02-02-2017, 07:29 AM
Carmelita had spent the ride quietly assessing the situation. This gang of bandits, the Silver Hand, apparently had a large enough number of captives to be able to make threatening them an easy prospect, and enough men to make holding them all feasible. Her estimation of the severity of the situation jumped tenfold. This wasn’t a small group of opportunists, but a well organised band of intelligent criminals, led by someone who was on par with mob bosses and villains from back home.
The large, well-hidden hideout, whilst imposing, brought with it an opportunity. If she could find somewhere within the base to act as her own base of operations, over the course of a few days she could scout, plan, rescue and sabotage. Ultimately, the leader would need taking down, once Carmelita’s efforts became too overt to hide.
First things first, she needed to split from the hostage she was shadowing. Still under her cloak, Carmelita came up to the side of the woman and spoke softly to avoid the guards overhearing her.
“You need to help me help you. Find out as much as you can, and I’ll be back later to formulate a plan.”
The woman gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, and Carmelita pressed herself against a wall to allow the guards to pass by. Now she had to find somewhere suitable.
The stone huts, she quickly discovered, were not suitable, as none of them had an attic or disused space she could use to rest. Instead, she began sneaking through the mines, passing by bandits and hostages as she looked for a mined out area. After a good hour of searching, and clenched teeth at the sight of captives forced to perform back-breaking labour, she found the perfect hideout, a small tunnel that led to a natural spring. Hidden behind a fold in the rock Carmelita discovered a small cave, the tracks of a small rodent the only thing disturbing the thick layer of dust that lay on the floor.
She had the opportunity to rest, releasing her cloak and breathing in the cool damp air of the mine, a welcome change from the singed smell of her cloaking field. Carmelita spent another hour in the cave removing the dust to avoid tracking it in and out, summoning a bedroll and a replacement for her used STAPLER and making sure she had supplies stashed away. A quick check confirmed that there were some animal burrows on the far wall, all small things about an inch wide, and she took the time to feel at each one for the soft breath of fresh air. There were two, allowing her to take heart in the fact that, if necessary, she could dig a second way out. Using her eyepiece she also sent a quick summary of the situation to Al3x and Chip, telling them that she’d keep them updated as she proceeded.
Now that Carmelita had somewhere to rest between operations, she could go and find out whether the female captive was okay. Reengaging her cloak, she stalked off through the tunnels.
The large, well-hidden hideout, whilst imposing, brought with it an opportunity. If she could find somewhere within the base to act as her own base of operations, over the course of a few days she could scout, plan, rescue and sabotage. Ultimately, the leader would need taking down, once Carmelita’s efforts became too overt to hide.
First things first, she needed to split from the hostage she was shadowing. Still under her cloak, Carmelita came up to the side of the woman and spoke softly to avoid the guards overhearing her.
“You need to help me help you. Find out as much as you can, and I’ll be back later to formulate a plan.”
The woman gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, and Carmelita pressed herself against a wall to allow the guards to pass by. Now she had to find somewhere suitable.
The stone huts, she quickly discovered, were not suitable, as none of them had an attic or disused space she could use to rest. Instead, she began sneaking through the mines, passing by bandits and hostages as she looked for a mined out area. After a good hour of searching, and clenched teeth at the sight of captives forced to perform back-breaking labour, she found the perfect hideout, a small tunnel that led to a natural spring. Hidden behind a fold in the rock Carmelita discovered a small cave, the tracks of a small rodent the only thing disturbing the thick layer of dust that lay on the floor.
She had the opportunity to rest, releasing her cloak and breathing in the cool damp air of the mine, a welcome change from the singed smell of her cloaking field. Carmelita spent another hour in the cave removing the dust to avoid tracking it in and out, summoning a bedroll and a replacement for her used STAPLER and making sure she had supplies stashed away. A quick check confirmed that there were some animal burrows on the far wall, all small things about an inch wide, and she took the time to feel at each one for the soft breath of fresh air. There were two, allowing her to take heart in the fact that, if necessary, she could dig a second way out. Using her eyepiece she also sent a quick summary of the situation to Al3x and Chip, telling them that she’d keep them updated as she proceeded.
Now that Carmelita had somewhere to rest between operations, she could go and find out whether the female captive was okay. Reengaging her cloak, she stalked off through the tunnels.