Gar-Malleos

[Anastasia]

Yes.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Which should we go after, do you all think? I think getting the tree in place will do the most good, but it'll also be solidly defended."

[Nephrite]

"We should eliminate the dimensional blocking." Moore says. "That would let us get allies here or just get us away for right now."

[Ebiris]

"Agreed, if this tree's as important as you say there's no point leaving it here while the place is still controlled by devils," Afina seconds.

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru nods, indicates the path towards the dimensional block, and gets ready to head off.

[Nephrite]

"If it's below us, then should we go back the way we came or just try and smash the floor and go down from here?" Moore asks.

[Anastasia]

Meanwhile Jaela punches through the first wall. A second one is right behind it, just as feared.

[Anastasia]

"Except..." Canderella trails off, "They're trapping us down here, or trying to, rather than diverting us away from all of that below. Why?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"It's bait. If you think about it, the best bait is always real. They know what we're aiming for. Either the spell it they let line is likely trapped. If you consider what we found in the sewers and their tendency to destroy things instead of losing them... I'd guess the let line is rigged the same way. Some kind of energy feedback building up is likely. They may be willing to crater who know how big of an area. Or even all of Lifasa."

[Nephrite]

"Hmm... that's certainly an idea. Actually, maybe we should see if anything Silvber or that dragon had can help us?" Moore asks. "It's a long shot, but you never know. Anyway, if Surru is right, then maybe we should just aim for straight up rather than down to try and get out of here."

[Iron Dragoon]

"If I am right then they've already written this place off and might let whatever they're doing go off anyway. Destroying ley lines would start the death of Lifasa. It would make Lifasa unlivable."

[Ebiris]

"You're overthinking it, this is a simple delaying tactic to make us expend more of our resources so when we smash into their reinforcements outside we'll be low on spells," Afina states her own theory. "Our priority is still to escape with Silvber's sigil above any other considerations. If we can locate the source of the dimensional warding and dispel it - do we have sufficient spells for that? I know the dragon taxed our reserves, we'll do that. If our spells are low on those dispels we'll carve a path straight up to the surface through the castle and the earth both."

[Nephrite]

"I could manage a Wish if we need it for that... I'm not sure it'd be enough, but that's the strongest spell I have for this sort of thing. Otherwise, I have the tools to make sure all of you can succeed at deciphering the magic around it." Moore says. "I guess it depends on what type of magic we'd need to dismantle it, and who set it up -- if it's something that Bel or one of the other Lords did, I don't think we have the capacity to deal with that right now."

[Anastasia]

"Either way, we need to act soon and decisively. Time is not on our side," Canderella points out. "Time to plan and act favors Hell here, not us."

[Corwin]

"Why not split up?" Jaela offers, smashing through the second wall now. "Ensure there is someone capable of plane shifting out in each group, and those linked with telepathy. If I breach this faster than you deal with the block, we'll call you over, Surraruthru. Otherwise, if you succeed let us know and I'll shift us all out of here."