faderift | Player Plot: The Song Red Lyrium Sings

Kain nods agreement. Now that there's a better idea of what's going on... they have a better idea of how to approach this. "That's easy enough to accomplish. Yes. It would ensure us a better chance, if we can take out some of those parties..."

They'll certainly have to keep an eye out for the red templars, and that behemoth in particular. If they pick off some of the less strong enemies first, then they'll be able to concentrate themselves on those tougher ones.

Inessa's rather efficient when it comes to making good on her intent. After Garahel's sniffed out the best spot for its placement, she begins to trace glyphs on the earth, careful and precise. It's given a critical eye before she proceeds, knowing it would be disastrous to create anything sloppily. When satisfied with her work, she stands and strikes the glyph with her staff. A spring promptly bursts forth from that spot, and the slight hollow will become a pool before long.

Gathering the herbs was taking a bit longer then he had anticipated, mostly because Conan was being fussy when he tried getting the satchels off the nuggalope, but eventually Sam found his way to the tent where Christine was in.

"How are-" he started, stopping when he noticed one was sleeping. When he spoke again it was softer. "How are things in here?"

Christine has helped the soldier sip at some water and he's now moving to rest his head back on the pillow again.

"I believe they're past the stage of danger," she murmurs. "But achy and exhausted." The soldier gives a weak nod, folding his arms over his chest and sighing. Those affected have weathered the storm well, and the researchers have provided what aid they could. "Sam could give you something to help you better sleep."

Meanwhile, with the spring placed, Caspar leads the way back and lets Eloise know she can fetch water from it for the soldiers. She nods and goes to fetch a wooden bucket. Kata gives the team heading out in search of scouts some last minute information on their possible positions. "Over here to the west there's some good cover. I'd try that way first. It gives a pretty good view of our camp from here, so they'd be stupid not to be there now to watch our reinforcements."

"Fine by me," she says with a frown. "Might give us an idea of what we're working against here."

And it gets her out of camp, too. Ciri wasn't good with watching others sick and suffering perhaps because she wasn't a healer and had nothing in the way of first aid beyond the basics. Her job was always better suited for out in the field, stabbing folks and throwing bombs. Barbaric, sure but it suited her just fine.

Still... it was always a little different with the Reds involved. She was never quite sure what to think of them, and that is likely written on her face as she glances out over an area not too far from camp. It has a perfect advantage, somewhere high enough to look over the camp but not easily to be seen but if someone had been here then they are covering their tracks well.

"Nothing ever feels right when the Red Templars are involved." She mutters, quietly. "Even the air feels wrong."

James looked at the map again, before he tapped out the area to the west that Kata had pointed out. "If we put the bulk of the troops here - after we signal that we have cleared out the scouts we can move here, to the east. Draw their attention."

He pointed again to the west. "Then you come up behind them with the bulk of the forces. Take them by surprise and squeeze them inbetween us. We'll need scouts running back and forth to keep us appraised - so we know when we are in position."

"Yes. There's something especially disturbing about those red templars... All the more reason I'm looking forward to killing a few of them." There are some more personal reasons behind it all of course, reasons which had driven Kain to sign up for the red lyrium division in the first place. Ever since that possible future had come up, he's loathed the very notion of that lyrium's existence. He needs to end these templar's lives, end their suffering.

He glances at the map. "It seems like a sound plan to me. We ought to be able to handle that."

Sigred exhales a short laugh. "We don't need scouts. We all have sending crystals, don't we? Use those." Kata looks far down at the dwarf woman with an amused expression before turning back towards the Wardens and Templar going on this sneak attack.

"I'll go round up the soldiers and you let us know when to head out."

By the time Christine returns after having looked in at the soldiers, she sees a plan ready to execute. It sounds like the battle will occur closer to the Red Templars' camp, but she still wants to make sure their own camp is left defended. A few soldiers are spared for the task along with Sigred and Caspar as the last line of defense.

With everything established, James, Kain, and Ciri are free to head out and look for outliers.

[ ooc: those three characters can keep going in this thread and i'll npc an encounter, but i've posted part 2 here below so we can all get started on the main fight. nothing too drastic will happen to ciri, kain, or james in this part, so that we can be assured they contacted the rest to coordinate. ]

James smirked faintly at Sigrund - she made an excellent point. He tapped his fingers against his blade, and glanced up to Kain and Ciri.

"Shall we go clear the field, Wardens?" Beside him, Interceptor was already on all fours, his blue eyes narrowed and focused on the hunt.

Kain nods seriously. It seems they're all set for this. He draws his sword, holding it at the ready.

"Yes... let's go take them down."

"Like you even need to ask," she says with a low chuckle. "They're giving darkspawn a run for their coin. We might have to change focus if they keep it up."

Ciri draws his own sword, hand at her belt and releasing a flask of fire from its strap.

James nodded his head, pleased that the Wardens were ready to go. He grabbed his helmet and hooked his shield over his shoulder and his sword on his hip. "We'll leave now, go and do a sweep of the area. I am not as silent as I could be - so if either one of you has a rogue's sensibilities ... please, feel free to take point."

