Fantatic Waltz

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods to Paul, and then resumes his study of the horizon.  "I can see the torches out there," he says, partly to help keep Breke aware, "but I can't quite judge the distance -- or see the storm-riders."

[Brian]

"The storm-riders probably won't be coming," Lammermore says dubiously.  "But.  We exercise a defensive position.  Hmm.

"We'll wait until the stone is placed -- we should know when that happens -- and then we'll require your assistance in examining our strategy.  Lord Kevin will have some idea of what's going on, I think, and hopefully some way to deal with it ... in the meantime, I would suggest you keep a close eye on Mirallia."  He turns to look at you straight on.  "I don't know what this 'great sin' is, but you can bet that Lord Kevin is going to want to find out.

"More importantly, not all of the soldiers are likely to agree entirely with Lord Kevin on his management of the situation...."  Dropping his voice, he explains, "Some of them might believe that slaying her would garner the Archon's approval."  After giving you this warning, he straightens up, and looks out over the approaching army again.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods, gravely.  "As you say, Sir Lammermore."  And thank you, he does not say aloud.

He looks up and down the battlements, and then says, "There is likely little that Sir Breke or Master Parthipan can do here, I think.  Perhaps it would be best if I escorted them back to Lord Kevin?"

[Brian]

"Wait for a moment," he advises.  At about that point, the sense of lingering dread vanishes entirely, and Lammermore frowns.  "The stone must be set, then.  Let us go."  He turns to follow you.

[Bjorn]

Well, Bjorn reflects, seems I wasn't bullshitting after all.  That's nice.

Again, taking care with the steps and Breke, Bjorn leads his way back to the keep, and in the direction of the place where the crystal is placed.

[Brian]

The actual location where the crystal is set is hidden, but you run into Lord Kevin in the middle of the main hall, so it can't be far.  Mirallia is there, though she doesn't look like she went with Lord Kevin.

"We need to talk," Kevin says, adressing pretty much everyone there, and leading you (and them) to his office.

Dozens of chairs have been brought in, when you enter.  Kevin takes a seat behind the desk, Radagast sits to his left, and Lammermore sits to his right.

In attendance for this meeting are: Breke, Bjorn, Paul, Parthipan, the priestess, her four vassals, Mirallia, Radagast, Lord Kevin, Sir Lammermore, and that elven guy you can't quite remember the name of (not Liandrall).

Lord Kevin drums his fingers across the desk for a moment, after the guards close the door, leaving you in the quiet room, though someone saw to it that several lanterns were lit.

"So," he says conversationally, eyeing Bjorn.  "Where did that crystal come from?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn glances from Lord Kevin to Mirallia, as if to say, Why are you asking me?, but he answers anyways.  "We found it in the depths of Hadrick's pass, my Lord, in a holy place of Aenstock."

[Brian]

Lord Kevin grunts, and nods.  "Good enough.  That saves us no small amount of trouble....  Now, more to the point, we're missing the Storm-riders, which would be no small suppliment to our forces.  The number of foe is greater than I'd believe possible, had I not been told otherwise by Sir Lammermore.

"I believe it's safe to say our tactics are worthless.  There's enough of the enemy there for us to exhaust ourselves to a man and barely weaken them.  I think we need to use a brutal and simple strategy.  No matter the cost, we must make directly for the generals and destroy them.

"Your thoughts on this?"  He looks around, inviting input from everyone.

[Bjorn]

"Your assessment is correct, my Lord," Bjorn says respectfully, "but a simple strategy might not suffice.  The Dreadmarch also has sufficient forces to do severe damage to us if we simply sally forth and strike at the general."  He ponders.  "If I might ask, my Lord, what is the status of the Keep's forces?  How many soldiers, and what equipment do we have?"

[Brian]

"We've nearly fifty thousand soldiers, about five thousand of those archers.  Another ten thousand are swordsmen, and the remainder are spearmen.  In addition, we've two priestesses who can, I hope, aid in healing the wounded."   Both priestesses nod at this.  "Loremaster Radagast will aid how he can, but without the assistance of his fellows ... those not dead or trapped in the Archonae city to the south ... there is a limit to that aid."

"A moment," Radagast interupts, frowning.  "There is...."  He trails off, and stares blankly for a a minute.  Then he shakes his head, clearing his expression.  "There is a new Loremaster -- one I have not yet met.  He is with the Storm-riders now, Wardmaster Mattias.  He says that the storm-riders came to aid, but too late -- one of their own had betrayed their advance to the foe."  He nods at Parthipan at this.  "They are trapped behind the advance without the number to fight their way through and reach us.

