their spirits drift lazily above their remains. Like the mummies, they are not going to be immediately hostile towards you, but might get agitated by a violent confrontation. How they might act when agitated would be unpredictable; most of them would probably attack the cultists, but there is a distinct possibility that some of them could turn on you as well.
(What Yasmina sees with her Perception check depends in part on which battleground the group chooses to utilize, as the burial chambers of the wealthy are well away from the caverns where the paupers were laid to rest)
"The most important thing is not allowing the items to fall into Firion's hands. If we make a last stand in the burial chamber then there's only two options. Total victory or total defeat..."
"Unless... Milly, do you still have a use of your portals remaining? If so, then we still have an escape route available. One where Firion's followers might not be able to pursue us..."
She turns to Duwamilly and Yasmina, "I say we go to the burial chamber. If the battle starts to turn against us, the two of you have to make sure that at least some of the artifacts escape Firion's reach. Between the cube and Lord Amir you should be able to defend yourselves and avoid Firion until you and Lord Akkron comes up with a new plan."
She turns to Cal and Zander, "For our part, we'll escape with them if we can but, if it comes to it, we have to hold the line until Milly and Mina have made their escape."
She gives Cal a nod, there's no question in her heart that the paladin will stand and fight until the others are safely away.
"If we have to flee, Zander should fall back first. Then Cal. If I go last I can unleash a fireball into the room behind us. If Firion thinks we died in the blast it will buy us even more time to regroup."
Duwamilly still converses with Marlin as much as she can, sincerely interested (both out of curiosity and empathy). She is relieved that he doesn't seem to resent his fate. 'Maybe some people just aren't meant to retire' she finally concludes.
"I would prefer the burial chamber too" the gnome cleric approves. "Thanks to Lord Amir, I only used one Cube charge - so I have two more available, more than enough to allow us an emergency retreat. So, we might as well choose the battleground that allows us the best defense".
"Even more so if we can somehow relocate the mummies into the corridor!" the ex-preceptor points with her wand "So the invaders will be forced to disturb their rest... and face their wrath. We would have allies at no cost".
"I think that we dying in a sudden explosion of flames not caused by his minions, is something Firion will never believe, Delvindra, honey" the Duwamilly muses. "So, if you want to throw the fireball as a final farewell during an eventual retreat, go for it... but don't expose yourself to unnecessary risks by doing so. It would not worth the trouble".
(Just popping in for a quick reminder that, even though Milly can open her gate, they have proven to be unstable thanks to the 'Blight' upon this island, as mentioned in post #988. In other words, there is a chance that a portal could snap shut prematurely).
(I can't speak for everyone, but that's a risk that Delvindra is willing to take as long as it means some of the Accursed escape. Honestly, if it comes to that, some of us are probably already dead or dying.)
Well... I remember, but I also remember that the portal did close prematurely, but still not very soon... we will have a round (probably more than one) to flee. We ahould not need more than that.
Cal says, "I am more than happy to hold the line."