Preach looked at the ruin of his hands and winced, he supposed it was worth it but the pain was nagging. Listening to the exchange about the duchess he shrugged and interjected cautiously "Her grace certainly has questions to answer, still I feel like we've only seen one side of the story here. How much did she know? Did she play along willingly or was her hand forced?"
King Aodhan turns to Alex, " It looks like you and your colleagues have been helping plenty already. Assistant Chief Inspector Delft chose wisely in selecting you for this duty. I expect that my First Minister will want to debrief you all at length, once he returns to the Coaltongue." He looks out towards one of the escort ships, where a longboat is being lowered to the water. "It appears that I am even less in favour with the Archfey than I thought. For now, let's see if we can salvage as much of this event as possible.'
The crewman with the medic kit rummages it through it and pulls out a small tub of numbing salve and hands it to Bryn.
When things have settled again, King Aodhan takes center stage and delievers a subdued, five minute speech in which he recounts the trials Risur has faced to defend itself from Danor through four wars that ultimately earned either side little. "For centuries, he says, "our people have viewed Danorans as cursed and unnatural, while they claim that we are superstitious and primitive. But ironically their latest efforts to arm for war have brought the two nations closer together, as Danorans have helped Risur with its industrial revolution."
"I hope that my successor, whoever that may be*, will not have to lose any more young men and women to another pointless war. And so, even though I was the driving force behing our latest arms race, I now intend to seek peace with my old, respected enemy, the sovereign of Danor. In one year’s time, I will convene a peace summit here in Flint, and will seal the treaty by marrying a Danoran."
The reactions to this announcement are mixed. There a murmurs of approval and mutters of disapproval. The proposed peace signals a major shift in Risuri policy and with it, brings change. This news and the earlier excitement, (The Duchess' absence is already being tied to the evacuation order.), have sapped the festive mood from earlier and once the engine is deemed sound, the ship starts steaming back to shore.
During this time, you are individually, thoroughly questioned by First Minister Lee The king himself takes time to speak to the team before the night is out, and he thanks you all personally. He spares five minutes at a very critical time to get all your names and ask about your families. He’s especially interested in anyone who has siblings. You can tell that the king is troubled that his own sister could betray him. As he leaves, he say, "May you never have to find an enemy among your own flesh and blood."
Juliet smiles and claps as the King announces his intent to marry a Danoran. A smashing idea! Bind the nations through blood, make a war unsavory to most of each country's population.
When it comes to questions of family, however, Juliet grows quiet, and stares at the ground. The comfort of family was denied her kind, although in a sense her past selves were like extended siblings. Still, she doubted the king wanted to hear that.
Alsah heard the King's words with shock and dismay.
Marry a Danoran? But they are the enemy.
Her thoughts returned to the last war, and the hardship she suffered then. Shaking her head she kept her peace. But nothing good would come of this.
Preach was more than a little star struck by King Aodhan, the thought that he might actually get to meet His Majesty had never crossed his mind. Like Juliet, Preach thought the marriage was a good idea, war was terrible and abhorred by right minded folk. Similarly talk of family was painful for Preach. His parents had been killed while he'd been little and he'd grow up in the impersonal austerity of an orphanage which had been a huge shock. So he clammed up and hoped somebody else could fill the void.
Alexandra thanks the King for his kind comments. She listens to his speech and considers the implications. There are many within Risur that do not look upon Danor and the recent war. What they wanted to take and the many lives lost defending the country. She could also see the possible benefits, but only if the Danorian bride to be had such noble intentions as the King.
The young half-fey reports all the events of the day to the First Minster with all the fine detail that she can recall.
"I am sorry for such hardship, your Majesty, betrayal by anyone close is never easy to bare. I was but a foundling, upon the River Stray, I never had the chance to know those of blood, but I have found a few those close enough that might be consider family." Alex adds to the conversation with the King and his Sister's treason.
