"That sounds fine by me. I've got a few things that I've remembered that I'd like to puzzle out, and I don't think walking through the night would help with any of that."
Naivara nods and goes to rejoin Kierro and Latrius, "They... um well, I think I confused them. But if we can hurry with your errand tomorrow morning we might be able to meet up with them to talk before they go to Neverwinter."
To the "locals" Mylene asks, "Brun, Walter, I'd like to know more about the Redbrands. I have a nebulous concept of the group's capabilities and function, but it seems I need a bit more information in order to plan our next step. I gather the Redbrands are, ahem, a local 'private militia' not tied to a specific regional ruler, is that essentially correct? What is the public face of the group? In essence - are they openly criminal, or is there a legitimate business front? You can speak candidly. It's an easy enough matter to establish a legitimate front. A bit of Red-Brand e-Branding could be in order. Is the group local specific to the Phandalin region, or are there more remote branches? Also, what of The Spider? Speak freely, you'll face no judgment from me."
"The redbrands are thugs." Walter says with a shrug. He nods to Brun. "No disrespect meant, but that is what they are." He glances to Mylene again. "I have never met this Spider before, but he is some sort of local power that uses the redbrands for keeping Phandalin under his thumb. He probably has other groups elsewhere, but the redbrands are local to Phandalin."
"No offense taken." Brun agrees with a shrug. "Glasstaff is the only one who knows anything more about The Spider." Brun informs Mylene. "We use a sending stone to contact him and get our orders, but only Glasstaff has the stone and only he has met The Spider." He considers things. "For what the Redbrands are considered in Phandalin, Walter has it correct, they are looked at as thugs and worse. When people speak against them, those people go missing and are usually dumped into a rift we have in our base, where a eye-creature has a lair."
You move on down the road, heading towards Conyberry. You reach the town without any issues and find a place that is nothing but ruins. Not a single building is intact and it is ancient, only foundations and a few walls standing.
It is also late evening. Do you wish to continue on to the Banshee's place now or wait till morning.?
You head West and travel several hours, reaching, then passing, the road north to Old Owl Well. Higgul points it out to you as you pass. You soon need to make camp or risk exhaustion.
"There is a good place to camp just ahead." Higgul informs the group. "I use it when I don't want to spend the night in town for whatever reason." He leads you a bit further on down the road, then off into the woods about 100 feet to the North, to a small campsite. "I'd suggest setting watches, as this area is not exactly without dangers, but we should be ok as long as we are watchful."
"That's all good and well for establishing strength and control by fear, but it's short term, and doesn't allow for an organization with long-term growth potential," Mylene says. "Is Phandalin an independent city-state, or part of some larger kingdom or barony? Who controls the town? Cowing local villagers and the occasional nosy adventurer is a simple enough matter, but if Phandalin is part of a larger government, or has allies, eventually word could get back to those in authority, and then the entire organization is imperiled. Short term thinking, short term results. Thuggery has its uses for establishing a power base by respect and fear, but to keep a power base, and expand it, you need something more. Evolve from a 'gang' into organized crime.'"
She toys with a lock of golden hair, then asks, "Glasstaff is a magus and he reports to a distant patron. There's got to be a larger agenda at play than just pushing around some rabble. Has Glasstaff ever shared any long-term goals? Given any orders beyond throwing your weight around with the locals? On our return, I'll recommend at the minimum a bit of rebranding. Add a simple word and a business plan and it's not so easy to view the group as 'thugs' - they're re-framed as an 'important local power group.' How does The Red Brand Society sound? A Phandalin-based social club for ladies and gentlemen offering insurance services to local businesses and residents, for example, has a better ring than 'thugs collecting protection money.' Functionally it's the same, but image is everything." Mylene gives a wink and a hair toss.
"I will see what Glasstaff can tell me about the organization's goals, the Spider, and so on, but anything you all can provide on the group's actions to date, and on the politics of the region, would be helpful."
