"And hopefully that" Matrix gestures at the harpoon launcher "if i can get it to work on the cart, that or the ballista. We also have a better idea of their numbers, well of giants at least"

// Screen wipe! Please make sure you've pressed the long rest button, and make any spell preparations now. //

The morning sun shines down on the cold peaks of the Spine of the World as you approach the Fire Giant stronghold of Ironslag.

As you approach, all is quite. The sun gleams against the 50-foot tall admantine doors at the base of the 500 foot cliff. Long shadows cover the yakfolk village at the top of it, though these shadows slowly recede as the sun climbs higher. 

"so, chimera cave or yakland?"

With Matrix's help, Ink attempts to steer the airship into the Chimera cave as the others man the furnace... 

// DEX check with advantage... 18 

Matrix is able to guide Ink in by standing on the bow and making hand signs. 

With Marav maintaining the furnace and holding the airship steady, Ink maneuvers the gondola into the extremely tight fit of the abandoned chimera's cave. Luckily, it seems that no new creature has claimed the cave yet, in the days since you slayed the chimera. 

With the airship now tucked in, halfway up the cliff, you are presented with a choice. Go up the stairs, and attempt to descend into Ironslag through the yakfolk village and the mines (the way you escaped only a few days ago)? Or head down the stairs, and stake out the massive entrance at the bottom of the cliff?

Aya grins. "Damn straight, scales. Just point me where I'm needed and I'll aerate anything in need of a new hole or three."

Aya is chomping on fantasy sunflower seeds and generally unconcerned. She isn't familiar with the yakfolk village, but, "We took out those chumps in the dwarf king's throne room easily enough, and that was apparently a war party. Let's sneak in, maybe take a hostage or two if needs be, and light the chief's hut on fire if we get in a jam."

"that's what we did the first time around, even skinned the chief" Matrix replies with a sigh

"Mm. Gross."

Ink is huddled in a corner talking with Marav, then turns and says, "We think there's a way of burrowing through the back of this cave and perhaps into the elevator shaft of the giant's stronghold.  We may not be able to use this entrance as a point to launch an invasion, but at least we could scout the inside of the tower and perhaps get an idea of what they've done with the place or where they've set up guards and defenses."

"However, we're not entirely sure where to dig. I thought of using Quill to get a view of the top, and then perhaps a point of view of the whole mountain and there massive door at the foot. Between the two points of view, we should have an idea of where the elevator shaft is and dig in that direction... perhaps at a slightly elevated angle so we don't accidentally slide out and into the elevator shaft."

"Any ideas on how we can better survey the mountain for this endeavor - or help Quill and I get a better view of this place?"

Ink is able to have Quill fly up to 100 feet away. From that vantage point, he would be able to eyeball how centered the chimera cave is relative to the adamantine doors. 

Quill can't maintain a telepathic connection to Ink, if she were to fly up and survey the current state of the yakfolk village and Ink were to remain with the airship in the cave. 

Flipping in an out of Quill's perspective, Ink draws out a sketch of the mountain side, using charcoal and some parchment, with relative positions of the Chimera cave and the adamantine doors, and notes some estimated distances based on their trek up the 12,000 steps the last time they were here.

He leaves the drawing with Matrix and Marav so they can start planning. He tells the group, "Quill and I are going to sketch out the top of the mountain around the village to see if we can get an idea of where the elevator shaft is. I figure once we locate the doors up top, we'd know the basic location of the shaft."

Ink will Stealth his way to the top of the the stairs, once he's about 40 feet from the top, he'll take a look through Quill's eyes to see if there's anyone up there. 

// Perception Check through Quill... 10 

Noticing smoke rising from the chimney of the hut across the river from the massive elevator gear building, Ink casts fog cloud at second level (40 ft radius) on the plateau above so that his presence is further obscured. He'll then walk up the rest of the way to the top of the stairs, but staying in the southeast corner ready to run down if need be, just beneath the fog cloud, so that Quill can fly up as high as she can while maintaining a telepathic link and get a better vantage point of the village and the entrance to the giant's mines. 

Seeing no change in activity due to the fog cloud, Ink maneuvers Quill high up to the limits of their telepathic bond so that he can draw out a map of the village, with particular interest to the doorway to the giant's hold and its relation to the 12,000 Step stairwell.

 // Perception Check through Quill... 8 

Having sketched the village and believing to have the elevator shaft location estimated to within fifteen to thirty feet, he signals to Marav to start heading down... quietly. 

When they are ready to leave, Ink will have Quill dive into an empty or abandoned area before shunting her to her pocket dimension, only to have her reappear thirty feet away from Ink and below the fog cloud.

As Marav and Ink make their way down, he leaves Quill as a sort of rear guard, keeping her about ninety feet away from the retreating pair, ready to send a mental alarm to Ink should she see anything following them, including unexpected swirls of the fog cloud, as if something invisible was moving through it.

// Quill's perception check... 14 

You’re about to leave when you hear a loud clang. It sounds like the portcullis by the elevator building has been slammed open.

Meanwhile, down in the cave, Matrix is working to get the ship's ballista attached to the cart that he procured from Citadel Adbar.

// You'll need a Dexterity check using your tinker's tools in order to remove one of the ballistae (stern or bow, your choice). You'll also need a Strength check to maneuver it down in one piece, and finally one more Dexterity (Tinker's Tools) check to attach it to the cart. // 

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

You’re about to leave when you hear a loud clang. It sounds like the portcullis by the elevator building has been slammed open.

Ink whispers to Marav, while urging him down, "The portcullis is open. Can't send Quill because the same bird over and over again seems suspicious. Ideas?"

Marav shifts his form into that of an owl, darker in color than Quill and flies toward the portcullis looking around.

Stealth: 12
Perception: 24

A lone fire giant is coming through the portcullis. He starts making his way toward the gate of the village, carrying two long iron trusses and a bundle of other material.