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-----Raven grins and starts forward, but then stops. Raven really wants to go forward and see what’s ahead. Then he thinks of the dark disk and the fear it caused. He turns around and exits the tunnel and returns to gather the group.
-----Raven skirts around the edge of the marshes again, this time heading back into the small clustered forest. He sees Thalog, Rand, Sarah, and the charmed bandit waiting where he left them. A sound of hooves in the distance alerts them and soon up rides Sol and Zentil.
-----Sol dismounts and ties his own steed up with the others. He walks up to the group, whilst still looking at the tower. He addresses Raven, "Well, our reluctant friend has returned," He winks at Zentil, "and he may have yet another way of getting into the tower. With his grappling hook, some of us could climb up to the parapets and then find a way inside. That would probably surprise them, especially if we had another group go in the front door...which I'm sure we can deal with."
-----Raven says to Zentil, "Good to have you back with us." Raven pauses as if he is going to say more, but instead he just shakes his head. Raven continues, "While I was scouting I found a small tunnel leading to the keep. I think it might be an old escape tunnel. Anyways, I think we should try this first. If the tunnel doesn't pan out, we can always try the grappling hook."
-----"Maybe we should split up and do ‘em both!" Sarah suggests, enthusiastically! "Um, tomorrow of course."
-----Originally Sol looked a little crestfallen at Raven's tunnel finding. The idea of climbing looked an appealing challenge. So naturally he heartily agrees with Sarah's suggestion, "Yes! That'll surprise 'em for sure. And well, I'd prefer to do this now but when you have to rest, you have to rest."
-----Raven gives Sol a puzzled look, "Are you serious about splitting our small group up? I think that would be a mistake. If Zentil wants to try to sneak into the tower by climbing the wall, he might stand a chance. You add a well-armored man to the mix and he'd have no chance to surprise 'em." Raven sits down next to a tree, "Well, you know how I feel now. We might as well camp here. The camp will have to be cold, no camp fire."
-----"Raven is right, I can probably scale the wall with the slightest noise and try to catch a few off guard. The rest of you can try the tunnel. We'll meet in the middle, hopefully." Zentil walks over and sits next to another tree.
-----Sarah speaks quickly, "Zentil, don't take this the wrong way, I don't really know you, but...do you really think you can take on a whole tower by yourself? We don't know what the inside looks like....there may not be a "middle"....the tunnel could lead to nowhere, or somewhere else and we'd get stuck there while you get caught and chained or...worse." She pauses to breathe. "Couldn't you climb the tower then lower the rope for Sol and me? Then Thalog, Raven and Rand could go down the tunnel. But we'll have to get some sort of way to meet each other somewhere so we can team up. If they have more magic like Heiros used we'll be in trouble if we get caught separated. I have a spell that lets me change what I look like. I could charm one of the people in the tower, get a description from them and find out where the tunnel is, etc, change shape, so I don't get recognized and caught, then lead the tunnel people to the tower people, or the other way around."
-----She looks around the cold, wet forest and pulls a whinny face. "Do we have to sleep here?" She turns to her charmed bandit. "Find somewhere dry for me to sleep." When he goes, she asks everyone else. "What should I do with him?" Obviously she is a little concerned.
-----Sol strokes his chin a couple of times before forwarding his view, "Raven, understand your concern about small groups but we are talking about the inside of a building. We have no idea who or what they have in there. At least if one group gets caught, the other can still operate. If we all get overwhelmed together..." He pauses momentarily, leaving the possibility to the imagination before continuing on, "Pretty much it comes down to me agreeing with Sarah on this one. The rest of her idea sounds fine to me too." He looks at Sarah, and lowers his tone, "As fer your 'friend', he may as well join us in the battle tomorrow. If he won't go with Raven's group, we'll just have to leave him behind. How long do you think your enchantment will keep him under wraps?" Sol inquires.
-----Raven lets his head drop to his chest and shakes his head. Raven then looks at Sol, "Alright. I'll trust you two are seeing something I missed." Raven says to Sarah, "A little rain won't kill ya. I could build a shelter for the group or you can try to find shelter. Either way I'm staying here so I can keep scouting around the area. As for your new friend, as long as your charm holds, might as well keep him handy."
-----Thalog turns toward Sol, leaning heavily on his staff. "I estimate her friend," he says thickly, pointing to the charmed bandit, "has average intelligence. I’m guessing the enchantment should last at least two weeks. If he survives, I would recommend sometime turning him over to the authorities in Hearthorn."
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