RL will do in search of Augustin, Grimbald and Dar to find out what else can be done this afternoon/evening and to get an idea of the layout of the defences.
Are we all staying in the same location again this evening?
when its his shift for watch RL will wildshape into a wolf for the 2 hour shift so he has advantage on perception with hearing and smell. He will wake up who ever is on watch after him by putting a wet wolfie nose in the back of their neck.
Esa, in a huff that people seem to be doing more talking than actually doing, especially after all that planning, decides to scout on her own after casting invisibility on herself. She flew at top speed through the countryside, flying past abandoned farmhouses. At one of those she flew smack into an Iron Circle scout who was just rounding a corner. While he was wondering what hit him, looking around that maybe someone had thrown something at him, Esa had dusted herself off and took off again.
She was more careful after that, and easily slipped through the rings of scouts and guards, into the familiar village of Marl. Here, horror awaited. There were about two hundred Iron Circle soldiers of various types, but inside the Village Hall, it was carnage. Esa arrived, noted the numbers and types of troops, then flew through the window of the biggest building in the village. She entered just as the last of the prisoners was sacrificed on a makeshift alter, surrounded by a pentagram burned into the carpet around it. A priest of Asmodeus droned words that reverberated with power, and the screaming man's body appeared to shatter and reform itself, bigger, stronger, with long, barbed growths sprouting from his chin like some tentacle beard. A silver and gold-bladed glaive appeared in his hands, and he got off the altar and roared, raising his weapon. The priest spoke to the devil and it grunted, then it went into another room where Esa could see more of the creatures.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As fascinated as she was with finding out more about the summoning (she was very tempted to look at and copy the summoning circle as well as see what components were being used), Esa decided to keep looking around and pick up information. She exited the building and saw a huge man with close cropped red hair and beard giving orders. He had a small devil near him, halfling sized with wings and spines. There was a tiefling spellcaster talking with him and two other martial type leaders, and they were joined by the priest who had summoned the devils. The priest looked exhausted.
The large red-haired man was obviously in charge. Esa could see tattoos on his face, faded and blue. Not magical, she thought, more human tribal culture perhaps. He spoke in Infernal with the tiefling and the priest. He switched to common when talking to the others. Esa found out the following.
The tiefling was with a group called The Fell Court, also worshippers of Asmodeus but with a different agenda. They were based in Fallcrest, but a bunch of them were arriving from the north and hiding in a forest near Albridge. A recruited sympathiser from Albridge had been recruited to assist them. They were going to surprise attack Albridge from the north when the battle was underway and everyone was focusing south. The sympathiser from Albridge was able to give them vials of alchemist's fire, which they would use to burn the village to the ground, destroy the morale of the resistance, and give them divided attention.
Two armies of equal size would come from Dardun and Marl. Only the Marl army had devils. Twenty bearded devils would be sent in first, they are resistant to the damage of mundane weapons, so would likely break through and take the bridge in their first attempt. Then human troops would follow up and swamp the defenders.
Esa looked at the sky, it would be dark by the time she got back, and decided to make a move. She took off, but created a small cloud of dust that attracted the attention of the spined devil. Perception check (disadvantage) 8.
I can give you a comparison. You roughly have about the same numbers as the Iron Circle army. They don't know about the Woodsinger archers, which means they are not expecting what they can bring to the battle. Vakiel, who everyone is starting to realise has some knowledge about big battles thinks the Iron Circle are likely making a blunder, being far too confident they are fighting peasants who will break easily. Vakiel knows if you want to assault a stronghold - which the river and narrow bridge makes this a stronghold - they would need three times the numbers of defenders. The devils can easily swing the battle however in the Iron Circle's favour. Esa reports that the red-haired general thought it a certainty that his troops would be getting across the river.
Update: Just looked at the numbers. The Iron Circle have about 400 troops in the field, plus a number of devils, plus creatures like drakes, dogs, and iron dogs. The resistance have the same numbers, including the 50 Woodsinger elves. The Iron Circle have many advantages, but are overconfident. The advantages the resistance have is their position.
It is dark when the Albridge Avengers assemble and head north to find the members of this Fell Court and the sympathiser / traitor and stop their fiery assault on Albridge before it starts.
Grimbald warns them of the trap near the northern barricades on the King's Road and they go around the area, even though it is a little more difficult. Grimbald resisted the urge to wave at where he knows two unseen Woodsinger elf archers are watching the road and the trap.
