Crypt Analysis
A02: Lower Trades District
It's Gilday, Vhast 17 16:00:06 1020. The full moon is up. The tide is low and ebbing. Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west, along with the wind. The sunlight on the snow is dazzling, and it gleams on the ice.
Heinrich is dress, today, not in his usual knightly attire, but rather in a crisp suit, in the colors of Serriel, and dripping with military bearing. He is, howwever, riding his destrier, the steed bedecked in a heraldic caparison. Their pace is casual, even if his posture is not, and he is riding toward the goblintown section of the district.
Gregor is, himself, just riding out. He raises a hand in greeting, and calls out, "Well met! How are things?"
Heinrich recognizes, if not Gregor's person, at least his style. He raises his hand as if to touch a visor that isn't there by way of salute. In a very Alexandrian accent, but friendly tone, he responds, "Things are mostly well, but if I'm strictly honest, there is a matter that has been puzzling me. You seem like a capable fellow. Have you time to counsel me regarding a matter of military tactics?"
Gregor recognizes Heinrich. It wasn't that long ago they worked together on that cult thing, rooting out the Thulian temple, though the hyenas and such was the main bit he remembers. His own accent is crisp, but clearly Blarite. "A matter of tactics? I can try, but I was in the scouts. Tactics happened to other people."
Heinrich looks around and nods toward a local sandwich shop with patio seating. Nodding toward it he says, "Shall we?" He parks his horse at the place and takes a seat. To Gregor, he says, "I'm Hank. I recognize you by appearance, but I hope you'll forgive me for not remembering your name." He orders an iced tea.
Gregor introduces himself again, "Gregor Augustin." He looks skeptically at the patio given the weather, but it's been cleared, so he'll leave his horse, not tied, but at the hitching rail, and he takes a seat as well. "It is good to see you again."
Heinrich says, "Likewise, Gregor. So here's the thing. I've been mulling over the shrine with the hyenas since the other day. May I say that the whole affair sends shivers up my spine, but that was a strategically ideal base. Why would the Thulites abandon it?"
Gregor says simply, "It was not abandoned, or the living hyenas would have starved to death. It was merely not occupied at the moment. Clearly the priests have some other disguise they maintain about the city. They are apparently not so numereous as to support a priest with no other job. Or possibly they were killed recently in some other Guild-sanctioned thing, which is what led to us finding their lair."
Heinrich rubs his prominent chin in thought, and says, "Hm. Perhaps. I did notice some symbols thereabouts. Now I'm not educated in such matters, but I hope the spellcasters can make some useful intel out of them. I mean, if it's all stuff like 'Hail to Thul' and such, it doesn't really offer much useful, but maybe they might shed some light on their numbers and leadership structure. Maybe they might even give hints to identify their plans and goals." He takes a drink. Going on, he adds, "Now there were other shrines, too, that we didn't explore yet. I wonder what we might find there."
Heinrich smirks, "Maybe the thought of rising in undeath secretly terrifies them as much as it would me. *shudder* Anyway, I'm sure the ladies will be on top of that. Anyway, as for the site, perhaps something happened there that affected their choices. I dont know that a haunting would cause discomfort to a Thulite, but I wonder if the City Watch might not have records or old veterans with memories of something that might have happened there over the past several decades that might give Thulites some distress. Maybe they picked a site that used to be sacred to a different god, or where there used to be a connection to some other power. Hopefully, the next shrine will give me the chance to impale something on my lance."
Gregor says, "The site was practically colocated with another Temple, so the idea that there was a third site, and one that bothered them, seems unlikely. They likely simply don't live on-site. We found their temple, but we didn't find living quarters like you get with the normal temples." He says, "Tactically, it seems like a bad choice to give up such a strong location. I can only conclude they either have better, or don't have enough to hold that one."
Heinrich looks squarely at Gregor. "Have you any knowledge of places nearby that might offer them an even better strategic advantage? Maybe somewhere with better access to key targets, or somewhere more easily concealed?"
Gregor shakes his head, and says plainly, "I didn't know about this place, either, though. I'm fairly new to the city, though."
GAME: Heinrich rolls Knowledge/Military Theory: (18)+5: 23
Heinrich nods. "Well, I can figure pretty well what sort of features they'd want. I think maybe I'll get chummy with some of the Watch and see what I can get them to come up with. If I describe for them the sort of features I'd pick, they may be able to point me in the right direction."
Gregor agrees, "That sounds like a good plan. I'm no tactician, but I'll back you up on that."
Heinrich drains his tea, and says, "Well, thank you. Sometimes it goes a long way to talk these things out."