[ We find Our Heroes in the same chamber we left them in. However, the dwarven captain has just shown up, and is motioning that he wants to speak to either Kenji or Alcinoe. ] * HKenji stands up and motions discreetly for Alcinoe to come along, and slips out of the room. [ Minisideotherovertheresession start! ] * Alcinoe glances at Kenji, looks at the arguing folks, and follows Kenji. Less quietly. She can't really help it. [ Clank, clank, clank. ] [ Out in the hall, the good dwarf looks between the two of you. "I neglected tae ask. Whic one a' ye is in charge?" ] * HKenji points at Alcinoe. * Alcinoe points at Kenji. (Hee.) * Alcinoe then pauses and lowers her hand. "Ah s'pose it's more in the air than it used ta be. Why?" [ The dwarf looks from one to the other. "...aye. Just wanted tae knoo. Anywhoo, ye can take the heart with ye, since ye be needin' it as ye do. Have ye found where th' pick is?" ] Yes. It's waiting for us inside a particularly blatant trap. * Alcinoe nods. * HKenji reaches up and deliberately takes his headband off, slipping it into his left sleeve. * Alcinoe blinks at Kenji, but she follows his lead, removing her own headband. [ "Lovely. Ain't it always th' way?" He looks thoughtful. "And this lot is all ye be takin' with ye?" ] * Alcinoe nods. Most likely. A small strike team is more likely to succeed. If we go 'n' take an army, that'll just get a lot 'a folks killed. [ The captain frowns. "Are ye sure ye don' wanna take some strong-armed dwarven soldiers with ye?" ] They would be needlessly killed. What we -do- need is to talk to the best artificers in the city. * Alcinoe smiles a little. "Naw. They probably ain't so good at sneakin' inta a drow city." [ "Artificers? I'll take ye to 'em, after we have the details worked on. How're ye approachin' th' trap? And where is it?" ] The trap is in a... temple of some sort. The two of us will be fighting in the main entrance, while the rest form a strike team coming in the back way, using magic to avoid as many defenses as possible. [ Tha captain's frown deepens, and he looks like he wants to offer troops again. But he bites it back, instead saying, "If it's a drow temple, it's in a drow city. Which one? I knoo this part of the Underworld well, I could give ye information." ] The name is some ridiculous construction of odd syllables. It is... near the troll kingdom. [ The captain looks thoughtful. "Near a Duergar city, as well? Across an underground plain lit by a great crystal?" ] That sounds like the right place. [ "Menzobarranzan. Then the 'back way' would be the tunnel leadin' tae the ledge that's just over the city walls? Actually, I gather they intend to use a purely magical entrance, but there is that possibility. [ "If ye take the tunnel, ye'll need tae be prepared. The path leads up intae a large chamber full o' poisonous gas before it leads back down tae the city." ] Wonderful. * Alcinoe frowns. [ "The artificers can supply ye with devices tae protect ye. The king'll happily fund such a thing, as well." ] [ "'Sides, could be worse. Th' gas could be flammable, too." ] Small favors. Any other major problems to a frontal invasion? [ "Besides a massive, magically-reinforced gate that's repelled Duergar invasions?" ] [ "And a few dozen armed soldiers manning the walls?" ] [ "Nae, nothin', really." ] The soldiers are insignificant. The gate could be a problem. Unless we can go over it. [ The dwarf shrugs. "If ye can fly, ye can get over the wall." ] * HKenji nods. "The gate will not be a problem, then." We'll be fine. [ "Alright. Anything in particular ye be lookin' for from the artificers?" ] I'll know it when I see it. I do need some sort of... eyeglasses for Alcinoe. [ He glances at Alcinoe. "Magical eyewear?" ] * Alcinoe blinks, then looks at Kenji. "Fer what?" I can't say right now. But it's important. [ The dwarf shrugs. "Alright. Any more questions before we go?" ] What sort of architecture is there, inside the city? [ "Drow architecture. Lots o' spikes an' spires." ] Excellent. I think that is all we need to know, unless you have maps. [ "Aye, that I do. We'll get some copies made on the way out." ] That'd be handy. ( Y'all wanna go shopping now, or save that for tomorrow? ) (I'm good to keep going.) ( I need to sleep. ) ( Alright. We'll stop here, then. ) [ And so they went SHOPPING! ] [ Yay! ]