After pulling the dead bodies off of the road, they suggest you travel a distance from there, as animals will be coming to feast when it gets dark. Brun agrees with htis as does Walter.
You start heading West. What is your plan? The majority of the redbrands will not be able to keep up a fast pace, nor will they be able to push on into the night. You can ride the horses into the ground, and get back by nightfall, but that is up to you. At a fast pace you can probably get back, on horseback, within 6 hours, requiring con saves from the horses, the nag will definitely not survive it, the other three horses might. Doubling up riders will force a normal pace, and will require con saves for the horses still, but at a normal pace it will be 8 hours. The nag might make it with a normal pace, the others will make it and will probably just need to have some TLC to recover. Either way would mean leaving some of the redbrands behind to make it on their own after camping out that night.
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
The bugbears come to a stop at the top of a small ravine...
The faint smell of smoke hangs on the air as you ascend a rugged ridge on the lower slopes of the hill. Fifty yards away, a cave mouth opens up at the bottom of a ravine. Hunkered down by a boulder twenty yards outside the cave, keeping watch, is a single orc.
Vlune looks at you, clearly wanting to see what you do. Vlar is nearly drooling with his desire to attack, but holds back as he too waits for you to act. Montru steps into the trees and starts to move silently forward.
"I'm sure you were clear enough - this whole thing is confusing for everyone."
As the three walk towards Conyberry:
"You guys... what are your thoughts on the Redbrands? From what I've heard, they're definitely bad for the town. I want to help stop them, desperately, but I doubt you or the others would want to get involved in something like this. There's the adventurers who helped with the supplies, and I could ask Daran for some advice too, but..." he trails off. "...at the moment, I'm not sure I'd be able to help at all, especially with not knowing who the deity I served is, and not having a holy symbol of said deity."
Conyberry:
"Sounds good to me. There should be a foundation to sleep on so we're not on the ground." He replies to Latrius. Kierro helps set camp up and starts a fire if need be.
Looking around the campsite, and at the other members of the party, Sylcan shrugs and speaks up. "I don't mind taking some watch shifts. The rest of you need to rest longer than I do, anyways - and Vilana was hurt, I think. On top of that, I can see pretty well in the dark - and I've got my bow." Thinking to himself, Sylcan grins inwardly as his mind races to think of some enjoyable trick he might be able to pull with a night's worth of time.
"Are we better without a fire overnight?" Honor asks Higgul. "Is it likely to attract unwanted attention?"(Also is the weather nice enough to allow for this? I assume if it was the middle of winter someone would have commented when we first appeared without clothes.) Honor will help set up camp, and offer to help hunt if needed.
Given the composition of the group, more people than mounts, she agrees to distance themselves from the slaughter and find a safe place to camp overnight, rather than pushing the group, some of whom were wounded in the battle with the orcs, beyond their capacity. She reiterates the intent to regroup with Glasstaff via a inconspicuous approach, not visible by the majority of the townsfolk, when they do return. They will all return as a single unit, as the region has already proved treacherous.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tessa
Tessa noted the situation as Montru attempts to slink into the shadows. Tessa turns to regard the two male bugbears. "The play begins! Once I deal with the sentry lets see what the inside looks like. There should be enough fun for everyone." Tessa slips into the shadows and underbrush to approach the sentry.
Perception to spot Montru and any other sentries 22
Stealth to approach the visible sentry 18
Tessa draws abreast of Montru, and playfully pinches her backside as she slips past. She motions for her to wait one moment as approaches the sentry alone.
After sneaking within striking range of the lone orc, Tessa strikes at him with a dagger.
Attack 25, Damage 8, Sneak Damage 6
Bonus Attack <if needed otherwise will fade back and hide>
Bonus Attack 17, Damage 1
Or
Stealth to fade back from the orc sentry dispatching 23
Tessa noted the situation as Montru attempts to slink into the shadows. Tessa turns to regard the two male bugbears. "The play begins! Once I deal with the sentry lets see what the inside looks like. There should be enough fun for everyone." Tessa slips into the shadows and underbrush to approach the sentry.
