They take a day to observe the comings and goings of camp. Ellis is a cautious man, and here they have every reason to make an accurate accounting of the number of soldiers, which tent the academics come and go from, which cart holds weapons and which holds grenades and bombs. Mark the rotation of the guard, how many are designated as sentries, whether or not they have lain any traps. Whether the laborers are also soldiers, and on and on and on until—
It is after midnight. The camp is quiet. And Ellis is reminding them again in a murmur as they steal in a wide arc around the tethered animals, "The scholars have to be kept alive. Everyone else, do what is necessary, but we need the researchers and their work intact or else this has all been a waste."
Once all of this is set in motion, Ellis won't be able to issue the reminder again. Other things have been said, but there is no need to reprise them: Only kill one of the sentry, so the other has a chance to sound the alarm and draw the rest of them out. Light up the carts holding the bombs, if you can. Only set fire to the tents they'd slept in, no others. Cut the animals free, perhaps the dracolisk as well—
Laying waste to entire camp isn't exactly his preference, but Ellis has been with Riftwatch long enough to recognize the likelihood of a situation getting bigger once they're involved. Wide-scale destruction is simply factored into the plan at hand, acceptable so long as they don't return to Kirkwall empty-handed.
That being said, his attention turns directly to Silas and Richard to remind, "We'll draw them out, towards the ravine, so you can have the run of their camp."
Here, the parting of ways:
The two Richards to whichever entry point into the camp they deem best.
And all the rest of them to hide themselves in the shadowed bushes and trees that line the path between the camp and the ravine, to give themselves the element of surprise when reinforcements come thundering out of the camp itself.
THE RAID.
It is after midnight. The camp is quiet. And Ellis is reminding them again in a murmur as they steal in a wide arc around the tethered animals, "The scholars have to be kept alive. Everyone else, do what is necessary, but we need the researchers and their work intact or else this has all been a waste."
Once all of this is set in motion, Ellis won't be able to issue the reminder again. Other things have been said, but there is no need to reprise them: Only kill one of the sentry, so the other has a chance to sound the alarm and draw the rest of them out. Light up the carts holding the bombs, if you can. Only set fire to the tents they'd slept in, no others. Cut the animals free, perhaps the dracolisk as well—
Laying waste to entire camp isn't exactly his preference, but Ellis has been with Riftwatch long enough to recognize the likelihood of a situation getting bigger once they're involved. Wide-scale destruction is simply factored into the plan at hand, acceptable so long as they don't return to Kirkwall empty-handed.
That being said, his attention turns directly to Silas and Richard to remind, "We'll draw them out, towards the ravine, so you can have the run of their camp."
Here, the parting of ways:
The two Richards to whichever entry point into the camp they deem best.
And all the rest of them to hide themselves in the shadowed bushes and trees that line the path between the camp and the ravine, to give themselves the element of surprise when reinforcements come thundering out of the camp itself.