Swamped

There is another option, one that you wanted to hold off using.

You can't let this plan fail. Rider will fall here under your watch. You have all the resources of the Bogknights. You will do what Long never could...


Peppershot. Grinnes might not be able to launch a net, but he could cover a large enough area with peppershot and you could send...which Tom is the tinkerer? Eighth? Tom Eighth can assist with the calculations. Given the signal the striketeam would equip their masks and the Knob will be covered in peppershot. The Rider will likely have a mask on, but the peppershot would target the swampbeast. You'd have to fire a lot, possibly your entire stock. Pest control will have to do some extra rounds to make up for the lost deterrent but it would incapacitate Rider's beast.

But taking out the beast is not the same as taking out Rider. Once the shot lands, Rider would target the strike teams' masks and try to force them to give him an opening to free his beast from the cloud. Long and Burgundy could hold their own, certainly, but with the terrain at the Knob it would only be a matter of time until Rider's advantage allowed him a solid shot at their masks.

But that time would give Grinnes and Eighth the chance to adjust the launcher for a more accurate shot. Rider would be worried about the peppershot and the welfare of his beast. Even if he expected another volley, he wouldn't be able to incapacitate the entire strike team and get his beast out of the way in time. But that's if Eighth and Grinnes can adjust the launcher, and if nothing else goes wrong.

Wait...

This report says that one of the captured marshguards carried a satchel of powdered rustmoss. Rustmoss is known partly for its blood red color, but also for the fact it degrades most metals very quickly. Typically fighters who mainly use hand-to-hand techniques use it to disarm their opponents. A strong dose can weaken a spear to the point of breaking, but the delicate metal of a mask's filter would only need a light dusting before breaking down.

If you equipped the striketeam with the rustmoss, and instructed them to target the Rider's mask...That would give them the advantage in a peppershot cloud.

You'll need to organize a quick recovery squad to retrieve Rider and any wounded from the cloud. The night medic will need to go out herself to treat them. The members of Squib Squad could come in as well (once their ruse was completed). You'll need to tell them to equip cloth masks (not good for prolonged exposure or combat, but enough for a simple grab and get out).

IF the Rider still gets the upperhand on Burgundy and Long, you'll have boat crew position a series of lifeboats along the deepwater while the cloud is up. An escaping Rider will head right into a miniature blockade.