"Given all the things that have happened lately, I'm inclined to try and start up a Wizard's Guild sooner rather than later." Azri noted as Aibek commented on using areas. "Good for trade and good for access to a lot of useful talents. Never a bad idea to have one of those around." She looked at the island area for a few moments, pondering. "I could probably fly some stuff over for a makeshift dock..."
"Yes, I think first approaching by flight would be a good idea. I could scout out the area for threats."
As someone who distinctly does not fly, at least not without other's assistance, and used to spaces where threats from the skies were expected and watched for carefully, Aibek looks to Azri and Mihara unsurely, "I would imagine flying with dock supplies would give away an attended arrival point? They likely already expect us to follow with such actions, but..." more looking for further explanation than dismissing the idea.
But then Aibek was more used to combat that didn't have time for multiple approaches - except for certain assassination targets, and those didn't involve flying. Dancing at times, but not flying. Aibek glanced over as some of the shadows seemed to try dancing with the some of the Leshy.
Even a small floating dock would require either significant materials of spellcraft to pull off. It wasn't impossible, but the time and resources required would probably make it unworkable unless you intended to land a significant force.
"It's a big tower. Spotting people on approach is kind of the point." Azri noted. "There's always just giving up on stealth. I mean, with an anchor, some rope, a wooden platform, and somethig to tie a boat to, I could get a small dock up pretty quick."
Aibek looked to Azerna, the Leshy, and the others before turning to Azri with slight confusion and a lot of concern, "...I didn't see any towers or other high guard stations -- just the doored cave and ruins on the small island north of Khalharum".
Thinking for a few more moments, Aibek continued to the gathered group, "We don't really have the forces to just muscle our way through and back. Not without risking those people's safety further. Flight has benefits with heavily monitored waters - scouting ahead being one of the big ones - but obvious limits so caution would be more important. I don't see any benefit to the dock - the rocky surface is firm enough. A solid entrance and quick exit strategies are needed for their safety...flight for that many would be difficult so boats that can risk those waters. In a pinch I could use a plannar thinning to get people out, but with the risks and limits of that, it would be best to keep that as a very very last resort..."
"I'm confident I could sneak by their observers. They expect councilors, certainly, but I believe a simple fox would certainly elude their attention. I would gladly do some reconnaissance while we prepare an incursion."
It shouldn't be impossible for a single person to sneak onto the island, although it is risky - you know the enemy leader is cruel, vicious, childish and adept at using mental magic, at least telepathy and domination.
That is a risk Mihara is willing to take, if the rest of the party is okay with it.
Since Mihara no one objects to Mihara's plan, she took flight.
The island was a not insigificant distance from Stonespine, and took about two hours to reach with Mihara pushing herself. The surface looked unguarded, the edges covered by beach and dunes and the centre areas a mostly rocky expanse with a few clusters of green suggesting pools of rain water. It was perhaps two miles long and a mile wide, a broken, zig-zagging shape.
Mihara looks for an inconspicuous spot to make her landing. Assuming that goes well, she goes about attempting to locate any points of interest, keeping her path looking somewhat spontaneous, and generally playing the part of a fox hunting for mice or such prey as best as she can.
It wasn't obvious, but eventually when pausing at one of the pools the little fox spotted something - a cave entrance below the water. It probably shouldn't be too surprising that it was hidden underwater, all things considered.
Now that was something Mihara wasn't foolish enough to blunder in by her lonesome... and she doubted foxes routinely dove into caves in search of fish.
Perhaps it was time to return and let the others know of her finding. Making a beeline for the hideout would at least save them some blundering about and give less time for the enemy to notice their approach.
Mihara is able to return without apparent notice, and coveys the islands layout and the entrance point to the others.
Aibek considered for a few moments. While not as confident as Mihara about the idea, it did seem like the best and safest option for getting information for faster retrieval of those taken while also giving time for putting together a boat or two. So Aibek raised no objections .
After Mihara left, Aibek talked a bit longer with the Leshy, both in general interest and to arrange to visit later after this trouble was over, preferably late one evening. There certainly seemed to be things that Aibek was happy to offer to help them with and talking to Azerna's little ones was more than a little entertaining whether or not Aibek got any aid in return. Also, their shadows seemed to enjoy their company as well which at this point was a big bonus.
Next, Aibek walked Azerna back to the inn. There were a few things to talk about, Aibek could always find a few things to talk about with the dryad. Aibek would rather walk with her all the way to the docks, but the witchwolf hadn't organized all that was needed to deal with that problem yet.
Finally, Aibek headed down to the docks. Aibek had spent regular time talking with the dock workers so hoped finding a couple boats and people who would be willing - with appropriate compensation - to help rescue the missing. There was also organizing repairs to Mihara's kin's ship to be dealt with, but Aibek didn't want to do that yet without her. Aibek looked for the friendliest face they knew to chat to first about this...