It doesn't take long for the details of the attempted assassination of the King to come out and with sufficient evidence to brand the duchess a traitor. A handful publicly try to defend the duchess’s actions, claiming that Risur is going in the wrong direction, and that Danor is not to be trusted, but they are quickly denounced. Some high-ranking supporters of the duchess are even driven from their homes and sent fleeing westward to Shale, where the by all accounts, Duchess Evelyn is fortified in her stronghold.
As the official events of the Coaltongue's sabotage are made available and your actions become known, several reporters approach you, looking for interviews.
Even though you are the heroes of the hour, you’re not high-ranked enough to be given any critical departmental assignments. More senior and decorated members of the constabulary are given the task of figuring out who was involved in the plot, and most of the your tasks involve following up on the work of other investigators. Assistant Inspector Delft keeps you busy in the days following the incident, filing your incidents reports , conducting low-level interviews, filling out paperwork for search warrants, and the like.
Almost a week after the Coaltongue’s launch, you are in the main RHC office late one afternoon, filing paperwork or otherwise involved in office drudgery, when one of your coworkers tells you that the assistant inspector wants you in his office. Promptly responding to his summons, you see that all the agents that were present onboard the Coaltongue have been called to this meeting.
Assistant Inspector Delft is not alone in his office. A Danorian woman is with him. She is dressed in a rich formal coat of red and purple, which is tailored to give her a lot of freedom of movement; fancy looking, yet suited for a sword fight. And indeed she has a sword at her hip; it looks like a rapier, but has some tiny mechanical device attached at the guard. The sheath is thicker than one would expect for a rapier.
Delft introduces you. "Constables, this is the “Minister of Outsiders” from Danor, Lya Jierre."
Without explaining why she’s there, she directs the your attention to a strange collection of items on Delft’s desk. There are three ivory “towers,” each three inches tall with a steel plate on its base. Next are three stone rings—one red, one green, and one blue—each just slightly larger in diameter than the towers. Each ring has three strands of thread clipped to it, and each of the nine strands ends in a small silvery magnet, which can stick to the bases of the towers.
Lya says, “Here is a scenario I would like you to consider: Three towers are about to be attacked. They must be reinforced by magic that flows like water from three portals -- fire mana is red, earth is green, water is blue. The wires are canals through which the mana flows. But if the mana streams cross, they’ll destroy their respective portals. How do you arrange the portals, towers, and streams of mana so that each tower gets all three types of magic, without any of the streams crossing?”
The young woman smiles at seeing the others as a group once again, I hope you all have been well."
Once inisde and the induction of the Danoran representative, Alexandra greets the Minster respectfully with a simple nod, "Minster Jierre"
She than looks over the mind puzzle and considers her options
With that in mind I will throw this out to the others.
Place all the rings in the middle
Water on the bottom with three threads going to each tower on the right side.
Earth ring about half way up the tower with the threads all going out slightly out of alignment with those below, so middle of each tower
Fire ring at the top with the threads going to all the towers, again with the alignment slightly off, on the left side of the towers
--- --- ---
Make sure that each ring's wire is higher than the one below. Think three-dimensionally.
Messer stared at the wires intently, and nodded as Alsah suggested going to three dimensions. "Without going up I can't see a way to avoid crossing the wires and defending all three, in which case I would suggest deserting two and using them as traps for your attackers, but if you go up it looks possible." Unless crossing in the air also shorted them.
Preach inspects the puzzle and notes, "The magnets will stick to the steel plate but not the ivory towers."
He considered this for a moment before stating, "I agree with Alsah about stacking them vertically but how do we achieve this? Here's my suggestion: Each tower will have three threads running over it, one to it's left, one to the middle, one to the right - the crenelations ought to stop the threads from moving once placed. To achieve different heights we simply place the magnets placed at different distances from the towers. The lower rings magnets need to be closest and the topmost one's magnets need to be furthest away. Of course whether a stream of mana can be constrained like this in reality I couldn't say."
Alex nods at the others recommendations, thinking in three dimensions is what would give the answer.
