A messenger runs to the baron. The man stops in front of the man and kneels. "Report!" The baron carefully takes the message and unwraps it. Slowly, as he reads, his visage twists with rage. He crumples the pice of paper in his hands. "They have my son!" He exclaims loudly, his voice demanding attention. "My glorious liege just sent me a message. Countess Véronique Deniau, seeing as I am unable to deal with the trouble in my domain, is coming to... negotiate with dissatisfied rebels." He snarled as he turned to face the present people. "She will make my infant bastard baron, with his mother, De Guignes as a regent. De Guignes gets to be ruler as she wants, and Deniau weakens my domain, which plays into her hand. We have but a few days to put down the rebellion before the countess arrives." He stops then looks at each of the present people. "We have three to five days to deal with the bastards."
Lord von Stryker listened to the rest until the baron had finished speaking before slowly letting out a frustrated breath and shaking his head. "Everyone is in agreement that infiltrating the rebel stronghold is best. We bicker over whether an overt or covert approach is best. Well then I suggest both. "We can send someone here and now to knock on the rebels front door and offer them aid, be it whatever kind the person desires at that time: supplies, troops, intelligence what have you. A second group, under cover of night should scale the wall from a forested side. The primary objective of both groups is getting the rebels out of the fort and onto the open field where our forces will crush them in one fell swoop. The covert group can sabotage supplies, destroy food stores, and eliminate the rebel commanders, while the overt group acts as a cover: distracting the forces inside from the second groups actions. They should be seen at all times thereby having an alibi and solidifying their safety from inquisition. Once the second group has achieved its objectives, we will need something that will terrify the troops inside beyond reason forcing them out of the fort. Without their leaders to enforce discipline and keep the rebels together they will be easy prey for our waiting men." After he finished, Richard turned to the baron and with a respectful nod added. "I volunteer to lead the second group should you find my plan acceptable. But if you have another commander, or plan, that you prefer I shall follow."
Albert again listened carefully to his peers and his liege, mulling the options carefully. ‘They are both solid plans,’ Albert started, ‘But time is of the essence. We must decide now and act quickly.’ He turned to the Baron, ‘My skills don’t lie in cloak and dagger, so I am of no use on the second mission Lord von Stryker proposed. But, I could pose as a defector, Someone very dear to me has been ... dishonoured by a member of the court. I won’t divulge who, but It may suffice for a plausible reason to defect.’
The baron grunted as he looked at Lord von Stryker. "The second group is all well and good, but there is a problem with the first one. An offer of aid, in the form of supplies, might not be enough, to convince the rebels of the... honesty of defector's intentions." The baron closed his eyes. "But if the defector brought a hostage with him or her... that might do a whole lot more to convince the rebels." The baron opened his eyes and looked at each and every of people present. "The question is, who would play the defector, and who the hostage?" He finished with a sinister note. A dreadful silence fell on those present, understanding what the baron was asking of them.
None of the present lords and ladies was brave enough to react to baron's statement - not that he really expected any reaction, it seemed. Baron continued pacing from place to place, cursing loudly and mumbling under his nose. He looked at the present lords and ladies opened his mouth to speak then closed it. His visage became slowly furious as he turned his eyes to three women standing in group and whispering. "Do you think this is a gossip meeting!?" he exclaimed loudly, his face slowly reddening. "This is war, wenches! You will behave as you position demands it, or I will have you tied to the post and whipped!" The man roared, angrily.
Albert looked around the crowd, seeing everybody’s silence, someone had to step forward. ‘My liege, I volunteer to be the hostage. I’m not of much value, being only a young knight,’ Albert said as he stepped forward from the other lords and ladies, ‘But, it might be more plausible that the defector was able to grab a lower noble than someone higher up. I hope it’s enough incentive for the rebels.’ He looked at the others, ‘Who’s going to be the defector, maybe Lady Blackwood?’
Viola tried to stifle a yawn as if she had not been sleeping in bed for almost a week straight. Stretching her muscles and letting out a big yawn. "Yeah..I think that would be the best option. Then I should probably come with, since I'm really the only person who knows how to do magic well. I wouldn't really be that useful for the infiltration team. Besides we spent too much time on who does what. We just need people to be doing things and doing them now."
