"Ready to go when you guys are." Raven confirms, ready to move out the sooner the better.

Quote from skuk >>

I think we agree to march through and attack this afternoon, correct?

Elwin waited a moment before responding, "Well, I haven't heard any objections. I say we go with that."

You make your way as quickly as possible through the spring forest, Mindartis leading the way, directed by Flitterbug and the forest fey. You had hoped that more of the fey would join you as you traveled, but one dryad who joins the ranks informs you that they are too afraid of the gnolls and hags, and most of them have gone into hiding. You get only a handful of new fey followers.

Suddenly an elf drops from a tree branch in front of you. Nobody noticed him in his leaf-camoflaged outfit. (No, not even Raven!) He appears unarmed. "Nice day for a walk in the forest, with all your friends," he says. "Where would you happen to be going?"

"What does it matter to you," Mindartis growls, hand on his greatsword.

"You are frightening the game, trampling the forest plants we eat, and dropping horse and hyena dung everywhere," he says. "I must charge you a toll.  Two gold pieces seems fair, does it not?  Each." He looks at your hundreds of armed followers and grins.

"If you really want to charge us a toll," Mindartis says, "then you must also realize that we are on our way to stomp out the gnolls that threaten these woods. And you impeding that goal is, in my eyes, something that makes you just as guilty as the gnolls and hags. So are you really interested in taking that toll from us?"

"Are you an ally to the gnolls that are burning down the forest that provide your game?" Quentin asks pointedly not even waiting for a response, "If not then you won't charge as as we're about to eradicate them." 

"Weeeellll, that's different," says the elf.  "Could you use a little help?"

There is a rustling in the trees above, and you see elvish archers hiding among the branches--at least a hundred of them.  It looks like you have found some of the guerillas!

"Very much so," Mindartis nods to them, "Mindartis Liadon at your service. It would be a pleasure to serve alongside you."

Come, come Del uses his teacher voice Puffing and posturing helps no one. Can you trust our good faith friend Del asks the camo-elf and can we trust yours? We go seeking to help rescue folk. Do you need help yourself, or can you help us? We might recover more than two pieces of gold in the venture.

Del tries to tell, if this guy joking, testing us, desperate, what?... if he answers Insight 24

The elf bows and says, "I am Captain Garalm, head of this company of warriors. We have been fighting the gnolls, but do not have the numbers to take them ourselves. Perhaps between your army and our ill-trained but passionate  band, we can drive the gnolls out.  We had wondered why the gnolls were retreating within the stockade. I now must assume it's because they had word of the oncoming attack."

Elves begin to drop out of the trees like ripe fruit, and forest gnomes pop up out of trap doors, spooking some of the horses.

(Del realizes that the strange elf was testing them to see how they would react, before revealing his forces.)

Galanodel, Cantor Tosh Del continues introductions of the key players We did not really hope to get surprise, a force this big, but it is nice of the enemy to concentrate in the stockade for us. The hags and gnolls should expect a big attack, and we should give them one. But we'll want to add some twists to the assault if we can. What information do you have of their forces and defenses, Captain Garalm?

As we discuss tactics, Del will raise another point - not to be too concentrated in the main attack, to avoid big A's of E. Ideas for multiple breaches of the stockade? I can see some fighters polymorphed into mammoths; flying over; teleporting in. How many pixies with HRH Lord Q's Fools and otherwise?

Raven would be out ahead, scouting.  She would be surprised when the elf dropped down behind her position.  (Unless they managed to spot her already...)

Stealth: 12

Quote from DragonDenn >>

Raven would be out ahead, scouting.  She would be surprised when the elf dropped down behind her position.  (Unless they managed to spot her already...)

 

Stealth: 30

 

 Assuming they didn't spot her she would consider taking out this man who wished to make them pay a toll, then decide against it as the discussion turned to the archers joining the fight.

(30?  he totally never saw you. :D )

Since you have no questions or orders for the band of forest commandos, they simply follow along in your path as you move on through the forest.

10

Raven, roll perception.

((Del asked about forces and defenses))

(Oh, sorry, missed that!)

Garalm says, "For the most part, the gnolls seem to be pulling back inside the stockade today, as if they're expecting an attack.  There are still patrols, and the battle over the dam is still going on, but I'd say you have around 800 in the stockade on alert at the moment. They have destroyed the forest for about 500 feet around the fortress, so it will be difficult to march an overland army within range before being exposed to the hag spellcasting and the catapults.  Our spies have also said that the Grey Elf arrived during the night. I am not sure what tactics he will change or adjust, but he is a dangerous adversary on his own, in any case, if he remains for the battle."

Elwin grimaced. This wasn't going to be as easy an assault as he thought. The gnolls were definitely prepared.

"Well, on the plus side, the main force can serve as a distraction while those targeting the leaders can slip in from another direction more covertly."

Shaking his head, he wryly added, "They shouldn't miss a few hundred troops crossing an entire field of cleared ground. Probably cleared ground with traps, at that."

Five hundred feet, a minute under fire Del calculates That won't end well. Maybe a smaller faster group is the first attack rather than the other way round. How many can fly, or get flying mounts, or teleport more than a step? I can get 8 mounts for example. Or any other covering ideas?