Blackbog Keep

[Mr_Praetorian]

"I have to agree. If anything, we should strike at them when their fatigue will be greatest. Though it may delude our element of surprise considerably, we might want to consider making several feints before the actual attack begins. I'm not talking about massive scale troop movements, but just enough to shake their nerves a bit; put them on the edge. The hope being, by the time we launch actual attack, they won't know how to react.

We begin the feints when the concert is nearing its end. We do not engage, we simply fly and fly out. We want them to think we're scouting, not attacking. Sending in infiltrators to screw around with their information and reconnaissance would also be advised. Mining important facilities with leaflets of Symbol of Insanity can prove a particularly devastating tactic when put in places that are heavy in foot traffic, such barracks' and command centers.

We set everything up so that when our full strike is executed, everything "goes wrong": weapons malfunctions, traps, and miscommunications, all after tiresome day, a and nerve-wracking evening. Many of them will break before we get to them. Resistance will still be tough, but lets see them fight off a 5-way attack while fatigued." (Diplomacy 50)

[Zanaikin]

Aelisar: "Unfortunately, our Insanity Symbols, or any symbols that we know of for that matter, does not have such an option for extended-delay or user-controlled activation. Any Symbol placed over major traffic areas will trigger immediately as soon as anyone not attuned to it comes within range, which is likely to be long before the attack occurs."

Viktor: "Yet, the idea of carrying out repeated scouting attempts and feints to make them believe an attacking is en-route and rally up their defenses for nothing is certainly a considerable idea. Not only would this annoy and fatigue the focus and mentality of their defense forces, but it may also cause them to underestimate the main attack when we strike, thinking it simply another feint. At the same time surgical strike on various locations of the city by our infiltrators may further destabilize their defensive coordination prior to the main attack going in."

Daetherlar: "But we would also lose our element of surprise, and we cannot be certain that the benefits gained is worth the opportunity cost we must trade of. Not to mention there are more than 7,000 troops within mere miles of the city whom can be pulled in for continuously cycling guard shifts."

[Squall255]

Ulrich: "I agree with Daetherlar. The element of surprise, centered around their fascination with the Songstress who is arriving. We cannot give them any indication that we will be attacking then. The sudden infux of enemy forces from all sides is what will crush them. If they are given time to prepare, our job will be that much harder. It's far easier to defend against an attack when given an indication that an attack is coming. Imagine how Trelling would have gone had we not known the orcs were coming, and had failed to harry them as much as we had. Harrying the enemy works for the Defender, not for offense."

[Laharl]

Teodor chimes in. "I didn't think I'd be saying this, but I agree with the Cardinal on this one. Security must obviously be airtight and we must strike with surprise to overwhelm their defenses. I must also agree with <rank> d'Rothwynn that attacking the night of the show will only galvanize Norinth's civilian population against us."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Yes, 7000 soldier who will be spread across an entire city. Smaller pockets will be easier to strike, and larger ones will make prime targets for sabotage. We must also remember that some these will be pulled out of the city during Sacred Kingdom's diversion-attack prior to our actual strike, and who are usually pulled for counter offensives? The fastest, and the strongest. Depending on the severity of the 'Northern Diversion", we can expect varied shortages in their fast response units during our own attack.

Furthermore, our surprise will not be as dampened as you are all surmising. You must think of it in terms of what they will be expecting, and what we will be fielding. If what I'm talking about is executed properly, they shouldn't be expecting more than a mid-sized surgical strike, perhaps not even directed at the target they'd be assuming; though I'd leave that aspect to espionage experts. What they will not be expecting is a massive four-way attack, coordinated by a group of allies, who, up until a few weeks ago, acted as though the others didn't exist." Derovarr finished, in half-humorous tone.

[Squall255]

"Yes, but still, given the choice between them having any preparation and up to 7k additional troops, and catching them completely unaware... I'd opt for the second option. While harrying them will give us some idea of the landscape, I believe that our scouting and scrying has given us enough information. The fewer enemy we have to fight at once, the better."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"It's not a matter of "knowing" the landscape, its a matter of psychological warfare. Granted, I have disdain for attacking citizens, but I do not have any qualms with breaking the defenders of the city mentally before we even hit the gate. It's part of the same reason I ordered the final airship strike back Trelling, because I knew that after a day of being on the look out for the enemy, especially considering the effectiveness of their counter-strikes, that our forces would be nerve-wracked by the time the actual attack came. Fighting an enemy with the ability to see in the dark notwithstanding, the mental fatigue of our troops would have hindered us greatly.

