**1027/05/23 - party informs Tess to set up military observers**
**1027/05/23-1027/06/02** - Tess spent a week organizing his Darin Keviel
cover and asked army to set up observers
Mechanics for hiding scent
--------------------------
Glenn: I'm thinking hiding scent could be a part of the disguise skill.
Although what would it oppose? Make a scent skill check. In any case, scent
only works in very close areas - 15' for 3.0
How does this sound? Avoiding giving off the wrong scent for disguises can be
accomplished by wearing and using highly scented items. Anyone with X ranks
of diguise can do this easily.
Exactly. A non-skilled person can do the equivalent of bearing a hooded robe
and douse themselves with perfume, but a person skilled in disguise can do it
more with more subtlety.
Plan for observers on the Company of the Blue Eye training peasants
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Recuit two military observers from southern Baratkand who will be
competent observers, but don't have much information on defenses of major
Baratkand cities or defenses in the north of Baratkand.
Recruiting to be done via the army, with a series of questions - some
suggested by Tess. Tess gets some input into who gets chosen.
Once recruited, they are to ride north to a Sindhi village on the
border of Karatkand.
2. They need to recruit an independent observer, someone who is not Sindhi
or from the military. Should have some basic military knowledge, must
be able to ride a horse and speak Sindhi. Must also have a peaceful
inclination and be competent to act as a negotiator/independent
diplomatic observer if needed to help resolve disputes and issues between
Karatkand and Sind.
Recruiting to be done via the army, with a series of questions - some
suggested by Tess. Tess gets final say on who is chosen.
3. Meanwhile Tess practices disguising himself as a slightly different Elf
(one week to get the Darin Keviel cover). Tess will then apply for job
number 2.
4. Military observers and disguised Tess head to Karatkand and organize
set up to observe WotBE and Krikk's army. No licenses needed for them
to travel back and forth. Arrange that military observers may be
rotated on an as needed basis. Arrange method for resolving any disputes
that may arise.
5. Initially, independent liaison will remain there for one week. Observers
will then send back sealed reports with the liaison to village in north
of Baratkand (for perusal by Sindhis). Liaison will also prepare a brief
open report, which both the two Sindhi observers may contribute to and
WotBE and Krikk's guys may make suggestions on (to clarify any issues
that may arise). The independent liaison will then return to Baratkand
to deliver the reports. The liaison will go back to Karatkand
periodically for updates or to resolve any issues. If the army shifts
location, a message should be left at an agreed upon village in
Karatkand. Observers are to send reports via the liaison.
6. Research spell that hides scent (preferable cantrip or 1st level) (and
possibly creates a false scent if that is not too power), if no such
spell exists. Then get a magic item made that does this.
7. Tess will establish an alternate disguise for spying within Karatkand,
preferably looking like some humanoid or villager that would be found
native to the area.
8. Tess keeps scouting from time to time as needed, and also periodically be
liaison with Karatkand army.
Getting ready to send observers to Krikk's Territory
----------------------------------------------------
They don't have any specifying that travel is permitted, and there are
no border guards. Supposedly only a few specific villagers are allowed to
travel in Krikk's territory, but however it is enforced, it's not with paper
documents.
As per plan part #2, Tess asked the military to also try and find an
independent observer/liaison - they'll need to advertise for it in Baratpur
Tess supposes ... Finding someone from Baratpur who has a military background
and wasn't Sindhi isn't trivial. Unless an adevnturer or ex-military merchant
is passing through, it will be rather hard. We advertized for an adventurer.
They must have some military knowledge of course ... but also as an observer
and liaison ... if there's any problems they need to be able to smooth out any
ruffles with the Karatkand army, so being diplomatic is more important
There are 6 applicants for the liaison job. 3 are Sindhi anyway. One is from
Darokin, one is from Glantri, and one is from the Northern reaches, and one
is Tess disguised as Darin Keviel:
- The Darokinian one is a former career NCO. They appear to have an old (or
not so old) injury which limits the mobility of their left hand. They were
in the artilery branch. He is hardbitten.
- The Glantrian one is an ex-officer. It's not really clear as to why they
are wandering around out here, but clearly they don't have a lot of money.
Once fine clothes not kept up, etc. He is somewhat arrogant.
- The Norse person is a former mercenary warrior who decided to retire in a
warm climate, then found themselves dying of boredom. He has a normal
temperament.
- Darin Keviel, formerly of Alphatia, explorer having served in the army for
a time, before venturing further - fortunately as it turns out. There are a
number of entire Alphatian divisions serving with other countries now. It's
a reasonable cover. No way of checking on it either.
The Sindhi military observer soldiers are not aware that they are working for
Tess. Recruiting them is done via one of the Sindhi military commanders, they
can suggest what to look out for etc. They work for some other military
person which Tess tells what to do behind the scenes. Yep, that military
person needs to report back to Tess, Grey, or Grey's seneschal when reports
come in.
The liaison, Tess as Darin Keviel, is getting paid 15gp/week for services
rendered to Baratkand. Darin's offer was one of the lower end offers - he's
doing it more out of interest in going to a place where he hasn't been and
besides, it sounds like a good cause once they discuss it. Darin will
(supposedly) travel by horse. Darin will also uses a pleasant men's cologne
(to cover any underlying smell identifying Tess).