She looks to Messer, "While tactically that might prove to be a sound option, I believe that the Minster is seeing how we solve this 'mind-teaser" of sorts so that she can see how we," Se pauses and looks up at the Minister with a wry smile, 'Consider our options. How we think."
After a brief gaze at the Minster, she turns her attention back to the task at hand and her colleagues.
Juliet, never much for puzzles, leans in and looks closely at the towers, and then reaches a tentative hand forward. "May I?" Grabbing a ring, she positions it in the middle of the three towers, and then attaches the magnet to each tower. "The magnets only attach to the metal, base, correct? I don't see how they--"
Nodding as Preach explains the situation, Juliet moves the rings as he suggests, shrugging apologetically at Minister Jierre. "I'm more a doer than a meditator."
Lya snorts a laugh, "I commend your efforts in changing the rules to find a solution, but I'll stop you there. There is no solution to this problem. Sometimes there are just unwinnable situations." She looks at Delft, "They will do."
Delft raises and eyebrow, "I'm so happy you approve of how I run my department. Anyways Constables, to the issue at hand. Since the Duchess' failed assassination attempt, we've been keeping tabs on the her and her allies. They've been holed up in Shale, apparently hoping for a popular uprising of some sort. Obviously, that hasn't materialized, so it looks like they have decided to try a different tactic. The Duchess and her allies have fled Shale and have seized Axis island in the Yerasol Archipelago, which, as you may know, is now part of Danoran territory."
Lya steps in, "There is a Danoran mining project on Axis Island, as well as advanced steelworks, a shipyard, and a coastal military fort. This is considered a key Danoran military holding, and the Duchess’ attack, though carried out by a radical fringe element, might be interpreted as an act of war. For my part, I agree with your King Aodhan’s desire for peace. The longer your countrymen occupy the island, the greater the risk of the Danoran congress using this incident as an excuse to start another war. I am not authorized to command Danoran forces, and even if I did, a Danoran counter-attack might result in the accidental death of the King’s sister. As such, I'm bending the rules a bit and giving the you the opportunity to retake the island and hand it back over to Danoran control, and King Aodhan has agreed."
Delft add more details. "A fleet of Risuri ships with marines on board are preparing to assault the island in a few days. You are to set out this evening, taking the Constabulary’s fastest ship, the RNS Impossible, to meet up with the fleet. Other investigators will take point, and the military will handle the heavy lifting. You are there strictly in a support role, but as you have had experience with the Duchess' people before, you might catch something the others miss."
"Simply landing at some secluded beach is infeasible, because spells at the Axis Fort will alert the Duchess if anyone sets foot on the island. The Impossible will rendezvous with the naval armada, where it will pick up a group of our infiltration specialists, a team of four highly decorated Homeland constables out of the Slate office. While the navy waits out of sight, the Impossible will enter a cove under the cover of darkness. Minister Jierre has informed us of a sea cave in that cove that leads to the bottom of a mine. The infiltration team will go in first to secure the cave, and then you come in behind them."
"The island’s fortress has a sea wall around a harbor, which protects against storms and assault, but provides access for shipments in and out. The infiltrators are tasked with opening the fortress’s sea gate, so our armada can storm the fortress more easily. The military will capture the Duchess, who will likely be holed up in a keep in the center of the fortress. Once the dust settles, you'll be on the scene to look for clues and interrogate the Duchess and her associates."
"At least, that’s the plan. Both teams will be supplied with mission critical resources, but once you’re on the island there won’t be any help until you open the sea gate for the navy. If you get into a fight, either with the island's original Danoran defenders, or any of the Duchess’s allies, then you have approval to defend yourselves, but take prisoners if feasible."
Lya winces, "Really please do try to avoid killing any Danorans. This is going to be hard enough to smooth over as is. For this to all work, the island needs to be back in Danoran hands in 3 days time, so we are on a tight schedule. Also, as a personal favor, I would ask that you keep an eye out for someone, my cousin Nathan. He was stationed on the island and I fear that the Duchess' would have singled him out for punishment due to his heritage. He wasn't even old enough to fight during the last war and should bear no punishment for whatever grudges the duchess holds. If he still lives please keep him safe."
