Though these people are his company, Alexi still doesn't quite feel like he knows them all that well. Sure, he'd heard their names. But they always seemed to keep their distance, for reasons that the fighter couldn't understand. Really, he was quite adept in battle! He just needs an opportunity to prove himself! And here it is, finally!

Alexi addresses the somewhat quit group gathered before him, "At latht!" the human in red exclaims, standing tall and spreading his arms towards the sky, "We've a chanthe to thhow our combat proweth in!" He lowers his arms after holding the dramatic pose for a few minutes, then brings one to his chin and addresses the group a bit more seriously, "Athuming, of courthe, that we each can pull our weight in the thrtuggle ahead. But I'm thure you already knew that. You ARE tholdierth, yeth?"

The old man stops prodding the grotesque lump of flesh in front of him and stares at the flamboyant man in disbelief.

"Wai- Wha- Slow down a little will ya', these old ears aren't as good as they used to be."

Paik sighs, laying back casually and staring up at the night sky. He'd been hoping that he'd be put with more competent people so he wouldn't have to work as hard, or maybe with those amazonian ladies, but no, fate would not be so kind. Not after forcing him to enlist and kill people. Oh no, he was stuck with a fairy, an old fart, a geek, a pacifist, and a pixie. And here they think that they're going to wade into "glorious battle"?

Ha! That wouldn't be a battle, it'd be a massacre. If he had his way, he'd have already snuck out of here a long time ago. And yet some nagging feeling in the pit of his gut kept telling him that if he tried, even if he went to the farthest reaches of the world, even if he changed himself from the ground up, he would be caught and dragged back into the conflict within a single day.

It couldn't be helped. It looked like it was up to him to keep this group from getting them all killed. Maybe Sir Fancy Pants the Pranciful would be willing to listen to a suggestion or two.

Paik waits to respond as he spends a minute churning the gobbledegook that was Alexi's (he'd at least verified their names beforehand) speech inside his head until it finishes processing. And he slowly responds, "Reluctantly, yes. But I can assure you that I'm not the one whose prowess you need to worry about."

He sighs again, "I can't believe we're stuck waiting here during the night instead of going in under the cover of darkness. All the nobbies I ever ran into had early bedtimes." He closes his eyes, "If it were up'ta me we'd be creeping through the place and have that fellow bagged up, ready to deliver to the princess." [i]Then again, if it were up to him, he'd be with the princess in her tent right now, but his squaddies would probably notice he was missing before he could do anything fun.[i/]

Paik sighs, laying back casually and staring up at the night sky. He'd been hoping that he'd be put with more competent people so he wouldn't have to work as hard, or maybe with those amazonian ladies, but no, fate would not be so kind. Not after forcing him to enlist and kill people. Oh no, he was stuck with a fairy, an old fart, a geek, a pacifist, and a pixie. And here they think that they're going to wade into "glorious battle"?

Ha! That wouldn't be a battle, it'd be a massacre. If he had his way, he'd have already snuck out of here a long time ago. And yet some nagging feeling in the pit of his gut kept telling him that if he tried, even if he went to the farthest reaches of the world, even if he changed himself from the ground up, he would be caught and dragged back into the conflict within a single day.

It couldn't be helped. It looked like it was up to him to keep this group from getting them all killed. Maybe Sir Fancy Pants the Pranciful would be willing to listen to a suggestion or two.

Paik waits to respond as he spends a minute churning the gobbledegook that was Alexi's (he'd at least verified their names beforehand) speech inside his head until it finishes processing. And he slowly responds, "Reluctantly, yes. But I can assure you that I'm not the one whose prowess you need to worry about."

He sighs again, "I can't believe we're stuck waiting here during the night instead of going in under the cover of darkness. All the nobbies I ever ran into had early bedtimes." He closes his eyes, "If it were up'ta me we'd be creeping through the place and have that fellow bagged up, ready to deliver to the princess." Then again, if it were up to him, he'd be with the princess in her tent right now, but his squaddies would probably notice he was missing before he could do anything fun.

Paik sighs, laying back casually and staring up at the night sky. He'd been hoping that he'd be put with more competent people so he wouldn't have to work as hard, or maybe with those amazonian ladies, but no, fate would not be so kind. Not after forcing him to enlist and kill people. Oh no, he was stuck with a fairy, an old fart, a geek, a pacifist, and a pixie. And here they think that they're going to wade into "glorious battle"?

Ha! That wouldn't be a battle, it'd be a massacre. If he had his way, he'd have already snuck out of here a long time ago. And yet some nagging feeling in the pit of his gut kept telling him that if he tried, even if he went to the farthest reaches of the world, even if he changed himself from the ground up, he would be caught and dragged back into the conflict within a single day.

It couldn't be helped. It looked like it was up to him to keep this group from getting them all killed. Maybe Sir Fancy Pants the Pranciful would be willing to listen to a suggestion or two.

Paik waits to respond as he spends a minute churning the gobbledegook that was Alexi's (he'd at least verified their names beforehand) speech inside his head until it finishes processing. And he slowly responds, "Reluctantly, yes. But I can assure you that I'm not the one whose prowess you need to worry about."

He sighs again, "I can't believe we're stuck waiting here during the night instead of going in under the cover of darkness. All the nobbies I ever ran into had early bedtimes." He closes his eyes, "If it were up'ta me we'd be creeping through the place and have that fellow bagged up, ready to deliver to the princess." Then again, if it were up to him, he'd be with the princess in her tent right now, but his squaddies would probably notice he was missing before he could do anything fun.

Aeir gleamed at the extravagant man with glowing aquamarine eyes and nodded her head all the while whilst hearing the speech, lightly bouncing down in the air, periwinkle wings fluttering and keeping the petite figure up.
"Oh yes, yes! We are all soldiers after all."

