Blackbog Keep

[Mr_Praetorian]

"I was hoping to implement more mobility-based training as the program continued. The Archeronian's may not have the best defense tactics, but their concept of battlefield mobility is remarkable, and something I wish I saw more of in Misalinian war academies. If things go my way, we should have mobility based tactics in the program by" Derovarr paused, looking back at the others in group for a moment, "week two, I believe."

[Laharl]

Teodor smiles ingratiatingly. "You will need that mobility against the Imperium's longer range, though, with all due respect, I do not see how you plan to implement it with heavy armor. Surely you do not mean to outfit large numbers of soldiers with Golem Armor...do you?"

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Not unless Kilar has another monetary stockpile that is equivalent to the pre-war treasury." Derovarr returned, half jokingly.
"Admittedly, mobility tactics will be difficult for heavy-foot class infantry to handle, but we must remember that we are not training these soldiers to handle everything, for to do so would reduce their capability as heavy infantry, which is what we need them to be. They are, after all, a single, albeit significant, piece of a larger puzzle."

[Laharl]

"Indeed. If you would like, I can act as an instructor to help educate the troops as to the general disposition, combat style, and tactics of Imperium troops."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"That would be greatly appreciated."

[Zanaikin]

Cary: "I would be probably impossible to train our Misalin heavy crusaders to fully adapt the maneuver and mobile defense tactics of the Archeronians, but I believe we should at least teach them the basics in fighting in a loose formation. Lord Strusler once mentioned that the military doctrine of the Misalin Guard hasn't changed much since the... what was it... the Second Planar Crusader centuries ago, and although we are the only force with the support magic to make it still work, the doctrine is still on the way to becoming obsolete, if not already there. With all we've heard about Imperial weapons, we can only longer expect to deal with only a few extra-long range bombardment mage units which field support sancrosancts and divine counterspellers may counter. Thus, I believe it has reached a time where the Guard is in need of updating its battlefield tactics."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Agreed. Especially with the new technologies that the extraplanars have brought here. These new weapons, once adapted here, will irreversibly alter the nature of tactics. As such, we must do what we can to prepare for these changes. So, let the old doctrines fall into the pages of history, and let us begin at once in forming newer doctrines for a newer age."

[Mr_Praetorian]

((I think we can advance a day now.))

[TheDude51]

(Before the day advances...)

Dmitri presents his plan for extracting Lenneth.

"We need to extract Lenneth and her heavy cavalry from Port Sarim, preferably without violence. In order to do this, we need to avoid the eyes of any observers that may be in place, especially those sent by Anstrun. Such observers will be external, observing our actions from outside, or internal, infiltrated into the very unit that we are trying to extract.

"We will begin the operation at around midnight, or whichever time the most of the soldiers are asleep. Teodor will move in first, along with any supporting scouts that he desires. Their role will be to clear the area around the troops' base of any external observers. Teodor will need to locate any observers that are present and eliminate them stealthily.

"While this is occurring, I myself will teleport in, along with two incantatrixes. I will cast a teleportation circle, while the incantatrixes apply rapid spell and extend spell metamagicks to it. We will try to locate this in as central a location as possible, preferably concealed from observers outside the camp, and cover it with a simple illusion to make it harder to detect. When Teodor signals that the area is cleared via a command ring message, myself and Lenneth will remove one squad at a time through the circle. In order to maintain stealth, we will employ an infiltration staff to conceal the squad, making all members invisible and covering our movement with a Silence effect. Hopefully, this will allow us to get the men and horses through the circle one squad at a time, undetected. In order to guard against infiltrators within the squad itself, Lenneth or myself will project a Telepathic Static effect for the duration of the operation to negate any outgoing messages.

"As each squad leaves we will lay down mundane items under blankets and such in order to conceal the fact that the men are no longer there. This may or may not be required depending on whether they are housed in barracks or in the open.

"It would be best to execute this operation as soon as possible. Suggestions are welcome, especially from Teodor as to whether he feels up to the task, but we will proceed tonight with the plan unless something comes up."

[Laharl]

Teodor mulls the plan over for a few minutes before speaking. "I'd prefer a little more intelligence about the geography of the area, as well as any wards they likely have cast in case I need to take them down too. Other than that, well, this sort of operation is why they pay me the big bucks."

[Mr_Praetorian]

"We also might want to look into some way of negating their ability to communicate. As I'm sure you all know, I'm no expert on the arcane, but I'm pretty certain I read somewhere about spells specifically designed to block communication magic, like from command rings and such. Might be worth looking into." Derovarr added, finishing with a shrug.

[TheDude51]

I did recomend covering the exiting squads with a Telepathic Static effect to prevent any infiltrators from reporting our actions. I'm not sure if it would be feasible for Teodor to project a similar spell, since it can only be centered on the caster, although it would be useful to be able to deny the enemy observers their communications.

[Laharl]

"Give me an item that I can use to cast it, maybe a wand. I'd rather not use it unless it's necessary, since a communications blackout would be a signal of something wrong."

((I don't know that spell OOC, so if it would require a scroll by being >L4, I can probably still cast it from there...))

[Zanaikin]

Cary: Regarding the position, Lenneth's entire force in housed in three separate encampments on the northeast side of the city. The main camp is in the center of the three with the cavalry (in the camp's central area), the logistic company (southwest area of camp), and the longbow company (northeast area of camp). The two camps on the wings have one crusader company each and are to the southeast and northwest of the main camp. Basically, Lenneth's cavalry are stuck in the precise middle of the whole group. Watch is maintained by the longbow company's squads across all three camps, and there are at least two crusader squads on patrol between the three camps at any one time.
The temporary workers' housing are between them and the city, which is still mostly in ruins.
The local geography is extremely flat, and with a lack of any cover or foliage. The river runs by south of the city, with a single bridge still making the connection.

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Right in the middle, you say? That sounds rather convenient."