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-----Outside, Jyan approaches the party and says, “Commander Ulthang’s orders are to stand down and await further orders.” With his hands, he silently motions for the adventurers to dismount. As they do, Jyan moves closer to them between the horses.
-----Strolum, wide-eyed beneath his mane of red hair and leather cap whispers, “Bloody ‘ell, man! How we be a’farin’?”
-----Jyan replies in a low voice, “Our ‘Commander’ has spoken and it looks as if the hobgoblins may attack the orcish horde at the river.”
-----Jeilin leans closer to Jyan and asks quietly, keeping her head down. "Any priests or other humans inside? They will surely be alarmed if not." She discreetly scans the surroundings to find the movements of the followers of Helator in the camp.
-----“No,” Jyan quickly responds, “Only Morosh and two of his guards. You can see they have been sent to fetch the captains.” The young mage points through the large assemblage of hobgoblin soldiers around them to where the large armored humanoids who left Morosh’s tent give directives to lesser soldiers. These underlings then scramble off on some errand.
-----“It was brilliant,” Jyan continues, “Sol told Morosh that Lord Sintor was turning command of Kulendra over to Morosh because the orcs and the priests of Helator were taking a part of the gold for themselves.”
-----Before anyone else can respond, Jyan finishes by saying, “I have to go back, but make sure all of you follow Sol’s lead.” The young mage then turns and moves back to the tent.
-----Silently, Ulthang awaits the captains’ answer to Morosh's summons.
-----The Hobgoblin Chief goes over near one side of the table and draws forth a large parchment. He then returns and spreads it out on the table. Commander Ulthang can see that it is a map of the village and the encampment by the river. It suddenly seems odd that Sol is here alone with the head of the goblinoid army and seemingly in confidence.
-----Morosh suddenly grunts and says, “We already have soldiers guarding the priests, their guards and their witch. It will not be hard to take them.” He then points one clawed hand at the river camp. “We still need guards for the human scum mining the river. The orcs have their own chiefs and a witch doctor who will need to die. If we can kill them, the orcish scum will fall in line.” He then looks at the Commander as if waiting his input.
-----'Oh, this was rich', Sol thinks to himself. Discussing battle plans to assault an orcish camp with a hobgoblin chieftain was possibly the strangest moment in the Gorian's life. However, considering the dire situation that brings this moment, Sol has little time for reflection.
-----When the chieftain mentions his already set-up guards for the priests of hate, Ulthang grudgingly nods his approval. "It seems your instincts serve you well, Chieftain. All I will advise about the priests are to ensure there are units aside from the guards who are ready to rush them. At first sign... should they show themselves this night, lest they have a chance to use their magic trickery and escape. If they are quiet this eve, then they can be dealt with after the orcs."
-----Ulthang's armoured bulk shifts as the Ravenhold Commander turns to view the map, grunting sourly as he does so. "At the moment, the humans aren't a priority. They have nowhere else to go. Orcs fight with little strategy, no better than mindless beasts. Usually the case even with a strong leader. If we use the advantage of surprise, and your soldiers keep to a good order of battle, it'll be a good fight, but victory is certain. Set aside a few crack troops to target the witch doctor specifically. Keep him occupied and bleeding so he cannot aid his chiefs. As for the rest, you know the way your troops fight best. We'll have their heads soon enough." Slowly, Ulthang leans back from the map, to stand straight with his eyes narrowed dangerously, an imposing figure as he stands there considering the coming battle.
-----The flaps of the tent flutter and Jyan enters with his head held high. He nods to Ulthang and moves to stand a few feet from him. He eyes the Chieftain looking over the map with a disdainful expression; the mage certainly mindful that somewhere within the village his own family is enslaved.
-----After a few more moments, the tent flaps part once more and hobgoblin officers armored in black plate mail enter. Jyan’s eyes narrow as he counts seventeen of the humanoids as they gather before their chief. Many of the hobgoblins shoot cruel and snarling glances in Ulthang’s and his war mage’s direction.
-----Suddenly, Morosh speaks up; his voice low and menacing. “Commander Ulthang,” here the Chieftain points toward the disguised warrior, “has come from the Lord of Ravenhold with orders for me to take command of this village and its operation. The orc scum by the river has been keeping some of the gold for themselves and the human priests could be in this too.”
-----Grumbling begins with many of the hobgoblins looking at Ulthang and Jyan. It is interesting, however, that none of the soldiers appear hostile toward them. They quickly settle as they stare at Morosh, hanging on for his next words.
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