"The Wardmaster also has met Sir Bloom, now recovered of his lost torc, though not dominion over the storm-riders.  Mattias also said that while one of two brothers was cast out, he suspects it was not the one it seemed."  Radagast looks slightly puzzled at this.  "I apologize.  He has further determined that there is some seal around the entire northern mountain range ... some barrier that halted Gatemaster Eske.  The Gatemaster is not dead ... but trapped.

"Perhaps most importantly, he reports that his wards have counted the foe ... unfortunately, our numbers are not adequate to express this count, Lord Kevin.  Think of it as a thousand thousand, and that, three times."

"Very well," Lord Kevin grumbles.  "Outnumbered, outmatched, and with our best and brightest cut down before they reached us.  It is an unkind star that watches over us ... but we are not dead yet.  Have any of the other Lorekeepers arrived?"

Radagast nods.  "They are currently quartered in the tower," he explains.  "All, save Lorekeeper Parthipan."

"Hmm," Lord Kevin muses, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

[Bjorn]

"They must not stay alone," Bjorn says.  "They must be watched, and guarded at all times.  For their own safety, as much as our own."

[Brian]

"Sounds sensible.  I can spare a thousand swordsmen to add to the existing guard of the keep.  I will use those I know to be loyal for the protection of the Lorekeepers, and the priestesses," Lord Kevin says slowly.  "Additionally, some will be sent to watch over the food stores, and the kitchen staff.  I will ask Lord Ekim Boneforge to craft a seal on the chamber holding the stone that wards off the despair of the Dreadmarch."

He waits a second, here, looking around.  "Am I forgetting something?"

[Bjorn]

"A watch must be kept on the gate, my Lord.  If by magic or treachery, the Dreadmarch opens it, we will perish."

[Brian]

"Undoubtedly," he agrees.  "Very well.  If there's aught else, we will discuss it later.  For the moment, you asked for our equipment.

"Radagast has seen to the construction of three ... what did you call them?" Lord Kevin asks, turning to look at Radagast quizically.

"They are called Trebuchets," the Loremaster supplies.

"Ah, yes.  Three of these, which he assures me can hurl stone some distance.  This may help, I suppose -- there's mine tailing and stone aplenty out back.  We can keep the children busy and out of harm's way gathering small stones to supply them.

"We've wagons, which have been arriving and leaving steadily from the south, bringing us new food and equipment.  We replace the worst pieces of armor we see on our troops, and give the scraps to Lord Ekim Boneforge.  When he is humoring us, he turns them into arrow heads, and when he is not, he crafts other things.

"There are cauldrons of pitch on the walls, and bales of soiled cloth.  Our archers can wrap the arrow-heads in these rags, dip them in pitch, set them afire, and launch them at a foe."  The other vassals sit up straighter at this, apparently new to this concept.

"And, perhaps most importantly, we've spare arrows and spears.  No throwing spears, mind, but spears.  They break easily, and I'd not have our soldiers fight weaponless.  I do not remember the exact number of these things -- more arrive every day from the south, but we have a great many.

"In terms of other equipment, we've got shovels, though their usefulness is past us for the immediate moment.  Radagast took some men out earlier and prepared some traps for the Dreadmarch."

"Hopefully, they will think we've more than we do," Radagast chips in.

"Right," Lord Kevin agrees, steepling his hands together in front of him, and leaning down until his nose is level with his fingertips.  "Is there aught else we require?"

[Bjorn]

"The trebuchets can be loaded with pitch as well, My Lord.  Fire and small stones, together -- even if the pitch does less damage, it instils much more fear.  If we could make more of these trebuchet, even smaller models, we would do well.  Anything that allows us to strike at the Dreadmarch without endangering men will suit us well."

Tapping his fingers against his cuirass, Bjorn studies the ceiling, lips pursed in thought.  "The men will be of low morale, after the... performance the Archon gave us.  If I might be so bold, perhaps Master Durant could do his part to brighten their spirits.  Some stories of men's glory, rather than the glory of the Archonae, perhaps?

"The problem before us," he muses thoughtfully, "is how to draw the General out where we can reach him, without putting us at the mercy of all the forces the Dreadmarch can bring to bear."  Voice trailing off, Bjorn rummages in his other-self memories, trying to find something that will help.

OOC: Tactics 6 to come up with a plan... we hope.