Perception to spot Montru and any other entries 15
Stealth to approach the visible sentry 28
Tessa draws abreast of Montru, and playfully pinches her backside as she slips past. She motions for her to wait one moment as approaches the sentry alone.
You spot Montru near the ravine bottom, but only as a shadow against some rocks. (You barely matched her stealth so just get a glimpse.) It is enough to locate her and she gives a muffled growl as you pinch her bottom, but seems more amused than upset.
You are easily able to slip up behind the inattentive orc.
"That's all good and well for establishing strength and control by fear, but it's short term, and doesn't allow for an organization with long-term growth potential," Mylene says. "Is Phandalin an independent city-state, or part of some larger kingdom or barony? Who controls the town? Cowing local villagers and the occasional nosy adventurer is a simple enough matter, but if Phandalin is part of a larger government, or has allies, eventually word could get back to those in authority, and then the entire organization is imperiled. Short term thinking, short term results. Thuggery has its uses for establishing a power base by respect and fear, but to keep a power base, and expand it, you need something more. Evolve from a 'gang' into organized crime.'"
She toys with a lock of golden hair, then asks, "Glasstaff is a magus and he reports to a distant patron. There's got to be a larger agenda at play than just pushing around some rabble. Has Glasstaff ever shared any long-term goals? Given any orders beyond throwing your weight around with the locals? On our return, I'll recommend at the minimum a bit of rebranding. Add a simple word and a business plan and it's not so easy to view the group as 'thugs' - they're re-framed as an 'important local power group.' How does The Red Brand Society sound? A Phandalin-based social club for ladies and gentlemen offering insurance services to local businesses and residents, for example, has a better ring than 'thugs collecting protection money.' Functionally it's the same, but image is everything." Mylene gives a wink and a hair toss.
"I will see what Glasstaff can tell me about the organization's goals, the Spider, and so on, but anything you all can provide on the group's actions to date, and on the politics of the region, would be helpful."
Brun just shrugs. "All I can tell you is that Phandalin is an independent mining town. I don't know about much of the rest. I'm just a simple soldier."
Walter grunts in amusement. "It is as he says. Phandalin was set up as a mining town, and has no real overlord. The town can call on Neverwinter for help, or some of the small villages around the area, but nothing much else. Plus Neverwinter would be unlikely to send anything unless the threat was dire enough to be a danger to Neverwinter itself." He shrugs. "As for who is in charge, they have a Townmaster, but he is a sniveling coward that will do whatever Glasstaff wishes."
You travel a ways back down the road, assuming at a normal pace. You reach the road that leads to Old Owl Well and set up camp near the juncture of that path and the Triboar Trail (the road you have been traveling on.)
She recommends watches in shifts, making use of bullseye lanterns to aid those without nightvision, the horses being tied, and camping off the main road. Beyond that she is open for suggestions for those more wilderness-minded. "I don't care for roughing it, and it's at some personal sacrifice, but I plan to return the entire group Glasstaff sent to back me up intact," Mylene says. "With the exception of the treacherous bugbears. Them running off with Tessa is still a matter that perplexes me, I just don't understand their agenda there. They didn't seem to have a prearranged compact with her, so it makes it seem entirely irrational, them biting the hand that feeds them, and intentionally disobeying an edict with nothing to gain but a small wild halfling that's of no value no anyone."
On Brun and Walter's observations on Phandalin, she covers her mouth with the back of her hand and laughs. "Well that answers itself, then. If the only real authority is the Townmaster, and he's already cowed by Glasstaff, we simply have him order it to be made official that the Redbrands are the recognized militia of Phandalin, and can act with the full authority of the Townmaster in all matters. Easy enough. The Redbrands effectively are the town militia as it is, this just makes it official. Another local militia overstepping its bounds and bullying the locals surely is commonplace in this era, yes? But far, far murkier, from a legal and ethical standpoint, for outsiders to intervene. Then we are the recognized authority, and standing against us is to stand against the town itself. I'll talk to Glasstaff about it when we return tomorrow. I'll deliver the edict to the Townmaster myself if he wishes."
