"I cannae tell ya, lads.  Th' last time I faced them, I didna have these powers from Nestael."  She shrugs.  "Only thing I can tell ya is tha' if they show up, I'll figure it out."

With everyone on edge now, a guard is set up for the night.  Nothing disturbs, though, and in the morning the journey continues.

A few more days brings the group to the mountains proper.  There the climbing is slowed somewhat, but there is a road that leads up into the mountains.  Mairen says it leads to the fortress where she was held, where her son is being held.  There are other ways through, and possibly other routes to the fortress, but they will take more time to scout.  The window is already closing if it isn't shut already.  However, if the road is taken, it's almost certain that the group will be seen.

"I can't say that I like the idea of taking the road directly to the fortress. They'd see us coming a mile away, and while I can shroud our approach temporarily, I can't maintain it indefinitely."

He looks to the other members of the group. "Sadly, we may not have the time to scout other options. Any other thoughts?"

"Our enemies won't expect a full frontal assault. However, we have no way of knowing their number. Even with a group of our size, rushing in head first could prove to be suicide. All the combat prowess of the world isn't going to do us much good if we end up fifteen to one. I know time isn't on our side, but if Xar and I scouted ahead, we may be able to find a path that leads to our mark. It's a gamble, but it could prove to be the lesser time sink".

Those we approach may not know our intentions, and all ways may be watched. But if you wish to spy out possibilities, go do so.

Ano asks Mairen"Any idea how many people might be at the fortress?"

"Toben if you could make me invisible then I could get a good look at the fortress and their defenses.  I'm pretty sure I could get in side if I needed to."

"They come and go, so a set number is difficult to give.  A solid twenty five, but I've seen upwards of eighty."

"If one of us could sneak into the fortress and lower the gate, then thr rest of us could make our approach using the shield of Arcane dome."

"If that's what we need, then consider it done".

Toben nods. "Yes, I can help with the invisibility. It's the duration I'd be concerned with. You'd only have seven, maybe eight minutes max."

"I still have that potion of spider climb, could be a quick way to get in."

"How often do these parties come and go? If we could somehow disguise ourselves in their uniforms, then perhaps we'd have a better chance of going undetected on the main road."

"I wasn't there long, but most of the time they are in the mine.  Only once did they receive new troops from outside."

"A mine? are they looking for something specific? "

"Seems like a frontal approach might arouse more suspicion then. I know we have a lot of pressure in regards to time, but getting caught seems like it would slow us down more."

He looks over to the scouts. "Perhaps an alternate route is necessary."

"If subterfuge is in need, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that could help. Maybe we could break off in to two groups and search around? I mean to say, if you're all comfortable with that, especially our scouts here. I can be quiet as a mouse and pass unseen if I choose to".

Saris and Xar have kept to the side during the discussion.  No words pass between them, but Saris nods from time to time.  Eventually she speaks up.  "There's one thing tha' we need t' consider, somethin' we should have considered afore we left the tower.  We need a leader, someone t' hear all th' options and make a decision.  Otherwise, we'll spend all our time considerin' th' options and never act."

Ourn let's his eyes wander in Toben's direction.

Ano sees Ourn's eyes move towards Toben and he quickly speaks up.  "I second the motion"

Ryland puzzles for a moment before catching on. "Sorry, no say here. I'm just the bard".

"Xar and I will support Toben as well."

Toben gives Ourn an upwards nod as if to say How you doin'. However, as the others speak up, his reaction takes a more serious note.

"Thank you all. Your votes of confidence are both humbling and inspiring. Know that any decisions I make are with the intents of keeping our objectives, and those executing them, safe above most other things. With that said, I feel it is probably best to avoid the main road. Remaining unnoticed as long as we can seems paramount." He taps on the side of his travel pack. "With that goblin hole we acquired a while back, we'll be able to make an entrance from just about anywhere."

"We just have to find a suitable location to use it then".

"I think, for now, we should stick together until we get inside. Abandon the main road and find an alternate path in. Marien, you've been inside before. Can you recall anything about their patrols, maybe a part of the fortress they pay attention to less than the others?"

Mairen thinks for a moment, then shrugs.  "They didn't do much upstairs.  Nothing up there and it's half-collapsed.  Their focus was the first floor and the mine entrance in the back of the tower fort."

Toben nods and then glance back up at the fortress. "Ok, I think we can work with that. Let's try to come at this from the side. Maybe we can find a ledge or something to get us up to the second floor and punch a hole in the wall up there."

"Sound reasonable?"