The two looked over at each other, and Delft replied, "There are...stories, especially during the war, of strange things happening on the island. The Danor Government's official position is it's superstitious nonsense," Jya shrugged, "And hasn't recorded anything official, but you might run into oddities, given the current fighting."
"Additionally," he added, "In an emergency, you will be expected to aid or replace the infiltration team."
"Oddities I can handle." She saluted Delft, then the foreign Minister. "I'll be ready to leave at your command. Is there anything else, sir?" You never knew when your superiors might want to bring up something else, and she wasn't going to assume that was all. She was dismissed when he said she was dismissed - no sooner.
"No, constable. When you're ready report aboard the Impossible before the tide turns." Delft returned the salute.
After another respectful nod, Hime exited the room, then started to gather a few things. Her stipend was still fairly limited, of course... but her greatest talents had never lain in the objects she held. It was her fists and her will that were her greatest assets, and they would suffice. After finishing up a few things at her desk - ah, paperwork - she packed her things and headed off. Most notably, she'd grabbed a few bits of chalk, in case things dragged out too long and she needed to form another pact.
Before you depart for the Impossible you are given a small bag of supplies that your superiors feel are essential to your mission - a potion of water breathing, two potions of Aid, four scrolls of Pyrotechnic, two scrolls of Silence, and two of Passwall. The scrolls have been crafted specially by Principal Minister Lee, and do not require any action beyond reading them to activate.
You are also granted an allowance of 1000gp to requisition whichever equipment and materials you see fit from RHC's stores and supplies.
Once done, you board the Impossible and the ship sets sail soon thereafter. Your captain is Rutger Smith, the bearded gentleman you saw talking to a Dwarf at the launch party, and a man most impressed by your accomplishments. He invites you to dine at his table that evening, although he warns you that the talk will most likely be of the Duchess and her actions, a topic he imagines you are somewhat sick of.
In response to the Captain's invitation, though... "I would be glad dine with you, Captain." she said, remembering what she could of naval protocol. "It's true that I've had to talk about her a lot over the last week - although since I only spoke to her a few times on the boat, there really wasn't much to say - but I'm happy to participate as I can. I'm looking forward to the surprise we're about to give her."
The dinner is surprisingly fine, and the talk is, as expected, about te Duchess and her apparent rebellion. Despite the nature of the talk, however, it's clear that none of the crew especially supports the Duchess - at least, doesn't claim to - but instead is something of a philosophical debate, and whether the Duchess' actions are justified given her beliefs.
The crew is roughly split down the middle. The first officer leads the argument that the Duchess' dedication to the old ways, which the King is ignoring, her patronage by the Fey who have helped and protected the nation is a good reason for her rebellion, even if they don't agree with it and feel her treason needs to be punished. The Captain leads the argument that the nation must maintain progress to keep the nation safe, and attacks on the King are treason. If the Fey cannot accept what the nation must...
Inevitbaly, the first officer turns and asks, "And what do you think, Constable?"
"As an officer of the RHC, I think that I am obligated to support His Majesty's decisions." she answered firmly. "That said, I don't see technological advancement and the support of the fey as mutually exclusive possibilities." she stacked a bit of food on her plate to help illustrate her point. "It's easy to forget because the fey titans have been quiet for so long, but His Majesty is essentially the only thing keeping them calm. There is no nation beyond our borders as dangerous as the entities that sleep within. I should be very surprised if they cared one whit for our notions of progress - we may think their time has passed, but do they even think about time the same way we do?" she paused for a moment to allow that to sink in. "Of course, that doesn't mean we should ignore the development of our nation. The new techniques we've uncovered should help make life better for a great many people, and other nations will not stop progressing and seeking advantages. I suppose my ultimate decision is that we shouldn't rely too heavily on any one thing. You still have manpower on a boat because there are things humans can do that machines cannot. And in the same way, there are things fey magic can do that technology cannot. Why abandon one instead of trying to get the benefits of both?"
"Besides, lest any of us forget, the Duchess wasn't simply looking to depose the King and take his place. She was also intending to kill the Principal Minister and a great many other important people. She would have robbed Risur of much of its leadership, during a time when our changing world requires a steady hand to steer us through it. Few people believe themselves the villains... but the Duchess is wrong. If she truly cares for the old ways, she would have been better off using her position to remind people of what the ancient powers can do to benefit their lives. In particular, she could have urged His Majesty to make a few displays of support and show that the old ways are neither forgotten nor irrelevant. We cannot stop the Dreaming - we cannot even understand it. But we can find ways to live with it."
