[center][h3][color=993333]István Shilage[/color][/h3][/center]

[@The Otter][@VitaVitaAR][@Conscripts][@AzureKnight]

[color=993333]"Please,"[/color] Shilage replied, voice carrying all the humor of a rockslide. [color=993333]"If it's this that ends me, I deserve it."[/color]

In a slow roll along the assembled troops, primarily composed of those whose stars were surest to rise within the Lions (and a merchant), the burly Southron let his gaze fall upon each candidate. In truth, it was few that would serve best within the confines of the first strategy outlined— If [i]he[/i] had to sell the lie of lightly guarded caravan...

[i][b]Guillaume,[/b][/i] obviously. A knight polished for parade, bereft of the many underlings that lied behind the title. An attention-grabber, but appearing tantalizingly vulnerable for what he was. An irresistable opportunity to take off the board. With him [i][b]Melanie[/b][/i]— a scribe brought along to etch his noble deeds to the page, perhaps moonlighting as taking inventory of supplies. She carried few weapons upon her person and would thus appear scholarly, civilian. [i][b]Urden[/b][/i] next— hired help. There was little hiding what he was, even if the man ever had a change of heart and [i]cared [/i]to— but his presence would indicate both thin [i]and[/i] disconnected defenses, a separate party within the wider faction. He'd imply a potential lack of coordination to exploit— as well as signal that the caravaners were uncomfortable with the dearth of force to muster. Finally, he'd pluck [i][b]Matthias[/b][/i]— an all-rounder from the tactician's schools, he could play quite a few prospective roles. Squire. Guild Adventurer. Expedition leader. Magical counsel. Whatever the situation would incline him towards, he would serve a dual purpose of being able to rally enough coordination out of them in the thick of things to minimize loss. Presumably.

Those four he would avoid, for that reasoning. It would remain to be seen if their little Princess would agree— but it would give him a preliminary framework to make his choices. As each of the retinue, eager to prove their talents or versatility, came forth, Istvan kept open ears. In undertone, however, he laid out certainties with Cadmon.

[color=993333]"I'll have Gaston take the smarter ones of my group and feed them into the other division. Make sure things retain some structure. He'll answer to you for that time. Rest of them can run wild and really piss them off with me and..."[/color]

[color=82ca9d]"I'll ambush."[/color]

[color=crimson]"...I will say that I am at home in forested terrain and can move nimbly amongst the trees."[/color]

That'd work. Old classic. 

[color=993333]"Irian, Valmyra. Do the pair of you fancy an easy night?"[/color] he raised his voice to be audible and stepped forward, meeting the Lamia and Elven ranger's eyes with a flinty smile. On another person's face, it likely would have been approachable. [color=993333]"I've a fairly persuasive bunch of assholes under my command, experienced raiders— We'll feign a rout after poking their flank and pull the response behind the treeline, into your waiting fangs."[/color]