After a moment of reflection, she adds, to Leto, "I am not abandoning our goal of finding our memories, far from it. But if the other Erased choose to act chaotically, without order or direction, then we can only count on ourselves. Getting a more secure local power base established, one that can last, and won't be torn down overnight, is to our benefit in this. We need resources to do that. This is simply the most logical approach available to us."
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Honor
"That sounds fine by me. I've got a few things that I've remembered that I'd like to puzzle out, and I don't think walking through the night would help with any of that."
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Naivara:
Naivara nods and goes to rejoin Kierro and Latrius, "They... um well, I think I confused them. But if we can hurry with your errand tomorrow morning we might be able to meet up with them to talk before they go to Neverwinter."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"The redbrands are thugs." Walter says with a shrug. He nods to Brun. "No disrespect meant, but that is what they are." He glances to Mylene again. "I have never met this Spider before, but he is some sort of local power that uses the redbrands for keeping Phandalin under his thumb. He probably has other groups elsewhere, but the redbrands are local to Phandalin."
"No offense taken." Brun agrees with a shrug. "Glasstaff is the only one who knows anything more about The Spider." Brun informs Mylene. "We use a sending stone to contact him and get our orders, but only Glasstaff has the stone and only he has met The Spider." He considers things. "For what the Redbrands are considered in Phandalin, Walter has it correct, they are looked at as thugs and worse. When people speak against them, those people go missing and are usually dumped into a rift we have in our base, where a eye-creature has a lair."
Naivara, Latrius, and Kierro...
You move on down the road, heading towards Conyberry. You reach the town without any issues and find a place that is nothing but ruins. Not a single building is intact and it is ancient, only foundations and a few walls standing.
It is also late evening. Do you wish to continue on to the Banshee's place now or wait till morning.?
Honor, Sylcan, and Vilana...
You head West and travel several hours, reaching, then passing, the road north to Old Owl Well. Higgul points it out to you as you pass. You soon need to make camp or risk exhaustion.
"There is a good place to camp just ahead." Higgul informs the group. "I use it when I don't want to spend the night in town for whatever reason." He leads you a bit further on down the road, then off into the woods about 100 feet to the North, to a small campsite. "I'd suggest setting watches, as this area is not exactly without dangers, but we should be ok as long as we are watchful."
Mylene - Brun - Walter
"That's all good and well for establishing strength and control by fear, but it's short term, and doesn't allow for an organization with long-term growth potential," Mylene says. "Is Phandalin an independent city-state, or part of some larger kingdom or barony? Who controls the town? Cowing local villagers and the occasional nosy adventurer is a simple enough matter, but if Phandalin is part of a larger government, or has allies, eventually word could get back to those in authority, and then the entire organization is imperiled. Short term thinking, short term results. Thuggery has its uses for establishing a power base by respect and fear, but to keep a power base, and expand it, you need something more. Evolve from a 'gang' into organized crime.'"
She toys with a lock of golden hair, then asks, "Glasstaff is a magus and he reports to a distant patron. There's got to be a larger agenda at play than just pushing around some rabble. Has Glasstaff ever shared any long-term goals? Given any orders beyond throwing your weight around with the locals? On our return, I'll recommend at the minimum a bit of rebranding. Add a simple word and a business plan and it's not so easy to view the group as 'thugs' - they're re-framed as an 'important local power group.' How does The Red Brand Society sound? A Phandalin-based social club for ladies and gentlemen offering insurance services to local businesses and residents, for example, has a better ring than 'thugs collecting protection money.' Functionally it's the same, but image is everything." Mylene gives a wink and a hair toss.
"I will see what Glasstaff can tell me about the organization's goals, the Spider, and so on, but anything you all can provide on the group's actions to date, and on the politics of the region, would be helpful."
Mylene and Leto...