"A fine point worth remebering," the Captain said with a laugh and a bellow of cigar smoke, "Given that I was one of the noble guests in attendance onboard."
The first aid added, "But if the new technology is upsetting the Archfey, as some claim, don't you think there might be a danger that the King's connection will weaken? If the Fey begin fighting us, we'd be vulnerable to...everyone."
"If the fey began fighting us, other nations would be the least of our problems." Hime pointed out. "Until the founding of Risur, human nations essentially did not exist, and they could return us to that state very quickly if the King was not in their way. Although..." she gave a thoughtful pause.
"Most new technology is coming from Danor in the first place... you know, the nation we're trying to ally with. If we manage to form a defensive alliance with them, we could probably control the development of industry from within Risur for long enough to find the right balance between keeping the fey happy and advancing ourselves. Given our respective specialties, people are hesitant to challenge either of us alone. Together? They'd have to be truly insane to try it. Besides, the King truly cares for this land. I don't believe he would do anything that would put us at risk of the titans rising again. Until it's proven otherwise, the rumors that technology is weakening his connection to the fey are only that - rumors." Here, she was leaning back into Officer of the RHC mode. She had a duty to fulfill, after all. She would happily bend the rules when she thought it was necessary, but this wasn't one of those times.
"And the last thing he needs from us is completely unfounded speculation about his abilities weakening, given that the line of King Kelland has held firm for over a thousand years. If you don't believe the King is doing what is best for Risur, then you probably shouldn't be on this mission in the first place. You're here because you are the best, and His Majesty is relying on you to get the job done. If you no longer trust his judgment, then hand in your resignation and stay in your quarters until we get back. Otherwise, remember that you are His Majesty's hands, selected to make his will into reality. He's counting on us - on all of us, from the Captain down to the lowest shipmate - and I for one have no intention of letting him down."
As far as chastisements went, it was rather gentle. She wasn't trying to attack them - just remind them of their purpose.
The first mate raises his hand, conceding the point with a laugh. The crew is, in general, impressed with your ability to debate...without sounding like a pompous ass. The rest of the night goes pleasantly, and without any incidents.
The next morning you rendevous with the ship bringing the infiltration team from Flint. Four Special Constables from Slate come aboard - Tanya, a half-elf druid by her equipment accompanied by a massive hound. Letmas, who seems to be some kind of spellcaster too. Seven Foot Dan, a massive man who lives up to his nickname and carryng a long length of spiked chain. And Burton, a Goblin carrying an extensive surgical kit with a fastidiously kept uniform.
After greeting the captain, the four of them invite you to one of the rear cabins, to explain the plan.
The plan is that evening the ship will hoist black sails and reach the cove around 9pm, at low tide. Once they arrive at the sea cave entrance, Letmas casts water breathing so that the infltrators and Hime can breathe underwater for an hour or so. The infltrators will then take a 500-ft length of rope, dive underwater, and swim to the sea cave. There’s supposedly a 200-ft. stretch of submerged cave before an opening with fresh air at the bottom of a mine.
Once there, they’ll secure the location, and signal back—by animal messenger, or sending Burton back, or just tugging really hard. Hime will then follow the rope to link up with them. Sunrods will let everyone see underwater.
Together, the two groups will make their way to the mine’s exit (marked as Mine C on the island map), which should be on a low mountain facing an island valley. They’ll then cross over the north shore of the island and descend to the back of the fortress. They’ll use passwall to breach the fortress, and then the infltrators will try to open the sea gate. Once it’s open, they’ll use pyrotechnics to send a signal flare up to alert the navy.
Meanwhile Hime will hole up and wait for the military to arrive. Once the fleet is signaled, it will take about ten minutes for them to strike. They’ll be able to sail directly into the interior harbor of the fortress, and they outnumber the duchess’s forces about 5 to 1, so victory should be a foregone conclusion.
Once the dust settles, they’ll bring the PCs in to handle Nathan Jierre and to pore through whatever evidence the duchess and her allies may have left behind. If needed, however, the infltrators or military may ask Hime for help.
After a moment of consideration, Hime reached into her pack, grabbed one of the handcuffs, and chucked it at Letmas to see what happened. She wasn't sure why he was missing, but she intended to find out before they went anywhere. If their plans had been compromised, they might need to rethink them...