Aeir turned her head on over towards Paik, a curious look spread across her face. "Aren't we at a disadvantage as well if we go out in the dark? Besides, orders are orders, right?"

Ignoring the party ramblings, Reiyasu try to remember how did things went from bad to "terrible".
Oh right, this stupid war. It was Ronoue idea, "My apprentice always wanted to fight, let's send him without training to a war". Perfect plan.
Anyways, there's no way out now. Let's see what my companions are trying to communicate...


The weirdo is having a rough time talking, well not everyone had a chance to be educated.
We got an old man, he looks rusty but durable.
This Paik think he can lead an army huh, let's see how things go in battle.
And for last a pixie, well our group is well supported, we have a chance of returning alive.

"Going at night is not a great idea either, trying to move a group of persons without being detected is no easy job. But yeah, we probably need some kind of distraction before making our entry. If the military plan is retarded then we make a new one."

>>1893
"I suppose so," Paik muses. He couldn't see much better than any of the others. His glasses were already failing him, even though he'd acquired them not more than a year ago. "But barging in through the front door or climbing over the wall is what they're expecting. And I don't like running into somebody who's expecting me and wants to lop my head off." He wished he could have gotten a better look at the place; there was bound to be a spot where he - that is, they - could just sneak in unnoticed, honor and chivalry be damned.

Alexi decides to slow down both his speech and his movements for the benefit of the elder warrior beside him. This has the side effects of making his hand gestures all the more dramatic as poses with his hands folded in front of his chest and says, "Thplendid!" He adjusts himself, bringing one hand back to his chin as he tucks one leg behind the other, doing his best thoughtful look, "Though I can't thay I'd be too eager to thtart thith fight at night. I am thertain the printheth hath a plan, though. Tho there'th no need to fret."

With this, he gestures one hand dramatically in the vague direction of the princess's camp. "The dethithion weighth on her, thatth eathy to thee. A thraight-forward athault ith too rithky to attempt. Not without--" Another twirl, and an elaborate bow, "--a trump card."

>>1896
Making a sarcastic grin, the cleric reply to Alexi.
"A thrump card? now boy, you have my attention."

While talking, you notice the captain of one of the other squads coming closer. You notice because he's barking orders to some of the nearby squads, about keeping down the noise, or quitting their damn gambling games, or how he's throwing each and every one of them in the Crown's moat.

When he reaches your little camp, a sneer comes over the man's face. "You lot gone and made a fuss, ain't you? No, nevermind, I don't want to hear. Gen'ral's orders, you're to meet her at once. Well, whaddya waitin' for, a red carpet? Get moving!"

He turns, briskly, and walks away. Speaking of captains, you haven't seen your own since he was in a drinking contest just this morning.

The General's tent is pitched further ahead, around two hundred paces away. From what you know of her, she doesn't make very pleasant company, but orders are orders...

At the captain's approach, Alexi bows deeply, sweeping one hand out to the side and crossing the other over his chest as he does so. "Thertainly, thir." He adjusts himself afterwards and shoots the deva a sly grin, saying, "Well, I wouldn't want to thteal the general'th thunder. It'th not my plathe to thpoil the fun! Thall we be off?" Cracking his knuckles and his neck, the fighter heads towards the general's tent to see what she has to say.

"What?!"

Kavakri exclaims in fury, aghast at the ruined gamble. "Who was that?! Just who has the gall to interrupt my game?"

The psion had been inches from her rightful win, just a single moment away! Had Kavakri been allowed to continue uninterrupted for a mere half-second longer, she would certainly have been walking away victorious, towing a rather large bag of gold coins with her.

Looking somewhat crazed, she reaches for her staff nearby. The psion whirls around in the direction of the offender, ready to unite this foul evildoer with the gambling gear at the bottom of the moat by the grace of her Dimensional Scramble.

Fortunately for both parties involved, the psion notices that the culprit happens to outranks her and has already walked out of earshot. Kavakri begrudgingly lowers her staff, and the momentary rage subsides as quickly as it came.

Eventually, she notices that the Ninth Squad is being addressed, and she walks over to rejoin her comrades without sparing a glance at the other gamblers. Noticing her companions stand, she asks the others, "Are we expected?"

>>1904
"Oh yes, very much so!"
Aeir informed Kavakri as soon as she inquired about the situation, her lovely wings fluttering at a faster pace, almost matching the pixie's own heart rate as it accelerated, her figure constantly bouncing in mid-air as if to psych up for what was to come next.

"Oh there she is. Was she gambling? Shes apparently not very stressed about this whole situation"
"Alright, anyone have any idea where is our superior?"

With an elaborate gesture, Alexi indicates the superior's tent, not two hundred paces away, using both hands. "There! Thurely you know our fair general, yeth?" Alexi cocks his head slightly at the deva, then clenches his fists and turns his head slightly, as if wincing as he says, "Thhe'th a hard woman, with a heavy burden indeed, to enthrue the thafety and well-being of the many troopth under her command, and yet--" In one quick motion, Alexi raises both hands in the air as his eyes snap open, scattering red flower petals amongst those gathered, "Thhe truly cares! Yeth, her maiden'th heart beatth true, dethpite her unplethant nature!"

Eflor motions to the goose still dancing about.

"Fair? Well I wouldn't go that far. Still, orders are order so we'd best be off."

Putting his hand on the ground, the iron clad warrior allows the lump of flesh to slide up his arm and take perch on his shoulder before walking in the direction of the generals tent.

"What the? ... Where did those flowers come from!? ... This guy is a weirdo."
"Fine fine ... let's get moving."

The Ninth Squad moves as one (minus their captain), arriving quickly at the general's tent. The guards there salute and make way for you, even going so far as to usher you inside.

Inside is a single table, a map spread out over it, the candle beside it half-spent. Apparently, the general went over the map right before you came, but she now stands examining a canvas laid against the back of the tent.

