Out of Character: Is it just me or are we merely looking at this from one angle? Have we explored the other sides of the fortress to see what they offer by way of easier entrance?
Fireday 21 Sarenith
It's a humid morning, morning dew dampening everything around you. Zork, having been on watch with Bal due to a bit of tension and mistrust, had seen a light rainfall for 5 minutes. It left pools of mud on the recesses of the nearby hill and the fort hill looks a shade darker due to its dampness.
Bal and Neenah head east to the river, swimming down to the lake and hooking around to the fort and its cliff where it meets the lake. Arnisa, having touched them as they left, relays their messages telepathically.
"Unfortunately they cannot see another way into the fort. The 20 foot cliff face has cracks and handholds, but there's still a 150 foot run to the trapdoor. Someone lightly armored might be able to sprint up before the bandits can shoot, but it will be obvious.
"In the water they can also see bones and gravestones worn away by the waves. They might be from the section of the hill that's collapsed into the water. There aren't any entrances under the sea level either."
Out of Character: If you wished to have taken more actions at night, go ahead. I would appreciate specific and detailed actions or interactions.
It also seems I missed a few measurement details in my first description. The rough palisade of sharpened logs was 15 feet high and the front two towers poked out a further 5 feet above that. I realise how vital that may have been.
In Character: Zork says firmly, "Right, we've come this far, enough circumventing this decision, what are we going to do?"
Zork then thinks, "Besides the trap door we could create a diversion to make them open the gate, but what would make them open the gate? They must have patrols at some point, right?"
“One of our complicating factors here is that we don’t know if there are more bandits roaming around that may return, nor do we know much about the forts daily activities; how often anyone leaves the fort, that kind of thing. We could sit and try and observe for a time but there’s no telling how long it will take us to gather that kind of information. In the meantime our camp could be discovered at any time and we are vulnerable out here. I think we are going to have to act one way or the other soon. I think the best bet is forming some sort of distraction to draw attention away from the trap door. The best form of distraction would be one in which it is not obvious that they are under attack. Perhaps our Fey friends could help us with that, but then I’m still unsure how we draw the zombies away.”.
Out of Character: To clarify, Arnisa has just telepathically relayed what Bal and Neenah saw at the lakeside. She has mentioned that anyone she touches can communicate with her telepathically. Those two fey are waiting over by the lakeside cliff in case you have further instructions like more scouting, or you can recall them here to group up or to verify what Arnisa has said.
If you wish, you can choose how many days you want to observe and I can fast forward for you. Just thought I would mention that nothing is rooting you to this spot specifically and the fey would be willing to regroup at a later date if you wish.