The group won't have to travel far. As Kata said, to the west of the camp are hills that provide good cover, and if anyone is a good tracker, they'll see two sets of footprints in the dry, patchy grass and dirt that circle the base of one such hill. If not, then Interceptor will pick up a scent and can alert James to it. In fact, he can lead the group straight to the two spies who are currently resting against the backside of a nearby hill.

Kain certainly isn't a rogue, so he's glad to let someone else take the lead. But he's observant, and careful to keep a close eye on things as they move along on their way. He's hunted before plenty, at least. The enemy may be anywhere... He's definitely ready, hand waiting above his weapon by the time they come across those spies...

"Thankfully you lot have me," she says with a chuckle. "Just keep an eye out for my signals."

With that, she takes the lead with careful steps and calculated looks around. Tracking humans wasn't too different from hunting animals, they made just as many mistake and it was easy enough to pick up a path to follow. The footsteps, as it turns out, is especially easy to follow to the two spies.

Quietly, she make a sign at her companion indicating the two spies and carefully looks over to follow whatever plan might follow next.

James followed in Ciri's footsteps, his gaze thoughful as he took in the spies. Easiest way to do this was give them a target, and let the other two take the spies from either side. He tapped his nose, letting the Wardens know he was going to take them head on, then brought his hands out wide, signalling they should come in from the sides to attack.

With the plan set, he moved to get ahead of the spies, making as much noise as possible as he came out of the bushes, and stopped dead, staring at them in mock-surprise, before he set his teeth, dropped his helm, and made ready to fight.

The sound of James bumbling through causes both scouts to jump up from their positions and ready themselves. Before the corruption took hold, they were fast, agile men. The red lyrium seemed to recognize the way the two were built, and granted them long spikes where their arms used to be to lash out at anyone who crossed them. One comes at James head on, screeching and slamming forward with those red spikes. The other crouches low, going for James's legs.

The first doesn't get a hit on James because for all that noise the man made coming in, he sure was prepared by the time the scouts got up. But surely James can't block two enemies coming at him from different angles at once. The second swings at James's legs, but they're well protected and the hit does little. Still, that isn't about to deter the two.

Kain nods to acknowledge the plan, readying himself and waiting for the right moment to attack. The sight of the red lyrium growing from their arms unsettles him beyond words... and it makes him all the more eager to cut them down. The sooner the better, to put them out of their misery.

He glances to Ciri, pointing to the left one to indicate he's got that one. The lyrium-infused spies seem well-enough distracted at the moment, anyway, so now's the time to act. He glances and gives a nod to Ciri, then springs into action, sword swinging toward the scout.

( ooc: sorry for the wait guys! gmail has been ruining my life by throwing messages into my spam folder. :( )

Ciri returns Kain's nod, slipping her hand to rest atop the hilt of her sword as she quietly approaches the scene playing out before them. There is a shiver of... something that runs of her spine when she sees the lyrium growing out of them like a cancer. It takes her back to the against Samson and even further back to that cave, it all ignites a fire in her chest.

Pressing on, she eyes the ones seated on the right and passes off a sign before focusing on the one seated to the right. She doesn't draw her sword right away, instead taking aim with a knife and throwing it toward her target.

More distractions coming up.

The moment he sees movement beyond the corner of his gaze - James puts his shield up to hold against the two scouts. Gone is all stumbling - now he is a wall for them to fell their blows against, while they are struck from their vulnerable rears. Still, the sword is at the ready, waiting for the moment that either one of them turns their attention towards the other two.

One scout never gets the chance to turn his attention away. When Kain descends on him, it's with a heavy blow from his sword that lacerates deep into his side where his armor is weak. He lets out an inhuman screech of pain, back arching and knees buckling. Falling to the ground, he struggles to get back up, but he's bleeding too heavily to gather the energy. Whether or not Kain continues swinging, this scout will be dead within moments.

The scout on the right is also too focused on James to turn away, but the knife flung into his back certainly gets his attention. With a scream, his spike arm jerks back, trying in vain to grab at the hilt, some distant memory of when he had hands coming forward, knowing he should be able to grasp it. Why can't he grasp it? Vulnerable and in excruciating pain, he turns his back to James to face his attacker, spike arm still flailing uselessly at his back. He isn't focused on the fight at all.

In true warrior fashion, Kain swings again with his heavy sword, striking another blow to ensure that the lyrium-infected scout won't get up again. Good riddance... and good that he'd freed them from that agonizing fate. He glances over to see that things are likewise going well for Ciri, and lowers his sword. That part is taken care of, anyway.

Ciri almost laughs, almost. She manages to keep it in though as she uses the chance she gains as the Red screams, grasping at air and withering from the pain her knife has caused. There isn't a second thought before she draws her sword, rushing forward and aiming to pierce where the armor seems weakest.

Not that anything could be gained just from first glance. Who knew how much this lyrium did them both inside and out, but in the end--there was always bombs. Took care of the last ones, anyway and they were twice the size of these guys.

Player Plot: The Song Red Lyrium Sings

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SNEAK ATTACK

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and both my spiky boys failed their dice rolls

excellent!

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