Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

Jinara tries go back to sleep (not sure if he will fall asleep or stay awake planning lol) and will wait for the morning to discuss with his comrades.

Jinara fights to stay awake as he furiously jots down notes but eventually falls asleep against Doom Tail, his notebook still grasped in his hand.  The party awakes to Find Jinara propped up sleeping soundly against Doom Tail.  Some of you begin packing your gear while others make breakfast as Jinara jolts awake energetically and begins to ramble.

"Slow down Jinara.  You're mumbling on top of talking in multiple languages.  We can't understand what you're saying."  Gaelin says as he he packs his bedroll into his bag.

"uh, oh. Sorry. Sorry. It's been a crazy night." Jinara says calming his nerves a bit. "Traes is the vital city. We need to focus our efforts there." He turns to Mucor (or Zinmaer. whichever is at breakfast) "Do you remember when we first met on the front lines? We attacked those trebuchets that were bombarding the operations camp? We face a similar situation, but larger seige weapons. Like towers larger (making hand gestures to present something super tall). Here is where it gets interesting. I know where their leaders will be." Turning back to Gaelin and Aryn (assuming she is there). "You two will cut the head of the snake while we chop the body into little pieces!!" he says with vigor. "Is there a way to get to Traes faster than 3 days??"

"There's probably a teleportation circle there but I'm not familiar with it.  When we arrive I can study it and retain it to memory.  If we live we can see if there's someone who can teleport us to Esterlin.  We could push the griffons a bit if nothin else."  Gaelin says reluctantly. 

(With your 10 hours of travel the past two days you could gather you are roughly 4-6 hours away depending on the weather and travel pace.)

Mucor would have turned and nodded to Jinara with a curious look. "Yes, I remember. I caused the earth to erupt under the weapon" The minotaur would say with a snort before scratching his head and causing spores to drift to the ground. "It sounds like you had a better dream last night than myself... I dreamed that a large mushroom was trying to eat me..." He would say with a grin.

"Can we eat first?  I'm all for killing but I like to kill on at least a semi full stomach whenever possible."  Aryn says as she jams a stick through a couple rabbits and lays them on the spit she's made above the fire.

"We still have to finish packing.  Let's eat quickly and be on our way."  Gaelin adds.

"We can definitely eat!" Mucor would say with a wide smile.

Zinmaer would have returned from mediation as he hears the group awaken from their slumber. "It sounds like if we don't make moves we could miss the fight. Of course we will need our energy so let's definitely eat to build our staying power for the fights to come."

You quickly finish packing while the food cooks and eat a large breakfast to tide you over for the long flight ahead. As you crest the trees you see the coast in the far distance.  You continue your ascent into the mostly clear skies scanning the horizon.  You can just make out the walled city of Traes over 30 miles to the southeast and head in its direction following the path of the large river.  Your griffons glide effortlessly through the air and the cool morning air still chills your faces and arms but as you press forward the sun rises and warms the air.  As you approach the city (10 miles/ 1 hour away) you can make out the battle formations and watch as the giant trebuchets begin their assault on the city.  Flaming barrels and large stones careen over and into the thick stone walls while massive siege towers slowly roll forward out of the protection of the tree line nearly a mile from the city.  The siege has begun.

You continue your rapid approach as the siege towers inch closer and closer to the battered walls.  From your elevation you can see the cliffs to the far east and the two rivers that combine in the center of the city before emptying into the sea.  Fires rage in various spots of the city as the trebuchets continue their bombardment.  The siege towers are now within 1000 feet of the wall and the city's defenses spring into action.  Catapults and trebuchets release volleys of stones and flaming clay pots.  One siege tower takes a direct hit and the stone rips open the right side of the tower before it collapses on itself.  You hear the horns of battle and thousands upon thousands of orcs, ogres, zombies and goblins rush forward towards the city in a seemingly never ending wave.  

(You would have time to decide your paths and split up before hand.  Once you let me know where you want to be I will send the actual battle maps for each location.)

Map: (not quite to scale in terms of siege engine locations, trebuchets are further back.  This is just for reference.)

Gaelin will ritual cast Telepathic Bond on all of the group and Valeera. (Since it's ritual can I cast it on the way to talk and again once we're closer so that we have at least 30-40 minutes of battle time to have the link?)  "What's the plan Jinara?"  Gaelin asks as they approach.

(@Jinara- Is it me and Aryn or Zinmaer and Aryn on the commanders?  I think I'd be more helpful on the towers or trebuchets with Fireball but I'm down for whatever you think is best.)

(@Xtra- this reminds me of Minas Tirith siege from LoTR)

(@ Gaelin. Thanks for the note. I reread and you're right, it's Zinmaer and Aryn who are on commanders.)

Telepathically "Ok. My vision was filled with Fireballs and Earth movement. This is a risk, but targeted strikes will show vital weaknesses. Gaelin, you, Valeera, and myself need to focus our fire power (pun intended lol) on the trebuchets. Mucor, your control of the ground will be vital against the towers. The right spell will cause them to crumble, but only you know what that spell is."

Jinara the looks at Aryn and Zin and says "Here is where things get cloudy and I need the group. I know you two (looking at Aryn and Zin) are meant to take out the commanders. In my dream, they appeared in a cloud of smoke, which makes me think teleportation of some kind. I am not sure how they are to get within the group of guards. Any thoughts?"

"I can cast Invisibility on one of them" Gaelin says.

(How big is the cliff? Are there any trees on it?  Could they approach from the cliff side and the griffons could fly them up to the side so the griffons are hidden by the cliff.)

"If you have any rope to spare we could drop from above using the griffons as our anchors.  I have 100 feet but I'd feel better coming from 150 feet above at least.  We'd have to approach from much higher using the sun to block us out of their view then drop elevation to the length of rope."  Aryn says

"That.. Is a lot of towers" Mucor would say as he pats the side of Stonewing. "I can cast erupting earth quite a few times with different levels of intensity. I just need to get within 120ft of the base of the towers... " The minotaur would say with a snort, extending his hand and pointing at the towers as he counts them in his mind. 

"We have a few hours of travel. One of you can take my Ring of Spell Storing. You need to connect with it, but once you do, Gaelin or myself can cast Dimension Door into it. Thoughts?"

(Oh shit that's a baller move)

"That would definitely work." Gaelin says as he casts the spell into the ring as well as a 1st level Healing Word.  "In case of emergencies use the healing spell.  It has a 60 foot range"

"I'll take it.  I'm quite familiar with the spell." Aryn says as she looks at her brother then turns to Zinmaer.  "Zinmaer, we'll fly high over the top of the cliff and once we're within 400 feet we'll need to be close together and we'll drop down right on top of em.  It messes with your stomach a bit but other than that it's not too bad." 

(Aryn will remove attunement from her bracers of archery.)