Allowing players to formulate great big successful attack plans, can take a long time, and its hard to award experience for 'planning' an assult.
Its also VERY important to have a clear understanding of what the foe would do under all given circumstances, Gamesmasters have to 'forget' what is going on, on the players side and know 'only' what the creatures know and understand.
So, This week, I'll interject with some key points about the perspective of the enemy, which was unknown by the players.
--------------------------------------
A Merchant Caravan arrived in the wee hours of the morn, our adventurer party were asleep, but awoke and dressed to this surprise visit. After some negotiations, purchases and talk, it was discovered that one of the caravan was no longer keen on a travelling bunk, but would rather prefer the stable bed of a house, and the safety of fortress walls.
In order to secure a place, she spoke frankly of her abilities in the arts, to brew potions and cast spells. She was in fact, a witch. While our intrepid knight was not entirely happy about this, he did acceed that a healer of any kind was sorely needed, yet the fact remained that witches are witches and so he would be keeping an eye on her.
After introductions, the quest became the topic of conversation.
This really became a defining moment for the group, What is it they are doing out here. By setting this priority down, and stating what they needed to do, they became a more co-herant party. It was decided to make a second attack on the goblin caves to the north, they knew approximately what kinds of numbers they were up again, and what the biggest baddest dude of them all was.
The plan? Smoke them out, hack them up as they flee, and retreat into the forest if things get too dangerous.
Harvey, after weeks of nightly study had finally prefected a new spell, wolfcall. The arcane arts of summoning a wolf to aid in combat. he was keen to try it out.
Scady having studied the forest and the lands of the area, was now aware of some local pines that would smoke quite strongly, and sting the eyes of anyone in the smoke.
Sir Draco, just wanted to use his new shortswords, and everyone wanted to know how good Amarta was at healing.
With a gathered bundle of sticks, twigs and underbrush of pine and nettles, they arrived at the cave. but to their dismay, four goblins guarded the locale. This proved a problem that none had foresaw.
(the goblins, having been attacked less than a month ago by crazy humans, had decided to post guards at all entrances to their home. Also, since the last human to attack had been heavily armoured, The smiths and witches of the goblin tribes had been working hard to improve the penetrative power of the goblin arrows, and also include a nasty surprise for the victims, should they escape and live long enough)
So, Harvey summoned a Wolf. within seconds it had arrived by his side, panting, waiting for commands..
The plan was this: The wolf would attack them, then run away, the goblins would persue, they would encounter the group, and be killed. then the entrance would be available for Scady to sneak in the branch bundle and set fire to it, causing enough smoke to make these goblins come out into the light, coughing spluttering and teary eyed, so they could be easily slaughtered by the team. (arn't adventurers just the most greatest of good guys)
As it turned out, the sight of a single lone wolf rushing at the cave was a sight too much for the poor goblins, only a rabid wolf would attempt such idocy, so they fled into the caves calling for the hunters and animal handlers to do their work.. They wolf bit one goblin and fled from the cave (as instructed) with 5 goblins in hot pursuit. Unfortunate for the goblins, they ran out of the caves, right into the trap set by the hero's, The combat was swift and deadly, the goblins lay dead within a minute.
Mean time another wolf was summoned, so they tied the flaming branches to the wolf and ordered it to enter the cave and wait for further instructions.. The smoke did its job, the goblins began to flee, ...
Stay tuned till part #2...
Tags: Bane_Star Russia Roleplay Group