On hearing you enter, she turns, her gaze passing briefly over each individual member, before centering on Alexi.

"I had heard the Ninth was made up of stragglers, and I see now that the rumours ring true." A short pause. "Congratulations, you in red. You're now promoted to captain. Your old one's gone and drunk himself to death."

She takes a deep breath, then continues, "Moreover, we have a task for you. Among the Blazing Regiment, they say the Ninth is up to anything and everything, as long as it gets them away from this Kordforsaken battle."

>>1911
"Right, but please don't put me as the same level at these guys. Also why is the flower guy the leader? Well everyone else isn't very suited either but ..."
"Alright, so what do we need to do?"

Drunk himself to death, eh? Paik couldn't blame 'em. What a sorry bunch of misfits we are. Though having Prancer giving orders wasn't something he relished. It'd probably take some doing to convince him to take a course of action that wouldn't end in everybody dead.

"You darn well better believe I want this over and done with," Paik huffs. "Have you found a shortcut for winning this war?"

The general merely frowns at Paik's outburst, then she turns her eyes to Alexi and says, "It seems your squad has trouble with discipline. Captain, I trust you know how to handle such outbursts?"

Her look makes it obvious she is expecting Alexi to act on this outburst.

"Aye, milady! It is an honor to rethieve thuch a promotion! A thame to hear of the captain, though," Alexi starts, stepping forward proudly with one hand over his chest.

At the rogue's outburst, the fighter addresses his now-subordinate by leaning over and bringing his face in very close to the rogue's, "Ragamuffin, you'd do well to pay attention to rank while in the army, hmmmm? Thould you give our fair general any more trouble I'll have half a mind to bop you one! Now thssh!"

With that much, Alexi whirls back to their commanding officer, "My apologieth, general. Thith regiment being what it ith, thome of the troopth are a bit uncouth. I athure you, though, from now on there will be a whole new kind of dithipline to our rankth--one befitting troopth under the printheth Tile!" With the mention of the princess's name, Alexi gestures in the air elaborately, one hand on his chest, and the other raised high, suddenly holding a rose. Alexi holds this pose for a few moments, before bringing both hands back to his chest and regarding the general for one last comment, "Tho, what tathk do you have for uth, milday?"

The general regards the unfolding events with muted despair, or, well, she might. You know, not like you can read it on her face.

This party is crazy.

Nameless: There is no doubt that the general regrets her decision of who to promote.

Righting herself, the general responds, "A simple one. Our mages have discovered what they believe to be an intrinsic, magical connection between a keep not far from here and the Crown itself.

"Your task, then, to travel there, ascertain whether such is true and return here. Should your services please us, we will release you from service."

Nameless: As far as you can tell the general is completely sincere.

"That doeth thound like a thimple tathk, but an interethting one," Alexi asserts with a nod. "Very well. Thhow uth where we need to go and we'll take care of that for you."

Paik shrinks back from Alexi, head cast down while he murmurs, "Yes'm." He looks rather surprised, like he didn't think he did anything wrong. He just wanted out of here without being killed dead, is that so bad? Nonetheless, he puts on his best humble face (figuratively speaking) to avoid being yelled at again.

And then he hears mention of being 'released'.

What, just like that they could be let go if they did this simple thing? No more fighting? No more stink of blood and death? No more sleeping in tents? No more cruddy trail rations and stale water? No more marching? No more bad hygiene? No more psychics cheating at poker? No more being woken in the middle of the night by a hulking stone behemoth and being dragged before an angry noble, saying to serve the country or face the guillotine?

It sounded too good to be true. There had to be a catch somewhere. There was no way it'd be this easy. A simple scouting mission was so easy that Paik could do it single-handedly, but they asked the entire squad. Something smelled fishy about it.

Well, whatever, that's just fine. Paik would take any way out he could get that didn't involve fighting. After all, the point of being in a war wasn't dying for your country; it's making the sunuvabitch on the other side die for his.

After his eccentric new captain's performance ended, Paik had only one question burning in his mind : When would they start?

"I'm in." How hard can that be?

And who's cheating at poker?!

The old man pats the blob of flesh sitting on his shoulder.

"Right, sounds easy enough. Hopefully there will be a fight or two along the way, eh?"

Staying silent, the cleric keep his rambling on his own head.
"Scouting mission huh? Why not, better than being army's extra meatshield."

Aeir sat in place in midair while hovering, those periwinkle butterfly-like wings fluttering in place, crossing her legs over each other and tapping her index finger to her tiny chin.
"Ugh...Fighting..right..Majority vote is in and I definitely don't want to be alone, I'm in as well."
Aeir soon sprung up from her position, bowing her head down to her general after not giving the entire situation too much thought.

The general glances over the party again, quietly, as if deciding whether or not to go through with this. Then she turns, motioning the others over to observe the map on the table.

She jabs her finger at one part of the map.

"This is our present location," the woman explains, her finger tracing a route to a nearby red circle. "This, then, is where the smaller keep is. It should hardly be an overlong journey."

She draws a short breath. "As you well know, we will break this siege come the morrow, striking the Crown before the sun reaches its peak. Thus. We cannot afford much time for preparation, and so you leave at once."

Alexi nods in understanding. "Bold ith it to take thuch dethithive action thith clothe to the beginning of the athsault," the fighter emphasizes his speech with a somewhat lighter gesture than before, though he's still holding the rose in his hand, as he continues, "I like it. Very good, milday. Ith there anything elthe we'd need to know?"

>>1932
"So inopportune. A battle of this magnitude makes history, and now I risk missing all of it," the psion speaks in an even tone.

At a corner of the table, two Unseen Servants hasten their quills toward a rough copy of the map, and Kavakri's marionette familiar sits limply, overseeing the task.

She turns to her allies. "Who is responsible for these 'Kordforsaken' ideas?"

Standard action: Unseen Servant.