"Any questions for Lady Jierre?" Delft asks.
Alsah frowns. She hadn't been back to the Yerasol Islands for many years, and she wasn't thrilled about going back. Or working to the whims of a Danorean.
But orders were orders and the Duchess needed to be brought in for justice. She had never been on this particular island, so it was unlikely for her to run into...old contacts, let us say. She focused on the task at hand.
Addressing her question to Delft she asks
Would it be possible for us to requisition some healing potions, sir? I can heal a bit, but the last mission showed we could use more.
"Is there a portrait of your cousin so we know exactly who to look for? And just in case, some piece of information that only he would know that we could use to confirm him?"
Preach flexed his healed fingers and marvelled at how effective it had been, he'd had visions of being permanently scared or even crippled. Trying to focus on the matter at hand, he nodded at the questions asked by his fellow constables before asking a couple of his own, "Do you have a map of the area we could take a look at? Also what's involved in opening the sea gate?"
A Yerasol island? The Impossible? A sea fortress? Runaway Duchess? Investigation and interrogation? Juliet can barely contain her excitement as the mission they are presented with begins to take shape. A brief memory flits across her subconscious, one of her past lives, hours spent in a foxhole on a tropical isle, while magic whistled overhead, ending in long, sustained booms. A first name comes with it - Ernst. I was a veteran in one of the wars. Smashing.
"I only have one question. How soon can we get on the Impossible?"
Messer considered. "What do we know of the enemies strengh, disposition and the like? Do they have a significant number of firearms or spellcasters, for example?" Firearms seemed unlikely, given who they were dealing with, but he'd seen plenty of Fae-fearing men pick up a dropped Danor rifle. They were effective at killing, and a solider was inevitably a soldier first.
@Alsah: Delft nods, "We'll go over logistics and such before you set out."
@Bryn: Lya shakes her head, "Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of my cousin. He looks a little like me, I guess. As for a detail to prove his identity: For my 12th birthday, we visited the sea shore and he was pinched by a crab. Nearly took his finger off. He should remember that."
@Preach: Delft says, "I have those details. The sea gate opening mechanism is operated out of the harbor lighthouse. Capturing and holding that position will be the main objective of the operation."
@Messer: Lya shrugs, "We don't have the full details of the Duchess' forces, but they must be substantial. I would except a few hundred, at least. I wouldn't expect that they would be using captured Danoran firearms, but who can say. The Duchess herself is an accomplished sorcerer, so I would expect some of her followers to have similar abilities." Delft nods in agreement to her assessment.
Alexandra raise a brow at the Minster's assertion that it was not solvable. Real life does not work like a puzzle.
She than listened to the issue and assimgment at hand. The fact that the "traitor" to the Risuri Crown has taken root in Danorian territory, with the aside that they were not able to defend their territory, could not be thought of an invasion by Risur. That reasoning was absurd, but people did not always use reason to base their actions on.
As the Minister continued Alex became lost in thought about the last time she was on Axis Island. It was not pleasant of places to put it mildly. She would be inform her colleagues of what she saw first hand, once the Minister departed.
As the Minster finishes up the mission seemed straight forward, support the main insertion team to allow entry of waiting Risuri forces through the main sea gate, secure the Dutches, and rescue the Minster's cousin Nathan.
The woman kept quiet for the time being.
Preach nodded in appreciation at Delft's promise of maps which turned to concern when the size of the enemy force was revealed. He remarked "This is going to have to be done with some subtlety..."
"Anything involving hundreds of the enemy should probably be done subtly," Messer agreed with a wry twist to his mouth. He wasn't confident in his fighting abilities, and certainly not when it came to fighting a small army. "If our main task is searching for clues and offering support then camouflage to keep out of sight might be a good idea. Copies of the Danoran and rebel uniforms would also be useful, if we have access to either?"
