Narz, your familiar changes form into a spider and managed to crawl through a cracked in the stone. Unfortunately it does not go unnoticed, as a cat inside the keep seems to take interest. Before the familiar is killed, or rather dispelled, it manages to see a woman in fine dress chastising one of the guards, ordering him to ensure the safety of a prisoner. 

Nadia, there's not a lot out here that will help but you could potentially make some camouflage for yourself and the party. You'll have to get dirty and move slow but you may be able to get close enough to the keep without drawing attention that way...maybe.

Nadia took Claire's idea into consideration, but when Zack alludes to them possibly disposing of the real duchess, her lips thinned into a frown. "Yeah... He has a point there unfortunately. If only we took something off her to prove it to them... Maybe they wouldn't think to mess with us and just give her to us..." Her eyes go back onto the keep. "About the only idea I have is camouflaging ourselves with dirt and earth to get close enough to maybe sneak inside, unless Narz's friends found another way...?

"So this is all a no to my idea of distracting them then?" Rollo says as he watches.

"I wouldn't call it a no, and so much eh addendum to that plan, if anything. Unfortunately, my eye on the inside was spotted by a cat of all things while trying to be inconspicuous. Before their unfortunate departure back to their home plane, they were at least able to confirm the lady of that their building was on the second level at the time. But so long as that beast is on the prowl, I would not be able to guarantee gaining further intel than that." Narz admits, and as he slumped his shoulders adds, "This is right this is, eh?"

Zack shakes his head to Nadia's comments too. No, after they just kicked our asses even if we had proof they'd doubt we could do anything. So maybe if it was our first try but now thye know they can beat us (or atleast think they can because they did once) And no Rollo it's not a no, but you're trying to charge in before the scouting's done. We now know that there's someone in the tower, but that's not much to go by. We need to wait just a little longer, once we know if there's other doors to the fort itself, and get a count on the soldiers, we can plan. Because right now, we only know the one door. 

I no longer have my ram.. I can't summon it like I can my sword.

So as far as we know, the fort only has one entrance, its walls are all twenty feet high, we have no ladder, there's no close tree's, they can pelt us with missiles. We have no idea how many people they have, and they'll be on alert for atleast a week. If we just blindly charge in without a plan, we'll just meet the same resistance that we did last time.

However... if you really want to just Hail Mystra.... Rollo and I can, together, charge the gate and ram one side.. the side I already took down, because even if it was repaired, repair is never as strong as the original, outside of magic. 

So .. if we're goign with that, Nadia will need to summon her healing spirit near the door so we can heal fro mthe immediate injuries... or Claire can summon a wind wall in a way that will shield us at the door and we all cluster there.. then when the door falls, we rush in, just know we'll be surrounded the moment we do, regardless. I don't see us remaining 'hidden' for long even if we do make it in, considering the guards, their alertness... Once we're inside, we can head straight for the tower the woman is in, since I doubt she's a warrior and we may be able to use her for leverage... maybe. 

So which will it be? Wait for scouting and form a more informed plan, or hail Mystra?

 "Personally, respectfully, I would give sending in another spy another try despite the drain of resources and pesky opposition, if it were up to me." Narz admitted, then raised a finger. "But, as this is your mission, I differ to the rest of you on this matter. I would only suggest if we were try this method, I may be at least somewhat suited to further hamper the guards on the wall. As I do know a spell that aught to twist at least one of their minds enough to turn friend into foe."

"And, I can do this from a considerable distance of over a hundred feet, provided I can see them. I also have this crossbow, and if we act quickly enough, the hawk and raven familiars that can provide a small distraction as deemed necessary. As well as act as a go between. But I would stress, again, respectfully, that if an attack is to be done, that it would be preferably sooner than later."

"I'd be exhausting my most powerful spells... but if we can make a hole in the gate again, I could stir the plants to impede the guards while leaving a path open for us straight to the tower.  Once we dash inside, I could block the entrance with that wind spell.  That should at least cut off the outside guards from the inside."  Claire suggests.

Zack took everything into consideration. They at-least knew where someone who looked important was.. who knows it may even be the duchess herself treated as a 'prison guest'... 
He wanted to scout more, but Narz insisted if they were going to rush to 'just do it' basically. Allright then, lets just press in. Make the 'stupid' move, as it'll be the one they least expect. And once we're inside, we have the advantage of tunneling them. So lets do it. Me and Rollo will charge the gate, and together, we will smash the side I tore down the other day. Narz's pets can waylay their archers to atleast make it harder for them to hit us... and as we approach, he can do whatever spell he just mentioned to further sew confusion or atleast try to...  Once we breach the gate, we can rush for the tower with Narz pointing it out, And whenever Claire intends to use her skills she can. We'll have to run as a group, or this won't work with a trickle in... 

I doubt the  tower door will be locked, but just in case.. Rollo and I should also try to slam it down so we don't waste time risking the knob only to find it so. So... Lets do this in thirty seconds...  he said giving everyone the chance to say 'no' but if in that time He'd stand up, taking a few breaths to ready himself for a 'run' with Rollo and himself initially leading the charge to the gate.

Rollo grins and begins to let the anger overwhelm him. He stands to run as well. "If they start shooting try to stay behind me. Remember, I can take it." 

(Sounds like Zack and Rollo are going to dash towards the gate. Anyone else who has an action they'd like to do go ahead and declare it even if its just dash. And then everyone can roll an initiative check as well. So just to be clear next round of posts should have a declared action/initiative roll if there's any questions etc let me know.)