Azri didn't eat popped corn kernels while Mihara investigated, but that was mostly because Azri didn't eat. "Does anyone need help moving underwater?" she inquired once people had reconvened.
It was a simple matter to round up people willing to help, and a couple of ships. The Council as a whole was quite popular, and Aibek in particular had managed to cultivate close ties.
Aibek checked their bag, "Hopefully we won't have to be in the water that much, I'd imagine whoever would be tougher there. This touch of the sea potion should help movement, though I only have the one. I do have a few water breathing potions as well."
"It seemed like only part of the caves are flooded," the Lethy noted as they gazed into the pool.
"Good to hear, I'll bring them along just in case again. A couple ships and some people are waiting, anything else needed?" Aibek said, eager to get there (and back).
Gathering basic supplies - ropes, food, clothes that were more waterproof than a desert might otherwise require - did not take too long to gather, and the ship journey was not hard.
Aibek kept expecting to be attacked as the journey went on. Pacing around the deck, Aibek did one more check before they followed Mihara's
lead and guidance on how to quickly get to where the taken people were...
It didn't take long - especially with flight - to find a way onto the island. As per Mihara's report, it didn't seem to be guarded at the moment. Either you hadn't been noticed or you weren't currently a concern.
Mihara silently led the party towards the entrance, then motioned down towards the underwater cave.
Aibek eyed the water warily for a moment, before they reached to pull out pretty potions and handed one to Mihara and Ayreth. Not yet taking one themselves, Aibek cautiously approached the underwater cave.
The cave itself seems to be deserted, the pool leading to it still and calm. There is still no sign of guards, but it's impossible to see far down. A sentry could be lurking out of sight.
Azri smirked slightly as Aibek didn't offer her a potion. That was, of course, the correct course of action. She didn't breathe, either, and had no particular qualms about going and staying underwater. She carefully stayed at the front of the group, keeping her sharp senses alert for signs of trouble.
Mihara keeps the potion close at hand, but opts not to drink it yet. She follows Azri closely, keeping her eyes on the cave entrance, ready to Long Step into the cave when the opportunity presented itself. The sooner she could emerge from the water, the better.
The passage is a short one, leading to an open underground pool. The small cave was dark, with two passages leading off it to the West and South. It didn't seem to be guarded.
Aibek pulled their goggles down as they looked around and naturally started to head towards the West, keeping an eye for anything odd and on Mihara to guide the way in case they had chosen wrong.
Aibek can detect that this area is used often, and both passages have been used in the last hour. There was a faint noise down the western passage and the sound of water down the southern one.
Aibek slowly and cautiously continued down the western passage unless otherwise stopped.
A small cavern sits to the west, with an odd-looking machine sits in the middle of it. A tunnel extends from a bend to the south and another continues West.
Mihara follows along calmly, maintaining the utmost silence.
Aibek quietly continued moving towards the west, having a brief look at the odd machinery and the caves around for clues while trying to remember the route Mihara had discussed with them back in Khalharum....
It seemed that this was a pump of some kind, keeping these caves - which are below sea level - from flooding. The device seems to be of Dwarvern origin, judging from the runes carved along its casing.
Gotta love dwarf tech. Azri thought to herself as they passed the pump-thing. We should hire a few. By which I mean a clan or two. You never went wrong with big dwarf groups for civil engineering projects. She, too, continued forward.
Wary of touching such technology, Aibek admires the runes for a few moments before continuing to the west.
The next chamber is low enough that the taller of you need to bend your head to avoid the stone, and is pitch black. A pool of inky water dominate the centre of the room with a passage to the South once again opening up.
The discomfort of being hunched over for Aibek was balanced by the soothing nature of such a space for the Shadow Archon. In their element, Aibek's softly glowing eyes looked through the room while moving cautiously to the southern passage.
"Oh," Mihara whispers, as the party advances into the dark passage. "It's been a while since I've gotten to use this."
She rummages through her pack and produces a torch. It comes out of the bag already aflame with a bright blue glow.
She halts Aibek as they proceed to the southern passage. [b]"Given our host, we may want to consider this pool before we move on.
Mihara carefully approaches the edge of the pool, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
The inky darkness rippled as Mihara and Aibek approached. The only reason the pair weren't caught off guard went a massive pair of tentacles rose from the darkness and lashed out.
Azri didn't even hesitate to raise a hand and shoot a burst of fire at the creature.
for
for
...And it looked like it was going rather better than usual.
Aibek was thankful for their tinted goggles as the sudden light and fireball pierced the darkness. Quickly pulling up a crossbow, Aibek fired at the tentacles before backing up to the entrance to the way south. Hopefully this would not bring anyone else...
Mihara steps back, preferring to remain out of reach of such a creature, and fires with her shortbow.