IK talk:On The Road Again

Caitlyn's Tactical Analysis of the Guards

• Front Gate Guards
  • Scale Mail (+4 armor bonus, max dex +3, 20' move)
  • Ransuer + pick/shield (1 guard)
    • AC 14-17 with Ransuer, AC 16-19 with pick and shield
    • Ransuer (2d4 dmg, x3 crit); Pick (1d6 dmg, x4); and likely at least +2 for Str
  • Double Axes (3 guards)
    • AC 14-17
    • Double axe (1d8 dmg, x3), they'll be taking two-weapon fighting penalties; and likely at least +2 for Str
• Inside Gate Guards
  • Scale Mail
  • Ransuer + pick/shield (1 guard)
    • AC 14-17 with Ransuer, AC 16-19 with pick and shield
    • Ransuer (2d4 dmg, x3 crit); Pick (1d6 dmg, x4); and likely at least +2 for Str
  • Warhammers and Tower shields (3 guards)
    • AC 18-20 (Tower shield +4, max Dex +2)
    • Warhammer (1d8, x3) and likely at least +2 for Str

Tolmek: I know we can manage this. From range, we can take out the guard in each group that uses a ranseur. That eliminates the melee reach threat, and puts us more on "even" terms. We have the luxury of increased battlefield mobility, and should use that to our advantage. The group isn't likely to leave a defensible position at the front gate if it doesn't have to. The gate provides them a means of fortification and retreat. If we're able to assist them in believing that the gate isn't the optimal place to stand, we're that much closer to our way inside.
We're dealing with humans here. At night, darkness is a weakness of theirs that can be exploited by three of us. Perhaps a concerted effort by Dook and Tirotin to take our the ranseur guard and create darkness in the area cause enough confusion to make our advance. I'm open to suggestion.

Jamison: Raiding a Khadoran outpost. Not an easy task. But, between the seven of us, I think we can manage. Silence plus a night raid seems like a good start.

Caitlyn: I agree with Tolmek's assessment. Currently I'm reflecting on whether or not I should cast Disguise Self as a Khadoran Commander with his tongue cut out and then cast Charm Person on them to see if we could gain a couple of allies. Damn the language barrier.

Jamison: I don't think tring a disguise is a good idea. The language barrier is too much of a problem right now so any disguise ploy would likely be doomed from the start. Save that spell slot for something more tactical.

Tolmek: I don't feel comfortable putting you in such peril without us being beside you at least, Caitlyn. If something should go wrong, you could be left vulnerable to attack.

Jamison: Tolmek is right, Caitlyn. If you try a disguise you could end up as a hostage. Or dead. I'd way a surprise attack under cover of night and a silence spell would be a better option.

Heck, if we use silence a night we might even be able to climb in if the inside guards go to sleep at night. I'm also going to be able to cast "Expeditious Retreat" on myself once when the time comes, so I'll be able to move pretty quickly.

I could also call a familiar for a distraction if I have 24 hours. The choices I have are either bat or rabbit, if we have time.

Caitlyn: I'll consider the Disguise+Charm Person tactic null and void.

Caitlyn: I think that the Charm Person plan is back on. I just took Khadoran (that Marshall level lets me have Speak Language as a class skill). So here's the plan: Under the cover of darkness Dook and Leto sneak near the guards. I cast Disguise self and when the rest of us get close, but still in darkness, I run out while looking like I'm under attack. I'll tell the guards that I'm a high-ranking war wizard and that I can cast spells to buff them. When they except the spell, they're charmed with no save and POW, I become their commander and lead them against the other guards who are Cygnaran spies. ::smiles:: Your thoughts?

Jamison: It's still risky. I recommend having Tyrotin cast Eagle's Splendor on you before you try it, so that you will be more charismatic. Charm person also affects only one person at a time, so you might not get all of the guards. But if we get one or two of the guards it would help. You'll still be putting yourself in danger.

I'm still more partial to a less complex approach, as the more complex a plan is, the more likely it is to fall apart in the face of the enemy. Especially since you'll have to cast Charm person at least twice, maybe even 4 times.

Caitlyn: I'm thinking that I'll be able to get off ONE charm person. I figure turning that first level spell into a guard that fights for us makes it well spent. (The disguise will come from a scroll.) And the plan is very risky, but I'll have an Invisibility as a get-away spell.

Dook: It seems risky, but perchance Leto and I can attempt to kill one of the other guards before they can react? Possibly readying together for the moment you cast your spell?

Caitlyn: Here is how I hope things will play out:

1. We wait until late at night.
2. Caitlyn casts Disguise self to resemble a male khadoran officer, like one we met, Aleksandr Oksa. (Disguise duration is 10 minutes from a scroll.)
3. Tirotin casts Silence on Leto; Dook and Leto both move close to the guards but still in darkness. (Silence duration is 4 minutes.)
4. Caitlyn casts Message so that we can talk without anyone else hearing us (Duration 40 minutes)
5. Caitlyn walks into the camp, telling the guards that she has been tracking an evil Cygnaran wizard and the rest of her troops are scouting for him. If they believe this, Caitlyn will tell them that she will be casting Dispel Magic in the area, which will cause the wizard's invisibility to be gone if he's in the area. What Caitlyn will really be doing is casting Silent Image to create a cygnaran wizard.
6. Caitlyn will order that the Cygnaran be slain but can only be hit by magic weapons because he is incorporeal and when initiative is declared she will cast a magic weapon on the Ransuer guard, which will actually be Charm Person and turn him into her best friend. At this point Caitlyn will tell her charmed guard that the rest of the guards are actually cygnaran spies and that only that guard can help her and her friends defeat the evil Cygnarans.
7. If this goes well, Caitlyn can have a charmed killing machine.

If things go poorly, Caitlyn will run. If unable to run, she'll cast the Invisibility that she wants to save for use on Dook prior to the inside battle.

Flaw

Caitlyn has a poor Bluff (+2). If she doesn't get the Bluff off, then she needs to cast Charm Person before anyone reveals themselves or attacks. This is important so that the spell is more likely to be successful.