Galdric nods and lightly slaps Haj on the shoulder.

"It would seem so.  I don't see another alternative.  We need to learn what we can about our enemy and their defenses before we can come up with a viable strategy.  If I could do it myself I would, but unfortunately my skillset doesn't line up with the task at hand."

Galdric is going to hold position and wait for the scouts' report

Cal pulls out a kit from his pack, opening it you all see a plethora of makeups, prostetics, wigs. "If you want to look like someone else I can make that happen." He says this reluctantly, his movements slow like he's revealing something he obviously doesn't want to reveal.

"And as for communicating magically..." he in turn demonstrates both message as well as telepathy.

"I'm almost certain we could infiltrate them, it wouldn't be my first time doing such a thing."

Drax cocks an eyebrow at Cal's disguise kit, almost disdainfully. He thought using prosthetics still an effective way to impersonate someone, but he found he liked using his natural abilities better. 

"I agree. We should see what we can gleam from a scouting trip before we finalize anything," Drax says with a sniff.

((Waiting for the scouting trip))

Scouting trip rolls: Investigation, Perception, Survival.

2

15

12

Taya will remain with the backup group for the scout report, preparing a camp a little bit inside he woods, perhaps with views towards the road?

As the party neared the outskirts of Castle Daggerdale, a decision was made to send Bell and Haj ahead for reconnaissance.

Haj, with his acute understanding of stealth tactics, expertly led them forward, navigating through the surrounding trees and underbrush. Their movements were calculated and silent, blending seamlessly with the natural environment. The rest of the party remained hidden and on alert, trusting in Haj's skill to keep them unnoticed.

Positioned about 200 feet away from the castle, nestled within the shelter of dense bushes, Bell and Haj observed the scene unfolding before them. As the sun began to climb higher in the sky, casting its light on the ancient walls, they noticed activity within the ruins.

A ten figures emerged from within the castle — a mix of orcs and mercenaries, moving about the camp with a sense of purpose. The orcs, brutish and imposing, conversed with the mercenaries, pointing and gesturing to various parts of the ruins. They then began to patrol outside the walls.

Three pairs of mercenaries were busy setting up ballistas along the ruined walls. The ballistas, once in place, were positioned to cover the approaches to the castle, a clear indication that the castle's current occupants were on high alert for potential threats.

Finally a figure, distinct in bearing and demeanor, stepped out to survey the defenses. Bell and Haj recognized him immediately as Riggs, the leader of the band of mercenaries they had been tracking. He moved with an air of authority, inspecting the ballistas and conversing briefly with the mercenaries manning them. After a thorough survey of the setup, Riggs turned and disappeared back into the depths of the castle.

“Those ballistae are killers,” Bells whispers to Haj, “No patching up a hole, created by one of those bolts.”

”If we need to venture inside, stealth would be best, but perhaps not feasible for the whole group. Sabotage, maybe? We could spike the war machines? I’m game, I’d like to explore inside the ruins… I suppose we should wait for Cal to make contact, report our observations.”

(Investigation 22; Perception 20; Survival 5) 

Galdric is sitting in the camp thinking aloud to himself as much as to his companions.

”I’ve been thinking, perhaps there is a way to thin out the enemy ranks. We know they are all mercenaries, and as such are motivated mostly by the promise of coin. We know from the note that Haj found that they have not been paid yet. What if we send in a group of infiltrators like we’ve been thinking, but instead of attacking, they begin planting rumors. Perhaps that Riggs is hoarding gold or that there is doubt about the mysterious employer’s ability to pay. If these greedy killers believe their payment is in doubt, perhaps some would leave, or better yet, fighting could ensue within the fortress. That chaos could help our efforts tremendously.”

"I could certainly help with that, could plant the right suggestion into the heads of a couple of other mercenaries, have them spread rumors too. But I'd have to get close, and more or less alone for a little while" he mulls the idea around and then cautions "chance they'd resist it too, sometimes it doesn't stick."

He then looks around the camp wearily. "And for the record I've never tried to manipulate any of you with my uh... knacks. If you're worried" he seems to bracing himself again for an outburst of disapproval or horror at his particular set of skills the group has as of yet given him any real cause to expect. 

Quote from nightbird1219 >>

Galdric is sitting in the camp thinking aloud to himself as much as to his companions.

”I’ve been thinking, perhaps there is a way to thin out the enemy ranks. We know they are all mercenaries, and as such are motivated mostly by the promise of coin. We know from the note that Haj found that they have not been paid yet. What if we send in a group of infiltrators like we’ve been thinking, but instead of attacking, they begin planting rumors. Perhaps that Riggs is hoarding gold or that there is doubt about the mysterious employer’s ability to pay. If these greedy killers believe their payment is in doubt, perhaps some would leave, or better yet, fighting could ensue within the fortress. That chaos could help our efforts tremendously.”

