Zorg's Lost Souls III

     Wait, wait, wait, wait.  Remember, we're not just rushing in all storming the castle-like.  We want to lay back a bit to start.  

•      First someone has to keep an eye on the window for the sign that the hag is going to sleep.  This could take a while so the rest need to hang back so they aren't noticed.  We'll need Will or one of the kids to point out which window the moth jar is put in so we know which window to watch.  Then we could all take turns watching.  Depends on how long it takes, I suppose.
•      Secondly, did we pick who we want invisible to the hag?  I think I am the best choice as he not seeing me will really allow me to do a lot more damage with each hit but if the group thinks someone else would be better...
•      Thirdly, one the moth jar is put into the window, that person needs to sneak into the hag's bedroom.  Once this is done is when the kids should start sneaking out other kids.  I suppose quiet would be good for as long as possible but inevitably, I think, the hag'll get awoken and all chaos will break out.  Once that happens is when noise becomes irrelevant and our whole party rushes in to attack the hag.  I think the kids should still be rescuing kids or just plain escaping at this point, no reason to put them in danger?

     So, before we start, we need eyes on the window and the kids need their plan.  I assume they make up some kind of a plan?  The Treants... I'm guessing their best use is to help the kids stay safe?

     Mulligan speechifies in the Group Chat before they get any more than a holler close.  Nobody wants to tip of the hag and her forces before we are all in place.

((Blessing any any other short duration spells should wait until the moth jar is placed and someone is about to sneak into the Hag bedroom))

Greg repeats the plan out loud for the sake of those not in the telepathic group chat and also seconds Mulligan as a choice for the invisible.

He spends some time if able, rearranging his spells and preparing for a heist and battle 

Rowan is visibly bouncing with energy the closer they get to setting the plan off, he paces and his arms move around.

"Could we storm a castle later? Oh we will have to won't we, to rescue the frozen queen and all the others, and hopefully the unicorns," Rowan says, the words tumbling out.

He's ready to go, but it's unlikely he's going to manage going anywhere quietly.

Rowan does pop open the trapdoor and climb down to the ground, figuring the others will either follow or change the plan or something, though Mulligan is bound to let him know. He then proceeds to make his way a holler distance to get eyes on Loomlurch.

"I wonder what would happen if Will was who she saw first?" Rowan muses to himself as he looks at the Hag headquarters to see if he can get an idea of who's around.

Leaving the Little Oak treant-treehouse-fort, the group creep forward through the forest to within view of the hag's residence. The three living trees loom large in the clearing, growing up from the huge fallen log that forms the base of Loomlurch. From this vantage point, it's easy enough to see the window high in the third tree, where Granny's bedroom is, and where the jar of moths should appear.

While Mulligan watches the window, Will takes anyone else that wishes to come to do a quick recon of the site. From a safe distance, they are able to surveil the following:

- The goblins remain at the market (L2), including the pumpkin-headed one. Will confirms there are always goblins present.
- The rocking horse is parked in it's usual spot (L6).
- From watching movement and light changes in the various windows, the best guess is that there are children in the workshop (L4), the dormitory (L8), the sewing room (L9), and the textile mill (L12). Regular movement also passes between L8 and L12, which Will explains is probably the tin soldiers on patrol.

Will's usual plan is to have his gang create a distraction outside, and then for him to infiltrate and grab one child. This time however, he proposes a different approach. He will invade the textile mill, Sloane will try to get inside the sewing room from the garden balcony (L5) while Zennor will approach the dormitory via the garden stairs, and Bobi will ingress through the parlor (L3) to the workshop. This will simultaneously alert the entire place, hopefully confuse the defenders, and allow them to extract all the children at once. The three children appear very excited about being entrusted with their missions, and have full confidence in Will and the success of the plan.

After reuniting with Mulligan, the group wait some time before finally Mulligan spots the jar of moths being placed in the bedroom window (the yellow arrow at L16).

MAP

Before anything triggers off...

