"I don't think this is what Desna had in mind, but I think I should be prepared in case that's me being overly optimistic."

"Uh, Ember?"

"Oh, hello Kybele. Is it that time already? I'm sorry, they came to ask me for help with their injured and I figured since I was ahead of schedule it wouldn't be an issue, but there were more of them than I thought. I'm nearly finished, though."

"Ah, okay. You can talk to rats?"

"Yes. They're one of the smartest kinds of animals around, and they usually care a lot about their families. I'm not sure it's as important as helping people, but most people don't care about rats at all whereas humans can go to their friends or a cleric for help."

She says something incomprehensible to the rat she just healed as she sets them down, and gets back a similar response.

"He says that's the last of them. Did I keep you waiting very long?"

"Just enough we were starting to get worried, but we can run back right now and probably beat the paladin contingent."

They do in fact manage to beat most of the paladin contingent, which has to keep pace with the slowest common denominator, but Irabeth is waiting when they get back.

"Inheritor bless you, Kybele. Is there anything urgent to deal with, or should I fill you in on what we've planned?"

"Go right ahead."

"We've gathered up most of the city's defenders - the eagle's watch, the knights of the flaming lance, Hulrun's inquisitors, Rathimus, most of the other paladins, and whatever of the city watch is still fighting. It's not exactly clear if that'll be enough, especially not with a Lilitu leading them, but it's a threat she can't discount, and Hulrun is strong enough to give her some trouble if she shows in person. We expect as long as she's not sure where you are, she'll be very reluctant to commit herself anywhere where you calling down another one of those blasts lets Hulrun get to her before she recovers, which should keep us in the fight with the amount of healing available.

"Of course, a frontal assault with you in it means she just tries to prioritize killing you well before you can get to the corrupted area of the wardstone, which doesn't sound like a winning strategy. That's why I tracked down the thieflings yesterday and got them to share a back route into the grey garrison that they normally use for smuggling. Our idea is that while we draw attention from the front, you and a small team can slip in through the back and find your way past during the distraction, ideally solving the situation and getting out before they can notice. We'll also be providing some flasks of alchemist’s fire in case you do get caught; if stealth is no longer an option, try to break them away from you and we'll take it as a signal to intensify the push."

"Is there anyone suited to tank the concentrated fire if I wrap them up in paper to look like me?"

“That’s a good idea. I expect they’ll have some fireballs and such prepared to try and burn you out, but we can get a paladin to volunteer to have protection from fire cast on them and hang back. I’m not sure how convincing it’ll be without the ability to throw around paper like you do, but if we have them hanging back near Hulrun it could just be you saving your effort. The longer she spends second guessing herself, the better.”

“Do you have an idea of who you want with you for the stealth mission? Most of my abilities are best used to empower large groups and are fairly loud, so I’m maybe not the best choice if you have a way to talk Hulrun into being reasonable about my going with the main force, but I can at least top your team up with heroisms ahead of time.”

Aranka is a bit nervous about advertising herself to a paladin working directly with Hulrun, but this is important enough that she’d feel horrible about holding back if it got someone killed.

"I think I want Ember, to quietly put anybody we meet to sleep... and maybe Camellia... but I'll take recommendations."

“I think it would probably make sense for me to go with you; you’re the one who’s death here is least retrievable, and I think it would probably be wise if I gave Hulrun some space. Other than that, perhaps Anevia if we need someone who can disarm traps, and maybe a paladin or inquisitor for some extra firepower, or Thall if we need wizardry. Irabeth, do you happen to know if Inquisitor Hawkblade is currently in town? 

“He’s not; there was a rumor of a succubus in one of the border towns he was tracking down, and he hasn’t made it back yet.”

“Then there aren’t any of them I’d have particular cause to reccomend for a stealth mission.”

“I am quite good at picking locks and disarming traps if we need it, though I don’t have dispel to clear anything magical.”

"I'd appreciate your company," she tells Ramien. "Are we expecting traps? Didn't we hear about this passage from people who use it?"

"Not in the passageway itself, but they tend to be a popular way for demon cultists to secure their flanks; they tend to be an untrusting and untrustworthy lot, and mechanical defenses are another layer of security. Baphomet's people are much worse about it than Deskari's, of course, but we wouldn't want you to get caught because you made noise bashing down a door when you didn't have to."

"Who does have Dispel for magical traps, anyone?"

"I have one, as well as two of the stronger version that only work on evil casters, but for me it's trading off against magic vestment, magic circle against evil, and communal energy resistance. Rathimus should also have some scrolls of it... have any of Hulrun's hit third circle in the attack?"

"One, but last I heard they were planning to spend their third circle slots on Heroism since Rathimus can't give that one out."

"Pretty much any caster can use dispel from a scroll, I think. Want to make the pitch we should get them?"

"Aranka was offering to hand around advance Heroisms, if that helps?"

"Those definitely ought to go with you, Heroism makes you better at sneaking. I bet I can convince Hulrun you should get a scroll because the alternative is leaving you solely reliant on Ramien, begging your pardon Voyager."