The cuffs flew through the human's illusionary form. The other three watched with mixed reactions - Tanya with a sigh, Dan with a laugh and Burton without much change in expression. After a moment, Tanya shouted, "LETMAS!"
A few moments later the human reappeared through the door as the illusion faded, carrying a tray with five cups and a pot of tea. "Yes?"
"What have I said about skipping mission briefings to make tea?" The druid asked, frustration in her voice.
"Don't," the illusionist replied, "And in deference, I did not so the first three times we went through this. This time, with no new information likely to be forthcoming until Constable Hime here can add to our thoughts, I saw no harm in making some tea while you brought her up to speed."
Tanya placed her head in her hands for a moment as her companion put his head on her lap. Despite the slight...oddness of the scenario, it doesn't seem like they're in any danger of letting slip any details of the mission, but that they've worked well enough together, for long enough, that they're more friends than anything else.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Hime's mouth twitched upward in a smile. Well, the four of them seemed satisfied enough, so there was no reason to push the issue. She collected the handcuff and put it back in her pack, carefully sealing it to minimize any exposure to water. The last thing she needed was slippery cuffs letting people out...
"Well, it sounds like we all understand the plan, then." she said. "What's our backup plan, if something goes wrong? Just blast through the gates?"
"You are the backup plan," Dan said with a wide grin. "If they manage to - by some miracle of miracles! - defeat us four, you're meant to do our job."
"Hush," Tanya said with an exasperated look before sipping the tea she was handed. "Although in theory, yes, that is the backup. If we fail the theory is we'll make enough noise for one person to sneak in and complete the job. But if you can't...the fleet will start hammering the seagates. It'll take time, however, and won't leave the island as neat as Danor would like it, but it will do the job."
"Well, hopefully it won't come to that. Even I'd be nervous about going through a whole fortress on my own." She'd been experimenting with a few magical tricks that would help with things like this, but none of them were usable yet. Maybe that potion of water breathing they'd given her would be a good substitute... it was probably easier than trying to fight through the guards on the docks if worst came to worst. Still, that was a backup plan - for now, she just needed to focus on her main job here.
Dusk comes faster than one might expect, and with it you and your cohorts slip into the water after Tanya casts Water Breathing on you all, allowing you to save the potion for now. The tunnel is where the plans show, a copy of which have slipped into the waterproof bag you've been provided with, and the four infiltrators swim along as you float just inside the entrance, the light of a sunrod left behind the only way to see. A long length of silken rope is in your hand, awaiting the infiltrators signal.
Suddenly, instead of the gentle tug you've been expecting the rope jerks wildly, almost being yanked out of your hand.
Hime yelped a bit as the rope suddenly flexed way more than expected, then checked her palm for rope-burns that might cause trouble later. "...We might have a problem." she called to the crew as she waited to see if there were any further tugs on the line.
You got no reply, nor further tugs on the line. The rope was tense and tight, with no give when you pull on it.
Hime quietly ran through the list of possibilities that could cause a rope to tighten this way - the ones she could think of, at least. None of them were especially pleasant. "I'm going to go down now. If something's gone wrong with the others, I'll implement our backup plan and try to open the sea gate myself." she called back to the ship. After waiting for a moment in case anyone wanted to say something, she dove into the water, grabbing the sunrod and following the rope.
The crew of the ship acknowledged your message as you start your descent. The tunnel is dark, lit only by the sunrod. It comes as no surprise, but it is still claustrophobic.
After two minutes or so or travelling down the tunnel, you find the problem - the ceiling has collapsed, crushing the rope. You are barely able to squeeze past the sight, and find an unpleasant scene - Burton lays trapped beneath the fallen rubble, blood slowly pooling in the water around him. It seems his position in the rear saved him the fate of the others - there is no sign of them from beneath the rubble bay a few whisps of reddened water seeping through.
Thankfully, it seems to have been an accident rather than a trap, and the tunnel remains open...for now.
Well, @#$%.
After that unladylike thought - a rarity for her - she darted down to Burton's position to see if he was actually still alive... and if there was anything she could do to help him. If nothing else, she had a lot of healing at her disposal, and would happily use it if it would make a difference. If there was no way... well, she could make his end quick, at least, if it hadn't already come. Sometimes that was the only mercy you could offer.
Burton's leg was trapped beneath the rock, and his eyes were wided and unblinking as he panted. He was going into shock, and it was clear his leg was broken beneath the rock, but he was alive. It should be possible to save him, but possibly not easy.