Exhaustion and fatigue reduce coordination, reaction time, and combat effectiveness. They can scramble all the troops they want, it won't do them any good of their siege engineers are all thinking about sleeping while we're flying in."

[Zanaikin]

( ah well, I guess we'll just assume Ulrich is in the meeting... I'm not mean enough to deny players the right to voice suggestions [=p] )

Kilar then spoke up. Despite being also of intelligence gathering, the spymaster hasn't spoke all evening, possibly because he knows that his recent 'betrayal' still hangs on everyone's mind.

Kilar: "In that case, what about harrying their other bases instead of the city? The Passage south of the city for one is a priority military target. The Norinthners know this, and it is highly unlikely that the Imperials do not recognize this also. Harrying the fortifications at Trias Pass should be reasonable and convincing enough to make them believe that would be the target of our future attacks. It would cause them to reinforce a different location other than the city, and three miles of distance in between will make all the difference once our strike goes in."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Excellent idea! We create two primary diversions, one to the North, and one to the South. We could draw apart their fast response forces to an even greater degree."

[Squall255]

(Sorry, I thought we had moved on to a separate planning session.)
Ulrich ponders this for a moment before responding. "I see you point Derrovar, but I believe that Kilar may have come up with the solution. My fear is that with the influx of troops, they will merely enter a rotating schedule, and the fatigue will be minimized. However, Kilar's idea takes care of that problem, as the fortification won't be for our actual target. The troops will still be worried by the closeness of our attacks, but some soldiers may actually be PULLED from our target, not added to it. Good thinking Kilar."

[Zanaikin]

Daethelar: "Mmm, I concur, and we should strike north at the Northeast Camp, the very same one that the Kingdom is promising an attack upon. This way, when said diversion hits, the enemy may believe that a second attack is due to home in towards the passage and may reinforce both positions."

Viktor: "It is indeed a sound plan."

(sense motive 35: these two are obviously not happy they're agreeing on something together, but their professionalism manage to break past that barrier. Although Viktor still looks like he had to literally force himself to say that simple line).

Lenneth: "I agree with this proposal as well."

Aelisar: "In that case, it is settled. Our main strike shall go in the night of the 24nd, and we can meet here in Blackbog again before the attack for last minute coordination. The enemy's northeastern military camp and southern fortifications shall also be harried by our forces beforehand. Now the question becomes... who shall be responsible for making these preemptive disruption attacks?"

[Mr_Praetorian]

"For such a delicate matter, we will require someone who skilled both in moving swiftly and striking hard and fast. Thus, I herein nominate Flag-Captain Dmitri Revmiren and High-Marshal Tovak Kovis to be the commanders of the diversionary attacks. Based on my own experiences, both commanders possess a superior grasp of fast-strike tactics, and both have extensive experience in the field. Who leads the attacks on which fortification can be determined later." (Diplomacy 55)

(sense motive 27: it almost seems as though Derovarr had to force himself to say anything pleasant about Dmitri, as though he had to overcome some personal issue with him in order to speak the words)

[Zanaikin]

( Drew: You don't have the bluff check to justify that high DC, I'd only grant you +10 circumstantial bonus here, so sense motive DC = your bluff check + 10 )

Kovis: "While I'd be willing to do this, I'm not certain if it would be the best of ideas to exhaust the personnel whom would be participation in the main attack earlier in the day, and both myself and Dmitri shall be taking part in the main strike. Despite all planning, the fight is likely to be brutal, and anyone taking part will need all the physical, mental, and magical energy reserves they can muster."

Although they've been silent ever since the preliminary introductions, the Naralanian warforged commanders finally decided to voice their opinion.

Marshal: "In that case, let us make the strike against the enemy's southern passage. The position is a mighty military stronghold against our soon-to-launch Eastern Campaign, and the enemy knows it. Thus the use of Naralanian troops in probing their fortifications there will make our feint all the more believable. Furthermore as my units are not partaking in the actual nighttime raid, we need not be worried about mental or magical fatigue in the aftermath."

