"The complications, as always, arise in executing the plan. For which reason we save execution as a back up."

She nods. "Smaller merchant group, all humans, sounds easier to hypnotize and not stand out in... There's been a few of those, luckily. Shall we scout?"

"Indeed." She offers Lace her arm.

She takes it.

They're able to find a somewhat small group of merchants - mostly Imperials, not Nords, but they should be able to blend in regardless - after a while of scouting, who Elana can hypnotize with just a bit of effort. This world hasn't invented identity documentation yet, so the merchant's writ of trade is enough to get the whole party in the gate with only a modicum of scrutiny.

Slipping away after that is harder, but Lace has a good eye for how the Dwemers' patrols work - and where their gaps are. There's no elevator to slip into, here (in seems not even the Dwemer are interested in living deep inside of a volcano), just a network of above ground workshops and processing centers. Which makes their job easier - there's not just one entrance to guard, and that means inevitable slips.

They probably want one of the workshops. Whichever looks most important.

There's a larger one, not particularly more ornate but definitely more imposing. (Most of the workshops seem to have been put up in a hurry - none of them are really ornamental.)

They can start there, then.

It seems to have mechanical guards frequenting it - as well as workers, which aren't much less deadly. They can maybe sneak past some of them with invisibility, though, but it'll involve some fairly tight timing... (Lace is decently confident in her ability to do so?)

Elana will cast the spell, then.

Slowly and quietly onward, then.

They're able to get to the main workshop with only a few close calls; it's currently empty, but there's signs it's been used recently.

Any cluelike objects? An itinerary would be nice...

Lace looks around too, not disturbing papers overmuch - there's budget reports, and shipment info, and materials planning... A few things signed as 'Kagrenac'.

Anything they didn't already know about his plans?

He thinks he'll have success soon, he suspects the Chimer of betraying him, and apparently not much else in this workshop - though some of the letters make it sound like he needs special tools he developed to tap the heart, which he's almost refined all the way. Most of his actual process notes are in an impenetrable code, though.

"We'll need to do something about these tools, and the people he's taught to make them."

She nods. "I can't crack this code standing here, so not much accessible about who that is... If anyone, he might be working mostly alone."

"We can check at the other workshops."

"Yeah. Though that sort of stuff might be closer to the actual Heart..."

"True. We could seek the settlement further up the slope."

She nods. "It'll be more time... But as long as we're here we should do what we can..."

"After coming all this way. Take the code, in case we have a chance to crack it. I will burn the rest."

She gathers the papers, tucking as much as will fit (and looks important) close to her body, the rest in a pack.

Fwoosh goes the rest of it.

And Elana hears the sound, distant, barely audible over all the machinery, of someone's heavy footsteps turning toward the workshop they're in.

"Company," she warns.