Chapter 17: Will O' the Wisp and Arrival at the Island

Soro had been away, reporting to Qel and gathering resources (like more money to spend).

He let them know he had seen Darianne talk with Keruna when he had not expected it.

He discovered that Darianne, although an allied agent, isn't working for Qel / ESP, or Norman / Reshall Intelligence.
Also, Darianne has samples of Soro, but Soro's samples of Darianne had been negated. They think Darianne is on their side but are not 100% sure. Darianne has MESSAGE as a spell. He gets a "photo" of Darianne taken from his memory of her - and its fairly above board. The elf Celvinados who does it has made the PHOTOGRAPH spell himself and will not sell it.

Soro arrives back on 4/6 and follows the trail successfully.

Soro took a while to find us at Mortilo.

4/6 Soro circled around Mortilo, and approached cautiously. He DETECTED the 3 Imps (and as far as anyone could discover, they didn't notice him, nor did anyone else), Keruna (who was working some sort of magic), and myself.
5/6 The party were lounging around The Figurehead pub outside waiting for the ship or shopping. We talked and drank at length. Most of the others rested or went shopping, not that there is a lot to buy here. They had afternoon tea in the back of some friendly tailors place. Digoril is hanging close to whoever has the KNIFE.
Soro reported (I'm not sure how) to Calell (some sort of ESP department chief on Long Isle).

Keruna's rather fine ship arrived at dusk. Will of the Wisp is black, sleek, and something like a STEALTHED but MAGICALLY ENHANCED Xebec; big sails (and an unusual rig), sweeps, large crew, not a lot of luxury or cargo capacity (sod all, although there is some sort of blasphemous HOLD OF HOLDING, which took the horses). Not a lot of overt ship to ship weapons. The crew appeared more than competent. The ship has sails of grey silk with a spell on them. It can go about 12 knots, maybe more.
We boarded at once, and made ungodly speed to Mimono. Captain Jens sailed skillfully past (and around rather than through) the reefs, at top speed, by night (the moon is waxing, but still fairly dim).

Soro makes a CONTINGENCY dispel magic that stops the dispel magic spell with a word in dwarvish. He casts it on his bow in the captains cabin. Keruna does something with magic as well.

5/6 Morning. We lurked off Mimono whilst a mercenary and one of Keruna's men rowed to Mimono in one of the 2 ship's boats. I suspect that Soro did some SHAPESHIFTING as well.
We discovered that 2 of the fugitives had landed on the South coast of Long Isle, and were picked up by ESP.
2 more left at Mimono, and these were picked up as well.
We don't have much debriefing from them yet, but it looks like the remaining 6 continued Northwards by boat.
It looks like Kiellevain in any shape or form is dead (the GOD doesn't miss).
Kassael, or possibly one or several other apprentices / deputies (or rivals / allies) are taking over the enterprise. They are also taking over whatever evil project Kiellevain had spent several centuries developing (or possibly more, if he was bred for this purpose), and his resources / base / contacts.

We started following again, trying to overtake them whilst remaining over the horizon, as we are not at all sure that Kiellevain's successor is actually on board the boat, but we can at least find the base.

6/6 Morning. We lay off the North of Black Water Rock; a small island North of Long Isle, and close to the West of Black Wyrm Rock (which is where I'd like to dispose of the Dagger).
There appears to be a more or less central volcano, and some straggly woods to the East. Not a lot of wildlife. The boat was approaching the South of the island.

I did my SEE SPIRITS & SUCH thing, as it enhances my abilities to see things (so it's not easy to DETECT) within line of sight (and, because I can see things that aren't there, things that are there don't block the SIGHT).
There are 10 Imps patrolling the island, presumably as lookouts rather than guards. They can see our Spirits, and any active magic that is not concealed.
There are 4 larger Demons. One is a Demon of Subtlety (or Deception). One is responsible for some sort of GATEWAY, which appears to manifest itself as the throat of the volcano.
Because the Demon of Subtlety has had (one assumes) some time to set things up, things may not be as they seem. For example, I see the volcano in a slightly different position than Keruna and Soro.
Soro does not like the look of the woods.

We need to get as far as possible whilst retaining the element of surprise.
Demonic senses are keen when it comes to non-physical things.
Keruna's magic, and her Spirit (well, sort of 2 Spirits) are odd, and hard to see. In her hubris she assured us that the Demons cannot sense her easily.
Myself, Soro and Darianne will go without pre-cast (hung) mental magic. Actually Darianne chickened out when she heard this. I'll also meditate and pray, to make my Spirit appear small and harmless.
All magical and holy objects will be contained within lead-and-iron boxes (or equivalents) ENCHANTED to hide the contents from Demonic senses. I'm not sure what Keruna will do with her mace, and Erenion has some dodgy stuff, I believe. Keruna had yet more of these boxes (I think she sells them).
All of us with stronger than average Spirits will have to do something.

Obviously we need to stack the odds in our favour, and I suggested decoys:
Keruna will arrange for dolphins to cause some sort of distraction (important enough to warrant investigation, but not too suspicious) to lure Imps (and general attention) away from our landing.
We'll also take some doped sea birds, and antidotes, to distract any Imps that approach us.

We need to plan for responsibilities when we drop our stealth; who engages which Demon, what to do about the people whom we are following, etc.

Landing on the island at around midday, in 2 waves:
Keruna, Digoril (who is shadowing me as I bear the Truffles), Sir Z, Sir J-M / E, Soro and myself, followed by the knights' 2 horses.