>>1934
Alexi sighs and turns towards the difficult kalashtar. "Yeth, a gloriouth battle lieth ahead. Yet, we are memberth of the printheths'th army! We go where we are needed. Latht I checked, recording the battle came thecond to fighting in it!"

Alexi sighs a bit. Apparently this "captain" thing was going to be harder than he first assumed.

Bored by the useless rambling, something else take Reiyasu attention. A paper floating, it's as if something was grabing it. Actually "something" is trying to make a copy of the map."I wonder who's the owner of that thing, I had never seen something like this before ..."

In an attempt to find the identity of the invisible creature and its owner, Reiyasu step back a bit and trying to remain silent he use his magic hand to mess a bit with the drawing, like moving where a mountain/river was etc.
Standard action: Mage hand

The general is beyond hiding her annoyance at this point, glaring at the gathered members.

"If you are done, I suggest you head out immediately," she states.

>>1936
>>1938
"Well, speak for yourself, 'captain'. I-"

Kavakri interrupts herself upon noticing her familiar struggling against internal sabotage. "Wha--You, stop that! Do you want us to be lost out there?"

I'll have the servants correct any errors before leaving etc.

Amused by the psion reaction, Reiyasu decide to leave the tent with the rest.
"I hope those guys paid attention to our mission, because I have no idea what she wanted."

Paik shoots an apologetic look at the general lady, quickly followed by a "help I'm stuck with a bunch of insane people, get me out of here please, I'm sorry," look, bows, and follows after the squad. The location is close enough to walk without tiring out his feet, at least, but...

Well, he'll have to assert his usefulness right now, otherwise who knows what their fearless leader would suggest as a course of action?

"If I might make a suggestion," the rogue speaks, "When we reach our destination, I'd like to go in first and scout ahead." He allows himself a confident smirk, "I can assure you, our foes won't see me coming."

The fighter bows to the general, managing a "By your leave, milady," before heading out of the tent with his squad.

"That could have gone better," Alexi mutters, not really being too quiet in the process. He follows it with a rather loud, commanding, "Troopth, the tathk lieth before us. It'd be nithe if you could at leatht pretend to act like tholdierth until thith ith done."

To the rogue's request, Alexi gives a more measured and even reply, "We thould analythe the thituation upon arrival. But motht likely, if the connection lieth within the keep, that'd be a good move." With that much, the fighter makes a quick detour back to their squad's gathering place, grabs the battle standard that carries the squad's symbol, and carries it over his shoulder one-handed upon his return to the rest of the squad. "Now then, letth be off!"

Carry battle standard of the hungry blade in my main hand. Off-hand needs to be free (or grabbing a creature) for defensive features, but there's no rule that says I can't attack with a spiked gauntlet while the hand is holding something.

The Pixie bows with a dramatic gesture toward her new flamboyant general and then stands straight at attention as if they commanded respect. "Right, act like soldiers!"

Aeir giggled and hunched back into her normal position, hovering along with her superior back at campsite fire and placing herself right down on the back of her lifelong fey companion. The pixie rubbed at the panther's smooth neck and pat at it as if to let it know she was ready to start moving again, the same hand patting at one of those assort pouched laid over the back of the beast, soon enough she joined the squad again just a few moments after Alexi had.

Eflor follows the group out with a hearty chuckle. "Ha, this could actually be fun."

He turns and whispers something to his familiar in its native language, the demon lets out a violent shriek of laughter. "Oh yeah, this will be fun."

"Now Red, since you're the leader of this little troupe, just tell me where you want me and whom I'm to kill, I'll happily oblige."

Alexi notes the pixie and her panther companion, nodding with a small bit of affection. "You needn't worry, I'm thure you can hold your own out there. But if you thould need help, thmall ath you are, I'll be the one you can count on!"

Select Aeir for my bonded charge. I can detect when Aeir is in danger as long as she's within 1 mile, and I know their general direction as well. Whenever an enemy attacks Aeir, I get a +1 bonus to attack rolls against that enemy until the start of its next turn.

Turning to the blackguard with a slightly stricter yet still friendly tone, Alexi replies, "Well, thith ith a war, tho it'll likely come to that. Thereth no way of telling what connection thith keep hath to the Crown, though, until we thee it with our own eyeth. Maybe the inhabitantth can be negotiated with."

If everyone is ready, Alexi will lead the party along the path outlined on the map, holding the battle standard high. Gesturing dramatically, he announces, "The thow beginth!"

>>1951
Aeir nodded her head back in response as she looked at Alexi, wings fluttering at an alarming rate.
"R..right,I'll count on you when things look bleak!"

"Now you're speaking my language," Paik cheers. In a swift motion, he reaches into a pocket on his cloak and tosses something high into the air. The object spins rapidly, glinting under the starry sky as Paik rushes forward. He gracefully swerves around the others, turns back, and looks towards the sky with a confident smile, hand raised.

For a brief instant, said smile twitches when he loses track of where the object is. It's only for an instant, so only the most observant would even notice, but he does look rather scared. The next instant is him catching the spinning object in his outstretched hand after making a slight (read : significant) positioning adjustment. Anybody who could see it would find that he just caught a simple-looking parrying dagger, its surface scuffed and dinged from heavy usage. Either it has survived a fair amount of battles, or has been used for some other purpose very frequently.

Paik grins and clears his throat, then sheepishly waits for Alexi to catch up so he can see where the heck they're going. For all his eagerness to get things over with, he's not the one with the map.

Grinning at Paik attempts to show off, Reiyasu doesn't keep quiet. He takes his own parrying dagger and show it to him.
"Hey good catch! Can you try with two at the same time? Haha, not really."

The group ultimately decides to set off, as agreed, towards the unnamed keep Kavarich has on his map. Two-hundred paces became two-THOUSAND paces, as if some force in the universe somehow made a bit of a mistake in measuring distance.