Fortunately, the air-breathing spell ought to be far from wearing out. Even split among their whole group, it ought to have plenty of time left, and Hime quickly drew out the wand she'd requisitioned and tapped him with it a few times. That ought to stop the bleeding, reverse at least some of the damage, and buy the time they needed.
You never left a man behind if there was something you could do about it - and the mission was time-sensitive, but not so much that she couldn't do this. With that, she got as firm a grip as she could and started pushing on the rock, to see if she could lift it enough for Burton to pull free. It probably didn't need to move very far - or so she hoped. Just enough to unpin him would be fine.
With his wits restored by the Cure spell, Burton is able to pull his mangled leg from beneath the rock as Hime managed to move it, an impressive feat of strength. Although the bleeding wounds were closed it was quite obviously still broken. Still, despite the pain the Goblin said simply, "Thank you, I thought I was going to have to cut it off," before starting to move down the passage.
Hime promptly swam after him. "Will you be all right to continue? You can still make it back to the boat." she said, pointing back to where the rope could guide him to the surface. "I wouldn't mind the help, of course, since it looks like we're changing plans... but I'm not going to force you to go with that leg."
"No, I can't continue." The Goblin pulled himself free of the water shortly after, and collapsed on the side. "But you can't waste more time on me, either. Carry on with the mission. I can wait here until you can return, or send someone to fetch me."
"Stay hidden." she said firmly. "Things may get a little violent once we open the gates, after all." That, of course, was the number-one priority now. With that, she swam off, trying to recall what she knew of the island and get as close as she could. If possible, she was going to try and swim her way up to the destination - or at least get as close as she could. The best way to ensure the success of her mission was to simply not be noticed in the first place - not until she absolutely had to break cover. A lot of people were counting on her... and she wasn't going to let them down.
The Goblin nods, getting as comfortable as he can in the air pocket with a promise to move if the air grows stagnant, while you continue your swim.
You come out shortly in a chamber about 80ft in diameter and 60 feet tall. Wooden gantries have been assembled on the walls, making an almost dock-like area near the tunnel entrance. Iron spikes have been driven into the walls every 30 ft or so. In the centre of the chamber a tall pillar of stone stand, water lapping at it's base from the last few inches of water in this area. Part way up a large golden coin has been placed in a round hollow.
As she landed, Hime quietly opened her bag of supplies and started drawing on the ground. Given the nature of this mission, she definitely needed to be tougher. When she was done drawing, she bit her thumb and smeared some blood onto her palm, then slammed it down into the middle of the circle. She staggered slightly as one of her powers left her - knowledge of creation, which she'd idly been working with. The exchange was complete a moment later as new power rushed into her body, and with an exertion of will, she called forth a near-invisible barrier around her body. The chalk and the blood vanished a moment later, as if they'd never even been there.
She couldn't help but be a bit relieved. The spirits didn't always answer when she tried things like this, but it was enough this time. She glanced with interest at the coin, but this was technically Danoran territory, and she wasn't here to rob the place, and it was clearly up there for a reason. Instead, she quietly began moving forward, carefully scanning the area for signs of guards or other trouble.
The coin was clearer far older than Danor, or Risur for that matter, with runes you suspect it has to do with from a Constellation of some kind.
You also spot a figure retreating up the stairwell, although you only get a glimpse before they vanish.
Hime made a mental note to ask someone from Danor about the medallion - things related to Constellations were very interesting to her, given the nature of pact spirits, but she had a mission to accomplish. Noting the presence up above, though, she shrugged and gave up her attempts at stealth as she continued forward - although she did remain on-guard for an attack. The first order of business was to determine who that actually was - if it was part of the Duchess' forces, she'd need to take them down. On the other hand, if they were a remnant of Danor's forces - which were surely on the island somewhere - she might be able to make an ally out of them.
You see something flickering on the gantry above you.
From somewhere near the top a shot rings out.
The bullet clipped you lightly, and a voice above hollered down, "“You killed all my men, you dirt worshippers! That wasn’t enough? Now you want me dead as well?” The turn of phrase and the insult suggest that he is Danorian.
Hime winced as the shot struck her, although at least it hadn't done much. "Hold on, you don't have all the information!" she said as she went for cover, mentally cursing the Duchess' actions. "The one who attacked your island is a traitor to Risur, and I came here to stop her at Minister Lya Jierre's request! Look, I'm willing to stay down here, where I can't hurt you, while I explain. Will you at least hear me out? If I'm lying, you lose nothing by hearing me out. If I'm not lying, you can help punish the one who's truly responsible."
