One of the swordsman that had entered earlier leaned forward. He had a thick mustache of grey, with iron eyes and a chiseled look to him. When he had strode in earlier, he'd been on the tall side. "Pardon." he said. Kayden glanced his way, and spoke next. "Yes, sir Virgil?" 

The older man smiled. "So you did your homework lad? I'm no sir, anymore. But to let others know, I am Virgil Swordhand. I was a Knight and cavalrymen fighting the Khalahar for near 13 years, and served almost as long as the Captain of the Guard for the city of Ridgehaven. Now" he continued, speaking with a drawl. His voice was low and deep. 

He pointed to Cassilda. "The lady has a good eye for tactics, but I think we're all here because we're a bit short on coin if I am being blunt. The more bandits we kill, the better. If we were simply trying to take their keep, attacking them when they were only using a skeleton crew, and then occupying it for a siege as the other 30 came back would be optimal. But see, we want those 30 to be on our bounty list. If we captured the keep, knowing bandits, even cutthroat ones like these, wouldn't stick around to take it back. They'd be gone. Even if we set a trap for them, we'd be using up precious time and resources, and they would still outnumber us in a place where they know the terrain. As for the-" he glanced at Nuva. "-Skayleigh's idea..." 

"[color=f26522]I had a similar idea.[/color]" Jex said aloud, cutting the old Knight off. He placed a clawed finger along the map, upon the bridge within the forest south of them. "[color=f26522]We needn't split our forces. If we hit the 30 attacking the Lord from their flank, they would be cut down like young prey.[/color]"

"What if one of the bandits escaped and made it back to the keep?" Kayden said. "Even if the bandits don't know our aims for their stronghold, they would have seen a well armed group having knowledge of their secret plans. The rest would then prepare for us at the keep. I was planning on their stronghold being unaware of our attack." 

"[color=f26522]I would hunt down anyone who would run away.[/color]" the Drabarian promised. "[color=f26522]It's what I do.[/color]" His last words sounded like a an alligator's rumbling hiss. 

"You probably would. But I don't enjoy taking a chance on that either." The Captain replied, placing his hands on the table. "It would be a risky proposition." He let out a long breath through his nose, then stood up. 

"I suppose we have 4 choices. Attack the keep tonight, unawares but at full force. Attack tomorrow on two fronts. Attack the keep tomorrow and leave the lord to his fate, or attack the highwaymen, and then the keep. I will say I am for the 2nd option, as is Hobnob apparently. It would do well for us to help the lord anyhow. If we are to conduct business in the city, it would do us good to have a friend." He looked at them all. "Remember, the contest for bounties ends a week from yesterday. If we attack the highwaymen and then the keep, we'd be safer, but we might lose a few bounties and lose precious time as well. I'm sure we would get there in time, but it's cutting it close..."