"Thank you for your time Minister Jierre. Should we require anything further, before we depart, I am sure we will be in contact. We shall do our best to see to your nephew's safety." Alexandra says to the Danorian agent and before her colleagues discuss anything further in front of her that might be best discussed in private.
@Messer: "As far as we know, the rebels don't have uniform of sorts. Danoran military outfits could be arranged, but they would mark you as targets for the rebels."
Assistant chief Delft thanks Minister Jierre for her time and sees her to the door. When she gone he turns to you all, "I've a feeling that there’s more going on here than what the Danorans are saying. It might just be that they're being cagey because this island has one of the closest Danoran military installations in the archipelago, but regardless, I want the you all to try to keep an eye open for anything unusual."
He looks to Messer and says, grimly. "If the duchess doesn’t surrender, you're authorized to eliminate her as threat. It’ll be up to our resident ghost-talker here to find out whether she has any other secret accomplices, or if there was some ulterior motive for her attacking this particular island."
"Now onto load-out: Each of you will be given two sunrods, one potion of waterbreathing, and two potions of aid. For the team, there's a selection of specially-prepared scrolls crafted by our very own Principal Minister Lee. They can be activated by anyone, even those without the gift. These include a total of four scrolls of pyrotechnics, two of silence, and two of passwall. You are, of course, expected to return any unused material following the mission."
"As for personal kit, I've authorized the quartermaster to allow each of you to requisition up to 1000gp worth of equipment from stores. I would recommend that you included some sort of healing item as well as any other scrolls you might find useful. Better looking at it, than looking for it."
"The Impossible sets sail this evening. Make sure that you are on it. Any further questions?"
She looks to all those present after the Minster departs and after Delft has had his say, "Axis Island, I was there during the war." She stops for several moments as she takes a deep breath remembering the place and the war she lived through. She looks genuinely 'spooked' as she continues, "That island, something is happening there. It is on the edge of the zone of dead magics, and all sorts of strange things happen; magics backfire if you are lucky, the terrain would also just, shift. It is was like the Island it self was out to get us all. That is why we withdrew and left it Danorans. Do not be fooled by the beauty of the place. Be wary of your surroundings, not just forces from Danor or the Duchess."
Alsah listens to Alexandra carefully.
We should definitely take care
To delft she says yes sir. We'll be ready
Bryn turns to the group, "I guess we should get planning then so we have enough time to visit the quartermaster."
Juliet gives Delft a bow. "No questions, sir. Thank you for the opportunity - we will serve with distinction." As Alexandra talks of her experiences, Juliet listens, rapt. "That's... fascinating. It must have been an indelible experience. Thank you for the insight. I must admit, I'm eager to see this place, strangeness and horror be damned."
"It should be interesting," Messer agreed with obvious reluctance. This didn't sound like it was going to be a simple matter.
Preach suggested "While I hope we can avoid combat as much as possible, there'a number of alchemical things that could be useful. Smoke sticks to obscure our actions from any ranged attacks. Smog pellets in case of invisibility. Tanglefoot bags and so on..."
That evening you board the R.N.S. Impossible, a 220-ft long clipper. Once all are accounted for it leaves Flint's harbor and turns west. It's captain, Rutger Smith, recalls you all from the Coaltongue, and invites you to dine with him during the voyage.
Joined by the ship's other officers, the you get to experience Captain Smith's un-orthodox tradition of discussing philosophy with his crew during meals. The topic of the day, during this brief but intense voyage, is of course, the duchess’s actions. Rutgar 's keen to debate the pro and cons of it all and the crew is game to discuss the topic, though all of them take pains to insist they’re firmly loyal to the king.
Rutgar is eager to hear your opinions on the matter, "There is a battle for the soul of our country and lines are being drawn. Duchess Evelyn's actions are the most extreme so far, but I doubt they will be the last. So my dear Constables, what say you? Are you willing to fight for what you believe in? How long would you follow orders that go against your ownbeliefs?"
