With news of Ma Aqaan coming under attack by two tribes, as well as Dab having to bear the brunt of their assault, your chances of gaining a doctor experienced in the treatment of the Grimm Plague were rapidly falling. If, or rather when, the Dab Royal Hospital fell into the hands of the tribes, you doubt those savages would ever let the valuable doctors go, if they weren't all slaughtered in the assault. You doubt you could afford the price, since the savages hardly understand the value of Lien.
Balthazar proved his network's worth when his weekly report included an accurate map of the Dab Royal Hospital, which was not just a building but a Holding in it's own right. The Hospital was of a similar, if smaller, build to castles: a two layered system of walls, with a small town between the first and second layers, the hospital itself in the center of the walls. Looking at the map, you were sure the hospital was first a small castle before it was converted, which was an ingenious way to cut costs.
More than just cutting costs, the thick walls had served to greatly improve their defensive situation. The tribes had only managed to break through the first layer, the hospital staff putting up a truly heroic defense. The siege had lasted too long, Grimm hordes had surrounded the Holding and waited for a chance to savage those that remained. While an army would need to deal with the horrors of a large gathering of adult Grimm, Balthazar assured you a small team could slip through the hordes unharmed.
On the note of the small team, you had snuck out of the castle one night, emerging from the crypt passage into a long disused tavern. While at the time you were truly heavy with child, you managed the trip quite well, and Balthazar met you at the exit before leading you to a basement room. There, you met the team your spymaster had created, sitting around a table.
The first member of the team was a woman around your age with her fiery hair shaven in the way of the Be'er tribals. You could see she was covered in burn scars, and you had to hold your nose to keep it from burning. The woman reeked of Red Dust Powder! She spoke up. "'Ello Boss' boss. Double Boss." She said with some degree of respect, "Call me Muriel. I specialize in just about anything that blows up, catches fire, or generally makes people's days really, really bad really, really quickly."
The next one to speak up was a heavily scarred man of significant age. He had the bearing of a career soldier, and it took you a moment to place him. "Dieter? I thought you retired years ago!"
Dieter grinned widely at you, "Captain Skye! Aye, I retired, but there's only so much looking at nature a man can do before he goes crazy. I missed out you kicking ass in Buhaw, so I suppose this is the next best thing. Congrats on the kid, by the way."
You smile back. "Thanks. How's the leg?" "Couldn't bend it at the knee, but your friend there," the soldier nodded towards Balthazar's corner of the room, "decided I was more useful with two." Dieter pulled up his right pantsleg, revealing gunmetal gray shell. "Don't know how he got it, but I don't really care. I'm glad to be working for you again, Captain."
The third man was an unknown. Small and unassuming, you could guess his profession by the way he toyed with a brass coin. Flipping the coin from one finger to the next without even watching the coin, the man looked at you. "Oliver. I'm what you call an," he assumed a fake aristocratic accent, "Ack-re-zitions Specialist."
"So we have an arsonist, a killer, and a thief, and you expect them to break through a horde of Grimm, two besieging armies, and a group of desperate defenders? No offense, but I'd be hard pressed to win even if I had a thousand times their number." You directed your remark towards Balthazar, who stepped forward. He opened his mouth and spoke his first words since you last met. "...One more. Insider. Late."
Moments after the Spymaster finished his ponderous speech, you heard a door open. This was swiftly followed by "Oh, dear. I'm late!" Completing the chain was a series of fast footsteps and the basement door opened. In the doorway as a very rushed looking man, glancing at his pocket watch as his white rabbit ears flicked to and fro. He looked up. "O-oh. Why, hello. I believe I see just why that creepy fellow was so insistent on discretion. Don't worry, I understand the risks of your profession and the op-"
Dieter slammed his hand down on table, startling the Fanus. "Lady Skye is no damn whore, you blasted fool!" Silence rung out, laying for a solid minute. Balthazar broke the silence.
"Alex Mercy. Insider." The rabbit Fanus was frozen in place, and Balthazar continued, coughing. "I'm the fifth."
Now is the time to plan. There will be six phases: Running The Grimm, The First Wall, Talk of the Town, The Last Wall, Dab Royale, and The Escape. Include a section for each phase in the plans.
The team is available to answer questions, and I will respond to them in character.
