Reemul contacts various members of the adventuring community.
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"Like I said, it ~is~ a military operation, so I'd certainly assume so. But since I'm no kind of soldier, I am waiting for others to fill in those blanks rather than speculate myself. But, if we're looking to draw Rhodes out, we definitely need Rey since she's rather the primary target for Rhodes' obsessive ire."
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@karnivor Good stuff Isolde, more options, possible allies, Do you know if Gom intends to support the operation's with troops? Scouts? Harsh insults? How do you see reaching out to cause some insurrection within Rhodes ranks? "Rampant paranoia" may also be manipulated to our cause.
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I imagine it would be possible to determine if her fortress has been built upon a menhir's location? But yes, if it has, then let the army march before we commence? any reduction in direct force resisting us benefits us, though it may mean a second battle at the gates of Peltarch. real time intelligence is going to matter in this I feel, best we can do if we get that is have actionable ideas ready to go depending on how it plays out?
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"I don't think the menhir stone's exactly portable, though I could be wrong. But if she's got the upper hand where she is now, she's not stupid enough to go on the move", opinions Isolde as she twirls anew.
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An alternate thought comes to mind. Why not let Rhodes army march. It will take them time, siege equipment is exactly know for its high speed travel. Rhodes will either travel with her army, or stay in her fortified position....My gut says shel move with the army. They will have to travel I would assume in a long train of man power and equipment and all the junk an army needs. Perhaps, if we can get some real time intel rather then last weeks rumors we can plan an ambush and a fast hard strike in their side, take or kill Rhodes and get that wand out of play. Seems better then trying to take them in a fortified position and travel by necessity will keep all their force from being brought to bare on us?
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Isolde half-twirls, walking slowly to and fro in the room as she eyes the door, as though expecting others to show up. Meanwhile, she voices her opinion to the rest in a pensive tone:
"I think Rhodes got that doomsday device cranked and poised with intent. She means to extort Peltarch and perhaps beyond too, for all the gold Whyte failed to deliver, for all the power she thinks she should have gotten. As to whether she'll use it, well the men who so far surrendered and fled her army describe her as having lost her marbles. Unfortunately this madness includes rampant paranoia and she'll not be an easy target for any would-be assassin for that, says Gom.
A pretty big portion of her supporters do stay on that side only through fear and coercion, something we could and should exploit, but perhaps we'd need to create an opportunity in which those so inclined feel they have an actual good chance to flee or fight back.
As for the device itself, there is some hope. I have it on good authority it ~can~ be disrupted, but that it'd take both time and collective efforts by spellcasters and skilled miners targetting the metal inlay around the menhir. It's a rare planar mineral known as myrkandite, so the likes of Reemul himself, Jonni, maybe Gnarl would have a chance if supported by spellcasters blasting away with dispelling magic. Failing that, the blast zone itself can be shrunk, but that's… less than ideal for those in the near area of course.
The darkfire itself has been known for some time, and we've a fire expert poised to counter it. Just how, it's best he explain himself."
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I hear you Cormac, the wand is a doomsday device that to a point is intended to hold us hostage it seems. And yes, if we can come up with a plan to remove it from the equation it would benefit us but the smash and grab plan I have a feeling won't work with someone who has watched it done by "us" collectively time and again. But if you know a Master thief who can do this, im game to hear it or any other solid ideas anyone has?
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Cormac, who looms nearby with his arms folded in his typical fashion huffs these words through a half-growl after hearing about the deadly sorcery.
"...suppose now is a good time to let you all know that I can afford -- tsk... 'you know'..."
He trails off and huffs, disgusted that the idea even crossed his mind.
"...and look. It sounds like the kind of thing she'll use in desperation. The more of her men you all slaughter up front, the more likely she'll be to use the damn thing. Are you sure this is the time for blood-work? Isn't there some master thief who can get in there on the sly and split Rhoads and her Stick of Destiny or whatever-the-hell up before we engage? Grrrhhh...! Gods dammit - this can't be the best plan you've come up with?!"
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[OOC: Due to time constraints and scheduling conflicts, please feel free to use this thread for planning. I will be paying attention to it.]
DM Xanatos Gambit
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"Guys, we 'were' planning a proper meeting, traditional war room style, I just didn't want to take the initiative since it's not my show per se. This is a military operation although Gom's already stated the adventurers willing to join in will make for a very valuable part of it. That said, there are plans and intel to share. Rhodes' 'gift' to the city a while back has succeeded in delaying communication and progressing these plans, but that's about to be remedied.
On the bright side, her meddling also earned our side an important ally. It's possible we can gain more of those as well, as the brigand forces down in Kront have splintered from Rhodes' and are in fact opposed to her by now. She attacked villages under their protection it seems, and made slaves of the villagers both for mundane tasks and to bolster her soldiers ranks."
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Good information George, these are the things we need to be aware of. I knew of the darkfire wand, but not the connection to the Menhiers, thats....truly frightening. My knowledge of the situation is only what's public knowledge. They have a Fort, though how this is only now coming to light evades my mental acuity. Did the far scouts not know this? They are building siege machines, again, day late and a copper short. Captured towns, well its a bit late ion the day again to do a lot about that, and they have alredy been exploited by the time we hear of it. Things seem tense between the city and the GFC, so I don't imagine either of them "exposing their flank" during this is likely, and if they did, were probably in an even worse situation. I dont see Rhodes falling for a snatch and grab, shes seen the "hero's" of Peltarch do that old trick more then once. I don't see much viability in a direct assault either on her fortress. The only thing I see if to possibly hem them into their own fortifications, capture their warmachines and turn them against them, again, keeping them held in place requires man power that I'm unsure if its available. That leaves a quick strike to destroy siege machines and pretend that buys us some time, which I don't know that it would. Tactically, I'm not seeing a lot of wiggle room realistically. But getting this all out for discussion may bring options im unaware of to light.
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George seats himself on the nearest table's edge, seeming pensive for a moment
"Alright, let's pool what we know. At the risk of drawing some looks, I have spent some brief time in the Fugue just yesterday. There I was visited by the... ghost? Of Robert Holmesmead.
There is no passing on from the Fugue, for him, but he has been able to watch us. To watch Rhodes."He runs his fingers through his beard, then leans back on the able a bit
"Rhodes has access to something he called Abyssal darkflame, which wiped out his men. It kills the very soul of who it touches, and a single ember is enough. Rhodes also has access to some sort of menhir that can amplify any spell, and have it affect the entire country through the leylines.
Given how ruthless the is, it is safe to assume she will use it if she feels she will lose."He then removes his hat a moment, staring at it
"Though he did not say so literally, he implored that we stop her from using it at any cost, a sentiment which I agree with. There will be no stopping it once it's used."
George then pulls up a map, a bird's eye view of the stronghold with the location if the menhir indicated clearly.
"Sir Holmesmead was kind enough to show me the area, much as he has watched it. Unfortunately there was not enough time to make out more details. I'm not certain if it's more detailed than the Far Scout maps, but I figured I might as well.
I do have some ideas, but it hinges on drawing Rhodes -out- of her stronghold."