Even so, two thousand steps later, they find themselves looking at the looming form of the keep in the distance, but it is a seriously short distance.

The problem only is that some of the squad've spotted lights moving between the trees: hints that there are soldiers on patrol here, and the chances are good they aren't friendly.

It may be pertinent to avoid them to avoid unnecessary fights.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 0/6
Failures: 0/2
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

"We should have reached that place already ... what's going on?" Getting a bit worried, the cleric say in a low voice.
"Be aware, those bastards are looking for us ..."
Insight check: What's going on? There's an illusion around etc? http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3327332/

Reiyasu: As far as you can tell, there are no illusions at work, and the DM is simply incompetent.

Stopping short of the sweeping lights, Paik rummages through his cloak for the camouflaged clothes he bought for occasions like this. To his dismay, he can't seem to find them. The changeling gets a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut when he remembers that he left it in the tent back at camp.

Wait, why was he worried? This isn't something that he should be worried about! The camo was just for reassurance at this point; Paik had the skills to avoid detection, and he darn well knew it.

"Well they're not gonna find me," Paik says in a barely audible whisper, proclaiming "I'm going in."

Paik darts forward to the nearest tree, staying within its shadow. He presses his back to it, looks around carefully, then leaps into the shadow of the next one. Within a few feet of movement, not even the party is able to see the slippery rogue, as if he'd just vanished completely.[/i]

Move up 2 squares/ten feet
Stealth check to hide: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3327818/ (35)

Stopping short of the sweeping lights, Paik rummages through his cloak for the camouflaged clothes he bought for occasions like this. To his dismay, he can't seem to find them. The changeling gets a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut when he remembers that he left it in the tent back at camp.

Wait, why was he worried? This isn't something that he should be worried about! The camo was just for reassurance at this point; Paik had the skills to avoid detection, and he darn well knew it.

"Well they're not gonna find me," Paik says in a barely audible whisper, proclaiming "I'm going in."

Paik darts forward to the nearest tree, staying within its shadow. He presses his back to it, looks around carefully, then leaps into the shadow of the next one. Within a few feet of movement, not even the party is able to see the slippery rogue, as if he'd just vanished completely.

Move up 2 squares/ten feet
Stealth check to hide: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3327818/ (35)

Paik moves forward, darting through the woods, finding a safe path forward for the rest of the group. The party advances, only to come across another patrol soon enough.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 1/6
Failures: 0/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

With the target in sight, Kavakri attempts to recall what she's read about this location.

History, separate from the skill challenge. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3327955/

Attempts to remember any information about the current area and just who those torches belong too, hoping to recall any useful tidbit.
History, separate from the skill challenge http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3327961/

Aeir: You know the keep is mentioned as the "Ghost Keep" in some books. Long ago it used to be a battle site, where a group of illustruous bandits known as the "Fog Troupe" had attacked the garrison stationed here.
After slaughtering the garrison, the entire bandit troupe allegedly disappeared, never to be seen again. Since, the castle has not been in use.

Kavakri: You know everything Aeir does. Additionally, you know the castle used to belong to a wizard who was said to have close ties with the Royal Elector. He disappeared a few years prior to the Fog Troupe's attack, and his whereabouts have since been unknown.

Aeir sprawled her fingers through strands of her dark-blue hair in deep-thought as she recollected what exactly she knew of the area, any information surrounding it until the thought of bandits had occurred to her.

Aeir hopped up from her fey panther mount, pushing herself right off the ground, almost looking like she had jumped straight into air as she flew on over towards the psion that sat right by her figure and attempted to whisper. "Hey,Hey, Kavakiri. You think they're trying to play hide and seek with us because they think we're bandits?"
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3329311/

Aeir tries to remember any information about the surrounding areas, but the memory is hazy and blurry. No paths that could lead them past the patrol spring to mind immediately: it looks like the fairy's knowledge is of no use to evading this particular problem here.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 1/6
Failures: 0/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

Kavakri's voice rings inside the pixie's head. 'They may be watching for bandits, Aeir, but I don't think they've noticed we're here.'

Secondary skill check, insight etc. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3329974/

Kavakri effortlessly determines at the eastern flank of the group of soldiers isn't really paying attention; the torch isn't moving about at all, in contrast to the hurried movements of the other torches. A weakness in the troop's surveillance seems to be there.

Alexi nods at the group Kavakri has indicated, and adjusts the axe-like blade on his right wrist, before using a combination of his strength and the axe to start carving a path through some dense foliage in order for the group to exploit the inattentiveness of the warband. "Thith way!" he calls out to the rest of the party in a hushed tone.

Athletics to carve a path for his party: 36 http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3330131/ (Natural 20)

Using his manly swagger, Alexi clears a path for the rest of the party, who sneak after him through the foliage. The keep is getting closer and closer. At this rate, they'll reach it in no time at all.

The walls are within reach enough, but there's still one more band of patrols around. If they manage to circumvent this band, they'll be able to scale the walls or otherwise find a way in.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 0/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

Not being the sharpest tool in the shed, Eflor proclaims to the rest of the group.

"Hmm, it appears that a distraction will suffice so that we may pass."

With that, he quickly reaches into one of his pockets and withdraws a hand full of silver coins. He proceeds to lob the silver at the patrol in an attempt to distract them.

Bluff: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3331283/ huehuehue

>>2008
The potentially disastrous attempt at distraction is thwarted by an Unseen Servant, conveniently standing in the coins' trajectory. The silver pieces fall flat upon striking the conjuration.

Kavakri stares at the blackguard. 'Sir Eflor. What you just did was, to say the least, suicidal. You'll never do that again.'

With cake's permission etc. Also, I won't be using the Unseen Servants to block projectile attacks or anything in the future.

Despite the psionic's intervention, it seems the coins did have an effect nonetheless.

"Hey, did you hear something?"

"I think it came from over there."

