-----"We're obviously going t'need t'make this as much a shock fer them as possible. So, we do this late at night. Lovan, is it possible fer ye t'bring us one hell of a storm? A heavy downpour would sure help us stay hidden till we're in place t'strike. Th' barn is th' main objective. Either way, that needs t'be secured a'fore th' bastards have a chance t'light it. We've only th' numbers t'hit one other place. We need t'decide whether that's th' mine or th' inn. If we take th' mine, we may be able t'win th' aid o' those who're held." It seems like Sol has more to say, but he holds off and looks at the others, waiting for their opinion.
-----Whisper shook his head, and ran a hand through his hair. "Expect... no... help from... the... river." He grimaced, and deliberately took a swallow of his soothing concoction before continuing on in his whisper.
-----"You are right. Children are paramount." He considered. "Rain, yes. Long rain. Deep into the night. Then fog?" Leather creaked as he shrugged. "Inn can be held by few, once there." His finger tapped just above the river line so that he would not smudge the charcoal. "One man. Fire the tents, maybe." His lips became a thin line. "Suicide... maybe." He put the skin to his mouth again, took another swallow. He'd run out soon, and would have to find an apothecary to mix more.
-----"Maybe choose two of three. Avenge that which we can not defend." His dead eyes focused on the representation of the inn. "Who decides?"
-----"A mist can be created at a chosen location, once," Jeilin rubs her small hands together for a bit of warmth. "When battle ensues, I may also summon light and darkness or an elemental for distraction, most needed for the horned priests, I think. And the tents at the river can be lit by magical flame from a range if needed."
-----"It would be good," the priestess sits up and looks at those gathered around the map. "If indeed there is a rainstorm tonight. Do we know how the barn is rigged to burn, exactly?"
-----Dilton looked around at everyone with a concerned expression. He finally edged over where he could see Whisper’s map and then looked over at Strolum for his reaction.
-----Raven spoke up, this time looking at Whisper. “Would our attack be best at night?” he asked. “The hobgoblins are very active at night, although a lot of them are drunk. During the day it’s quieter in the village and I see less of them moving around, but I wonder how many of them are dazed or hung over.”
-----“Maybe an attack at dawn?” Garrison wondered aloud. A deep frown was set on his face.
-----Just then everyone is alerted to the sound of someone dashing through the brush toward them. In the next moment, Pil appears; the big man stopping in the clearing, winded from his haste. Quickly, his eyes dart around at everyone; nodding as he recognizes the returning party members.
-----“Hobgobs come!” he says as he looks from face to face. “’Bout twelve headin’ thisaway lookin’ through th’ brush!”
-----Of all the times for those blighters to get conscientious and send out patrols, Whisper thought.
-----"Ambush. Arrows." And hope that they were not actually due back in the village anytime soon. He glanced at Pil. "How long?"
-----“Not sure, but they be a’movin’ slow,” the big man reports.
-----“They could be tracking. If they pick up a trail, they could be here real soon. This clearing would be the best place to draw them into,” Raven said quickly.
-----“Wait a minute,” Jyan warned. “Do we want to attack them now? What if they don’t return when they’re expected?”
-----"We'll have t'take that chance. If they are tracking us, an' they find signs of us having camped here, which they will, then they'll step up patrols anyway. Best to let th' town have some doubt about what happened t'this group an' just hit them with th' next day." Sol replies as he gestures for Strolum to join him. "Help me get int' my armour as quickly as possible."
-----As the Gorian begins to start strapping his spiked plates back on, he then tells the group, "Alright, I want t'make sure we get them all. If they're headed this way, I'll stay here wi' some o' th' group t'tackle them head on. I want Raven, Rinda, Whisper an' Garrison t'quietly head off th' side int' th' brush, so that when th' hobbies reach us, ye can come in behind them. Dilton, keep Jeilin an' Jyan safe fer now, back behind us. Strolum, Pil, Lovan and I will confront 'em directly. Save yer magics fer th' town, an' let's make sure they all die quickly an' as quietly as possible. Quietly... that goes fer you an' me especially, Lovan. Wait fer our main village assault t'let th' real thunder start."
-----The Elf swung his head from Jyan to Sol, frowning. "They... do believe that... there are bandits here." He pointedly did not look at Raven. "We take them... in such a way... as bandits would." He grimaced as something in his throat started itching.
-----For a moment he thought about using another subterfuge, eyeing the Gorian being strapped into his armour, but dismissed it as impractical. Then he nodded at Sol's somewhat more detailed plan.