Shifting Alliances

The party emerged from a canyon to a series of caves that made up the Mao stronghold about a week after capturing the bandits. One bandit, Mao Fei, let out a shrill whistle to signal that they should be allowed entry. An escort brought the party to the gate, where Eren had to pull rank on the guards in order to proceed any further.
 
The camp was built up like a small town or an outpost, built into a maze-like canyon. A former Racinite soldier by the name of Gavriil led the party to speak with Bian, an intimidating Tlaslo Tonrar woman with heterochromia and a shaved head. After some discussion, about the layout of the fortress at Ym Phae and the number of men at Huye's disposal, Bian agreed to get the party into the way station. Eli snuck away from the group to summon Nyx, asking if there was an Atu in Ym Phae. It seemed to be something less powerful, perhaps one of the suites. She also learned that Nikoleta became an Atu after becoming Empress - Nyx groomed her for the role. There was a third Atu in their alliance, the Magus, but even Nyx cannot reach them.
 
Eli and Eren fought, taking the already high tensions within the party to a new height. When the party spoke with Bian two days later, the tension remained. Eren had not spoken to anyone in the party for days, and Eli was still upset. Bian provided the party with a map of the city and the best guess of the fortress's layout. They would be provided with an escort into the city and a sizeable distraction, but beyond that the party would be on their own.
 
That night, Eren disappeared without a trace. Pella tried to tell Eli a story to cheer her up, recalling a time when Nia had tried to break into Nikoleta's house. Pella fell, breaking her nose, but Nia made it out. They didn't speak to each other for a week, but made up in the in, and Pella still loved Nia more than anyone else in the world. Eli wasn't comforted by the tale.
 
The party woke to a huge commotion the next morning, and were quickly bound and blindfolded, with the mages gagged as well. Carried and dragged from their quarters, the party were chained down within earshot of each other. Eren was not among them. Kyllikki was tied to a wooden table, preventing her from tremorsensing, and forcing her to relive her experiences at the hospital in Roi. The commotion in the halls died down after half a day. The party were given water and scraps of bread once a day, but their situations did not improve otherwise. Mollye wildshaped into a snake to escape her chains, but found that the room was sealed and couldn't get back into her bonds. The guards interrogated her and she was put into a box.
 
Six days after their capture, Bian ordered the party unblindfolded. Kyllikki was gagged after swearing profusely at the woman responsible for their captivity. Bian called the party traitors and Trung spies, explaining that Eren stole some valuable information before he disappeared. She offered the party a choice between serving as bait for the Trung or death.
 
One by one, the members of the party were released the next morning and given a chance to bathe and eat. Their packs and weapons were returned to them, and they were taken along for the seven day journey to Ym Phae. Eli was held separate from the group as a hostage to ensure their compliance. En route, the party learned that Eren stole maps and battle plans before leaving the Mao camp. The Mao retaliated and rooted out every suspected spy, killing nearly 30 people. The new plan was to drop the party at the city gates to make their own way to the fortress, while the Mao made their attack on the watchtower. However, Mollye would remain with the Mao as collateral.