Hey guys,
Its more a theory crafting, then an actual question, but it will help me greatly in shaping encounters in next chapter of my campaign. In this case, we have a lizard folk shaman, leading a rather strong army with a goal of taking a rather remote human settlement. The objective is complete occupation of mentioned town, casualties among the townsfolk are not really an issue.
Shaman assets:
Minibosses:
- 5x Archmage (spell slots up to lvl 8),
- 1x Ancient green dragon
- 2x adult green dragon
Stronger individual mosnters:
- 10 x goristo
- 1x Nalfeshnee,
- 4x Hydra,
- 7x storm giant
- 6x giant constrictor snake,
- 2x medusa,
- 2x tyrranosaurus rex,
- 3x spirit naga,
- 10x giant crocodiles,
- 8x black abishai
- 10x basilisk,
- 10x giant lizard
Mobs:
Cca 500 lizardfolk warriors
All monsters are refluffed as lizard-fluffed monsters (dragons = poison flying snakes, goristos = ram lizards
)
This may seem as a sure win for the attackers, but the town they are attacking is also not without defences:
- Small town of about 3000 inhabitants, placed upon a sparsely-used trade route
- About a mile of clearing around the town
- Town is placed next to a river, about 50 ft wide
Town defences:
- 20 ft deep, 15 ft wide, flooded moat
- 20 ft high stone wall with towers
- A minor, sturdy stone fort in town
Militia:
- Given, this is sort of wild west, all adult males and a number of females are regularly training with simple weapons. Fully mobilized, militia counts about 900 commoners with simple weapons plus cca 50 level 2-3 fighters and some similar level casters
- At all times, due to travel, there are 2+1d3 adventuring parties present in town of average lvl 5
- There is a good chance of a stronger party visiting town too, so one more party of lvl 10
- With all counted defences, for an example Ancient green dragon is suddenly not much of a threat. He can do damage and scare a lot of people, but volleys of arrows will still be a pain. Manned walls are a problem (expected massive losses of attackers). Goristos may break down the gates, but this again means invading forces suffering greatly due to fire from rooftops.
- Also, there is no time for a long siege. Crows/sending stones and a potential adventurer with teleport may bring an army here fast, so it must be done fast.
How would you approach taking such town with these assets?
Thanks!