"Captain! We think we've found something!"

"Alright, go report to the commander."

The lights from the patrol approach, while one hurries away. It looks like they went to warn the keep.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 1/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

'Darn it, they heard us!'

The psion's servants quickly gather up the fallen coins to cover the party's trail.

"That was a terrible idea," Paik notes. The idea of running off grows more appealing, but there is still a way to salvage the situation.

"If I can catch up to the party that's heading back for reinforcements, I can snuff out their lights," he remarks to the party. "It should create an opening for you to get past them."

>>2012
'Never mind that; then they'll know for sure someone's here. We need to move away, and quickly.' Kavakri turns to the saboteur cleric. 'You, help me look for a way past those guards, and fast.'

"That was a terrible idea," Paik notes. The idea of running off grows more appealing, but there is still a way to salvage the situation.

"If I can catch up to the party that's heading back for reinforcements, I can snuff out their lights," he remarks to the party. "It should create an opening for you to get past them."

>>2016
'Never mind that; then they'll know for sure someone's here. We need to move away, and quickly.' Kavakri turns to the saboteur cleric. 'You, help me look for a way past those guards, and fast.'

"Are this guy desires to die even stronger than mine? Damn it, just when this shell life was getting interesting."
"... Alright, this may actually give us a chance to move. As long they don't find us we might still sneak in."
Reiyasu continue watching the soldier movements, and wait for the best chance to make their move.
"Alright they aren't looking this side right now, You the Rogue, why don't you give a try?"
Insight check: (26) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3331335/

Noticing events quickly deteriorating in front of him, Alexi attempts to take charge of the party as their "captain," "Don't! They'll notithe if one of their own goeth mithing for thure!" Alexi turns in a direction perpendicular to the approaching party, looking for cover. "Let'th evade them. If they find nothing, then--" pausing for a moment, the fighter considers another option, looking towards the pixie, "While we ethcape, have your panther remain here, hiding. When thpotted, have it quickly withdraw. With any lucky they'll jutht athume the noise they heard wath a wild beatht, prowling around."

>>2019
'Oh, and all these pouches on a "wild" beast is completely natural, is it, captain? Certainly, they won't think twice of it.' Kavakri points at the said pouches to make sure her point is understood, and stuffs the silver coins into her own pocket. 'Let's just do as Reiyasu says and move, shall we?'

>>2021
"That will only leave them thuth-thuthpithouth!" Alexi hisses, scolding the not-too-forward-thinking psion. "Better to have them at leatht think they have found the thource of the dithturbanthe. I'll carry the pouches if that'th a conthern, though I doubt they'd even notice them if the panther wath hiding in the foliage." As long as the pixie has no objections, the fighter will quickly grab the pouches for temporarily carrying while they run off. "We don't have time to wait out any kind of alert."

While the group argues, it looks like the patrol's still approaching. Coming dangerously close, even. If they don't make their escape quickly, a fight'll be inevitable.

Reiyasu notes that the group's efforts are mostly focused in two directions, leaving them a third to escape from.

If ever there was a time to escape, now's that time.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 1/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

>>2022
... Pfft.

Without bothering to hide her amusement, Kavakri addresses the captain again.

'If you insist. Of course, you'd do well to remember that those belong to an artificer.'

"Alright, alright, you all go on ahead. I'll stay behind with Whiskers here and make them think it was just a cat."

Paik hides several feet away in a brush and, at the perfect moment, motions for the panther to leap out of the brush and run off.

Now he just has to catch up to the others.

Bluff check : http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3331481/ (35)

Paik's little manoeuvre successfully convinces the guards that it was just wild life passing by. The captain can be heard scolding the soldiers and sending another messenger to alert the keep of the false alarm.

It becomes evident they're patrolling for members of Tile's army instead.

Well, the group still needs to pass this patrol before they reach the walls and can begin looking for a way in.

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 0/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

"Okay," Paik whispers to the group at large after catching up, "Is there any practical history to be recalled about this place? Like its architecture, weak points, back doors, less traveled paths, notorious jail breaks, famed break ins and whatnot?" [i]He looks around the immediate area with an urgent expression, "Anything at all?"

"Okay," Paik whispers to the group at large after catching up, "Is there any practical history to be recalled about this place? Like its architecture, weak points, back doors, less traveled paths, notorious jail breaks, famed break ins and whatnot?" He looks around the immediate area with an urgent expression, "Anything at all?"

>>2043
"Practical, you say? Well.."
Aeir placed her tiny head right into the palm of her right hand, chin in between the webbing of her index finger and thumb while keeping herself afloat quietly.
"I read up before on this place and it's sometimes called..."The Ghost Keep" because it's a battle site where some mysterious troupe of bandits attacked here but then fluttered away never to be heard of.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3335368/

From her knowledge of the battle, Aeir actually happens to recall a spot nearby which, as a map indicated, was a route the Fog Bandits had used; it made clever use of a blindspot from where the soldiers on the wall couldn't spot the bandits. 'Course, the patrols might know it too, but if they find that spot, they could reach the castle without problem. Probably.

'A blind spot? I'll go look.'

The psion turns away from the group, and quickly scales a nearby tree. She swings from one tree to another, trying to determine a safe route through multiple lines of sight.

Bracers of Brachiation make this viable. Acrobatics check for this, right?
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3337051/ hard mode encounters yay

Kavakri attempts to get the high ground, but the manoeuvre fails in a spectacular way. She slips, missing one of the branches and tumbling down to the ground, inelegantly falling face-first on the ground, avoiding falling damage for comedic effect.

Less comedic is the sudden shouts of alert going through the patrol, and another scout leaving on orders. It doesn't look like it'll be an easy task to convince them anew it was just an animal...

SKILL CHALLENGE:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 1/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

Alexi looks a bit panicked by the psion's sudden actions, and the apparent reaction of the troops. "Thath no good! Fall in, troopth, let's get out of here!"