Your redbrands find 20 greataxes
20 sets of somewhat damaged hide armor
92 copper
48 silver
31 gold.
After pulling the dead bodies off of the road, they suggest you travel a distance from there, as animals will be coming to feast when it gets dark. Brun agrees with htis as does Walter.
You start heading West. What is your plan? The majority of the redbrands will not be able to keep up a fast pace, nor will they be able to push on into the night. You can ride the horses into the ground, and get back by nightfall, but that is up to you. At a fast pace you can probably get back, on horseback, within 6 hours, requiring con saves from the horses, the nag will definitely not survive it, the other three horses might. Doubling up riders will force a normal pace, and will require con saves for the horses still, but at a normal pace it will be 8 hours. The nag might make it with a normal pace, the others will make it and will probably just need to have some TLC to recover. Either way would mean leaving some of the redbrands behind to make it on their own after camping out that night.
Latrius:
‘Latrius stops when they get to the ruins.
"I’d suggest we make camp for now, don’t really fancy meeting a banshee at night."
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Class Guides: Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Bard General Guides: PvP
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Tessa...
The bugbears come to a stop at the top of a small ravine...
The faint smell of smoke hangs on the air as you ascend a rugged ridge on the lower slopes of the hill. Fifty yards away, a cave mouth opens up at the bottom of a ravine. Hunkered down by a boulder twenty yards outside the cave, keeping watch, is a single orc.
Vlune looks at you, clearly wanting to see what you do. Vlar is nearly drooling with his desire to attack, but holds back as he too waits for you to act. Montru steps into the trees and starts to move silently forward.
Stealth: 26
Kierro, to Naivara:
"I'm sure you were clear enough - this whole thing is confusing for everyone."
As the three walk towards Conyberry:
"You guys... what are your thoughts on the Redbrands? From what I've heard, they're definitely bad for the town. I want to help stop them, desperately, but I doubt you or the others would want to get involved in something like this. There's the adventurers who helped with the supplies, and I could ask Daran for some advice too, but..." he trails off. "...at the moment, I'm not sure I'd be able to help at all, especially with not knowing who the deity I served is, and not having a holy symbol of said deity."
Conyberry:
"Sounds good to me. There should be a foundation to sleep on so we're not on the ground." He replies to Latrius. Kierro helps set camp up and starts a fire if need be.
Naivara:
Naivara scans the foundations and broken walls of the village, "Ya, that makes sense... let's use the foundations for camp. I'll get a fire going."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Sylcan Naïlo:
Looking around the campsite, and at the other members of the party, Sylcan shrugs and speaks up. "I don't mind taking some watch shifts. The rest of you need to rest longer than I do, anyways - and Vilana was hurt, I think. On top of that, I can see pretty well in the dark - and I've got my bow." Thinking to himself, Sylcan grins inwardly as his mind races to think of some enjoyable trick he might be able to pull with a night's worth of time.
Sylcan Naïlo - Eladrin Blood Hunter - DragonDenn's Dragonlords | Althaea Sylvaranth - Wood Elf Druid - JorvikDave's Storm King's Thunder | Ekane - Half-orc Warlock - Murk Over Gladerown | Aoth Meliamne - Aasimar Sorcerer - WoobyDoobyDoo's Vraleon
I also DM RemCultist's Frozen Sick
Honor
"Are we better without a fire overnight?" Honor asks Higgul. "Is it likely to attract unwanted attention?" (Also is the weather nice enough to allow for this? I assume if it was the middle of winter someone would have commented when we first appeared without clothes.) Honor will help set up camp, and offer to help hunt if needed.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Mylene - Redbrands
Given the composition of the group, more people than mounts, she agrees to distance themselves from the slaughter and find a safe place to camp overnight, rather than pushing the group, some of whom were wounded in the battle with the orcs, beyond their capacity. She reiterates the intent to regroup with Glasstaff via a inconspicuous approach, not visible by the majority of the townsfolk, when they do return. They will all return as a single unit, as the region has already proved treacherous.