Quote from Ravnodaus >>

"I could certainly help with that, could plant the right suggestion into the heads of a couple of other mercenaries, have them spread rumors too. But I'd have to get close, and more or less alone for a little while" he mulls the idea around and then cautions "chance they'd resist it too, sometimes it doesn't stick."

He then looks around the camp wearily. "And for the record I've never tried to manipulate any of you with my uh... knacks. If you're worried" he seems to bracing himself again for an outburst of disapproval or horror at his particular set of skills the group has as of yet given him any real cause to expect. 

 

 Taya listens to Galdric’s and Cal’s propositions, “These are really good ideas. Reducing their forces can only improve our chances when we have to confront them eventually. How could we get close enough to make your magic work, Cal? We would need a good reason for you to talk to them, so I don’t see any better way than what Drax had suggested earlier and go inside disguised as one of them. I just feel that this is a very big risk.” She starts walking up and down nervously. “The biggest problem is that we have so little information about their command structure and their goals that it is hard for anyone to pose as one of theirs. I don’t know which scrutiny you would hold up if it comes to it.”

Haj considers the options available now they have something concrete to work on.

"So there's 11 that we know of, and 9 of us, so the odds are better than before, although still not in our favour."

He watches for a short while longer, and then whispers to Bell "Stay where you are and keep watching the entrance. I'm going to move a little further off to the side, I want to see where those orcs are patrolling. If they have a patrol pattern we may be able to thin out their numbers without causing an alarm."

“If we strike quick and take one or two out of the fight… the act of surprise should give us the edge regardless. I can bolster our abilities once we’re in combat. Maximum four of us. Get a couple of lackies to run away or disarm themselves and we’re in good shape no? Our toughest fighter or two should focus on their boss. We can sweep up the weaker ones from there. It’s a simple plan, but it could work.” 

Horros chimes in to the others at camp. 

he continues, “it’s an old fort, there are bound to be weakness for us to exploit too.” 

“Softly, now, softly. Move with the grace of the desert fox.”

(Bardic Inspiration to Haj, presumably for a Stealth check).

Castle Daggerdale

Taking in the situation with a tactical eye, Haj assessed their odds and decided on a course of action. He whispered his plan to Bell, who nodded in understanding, staying put to keep a watchful eye on the castle's entrance.

Haj then began to creep closer to the castle, moving with a stealth that was almost ghost-like. His movements were careful and calculated, each step taken with precision to avoid detection. As he advanced, he blended seamlessly with the surrounding foliage, his keen eyes scanning the area for any signs of the orcs' patrol patterns.

From his new vantage point, Haj could see several groups of orcs and bandits circling the castle walls. They moved with a casual vigilance, their attention occasionally drifting, but always returning to the task at hand. Haj noted their routes and timings, looking for any weaknesses or patterns in their patrols.

His attention was then drawn to a particularly grim scene. A pair of commoners, chained and beleaguered, were being forced to dig a large pit under the watchful eye of a bandit. The pit had the unmistakable look of a mass grave, a chilling indication of the brutality and disregard for life that Riggs and his band exhibited.

Haj also observed that the defenses on the castle walls had been reinforced. Alongside the mercenaries manning the ballistae, goblin archers had taken up positions in makeshift towers outside of the castle. 

Haj watches for a while taking note of all he can see, and then returns to Bell's position, "Ok, I've seen what I need, let's get back to the others."

Bell and Haj return and brief the others:

"Here's what we've found:
There are a lot more than initially thought, 20+ whoever is inside.
At least 3 patrols so not a lot of time to take one out without being detected.
There's 2 watchtowers which could be taken out with a single shot, but if they're only wounded they could raise the alarm.
SW corner is the weak point as no ballista cover, also they seem to be expecting more trouble from the East.
Also there's at least 2 civilians that are being force to work, the two I saw were digging a mass grave."

Haj continues; "I have a couple of suggestions for how we proceed.

Option 1, we bypass the castle, carry on towards Snowmantle and maybe try to ambush them en-route. The downside of this option is that we don't know how long they intend to stay at the ruins, they looked like they were expecting to be there a while, and maybe expecting trouble.

Option 2, we harass them and try to whittle down their numbers and put them on edge. We could start by making attacks from the East as that seems to be where they are expecting trouble. One or two of us taking a couple shots at the bridge before retreating into the forest."

"How high are the castle walls?  Can they be climbed?" Galdric asks thoughtfully, the wheels obviously turning in his head.

Quote from nightbird1219 >>

"How high are the castle walls?  Can they be climbed?" Galdric asks thoughtfully, the wheels obviously turning in his head.

 "Possible, but with the patrols you wouldn't have long to get to the wall and climb it, and there's a fair chance of being spotted by the towers or the ballista crews."

"So it's viable to pick off their patrols to weaken their forces.. hit and run to thin the herd? Hmm but it might cause them to buckle down even more. If we wait for them to leave we'd have to deal with their full force potentially in open ground, that would be worse no?" Horros questions