The Emerald Enclave's meeting hall was quite informal—more like a club or a bar than a command center.
Doric led the four to a corner table, poured them each a cup of tea, and gestured for them to begin.
"How'd you end up living here?" Edgin asked, curious, since most Enclave members were human or elf, and Doric was neither.
"My parents were human, but they gave birth to a freak like me, so I was abandoned," Doric said. "The Enclave's wood elf druids took me in, so I joined them, to protect them."
"Honestly, you're pretty lucky," Aoko looked Doric up and down. "Most tieflings aren't as good-looking as you; most are red-skinned. You should thank your parents for that."
"Oh, thanks... I think you're complimenting me?" Doric said, a bit hesitantly.
"Uh, this is our party's mage, Miss Aoko," Edgin interjected. "She just likes telling the truth, so..."
"It's fine, I don't mind," Doric shook her head. "I don't hate my parents, I just dislike humans. They lie and are selfish. At least your mage is honest."
"Harsh, but you have reason to join us," Edgin said sincerely. "You're the only one who can sneak into Neverwinter Castle; our mage's already on Forge's wizards' radar. We need intel."
"If it helps, I'm only half-human," Simon chimed in. "I have elven blood."
"But your sorcery is terrible," Doric replied bluntly.
"No! Simon's a descendant of Elminster Aumar, he's powerful!" Edgin said. "Plus, we have Miss Aoko—she's an 8th-level archmage!"
"I'm an outsider, just arrived in Toril," Aoko added. "Don't judge all Faerûnian humans' morals by me."
"You sound more reliable than Simon," Doric said, then turned to Edgin. "So what's your role?"
"I'm the planner," Edgin said. "The strategist, got it?"
"If you've already made a plan, then what's your value in the plan?" Doric asked, puzzled.
"He's a bard," Aoko explained, trying to speed things up. "Knows a bit of magic, can play music to boost morale, lifts the mood—a glue for the team."
"Thanks, that's a thorough summary," Edgin said sincerely.
"…Fine," Doric looked out the window at the devastated forest. "We've tried many times to sabotage Forge, but always failed. We've had to keep retreating."
"We've always wondered how someone as useless as Forge became Neverwinter's lord," Doric continued. "We tell locals the same, but Forge doesn't care. He destroys our forest, executes our people, just like you saw."
"Forge is probably just a puppet," Aoko said. "Behind him is Sofina, a 9th-level archmage, officially his magical advisor. Taking out Forge is easy, but Sofina will just install another stooge."
"All right, you've convinced me," Doric turned to them. "If we don't defeat Forge and Sofina, I'll have nothing left to protect."
"I'm not joining for money," Doric said firmly. "I just can't watch those who accepted me lose their home."
"Then we'll keep your share safe for you," wise barbarian Holga said, earning everyone's attention.
No time to waste on reconnaissance, and since the Enclave wasn't far from Neverwinter, Doric began her first mission as part of the team.
She turned into a hawk and flew towards Neverwinter Castle, while Aoko sent Stark, attaching her mind to her familiar to observe.
As a wildshaper, Doric could avoid detection spells aimed at mage familiars, but Stark could not, so he waited outside the castle to assist Doric if anything went wrong.
Sure enough, the magical barrier over Neverwinter Castle didn't trigger as Doric entered the inner courtyard.
To get inside, though, being a hawk was too conspicuous, so she turned into a flying insect and slipped in through a vent.
"…We've installed new gates on every side of the castle," Forge's voice reached Doric's ears, confirming she was in the right place. "And set up magical alarms—if triggered, no one gets in or out."
"As for the vault," Forge grinned at two wealthy visitors, "my chief magical advisor Sofina can explain."
Everyone looked at the woman in black robes, who just stared at them silently.
"…The vault is protected by a Mordenkainen's Arcane Seal," Sofina said curtly. The two visitors didn't understand the implication, and Sofina wasn't about to explain.
"All right, haha," Forge laughed awkwardly, "maybe that's not all the details, but… Sofina means it's a very powerful spell. No outsider can unlock it."
"Excuse me, but why bring back the High Sun Games?" the taller visitor asked. "Lord Neverember thought it was too cruel."
"Our dear Lord Neverember probably doesn't like sports," Forge said, baring his teeth. "Maybe he prefers to stay at home, like a plant?"
One guest laughed, but the tall one didn't seem convinced. Forge noticed.
"But the truth is, I believe the games build city unity," Forge said, putting on a serious face. "Since the last lord fell ill, morale's been low, so I'm using the High Sun Games to boost spirits—and stimulate the economy."
It sounded reasonable, and the envoys from Neverember were convinced, joining in the laughter. Forge at once invited them for drinks.
"Silence!" Sofina snapped, stopping the laughter and looking around warily. "There's a wildshaper here!"
Oh no!
Hiding behind a statue, Doric's heart pounded—she hadn't expected Sofina to be so sensitive, detecting her this easily.
Doric didn't hesitate—she flew straight for the upper air ducts.
Behind her, she heard the "smack" of a necrotic strike hitting the wall, but she didn't dare look back, only sped up her escape. She'd already gotten the critical information.