"Balgron, I believe the bloody seal in the mountain IS the landmark! I'm not as experienced as you, but I've never seen anything like it. An ancient and evil place in a mountain top highlighted by a red light struggling against massive restraints is bound to draw attention. And 4,000 years is a LONG time for mere mortals. I bet every local has at least heard tell of this place. There are probably legends, if not myths that reasonable folk doubt are true, about the infernal prison we seek to liberate our Masters. We should inquire at the village. We are surely almost there."

On the horizon you see a silhouette of a town, but even better a band of traveling merchants carrying with them their goods and pack animals.

Balgron's eyes turn to the supplies, and looks to see if any of them are armed before turning to the others.  "Well, it looks like our supply train has arrived.  The Dark Lords have truly blessed us.  Are there any objections or plan?"

"Let usss take out the guardsss firsst. The merchantsss might have information asss well asss goodssss" Otho hisses. He eyes up how many of them seem to be experienced fighters.

"There is more than a good chance - if we saw the merchants; they saw us.   And, in these times, they have protection."  Synntax looks about for any shrubberies or rock formations which might provide concealment.  "Anyone here exceedingly stealthy or able to shape shift into a bird or something to go check things out?"

Peering intently ahead, he tries to figure out where he can be best positioned to utilize his skills and spells.

Perception check:  6

Quote from Kol_Drake >>

"There is more than a good chance - if we saw the merchants; they saw us.   And, in these times, they have protection."  Synntax looks about for any shrubberies or rock formations which might provide concealment.  "Anyone here exceedingly stealthy or able to shape shift into a bird or something to go check things out?"

Peering intently ahead, he tries to figure out where he can be best positioned to utilize his skills and spells.

Perception check:  6

 You see just the silhouettes and even that is splotchy.

"And THIS is why I am not some skulking, scouting Ranger," Synntax swears in disgust.   "Come what may, at least we will give them a run for their money - literally!"

Balgron shakes his head, and wonders what use his companions will be in the future.  The darklords brought them together for some reason.  "I will see if I can get closer by stealth and report back"

stealth 18

perception 12

Quote from Burgen_Badluk >>

Balgron shakes his head, and wonders what use his companions will be in the future.  The darklords brought them together for some reason.  "I will see if I can get closer by stealth and report back"

stealth 18

perception 20

 You see they have 12 mules with their back loaded with huge supplies. Enough to fill your party for a month. The guards have padded leather armor and shortsword along their hips. theirs 5 of them and they all ride horses. No one sees you.

Balgron brings the news back to the others.  "There are five guards, mounted.  A full load of supplies, enough to keep us for a month assuming we don't sell.  We will have to kill them all or they will warn the next village.  In fact I suggest we don't bring the full train into the village if we take it in case anyone recognizes the markings.  The risk is great, as we will be outnumbered and they are mounted.  Perhaps we wait until tonight to see if we can take them while they are asleep"  

*if you are going to wait until dark roll for stealth.*

"I must ask this, what are you capabilities?  Can you move stealthily in the night?  Or disguise yourselves?  Enchant the enemy?  Put the watch to sleep?"

Synntax grimaces. "I can be a little stealthy in a pinch.  And I can see pretty well in the dark.  No disguises or shapeshifting though.  And, I guess... a little zap or fire, maybe."

"Perhaps we could attempt at reasoning with them?" Mirk thinks aloud, though the entire group has a small chance of being able to do that together. "I'm afraid to admit that fighting isn't exactly my forte, but I will do my best if it comes down to it." 

"Waiting till nightfall could be detrimental as well, if they travel off our path," she continues. "But then again, it would aid any kind of stealth or disguised we might need."

"We need a way to even the odds, they would have a clear advantage fighting us from horseback. I like the idea of surprising them at night; full-frontal assault isn't my specialty. My talents are more in the realms of performance, deception, & persuasion. Using song to provide heroism and a healing word to my allies, or viciously mocking an enemy. I am proficient with disguises and poison. Perhaps Mirk & I can approach them during the day, 2 traveling minstrels, without any protection in these dangerous times, on the way to the village looking to trade some entertainment for a night spent at ease amongst their well-guarded caravan. We could create a distraction with a performance, persuade them to post a weaker than usual night watch, charm a guard or two, all the while you other 3 use stealth & surprise to pick off as many guards as possible without a full skirmish. Maybe you could find a way to steal & mount their horses yourselves or draw them away from their camp so Mirk & I can follow to surprise them with a blade or bolt from behind before we turn our attention to the merchants and their goods."  

"I do not have much offenssive capabilitiessss. I can heal and trap people. I can try and catch mossst of that group within vinessss to hold them sssstill until they break out. And I am not bad with my sssstaff. But I am not the mosssst sssskilled of fighterssss."

(Otho hasn't got much combat ability at level 1, but once we get to level 2 it will be better with wildshape/subclass)

"Warlock here and just starting out,"  Synntax pointed to himself.  "I have one or two tricks or zaps, but nothing earthshaking (yet).    Give me some distance and a clear line of sight and I can zap a couple.   Or, in a pinch, maybe three with some fire if they are lined up?"  The tiefling sighs heavily.  "Maybe we should go kick a stray pet to prove how 'bad' we are?"

"Hmmm, I like the plan, have Mirk and Vethys infiltrate them as traveling minstrels.  The rest of us make our move at one hour past midnight.  If you can subdue the night watch so much the better, but we will come at this time regardless.."  Balgron nods at the plan.

Vethys pulls a hidden digger out of his sleeve & runs a finger along the razor sharp edge. "Excellent, strike at 1 hour past midnight & we will weaken our unsuspecting host as much as we are able. Are we all in agreement?" 

Everyone who is not mirk and vethys, roll stealth. Mirk and vethys roll persuasion