"I hope the assassin isn't watching us right now," mutters Grimbald. "She'll know to avoid that area."
The party continues on for a while. The forest is on the left of the King's Road and farmland to the right. It is a near moonless night and grey clouds cover most of the stars.
DM's Note: Need a perception check from someone. Unless you have some better than average hearing or scent, you roll with disadvantage.
Grimbald hears some low voices just at the edge of his hearing in the forest. It is really dark in there. Anyone without darkvision is going to struggle. And make a lot of noise.
The party are currently on the King's Road, looking west into the forest where the low voices were heard. Behind them to the east are some fields and a scarecrow.
I am just rolling Stealth and perception checks below for when it comes in handy next. I'm assuming someone is helping the blind, heavy armour wearing paladin.
Stealth 6
Perception 4
Just before we enter combat I would like to use a bonus action to cast Shield of Faith (Bonus action, +2 to AC, Concentration)
Grimbald stealthily approaches a dark campsite, silent as a squirrel fart. He looks through a bush to see about a dozen tieflings. There is one armour and weapons, one more finely dressed than the others, another wears a kind of thick leather apron heavily stained and has a belt and bandolier with glass and ceramic vials, the others appear to be dressed in common clothes. There is a crate of bottles of some type, probably about two dozen, and multiple backpacks on the ground. The tieflings are talking softly with each other, eating, or sleeping. One appears to be on guard, walking around the perimeter of the camp, looking outwards. He passes by Grimbald's bush without seeing him.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Grimbald makes a mental note of of the appearance the finely dressed tiefling and places Hunter's Mark on them. (Hunter's Mark to shift to armoured tiefling if killed at any time)
RL will do in search of Augustin, Grimbald and Dar to find out what else can be done this afternoon/evening and to get an idea of the layout of the defences.
Are we all staying in the same location again this evening?
when its his shift for watch RL will wildshape into a wolf for the 2 hour shift so he has advantage on perception with hearing and smell. He will wake up who ever is on watch after him by putting a wet wolfie nose in the back of their neck.
When we get to the evening, yes, a different room. Grimbald will be on the roof.he'll take the midnight shift again
That's a good visual :)
Esa, in a huff that people seem to be doing more talking than actually doing, especially after all that planning, decides to scout on her own after casting invisibility on herself. She flew at top speed through the countryside, flying past abandoned farmhouses. At one of those she flew smack into an Iron Circle scout who was just rounding a corner. While he was wondering what hit him, looking around that maybe someone had thrown something at him, Esa had dusted herself off and took off again.
She was more careful after that, and easily slipped through the rings of scouts and guards, into the familiar village of Marl. Here, horror awaited. There were about two hundred Iron Circle soldiers of various types, but inside the Village Hall, it was carnage. Esa arrived, noted the numbers and types of troops, then flew through the window of the biggest building in the village. She entered just as the last of the prisoners was sacrificed on a makeshift alter, surrounded by a pentagram burned into the carpet around it. A priest of Asmodeus droned words that reverberated with power, and the screaming man's body appeared to shatter and reform itself, bigger, stronger, with long, barbed growths sprouting from his chin like some tentacle beard. A silver and gold-bladed glaive appeared in his hands, and he got off the altar and roared, raising his weapon. The priest spoke to the devil and it grunted, then it went into another room where Esa could see more of the creatures.
As fascinated as she was with finding out more about the summoning (she was very tempted to look at and copy the summoning circle as well as see what components were being used), Esa decided to keep looking around and pick up information. She exited the building and saw a huge man with close cropped red hair and beard giving orders. He had a small devil near him, halfling sized with wings and spines. There was a tiefling spellcaster talking with him and two other martial type leaders, and they were joined by the priest who had summoned the devils. The priest looked exhausted.
The large red-haired man was obviously in charge. Esa could see tattoos on his face, faded and blue. Not magical, she thought, more human tribal culture perhaps. He spoke in Infernal with the tiefling and the priest. He switched to common when talking to the others. Esa found out the following.
The tiefling was with a group called The Fell Court, also worshippers of Asmodeus but with a different agenda. They were based in Fallcrest, but a bunch of them were arriving from the north and hiding in a forest near Albridge. A recruited sympathiser from Albridge had been recruited to assist them. They were going to surprise attack Albridge from the north when the battle was underway and everyone was focusing south. The sympathiser from Albridge was able to give them vials of alchemist's fire, which they would use to burn the village to the ground, destroy the morale of the resistance, and give them divided attention.
