The Ashen Company give the new task their full attention. The fate of everyone in this hideout depends on the party getting this done quickly, quietly, and without any extra attention from Sally in Sierrona. But how? Strategic discussions ensue.
We know we're up against a smattering of eldritch cannons and an unknown number of enemy combatants, plus we anticipate at least one caster at the fort - someone who could use sending to call for reinforcements. We will need to end them quickly, or keep them occupied enough that they won't raise the alarm before we kill them. We run through a bunch of ideas, but find it hard to land on anything concrete. After some time we hit a wall and take a break.
Null has been thinking about their upcoming foray into what is sure to be another frozen wasteland. She focuses on Berrik's loose bun and asks to fix his hair. She brushes his long hair out and re-does it in a French Baneland braid - to better insulate his head and to give enemies less to grab onto in close combat. She offers everyone else at the table the same deal, but there are no takers - not even L. Silas sees his chance and takes it, sweeping his gleaming locks into a bun and becoming the Ashen Company's next top topknot-haver. He's been wanting to do this for awhile, but didn't want to step on Berrik's toes. Public self-care is the last straw for Latharial, who is clearly annoyed that we haven't left yet. It was bad enough that we took her quest at face-value AND deliberated it accordingly, but this is a bridge too far! She storms off without contributing any advice or additional intel that would help us get to the finish line of forming a plan. As we try to gather ourselves, we overhear Latharial offer the mission to another resistance agent. Jenkins carries himself with the self-assurance of someone who will definitely die in the prologue.
FINE. We've worn out our welcome, and so decide to just leave before L decides to send another underqualified resistance member to their death. We'll see what we find when we get there. We figure flying will get us there faster, ahead of the resistance convoy, and so we opt to do that. The vibes aren't right for any goodbyes except to Aunt Ella at the moment, so we find her and say we'll see her there. As the Ashen Company takes their leave, Null spots Latharial from afar - She's got freshly braided hair. The lady is fucking perplexing.
It takes a day for us to fly there, using hand-waved amounts of resources. We land about 500(?) feet away from the fort, behind a snowdrift tall enough to keep us from view. It's fuckin' cold as a lich's tit out here, so Cade gets to work casting Tiny Hut. Before too long we are warm and cozy inside - it's been awhile since the Ashen Company piled into a Tiny Hut together. Before we settle in for a long rest, Flynn conjures his Arcane Eye and sends it to scope out the old Aeonian fort. He relays all that he sees as he tours the perimeter walls, spotting a few elevated eldritch cannons (these seem vulnerable to magical manipulation or toppling). Several cultists are milling about the complex, on the walls and in the courtyard, but overall it's a pretty casual atmosphere - they don't expect to get attacked stationed all the way out here. Flynn next guides the Arcane eye inside. He passes through a barracks and follows a long corridor down the western side of the complex. He sees a robed figure writing at a desk by candlelight. Flynn can't not try to snoop on what this guy is writing down, and so prompts the Eye to approach. The closer the Eye gets, the more prevalent the figure's almost skeletal features become. As he attempts to peer over the figure's shoulder, the Eye is spotted and immediately dispelled. Oh dang, well that's not optimal. Back in the hut, our only option is to lie low and try for a rest. Attacking the fort now when the figure is on high alert is sure to go poorly.
Our long rest passes without apparent issue. Shortly before the hut ends Flynn casts Control Weather, opting to get rid of the frigid cold so that we don't have to make endless saves against exhaustion out here. Cade casts Telepathic Bond on everyone just before the hut disappears and then we tumble out into the snow. As we straighten ourselves out, Cade notices some odd-looking snow mounds around us. They are humanoid-sized! We've been made and Cade lets us know telepathically. Berrik quickly casts True-Seeing to find out what we're dealing with. The wizard tells his friends there are 8 invisible baddies. Silas activates his Divine Sense - sensing a bunch of undead except for one celestial (Reno?). Melee ensues. The cultists are aesthetically on point, doing both necrotic and cold damage. One of their attacks can impose the Stunned condition for an entire round on a failed save! If adventuring monks in Ios could learn how to do this instead of a Staggering Strike, I'm sure they would be thrilled.
We stop the session partway through the fight.
It's fine! We're gonna get through it! The fort at large probably still doesn't know the Ashen Company is here.