Fantatic Waltz

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shrugs.  "Orcs, I imagine," he says drily, before taking Breke's chains and following the guardsmen to Lord Kevin.

[Brian]

"I've fought orcs," Breke muses, as you lead him past the door-guards.  "They smell pretty foul, you know."

Mirallia smirks at this, but says nothing.

The guards lead you to Lord Kevin, who is not in his office, but is actually in the courtyard, which is jam-packed with men.  The ramparts are thickly lined with archers.  You don't see the elf anywhere among them, though, and you'd think he'd stick out.

Radagast is standing nearby, and you can see some of the Lorekeepers -- or just people in brown robes -- loitering atop the towers lining the court-yard and looking down over the walls.

Sir Lammermore is standing nearby.  While Radagast and Kevin speak about the defenses, Lammermore is inspecting the troops -- he looks like he's assembled five groups of twenty men who look like they know what they're doing, and he's explaining to them that their role will be to work as leaders for the others, and to direct them in the battle.

Lammermore's got a different sword on, this time, too.  Looks like a broadsword, instead of his standard shortsword.  Breke stiffens up a bit once he's outside and surrounded by so many people, but you've been around him long enough to know that it's just his 'publicicty' face.

The other vassals are going over their own groups of twenty (apparently hand-picked) men, and explaining what their tactics for the day is, and the other priestess is already deep in conversation with someone who looks like a healer or doctor; it's a woman carrying a basket of herbs and clean, hopefully sterile cloth, at any rate.  This woman has a number of armed men who are carrying large shields, but no weapons standing behind her, listening in to that conversation, whatever it is.

[Bjorn]

Making his way closer to Lord Kevin, Bjorn waits patiently for someone to notice him.

[Brian]

Lord Kevin notices you first.  "Ah," he says, nodding, and glancing around the courtyard.  "It's nearly time, then.  Bjorn, are you ready?"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn bows, slightly.  "I am ready in all ways but knowing what it is, exactly, that you wish me to do, my Lord," he says, slightly apologetic.

[Brian]

"Well," Lord Kevin says thoughtfully.  "I'd like you to win.  Now, we can use the strategy you've discussed with Radagast, or you can choose to withold it until it's more opportune to do so.  Either way, the Dreadmarch is on the move -- it's also going to be dark, soon.  The keep's great lamps will be lit, which I will have to attend.  Before that, I suggest climbing the wall and surveying the foe yourself."

"I'll wait here," Breke says boredly.  "No sense laying an eye on what my blades won't reach."

Lammermore finishes adressing the soldiers, and approaches your group.  "We're as ready as we've time for," he says, nodding.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn bows again, slightly.  "Then with your permission, my Lord, I will study the situation."

Waiting for a dismissal, he makes his way to the walls of the keep, and looks out at the Dreadmarch.

[Brian]

Lord Kevin nods at you.

Up the stairs, through the thickly crowded archers you go.  At the top of the wall, pushing between some of the men who are warming their hands over their cauldrons of less-than-boiling, but still hot pitch, you manage to find an opening that looks out onto the Dreadmarch.  The archer immediately nearest you wears a hooded cloak, his (or her?) face in shadows, and the others on the wall keep a slight bit of distance away from him.

The Dreadmarch themselves appear to be lining their troops up in colums about ten soldiers wide, and probably a hundred long.  You can't really see far enough in the fading moonlight to tell what they are, but you guess they're human-sized, and therefore, orcs.

[Bjorn]

Peering out into the darkness, Bjorn tries to judge the distance beween the Dreadmarch and the outer fortifications, and the speed at which they're travelling.  

At the same time, trying to be unobtrusive, he does his best to study this solo archer beside him.

[Brian]

You'd guess the forces are about a half a kilomter away from the posts that Radagast left everywhere as defenses, whatever they'll do.

And, hey, you recognize that archer -- it's that elf, Dorian Shivershaft.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods.  "How long do you think we have, Master Silvershaft?" he says, quietly.

[Brian]

Dorian scans the position of the moon briefly, and says, "Twenty minutes, perhaps.  Perhaps slightly less."

[Bjorn]

"Then no time to waste," Bjorn observes.  "Is there anything you wish me to report to Lord Kevin?"

[Brian]

The elf looks at you appraisingly.  Finally he says, "If I can see the general, I will fell him.  But tell Lord Kevin that I don't think myself such a target that this disguise is required, if it pleases you."  He offers you what you think is a friendly smile then, and turns back to surveying the still-assembling Dreadmarch.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn doesn't bother nodding his respects, as the elf isn't watching him.  Instead, he makes his way back through the troops and down to the courtyard, intent on making his report to Lord Kevin.