** 4 weeks x 15gp = 60gp already added to character sheet **
The military observers and Darin head to Karakandar to meet up with Krikk's
army, they'll employ a guide if possible - some basic money to cover expenses
would be given to the soldiers. Tess assigns his Tracker follower to be the
guide into Krikk's lands, who is unaware that Tess is disguised as Darin.
** 250gp + horses, expecting that they are there for six months, more money
available if needed, they are expected to detail expenses - not yet
subtracted from Security Expenses **
The Tracker is told to help these people get to the Karakandar army, stay
with them and return with the liaison when the liaison returns to deliver the
first report, then the tracker is to return to normal duties. The tracker is
also told to keep an eye on Darin and see how he performs as a liaison and to
report back to Tess in due course.
Observing the Company of the Blue Eye training peasants
-------------------------------------------------------
On the way there were a couple of interesting encounters. A squall erupts
causing you to seek shelter, and you run into a wild bear for a few tense
moments.
On arrival at the encampment, we were met by some of their outer cavalry
scouts, who brang us into the camp. In the camp, we saw peasants being
drilled with weapons, marching in formation, etc. The professional soldiers
with Darin, having come from a long line of soldiers, didn't seem very
impressed. Most of the peasants there were darker skinned. A lot of Sindhi
people, some from other places like further west
The gate officer handed us over to some interior guards brought up for the
occasion. They escorted us to the wooden buildings in the centre of the camp.
Darin was in charge of setting things up, the soldiers were in charge of
observing - and other than in negotiations, rank equal with Darin. The
mercenaries weren't completely pleased about the observers, but said we
could observe whatever we liked, provided we stayed out of the way. The
mercenaries were in charge of the camp, no signs of Krikk's professional
soldiers, Maximus or Krikk. The Sindhi military observers had enough military
experience to start immediately discussing amongst the pair of them the mercs
choice of training for the people.
There were three groups in the camp: merc instructors, mercs on watch, and
peasant trainees. There were about 5,000 peasants in the camp, being trained
in basic soldiering stuff. The mercenaries spoke Sindhi to the peasants, and
Slag among themselves. The mercenary leaders were at the camp and Jishnu was
back at the camp too. It's 3 weeks travel from Gola keep to Slagovish, so
Jishnu must have teleported inbetween.
The Sindhi soldiers discussed the layout of the camp, and decided it must be
from those strange eastern Thyatian people, and was well done for something
temporary. It's helpful that the Company of the Blue Eye didn't see Darin as
an enemy. The leaders of the Blue Eye appeared to know each other very well.
Each leader appeared to have their own 'fiefdom' of troops as it were, and
some friction does appear between them.
The company was divided into an infantry group, a cavalry group, a magical
group, and a scouts group. Obviously of vastly different sizes. It appears as
if most of the leaders will be WotBE - no peasants were being trained to be
leaders. The infantry group was lead by commander Astar, who reports to Jishnu.
The cavalry group is lead by the elven fighter/wizard Cuarto Lopez Maitos, who
reports to Galamair normally. Galamair is one of the council of leaders of
the Company of the Blue Eye, although at the time Galamair was an eagle. The
cleric Annabella worships Halav, and she was the only cleric there. There was
also only one mage there, Shansar, who didn't appear to have a familiar.
The peasants were drafted and didn't get a big say in it. They were drafted by
some professional soldiers that Krikk employs. The professional soldiers serve
as Krikk's strongarm and report to Maximus. The peasants didn't seem to have
any real clue how many professional soldiers exist, although by most
countries' standards they are clearly very thinly spread. The peasants were
not getting paid anything.
The WotBE scouts were competent. They had well concealed posts set up on
nearby hills. Tess wasn't sure of their exact location, though did figure out
that there were concealed posts out there from Darin's morning constitutional
jogs. Their scouts were mostly fairly good, although some of them scout via
horseback. Chico and Chada seemed reasonably competent, although Tess didn't
seem them in the field to be sure. The WotBE warriors are quite competent and
have seen a fair amount of action over the years, and are very loyal. The
council all seemed quite skilled, although a fair way down from the seekers.
Chada chatted with Tess disguised as Darin a fair bit. So Tess will have some
idea how to disguise himself as Chada in the future. Tess was also friendly
with one of the lower ranked male WotBE guys, and maybe get to somewhat know
one or two of the peasants too. Tess thinks they didn't see anything amiss in
his disguise. Tess got the impression that they wouldn't object to Darin
joining their company in fact.
Darin and the tracker headed back to Sind to report. It takes 8 days by horse,
slowed by the rough terrain and lack of roads. The tracker thinks of Darin as
a city-boy, but is respectful.
Each village in Krikk's territory has one person who can travel freely. It
should be apparent to Tess that this is a very inefficient way to run a
country. It appears as if almost the entire population lives on a subsistence
basis. The limit of the number of people there seemed based on their
transport - or almost complete lack thereof. Transport is by foot, donkey,
mules, oxen or horse. With optional cart. No teamsters, or 8-horse wagons like
the Darokinian merchants use for example.
**8 days to Karakandar army, 6 days there, teleport back**
**1027/06/02-1027/06/15**