Alsah thought about it
I am uncomfortable with "progress" with its machines and smokes. I'm not fond of the way it changes the world, often for the worse. I also trust the Danorans as far as I can throw this ship. But, having said that, I swore an oath the support the King, and the laws of this land. I trust the King and his government in this, as they understand the bigger picture better than I do. The duchess betrayed that.
Then she says It is like you being captain of this ship. You command, and you are not required to explain your orders to the common sailors. And they may not understand why you give an order, but they trust you to make the best choice.
Messer considered, listening to Alsah's views with interest. "This world, it's all one world, I think," the young man said slowly. "Nature and machine, they're not separate. Technology comes from nature, and in turn returns to nature when it's done. You can even mix the two," he added, waving his right arm - freshly re-paired from the heat damage it had suffered - to illustrate that point.
"I think there's a balance to be found. Danor's balance is a bit out. Without magic they've had to use technology too much, and as with anything in excess that can hurt the people. I hope the king intends to find that balance, because he's the king - the king and the land are one - but that's for wiser heads than mine to decide, since balance won't do us much good if we're have someone else's boot on our neck."
Considering for a moment, Messer continued, "If the Duchess rebels, people will die. Another war serves no one but cryptkeepers well. If she wishes to change the world there are a hundred ways to do it, especially for someone with her position and wealth, and she's chosen the stupidest one - pardon me for saying, sir, for saying such a thing of the king's sister, but it's how it looks to me."
Alsah nods, agreeing with Messer.
Oh I'm not saying technology doesn't have its place and uses. I just think the kingdom is moving too fast in an attempt to match the Danorans.
"Indeed, I am willing to fight for what I believe in. As for when that conflicts with 'orders', sometimes right is right and wrong is wrong. To protect Risur, our way life..." the half-fey woman lets any more just linger, "There is a time and place when it all is more than just a mere discussion, when it is real. When choices and actions matter more than words."
She nods to Messer, "Agreed, there was other ways to get such a point across to the King and those of power. I am sure assassinations have their place, but to murder everyone aboard the Coaltogue, was over extending. Who can say why for now."
She sips at a glass of water as she watches and listens to comments form the others.
"Beliefs are mutable things," Juliet says, thinking back over her past selves - how different they've been, in experience and outlook. "One's self is not set in stone, as a sculpture or designed not to bend, as a wagon's axle. Should I be so lucky, in twenty years I will likely see the world very differently."
Juliet pauses, hoping what she is about to say doesn't harm her, and then speaks the thought aloud anyways. "One should of course fight for one's beliefs. And if one receives orders that countermand those beliefs, I think some reflection is in order. Why were the orders given? What is the goal or goals? How compromised would one be to follow those orders? How strong are one's opposing beliefs? Are the beliefs valid, and worth hanging onto?"
"It is a complicated question, and one that I'm hesitant to answer in the abstract. Though it would be even more difficult in reality, I suspect."
At first Adam wasn't really interested in this question but it gnawed at him, it really was the question of the age. At length he weighed in, "I think... I think things are in flux, the world has changed. Old certainties and faiths have been sundered, for many this is deeply unsettling - they feel cast adrift from their roots. As for the new world, what will that be like? Well I don't know, I don't think anyone does, but it seems to me that finding out is going to be exciting."
Rutgar is eager to hear your opinions on the matter, "There is a battle for the soul of our country and lines are being drawn. Duchess Evelyn's actions are the most extreme so far, but I doubt they will be the last. So my dear Constables, what say you? Are you willing to fight for what you believe in? How long would you follow orders that go against your ownbeliefs?"
"Apparently the Duchess' beliefs are more important than her own blood or country. Such conviction should be respected. I'd like to think that I possess the same conviction, if the time comes. But stepping against family would take a lot more than a difference of technological direction - it would have to be something morally wrong."
May we live in interesting times? Alsah replies to Adam, smiling. An old elvish curse?
And to Bryn I think there is no question the Duchess is wrong in this. I think that she has done great harm to the kingdom by her actions. Gods save us from a would-be hero
"May we live in interesting times? An old elvish curse?"
