Crossfire Sequence

[Brian]

Mirallia accompanies you, after a few minutes to wake up.

This time the servant (though, you're starting to think he might actually be a page instead of a normal servant) leads you down into the depths of the keep, instead of up to Lord Kevin's office.

The room you're lead to has a table and chairs, and is lit, but has no windows.

Lord Kevin is seated behind it next to Lammermore and Radagast.  The Lorekeepers Devin and Astryd are nearby (apparently Parthipan had trouble waking up, as he's not present yet).  There is no sign of Lindsey or her vassals.

Ekim is sitting at one end of the table, carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle, about the size and shape of ... a katana?

Radagast calls your attention, first, and gives you a piece of paper, which is encrypted, again.  After decrypting it, you find it reads:

Code Select Expand

WEAREBOREDANDNOWGETTINGASSESOVERTHEREGOINGTOHAVEESKEGATEUSINATTHEENTRANCETOTHEBATTLEFIELD

WILLUSEGATETOBLOCKDREADMARCHFORCESFROMENTERINGBATTLEFIELD

SIGNALUSWHENYOUWANTUSTOGATEIN

[Bjorn]

Shit.  Bjorn's mind races, staring at the message.  Too short notice.  I need to... dammit.  How to make this work?  He crumples the note in his hand, staring blankly at the floor, before nodding to himself.  Planks.  Should be easy to arrange.  Okay.  Need to change the rest of the plans, though.  Looking up, he tries to decide if he can grab Kevin's attention before the meeting starts.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai walks into the room.  Wordlessly he sits down next to the other lorekeepers.

[Brian]

Dorian enters the room last, and Kevin seems to take him as the last one he was waiting for.  "Okay," Lammermore says, surveying the assembled. "Another day, and another battle.  Currently, thanks to Lorekeeper Devin, we've got some mazelike fortifications before the gate to slow the Dreadmarch as they approach.  We'll use that, and our archers to thin their numbers before they get close to the gate.  I understand you had some other plans, Bjorn?" he asks.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn coughs.  "That is correct, Sir Lammermore.  However, there has been a change in the situation -- a change, I might add, for the better."  

He nods at Radagast.  "Master Radagast has just informed me that the storm-runners are marching on the Citadel of the Dreadmarch.  However, they have also sent a good portion of their forces to reinforce us.  Those troops will close in, cloaked by the devices of Wardmaster Mattias, and will uncloak themselves at a signal -- lightning striking from the sky.  

"As such, my Lord, I would like to recommend that we adopt the same strategy as we used in the last battle -- to produce an illusion of an Archon, and attempt to draw the general forth.  This will, with any luck, lead the Dreadmarch to underestimate us, thinking us fools for relying on the same trick twice.  Then, once the Dreadmarch has reached Lorekeeper Devin's earthworks, we can give the signal to the storm-runners.  Their flanking attack, combined with a direct assault by our forces through the fortifications, should result in an easy victory.  The other strategies I had developed can be held in reserve for another night."

[Brian]

"Flanking?" Kevin asks, frowning.  "How will they get through the body of the Dreadmarch?  Surely their Loremaster will see this coming."

[Bjorn]

"They are already in place," Bjorn says.   "They are concealed along the edges of the pass, on the level of the earthenworks."  He shrugs slightly.  "I do not claim to know how the Wardmaster has managed this, but he is quite certain that he has bypassed the enemy Loremaster."

[Brian]

"Well," Lammermore rumbles.  "I can only hope that an assault on the dark citadel isn't a wasted effort," he says.  "Very well.  Radagast, can the illusion be managed again?"

Radagast glances at Astryd, and nods.  "I'm not certain what effect it will have," he warns, "but we can once again use it."

[Bjorn]

"It will have no effect, in itself," Bjorn says, gravely.  "But, as I said, it will inspire over-confidence -- and that is a weakness."

[Brian]

"Very well, then," Kevin says, frowning.  "Is there anything else?  We must coordinate with our storm-rider bretheren."

[Bjorn]

"They will launch their attack when a bolt of lightning strikes the Dreadmarch," Bjorn says.  "I believe Master Parthipan can provide this.  It would be best, as I said, if this signal was provided as the Dreadmarch reached the earthworks, and was thus forced to slow down and disarray their ranks.

"This, in turn, means that we will need to cross the earthenworks ourselves, once the full assault has begun.  As such, we will need planks to bridge the pit traps, and spearmen and archers to clear the passages."

[Brian]

"I can dissolve the earthworks more easily than I created them," Devin ventures.  "I'd need only a minute's warning."

[Bjorn]

"The timing will be obvious, I think," Bjorn says.  "When the storm-riders begin their attack, then it is time to being to remove the earthworks."

[Brian]

"Consider it done, then," he says, nodding.  "When will Master Parthipan know to throw his lightning bolt?"

[Bjorn]

"When the front ranks of the Dreadmarch have reached the earthworks," Bjorn replies.