[IRP] The First of Many

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume listened absent-mindedly as the villagers continued to talk amongst themselves. Eventually, the talk led to Paige moving to the blackboard at the head of the room. Hearing the sound of scratching chalk, Satsume picked his head up and eyed the blackboard intently. Apparently, the con group from earlier were a bunch of sore losers, and were waiting just outside of the village, preparing for some revenge. Or maybe they just want their display piece back, thought Satsume, grinning faintly at the false blade, which was now in the pegasus rider’s possession.

Paige chalked up a few diagrams, which Satsume soon figured out were meant to represent the village and the looming bandit force. The large blonde woman, Orica, stepped forward after a bit and weighed in with her opinions. Intrigued, Satsume picked himself up from against the back wall and walked toward the front of the room.

“…you mentioned that the approaching bandits had archers as you passed me earlier. Did your survey figure out their number? That would be useful information.”

“The two of you wouldn't be a sufficient enough ambush. If anything, all the two of you would be able to do, if the archers don't get an eye on you, is whittle away at their numbers in hit and run sweeps…”

Satsume said nothing at first. He walked straight into the middle of the conversation and grabbed the chalk from the sill. He added some more circles to the group that represented the ambush force, then smeared his hand across one of the two circles at the village opening.

“Then commit to the ambush,” he said. “Bring as many as you can. I will hold the gate.” He could feel everyone else’s faces contort into skeptical glares behind him, so he kept talking. “You want them to commit to a frontal attack so you can strike at the flank, right? So give the illusion of weakness.” Satsume turned around and faced the group.

"Bandits are cowardly. They make attacks of opportunity and little else. Putting the two people at the gate gives the notion that we’re willing to fight. They’ll hesitate, and be more likely to anticipate the attack from the side. However…” Satsume drew a couple more lines on the diagram and set the chalk down. He slapped his hands clean and folded his arms.

“If we get them to commit, they’ll fall right in our lap.”