World Revolution

[Rezantis]

"Well," says Rez shakily, and to nobody in particular, "I think we're not going to the citadel, but we got the answers I wanted anyway."

He stares at his sword for a few minutes, wide eyed, as the situation percolates through his head.

[Brian]

"What ... happened?" Lord Roger asks, raising an eyebrow curiously.

[Rezantis]

"They . . . they had near a million orcs there, but their three commanders were just near us.  A jotun in plate mail, with a sword made specifically for it. A dwarf, with a large axe, which I didn't believe they wielded . . ."

Rez trails off, staring at his sword.

Three meteres tall, and so frail looking . . . that might have been . . .

"It was . . . striking.  It was three meters tall, and unnaturally thin . . ."

[Brian]

"Near a what?" Roger asks, furrowing his brows.

Now that both of you think about it, that word was in plain English.  Which you are, you remember, not speaking.  It's odd, but now that you actually think about it, you can remember English, and all of your favorite words, but they're oddly distant.  The new words you've been using for the two weeks or so since you've come to this world started out instinctive, and are now so deeply ingrained they feel totally natural.

[Rezantis]

Rez shakes himself.

"A thousand thousands. Sorry, I . . ." he trails off again.

[Brian]

Roger grunts thoughtfully.  "That'd be a lot," he mumbles.  "What to do, then?"

[Rezantis]

Rez remains quiet, thinking, and pensively looking at his blade.

[Dracos]

"It's obvious for one.  We can't stay here.  And we now know why the are so so well armed, if dwarves are aiding them.  Lord Rogers, I want this place turned into an absolute deathtrap.  We'll gate to the east and hide in the plains for now, but either from the north or from the south, they are going to send a force after us that will likely be larger then our ability to handle.  It is best if we are not here when it arrives and they waste their strength going through our traps for nothing.  From there, we'll have mobility and at least some invisibility from their gaze for the moment.  We have to find the wizard who is creating the seal.  We also need scouting.  Maithias, you said you counted the army back then, could you enlighten me upon your abilities to scan areas and such?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"I haven't placed any further wards for fear of being tracked," he says slowly.  "I could also aid in setting traps here, though--"  He breaks off mid-sentence, and his eyes become unfocused.

After a moment, he says, "There is an Archon.  An Archon with the Dreadmarch.  He sent a message to his ally with the Dreadmarch.  He said ... 'The storm-riders have evaded the trap.'  Someone else ... someone I do not know, replied, 'Join us here, and abandon the citadel.'"

Lord Roger grunts at this, frowning speculatively.  "I'll oversee the placement of the traps," Lord Farwell says suddenly, frowning.  "You'll want Lord Roger's tactical advice here."  Nodding curtly, he marches away to see about crafting these traps.

[Rezantis]

Rez stares at his sword, and growls angrily, resheathing it.

"I know. But archon or no, I'm, sure he won't enjoy haveing a sword of their own make run through them." He shook his head and turned to look at Mattias, "The one you didn't recognize - do you think it was the same one who cut off our conversation before?"

[Dracos]

"Hmm... We've learned something, but now we know they've learned something as well.  That's quite bad for those at the keep.  This new group will likely bring food with them and resources and another gigantic force joining those at the keep is a bad thing.  We need to make the path that they will take as deadly as possible."  Dracos frowns, his mind scrambling for options.  "Ideas, people?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"That ... that was the same person," Mattias says, nodding at Nathan.  "But, I cannot imagine that their message wasn't meant to be overheard by us.  They know that I am here -- who else to free Gatemaster Eske?  And of course, they saw the gate, so they knew that, too.

"This reeks of a trap."

Eske nods in agreement.  "I do not think they can sense my gates, though my range is limited.  We could hide in the wastes ... so they must have some plan to take this into account," he adds.

[Dracos]

"Hmm...  Bleh, that many numbers with subtleties is a fearsome foe indeed.  You could be right.  And the mere fact that you could be is enough to make it too dangerous to risk.  Hmm...  We need to figure out some options.  Ways to keep safe and still do damage to them.  First, we need to consider where we can go to position ourselves from here.  They could be planning on us trying to take the citadel while they are gone, but we won't fall there twice.  Second, we need to figure out where to attack them.  Hum, what about the rear flanks of the army.  What are they doing during the attacks on the keep?  Could we go deep into the wastes and then storm alongside the rear flanks of the army.  And ...Eske, you said the seal was circular?  Where would it's center be if it is?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"The center of the wastes," Eske says after a moment.  "There's nothing there but snow and ice, though.  The seal itself is held in place all along the borders, not the center.  If anything, it's ... softer near the center, which is why I can open gates here, but not penetrate the edges itself."

"I could send a message to Loremaster Radagast," Mattias says after a moment.  "We must assume that they will hear this message, though.  We could, perhaps, use that to our advantage ... but how could we send a message that our allies would glean the true meaning of, without revealing that to our foes?"

[Dracos]

"HMm... That's a thought, Maithias.  First though we must decide what we do before we decide how we mislead them into thinking we are doing something else.  Eske, what holds it in place along the borders?  Is it something that can be undone?"

Dracos