Saz'ja the Priestess of N'Zoth

"They are in the dining room, milady!"

The most annoying drawback of Mind Vision has always been the limitation of the affected creature's sight. It was the second time when the murloc got killed before I could see anything of value through its eyes. So the only thing I was really able to do is make the report brief and display confidence in the result, hoping that there won't be further questioning.

"They turned out to be a lot more inquisitive than anticipated." The snakes on Lady Hathru's head made a dissatisfied hiss.

Indeed, the initial plan was to try to stall time for as much as possible but it took them barely any time to discover our palace.

There was also an idea to bring down the ceiling onto the invaders but Malzarra protested against it immediately. 'It would disturb the equilibrium of enhancements embedded in the greater structure', he said, whatever that means.

"Are you finished with the machine?"

"We're almost there, Lady Hathru! I can feel it," He said with unconcealed enthusiasm. I couldn't tell whether the emotion was real or masterfully fabricated.

"I'll take your word on it. But beware that all this risk is better be worth it because this time your head is on the line." Then she turned to the rest of us

"You won't be disappointed, milady." Then he joined other mages in handling the ritual.

He was the one bathing in light while I had to conceal myself through the purpose of furniture - being useful but unnoticed in plain sight. But the only thing I could do was to suppress the rage boiling inside, lest I remind everyone of my recent failure.

The Mistress then turned to the rest of her people, not even bothering to look in my direction.

"Prepare the device! Let's give a warm welcome to the soft skins."

She was obviously in a good mood, at least. That was my only solace at the time.

xxx

Elyrin Wintersprout

The entrance into the next room was barred with a transparent barrier of blue color. It filled the entire space of the door frame.

The only places that allowed for passage were two areas with large portions of stone missing as whoever designed the barrier assumed that the building would be intact. One such path led through a 20-foot-wide hole in the ground and was guarded by the naga on the other side. The second one was provided by a massive crack in the ceiling that split the door frame in two. It seems that to protect that place specifically naga put a crudely made watch tower with archers on it. However, the most eye-catching thing behind the energy wall was a yellow-glowing crystal the size of a small house in the middle of the room. It was stationed on the round stone table alongside a circle of mages. One of them was male, the rest - female.

"By the will of all Spirits, will those reptiles ever fight with honor!" Kank wasn't amused by the current circumstances.

"Yes, if we attack there we'll be essentially jumping into a meat grinder." Folker seemed to agree. "Any thoughts on what can be done about this barrier?" He turned to me and other magic users in the vicinity.

"That's unprecedented..."

"Its arcane signature is unlike anything..."

"The amount of energy it radiates..."

Before I could say anything, the cacophony of different voices talking over each other became too overwhelming.

"One person at a time! I can't hear my own thoughts with all this yammering" Our current leader pointed his finger at me. "You've got any thoughts?"

It took me by surprise. Why did he choose me specifically? Does my opinion weigh more in his eyes because of what happened yesterday?

I made a final brief glance at the area to root out possible flaws in my current theory once more.

"The spell creating this energy wall does not belong to any arcane tradition I know of but I'm certain that this is one of those barriers that cannot be breached with brute force. The crystal in the middle of the room is not the barrier's source. Inscriptions carved on it are not defensive ones, as far as I can tell. Hmmm…" A second passes after an abrupt trail off. "Helor, could you please check the walls? The barrier seems to be a part of the building rather than something that was just cast inside."

Meanwhile, Kank turned to other magi.

"Anything else to add?"

xxx

"Yes, there is something in this wall powering the spell, but I don't think we'll be able to reach it without a crew of miners and a few weeks of spare time."

Helor's report didn't change our circumstances much.

"There has to be something inside the room that lets them turn the spell on and off. Now we know its approximate location." Folker had a point, actually. We could try getting behind them the same way I did on the beach.

"I don't think they would fall for the same trick twice." Kank remained skeptical about that idea.

"Maybe we could borrow one of their own tricks." All attention was now on Helor's friend. His name was Zoz, if I remember correctly.

After receiving our questioning looks the orc continued.

"We've got an infinite source of alcohol in the nearby room. We can burn it and make a smokescreen to conceal us."

"In a narrow entrance like that this won't make a difference," Kank interjected.

"I'm not talking about going through the hole in the ground. We can use that big crack in the ceiling."

"How exactly?"

"We retrieved one goblin rocket from the ship."

I didn't like the direction this conversation was taking.

"The guy that built it died in an explosion after one of his devices malfunctioned…"

So that's why I nearly burned to death yesterday!

"…but I think it can be modified for piloting. Though I will need the help of whatever tinkers we have left."

"We can actually bring out the cannons as well." Kank was grinning in anticipation. "They'll think that we are trying to break through the barrier. It would be too late for them to do something once we are inside."

Eluna, have mercy on my soul!

Author's note: The spell that is used to bar the entrance is called Wall of Force.