Tessa
Tessa noted the situation as Montru attempts to slink into the shadows. Tessa turns to regard the two male bugbears. "The play begins! Once I deal with the sentry lets see what the inside looks like. There should be enough fun for everyone." Tessa slips into the shadows and underbrush to approach the sentry.
Perception to spot Montru and any other sentries 22
Stealth to approach the visible sentry 18
Tessa draws abreast of Montru, and playfully pinches her backside as she slips past. She motions for her to wait one moment as approaches the sentry alone.
After sneaking within striking range of the lone orc, Tessa strikes at him with a dagger.
Attack 25, Damage 8, Sneak Damage 6
Bonus Attack <if needed otherwise will fade back and hide>
Bonus Attack 17, Damage 1
Or
Stealth to fade back from the orc sentry dispatching 23
You spot Montru near the ravine bottom, but only as a shadow against some rocks. (You barely matched her stealth so just get a glimpse.) It is enough to locate her and she gives a muffled growl as you pinch her bottom, but seems more amused than upset.
You are easily able to slip up behind the inattentive orc.
Brun just shrugs. "All I can tell you is that Phandalin is an independent mining town. I don't know about much of the rest. I'm just a simple soldier."
Walter grunts in amusement. "It is as he says. Phandalin was set up as a mining town, and has no real overlord. The town can call on Neverwinter for help, or some of the small villages around the area, but nothing much else. Plus Neverwinter would be unlikely to send anything unless the threat was dire enough to be a danger to Neverwinter itself." He shrugs. "As for who is in charge, they have a Townmaster, but he is a sniveling coward that will do whatever Glasstaff wishes."
Mylene and Leto.
You travel a ways back down the road, assuming at a normal pace. You reach the road that leads to Old Owl Well and set up camp near the juncture of that path and the Triboar Trail (the road you have been traveling on.)
Any special setup for camp or watches?
Tessa
After sneaking within striking range of the lone orc, Tessa strikes at him with a dagger.
Attack 25, Damage 10, Sneak Damage 3
Bonus Attack <if needed otherwise will fade back and hide>
Bonus Attack 14, Damage 3
Or
Stealth to fade back from the orc sentry dispatching 29
Mylene - Leto - Redbrands
She recommends watches in shifts, making use of bullseye lanterns to aid those without nightvision, the horses being tied, and camping off the main road. Beyond that she is open for suggestions for those more wilderness-minded. "I don't care for roughing it, and it's at some personal sacrifice, but I plan to return the entire group Glasstaff sent to back me up intact," Mylene says. "With the exception of the treacherous bugbears. Them running off with Tessa is still a matter that perplexes me, I just don't understand their agenda there. They didn't seem to have a prearranged compact with her, so it makes it seem entirely irrational, them biting the hand that feeds them, and intentionally disobeying an edict with nothing to gain but a small wild halfling that's of no value no anyone."
On Brun and Walter's observations on Phandalin, she covers her mouth with the back of her hand and laughs. "Well that answers itself, then. If the only real authority is the Townmaster, and he's already cowed by Glasstaff, we simply have him order it to be made official that the Redbrands are the recognized militia of Phandalin, and can act with the full authority of the Townmaster in all matters. Easy enough. The Redbrands effectively are the town militia as it is, this just makes it official. Another local militia overstepping its bounds and bullying the locals surely is commonplace in this era, yes? But far, far murkier, from a legal and ethical standpoint, for outsiders to intervene. Then we are the recognized authority, and standing against us is to stand against the town itself. I'll talk to Glasstaff about it when we return tomorrow. I'll deliver the edict to the Townmaster myself if he wishes."
After a moment of reflection, she adds, to Leto, "I am not abandoning our goal of finding our memories, far from it. But if the other Erased choose to act chaotically, without order or direction, then we can only count on ourselves. Getting a more secure local power base established, one that can last, and won't be torn down overnight, is to our benefit in this. We need resources to do that. This is simply the most logical approach available to us."