With that, the fighter attempts to keep cutting into deeper foliage, but has limited success.

Athletics: 20. Not a natural 20 this time. Sorry, can't do much if I roll a 4! http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3337485/

Despite's Alexi's attempts to shake off the patrol's pursuit, the party makes difficult progress through the foliage. When they reach a small opening, a sudden light bursts alight at their feet, and the cries of, "We've found 'em!" quickly alert the party to their dilemma.

Paik is the fastest on his feet, ready to face the patrol that's drawing near; a few members of the patrol have gone elsewhere. It looks like this is just a weak detachment.

Initiative Order
Paik (28)
Reiyasu (27)
Goat Knight 4 (27)
Kavakri (26)
Goat Knight 2 (23)
Goat Knight 6 (23)
Eflor (21)
Aeir (18)
Alexi (17)
Goat Knight 5 (17)
Goat Knight 3 (16)
Goat Knight 1 (15)

Players
Reiyasu (M-23) 69/69 HP
Paik (L-21) 68/68 HP
Aeir (O-22) 75/75 HP, Riding
Aeir's Panther (O-22) 37/37 HP
Kavakri (N-22) 60/60 HP
Alexi (K-22) 81/81 HP
Eflor (L-23) 81/81 HP

Enemies
Goat Knight 1 (D-20), Light
Goat Knight 2 (C-22), Light
Goat Knight 3 (B-18)
Goat Knight 4 (C-22)
Goat Knight 5 (F-21), Light
Goat Knight 6 (A-25), Light
Candle (M-22)

Notes
- Any square under, over or beyond the trees is difficult terrain and requires an athletics or strength check to pass through.
- Goat Knight 3 cannot be seen by people without lowlight vision.
- Snuffing out the candle is a Minor Action.
- You require Nature or Religion to learn more about the Goat Knights. History may tell you more about these elusive warriors as well.

Skill Challenge:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 2/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

Noticing the incoming guards, Reiyasu use his sharp reaction to the problem to alert their leader. After all, he should be able to handle this better.
"Hey be aware! The enemy is just in front of us!"
Activate casque of tactics power, swap initiative with Alexi

Also, religion check on the weirdos with masks. (27) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3339503/

Paik clicks his tongue in annoyance. If it was just him, he'd have been over that wall and in the treasure vaults fifteen minutes ago. But being a con-man meant you had to work with other people, gain their trust, and stay amiable with them. Though he didn't feel it was nice to steal from the side he was working for.

Anyway, Paik had a job to do, and that meant he had to take down these grunts. A swift reach into his cloak pocket procured a little-used dagger, one he didn't like to use because it felt so thuggish, killing people. Oh well, it's either them or him, and he chose him.

With a series of weaving movements, he glides towards the nearest goat knight before the poor sap even realizes what he's doing. A clean slice across where the armor failed to protect, and that's one goat down.

"Now you see it," Paik murmurs, once again tossing his trusty parrying dagger into the air. It glints ever so slightly as it hangs overhead, but Paik pays it no attention. While the guards are transfixed by it, the rogue pulls his arm back and hurls the other dagger straight through the trees and nails another guard in the neck. Both daggers return to their respective hands as Paik adopts a defensive stance, hopping from one foot to the other. He quips, "Now you're down."

"They're all yours now, cap'n."

Free action : Draw +2 Footpad's Friend Dagger from +2 Deep Pocket Cloak
Move action: Move to K-20, then H-23, then G-23, and finally F-22
Minor action: Low Slash vs. Goat Knight 5, reflex, combat advantage from class feature http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3339634/ (34, 16)
Standard Action: Sly Flourish vs. Goat Knight 6, combat advantage from class feature http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3339642/ (28, 25)

While Reiyasu urges on Alexi to take the initiative instead, Paik surges forward, towards the nearest of the Knights.

Just as the rogue is about to pass the warrior, however, he lashes out with surprising alacrity and accuracy, landing a solid blow on the rogue; moments later, the warrior crumples from the rogue's precise attack.

The distant knight also falls, and when it falls its light immediately snuffs out, leaving the place of its demise one of darkness.

Reiyasu: These Knights are Tieflings, creatures that are not native to this seed. What you know of them is extensive, however, for you've encountered them more often than is normal.

Tieflings are often in the employ of powerful sorcerors and summoners, serving as guards, chaperones and servants. Like humans, they are a varied lot; some come weak, some come so powerful they could sweep away your entire squad with a bat of their eye.

These Tieflings seem rather weak, lacking traditional Tiefling features such as blazing fire and whatnot. Their swords are the most threatening thing they have, and their acute senses let them strike at you even if you shift!

Casque of Tactics expends its power to swap initiatives of Alexi and Reiyasu.
Goat Knight 5's Opportunity Attack CRITS against Paik for 7 damage.
Paik kills Goat Knights 5 and 6.

Initiative Order
Paik (28)
Alexi (27)
Goat Knight 4 (27)
Kavakri (26)
Goat Knight 2 (23)
Goat Knight 6 (23)
Eflor (21)
Aeir (18)
Reiyasu (17)
Goat Knight 5 (17)
Goat Knight 3 (16)
Goat Knight 1 (15)

Players
Reiyasu (M-23) 69/69 HP
Paik (L-21) 61/68 HP
Aeir (O-22) 75/75 HP, Riding
Aeir's Panther (O-22) 37/37 HP
Kavakri (N-22) 60/60 HP
Alexi (K-22) 81/81 HP
Eflor (L-23) 81/81 HP

Enemies
Goat Knight 1 (D-20), Light
Goat Knight 2 (C-22), Light
Goat Knight 3 (B-18)
Goat Knight 4 (A-21)
Goat Knight 5 (F-21), Dead
Goat Knight 6 (A-25), Dead
Candle (M-22)

Notes
- Any square under, over or beyond the trees is difficult terrain and requires an athletics or strength check to pass through.
- Goat Knight 3 cannot be seen by people without lowlight vision.
- Snuffing out the candle is a Minor Action.
- You require Nature or Religion to learn more about the Goat Knights. History may tell you more about these elusive warriors as well.

