Video; Seelie-locked

[red_branch]

[Poised on a stretch of snow-capped cliffs looking over Cothromach's strong-hold on one side, Cu Chulainn posted on his locket and gave it a wide grin. His spear was resting over his shoulder and he looked absolutely unbothered by the razor-sharp, freezing winds lashing at him. In the far distance, a plume of black smoke rose up from a camp that he had recently razed and destroyed. Lancer made his distance earlier, to avoid being scouted too easily]

Hey there. It's come to my attention that we've got some unwelcome Unseelie soldiers sticking around Cothromach. I think they figured their camps were pretty well-disguised, but after awhile--it gets tough to hide that many soldiers. So--

[With a grin, he stood up straight and began walking up the cliff-face, scaling the mountain on foot. At that point, the mangled and burning Unseelie camp could be seen more clearly in the opposite direction as Cothromach. The mountain face gave Lancer an eagle's view of that camp, though it was largely too difficult for most people to scale as quickly as he had.]

I'm usually the type to hog the glory, but I'm missing a few of my precious abilities, so I'll need some help rooting those folks out and running them out of these lands. Who's in for some raids?

[OOC: Plot planning is here!]

Comments

private voice »

[steeledskin]

[ she is currently in the midst of delicate diplomatic talks to have those same unseelie soldiers stood down. and yet -- and yet! ]

Any good you can do the city of Cothromach will be rewarded, ser.

[ so speaks its lady keeper. ]

private voice; perma

[red_branch]

City? [Admittedly, he hadn't even really gone into the city at all. He figured it was just a stronghold, likely just filled with soldiers.

A city he'd probably begin recruiting from, at least.]

Were there that many people there?

[steeledskin]

It's below the ground. [ soft. thoughtful. and distant. ] Men and elves and dwarves live there. Its halls are beautiful.

[Video]

[oathshackledbird]

Why do I get the impression this is less about asking for help and more about bragging about how many camps you have already taken out?

[There is a teasing look in Diarmuid's eyes as he speaks.]

At least this explains why I haven't seen you around the castle since we got back...

[Video]

[red_branch]

Eh? Well, it's only been the one so far. I didn't feel like getting to work until I made a call for some allies.

[Even a guy as insane as Cu Chulainn wasn't eager to fight battles when he had a disadvantage.]

I spoke with my Master and she encouraged me to get at some work, actually.

[Video]

[oathshackledbird]

Oh dear, is my childhood hero actually a lazy man?

[Diarmuid laughs and then grows more serious.]

How many encampments do there seem to be? Do you have any idea?

Voice

[teenyoda]

Well, since me and the Lord Commander of being a wolf god are out this way already, we might poke our heads in if we're needed.

Maybe keep us in the loop if they get too close to Cothromach?

Voice

[red_branch]

H'oh, naturally. [Wolf god, huh? That piqued his interest.]

Course, I'll need your name, lad.

Also, I think I'd prefer to see the face of my ally. Just a bit of preference, really.

[LET HIM BE FRIENDLY, STILES]

Voice → Video

[teenyoda]

I'm Stiles. And uh... hold on.

[Dammit, he was trying to be all professional and he was currently covered in flour as he tried to teach the elves at Cothromach how to make pizza. Ignore the flour, Lancer.

He has his priorities straight.]

I'm Stiles and mister puppy eyes is Jon and we'll be your backup for the evening.

Video

[starspangled]

What do you think they've got planned?

private video;

[greywater]

An attack. The city has been given to my lady and her father before her, but Morla has promised it to another.

private video;

[starspangled]

So they're there to force the eviction.

Video

[red_branch]

An attack. [A veritable echo, Steve.]

Probably not a big one--not immediately. Their camps are too spread out for a proper march and this terrain won't allow it.

They're most likely waiting on commands to take the city with whittled attacks. 'The river will wear down the boulder in time'. Somethin' like that.

Video

[starspangled]

Any idea how many camps there are, total?

video;

[chromosomes]

I can be there in- [ a pause, a quick look around ]

... five minutes, unless you want me to bring anything for you.

video;

[red_branch]

Woah, that much a rush? You don't need to hurry so much unless you're just lookin' to keep me company, pal.

[Not that he'd mind in the least.]

Rather, take your time getting your equipment--if you can make that kind of run so quickly, anyway.

video;

[chromosomes]

I've got my equipment.

[ Most of it, anyway. He should grab rations -- though he can also just teleport back to Caer Glaem, so he's honestly not too worried. ]

And I don't need to run.

[ He is pretty fast when he does, though. ]

video »

[baseborne]

Pay Stiles no mind. [It's better for everyone's sanity that way.] I'm the Captain of Cothromach's Guard. Do you know why they've taken up camp there specifically?

[teenyoda]

Captain of the Guard, Lord Commander of being a wolf god... that's totally the same thing.

[Rude, Jon. You will pay Stiles all the mind.]

[baseborne]

It's not, you great bag of wind and lies. [He says that with love, tho.]

video;

[red_branch]

Wolf god, huh? [He did well to remember that very important term.]

Well, it's pretty obvious why enemy camps would be set up gradually enclosing a city, right? They're a ways out, but it's clear they're ready to make a march if need be and retreat if a big force comes their way.

video;

[greywater]

Should you have need of anything, the city of Cothromach will provide it for you. [She has been in the city several weeks preparing for an attack after Sansa asked to sit in her place until she can return.]

video;

[red_branch]

We'll see. Much as I like military support, I'm certain a big contingency would scare those folks shitless and make them group into a different territory.

As it stands right now, I like them where they are. The terrain's just right for some well-placed ambushes.

Video

[showmeyourwreath]

[She waves in greeting to Lancer before lacing her fingers under her chin.]

What makes this place so special, exactly? Why is it a target?

[War is war, that's not the part she's arguing, but strongholds are seized or destroyed, there are places of strategic importance or other value, she wants to know specifics, if he has them.]

There are civilians there, aren't there.

Video

[red_branch]

You got it, Flora. [It was ever the reason to fight--because the enemy was there.]

That said, it doesn't feel like a strategic stronghold in a normal war, though this is just a grab for land. This kind of city is something more of a location protected by treacherous lands to dissuade the notion of war.

So, naturally, it doesn't make sense to me why they want it. A remote place like this could be left alone.