FH: Medium and Short Term Plans

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 5 AM – The Waterworks]

> Both Ben and Finfin looked sharply at each other. Nobody yet had
> specifically mentioned that particular spell. The Foreman’s grasp of
> Arcane Magic was truly well beyond what one would expect to find in a
> “run of the mill” kobold.

However, the Foreman held up a claw before anyone could answer, and
added, “As well as help us clear tunnels today between here and other
camp and strategic points as a proof of your commitment to helping
Upwinder cause further in ways that aren’t just teleporting in, blowing
things up, and then teleporting out again?” He winked at Laquendi, and
added, “Thinking that there is at least ONE member of Tall People crew
not at all opposed to crushing spiders, and might really ENJOY clearing
some of the monster obstacles blocking tunnels.”

One of his subordinates commented stoutly, “kobolds fear nothing!”
Another shook his head, and succinctly corrected “except spiders.” All
the other kobolds except the Foreman nodded fearful agreement.

Their boss just looked resigned. “You see why I want your help,” he
sighed. “Unlike you footloose adventurer sorts, we leaders of the
Upwinders have greater responsibilities to our people to keep in mind,
fun as a dungeon crawl might be.” The kobold shaman or whatever he was
who had told them about the Prophecy just shook his head, and muttered,
“some people never learn.”

“There is still much to unravel,” the Abbot mused. “I believe, with the
approval of my party, we can help. As for the diplomacy, I do believe
that, with Great Medicine Woman Jeyshann, Tramma and myself, we should
be able to get things in order.” Nods all around met his announcement,
and he continued gravely, “We should also be able to help with the one
way Teleport, as well as the dungeon crawl to flambe some spiders with
fireballs. And last but not least, casting a Fimbulwinter would be…
interesting, to say the least.”

The Foreman sighed. “Now we see the violence inherent in the system,” he
quoted, clearly reciting some deep Kobold Lore from memory. “Thought
chance to use more gross magic would get Tall People’s attention. And
fireballs would indeed toast minor spiders. But not Ecru.”

“Ecru?” Laquendi asked carefully. At the repeat of the name, many of the
kobolds nearby looked around fearfully.

“Really BIG spider,” the Foreman explained, waving the question away
with a casual wave of his claw. “But more on that later. But am glad
Tall People are willing to help.”

“A moment,” Captain Finfinfin interrupted.

“Fancy pants elf has something to say, or ask?” the Foreman asked
grudgingly.

“I do,” the elven officer confirmed. “While I have no specific part in
Abbot Kenobi’s chain of command, His Grace has asked me to supervise and
coordinate our spell resources. And so I must ask – what specifically
are you asking us to do?”

The Foreman chortled, rubbing his claws together. “Take notes!” he
called out to one of his surrounding staff. “Three sections. Long,
medium, and short.”

This, one of the attending kobolds set to doing, drawing up three
columns on a previously blank section of slateboard. The runes were in
the Iokharic script, obscure to everyone except perhaps Laquendi, but
also legible by those aided by a Comprehend Languages spell willing to
touch the board. Which Finfin and perhaps a couple of others were.

“Long, medium, and short,” Laquendi read off the three column titles,
not needing to touch the board.

The kobold doing the writing looked sourly at the elf. “What ELSE would
it be saying?” it asked snarkily.

However, undeterred by this minor drama, the Foreman began to call out
data for each column, and Finfin nodded as he saw each phrase accurately
copied under the correct heading.

“Long term plans,” the Foreman began. “Two for starters. Tall People
must agree to begin diplomacy with these Forest People to see if
Upwinders would be welcome in unused Green Death Kobold swamp. And we
will send along a scout of our own to make our OWN assessment of the
area.” He paused to give Lomi a small bow. “No offence implied for VERY
Tall Person scout.”

“None taken,” Lomi replied easily. “And your own scout would know better
than me whether or not the place really IS suitable for your people or not.”

Tramma nodded. “That might be best to determine before we kick up a
whole diplomatic fuss about relocating some friendly kobolds to displace
those nasty Green Deathers.”

The Foreman gave a nasty smile, and added, “If the Green Death are as
bad as you say, Upwinders are VERY happy to help remnant of Green Death
tribe not need anything but shallow graves in swamp. All properly
consecrated, and very healthy for vegetation.”

Tramma nodded. “If the Abbot gives his authorization, and if one of our
Teleport Wizards helps out, I can lead a diplomatic team there. I’ll
need to bring along some of the Flying Tigers, as this may be something
that is bigger than just dealing with the closest and friendliest of the
tribes.”

“Second long term plan,” the Foreman continued, the attending kobold
dutifully copying what his Boss was saying. “Plan for pointy eared
wizards AND Great Medicine Lodge both. Be certain you can cast a
Teleportation Circle, or whatever it is that you are planning, and come
back and tell us how long it can last. Only with both long term plans
complete can we know if Tall People really DO have a place for Upwinders
to go, AND have the means to get us there.”

Tramma, perhaps desperately wishing that Sister Erin was there, was
taking notes. “That… sounds reasonable.”

“Medium term plans,” the Foreman continued, his kobold scribe dutifully
moving over to the new column. “Continue Strike Actions against SJE
targets that we will pick for you.”

