The words of Tadashi

[Desicardo]

After a long and perilous journey, I have finally arrived in the town of Hlint.  It is not what I expected for being the town of heroes and adventurers.  I found a rather quiet town filled with mostly war refugees and a few of those that call themselves dragoncalled.  A motley bunch at best, most are not worthy to be called warriors.  In amongst the foolish however are a few that stand out as honorable.  I have obtained weapons and armor and fashioned them after our family traditions.  My katana, though iron, is of modest quality at best, not having the required folds to make the blade strong.  However, I have found one that is at least adequate to the task of training me at the moment.  His name is Kyle Pandorn, and while he comes highly recommended by the locals, he does not have knowledge of his own blade that one would expect from a bushido.  Still, he has skills I need to learn and until someone more proficient comes along, I will accept his guidance.  I have already put much of my studies to work in the crypts and caves around the town.  The undead in the local crypt have come to fear me as well they should.  My visit to the local temple, though not a temple of Vorax, has been enlightening and I have started crafting my own healing potions.  The next task will be to begin training with metals to form my own blade, which I am sure will be of much better quality than the one I am using.  So far, I have upheld my families honor and completed all the tasks that I have begun, though I have had to solicite aid for some of the more dangerous tasks.  In this there is no dishonor as it is good to know ones limitations.  My next task will be to take the ogre leaders head in the mines of Haven and to help a female in the Fort retrieve some oil she lost in the mountains.  I have begun to have a strong dislike for ogres as I have fallen to them more then once.  The stench of death is on them and lies in the nose for long after you leave their presence.  The do provide good training though and I must continue my journey to fulfill my destiny.  I must continue to pray Vorax for strength and guidance if I am to succeed.

[Desicardo]

Progress is slow but steady.  Each day I am learning new things and putting to work the things I have studied on tactics and strategy.  I am now able to navigate the tunnels of the goblin cave with little difficulty to mine copper for weapons.  I have also traveled into the woods to another cave where fierce little fighters called kobolds live.  I have started working with a harder metal in my crafting.. bronze.  I have succeeded in creating a pair of matching daggers which the local pawn dealer was all to happy to purchase from me.  Of all the things I find the most taxing, fishing is among the most trying on my patience.  I am not sure how Father managed to provide the steady diet of fish and rice we were accustomed to.  My skills will improve with time, at least that is my hope.  I must find a source of rice soon.  I miss the smells and tastes of home and oddly enough, Father's rice is among the things I truely miss.  I must return to my training.  So much to do and learn.

[Desicardo]

I stand outside the town of Haven staring at the gates.  It is an occupied city, filled with gnolls we let in by our inept defense.  I have found leadership goes not always to the one best suited to lead, but often to the one with the loudest voice or the strongest will.  My studies in tactics and strategy are leading me to develop a plan to retake the town with minimal risk to the townspeople or members of our party.  If only I can get them to listen.  The misty will not, simply because she refuses any type of organization where she is not in command.  It is likely to get several of us killed.  My hope is that the Lord of the keep dropped the porticulus as soon as the fighting erupted inside the town gates and they are holed up safely inside.  If the keep fell, things will be much more difficult, as keeps are meant to be strongholds against such incursions.  I would not look forward to a lengthy siege to drive out the invaders.  Our first priority though has to be the citizens of Haven and the safety of those trapped in their homes.  We can safely take the town back.  Of this I am sure.  If only they will listen.

**notes drawn on small pieces of parchment and a small sketch of the town with lines of attack tucked away in the journal**

When Uilliam returns with a scouting report as to troup strength this is my plan:
Plan part 1: Send a two people into the gates to draw out the guards near the gate into an ambush set on the south road to town.  If possible take one of the guards alive to interrogate and find out the nature and source of the black stones.  Take all stones from those killed and captured for use in part two.

Plan part 2:  Send Uilliam and 2 or 3 others into the city with the captured stones with the goal of taking the overlook above the mine.  Lay traps around the base of the hill and around the top of the climb to slow anything trying to climb up after them.  Once safely secured, they will start sniping with bows and spells to draw the gnolls to the base of the hill.  The overlook should be easily defended as only one gnoll can climb up at a time and all the gnolls in sight will be clumped together at the base of the hill.

Plan part 3: When the gnolls move to retake the hill, the rest of us will rush in and retake the south road through town, using anything we have that is area effect such as fire bombs, fireballs, ice storms, and other such spells to hit as many of the clustered gnolls as we can quickly.  The party members should be safely out of harms way on the hill leaving the enemy vulnerable to such tactics.  With most of the gnolls weakened or hopefully dead by such a rapid mass attack, we should have little trouble mopping up the remainder of their forces.

Plan part 4: Investigate the status of the keep and whether there are more more gnolls hiding in the town.  If the keep is fallen, secure the gate so none may enter or leave until we figure out a way to retake it with minimal risk.

Plan part 5: Retake the mine with similar tactics used to battle the old ogre presence.

Plan part 6: Discover the source of the black stones and eliminate it so more gnolls or other foul creatures do not attempt the same thing again.

This is the plan of Tadashi, cleric of Vorax
Now to get them to listen.