All of you stand inside the tree line. There is a large open clearing surrounding the hunting lodge. It is two stories tall with battlements on the roof. There is a circular tower on each corner. No windows are seen. A connected stable is on the left side of the building. The stable doors and front doors are closed. Movement is seen on the roof giving away a few guards.
The sun is setting. It will be dark in about an hour. It is still twilight at this point. The only sounds are those of birds finding the roosts for the night and the horses calmly cropping grass.
(I believe those of us that plan to stay visible are waiting on a response from the controllers of Gneuman and Trolkarl regarding the route of their invisible scouting lap.)
Gneuman and Ajax moved accordingly along the wood line. Plot a route directly (south?) towards the huts for investigation. If nothing of significance to report, continue on to main building.
Kragen looks over to Chadwick. “Is that our single to approach using the buildings as cover from the lodge?”, “I don’t see an approach in which we can have complete cover?” Shakes his head unsure.
There are 3 on the roof. Two orcs with axes and a human. In leather with a sword. The human has a bow and the orcs carry crossbows
It would take some ingenuity to deal with all three without noise. With the four staircases to the roof it here is risk for anyone up there.
Orcs will be strong, otherwise sleep would be nice. Gneuman using ki force to shove them over the wall has the same challenge with them being so strong, and that method I also has the potential for a good bit of noise, but imagining it puts a smile on my invisible face
We need to think of this in terms of imbalances. Right now, the roof is a strong position for them- elevated, with range capabilities and multiple staircases for reinforcements. And if we rush in carelessly, we will be fighting uphill to try to take it.
First, lets ensure we agree on our objective. Are we here to eliminate Alamnal quietly? Draw him out? Secure the lodge? Capture Alamnal or kill on sight? Let's define that, and then move our pieces with a purpose to the ends of our objective.
From my perspective, we kill Alamnal, take the lodge, and uncover what he was doing here. Starting with neutralizing threats on the roof without raising the alarm. Take control of the lodge's upper level quickly and decisively- before they can react. Then, continue to dictate the flow of the fight.
But I defer to others with more battlefield experience- Chadwick and Hoid and of course everyone else.
Are the guards at the towers/corners or roaming? If not roaming, can we get them marked?
Silencing (literally or figuratively) the guards on the roof seems like a useful step regardless of the endgame.
Silence area of effect is not large enough to cover two towers at once (as best I can tell).
Do the walls appear gnome scalable? If they are, Gneuman could ambush one of the guards. Remaining comments will assume that the walls are not readily scaled.
If we can distract the guards with something like a minor illusion that is interesting but not alarming, Hoid and Chadwick could charge and get up using jump and misty step to each engage a respective guard. Ranged attacks could focus fire on the third guard. Hopefully this would take out all guards in one round. Silence could help if we think someone will be too noisy.
Alternatively, if we can generate a distraction, we could rush the front door. If we do this, having someone invisible try the door first to see if it is locked would be prudent. This might be useful regardless.
Yes, but I got a direction wrong. Edited one.
All of you stand inside the tree line. There is a large open clearing surrounding the hunting lodge. It is two stories tall with battlements on the roof. There is a circular tower on each corner. No windows are seen. A connected stable is on the left side of the building. The stable doors and front doors are closed. Movement is seen on the roof giving away a few guards.
The sun is setting. It will be dark in about an hour. It is still twilight at this point. The only sounds are those of birds finding the roosts for the night and the horses calmly cropping grass.
(I believe those of us that plan to stay visible are waiting on a response from the controllers of Gneuman and Trolkarl regarding the route of their invisible scouting lap.)
Starker casts Invisibility on Trolkarl and Gneuman. Ajax remains invisible.
Gneuman and Ajax moved accordingly along the wood line. Plot a route directly (south?) towards the huts for investigation. If nothing of significance to report, continue on to main building.
Those of you in the tree line briefly see Ajax become visible, shielded from view of the lodge by the buildings. He then disappears again.
The sun is setting and the evening approaches.
Kragen looks over to Chadwick. “Is that our single to approach using the buildings as cover from the lodge?”, “I don’t see an approach in which we can have complete cover?” Shakes his head unsure.
"We hold until the scouts report back...or the fighting and fires start."
An unseen Trolkarl calls everyone together
There are 3 on the roof. Two orcs with axes and a human. In leather with a sword. The human has a bow and the orcs carry crossbows
It would take some ingenuity to deal with all three without noise. With the four staircases to the roof it here is risk for anyone up there.
Orcs will be strong, otherwise sleep would be nice. Gneuman using ki force to shove them over the wall has the same challenge with them being so strong, and that method I also has the potential for a good bit of noise, but imagining it puts a smile on my invisible face
Let’s summarize tools we have for dealing with guards, either from below or to get up quickly. Things I can think of:
- silence to cover a yell or noise from a scuffle (Kragen)
- long bows (Hoid, Chadwick)
- Hoid can jump up
- misty step up (Chadwick, Trolkarl)
- sleep (Starker)
Misty Step would be to the top of the battlements.
"Did you explore inside the huts too?"
Kragen says to the group. “Additional options is Hold Person at 60’ with a Wis save. L3 spell can target 2 humanoids.”
Keep in mind that many of these require visibility of the target. That is unlikely from the ground.
The huts all appeared abandoned. We did not go in or do an in-depth search on them.
"The next time I have the chance to grab a ballista I'm taking it," Chadwick mutters
"Trolkarl, what about sending in that Fey to cause destruction inside?
How stout is that front door? Think a lighting bolt would take it out?
Could Ajax drop oil on the roof, then we ignite it with flaming arrows?"
A lightning bolt to the front door is premature. We don’t even know if it is locked.
Trolkarl still unseen, in a lowered voice
We need to think of this in terms of imbalances. Right now, the roof is a strong position for them- elevated, with range capabilities and multiple staircases for reinforcements. And if we rush in carelessly, we will be fighting uphill to try to take it.
First, lets ensure we agree on our objective. Are we here to eliminate Alamnal quietly? Draw him out? Secure the lodge? Capture Alamnal or kill on sight? Let's define that, and then move our pieces with a purpose to the ends of our objective.
From my perspective, we kill Alamnal, take the lodge, and uncover what he was doing here. Starting with neutralizing threats on the roof without raising the alarm. Take control of the lodge's upper level quickly and decisively- before they can react. Then, continue to dictate the flow of the fight.
But I defer to others with more battlefield experience- Chadwick and Hoid and of course everyone else.
So, there you all stand. Evening is coming on. The birds are quieting in the trees. A gentle breeze blows, rustling the leaves.
It is a cloudless night with Selûne at a crescent in the sky. Somewhere up there, in the Tears, a group of Illithids plot your demise....
Are the guards at the towers/corners or roaming? If not roaming, can we get them marked?
Silencing (literally or figuratively) the guards on the roof seems like a useful step regardless of the endgame.
Silence area of effect is not large enough to cover two towers at once (as best I can tell).
Do the walls appear gnome scalable? If they are, Gneuman could ambush one of the guards. Remaining comments will assume that the walls are not readily scaled.
If we can distract the guards with something like a minor illusion that is interesting but not alarming, Hoid and Chadwick could charge and get up using jump and misty step to each engage a respective guard. Ranged attacks could focus fire on the third guard. Hopefully this would take out all guards in one round. Silence could help if we think someone will be too noisy.
Alternatively, if we can generate a distraction, we could rush the front door. If we do this, having someone invisible try the door first to see if it is locked would be prudent. This might be useful regardless.