Adam acknowledged Alsah with an ironic smile, he'd heard that one before and it seemed to apply to their situation. The question of how far to follow orders that were against his beliefs was uncomfortable.
"I think there is no question the Duchess is wrong in this. I think that she has done great harm to the kingdom by her actions. Gods save us from a would-be hero."
Chipping in he added, "I tend to agree, but of course I'm biased by my Risur upbringing... Taking the position of Devil's Advocate I'd like to understand the Duchess' motives which seem completely alien to me! Why did she feel this was necessary? What else might she do? Assuming there's justification, was there really not some other way?"
There is one sure way to find out. We need to ask her.
Captain Smith takes in your opinions, enjoying the discussion. "What is a Country other than a shared idea? Risur was founded on a pact with the Fey, if we turn our backs on them in favor of smoke and machines, are we still Risuri? Do we become something else? I feel that the Duchess fights to preserve the country that she loves, but I'm not sure that it truly exists anymore." He drains his glass and rises to his feet. "Heady thoughts, but fortunately above the pay scale of working folks like us."
Aided by a skyseer to the course at night and a druid to guide the wind, the Impossible sails the five hundred miles to Axis Island in just under two days, arriving just before sunset to join the rest of the fleet already assembled for the assault.
A longboat is lowered from one of the other ships and it rows over to the Impossible, bringing aboard the four constables from the Slate office.
Tanya: Half-elf druid with a hound companion. Leader of the group, confident but cautious.
Letmas: Human illusionist who is excellent at faking accents. Loud and brash.
Seven-foot Dan: Towering human fighter with a spiked chain. A veteran of the Fourth Yerasol War. Doesn't talk much.
Burton: Goblin rogue who carries a fancy surgical kit containing many varieties of daggers, knives, saws, and scalpels. Fastidious, constantly checking his gear.
With the team assembled, you all retire to the captain's quarters for the final briefing. Tanya pulls out a map and goes over the details of the mission. "Once it is full dark, we'll hoist black sails and should reach the cove around 9pm, at low tide. Once we arrive at the sea cave entrance, Letmas will use the scrolls of water breathing, which should hold out for an hour or so. My team 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, we’ll secure the location, and signal back, by sending Burton back, or maybe by just tugging really hard. Your team will then follow the rope to link up with us. The sunrods will let everyone see underwater, so it should be a pretty straightforward swim."
"Together, we will make our way to the mine’s exit, which should be on a low mountain facing an island valley. Once topside, we’ll cross over the north shore of the island and descend to the back of the fortress. There we’ll use Passwall scroll to breach the fortress, and then our team will open the seagate. Once it’s open, we’ll use pyrotechnics to send a signal flare up to alert the navy."
"Your job during all this is to dig in and wait for the military to arrive. Once the fleet is signaled, it should take a matter of minutes for them to be in position to strike. With the gate open, they’ll be able to sail directly into the interior harbor of the fortress. We should greatly outnumber the the duchess’s forces, and once their defenses are pierced, victory should be a foregone conclusion."
"After the dust settles, is when your job starts. You come in to handle Nathan Jierre and to dig through whatever evidence the duchess and her allies may have left behind. Assuming everything goes according to plan, that is."
"Any questions before we get underway?"
Shaking her head, Juliet smiles, a flitting and nervous gesture. She's been standing for what feels like hours, and nothing even happened yet. Pacing the captain's quarters, Juliet's voice is high, tinged with adrenaline. "No questions from me. Good luck to us all."
Seems clear. Best of luck
"Not that I can think of, unless you've received an update during the voyage." It seemed unlikely they'd not share any new information, but Messer tried not to assume that people were perfect. He certainly wasn't.
Alexandra nods to the Tanya and looks to the others, "As I have informed my colleagues, if you have not been to Axis Island before, you should be aware that there is some nasty wild magic all across the island. Last time I was here during the war, magic tended to backfire and it was as if the island was attacking friend or foe alike." she looks across at the four agents, "Be aware of your surroundings."[/b]
She than nods, "No questions."