Firuza " What..do you... mean?" She asked anxiously.
I projected a military goggle and gave to her.
Usman " It's an item, which enables a person to see from a distance." I said explaining.
Firuza" Really?!" She said looking at the goggles.
Usman" Yeah. So, see for yourself." I said looking forward.
Firuza raised the goggles to eye level.
Firuza " ...it ... can't be..." She said while shaking.
Usman" We have to take a detour. We need to be aware of their formation and arms." I said de-projecting the goggles.
Firuza" ...b.. but... this is.... the only way in." She said still looking towards the army.
Usman " Maybe or maybe not." I said looking for a suitable cave in mountain.
I found one in the left one at certain height. The passage was also in the opposite direction.
Usman " Let's find a way from higher ground." I said bringing her with me to the mountain.
After three hours
We reached the cave. It was deep in a way that any fire started inside won't be visible outside. I had started the fire and was cooking our meal. Firuza was sitting near along the wall. She was hugging her knees.
Usman " I know, the way it's look like. It feels impossible to stop them but we will." I said covering the pot.
Firuza" How?" She said.
Firuza " How we are going to win?! WHEN THERE'S AN ARMY OF UNDEAD CREATED BY UMBAR WHITE'S OWN CITIZENS AND NOBLES!!!" She cried loudly.
Usman" So, my hunch was right." I said.
Firuza " Huh?" She stopped crying.
Usman " When old lady gave me this mission. I thought of it as a possibility." I said to her.
Firuza" THEN! WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THIS!!" She yelled.
Usman" Because those things will only increase with time." I said.
Firuza" Ah!" She said realising.
After meal, I made her sleep after some hard talk. She slept in a sleeping bag projected by me. I went near the cave's entrance and saw my map. There were also shadows hidden around the city entrance. But I couldn't scan the town.
Usman ' Luminous.'
Luminous ' Umbar White is her own territory. So, you can only have it's information when you are inside the town.'
Usman'' Hmm?"
I saw some owls flying around the town unhindered by the undead.
Usman ' THAT'S IT!'
I went inside and slept after setting an alarm.
Next morning
After breakfast, I took out the magic scroll. I opened it and chanted.
Usman " Find familiar: Owl!" I said.
A magical circle appeared after the scroll burnt in blue flames. Magic circle shined and an owl appeared. Then, the magic circle vanished.
Ding!
Congratulations!
You have an owl familiar now!
Owl
Cr 0
Ability: Shared vision.
Usman ' YES!'
Luminous ' A wise decision!'
Firuza " That's your big weapon?! An owl!" She said incredulously.
Usman" Yes." I said sitting close to him.
Usman " He might seems weak to you but he has an amazing ability." I said patting it's head.
Firuza" Which is?" She asked.
Usman " Shared vision." I said climbing it on my arm.
Firuza" Huh?!" She said surprised.
Usman " With this, I can both recon the city and know where army is in high and low quantity. I can also use it to find an insertion zone in town" I said and owl was standing really proud on my arm.
Firuza " WOW! I had no idea!" She said looking towards the small owl in amazement.
Usman " Now, my friend. I need your help in our reconnaissance of this town surrounded by undead." I said looking at the owl.
Owl" Hoo!" It hooted with a proud posture.
Usman " Alright, go!" I said.
The owl flew out. I turned on the shared vision. Umbar White seemed pretty defensive, walls were really dense. The army had surrounded the city in a cresent formation. It's eastern, southern and northern gates were pretty guarded.
Usman' Even it's not in sight but according to map, there are also shadows in the gate arches.'
When, it went in the town. It was like a ghost town in the residential areas. Houses were shut in and market place was closed. It seemed pretty bad. But...
Usman ' I still can't scan it in my map. All I can see is the owl mark moving in a black area.'
Luminous ' Whether it's a familiar or companion, you can only gain access to new area in map by entering yourself.'
Meanwhile, the noble district was in shambles. Houses were broken down, some still standing. There was a tavern surprisingly still working. Moving further there was a big black mansion. It was in the centre of the town. But something made the owl stay put. Probably, the scent of undead. When, it was flying back through the western side. I saw a possible way to infiltrate the town.
After that, it started flying towards the cave by flying around the mountain. When it returned.
Usman" Here! You did an excellent job!" I said giving it some minced meat.
Owl started eating voraciously.
Firuza" So, what did you see?" She asked me.
I told her about the conditions of town and she tightened her grip on the wood, she was about to put in fire.
Usman" Do you know which spells she had before?" I asked her.
Firuza" Yes. But...does it matter now?" She asked tilting her head.
Usman" In a way, yes."
Firuza" Alright! She had three spells before. Those were the cantrips: Chill touch, prestidigitation and blade ward." She said recalling.
Usman" And the ritual?" I asked.
Firuza" I.. don't know anything about it... sorry.." She said shaking her head.
Usman" It's okay. Can you tell me, how she used those spells before?" I asked her.
Firuza" W...well.... " She stammered.
Usman " If it is hard then you don't have to say." I assured her.
Firuza" N..no... It ... could be...vital.." She said and took a deep breath.
Firuza" Last time, when she used those spells was before and after that.... ritual." She said recalling.
Firuza" She called us in the main hall. When we reached there, she used chill touch on her little brother... and my... brother-in-law....a bright and brave boy." She said smiling.
Firuza" When.... she weakened him by...her spell. We tried to stop her. That's when she...used that ritual! A strange magic circle appeared on the floor and.... it's like... suck the.... life out of us." She said with a horrified face.
Firuza" Then, she moved forward and beh... beheaded her...my mother-in-law...then.. seeing it my... father step forward.... but he was slow without his spell.... she...cut his throat!... my late... husband slashed his sword...at her but blade ward protected her... she stabbed him.... and he fell down gurgling... and choking on his own blood!...then she returned to kill m.... my brother-in-law....I was watching...all of that.... shivering... I.. I... even spo...spoiled my clothes..." She said embarassed.
Firuza" She stood up all bloody...then, she cleaned herself with prestidigitation.... That's how... she used her spells..." She said looking in the fire.
Usman" Thank you. That's some really useful information." I said to her.