Arete, finished his rounds-in time for his new assignment

Frankly, given what I had actually expected of him, I had assumed that the rogue had just ignored my suggestion. After all, there's only so much to say about a city from the outside. Maybe some vague detail about when they change shifts, a few snippets about the kind of equipment they pack if there was anything of interest.

What he had produced, however, went above my expectation. A series of papers with a few blotches of ink marring what was an otherwise incredibly detailed maps-arrows pointing to various portions giving good notice on how many, and at what time, they'd be on the lookout through the night. Unsurprisingly, most of them were keeping a lookout on the side we were located on-with a more sparse regiment around the back.

Good...I could work with that. Might add an extra few days of digging to cross the town, but the extra few moments to deploy before they can get the word out could be worth it. Every second before they realize they should turn around is a second more of my spawn will be able to get out of the tunnels and into a place where fighting should be much easier.

Of course, more information is always better-so I prod a little. Did he see anything that might signify if any of those were of differing rank? Any potential sight of supply caches? Sadly, he could only answer in the negative. Looks like trying to cut off the snake's heads or poisoning supplies was going to have to wait a bit then. And so, I introduced him to his partner for my next mission for him.

A bit more robust than the other harpies that had hatched, I had better hopes of this one of being able to carry him. That was, frankly, something I had questions about. Not a clue how much their frames would be capable of carrying. it's to my surprise that she has absolutely no trouble doing so-only seeming to slow down slightly. Considering one of the gods who propagates monsters, I probably should find this less surprising. Carnachias would certainly want all of her children to have some way of either restraining or carrying off victims.

Once feasibility is confirmed, it's explained: The two are to work together to get him inside, where he can look for anything that might be usable. Ideally, somewhere poorly-patrolled and isolated where we can emerge in stealth, then any source of food and water, then commanders and weapons. Wherever they drop off the first time will become their meeting place nightly. As a little extra backup if things get dicey, I let him coat several of the blades he has concealed on him with the most combat-effective poison I have-a paralyzing dose that should be able to cripple enough to let him slip away.