"There are around 400 duergar working here," the female gnome said. "Most are craftsmen, a few are warriors—including some clerics and fighters."
"That's less than I expected," Aoko said to Xenk. "If we can rally the gnomes, the duergar warriors shouldn't be too hard to handle—the craftsmen won't risk their lives for this."
"What about the drow?" Xenk asked. "How many?"
"As far as I know, just three," the gnome replied, "all male wizards."
"So no priestesses of Lolth," Edgin said. "That's good news. I doubt those male drow could stand up to Aoko!"
The drow are a matriarchal society; in Menzoberranzan, all the rulers are female, thanks to their goddess Lolth—whose priestesses are all women. Lolth is notoriously petty and might descend upon her priestesses at any time.
"Then we should split up," Xenk said. "If we want to overthrow the drow and duergar slavers quickly, the best way is to kill the three drow wizards managing this camp, then show the duergar what's happened."
"But we've only located one drow," Doric said. "We don't know where the other two are. How do we find them?"
"I know!" the female gnome said suddenly. "So do my companions. We can guide you!"
"Great," Aoko nodded. "While we go after the drow wizards and draw the duergar's attention, can you and your people free your fellow gnomes and coordinate with us?"
"We can!" another gnome said resolutely. "We won't just run while our kin suffer!"
This gnome was Kaleduran Slickhand: a gnome wizard and mechanical engineer.
In fact, Kaleduran could have escaped alone long ago—he had a magic ring called "Kaleduran's Simulacrum," which granted its wearer invisibility (though he himself couldn't cast Invisibility). He stayed because he wanted to free his fellow gnomes.
All the gnomes here were from villages near Dobrun Delve. Though their ancestral city had fallen, many resilient deep gnomes lived on—until the drow and duergar slavers found them.
Now, with Aoko's group here, Kaleduran knew this was the chance of a lifetime—even at the risk of his life, he wanted to free them all.
"I understand," Aoko nodded. "I have a mission for you."
She handed Kaleduran several magic scrolls and an unlocked anti-magic cuff.
"One of my companions will help you deal with one of the drow wizards," Aoko said. "Your job is to, while invisible, put this cuff on the drow, then hand him over to my teammate."
Kaleduran nodded solemnly and tucked away the items.
"Xenk, I want you to go with him. Is that alright?" Aoko asked. "Will it break your oath?"
"As long as I reveal myself before attacking, it's fine," Xenk replied calmly. "After all, I'm not the one sneaking up and putting the cuff on."
Aoko had to admit, Xenk was good at finding loopholes.
"Simon and Doric will form the second team," Aoko continued, handing them scrolls and cuffs. "Same plan—use whatever scrolls you need; don't hold back."
Simon nodded seriously, even a little excited at the chance to adventure with his goddess.
"I'll handle the last drow wizard—the one at the ruins' entrance—myself," Aoko said.
"What about us?" Holga asked. "What are Edgin and I supposed to do?"
"Holga, you're Edgin's bodyguard—focus on the duergar warriors. Edgin, lead the remaining gnomes: once we start the chaos, help free the scattered gnomes and boost their morale. Lead the revolt!"
"Now that's my kind of job!" Edgin grinned. "Reminds me of the old days, back when… well…"
Everyone knew what he meant—this was classic bard work. But they let him have his dignity.
Aoko, always preferring to leave specialized tasks to the experts, didn't micromanage. Once everyone's duties were clear, she didn't bother with details.
…
Edgin and Holga hid with most of the gnomes at the camp's edge, quietly waiting for the three assassination teams to give the sign.
Aoko headed straight for the excavation site, staying invisible and silent as she entered the work zone packed with gnome slaves.
"Work faster, you sniveling deep gnomes!" a male drow wizard barked, lashing a gnome and leaving a bloody welt.
"If you fall behind, I'll have you all fed to the chasme!"
Besides the drow, there were few duergar here—perhaps even the evil duergar couldn't stand the drow. Only two heavily armored duergar guarded the door.
Aoko didn't bother to duel the drow. She silently crept up behind him, clapped the anti-magic cuff onto his whip hand (these things were deadly against spellcasters), and, as he froze in shock, summoned the Mordenkainen's Sword and stabbed him in the back—instantly killing a drow wizard of at least sixth-circle power.
The two duergar warriors at the door reacted quickly, charging at Aoko. She slapped an [Grease] scroll on the ground, tripping them up, then finished them off with her force sword.