I've got an invisibility potion, what's your plan?

[Ginger]

So, how are we going to avoid dying? We are certainly in a tight spot. Running back to aid our comrades, with Markessa's goodies in hand is an option. We can also hope to hide out in Markessa's room, with the Minataur perhaps giving us 4+ hours worth of cover, which will allow us resting and rememorization time.

[Dell]

That's a good idea - let's list our assets.

I've got one 2nd level spell left - currently Web, but I can change it out given 1/2 an hour's time. I have an invisibility potion, a potion of Fire Resistance, and a potion of Treasure Finding. I have a Rod of Paralysis, and a Ring that lets me do Fairie Fire. I have a ring with a Shatter spell that is currently not being worn, and three pieces of paper that say "Boom."

If we get Markessa's stuff, we should definitely go back to where the slaves are and set up a defensive position. We can toss the smoke-filled vial at the enemy when they approach, to slow/confuse them.

Should we tell the minotaur to go forth and wreak havoc?

[Ginger]

I'd rather have the minataur guard us. I doubt he responds to anyone but Markessa and I bet the goblins are frightened of him. This place has so many hiding holes, they might check some of the other areas first. Maybe Pavel can disguise himself as a goblin and create some confusion and engage in misdirection.

[Dell]

arrowguy said:

Maybe Pavel can disguise himself as a goblin and create some confusion and engage in misdirection.

I thought about that. I also thought about having him wait in Blackthorn's room to assassinate him when he shows up. But ultimately, I'd rather have him with us, where he can backstab or assassinate someone if we have a chance. If we set up an ambush, he can lead them into it, though.

[Mr. Trommer]

That all depends on how well we can fool the minotaur. They aren't stupid. Markessa may have been able to speak minotaur so if Kessa can't our ruse may not last.

[Wolfgar]

We could use the invisibility potions to make Dell and Raven invisible. Dell could sneak off and backstab Markessa's apprentice and Raven could surprise Blackthorn with three point blank arrows. Once their leaders are out of the picture they are going to be a lot less trouble. The only thing to worry about then is the wargs.

[cedrus]

Web the wargs.

[Dell]

No one is turning invisible, or sneaking off, or anything like that. We're going to get Markessa's spellbook, and then we're going to go back and set up a defensible position somewhere near the slave pens. We'll attack whoever is near there, then fall back, to lure them away from the slaves.

It would have been smarter to stay where we were, but the party is led by a thief so it's only to be expected that they're greedy.

[Mr. Trommer]

There is always the option of going through to hole in the wall of the one cell. How bad could it be?

[Wolfgar]

cedrus said:

Web the wargs.

That is not a bad idea. I bet if they tried to burn the web with the wargs to free them, the wargs would be just as likely to attack the guys who burnt as those that webbed them. And the goblin riders would probably be killed.

There is also Winthrop's Stone of Pelor. If we take up a position in a hall then it should be useful blinding anyone that comes in either direction.

I have the ring of fire resistance. If we had oil we could try Icar's trick on them. They may be thinking in the same direction - lobbing oil cannisters at us if we try to hold a fixed position. I could give the ring to Raven and we could set him up behind tables in the hall and light it on fire. They wouldn't be able to get around the table and he could stand there and fill them with arrows. We could also use a fire to barricade one of the directions in a hall to slow them down and limit the fighting to one front.

There is the blue cloak but I doubt that is a useful offensive item.

[cedrus]

Probably best to use the web after Blackthorn is out of the picture. Otherwise, he's probably smart enough to use the web against us (trapping us in front of it...he knows where all the secret doors are). But I think that if we time everything right, the web might turn the battle in our favor and allow us to survive.

[Wolfgar]

Do we know what level Kessa is? Could she memorize a spell from Winthrop's or Dell's spellbook? That might give us an extra web spell or two. She might not be given a chance to use the powerful spells by Markessa but that doesn't mean she can't. That might be enough to slow the goblins down while we dispatch Blackthorn and the priestess.

