Aozora Meeting Hall

Jun thought about Hansel's proposal. She nodded, impressed. "That's a neat idea. But it sounds like Aozora can't spare that many people at the moment. I think we should go with nighttime ambushes for two of the camps, and then gather up a large force, like you suggested, to scare the third camp into surrendering immediately afterwards."

She pointed at camps one and three on the map. "These seem to be the weakest and easiest to deal with. I'd like to try to rescue the civilians in camp three with the Acacia archers, if you don't mind. They've been practicing since they could walk, so I'm sure they can outrange the ones stationed on the ridge. Then they can take out any slavers down in the quarry. I can use my powers to heal and protect the civilians or take out any particularly tough targets. If Aozora can spare some extra equipment, we could also then dress up the rescued to look like extra soldiers. At the same time, one of you deals with camp one, and finally we can converge on camp 3 with our fake army."

She looked around, and was suddenly self-conscious about seeming like she was trying to take charge. "Uh, what do you guys think?" She grinned shyly.

He shrugged after Jun's speech and nodded after the words of the Warlord. "They have the high ground, and there is no reason to believe their archers are not well trained either. After all they most likely have had conflict recently, with the banditry they do. Besides, to scare defenders off you need massive numerical superiority or vastly superior gear. The point is we are trying to negate any casualties, yes? They may fire upon us and take on or two. Even that is unacceptable. There can be no hybridization of the plans, either we only take each one by night with our very best elites, or we muster up a hundred or so farmers with pitchforks to simply scare them off with our mob size. However, there are always the captives, which will inevitably be used as hostages, making the latter option not entirely valid. As such, I propose this joint task-force we have goes in by night with our very best, slits their throats in the night, and triumphs that way." Having said his part, his muscles would relax a little, but he would remain largely on guard. 

Orocles sat at the table and listened to both Hansel von Dietzhoff and Jun of the Celadine, as well as Warlord Shintaro Nishida when he spoke up.

"I can't say I would add to anything you have already suggested," he began, "however, I think we should ambush them. The bandits prey on travelers, no? We can set up decoys... send merchant caravans on the roads near the camps. When the bandits leave the camp to attack these caravans, we spring an ambush and eliminate them quickly. Drawing them out and defeating them while they're unaware is our best bet, and we won't need to put any civilians in danger, not to mention we will take less casualties."

Orocles grinned and tapped his feet quietly as he felt a sense of relief when Warlord Shintaro Nishida appreciated his input. "Maybe try to do it against a camp with the largest force... try to defeat as many as possible in a short amount of time. And my warriors, the Thacians, are excellent for this - we are lightly armed and so can hide in the forests and countryside. Our javelins will pierce their armor and ruin their shields. My warriors' battlecries will run their mounts amok. And put a falx in any Thacians hands, and they will slaughter all those who stand in their way."

He looked over at Jun of the Celadine and Hansel von Dietzhoff. "Jun's archers will prove beneficial in this as well. If they can pick off the enemy leaders before they can organize a defense, all the better. If there are horsemen involved, they can always run down the stragglers."

Jun recognized Hansel's type, wanting to show off how skilled he was. She could relate. Oracles on the other hand seemed more cautious and thoughtful. She smirked. "My people's archers could double as horsemen for the ambush. They have mounts and are quite fast. Running down stragglers would be easy. Once the ambush is complete I myself can assist with a frontal assault."

Jun looked back at the camp with concern. "But remember, we still need to hit all three camps at once, so that they don't reinforce each other or call for reinforcements from Taloum. I still don't understand how you want to divide up our forces. Do you want us all to contribute to the ambush? And once you are done, which forces will take which camps? All three camps would need to be eliminated with a relatively short time frame, perhaps minutes. Hansel, which camp were you planning to take?"

Sighing and scratching his back, Hans looked at the map through his helmet for a few moments. He would take off his helmet, and while holding it with one hand to obscure his face, he would grunt with effort as he pulled out his false eye and kept it in his hand. As he put on his helmet, he would keep his hand holding the false eye pointing the iris at the map. It wasn't functional, but he felt it had to be done. Wiping off a little of the fluids that came from his eye slit off of the thing and cleaning it with a handkerchief a few moments later, he spoke. "To take all three. If we execute everything perfectly they will not be able to notify the other camps, and a synchronised attack is not necessary. If all of us attack at once and perfectly we do not need to spread our forces thin." Waving a hand dismissively, he spoke on. "But I see we are opposed to this. Frankly I do not know what camp I will take. I know my limits, I cannot take one alone. I suppose I can take this one, I can rendezvous with some Knights who will go to approach it, I while take them by surprise while the approaching Knights distract them. The Knights are not good at stealth and subterfuge, so naturally I picked the one without captives for them to execute, and thus I can perform better alone."

"In the past we were fortified in a watchtower right above their town and they didn't send any force to come for us. As we damaged their warehouses we left before the next day so we didn't see them prepare for a retaliation. Taking this castle and building Itami-cho has gotten attention of all local bandits. I believe we can take out these 3 major camps without Taloum sending reinforcements. How about this, we only split up into two forces to take out the first and third camps, then converge in the center to attack the large camp. As long as we kill any bandits escaping, we can avoid the large camp being alerted. Even if they ARE alerted we have enough manpower to wipe them out. However many men we need to take out each camp, I can provide them. Just tell me how many you think you need."

"It is fine to doubt my plan. Doubt is a sign that one uses their mind for good purpose." He would look to her for a moment, forming a for once genuinely friendly smile behind his helmet. "I can take the first bandit camp. Ten of the Brotherhood can weather any arrows they send at us, rain fire on them in return with their crossbows, and break through the choke point they have with that bridge. I myself will go there before them, and wait outside the palisade they have set up. If they try to escape by climbing over it I will be waiting for them with a sword then they are helpless. If they opt to stand and fight, I can climb over myself and slit their throats while they are busy with the Brothers. Finally I will bring a cleric to heal any injuries the Knights may receive."

"Assuming Hansel von Dietzhoff can successfully dislodge the bandits at the first camp, I will assist you at the third camp Jun," Orocles told Jun of the Celadine. "Afterwards, we can all converge on the last camp, which is the most heavily fortified, and take it together. How does this sound?"