Focus

[Ginrai]

'Oh, of course....'

Ginrai sighs and heads back up to hear what Radagast has to say.

[Brian]

When you reach the tower-top, Radagast is speaking to Astryd about weaving something.  You'd guess it's a spell, but its depth is beyond you.  It's not about air, it's about light.

The two working on the red symbol finish, nod at one-another, and sit on opposite ends of the central shape, within a circle.

At a glance, it's like a carefully drawn circle of fire, with whorls, loops, and eddies of fire in a careful and specific pattern through the center.  The outer perimeter is lined with glyphs and runes, most of which you can't identify.  A few strike you as things you could use for your own spells, but only a small handful.

As the two sit down on the stone, their hands are placed in carefully drawn chalk circles.  "We're ready?" one of them says.

"Ready," the other agrees.  "At the signal."

[Ginrai]

'Nothing to see here.'

Ginrai heads off to the closest tower so he can start preparing his spells.

[Brian]

It takes a minute or two to make it to the nearest tower.  This one has a trio of archers, and a single other lorekeeper.  His eyes look heavily lidded, as though he was about to fall asleep; it takes you a moment to recognize him as Devin.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai prepares his spell:

A lightning bolt chain, uncontrolled and sticky with the area of effect doubled and the range quadrupled.

Limitions will be: Focus of my Staff (-1/2), Getures (-1/2), Incantations (-1/2), Only under Specific Starsign (-1), and Extra Time (-3/2).

[Brian]

Devin finally speaks, and says, "Wait until Radagast's traps have done their work before you begin."

Otherwise, your spell is ready.  With the stars in alignment, you can rain chain lightning on your foes.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai nods while looking out to see if he can spot the night's general.

[Brian]

Nothing yet ... but they also haven't taken to the field.

[Brian]

There's a stir in the courtyard behind you; when you glance over, you see Lammermore transform into an Archon ... and then remember the illusion that Radagast mentioned.

Turning back to the field, the last light of the moon vanishes, and the Dreadmarch begins to advance across the field.

[Ginrai]

"It's time."

Ginrai waits to see the results of Radagast's traps, checking for the general every now and then.

[Brian]

Okay.  What you see is this.  First, the primary moat (the one filled with metal spikes) catches fire, leaving only a thin bridge of land directly before the door clear.  Lammermore and his men head towards that clear spot from the keep.

On the field, the Dreadmarch begins to charge as once.

The first of them to reach one of Radagast's posts trips -- you're not sure over what, since you can't see quite that far.  You see a bright explosion, a small circle with a large cone of flame, the wide end pointed into the advancing guard.

When the smoke clears, a swatch of destruction about 90 degrees wide, and 50 meters back has been cut through their charge ... but there's enough Dreadmarch to keep on coming, and they do, ruthlessly and relentlessly charging into the traps.

[Brian]

At this point, the Dreadmarch is about 200 meters off, entering the last handful of Radagast's explosive traps.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai continues to watch, patiently waiting for the moment when the night's general will be within view.

To the archers he says, "If any of you spot an ogre, please inform me of it right away.  It will most likely be tonight's general."

[Brian]

"I see a buncha ogres," the archer grumbles.

The charge is mainly orcs, but there are a handful of ogres in the mix, too.

[Ginrai]

'So much for being in focus....'

Ginrai checks how far the Dreadmarch is from Lammermore's group and how they're currently positioned (have the split up yet or not).