"Not a fan of running in, but it may be best since the door has been weakened significantly. Hopefully it doesn't take too much for you guys to bring it down. I'll be supporting you guys best way I know how," Nadia says, gesturing over her shoulder to her bow. "I'll send off my spirit when you guys get to the door for immediate healing so Claire can hold onto her healing spells for if we get really badly injured. If I play my cards right, I should be able to cast it twice."

Had there been any complaints or advise, she listens, and when they were ready, she gets out her bow and gives a nod in affirmation to the group. 

(When things kick off - Nadia will cast Healing Spirit when Rollo and Zack get to the door, nearby for them to dip into when they need it. She's gonna keep her distance until they bring down the gate.)

Initty: 14

Claire leaves her horse behind.  "Sorry Midnight.  Gonna have to have you sit out of this one."  Then she stands ready with the others.  "I'll throw a flame at the gate as we arrive to weaken whatever repairs they've done."  She also readies herself to take guards' positioning into account as they breech the wall, to make sure whether plant growth would be worth casting to impede them or not.

Initiative: 20

Narz only real response is a grin and nod. He would still follow at a distance from the others until he found a tree or hill for some cover. But from there and at the very edge of his range, hawk and Nadia's friend friend fly in to distract the archers ahead of the runner. While the hawk could only sqwak and flutter about, the Raven outright mocks the archer's from behind, yelling "Baby, Baby, Baby Men~ Little, Baby, Baby Men~ Bahahahaha!"

As all of that is unfolding, Narz looks about until he caught sight of a guard poking their head to far. Preferably one dumb enough to even admonish the bird for calling him a baby man. Once a target is in sight his eyes glow orange as an arcane sigil appears encircling his eyes. Every paranoid thought, irrational anger, and resentment is twisted and amplified in the target to the point that there was nothing but enemies all around him! Enemies, perhaps, that he should deal with before they trouble him even a second more!

Initiative: 5.

Action: Cast Enemies Abound(Int 14) on first enemy archer visible at the gate from 120ft away.

Hawk Familiar's Action: Distract Archer's for Nadia (if she decides to shoot).

Raven Familiar's Action: Be a general distractions with Mimicry for the Archers.

Rollo gives a wicked grin and begins a headlong charge. As he goes he lets his anger bubble over inside him and connects with the carved bear totem that he has around his neck. Once he's close enough that he's sure the guards have noticed him he lets out a loud war cry, hoping to distract them from Zack.

BA: Rage

Action: Dash

Initiative: 12

As everyone seems to be for the plan, he taps Rollo's shoulder so they can both be moving at the same time. And as the pair dash down the way he looks for where the door is, and tries to match Rollo's pace. As they're running, at the cost of a little breath, he does say, just to make sure it was clear We both gotta hit the door At the same time, after that we push in. 

Action: Dash

Init: 14

 Zack and Rollo push forth heading straight for the gate. It doesn't take long for one of the guards to notice and call out to his friends. Soon multiple guard are on alert but the two familiar pick two guards closest to the gate to start harassing. One of the guards aims his crossbow at the pair ready to fire when suddenly he seems to realize that there are already enemies within the walls. Panicking he turns to shoot one of these intruders. The shot goes wide but it seems to have caught the others off guard, confusing them enough to distracted them from the incoming threat.

Rollow and Zack make it to the gate just before a small mote of fire sent by Claire crashes into it. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to help much but who knows. Nadia soon casts her healing spirit which quickly envelops the pair in its healing energy ready to support them as needed.

Initatives to follow.

Nadia, V9,V6,V7, Zack, v3, V8, R, V2, V4, Narz, V10, Claire.

Zack and Rollo are at the gate. The gate seems to be barricaded with furniture. There's enough furniture to count as full cover so you cannot be shot from the courtyard while at the gate while its closed. People cannot shoot directly down at you either. There is only space for the two of you however.

Claire is about half way to the gate and wall. Would take all your movement to get there. There is no other cover around you so you are out in the open.

Narz and Nadia are kep at a distance. They will need to dash to get to the wall or take two movements. They don't have access to cover but can retreat back to the tree line quickly if needed. 

Nadia is up

Nadia keeps herself at a distance, eying the guards at the top like a predator to its prey. Slowly, she takes an arrow from her quiver and pulls back the string readying up a shot.

OOC: Assuming I can at this distance (Oathbow has a 150ft range, but if I can't from where I'm at, I'll move closer), the ready trigger will be if the guards at the top try shooting at Claire (or Rollo or Zack, somehow?), she will shoot right back.

I believe this is also at disadvantage so I'll roll as such!
Attack: 13 Damage: 5

Nadia readies her bow, taking aim at one of the guards ready to fire. Three more guards rush to the the gate on top of the wall and ready their crossbows (unable to actually fire this turn so...) Zack is up 

Zack see's that the distractions are working properly, and with Rollo's help, he attempts to shoulder-check the door....

Chiropractic Roll: 24

Perhaps Claires mote of fire weakened the wood more than expected, or perhaps  Zack just found the weakest point of the structure by mere chance, or maybe the repair was shoddy at best. Regardless, between Zack and Rollo the gate it pushed open and the furniture that made up the barricade simply tumbles over. Several of the guards sigh in annoyance 

From above one of the guards, still bearing injuries from the previous fight, fires his crossbow at Claire. The bolt misses and hits the mud at her feet. Unfortunately for him Nadias arrow isn't inaccurate and he soon finds her arrow in his shoulder despite his extra cover.

V8 sees the gate fall and curses as he draws his sword and rushes down the stairs and into.the courtyard, making it to the wall granting him full cover from ranged attacks  but putting him in a position to engage with anyone coming through the gate.