Something Strange is Happening in the South...

That's disconcerting. Aetoris says, glancing out the small windows in the war room. The sun shouldn't be down this early. he says, scratching his head. He turns to Pyrrha and Oma and quirks an eyebrow. I am not sure of a natural or magical effect that would cause something like this. Do either of you have an idea from your realms of expertise?

To answer your question Champion, the trenches may not help against these bug creatures. But depending on what other things this mad mage is willing to bring to bear, it could help there. Additionally, perhaps having an open chasm gives a moment of opportunity to recognize that bugs are attacking and we can have molten oil or magical fire set in the trenches that would give them pause.

Oma listens quietly to Sahl and the others, quite unhappy with the information she's getting. When Sahl is gone she sighs heavily, sitting down in a chair and staring blankly ahead while sort of summing up the information they have. So basically everyone is either dead, hiding, or lead down the tunnels, possibly to be killed or enslaved. There are lizard-bug things controlled by possible drow masters with covered faces and possibly crystal hats. These bugs are not limited by the range of the big crystal above the castle on top of the pyramid, that probably houses the mastermind of it all. The bugs can easily move underground and don't like sunlight, we have no idea how to fight them, we have no idea how to get up that pyramid or even reach that pyramid, or Southwatch for that matter. We don't know why they aren't attacking more than just the city, or why the pyramid popped up where it popped up. We don't know nearly enough to come up with good tactics and no idea how to acquire more crystals so hopefully more of us can still use our magic under the dome.
Oh boy...

She stops talking, just staring, until Aetoris says something that grabs her attention.
The sun? Hmm, you don't think the big crystal is influencing time or the speed the world turns, do you? Oma frowns heavily, her wrinkly face twisting into a mash of crinkles as she tries to think of anything​ she knows about capable of doing that.

Thorough the day and night, for as long as he can endure it, Kuz will be digging the trenches, taking 10 minutes break every hour to ask his bear spirit if 1) there are tunnels that where not there previously, if there are masses of "bug-lizards" and still trying (even if he had no success so far) to find dead spaces starting with the one around Oma Salie...

Rolana suppresses a yawn (mostly) and says, It might be helpful if we could manage to capture one or two of those insect monsters. Or at least bring back a dead one. Perhaps in the morning, we can explore all the possibilities. For now, I think I'm off to bed.

As she is walking to her quarters, she runs through her mind all the of the very disheartening information they'd obtained from Sahl. It certainly would appear that there is no point in going to Southwatch unless they find a way to defend themselves against or neutralize the insect things. She tries not to feel any emotion about the likelihood that all the other members of her intelligence network in Southwatch are either dead or being used for forced labor and food. She tries to be objective and pragmatic about that, but she is tired, so she only partly succeeds.

Back in her quarters, before removing the headband of intelligence (which she'd almost forgotten she still wore), Rolana reflects on all she knows about Southwatch, from direct personal experience and from historical records and stories heard from other people. Perhaps she's missing a connection or a scrap of knowledge buried in her memory, something that they can use when they are ready to form a plan.

Aetoris rubs his palms against his eyes as Sola gives her plan. I think bed isn't a bad idea. I look forward to my trance tonight, that's for sure. he says, smiling tiredly at his compatriots. Let's reconvene in the morning and determine where and how we go about this. Perhaps getting a hold of one or two of these mysterious black helmets is something that we would need to do. he says, mind racing as he gathers up the papers and documents to make sure they stay a bit more controlled before heading off to take his quick trance.

Kuz organizes a evening shift and a nights shift to shovel the trenches, making sure everybody understands their security is at stake. And continues without rest to shovel with them to boost their moral.

"There are a few things I want to look into before I retire as well. Does the fort have an sort of historical library to consult?"

