The 2nd swordsman stood up. He had a well groomed mustache, and wore a red and golden Brigandine over a Gambeson. A well crafted rapier was strapped to his belt. He announced his name as Regeland. "Oui monsieur. T'would be bettere' to save ze noblemon and perhaps gain a few favours in ze city perhaps? I hear zere is an excellent brothel we could peruse once ze competiti-" 

The fully armored Knight behind him dropped the steel ball at the end of his mace, letting it crack the stone on the ground to gain attention. His face was still fully covered by his heavy infantryman's Sallet. "We must focus on the Keep. I think even half of the criminals dead would suffice to win the competition. The forest is teeming with bandits and monsters. Our group is large and competent from what I've seen. We can mop up a few Gnoll or Orc bounties on our way back to Starkvale. So says I, Haukford." 

"We can't take that chance." Virgil said with his deep voice rising, the old Knight glancing towards the heavily armored soldier. 

"Enough! I've heard enough." Kayden said, quieting them all down. He waited until they were all staring at him, or had at least buttoned their lips. "This is the plan..." he said, and waved them all forward to glance at the map. "Tonight, Jex will take me to the Keep and show me the way there. There's a secret passageway he spotted before, and it's supposed to be lightly guarded. I will find that location and keep the knowledge for our trek tomorrow. Hobbnob." The Captain said, glancing the Gnome's way. "I want you, Arassel, Zin, Leonard, Regeland, and Jex to lie in wait here-" he pointed to the map near the bridge where the Lord was to pass supposedly. "All of you are either quick on your feet, or small enough to remain unnoticed. More importantly, most of you are ranged. You'll ambush the attackers once they fully engage with the Knights. Meanwhile, I will lead the rest of us toward the keep and into the secret passageway. I will need everyone to be alert because we know little of the Fort's layout and what these bandits are capable of." 

He looked towards the Enchantress. "Cassila, you're right. We cannot destroy all of the bandits in these two moves. Once the guerilla team and the Knights have repelled the highwaymen, they will flee back to their fort bruised and battered and with lesser numbers. We'll keep a man or two alive at the Fort, and if you would, beglamour them into opening the gates and luring the rest of the men inside. We will shut the gates, and finish them off. Perhaps with a trap by Gurnson, or old iron blades. If this is to work, this means we are on a time frame, [i]do you understand[/i]?" His voice was solid and hard. 

"It will take about two or three hours to make it from the road to the Fort, which means we have roughly 4 or so hours, maybe 5, to slit the throats of the men already stationed within, for us to be ready for the stragglers returning. I don't know about you all, but I plan on being a rich man in less than a weeks time and no fucking criminals or incompetent team members are going to get in the way of that. If anyone has any questions or concerns, now is the time. If not, we'll meet here two hours after dawn."

"We have anymore Ale?" Morek asked. 
"No" Kayden said, and the Dwarf looked crestfallen.