Letter 29: Scouting, Scouting, & More Scouting

General Summary

Dear Mother,
I write to you again, know this letter shall simply sit in my pack, accumulating wrinkles and creases and stains, awaiting the time when it might finally reach you.
So really I write this to myself.
I'm not sure why.
We decided that we needed more information on Keesha’s base. Such as the actual location, as I had only seen the opening to the inlet, with the giants wielding ballista.
That meant me.
So I headed back.
I flew as high as possible, directly between the two giants, hiding myself in the darkness, and made it past them without incident. Keeping close to the eastern wall, I headed north, high enough to be hidden from view.
I flew and flew and flew; the cavern seemed to extend for miles! I had thought that the base would be just there, beyond the entrance, but I kept flying deeper and deeper into the cavern. Extremely cautious, I took great care to remain undetected (alone in enemy territory), so though it seemed like miles it was more like hundreds and hundreds of feet before I finally found her base.
The base was well lit, allowing me to see it from a distance, which I absolutely did. In addition, bioluminescence surrounded it, which was nice, as caution kept me far from detection.
Two ships lay at dock: a cargo ship being unloaded, and another ship, clearly fitted out for combat and not cargo. Two other berths were empty. Dock workers milled around, intent on some task or other; most were Drow. The cargo ship had an insignia. I didn’t recognize it, so I made a mental note of the design.
About 30 or 40 feet back from the docks, a building and a tower merged into the cavern wall. To the building's north a dozen Drow conducted training exercises. All told I could see at least a couple of dozen workers and warriors.
I continued north to scope the rest of the cavern, leaving the base behind. At the very apex, the most northern point, a gusher of water poured from the wall, spraying several feet out into the cavern. Humidity filled the air, reminding me so much of home. I could not help but think of you, mother, and my heart ached.
Except that unlike home, this place was dark, cold, musty.
I wanted to help Alyona, wanted to kill Keesha, wanted to free GG, but…
Mother.
Mother!
I safely scouted the western side and flew back to the group and explained what I had seen. Finding a stick, I drew a rough map of the cavern, docks, and buildings. I also sketched out the insignia I had seen on the cargo ship and Vessyr immediately recognized it as being the flag of a Gnomish trading house.
Though we now knew where to go, still we didn’t really have a way in. We didn’t know how to get there either, or what to do once we did.
If.
Alyona used her sending spell to ask GG if he knew anybody who might help us help him, and he suggested somebody at the Light Keepers. Ingoria thought it best to contact this person instead of assaulting the base.
Somehow Ingoria seemed the wise one now. Alyona was completely obsessed with Keesha, and I care only about finishing whatever task necessary in order to get home and free you. Suddenly Ingoria.
And I thought perhaps she was right. However, even if we do save GG, we still have Keesha to deal with, with or without GG's help. She is hunting us.
And if we assault the base, we must pass the ballista. Either on the way in, or on the way out, assuming we make it out. How do the giants get up to their perches?
I headed back to find out.
And I found out!
Sneaking along the cavern wall behind the southwestern emplacement, I happened across a small outcropping of rock with wear patterns indicating constant use, likely as a good spot for docking. Inspecting more closely I found foot- and hand-holds leading up.
Yet again, I headed back to the group. And yet again we decided I should scout. Yet again.
The rest of the team would go find GG’s friend at the Light Keepers, while I would go watch.
Simply watch.
The giants must eventually swap out. How, exactly, do they do that? And when?
Also, how do boats enter and exit the cove without being pierced by bolts from ballista? Is there a signal? A sound? A lantern?
Well, it didn’t take long for me to spy the shift change.
Bioluminescent waves pushed ahead of the small vessel proceeding from the north. A light blue-green glow, pulsing, slightly illuminating the surrounding water. A similar color to the fungus above, though a bit more blue, it was actually quite beautiful.
Home is still home, and nothing can ever replace home, but this place could grow on me. Slightly. The glowing waves…I had never seen anything like that before, and watching wave after wave gently pushing forward through the water absolutely mesmerized me.
When the boat reached the little docking area I heard a mechanical ratcheting sound and a large lift began to lower from the emplacement.
The Drow on the boat threw a couple of buckets of something over the side and the water churned. Something was there in the water. Or somethings. And hungry.
Do not fall into the water.
A giant got out of the boat and entered the lift. I had witnessed the shift change, and now I wanted to see a ship pass.
But no ship passed.
My eyelids grew extremely heavy. I had been there for so many hours…a day? Without the sun or moon to guide me…
…well, at least twelve hours! As I wondered how long I had been there I saw another boat approach, preceded again by gently undulating waves of blue. Another shift change! While I hadn’t seen a boat negotiate passage, I did now know the shift period.
Slightly energized, I decided to stay and wait for a boat. I worried that I might get drowsy enough to fall...into the water. The churning water. A few hours later I got a message from Alyona, “I hear you are captured now? What has happened? What can you tell us about where you are being kept?”
What?
I looked around, up, down.
Nothing.
Nobody.
I told her I was fine, but…was I under threat? Were they coming for me?
She responded, “Keesha is playing game with me. She may know you are near but maybe not. Maybe waiting for you to do something stupid. Don't.”
Hmm…
Keesha was very likely bluffing. If she knew where I was, I would already be dead. She might know that I am near…perhaps one of the giants sensed me. But then they would be actively looking for me. And they’re not.
Most likely, I think, is that somebody noticed that I was missing. The rest of the group headed to the Light Keepers as I headed here, and we know that Keesha has at least one spy there. The group most certainly would have been noticed, and my absence noted. Quickly.
So Keesha knows I’m not with the group, and where else might I likely be? Might the scout be scouting?
Which means that Keesha is simply fishing.
However, if she believes, even partially, her own bluff, she will actually be looking for me. In fact, she is already looking for me. Right now!
And I was so very tired.
I left.
I doubled back the way I came, flew straight back up to the roof of the cavern, and got out of range of those ballista (and the giants who manned them). Not needing to call for a rescue attempt, I returned Alyona’s last message, telling her I was safe, but leaving, and heading back to our cove.
To sleep.
Ahhh.
Sweet sleep.
Alyona woke me with a message: “are you still alive? still not caught? come to lightkeepers. to our apartments. Did you see anything?”
I let her know that I was rested and at the cove. If Keesha thinks I’m at her base, should we allow her to continue that belief? Should I stay hidden?
I sat in our little cove, listening to the water lapping gently at the rocks. So peaceful, this little place. No hustle and bustle, no combat, no spies.
No sky. No forest.
No freedom.
No freedom for you.
I am coming, mother, I am coming.

Report Date

20 Nov 2023