Bang is startled, seeing the half dragon. Never knew such a thing existed he thinks. Bang continues to move, silent to a point that not even an owl could hear him creeping through the castle. Bang sets up again, this time in a tree observing number of guards, their schedules, and mannerisms. As an added bonus Bang snoops around to observe the architecture of the castle, looking for weak points to exploit. Everything about this assault must be meticulously planned, and then executed in unrelenting force so that the very walls of the fort crumble
In the dock area, while there are guards, most of them are orcs, goblins, or the occasional hobgoblin. They're relaxed and fairly calm, except when one of the scro are around. Then they stand to parade-ground attention and try to look either important, busy, or attentive. Which is silly, because if they really were attentive, they'd see YOU. They have not, to your knowledge. At the moment, you see about 30 orcs, 50 to 60 goblins, and perhaps a dozen hobgoblins in the port area, along with a whopping three scro and that half-dragon. You also see a bigger, fuzzier thing that you think is a bugbear? You notice that the half-dragon has left the area around the ship-building section of the docks and is nosing around one of the smaller buildings. It seems to be asking questions, but you don't speak whatever language it is using...
Heading up towards the fortress, you have to dodge patrols along the way. Again, while the orcs and goblins are kind of laid back, the scro commanding them are much more organized and, well... kind of rigid in their thinking. The issue with the fortress is going to be getting to it without being seen. While the forest surrounds the port area, it has been cut back about half a mile from the fortress walls. The fortress itself has a lot of damage that couldn't be seen until you got closer. Two of the curtain wall sections are heavily damaged, and only one has been partially repaired. Of the towers, three are intact, the others are still damaged. You think you could sneak in through the holes in the walls, but it would make noise that you can't hide well. Curious, you walk around the perimeter of the walls. While the scro have set up guards atop the walls, even in the sections that are damaged, they don't seem to care a bit about the ground outside of them. You learn two things on your walk. First, the scro - or some of the orcs or goblins, you're not sure which - have some kind of canines. They apparently think you're a rabbit, as you hear them bark when you walk near one section of the wall. This forces you to hide in the grass until they calm down. The other thing you find, on the outer wall of the keep, makes you stop and think. Around the back, built into the base of one of the towers where it meets the wall, you find what you think is a concealed door. It is made to look like part of the curtain wall, but you can see the outline of a door on the stonework. Can't figure out how to open it, though. You are unsure how many are in the fortress. The presence of the canines inside make it hard for you to get an accurate image. At least twenty scro, and at least a dozen each of goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins? You're not sure. As you are leaving to head back to the forest, you have to stop and hide in the grass as that half-dragon passes by on the road from the port. He's got an annoyed look on his face and is carrying a bundle of scrolls. You suspect they're blueprints for the ships he's been working on, but you're not sure.
Drakk looks curiously at Bigbang before saying "That is interesting news. Perhaps in our assault we could take him hostage? It would give me a chance to speak to him... And we could deliver him to Tayrik's authorities perhaps for some gold.". Drakk chuckles as he finishes his thought. Turning to Izema, Drakk continues "What do you think our plan of attack should be?"
Shiro raises his eyebrows at the suggestion to take him captive. “My friend, I know you long to bring your family member to justice and perchance redemption, but we will need something considerably powerful to subdue a half-dragon without killing him... Do you have such a tool? If not, we will need to bring him near death if we are to truly subdue him... Are you prepare to take such a risk?”
Drakk turns to Shiro solemnly before saying "I am well aware of the risk. And I doubt he will turn to justice as Silgisarr warned me my Grandfather isn't a good person and to beware of my kin. Like my Grandfather, I suspect this Half Dragon isn't the noblest of people. Nonetheless I hope I could atleast get some answers from him, and that the group could get a potential bounty. I'm sure a man like him has a price on his head."
Drew smiles at the thought of a price on the half dragon's head, "I like where your head is Drakk. But if this kin of yours seems too hard to subdue, you have to deal with the fact that we might have to kill him. You cannot get in the way because he is your family. If he must die, he must die."
As the lot of you sit in the woods discussing your options, one of you notices a group heading from the fortress down to the port. The half-dragon is with them, and they seem to be geared for fighting. Looks like one of the ships is prepping to take off from the docks.
Drakk looks to the group before saying "This may be our chance to catch them. If we cut off the leader, it will show chaos amongst the rest. Should we strike now?"
Drew considers Drakk's proposition, "we could do that, or we could see what they're preparing to fight, we might find allies."
Bang has made it back to the group and states "I honestly dont care what we do, so long as it isnt too stupid"
As you discuss this among yourselves, the scro are getting further and further down the paths to the docks...
Bang perks up "Alright morons we're going to get onto that ship and plant some explosives. no time to wait. Anyone who stays gets left behind, are we clear?"
Archie and Vinnie look at each other, nod, and then turn back to the rabbit. "We're all-a for dis-a idea, but-a which ship you mean? Dey have several..."
Bang's manic grin slides off his face "Ah shit, didn't think that far. Lets wait and see which one they go on. Then we can make some last minute plan"
Well, you're not waiting long. Before you can even reach the dock area, the scro have boarded one of the scorpion-ships and taken off. You don't know how many left, you don't know where they're going, and the half-dragon is NOT with them. He's back to work guiding the shipwrights at work on the boar-headed ship. Vincenzo is peering out through the forest at the worksite and makes a soft humming sound. "Ey, Archie," he mutters softly. "You-a see what I see?" "I think so, Vinnie," the gnome mutters back, "but getting close to that forge might prove a little tricky." "Ey-yah, might be, but I'm-a willing to bet our employers, they might-a have an idea on how to make-a distraction, yes?"
Bang's ominous grin returns "You guys have any good explosives, if so I can make a nice distraction." As he says this Bang reaches for his tool bag...
"Well-a yes, technically we do..." "Mind you, we're saving most of those for use on the ships and that forge? Our supply isn't everlasting." "Fancy words from-a da gnome. We gotta enough to take out-a da big ship, dat forge, and mebbe one or two smaller ships." "Would fire work though? Or smoke? Or maybe bright flashy stuff?"
"Yeah fire should work, just let me add some fun sparkles and we should have a game plan" Bang responds