Lily raised an eyebrow, it seemed Albert was very much insistent on being the bait. But the rebels wouldn't be completely convinced, if that was the only reason behind the defector bringing in a hostage. However, discussing their plans out in the open was a great way to let an enemy spy know of their true intentions. So Lily decides to play along for now. "Very well, I accept. We shall be the ones to "defect." While another team prepares to infiltrate them. Is that acceptable, my lord?" Lily looks at the baron, waiting for his approval, or for anyone else to add in.
Reana remained quiet for a while and carefully considered her next words. Finally she nodded to herself before speaking. “Yes, this seems like the best choice at the moment. Your dislike for 'witches' is no secret, my liege,” She said while looking at the baron “so a mage betraying you will be easy to sell. By now the rebels have likely learned pretty much everything that happened at the party, whether from spies that were present at the time, or from servants that were in need of some coins. Thus, as long as the rebels do not have any way to spy on us, the plan should work. And if the rebels do have a way to spy on us, be it via traitors or via spells... well, the sooner we find out about it the better.” Reana paused to take a quick look at Lady Allaire before looking back at the baron. “Hopefully everything will go as planned, but if it does not, Lady Allaire's skills in magic will make things difficult for the enemy.” She finished. Hopefully everyone got the message and will be a bit more careful with their words from now on. She thought to herself.
Baron considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "No, Lord Albert, I prefer to have you on the battlefield. Besides, you are young and impulsive. Once imprisoned, I doubt that you will be able to play the role convincingly..." He turned to look at Viola, with a hint of doubt in his eyes. "I have doubts about your ability to play as well... No, maybe I am wrong... It actually might work." He seems to be in deep thought, before nodding. "Lady Viola, you will be the defector - For hostage, take either Lady Taerin or Lady Blackwood. When you arrive at rebels' base you will tell them, that you managed to slip away undetected. You will tell them, that you only took the hostage after you meet her by accident during your travel to their base - make sure that this is believable. After that, you will tell them how our camps are placed... Yes, I will have my daughter place her camp little farther than the rest - a perfect decoy, for that bastard Bossuet - he always had eyes on her." The baron then looked around all present. "If we are lucky, they will make a sortie, for us to catch and annihilate, while one detachment infiltrates the enemy's fortress. If they don't go out, then we will infiltrate the castle anyway, but it will be far harder. That's why the task of convincing the rebels is crucial. Are you up to that task, Lady Viola?" When the baron finished speaking, he stood in front of the witch, his body menacingly towering over her.
Ah, you don't like me anyway. No big loss if this all backfires, right? "Yeah, I can manage. I don't even need to lie. This is just making friends. Like, those times people say they're going to punch you in the face, but they don't really do it. Usually." With that little tangent, she looked over to see the two potential hostages in question. It raised a practical choice that would be hard to determine since it would effectively remove anyone from the bulk of conflict for a good while. While everything was solid on paper, what the next steps were, was something that had to be weighed with some actual thought on her part. "I think I'll have to go with Lady Blackwood. Lady Taerin would probably be better for supporting, I think. And..it will sound super mean, but all Lady Blackwood can do is talk. Which is nice, but not really useful for the front lines...so yeah." Viola wasn't fully convinced of the baron's exact choices but ultimately, the idea of it would work, even if things needed to be adapted, slightly.
Lily nods, "True indeed, Lady Allaire. I will be no use in the battlefield. But, if I was to be taken hostage. I ask that my men be withdrawn from the front lines, perhaps they should be positioned to defend you daughter's safehouse. That should make the rebels believe that she is being kept there." She made another suggestion, before they begin to commence their plan.
The baron looked sharply at Lady Blackwood, then noded. "Your reunite shall be protecting the rear camp, where the supplies are stationed." He then turned to Viola. "Make your preparations and depart immediately. We have little time left before the sun sets." "He then turns to the rest of the people present. "Now then, let's talk about how we will arrange our forces. Nadine will, of course, take a position in the decoy camp..."
