Retrieving Fiona: The Elves' handiness.

You were able to deploy the armies on the rescue mission at high noon, marching at a steady pace, until they were within sight of the old, abandoned fort on the Vismark coast. Arin and the Elves had gone on ahead with Akina and the royal spies, silently scouting the abandoned fort, and watched the patrol routes. In the meantime, you have the forces set up a camp and command post at a relatively safe distance. Although you do not plan to lead the charge up to the abandoned fort, you will still command the forces at this spot, and it will be there that you will either retrieve Fiona, or hear of her ****.

Given your status and position on the potential field of battle, you have no idea of just how handy the Elves were with assisting Akina and her fellow spies on infiltrating and scouting the abandoned fort. Their ability to remain silent and stealthy, combined with their keen sense of sight and hearing, mean that gathering intelligence was easier. It would not be until one of the royal spies return to you, that you would see the result.

• Estimated number of highwaymen: 40
• Estimated number of well-armed mercenaries: 30
• Confirmed number of magicians: 5
• Estimated number of sappers: 15
• Traps on the overland route: bear traps, boulders that can be rolled down, flammable oil spread at the top, in front of a barricade
• Front entrance defenses: catapults, ballistae, boiling oil
• Rear entrance defenses: catapults, ballistae, flaming arrows
• Rear entrance has a small port for one mid-sized ship, or two small ships

With that knowledge from your Elven-assisted spies, you work out a battle plan with the troops that will be tasked with storming the abandoned fort, and find out about Fiona's fate, if not retrieve her. You wait until well into the night to deploy them, allowing the Elves and spies time to do any sabotage work, or take down some of the guarding highwaymen & mercenaries. It isn't long before the lights of battle can be seen in the distance, and you wait patiently to see the results. That is when a scout rides over to you, saluting when he arrives.

"Report, scout." You tell him.

"M'lord," the scout tell you, "the abandoned fort is secure. All opposition are either neutralized, or have been taken captive."

"What about Lady Fiona?" You ask him.

"Lady Akina and Lady Arinyagimli found her in the underground dungeon." The scout replies. "She is reasonably hurt and somewhat malnourished. Otherwise, she is alive, and receiving healing as we bring her back."

You nod with a smile, and dismiss the scout. By dawn, the deployed forces return after some of the local armies arrived to relieve them. You see Fiona holding on tight to Arin, a cloak wrapped around her body, covering any lingering scars and tattered clothes. The Elves come to assist in helping Fiona off the horse, with Arin waiting for them to make room for her to dismount. It doesn't take long for Fiona to run over to you, her bare feet hitting the cold, soft ground, as she hugs you tight, sobbing in relative silence.