The stronghold was a hive of activity as preparations for the anticipated conflict continued. The mood was a mixture of resolve and apprehension, as everyone sensed that a significant confrontation was on the horizon.
Alaric was in the war room once again, surrounded by maps and reports. He was discussing strategies with his advisors, trying to anticipate the moves of Valerian's remaining followers.
"We need to identify their main base of operations," Alaric said, his finger tracing a path on the map. "If we can locate their stronghold, we can plan a decisive attack."
Thalia Dreadfang nodded. "Our scouts have been combing the area for weeks, but they haven't found anything definitive yet."
Damien Sanguine suggested, "We should consider sending in a small, covert team to gather intelligence. A direct assault might be too risky at this stage."
Alaric agreed. "I'll lead the team myself. We need to get a closer look at their operations."