Banner: "My squad could also use the experience in testing out our newest training and tactics against the Imperials."

Konev: "My Citadels can raid the northeastern base. We should avoid a direct confrontation with the Imperials' heavily fortified bases anyways and my elites excels in the infiltration and sabotage skills necessary."

Lenneth: "Well that seems to be settled then. Before we adjourn to make individual preparations, are there any other suggestions and proposals anyone wish to raise?"

[Zanaikin]

( It seems the conference finishes without anything else, as no-one raised anything )

About an hour after the conference ended, Derovarr and Ulrich was called in to the main meeting room in Blackbog by Lenneth. Upon entry, they noticed that Kilar Setari, Tollak Kovis, Reynold Kerpen, and Agnes Kerpen were also within the room, and so was the Airindale Arvitor Aelisar Arinydeth and Marshal Daethelar Berothar, whom Derovarr saw leave just an hour ago. Four other elven assault-mages also stood around the room with the vigilance of bodyguards.

Cary walked in afterwards and closed the door.

Cary: "I don't remember the teleportation keep sentries informing me about someone coming in."

Aelisar: "Oh please, it's hardly impossible to get into this keep without triggering its many wards, especially not when we're the ones who built it in the first place and knows what needs to be dealt with without even looking."

Aelisar: "Regardless, that is not what I returned here for. I chose to return outside the ears of the Archeron representatives for a reason. I know this is not the time to fight amongst ourselves, but you must take precaution against them."

Kilar: "Konstantin... it's obvious isn't it?"

Aelisar: "Yes, although I question if you've noticed the magnitude of the threat yet. For those of you whom still do not know yet, I've asked Lady Tiriel to call upon her most trusted officers for one important piece of information to be disclosed... the Arvitor of Misalin, Heir of the Grand Duke... it is Kati Gant."

Aelisar: "Konstantin may not be a dangerously ambitious man, but he is shrewd and cunning. His swift takeover of Kharva after Andrei's death and quick elimination of his enemies makes this quite apparent. On the other hand, Kati is neither particularly wise or opinionated, and her complete lack of ambition makes it only worse. Her father would have no problems using her to further his own goals, and Kati would be none the wiser."

Aelisar: "Although Archeron is divided now and squabbling amongst one another, the emergence of one province greater than the others will be able to reclaim obedience from the various nobles. If the Grand Duchy of Misalin is reestablished and Kati's position revealed to the Archeronians, Konstantin should have little trouble reacquiring the support of the other provinces. Then, through Kati he can also extend a hand to control the Grand Duchy of Misalin, and I do not believe it ends there."

Aelisar: "The original outcasts of Norinth were criminals and traitors of the Dragon Alliance War era, cast out before the Archeronians rebelled against the Grand Kingdom of Airindale and the Naralanians taking advantage of the chaos to declare independence. They are more bitter against Airindale than any other nation, and the influence of that traitor Ariethil isn't helping things. If the alliance's counterattack is successful and Norinth is conquered, I believe this is a high likelihood Archeron will try to absorb the Norinth territories, which may be the fundamental reason why the Archeronian choose to conserve their military strength now and have us bleed for this war."

Aelisar: "If all that manages to succeed, Konstantin will have control of three of the five nations of Penthiae, and even if Airindale and Naralan forms an alliance we will be unable to stop him."

Aelisar: "That... is the warning I must give you all. I do not ask you to spy upon your own comrades, but please do keep an eye out if any of Kati's actions prove either suspicious or does not seem to be in the best interest of Misalin. Her position and power as Arvitor may easily unbalance both the military and political powers between the nations of the Alliance."

[Squall255]

Ulrich listens to everything Aelisar had to say, and responded with the following: "I appreciate your concern for the future of this continent, and can see where your fear arrises. We shall keep an eye out for anything unusual, and be there for her as much as we can. However, I do not feel that a happening such as that is in Pelor's nor Heironeous' plans, and will pray that they look after her in her time of need. Please do not worry overmuch about this, but if you would, any prayers to your own gods or ours, would be appreciated, so long as they are sincere. Now let us not talk of a thing which may come to pass, but focus our efforts and wills to something which will come, and soon. The battle is nigh, let us prepare."