Sara had arrived as well, and most of the war council sat in the closest room they could find a table there were not enough chairs, Ranger Thomas started sprawling out maps, and position markers.
"So, around this area we have spotted the Lizard Ants. Let's hope the number stays at three," said Travis. "What's really difficult to predict is which way around the cliff face they will take."
Kurt could see a rudimentary map of the area, and agreed that way about where they were.
"If we could lure them into the canyon that would be best," said Simon.
"And why is that?" said Layla.
"If we can line them up in the canyon here or here," pointing to two locations, "I will give them one nasty surprise down the line, here. I would take Joe's Rider Hawk to run afterwards, I am confident I can kill them, maybe not all three, but they will die to it. I will only get one shot though, at least per location, they would reach me before I could do another one, we want to put them into a bottleneck I'm waiting at; the canyon provides the best options for that. I don't want them to be able to dodge it. At least easily. And the earlier they enter the more chances I will get before they reach the pillar."
"That would be easiest to accomplish if they go around away from the pillar," said Travis, moving his finger on the map, "but if they swing around this way, they might end up coming directly towards the pillar," running his finger the opposite way. "in which that would be almost impossible."
"So it's better for us if they go this way," said Kurt.
"Yes, very, I believe even just you could be enough bait to get them into the canyon. Though we would be joining you," said Travis, "you won't have all the fun this time. I assure you, in fact we don't necessarily need you, but I believe your help would be the best option."
"As bait?"
"Yes, I assure you the goblins would see this as a very brave and glorious act, we have different ideas about that I would think, leading someone to a well formed trap is seen as just the same glory as a head to head battle to us. We generally would just have you get their attention then run to the canyon, they are not very intelligent. Your movement ability will allow you to keep your distance. We will be using our mounts, but you have much more mobility. You should also be able to push them, much easier than we will be able to. But don't worry I will be starting that."
"So what happens if they go the other way?"
"It will be an open battle with them, Simon will need some time and wouldn't be able to line them up on field here. But he will still be helpful, and his use of the rider Hawk allows him if necessary to come here," pointing at another part of the map, "which is why I would probably put our main war party here," pointing to a spot in between the cliff and the pillar. Until we see movement to suggest a better alternative."
"And we are sure they won't just go this way?" said Kurt moving his finger in the perpendicular direction off the map."
"I don't believe so, they will find us," said Thomas, "it might be in a few weeks or tomorrow, I think we should assume they are drawn to the well. Or at least what it provides."
"So wouldn't it be best to lure them across the cliff this way first?" said Sara, "instead of waiting for them to make the decision when they want to."
"That is a good question," said Layla.
"Yes, that might be possible, I am operating under the assumption they could move at any time, certainly we could use the cliff to draw their attention the way we want," said Travis, "that is dangerous as they might end up finding footing, or creating footing, and climbing the cliff much earlier than expected, leaving the party practically ambushed."
"We can at least try to get them to stay in that direction," said Kurt. "We don't have to go further than we think is safe, set up are warning signal when we see them move."
"I agree," said Layla, "if our best bet is to move them to the canyon then we should try to ensure that happens."
"I would move the war party here like I said and get appropriate bait for them, and with a separate advance party attempt to make them move the way we want."
"I'll start preparing the shamans for the spells, and set up the trap in the canyon," said Simon. "We can start some of it now in a couple places, allowing us more options quicker, we still won't know exactly where we can push them into the canyon."
"Then, I'll lead the main war party," said Thomas.
The three seemed very similar to Hank, Tom and Joe to Kurt except it was obvious Travis was leading, instead of Simon. Perhaps a bit older and wiser, and confident then the three, but they seemed to work well together. That seemed especially dangerous.
Travis said, "Honestly the best case might be for us to get them to split up, two this way towards the canyon and one this way towards the war party. So we should be prepared for that to happen as well. If all three go towards the war party, I'm afraid there will be no way to avoid some losses, the terrain is more for their advantage. We are weakened because we have only one brood already. The advance party can split up according to what happens, providing support to both sides, and leading them to the ambushes, it's the most dangerous part. If all three go one way or another the advance party will follow in kind."
"So what should I do?" said Sara.
"I was hoping you advanced some of your magic," said Simon, "I was thinking you could set up places on the canyon that would be weak, allowing us to slip their footing into the canyon, in other words help lay the traps, once inside the canyon they shouldn't be too hard to make follow one way or another."
"Hmm how big are they?" said Sara, "I could make a root structure that I could remove quickly making the ground soft, it should topple into the canyon with enough weight. There would have to be something there to start it though. I was also surprised that I might be able to employ that. I'll have to get Mary for help."
"Then you should come with me, we can set up choke points on the canyon and you will help lay the trap," said Simon. "They are about a third of the size of the pillar."
"That's still pretty big."
"Then we all have things to do," said Layla. "Warlord Travis, I grant you operational command over all of my forces, under the guidelines we have discussed, protect our people. And bring us Glory and victory. Ranger Thomas I grant you situational command of the main war party, and High Shaman Simon anything you need you will have it, you may employ gnomes and anything else you deem necessary, all of my resources are at your disposal. You may attack when ready. We are officially at war with Lizard Ants. Keep me informed here at the pillar."
"Thank you, your majesty, I will bring you glory," said Warlord Travis.
"Kurt and Sara, I hope you don't mind but I would have you work under Travis's and Simon's command for this operation, they know the goblin's forces and their capabilities better than you do. They will treat you as high ranked officers, of course."
"I don't mind, Joe usually leads the party when I'm there anyway," said Kurt, "we are all friends here, Travis seems eager to do the work for me," looking at Travis, "I look forwards to seeing you prove yourself from a distance, I mean no disrespect with that statement. Seeing a great warrior fight is its own reward."
"Yes, Sir Kurt, I take no disrespect, I too I hope to not need you at all, and have you bask in the glory I display," said Warlord Travis chuckling. "But I didn't get to my position through brute force alone, though I certainly have plenty of that," flexing his chest, arms and shoulders, it was a very impressive act as he seemed to grow even more huge, "but if the situation warrants it, I expect you to act accordingly."
"Well for now, this is an emergency," said Sara, "and I don't know where to put the stuff anyhow. And Simon seems to have the plan down."
"I look forward to working with you, Dutchess Sara," said High Shaman Simon, whom apparently already knew how to work 'Dutchess Sara' as already she gave an overly proud face of 'finally, someone said it', after her honorary, "we don't need to have such a brutish competition. I will be the one attacking, when the time comes, I imagine your role shouldn't require any conflict at all, just a little direction of where you should place it. This battle will have plenty of glory for us all."