Penetrate the back door.

A short tunnel leading up from the sharp cliff edge ends at a wall in the cave cut to hold a wooden door.

Snow creeps ahead of the group and presses her head up against it to listen closely. You watch as her ears twitch. She then reaches up to turn the knob, but it stops immediately. Locked. So she reaches into her pocket and withdraws a set of lockpicks, and she immediately goes to work. The tumblers don't know what hit them. She pops the lock with ease, slips the picks back into her bag, and drags the door slowly open a crack to peek inside.

Meanwhile, you shut your eye and watch the other side. The front of the castle is in view. There's a large wooden door in the wall ahead--closed of course. You only hope they can find a way to break it down quickly before they're overwhelmed. So far, nobody seems to be attacking them yet. That's a good sign.

Team Strike slips inside and Yin quietly shuts the door behind you.

It's a two-levelled room filled with prison cells. You can see the upper level through the center of the ceiling. Lanterns hang from the walls, illuminating the dank stone walls with flickering flames. It looks like there are some figures lurking behind the iron bars, but that can wait. This looks to be the castle dungeon, which you can't imagine is unguarded.

Nyllia points forwards. With two hands on her cheek, she gestures sleep.

The middle of the room houses a pile of crates. You look forwards to see a a barely visible shape moving up and down on the other side. It looks to be something dark and furry, rising along with the sound of breathing. You're not sure what's there, but just like she tried to say, something is sleeping nearby, and it's definitely not small. Your party lowers to the ground and tries to decide how to properly handle the situation.

Snow reaches back for her bow. She nods.

"I can tie it down," Delphi whispers.

Snow puts a finger to her lips.

I don't think we've ever done a stealth mission before. I'm glad Snow is here with us. Being a ninja is her whole thing.

You move to the side, but put your hand down on something thin and round like a snake.

"Aah~!" A moan squeaks from Yin's lips.

Quickly, you retreat your hand. It isn't a snake at all. You accidentally grabbed her tail. You put a finger to your lips as well and try to shush her, and she places both hands over her mouth in embarrassment.

The creature ahead grunts. There's a rustling, and then it begins to rise.

Damn it.

What appears is a hulking, ape-like monstrosity. It has long, thick arms, sharp teeth, and jet black fur. It rises to stand at nearly ten feet tall, pushing the crates away as it stomps towards your party with rage burning in its eyes.

"I did once say stealth often does not go well," Nyllia whispers. She reaches back and draws her large curved blade. "But this is the way of things."

"I'm so sorry," Yin mumbles.

"It's fine." You draw your weapon as well. There's a tiny pink glow for a moment, but it quickly fades. "She's right. Stealth isn't really our thing, is it? Let's go, team. Take this beast down as fast as possible."

Yin stays back along with Amara. Snow nocks an arrow. Delphi flutters above you. Then, both you and Nyllia hurry forwards and prepare to fight.

She goes left and you go right. Her swing is mighty, and carves a gash deep up the side of its body. Meanwhile, you thrust forward, and pierce past its hardy flesh a few times over in quick succession.

It roars out and slams one of its mighty fists down towards you. After a nimble dodge, the crates explode under the weight of its impact. The stone cracks beneath it. Two arrows stick in its forehead immediately after, and then Nyllia land yet another hefty blow. With such a sudden, relentless **** from multiple opponents, even a beast this strong is overwhelmed.

One more hit from Nyllia lops one of its arms clean off. It stumbles forwards, and then you slice across its neck. It falls to the ground with a thud and then dissolves away into black powder.

Just like those gremlins way back. It must be another kind of demon.

Before you can celebrate, your attention is grabbed... painfully. A crossbow bolt lands right in your leg. You tumble to the ground with a cold pain searing up your body. You groan in pain and look up to see Nyllia stopping on front of you. Above, there's a figure on the next level, aiming a weapon over the railing.

Amara's caring hands hold you from behind. She whispers a gentle spell, and at the same time, Delphi wraps a purple band around the bolt and yanks it right out of your flesh.

"Shit!" you shout through your teeth.

"It will be okay," comes the soothing voice of the elf behind you. "Put your head on my lap if you wish."

"Who's down there?" comes a commanding woman's voice.