((Apologies for my delayed reply. Kidney stones suck. ))
Ceol thanks Ninthel for her scouting, and Gwaelur and Thoroncir for their negotiations with the dwarves.
"I think it behooves us to await at least some of the dwarven assistance, as long as we presume that Saruman is still in the fortress – and unless we have reason to believe otherwise, I believe it to be a safe assumption that he does remain there.
“If that be the case, then I would recommend we keep watch on the entrance to the fortress until such time as the dwarves join us, so that we can make sure that the traitor does not slip away before we are ready.”
"Do we have any ideas how much supplies the gnomes have in storage? Do they regularly have to venture out for supplies? An all out attack on the cavern will be difficult since they have the defensive advantage. But if we can force many of their numbers out into the open, the main force should be able to take them and a smaller force can try to infiltrate. Or we consider settling in for a siege if they don’t have many resources. However, with each day we delay, Saruman no doubt grows stronger, so time is not our ally here. We definitely need to secure the area before we engage, though. The last thing we need is for anyone to escape from there and muster reinforcements. Once the bulk of the dwarven army shows up, any surprise we might have will be gone. So if we’re going to do any preparations before that in secret, we should act soon. It’s a shame we haven’t heard from the elves. Their predilections toward stealth would be useful in setting up our net. We might be able to still pull it off with the dwarven vanguard, but we’d have to give it a wide enough radius that they won’t be easily discovered. We dwarves aren’t exactly a subtle lot.
“Regardless, we should have something planned for when the vanguard of 60 arrive, because once the bulk of the army show up, we’re going to likely be in a full on battle, and if the gnomes bunker down, this could turn into a slog real quickly. Particularly if they’ve got a lot of supplies.”
Thoroncir says, “I agree with Bitur that time is not on our side. I would attack, with further stealthy entry by Ninthel and perhaps her sabotage or the creation of a major distraction within the caves, if she is willing, as soon as the first contingent of Dwarven troops gets here. We may be too late if we wait until all of our Dwarven allies have arrived.”
"I wonder if it is worth attacking the patrol? That will weaken them, and when they work out the patrol has gone missing we can attack whoever they send to look for the patrol.
"We’d have to hide their bodies, of course, so they don’t wonder what happened.
"Also it runs the risk of alerting them and having them close up shop, so to speak.
"I don’t have anything in particular to distract or drive out the enemy. Perhaps if Bitur has some incendiaries I could burn their supplies, or I could bring along one of the spell casters if they have some magic to offer. We may want to find a way to sabotage the entrances and murder holes or other traps so that they cannot lock us out.
Thoroncir rubs his chin thoughtfully and says, “Attacking a patrol and slaying them all, such that they disappear and did not return, may put the rest of our foes on notice that a powerful group is nearby and cause them to close their gates, making our entry all the more difficult if not impossible. But I am willing if there is a clear consensus in the party to do so.”
“While I like the idea of thinning their ranks by eliminating a patrol or two – and I am confident that we can do so – I agree with Thoroncir. I worry about alerting them as to our presence, or causing Saruman to possibly depart without us knowing. He is our quarry, and the orcs and gnomes are simply obstacles in our way.”
“I think my preference would be to wait for the first group of dwarves to join us, before we act.”
“Then let us do that,” Thoroncir says decisively. “I do not hear a consensus to do otherwise. Ninthel, please prepare yourself for another stealthy entry of the enemy’s cave, either for sabotage or the creation of a distraction, as soon as the first contingent of Dwarven troops gets here.”
Ghan appreciates the comments.
Perhaps we can combine the two plans!
In any case, Ninthel can decide if another scouting mission is worth doing (perhaps to overhear conversations; but mainly to let us know when about the pattern of patrols)
Ghan suggests that we wait for the first 60 dwarves to arrive, leave a couple behind to brief the next Dwarf contingent, then take out a patrol and immediately move on to attack the Fortress.
“While we wait I’ll go make some alchemical fire flasks. And with the Jug of Alchemy I can create 8 ounces of acid per day. So we’ll have some acid flasks as well.”
Thoroncir nods and says, “I think Ghan once more speaks wisely, as he typically does. Ninthel, please assay another scouting mission and gather the information he suggests. Consider what sabotage or diversion would be best, so that our party may most effectively and decisively attack the enemy with the support of our first-arriving Dwarven allies when the time comes.”
Ninthel considers Thoroncir’s request with uncertainty, “I’m not sure what further information I can ascertain without going deeper. I am deeply concerned with what traps or detections may lie closest to the enemy. I care not if you consider me a coward, but it is highly counter-productive if I get captured myself. As for sabotage and diversions, the map I brought back should help determine where we can best disrupt our foes.”
))