To Far Away Times

[Brian]

Markham grunts.  "The citadel," he muses.  "It's likely empty, now.  It's defensible, though.  Storm-riders have lost their lives for centuries, trying to breach its walls.  We could go there, and steal it away from the Dreadmarch.  Then, no matter what happens, we've somewhere safe to leave our children, and our women."

He rubs his chin, unhappy with the situation.  "If the defenders of the keep are successful, then we can remain in the keep, and destroy the remnant that attempts to flee there, thus ending the tyrany of the dreadmarch forever.

"If they are not, then we can remain alive there forever.  I do not think that the defenses of that place can be breached."

[Dracos]

Dracos rubbed his beard, glancing over the map and seeing if he could see anywhere conviently labeled the citadel so that he could get an idea of where it was relatively without asking and giving away that he doesn't know.  "We need to coordinate with the forces at the keep.  While I agree, destroying the dreadmarch utilizing their own fortress is a good plan, but leaving those at the keep without our aid at all lessens their chances notably.  If though we can coordinate and have a group or two of us act as a rapid strike force along their flanks in concord with attacks from the keep on the front, we should be able to weaken the enemy lines."  Dracos shrugged.  "It would be extremely dangerous for those who stayed, and many of us, particularly the women and children, should still go to be safely ensconed at the citadel, but I think it would be better then simply abandoning the keep in it's entirety."

Dracos

[Brian]

No citadel appears on the map.  Presumably, it's somewhere further north.

"The citadel is a bad idea, a last-ditch plan," Farwell agrees.  "We need to find somewhere to take our women and children, somewhere safe, though.  Then, we need to find out what we can do against these bastards."

[Rezantis]

Rez hums. "Do we know just how many troops the dreadmarch has, by any chance?"

[Brian]

"A thousand thousand, and that times three," Mattias says, suddenly.  "I have informed Radagast of our situation ... and while contacting him, I became aware of something else.  Gatemaster Eske is near.  He is trapped on the border of a seal that encompases the entire mountain range that surrounds this place."

[Rezantis]

Rez's jaw drops and he just stares at Mattias for a second, before shaking himself back to alertness.

"Well, that changes things a little," he murmurs quietly.

[Dracos]

Dracos raised an eyebrow at the number of soldiers, calculating.  "Is there any way we can disrupt this seal?"

Dracos looked about the map.  "What about the mountains?  Surely they could hide up there for months safely.  Do we have anyone who knows their paths and landscape well?"

Dracos brushed his beard.  "With those numbers, they couldn't have been bringing enough equipment to move how fast they were.  Either much of the food and siege wagons are still on the way or they intend to simply swarm over the keep in a day or two, thus not needing it.  In either case, it is good for us as it leaves a weak point to be exploited.  A swift moving party could strike, set fire to siege engines and food stores and disappear back towards the mountains, disrupting morale and weakening their food stores.  If it is extended logtistical lines, then we should find where they are coming from and cut them off."

Dracos

[Brian]

"The seal ... if I could be taken to the border, I may be able to break it," Mattias says.  "I know I could free Eske."

"None of us know the mountains well," Farwell says slowly, "but there ... there would be a good place to hide."  He nods at your last assement, but says, "And a larger party could overwhelm them powerfully, leave no survivors to spread the word, and steal what could be used elsewhere ... for ourselves, perhaps.  Our own stores of food are not much better than what we required to reach the keep, and perhaps a week beyond that."

"We will offer what aid we can," the priestess volunteers.  "However you decide that we may be of service to you."

[Dracos]

"Thank you, that will be much appreciated."

"Loremaster, do you mean the border of the northern mountains?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"No," he says, shaking his head.  "It's south of here ... the great ring of mountains that encircles this place.  I don't know where Eske is trapped, but I only need to reach any edge of the seal to free him."

[Dracos]

Dracos looked at Markham, since he was nominally in charge.  "Shall we split into two groups, Lord Markham?  One lead to the mountains with the women and children and a small group of warriors, the rest to stay here, organized to strike along the fringes of the enemy as we head generally south to the seal in order to free Gatemaster Eske?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"I'd rather we all proceed to the citadel," Markham says slowly, drumming his fingers atop the table.  "There, we can depend on the safety of its walls, without risking our lives needlessly.  And, of course, it's build into the very mountains surrounding us, so I've no doubt that Eske could be freed from there, as well."

[Dracos]

"And what would we do when the dreadmarch returns successful?  Do you really thing we can handle such a gigantic force with all other allies already crushed?  Even if it is secure for us, it would be abandoning those at the keep to death."

Dracos

[Brian]

"But there would be no risk," Markham counters.  "What have those at Stormwall ever done for us?"

[Dracos]

"Well, off the top of my head, they are about to sacrifice their lives in giving us the option to prance back like children and hide away from the dreadmarch.  Seriously, what brings such words from you?  If that was your mentality, why even begin a march to fight against the dreadmarch in the first place?  If those who fight against it are not considered our allies, then why are the lot of us out here in this dark place at all?"

Dracos