Wilberforce isn’t particularly reassured by these statements and at this point wishes he could turn into something that could fly. He asks ‘And what would be the target good gnome? Are we just trying to create a distraction? I assume that we aren’t trying to take on the whole army.’

"We could start with the soldiers over on the cliff maybe?", Than says. "Obviously we can't destroy their entire army but they can't march on the village as confidently with the threat of things (or people; consider it!) raining down on them, right?"

"So, as amazing as your contraption is Than, doesn't this tower have any warmachines that can rain down fire and brimstone on that army as it approaches. You have a perfect spot here overlooking the pass towards the town gate. Maybe we can use your gnomeflinger to fling something unhealthy upon those soldiers on that cliff?" Daryan suggests, giving the gnomeflinger a worried look.

Shagrin looks about the roof top with a sour expression. "Daryan, did you see any siege engines amongst the invaders?" 

"Yes, I did, several. I would think it would be hard to move them here quickly though, especially considering we had to move through the forest to reach their encampment, but nonetheless we must expect them to be here later today." Daryan answers grimly. "Trying to sabotage or at least slow those siege engines would be good though, well, if we are trying to put up a defense at all that is."

Shagrin scratches his chin as he takes in the information. "Hmmm.." He murmurs contemplatively. "We should go inform Lady Becklin."

"Yes, let's let Lady Becklin know," Calitynia says.  She looks to Darrett. "Do you know where we can find her?"

She then steps over towards Than. "This is a remarkable invention. I'm sure we'll find a way to make use of it.  If we were to use it to put us in position somewhere..."

Here she turns to start addressing the rest of their group. "What would we target? Will the soldiers near the gate hinder evacuation? If so, that should be priority.  I think hitting their seige equipment is good.  But if we are flung into the midst of their army, how would we get out?  I do like the idea of damaging their equipment then getting out though."

Wilberforce sits down and spreads out his map. He calls over to the others ‘So the army is coming from the North here. If the people are going to Kalaman, I assume that they are leaving by the docks to the south as that is the way we came into the city from Kalaman?’ He looks around for confirmation. ‘The mayor wanted a distraction until nightfall, so about 5 hours, to get everyone out. Now it seems like the people are the deer and the army is the wolf pack. That makes us Alpha-Deer. Now the Alpha’s don’t have to kill the wolves, they just have to delay them to allow the herd to get away. If we were Alpha’s we would strut about, scare individual wolves and bring attention to ourselves for as long as possible, to distract the wolves from the herd who is running away. But what works with wolves and might not work with armies.’   

The white-haired half-breed listens to the others, studying the map the old kender shows. "We must expect the advancing army to have mounted scouts that might hunt us down while the main force still closes in on Vogler. It would have to be something quite special to delay that army I fear." Daryan says grimly. "If we could take one of those soldiers on the cliff as a prisoner we might find out more about what we will be facing and maybe find a weakness that we can exploit." He suggests, looking at the others.

Shagrin nods his head, furrows his brow and purses his lips as he listens to all the suggestions. He then turns and heads down to find Lady Becklin determined to finalise A plan of action.

From up atop the keep you can see that the messenger is still waiting for your response at the north gate, but is clearly losing patience. The soldiers up on the cliff are keeping watch of the gate down below.

Darrett lets you all know that Becklin is helping to organize the evacuation down at the wharf. Who is coming along with Shagrin to the wharf, and who if anyone is going off to do something else?

Wilberforce turns to Than and asks ‘Well good gnome, you certainly know your stuff better than I. Your machine certainly seems distracting, but I worry that some of us would be filled with arrows or javelins before we could land. Tell us truthfully, how likely is it that we would all land alive and how is it better than just chucking rocks at them and climbing the cliff.’

Seeing the shield dwarf leave, Daryan glances over at the solamnic knight, hoping she would decide how to deal with the messenger. "I suppose I could go down and try to stall her while you decide on a plan." He says with a grin, looking at Calitynia then looking serious. "If we try to take out those soldiers on the cliff we might as well try to stop the messenger too. I doubt that army will be able to get here sooner than nightfall anyway."

Calitynia glances over at Daryan. "The mayor evidently had no response she wished to give the messenger. That's her decision, not ours."  She sounds a bit annoyed, though more at the mayor than Daryan it seems. "I'm... not sure about 'taking out' the messenger.  I mean...  well..."  She seems to be struggling with competing ideas in her head. "Well, a messenger ought to be given some deference.  I guess detaining them would be fine, but not killing them." 

She sees Shagrin heading down to the wharf to find Becklin. "Think I will join you sir," she says, quickly moving to catch up to him. "Best to get her advice." 

Daryan shrugs to Than. "Better wait with starting to throw things at them before we get approval from Lady Becklin and the mayor." He says to the gnome, then quickly following the solamnic knight and the shield dwarf. "I understand the two of you would prefer clear orders from your superiors at any give point but there may come a time when we are alone on the battlefield and will lose precious time in wait for that and simply have to act." He says in a polite tone to Shagrin and Cali as they make their way towads the wharf. "That said, I too will heed Lady Becklin's decision."

"Since we aren't out in the field, but rather in Vogler, then yes, I will defer to the rightful authority here," Calitynia says in response to Daryan as she continues to follow Shagrin. "As far as speak to Becklin, I just want to have an idea of the evacuation plan so we can best help with a distraction."