Skill Challenge:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 2/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

The situation has deteriorated quite a bit, but Alexi doesn't hesitate a moment when he sees the battle about to unfold. Dashing in, battle standard in hand, Alexi takes his position at the front of the battlefield and calls out, "Yoo-hoo! Cooooooooome aaaaaaand geeeeeet iiiiiiiit!"

This has the most entirely predictable results.

More Action: Move to F-21, using diagonals to avoid difficult terrain.
Standard Action: Use Come and Get It, targets Goat 1 (33) and Goat 2 (28), attacks Will defense. A hit pulls them adjacent to me, I pull Goat 1 to E-20, and Goat 2 to E-21. They then take some damage and I mark them but since they're minions I didn't roll.

The brawler dashes into the combat swiftly, yielding predictable results: his taunt causes the knights to close the distance, and they are quickly dispatched.

Only two remain, now. One of the knights moves quickly, ducking into the foliage before striking at the rogue in a charge. His sword finds purchase with the warrior, opening a wound on Paik.

Goat Knights 1 and 2 die to Come and Get It.
Goat Knight 4 charges Paik, and hits for 7 damage.

Initiative Order
Paik (28)
Alexi (27)
Goat Knight 4 (27)
Kavakri (26)
Eflor (21)
Aeir (18)
Reiyasu (17)
Goat Knight 3 (16)

Players
Reiyasu (M-23) 69/69 HP
Paik (L-21) 54/68 HP
Aeir (O-22) 75/75 HP, Riding
Aeir's Panther (O-22) 37/37 HP
Kavakri (N-22) 60/60 HP
Alexi (F-21) 81/81 HP
Eflor (L-23) 81/81 HP

Enemies
Goat Knight 1 (E-20), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 2 (E-21), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 3 (B-18)
Goat Knight 4 (E-23), Light
Goat Knight 5 (F-21), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 6 (A-25), [color=red]Dead
Candle (M-22)

Notes
- Any square under, over or beyond the trees is difficult terrain and requires an athletics or strength check to pass through.
- Goat Knight 3 cannot be seen by people without lowlight vision.
- Snuffing out the candle is a Minor Action.
- You require Nature or Religion to learn more about the Goat Knights. History may tell you more about these elusive warriors as well.

Skill Challenge:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 2/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

The psion begins by moving up into the fray and dropping one of her staves, before procuring a sunrod from her magical cloak in order to illuminate the area.

Move Action: Move to H-22.
Free Action: Drop accurate aversion staff.
Minor Action: Procure a sunrod from her cloak of useful items, activating it to shed 20-square light.
Hold standard action until we can see better.

Kavakri illuminates the area with a sunrod.

Spotting the distant enemy, Kavakri nods and attempts to use her psychic powers to attempt to make it give up the fight.

Standard Action: Dishearten @ C-19, 23 vs. goat 3's Will.

Kavakri's attack robs the Goat Knight of his will to fight, and the warrior stands by idly.

Initiative Order
Paik (28)
Alexi (27)
Goat Knight 4 (27)
Kavakri (26)
Eflor (21)
Aeir (18)
Reiyasu (17)

Players
Reiyasu (M-23) 69/69 HP
Paik (L-21) 54/68 HP
Aeir (O-22) 75/75 HP, Riding
Aeir's Panther (O-22) 37/37 HP
Kavakri (N-22) 60/60 HP
Alexi (F-21) 81/81 HP
Eflor (L-23) 81/81 HP

Enemies
Goat Knight 1 (E-20), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 2 (E-21), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 3 (B-18), [color=red]Disabled
Goat Knight 4 (E-23), Light
Goat Knight 5 (F-21), [color=red]Dead
Goat Knight 6 (A-25), [color=red]Dead
Candle (M-22)

<b>Notes </b>
- Any square under, over or beyond the trees is difficult terrain and requires an athletics or strength check to pass through.
- Goat Knight 3 cannot be seen by people without lowlight vision.
- Snuffing out the candle is a Minor Action.
- You require Nature or Religion to learn more about the Goat Knights. History may tell you more about these elusive warriors as well.

Skill Challenge:
Successes: 2/6
Failures: 2/3
Primary Skills: Stealth, Athletics, Acrobatics, Bluff (Hard DC-Bluff/Stealth/Athletics only)
Secondary: History, Insight, Thievery

Move to H/22
Charge to F/23 : http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3345255/ (24)

Eflor singles out and charges down the remaining soldier.

Move to H/22
Charge to F/23 : http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3345255/ (24)

With a mighty strike, Eflor manages to bring down the last of the enemies; the only Goat Knight to be left standing adds one and one together, deciding that flight beats fight right now.

The party, however, has little time to celebrate their victory: the rest of the patrol is emerging from the bushes. Unanimously, the group takes to flight.

However, Eflor, already worn a bit by age, is held back by the weight of his armour and the density of the forest. The party can do little but leave Eflor to the approaching troop.

Like this, the sacrifice of one of their number permits the group to reach the keep's walls unhindered. Now rests the task of scaling the walls, or otherwise find a way inside.

Skill Challenge:
Successes: 3/6
Failures: 2/3
Primary Skills: Athletics*, Acrobatics, Perception, History
Secondary: Insight, Intelligence

* denotes Hard DC

Silenly regreting leaving the oldman back, the cleric follow the rest of the squad to the walls of the castle.
"As long that oldman stay hidden he should be fine ... I hope he knows how to do that."
"... Give a second and I will find a wait to get inside."
Perception check, find a back door, a window or any other clever way to get inside: (20) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3345396/