1. The Cloakwood

Seeing the party Dieter is elated. He quickly rubs his hands against his visor and chest to wipe off whatever of his daubing still remains before anyone sees.

He assists everyone off the lift. "We need to go! The wolf, it betrayed us!"

"My uncle says I have travelling feet." Aiwë throws her hair back with a performers flourish when stabilizing Stephan looks her way. "Travelling feet! Travelling feet. Slippers for princesses don't fit me, but I dance to my own drum bright and bold, and my travelling feet always get me home!" She meets Koveras' eyes with a smile, and in her glinting red gaze there is steel determination. Her arm tightens around her own hold and Stella's waist. She will get everyone home.

As they arrive at the top of the lift Aiwë passes Stella and Stephan across then bends to help Runeson stand. "What about the slaves and prisoners?"

"They’ve already gone ahead, we are probably the last ones left"

After making sure everyone else is across, Aiwë exits the lift. "You think the druid or guards let them out of their cages?"

"I wouldn't trust any Iron Throne henchman to give a prisoner the time of day, much less think to free one in an emergency like this." Koveras checks his weapons and armor while he talks. He moves methodically, by rote. His voice is as hard and emotionless as stone. "But I'm more concerned about what's happening by the entrance. Will the slaves make a run for it? Will the guards cut them down? Is there anyone left who might care about our group?"

Stephan's once-fine robes, now swollen with water, seem to weigh the young wizard heavily down. He looks at Aiwe with incredulity. "So what if there are prisoners down there? There's nothing we can do for them!"

Aldous looks grimly down the lift shaft. The young noble's lips are blue with cold, but his eyes burn with anger. "Imagine being captive to these louts and cultists for gods know how long, only to drown alone in a dark cage..."

He looks at the others, eyes now pleading. "What can we do for them?"

Dieter gets in Stephan’s face "watch yourself, boy. You’re alive by her graces."

Dieter turns to Aiwë and Stella "can Stella turn into a fish or something, if I or Runeson go down there we’ll surely drown"

Stephan's had enough. "Boy?! I'm probably older than you! And what about your graces? You're the one who went to the Plug, and now the place is flooded."

His fingers spark with arcane energy as he glares into Dieter's visor. "Maybe you should watch yourself, so you don't get any more innocents killed."

Shivering, Stella draws her lips to a line then nods, her eye-stars flashing fierce violet with determination. "I...haven't done it before, but I think I can do it. How do I get there from here?" She turns to Stephan who probably knows the layout better than anyone, then begins tapping out a constellation.

Aiwë steps between Dieter and Stephan, glaring hard at each of them. "Quit wasting air, it's becoming precious," she scolds, voice low. Where once her loud voice filled them with courage now it's quiet drains their energy and heat. She looks to Dieter.

"Get them out," she orders, jerking her head at their friends. In that moment, something about the angle of her jaw or the set of her brow echoes her uncle in a startling way. She looks to Stephan.

"Where are the cages?"

"I think I’m quicker than you, I also think you know a lot more about your master than you let on" Dieter calmly whispers back. His dagger is suddenly in his hand and pointing at the wizards groin

As Dieter and Stephan starts bickering, Stella growls and her eyes-stars flare red for a moment. She's about to shout some sense into the boys, but Aiwë beats her to it. The constellation fades away as she loses focus. She huffs and begins again.

(During the elevator ride, Stella will cast Shape Water to direct the water flow away from herself and those crammed next to her, to give advantage on the CON save.)

Dieter looks away as Aiwë restores order.

"let’s move, we need to secure the entrance. Everyone else with me"

Stephan scowls at Dieter, but moves away to answer Stella's question.

He holds his hand up horizontally as he explains, moving it to show the relative levels of the mine's layout. "There are three levels. The top level is where the mining happens. Next one down is what they call the citadel - barracks, operations, mess hall, and the prison."

The mageling looks down at the lift shaft and shivers. If you go down this way, you'll end up at the bottom level, Master Davaeorn's suite. Swim down the long hallway, out the far door, and up the stairs. That'll put you on that middle level, in operations. I think if you turn right from that main room, that hallway leads to the prison."

Stephan shakes his head. "Better you than me. Not all the money in the world would get me back down in that hole."

Aiwë grabs Stella's hand. "I can't go with you," she says, pained at that unarguable fact. "You don't have to go. But if you do, I'll be waiting and ready, for you and any others."

Stella gets bardic inspiration.

Stella pauses and meets Aiwë's red-tinted eyes with her own, calm, sparking violet ones. "I'm a Melerelel. There might be people who need me, and I have the power to help." She grins, cold water dripping down her face. "Besides, we need more heroic tales to tell!"

She turns away, checks to make sure he has rope on her pack, then finishes tapping out her constellation in the air...a walrus. She gestures uncertainly. It wasn't the prettiest of creatures, Stella thought, but it was the only coastal wildlife she was really familiar with, it was accustomed to the cold, and it could move about on land, if needed. They had spotted a shark when infiltrating the gnoll castle, but never got a good look at it.

She takes a step back, shifting nervously, then glances back at Aiwë and Aldous. "See you soon!"

She draws her lip to a line then runs forward and leaps through her constellation. She hovers in the air for a moment, as her body shifts into stars that swells into the shape of a walrus. Then she plumets, diving into the depths below.

Dieter draws his sword and shield.

"We need to hold the gate for the slaves to escape."