Re: Concerning the Dwarves
Anarki D'Anneci looks at Arctos, with a thougtful expression. She speaks: Arctos, there is still a company of Dwarf troops that needs to get home. Though perhaps you are not as cut out for infiltration as some others, there is.. there is a long way home. And it is not your Dwarves alone. There are Lord Heolstor’s troops, and our own Elves. Duke Barstow and King Theoderic are recruiting a handful for what they call a ‘special campaign’, but a large number need to get home."
Hylensia notes, "I imagine, the road that is open for merchants will not be so open for five hundred warriors."
The Elf woman agrees. "No, no it will not be. We should not dare take the same route, in any case. We would… it would be better to take a very different route, because there is no way we can travel unnoticed, and we might draw Infernal attention away from a handful of merchants walking into a seat of infernal power."
"Shouldn’t we have Halflings for that sort of thing?" someone asks. That someone gets ignored.
"What is the shortest route?" Anakri asks, working through the problem.
A basic, straightforward question of geography. TExxor likes that. He explains. "Strait south, through the ruins around Theonodun and Caranusca. Then, skirting Divodurum. Shortest, not safest. But it is the narrow neck of Hun territory, once past there you are going out, not in."
"If we move fast enough, we can be clear before there is any Hun reaction," Anakri says. "Maybe. We must expect that they will try to block us. They are smarting from their wounds in the Ardennes, they may be eager for a second chance."
Texxor adds: "Even without the Huns, the ruins harbor dangerous creatures."
He turns to Arctos. "Getting your valorous troops home again…"
Anakri interrupts. "Or at least, closer to home, so that they may be on hand if Mastiphal can be defeated…"
"That is as worthy a task as creeping in to face Mastiphal," Texxor concludes.