Since no one else was in a hurry to speak Reana decided to take the initiative. She looked at the baron and cleared her throat. “My liege, perhaps we should decide on our tactics first? Should each of us command our own forces, or should we gather everyone and then split them in groups based on their weapons? Swordsmen in the front, archers in the back... Speaking of archers, may I suggest that we place our archers not too far from your daughter's camp? This way if the enemy takes the bait and attacks her, as you hope, our archers will be able to relatively quickly provide support from a safe distance.” Reana made a brief pause to consider her next words. “Also, if my idea is acceptable and if it is alright with you, my liege, I will stay with the archers. My strength is in magic, not physical combat, so I will be more useful throwing spells at the enemy from a distance.” (OOC: Coming up with basic stuff that even Reana would think of is proving challenging...)
Albert was relieved he wouldn’t have to play hostage, but tried not to show it. He nodded to the Baron, ‘I bow to your words and your experience, my liege. With your blessing, I shall join the heavy cavalry then, I am best at home on horseback. My men—the scant few my estate could muster—could join any other spearmen or pikemen we have in our ranks.’ He cleared his voice a moment, ‘May I assume Lady Nadine has enough forces to defend herself successfully, should the enemy decide to take the bait and attack her camp? If not, I could join her at the decoy camp as well or the cavalry could wait in ambush for any sally against the camp. Command me where you need me most.’ The young knight then turned to Ladies Allaire and Blackwood, sending two women alone to such a dangerous mission concerned him despite their apparent skill, ‘So it will be the both of you heading into the lion’s den. Godspeed then, you will need all the wits and guile at your disposal to convince the usurpers. It goes without saying, but be careful in there.’
The baron waves both of ladies, Blackwood and Allaire, off- "Make your preparations immediately." He says as he turns to his war-council. He turns to lord Albert. "We will leave Nadine's camp empty, my daughter will be securing the rear supply camp and watching for any hidden units that might attack us from the back. Albert, you will ride with me - should the rebels fall into our trap, we will be the first to attack them. Lord Richard, you will take Albert's men. You and your unit will take the right flank - should the rebels take our bait, you are to allow them to pass and storm their fort. Lady Reana, you and your unit will take the left flank - should the rebels take the bait, you will let the rebels pass, then attack their rear, once they attack the camp. That way, we will trap the rebels between our forces. We will be the Anvil, while you will serve as a hammer." The baron paused. "Should the rebels fail to attack, we will wait for Lady Allaire to take action - then, depending on the situation, we will act. Should lady Allaire fail to take the action before the hour of the wolf, we will attack - a team of volunteers will scale the wall and open the gates for us..." Baron looked around. "Any comments or suggestions?"
Reana tilted her head slightly as she went over the plan the baron had laid out. It seemed like a decent enough plan... but one part was bothering her. She turned to look at the baron. “Pardon me, my liege, but... wouldn't it be suspicious if we leave your daughter's camp completely empty? Shouldn't we leave at least a few of her men there, to make it seem like the camp is in use?” The young sorceress asked.
Albert listened to the Baron’s plan, hoping the rebels will decide to leave the fort and attack the camp, otherwise their casualties would be massive in a direct assault. Maybe Ladies Allaire and Blackwood could avert that outcome. ‘I have nothing to add, my liege. Very well, I will join your forces and send my levies to Lord Richard’s command,’ Albert bowed to the Baron.
The baron looks at Reana. "It doesn't matter. It the enemy sees fires in the camp, they will assume somone is there. If they are close enough to see that there is no one there, they will be close enough for us to attack them." He then looks around. "If there are no other suggestions, go to your units and prepare." He waves his hand in a dismissive gesture.
“As you wish, my liege.” Reana bowed to the baron and returned to where her forces were waiting. “Well, we have our orders.” The young sorceress began as she looked first at Reana's older sister Teara and then at Reana's Lieutenant-slash-bodyguard Sophie. “I'll give you the details as we walk, but in short, we are to take the left flank - should the rebels take the bait, we will let them pass, then attack their rear once they attack the camp. Let's go to our specified position – and let's hope the rebels are stupid enough to fall for it.” She said and started leading their small force to its destination. On the way there she told them in detail what the baron had said. Once they were at their position Reana's small force started setting their camp, seemingly preparing to rest and wait but in fact getting ready to move at a moment's notice.
