Chapter 108 - Raiding the bandit camp (2/2)
”Well, I can only find one way that would make it easier,” said Slaine on the team chat. ”We first need to get to the guns by the lake. Then, a couple would get into the lake to locate the bandits in it. We use a couple of those weapons to get rid of them first and then continue to attack the other bandits,” said Slaine.
”Any other thoughts or suggestions? Please make it fast. The patrols would sooner or later notice the missing personnel,” he continued.
”You are right. Let us get to the lake. If we are really blocked, we can use dynamites and quickly escape,” replied Roll.
”Sure, I couldn't locate anything useful either,” said Mob who was on top of the other watchtower. He had been watching the camp from another watchtower. Summoners send their summons to fight. So, they tend to keep their perception high to be able to monitor the fights. Moreover, Mob also had a scope which was given to him by Merlin who got it from Rudra.
They would also gain a skill to watch from the viewpoint of the summons after the first upgrade. This would be very helpful in scouting and laying traps, but currently Mob had to rely on scope to control his summons like other control their pets. The only difference between the pets and his summons currently is that even if a player is dying, he could give some commands to the summon that would try to complete them even after the player died.
”Anyone have strong frost spells like the frost nova?” asked Slaine. ”They would be better suited for holding back the bandits in the lake, if they could freeze the area. Apart from that keep your crossbows on ready. We don't need to kill the bandits, but at the least make sure they wouldn't be able to use those guns.”
”Yes, Grenadier has got wintertide. It could be used to freeze multiple targets in direction,” said Bitter Beast. Wintertide is just an uncommon skill that send a chilling wave of white particles covering an area of about 4 by 4 metres in a direction selected by the user. Usually it just slows down the opponent by freeze effect and deals negligible frost damage. It was considered a good way to run away. But it has a special effect near water. The wintertide's range of attack increases in water, its freezing effect also increases and an ice barrier in the shape of a tide is formed which can be used as a cover.
”Well, then he comes along with me. You guard the lake for the bandits with me while others use the mounted weapons to attack,” said Shadow in the team chat. ”There rest should also make sure that none of the bandits from the tents reach any of the mounted weapons close to us.”
”No, I am not good at close combat. Why do you want me with you?” asked Grenadier a bit worried. Moving along with an assassin usually implied being a bait which requires decently good close combat skills to survive. So, he was worried and started to suggest that Bitter Beast best keep his mouth shut.
Grenadier Mage usually played the role of a bombing specialist. He maintained his distance while providing support to other characters. He was never good at one-on-one fights and preferred team fights. Both Mob and Bitter Beast knew this and were silently laughing at his plight.
”You are not being the bait. Just follow me. I need your skill to be used at the lake,” said Shadow to calm him down.
Slaine remained on the watchtower while he provided direction to the others. Apart from that, he also called for reinforcement from the guild and Blazing Fury when he realized that it isn't easy to capture the encampment. There were a couple of situations when Shadow and Roll had to ambush a few of the patrolling bandits who might discover the others, but they managed to react in time and kill them in time.
They all knew that they could only sneak in till a certain distance. The area around the lake had a decent number of bandits and anyone without stealth skill would be detected. Slaine had already sent everyone marked position for the mounted weapons based on the pictures that Roll and Shadow sent him.
”Guys you need to make it to the points that I sent you and hold the positions. There are three mounted guns near the lake close to us. We need to secure them. There is a bandit near by the one in the centre and that gun is closest to us. Shadow and Roll will help secure it quickly and then they will get to breaking a couple of gun mounts. Let the ones who have crossbows accompany them as there is a high chance that the bandit might turn the gun pointing at the lake around and use it on us,” said Slaine in the chat.
”Each of the guns will have two players with it. One to use it and other to try and protect it. You have crossbows and dynamites which you could use, but make sure to at the very least keep one dynamite with you in case the plan fails and we need to run back out,” continued Slaine.
”Yes, dynamites are quite useful with these quingols. Though they have a tough shell, they burn easy and like water. So, a dynamite would be very useful to handle them,” said Shadow agreeing with Slaine.
”What am I doing?” asked Grenadier as he moved beside Shadow along with Bitter Beast and Mob. Shadow quietly sent them messages asking them to accept the quest to kill the bandits, that he had received from the soldier at the rear of the Blackrock Town. Shadow thought that it was a simple quest and it is best to share it with them rather than the guild as he possibly would be playing with them more than the guild.
”Stick with Shadow and follow whatever he says. We need to just hold on for a few minutes. I have already called for reinforcements from the guild, but as there is a high chance that the patrols will soon find the bandits missing and raise the alarm, we are making the first attack before the others come here. I am staying behind and will provide directions from the watchtower. Keep in your positions. I am waiting till it is the best time and when I give the signal run,” said Slaine.
Slaine had been monitoring the situation in the camp from his perch. He had them wait behind a tent ducked and out of view of from any windows of the tents. He wanted them to wait for a time when there are a smaller number of bandits in their way to the lake. He just hoped that none of them the others in the tents come out.
A few seconds later, he felt that it was the best time and more delay might probably make them realize that some of the bandits were no longer in the camp. So, he told them to raid in the team chat and they ran towards the guns.
There was only one gun manned, while the other two were unmanned. Grenadier and two others ran towards the manned gun. When the others were waiting when Slaine told them to, Roll and Shadow had already moved closer to the gun in stealth. They three of them had crossbows which they fired one after the other aiming at the bandits back as soon as he noticed them. The bandit immediately started turning the gun towards them.
There was another thing that was useful in attacking the manned gun first. They didn't know the method to turn the direction of the mounted guns. It would make operation easier and faster if they have a look at the bandit using it. That was the reason, Shadow and Roll moved closer to viewing distance before they started the attack.
The bandit couldn't even rotate it halfway around before Shadow managed to reach him. Roll had a good look at the levers and buttons on the mount used by the bandit and quickly put in the information in the team chat, so that the other two pairs could get to know the operation of the gun.