The shooting stopped, although you could hear the sounds of reloadng, and the shadowy figure paused...but a lumbering creature of stone also wandered into view. Holding a heavy barrel above its head. "How do I know that? You think I'm dumb or something? How do I know that you aren't working for that Duchess in the Fortress?"
"And if I were here to kill you, why wouldn't I just march in here with a group?" she countered. "It's just me - no soldiers coming out of the water, or pouring down the tunnel behind you. If you're hunting someone, it's always safer and easier to do it as a group. I know there have been tensions between our nations in the past, but my King has publicly stated his intention to pursue peace - and as a member of the Royal Homeland Constabulary, it is my duty to uphold His Majesty's will. I will not attack you, even if you attack me - the last thing my King needs right now is a genuine diplomatic incident between our nations. The duchess is a traitor, and we have come to take her back into custody, then return this island to Danorian control. That will happen no matter what - our fleet can fight its way in, but that would likely deal extensive damage to the fort and endanger any Danorian survivors who may be there. I'm here to try and get them in with a minimal amount of damage to the area."
"That...makes sense, I guess." The voice pauses for a moment. "OK, you want to prove to me you're here to help? Bring me that Icon. It'll keep me safe."
"Icon... the coin on the pillar?" Hime asked, double-checking to be sure. She didn't know what they actually called the thing. "All right, hold your fire and give me juuuuust a moment." She paused for a few moments to give him the chance to clarify in case he'd meant something else and, assuming he didn't, she slid back towards the pillar and focused.
Fortunately, her contract with the spirits - that was, the part she didn't really talk to others about - came with a few perks. Most notably, the spirits offered her a limited amount of access to an incredible variety of magic, and since she wasn't really practiced in climbing yet, it seemed like the best option here.
The Telekinsis is more than enough to pull the coin from the pillar and to your hand. As you hold it you gain the sense that it is linked to Air, making you feel lighter and airier. The Shadow above you, despite it's featureless form, watches the coin intently.
Hime turned around and moved back towards the man, holding the coin out in clear sight. "Would you prefer I toss it closer instead of bringing it all the way?" she inquired. "I could toss it past some cover, if you'd like, then back well away while you take it. Whatever you're most comfortable with."
"No, don't throw it. Just... bring it up." A middle-aged face appeared over the edge, eagerly waiting for you to bring the Icon up.
Hime approached, keeping the coin held out on her open palm - not truly gripped, so it wouldn't look like she was trying to keep it - and her other hand down at her side. She stopped once she got close enough for him to take it. "As requested, sir, one Icon." she said.
He took the coin with a sigh, a small stream of wind seeming to blow around him for a moment, before offering his hand to Hime. "Nicholas Dupier, Mine Foreman. You're not here to keep the place, you said? You were handing it over to the Lady Jia?"
"Hime, with the Royal Homeland Constabulary of Risur." she said, shaking his hand. "I spoke with the Minister in person before coming out this way. Our intention is to hand the island back to Danorian forces within 12 hours of retaking it from the Duchess. You may not have heard the news out here - she attempted to assassinate our King a little over a week ago, and fled here during the plot. Needless to say, we condemn what she's done in the strongest possible terms - and while we can't change the past, we can make her answer for what she's done."
"Assassin, huh?" The Miner doesn't look especially impressed by the idea. "Well, I can see why you people are being sent by the Lady Jia to take the place back, yeah. Alright, what can I do to help?"
"I need to get to the sea gate of the fortress as stealthily as possible." she explained. "If need be, I have a potion that will help me swim up. If we can get it open for ten minutes or so, Risur's fleet will be able to sail in and retake the fortress with a minimum of damage. We can fight our way in even without opening the gate if need be, but that would probably deal more damage to the fortress... and any survivors of your people who might be there to get caught in the crossfire." It probably wouldn't hurt to lean on that motivation a little. He had no real reason to love Risur at the moment, after all, so having a real reason to cooperate was important. Better than letting him feel Risur and the Duchess should just make each other suffer.
"No, you won't want to swim up," the man said instantly. "It's designed to look for that, and there isn't a way in from the sea side bar the gates. You'll need to bypass the curtain wall." You remember the weak point marked on your map.
"I'd be careful of the roads," he added, "From what I saw on the way here, your Duchess controls them now."