Two armies of equal size would come from Dardun and Marl. Only the Marl army had devils. Twenty bearded devils would be sent in first, they are resistant to the damage of mundane weapons, so would likely break through and take the bridge in their first attempt. Then human troops would follow up and swamp the defenders.
Esa looked at the sky, it would be dark by the time she got back, and decided to make a move. She took off, but created a small cloud of dust that attracted the attention of the spined devil. Perception check (disadvantage) 8.
The spined devil cocks its head but decides it was nothing.
Esa follows the same route back, staying away from all buildings. An hour and a half later it is dark and she is back in Albridge.
Esa arrives back at camp, exhausted and her mind reeling from what she's seen. Mostly lost in thought, she goes in search of the others.
Are we going into long rest, do you want to do / investigate anything first?
Can we get a recap of approx numbers on our side please DM?
I can give you a comparison. You roughly have about the same numbers as the Iron Circle army. They don't know about the Woodsinger archers, which means they are not expecting what they can bring to the battle. Vakiel, who everyone is starting to realise has some knowledge about big battles thinks the Iron Circle are likely making a blunder, being far too confident they are fighting peasants who will break easily. Vakiel knows if you want to assault a stronghold - which the river and narrow bridge makes this a stronghold - they would need three times the numbers of defenders. The devils can easily swing the battle however in the Iron Circle's favour. Esa reports that the red-haired general thought it a certainty that his troops would be getting across the river.
Update: Just looked at the numbers. The Iron Circle have about 400 troops in the field, plus a number of devils, plus creatures like drakes, dogs, and iron dogs. The resistance have the same numbers, including the 50 Woodsinger elves. The Iron Circle have many advantages, but are overconfident. The advantages the resistance have is their position.
Also good leadership and better tactics can make a difference to both sides.
"So what's our plan?" As Grimbald inspects and prepares his hand crossbows.
Assault woods steal fire make it rain pain!
It is dark when the Albridge Avengers assemble and head north to find the members of this Fell Court and the sympathiser / traitor and stop their fiery assault on Albridge before it starts.
Grimbald warns them of the trap near the northern barricades on the King's Road and they go around the area, even though it is a little more difficult. Grimbald resisted the urge to wave at where he knows two unseen Woodsinger elf archers are watching the road and the trap.
"I hope the assassin isn't watching us right now," mutters Grimbald. "She'll know to avoid that area."
The party continues on for a while. The forest is on the left of the King's Road and farmland to the right. It is a near moonless night and grey clouds cover most of the stars.
DM's Note: Need a perception check from someone. Unless you have some better than average hearing or scent, you roll with disadvantage.
Grimbald (favoured terrain forest) 21
Grimbald hears some low voices just at the edge of his hearing in the forest. It is really dark in there. Anyone without darkvision is going to struggle. And make a lot of noise.
The party are currently on the King's Road, looking west into the forest where the low voices were heard. Behind them to the east are some fields and a scarecrow.
Grimbald is happy to scout ahead about 40-60 feet ahead. (darkvision umbral sight 90ft, invisible in darkness to those with darkvision )
I am just rolling Stealth and perception checks below for when it comes in handy next. I'm assuming someone is helping the blind, heavy armour wearing paladin.
Stealth 6
Perception 4
Just before we enter combat I would like to use a bonus action to cast Shield of Faith (Bonus action, +2 to AC, Concentration)
Grimbald stealthily approaches a dark campsite, silent as a squirrel fart. He looks through a bush to see about a dozen tieflings. There is one armour and weapons, one more finely dressed than the others, another wears a kind of thick leather apron heavily stained and has a belt and bandolier with glass and ceramic vials, the others appear to be dressed in common clothes. There is a crate of bottles of some type, probably about two dozen, and multiple backpacks on the ground. The tieflings are talking softly with each other, eating, or sleeping. One appears to be on guard, walking around the perimeter of the camp, looking outwards. He passes by Grimbald's bush without seeing him.
Grimbald makes a mental note of of the appearance the finely dressed tiefling and places Hunter's Mark on them. (Hunter's Mark to shift to armoured tiefling if killed at any time)
Hand Crossbow Attack: 22 Damage: 9
Dread Ambusher attack Attack: 22 Damage: 17
Bonus action off-hand crossbow Attack: 14 Damage: 6
then he will move 35 feet around