Tinwë makes sure to inform the group of the likely planar nature of these strange bugs. "There is nothing like them here. I am sure they come from another plane of existence. How they have come to be here in such numbers is a cause for concern itself. And who is capable of leading them? Also... in other planes, such as the Feywild where I lived for some years, time works differently. It is often mutable, changing according to the whims and emotions of those present." She turns to Kuz. "These bugs are also fast climbers, so keep that in mind with those trenches. We have no idea what they might be capable of beyond that, but it could be anything. It would seem that nothing is beyond the realm of possibility for this enemy."

Tinwë finds a secluded room to settle down on the floor and meditate. She begins by performing some exercises to quiet and relax her body, slowly easing the tension in each set of muscles. To this day, thinking of the strength her body has fills her with gratitude almost to tears. After so many sickly years of being scarcely able to walk, she knows it is only by the miracle of Corellon's gift that she has become one of the greatest heroes in the kingdom. I wouldn't even be able to stand next to these men and women to brush shoulders with them, let alone fight alongside them.

As her body relaxes, she also quiets her mind, pushing down thoughts that want to race every which way to piece together what she has learned so far about this mysterious threat to the land. There would be time for those thoughts tomorrow.

Tonight, she focuses on that gratitude, realigning her sense of self and her motivations. If only Father could see me now... but I know he would be proud of me and happy for me.

When she is finally ready for bed, Tinwë slips under the covers humming a song her father once sang to her. Its melody lingers in her mind as she sleeps, leading her dreams to bittersweet memories of their time spent together.
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In the morning, (if the night passes uneventfully), she goes to find Rolana. "Shall we go capture some of those bugs?"

Rolana smiles at Tinwe's suggestion. I think going bug-fishing is a wonderful idea.

Aye, it isn't a bad plan. It would be best probably to have you two go take care of capturing one or two. I know that Oma Salie wanted to do further experimentation with the crystal. I'm loathe to have her go off without some kind of defense, especially as we don't know how the crystals will behave near to one another. Aetoris says, looking across their assemblage.

I really should be assessing Lord Byron's bannermen to see how best we can use them, though I admit myself interested in Oma Salie's findings as well. With Sola and Tinwe hunting bugs, Oma doing research, that leaves a handful of us to protect the researchers, organize and integrate the knights into the common defense, and continue planning out reinforcements of the fort itself. I'm open to suggestions. I don't want to focus on developing any kind of offensive attack plans yet, not until Sola and Tinwe return with more concrete information on our opponents. Their burrowing ability is disconcerting at best. With these bugs disliking light, we should have locals building and maintaining bonfires in the trenches. Perhaps not lit, but prepped and ready to be sparked off when needed. It may be enough to drive them back. he continues looking at the pile of notes in flowing elvish script in front of him.

"That cursed anti-magic field is the last place I want to go, but it is the most likely place to find more crystals. And capturing one or more of the enemy troops could prove enlightening, at least concerning their capabilities."

We should discuss a plan for entrapping one of the bugs. It seems that pretty much any living thing is regarded as food by these creatures. I have my Bag of Tricks animals. Perhaps we could use them as bait.

Fah'lin, Tinwe - you're the only ones of our party who've seen the bugs in action. Did you note any limitations in their movement? For instance, were you able to climb above their flying range? Did you notice anything else about their behavior that we could use to our advantage?

"The creatures we encountered were entirely ground based, but possessed the ability to climb trees. If there are other species as our informant asserts, and I'm not saying I doubt that fact, I just haven't seen them, we may still need to be wary of that vector of attack."

"As for their tactics, the ones we saw were not overly intelligent. They broke off pursuit to consume the horse. Their ability to assess threats is on the level of animals. I would guess that in the presence of their master that will change, but by themselves they are just wild animals."

Rolana nods. Well, let's brainstorm based on what we've seen so far. If we encounter creatures like those you've seen, we can escape them using flight. If they think primarily like animal predators, then it seems likely that one of my Bag of Tricks animals will make a tempting bit of bait.

If I could fly with one of you to the anti-magic border, I could turn loose one of the animals from my bag, then use my Rope of Entanglement to snare one of the bug creatures when they attack. It's possible we could even bring it in still alive.