     Mulligan takes up a collection from the others of various coins and knickknacks that the Goblins may accept and suggests someone go to the market and buy just as many favors as they can.  Mulligan has only tried one of them so far but it had a seemingly random effect and he thinks if as many kids escaping had a treat first the pure riot of different effects could create even more pandemonium and chaos for anyone trying to stop or follow or otherwise interfere.  ((Plus I just want to make it as fun as possible for DM to describe 50 effects all at once.))

     Otherwise Mulligan has little to no interest in the rest of the plan except to strenuously remind Will and the others that nothing happens until the jar is put in the window and Mulligan sneaks into the room and covers the jar.  There can be no chaos or loudness or such before then or the hag may see the moths first...

     In preparation for his own plan Mulligan checks and double checks his belongings to make sure everything is strapped down and won't bounce or jounce or rattle or creek at in inopportune time.  He also carefully studies the tree going from the ground to the window, assessing it for climbability.  Mulligan is nimble but he doesn't have a climb speed so accidents could happen.  If he has any doubt at all about the east of climbing up to the window he will plan to use his last use of pixie dust to fly up to it instead...

((Speaking of the window.  It is open?  Closed?  Does Will or the kids happen to know which it normally is?  Do they have any idea if it opens smoothly or if it sticks and squeaks?))

     But basically Mulligan is hidden as far from the window as possible while still having a good sight of it and is ready to get to it about 15 minutes or so after the jar is put into the window.  Once inside and having covered the jar of moths with a cloth or sack or such he has ready for such purposes he will mentally signal over Group Chat that the kids can begin...  He expects them to alert the kids of this and then Mulligan just... waits at the ready.  Basically keeping his face in front of the hags face so that once she opens her eyes she cannot help but see him.

Rowan watches everything with great interest but when he spots the rocking horse he ventures "I think we should move the rocking horse while Mulligan gets into position. If the hag gets past everyone, she at least won't have that to ride away on."

Rowan is happy to take that task on and move the rocking horse off into the woods, primarily because he would like to ride it.

Greg stops Rowan for a moment, warning, "we don't know if she has imbued the rocking horse with sentience, it might scream as you move it, it might cause a scene. Will, do you know anything about the rocking horse? If Rowan could move it without being seen or causing a whole kerfuffle?" He too has thought about the rocking horse, if it is just a simple item then Greg imagines himself reducing the things size and stamping it into splinters, but Rowan is right, it could be useful to the group if stolen.

He also thinks about the children, perhaps a member of the group should follow each child and make sure that none of them are taken prisoner, but then who would fight the hag, the hag being delt with would inevitably free any imprisoned children anyway, right? The tin soldiers and the other guards having nobody to take orders from would make prisoners meaningless, right? He goes back and forth on these assumptions for a while but decides against mentioning his doubts. 

He looks to Will for a response. 

"Good idea, Rowan.  Do that and come back and join us."  Barria's eyes keep flicking back to the children.  Honestly, she was worried about them.  They usually just got one of the creatures to chase them, not all of the monsters at once!  And hopefully the children they are rescuing can help them also.  And... telling herself to calm herself down... surely they would just capture the children and not really harm them if they failed at this, right?  Obviously, they were useful to Granny. That last thought settled it and she moved on with the rest.

She joins G'Reg and Rowan to head towards the rocking horse at L6, then heads to the door at L11.  She listens at it knowing that this room was part of the patrol.

Perception: 12

Whispering to the G'Reg, "Should we attempt this door or try to climb over the log and go in through the room under Grannies (L13)?"

The movement from the trees surrounding Loomlurch assure the group that there are more than just regular trees in the vicinity now, and Little Oak quietly confirms that the treants have gathered, and are prepared to assist in the shelter and protection of any children that escape into the forest. With their rough plans in place, Will and the children sneak off into the forest to take their places, while the other members of the group make their final preparations and move off likewise.

--------------------------------------

Mulligan

 ---------------------------------------

Rowan, Barria, Greg

 --------------------------------------------

Let's get Stealth checks from everyone. I'll probably carry the results of these checks through until something sufficiently significant occurs that warrants a change, i.e. you are discovered, or you abandon stealthing.

No-one going to goblin market?