In the Hall of the Mountain King

[Dracos]

Dracos turns to Ekim as they exit.  "Thank you for your help, Ekim."

Dracos

[Brian]

Ekim nods.  "I am glad to help," he says, simply bowing.  "Be well."  With that, he walks away, headed back to the forge.

"Well, Windmaster Parthipan and I must get some sleep," Radagast says, glancing at the position of the moon in the sky.  "Rest well, Lord Bloom," he adds, as he and Parthipan head up to the tower.  Mirallia nods as Phil as well, before she departs, leaving Phil alone in front of the keep.

[Dracos]

Dracos heads over to the new Storm-Rider dwellings, looking for his commanders to touch base on how things were going with them.

Dracos

[Brian]

When you return to the Storm-rider camp, you see Eric dismissing the united keep-defender/Storm-rider training group, with Lord Roger Lowry, Sir Warrick Aubron, Sir Harold Volter, Lord Farwell, and Lord George.  They glance up when Phil approaches, and nod respectfully.

[Dracos]

"Greetings.  It seems fortune is with us tonight.  I was hoping to touch base with all of you on how your clans are doing.  Whether there's been any serious casaulties or other issues that need to be addressed."

Dracos

[Brian]

"Ah," Sir Warrick says, nodding.  "Wise."  He turns to look at the others expectantly.

"We have accepted the duty of defending the keep with pride," Lord George says, nodding, adjusting the collar of his cloak as though to hide his caribou torc.  "Our casuallties have been light, and we've lost few in the skirmishes."

"They 'ave got hardly no fight in them at all," Lord Roger says, shaking his head.  "'Avent managed to take down more than two score of the Oxen clan."

"We've been barely scratched, save by Jotun stones," Lord Farwel reports, nodding.  "Otherwise, learning not to trip over these south-landers short spears."

"A rabbit should learn to hop," George says, eyeing Farwell coolly.

"And that we do," Farwell says, shrugging, and eyeing George back, just as coolly.

"Our forces fare well, Lord Bloom," Sir Harold says, shooting both Farwell and George a sidelong glance.  "Three score lost, and most to the Jotun."

"We've lost naught but those struck by Jotun," Sir Warrick adds.  "A score and a half lost, no more."

"Eight score have been struck from the ramparts by Jotun stones," Eric says shrugging his shoulders uncomfortably.  "But I know that our losses are less than the keep-dwellers."  The others all stare at Eric, who quickly shakes his head, and explains, "Only half that are lost to us -- the rest simply need time to mend.  Ah ... four score slain, Lord Bloom."

[Brian]

Nathan approaches, Alec in tow, and listens curiously, not saying anything immediately.

[Dracos]

"The loremaster responsible for that debacle has been reprimanded, but it is good that it was not worse.  While the fighting has been good for us, we have to remain careful.  I'm glad to hear that save for that incident the war has taken relatively few of us.  That said...  If any of you have ideas or concerns, feel free to voice them.  I'd like to use all of our cunning to keep as many of us alive while driving off the dreadmarch as possible.  Even if they don't have much fight in them, we can't forget that we have a long ways still to go and therefore we can't afford to relax in our victories."

Dracos

[Brian]

"We've got some possible plans," Erik says, rubbing the back of his neck and closing his eyes.  "Most of them involve using the newly trained troops, though, and we'd like at least another day before putting them into action."

The other commanders nod at this assesment.  "But, if that's all, I'll get m'self some rest," Lord Roger says, winking.  "By your leave, Lord Bloom."

[Dracos]

Dracos grins.  "Rest well, Lord Rogers.  And same to the rest of you.  Make sure you're well rested and wide awake to enjoy watching the dreadmarch turn in terror from your blades on the morrow."

Dracos turned to Rez.  "Nathan, what do you think about coordinated swordwork?"

Dracos

[Brian]

The commanders bow, and then go their separate ways, Alec following behind them sleepily.

[Rezantis]

"I think coordination is vital to the precise application of a bladed instrument!" replies Nathan brightly.

[Dracos]

Dracos laughed.  "Okay, bear with me.  I'm used to more fragile beings then the generals we work with.  Usually when you hit someone with a sword, they go down and they do not get back up.  The generals here have...in general...not gone along with the proper way of doing things.  They are quite rude about staying up when stabbed, wouldn't you say?"

Dracos

[Rezantis]

"Oh, definitely.  I mean, we're handing over some extremely pointed and weighty arguments as to why they should just lie down and bleed, but they seem to be exceptionally thick when it comes to such things."

[Dracos]

"Indeed.  Well, we have to deal with this one way or another.  They have to have something keeping them up.  Whether it's magic or supernatural resiliance, it doesn't matter.  Anyhow, I'm thinking, if it's supernatural regeneration then the best deal is to deal as much damage in a very small range of time as possible.  If it's something that is weakening how they feel our blows, then the same holds true.  Therefore, I think we should train a bit to synchronize hitting the generals at the same time.  It was pretty effective this past night in knocking Estin this way and that.  I think if this holds with all generals, we'd likely get more out of having the three or four or five of us hit the general at the same time from different directions then we would get out of hitting him one after another and letting whatever magic or natural talent is keeping them from collapsing into a bloody heap from having more time to work."

Dracos