“To continue the political destabilization?” Finfin asked. “As well as
to undermine their efforts to strike back at the Upwinders and weaken
their ability to resist your Exodus?”

“All true!” the Foreman exclaimed, and then barked happily in something
that Tramma suspected was a nasty laugh. “But more important reason than
those fancy pants elf mentions. SJE leaders are Rat Bastards, and not
the tasty kind, and simply need killing. The world will be better off
without them.”

Both Laurelin and Jeyshann, having spent more time than most scouting
the depredations of the Social Justice Engineers, nodded their emphatic
agreement.

“Right now,” the Foreman continued, “new leaders in SJE clergy are
shaking in their boots, if they wore any, thinking that TONIGHT you will
be hitting them again. Which you will not.”

Tramma nodded thoughtfully. “If some of them think like so many others
in history have, they’ll let their hope cloud their judgement, and
desperately wish to believe the EHPK Raid last night was a one-off, and
not something to be repeated.”

“Which is why,” the Foreman cackled, “you will show them the error in
that belief. With a target and a timing that WE can give you – if you
also fulfil a SHORT term goal.”

Finfin nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “There IS military
precedent to letting an Enemy wonder and hope that some sort of a
Superstrike was a solitary occasion… and then dramatically disabusing
them of that notion.”

“Exactly!” the Foreman exclaimed happily. “So, with US steering your
strikes, we will keep them guessing! And fearing. Soon, of course, they
will set up a trap where they HOPE you will strike… and so you will
strike elsewhere. And then do the unexpected and strike the same place a
SECOND time. And if you are feeling gutsy, even strike where you KNOW
there is a trap, if you think you can overpower them.”

“Rather diabolical,” Finfin observed.

“Why, thank you, fancy pants elf,” the Foreman replied with a bow.

“And quite possibly effective,” the elven officer mused. “Though it
would indeed require the principal members of our spell casting force to
stay on station for those weeks that this medium term goal seems to need.”

“But you could,” Tramma interjected, “do that at the same time as me, as
the Abbot’s diplomat, and the Flying Tigers are working the diplomatic
angle with the Forest People.”

“And giving our OWN scout a long and careful sniff at the area,” the
Foreman added.

“That, too,” Tramma agreed.

There was, however, a key concern in Finfin’s mind. “This would rather
depend on continuing excellent Intelligence of the SJE numbers,
capabilities, and locations. Are you confident that you will be able to
continue to supply that Intelligence?”

The Foreman chortled, and waved a claw around at the surrounding
planning tables. “Have VERY good Intelligence,” he cackled. “Upwinders
are kobolds TOO, and have infiltrated many surface population centers.
Many, in fact, have defected in place, and feed our agents detailed
tactical information.” A nod towards the continuous stream of kobold
messengers and the frequent updates to figures on maps, and names on
boards, bore testament to that observation.

“What Upwinders do NOT have is FAST access to information,” the kobold
leader lamented. “Outside of a few specialised circumstances. But that
is where Tall People can help with SHORT term goal to help Upwinders
improve information flow to get more timely data for Raid targeting.”

“I am all ears,” Finfin mused.

The Foreman again gave one of his barking laughs. “Of COURSE fancy pants
elf is. Could not be otherwise. But here is short term goal.” And again,
the kobold scribe moved to the third column on the slateboard.

“Many, MANY kobold generations ago,” the leader began, “early SJE
Waterworks development relied on old tunnels underground for
construction access, and drainage.” Once again, he vaguely waved a claw
around at their subterranean surroundings. “This HQ is a small part of
the overall tunnel network. A network many years ago abandoned when no
longer needed, and forgotten about. By most.”

“But not by the Upwinders?” Lomi asked. “And you have a map?” The tall
legged scout had a passion for maps, and this notion clearly had her
full attention.

“We do!” the Foreman cackled happily. “And used to use the tunnels to
secretly reach MANY of the surface outposts, and travel in between out
of sight of the SJE. But not recently.”

“Tunnel collapse?” Finfin speculated. “Or discovery and occupation by
the SJE?”

Laquendi, however, had a different theory. “Ecru,” she stated bluntly.

“Pointy eared silver hair has it right,” the Foreman lamented. “Ecru,
and a few other equally dangerous Nasties, like quite literally Damned
Troglodyte High Priest and his whole stinking underground church of
fanatics. Upwinders have worked hard to keep yard trash cleared out of
tunnels, but there are several that WE cannot handle. And so that is
where Tall People come in. Tunnels extend about a half day to other main
Upwinder prison, and all over to various hidden exits to surface
population centers. We can provide map, and last known location of most
of the really bad underground nasties, and as many details as we have.”

Finfin nodded, once again rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I daresay we
would very much like to study that map and those details. And based on
this material, I am confident I could assemble a tailored Strike Team
best suited to handle these menaces.”

There might, just perhaps, have been a few eyebrows raised at the elven
officer’s casual assumption that it would be HIS job to assemble such a
team. Particularly, as he’d earlier pointed out, that he was not really
part of the Abbot’s Chain of Command.

“I think Laquendi would be the first to volunteer to be part of the
Strike Force against Ecru, Cap’n.” Tramma pointed out. The silver haired
elf nodded her emphatic agreement.