Another minute of draining light and she closed the stone door behind her as she entered, sealing it so that it would look like the previously seamless boulder if anyone without earth magic checked from the outside. Walking silently down the dark hallway, she smiled as she stepped into the brightly lit main chamber. She directly bypassed the first room on the left, which held the capall. It was just a large round chamber where they could wander around and stretch their legs.
Honestly, the room she walked into next wasn’t that much different; it was another large room, the main difference being that there were a bunch of smaller rooms around the edges. Everything was bare stone, having been superheated and packed by Jade during her excavation so that it would be sturdy. The room was also emanating light from all sides, something she’d decided to add as a defense against the mesmer. They were less likely to make it further into the compound if they couldn’t handle the light. Her stone compass arrows were embedded into the floor of the entrance for easy use when they left.
Still, she had to admire the efficiency of military groups. Apparently, Marcelle put her donated spatial bag to good use, because a table that looked like it’d been quickly put together and makeshift stools now occupied one corner of the room where Marcelle seemed to be holding a counsel with three subordinates and someone in a mirror. Elsewhere around the room, people were being industrious and checking out the place or setting up bedrolls.
When Marcelle saw Jade strolling into the large room, she beckoned her closer, and one of the guards quickly pulled out a stool for her. She smiled at the man, realizing she should probably start learning more names as she sat gracefully. She quickly realized there was not just one, but two mirrors looking onto familiar faces. In one mirror, the king and queen sat regally observing them, and Count Ammon held the other. Marcelle gestured to Jade, “I was about to explain our findings, as well as where we are. Would you care to do the honor?”
Jade smiled at her and nodded, then turned to the mirrors. “Hello, Your Majesties, Count Ammon. After reaching the woods, we confirmed that the mesmer climb into the branches of the basaigh trees and use their branches as a sort of roadway. Unfortunately, besides the original tree they climb, they leave very few marks of passage through the branches. My fellacai are currently combing the treetops searching for the path they used and looking for any fresh marks.”
She took a deep breath before continuing, “However, when I flew above the treetops, I was able to get a bigger picture. There are more than thirty patches of trees that are decayed and covered in the mesmer taint. It’s likely that these are the areas where the mesmer ascend and descend the trees frequently, and thus are the locations, or very near the locations, of their nests. The nearest grouping seemed to be between one to two leagues away, so we’ve decided to leave the capall here and proceed on foot for greater secrecy.”
She gestured to the space behind her. “Therefore, I decided to take the time to build an underground outpost to increase the safety of those staying behind. I’ve concealed the entrance in a boulder, so it’ll require an earth mage to provide access in order to keep it a secret. There’s a chamber for the capall to roam, as well as the main room we’re in currently, with private rooms along the walls that can be turned into dormitories. Everything is lighted to further deter enemies that may somehow enter. In one of the back chambers, I’ve diverted part of an underground river that I found for the sake of fresh water and washing up. There are also multiple vents that lead to the surface for airflow. I’ve made them as twisted and curved as possible to dampen any smells and sound that could escape, as well as putting several grates so that smaller creatures would have a very difficult time passing through. However, I recommend that those in the outpost try to keep smells and sounds to a minimum.”
She paused to make sure those around her understood her explanation and instructions, then finished. “My group will set out in a few minutes after we’ve had time to eat and rest a bit. Our intention is to hit that closest area and capture one of the mesmer, who I’ll retrieve the location of the captives from. We can then retreat here and send them back while we use it as a home base to continue the hunt.”
“You don’t intend to return after rescuing the captives?” Queen Ashanna seemed concerned as she questioned Jade.
Smiling gently at her, Jade shook her head. “No. The others can return if they wish; I won’t keep them out here. But if we remove their food source, it means they’ll have to replenish their supply and others will become the victims. Aside from that, it’s likely that once they realize they’re being hunted, they’ll go into hiding. I need to eradicate as many as possible before that happens.”
That was merely common sense from crime dramas of her old world. Going after a crime syndicate meant you needed to take out as many minions as possible in the shortest amount of time or they would go underground, and it would take forever to root them out. She figured that would still happen, but she was going to kill as many as possible before it did. That was the plan, anyway.
“I’ll organize another troop to bring supplies and garrison the outpost.” Count Ammon immediately cut in, showing complete support for her plan.
She smiled warmly at him as he nodded back to her. “I believe an illusion mage would be helpful as well. That way they can check the surroundings of the outpost before the door is opened.” It was the closest thing to security cameras that she could think of, and speaking of...she could use that to track her surroundings when she was in the air, and verify that nothing was making major moves in the sky. Now that she’d been up there once, she didn’t have to go up again if she wanted to check from that spot, at least. That would be helpful. She could also… “Actually, that way they’d also be able to keep an eye on the main tree they seem to use…”
“Of course. We’ll make sure there’s at least one.” King Derrick nodded decisively. She noticed that he emphasized the word ‘least.’ That would make her feel a little better, though they’d need to be led around the area so that they could accurately open windows where needed. Wind and water mages to purify the air and water supplies would also be good, but she figured they’d think of that themselves. Heck, even a nature mage to provide emergency food would be beneficial.
Still, she trusted them to be able to think these things through, since they’d been living in this world a lot longer than her. They probably knew what it took to maintain an independent outpost. Especially since this would serve as the base for future monster hunts and herb gathering, most likely.
“We’ll keep in touch. Please make sure…” The rest of Derrick’s words were lost to Jade as her eyes lost focus and her head snapped towards the entrance.
“Andy!” Her cry startled those around her as she bolted to her feet and started running for the door, almost knocking several people over in her hurry to get outside. She barrelled down the passageway, practically ripping the stone door off the frame and letting it drop carelessly to the forest floor as she started sprinting through the air, using wind steps to boost her jumping power as she sped towards the canopy of the trees. In her mind’s eye, she could see flashes of the battle taking place in the branches of the trees. It looked like a group of savage orangutans were trying to catch her babies. They’d managed to injure Andy’s wing in one of their swipes, and now the others were furiously trying to defend him as the creatures edged closer, gnashing pointed teeth. The air swirled with various colors of pollen, which the ape things were avoiding as best they could, though several had been stunned or paralyzed, much to the anger of their companions.