[Dell]

I'm betting Kessa is only first level, so she couldn't cast a web. Tactically though, we're not in bad shape. (That was a lie, to make you feel better about your chances.)

Now, there are lots of dudes looking for us, but they've split up, which is good for us. Also, the hallways are pretty small here, so they can only engage us with so many people or worgs at a time. The goblins will die with one hit from any of the fighters, and the fighters get <Level> attacks on each goblin, and the goblins need 19's and 20's to hit our front-line. The Worgs are the real threat, so focus on them whenever they show up. The Markessa's apprentice and the Winter Wolf are going to be the biggest dangers, so once it shows up, beat the hell out of it.

In my spell book I've got Invisibility 10' radius - that would turn us all invisible, which might get us a little surprise action.

[Ginger]

Kessa is either level one or two, as she cast Magic Missile and only shot one. With luck, she'll have a high enough INT to have a bonus spell or two.

[cedrus]

We could always try handing Blackthorn a document listing the terms by which we would surrender. Dell has some of them still, doesn't he?

[Ginger]

cedrus said:

We could always try handing Blackthorn a document listing the terms by which we would surrender. Dell has some of them still, doesn't he?

I think he's too smart for that, but it's good thinking.

Better still is the hope that he'll scour the area trying to gather all of the intelligence he can on our situation. He is a master strategist, after all. Maybe he'll think that he's come across a vital clue when he picks up the folded piece of paper in the barracks.

[Dell]

I'll be issuing the front line fighters with the notes. The idea is to rush into the midst of the enemy, and then read the note, sacrificing yourself for the good of the team.

[cedrus]

What a boost to our morale if we watched our fearless leader willing to sacrifice himself in that way! We'd be so proud of you, Dell. Cedrus might even be tempted to attempt a resurrection.

Seriously, though, I suspect we'd only be able to pull something like that off if we did it in such a way that Blackthorn would legitimately believe the paper worth reading (i.e. ultra-easy ways out of this probably won't work). Not likely, I guess, but maybe worth keeping as an option.

[Dell]

I planned to leave at least one note stuck to a door with a dagger - the goblins will probably read it, because they're goblins. Ideally, we'll find the spellbook, I'll turn us invisible, then we go back to the slave quarters and set up to defend our position.

While you defend the area, I'll be going back to rescue my familiar. and try to lead them into our ambush.

[Wolfgar]

Maybe you could get Kessa to charm a goblin, give him the note and then have him read it when he gets back to Blackthorn or the priestess.

Heck she probably doesn't even need to charm a goblin. Just convince it that she is the real Markessa - "The plan worked, the stupid adventurers think they killed me, now take this note to Blackthorn or the priestess, it details where they are hiding."

[Ginger]

If you do turn invisible and go upstairs, definitely open the door to the haunted section. They'll quite plausibly think that we're hiding there, under the assumption that no one would look for us in there. In fact, if I'd have thought of it, it's where we'd have hidden. Wouldn't it be beautiful if Blackthorn gets level drained while searching for us?

[Wolfgar]

So have we decided to use any of the remaining healing scrolls? It would certainly be helpful to have a couple of front line fighters that can stand more than one hit. Heck if the minotaur calls our bluff he could quickly maul his way through us before Raven can take him out. I think Cedrus should have his scroll ready in case this happens.

[Ginger]

otto said:

So have we decided to use any of the remaining healing scrolls? It would certainly be helpful to have a couple of front line fighters that can stand more than one hit. Heck if the minotaur calls our bluff he could quickly maul his way through us before Raven can take him out. I think Cedrus should have his scroll ready in case this happens.

I think that we should definitely use the 'cure serious wounds' on Otto. I'll also give him my sword. That's make him nice and tough.

[Dell]

Here's how I see things going:

We get something out of Markessa's room. We go back to Kes's room, then I read the invisibility 10' Radius spell out of my spellbook to turn us all invisible. We set an ambush near the slave quarters (or attack whoever is there, if they're already engaged.)

The Primary targets are Blackthorn and the Cleric/MU. Once they're down, the goblins and worgs will probably retreat.