As they made their way out of the city, Ash discreetly used his hypnotic abilities on the guards at the city gates. With a mere glance and a few whispered words, he ensured that they would always recognize the trio and allow them to pass without any need for identification. The guards' eyes glazed over briefly, and they nodded in a daze as the suggestion took hold.
After an hour of walking through the dense forest, they finally arrived at the entrance of the cave where the bandits were rumored to be hiding. The cave was shrouded in darkness, and its entrance was concealed among the trees and underbrush. The air was heavy with tension as they approached the mysterious cavern.
Casandra's soft voice carried a touch of caution. "Be careful, everyone. Rumor is that this cave is said to be treacherous, filled with traps set by the bandits to deter anyone from entering. We must proceed with caution and stay vigilant."
Ash and Andrea nodded in agreement, their senses heightened as they cautiously entered the dimly lit cave. The path ahead twisted and turned, leading deeper into the earth like an intricate labyrinth. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and musty underground chambers.
As they navigated through the maze-like passages, they could sense the eerie silence that surrounded them. The bandits were masters of concealment, and it was evident that they knew how to remain hidden and evade capture.
Andrea's intangibility proved to be a valuable asset, allowing her to scout ahead, passing through walls and obstacles to gather information. She reported back to Ash and Casandra, guiding them towards the bandits' main chamber.
They moved with caution, wary of any traps or ambushes that might be lying in wait. The bandits were skilled at guerrilla warfare, and they had proven their capabilities in the past, as evidenced by the guards' reluctance to confront them directly.
As they approached the heart of the cave, they could hear hushed voices and the occasional clinking of metal. The bandits were gathered, seemingly planning their next heist or discussing their illicit activities.
Andrea went ahead to scout the number of bandits and the layout of the cavern holding the bandits. Andrea moved silently through the dark passages, her intangible form allowing her to slip through walls and obstacles without a sound. As she ventured deeper into the cave, she carefully observed the bandits' movements and counted their numbers.
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In the dimly lit cavern, she saw a group of about sixteen bandits huddled together around a makeshift table. They were engrossed in conversation, their faces obscured by shadows. The room was adorned with stolen goods, weapons, and crates filled with the spoils of their illicit activities.
A female bandit who seemed to be the leader exudes an aura of undeniable authority as she sat at the head of the table, surrounded by her loyal 15 men. Her commanding presence is accentuated by her tall, lithe figure, draped in a dark, weathered leather coat that bears the scars of countless battles. With piercing emerald eyes that seem to see right through anyone, she wears a confident, enigmatic smile that hints at a cunning mind beneath.
Her raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, loosely tied with a crimson bandana, symbolizing her fearless spirit and unwavering determination. A finely crafted silver dagger hangs from her waist, a reminder of her deadly prowess in combat. Despite the rough life of a bandit, her skin retains a hint of radiance, hinting at a mysterious past beyond the banditry.
Her every movement is measured and deliberate, exuding both charisma and danger, earning the utmost respect from her band of fierce men. The admiration in their eyes as they follow her lead speaks volumes about the bond between leader and followers, forged through shared victories and hardships.
Andrea relayed her observations back to Ash and Casandra in hushed tones, careful not to attract the bandits' attention. "There are sixteen of them, including a female leader. She looks to be a formidable figure, so I suggest we avoid conflict altogether. I could lure them out here while Ash prepares to place them under hypnosis."
Ash rubbed his chin as he thought about how to execute Andrea’s idea. He knew that the time had come to put his hypnotic abilities to the test. If he failed to place them under hypnotic suggestion then they might lose valuable pawns so he need to get the right angle to meet their gaze.
Casandra, her eyes narrowing in thought, considered the information. "No, it might be better and safer to lure the leader out to us first. The leader appears to be intelligent and she commands their respect, right? So if I use my ability to have a spirit possess her and lure her to us, then we should be able to take our time to plant a strong suggestion on her. If we rush this then I’m afraid with Ash's hypnotic abilities being limited by these human forms then even with our well-laid plan, we might fail and have to kill her wasting our time."
Ash and Andrea nodded in agreement with Casandra's suggestion. Luring the leader out and giving Ash enough time to exert his hypnotic control seemed like a more prudent approach.
Andrea's intangible form allowed her to move swiftly and silently, making her the ideal candidate to lead the leader away from the safety of the cavern. "I'll scout for the perfect moment to lure her out. Once she's away from her men, we can proceed with Casandra's plan."
As Andrea slipped back into the shadows, Casandra prepared to execute her part of the plan. She focused her energy, tapping into her spirit manipulation abilities, and sought out a willing spirit to possess the leader. It had to be a spirit that wouldn't raise suspicions among the bandits and wouldn't draw attention. Unlike before with the guard which was a partial possession that weak spirits could do on their own to haunt the living by showing them visions, this was a full possession so the spirit would be in full control so a certain degree of acting would be necessary.
After a few moments, Casandra found a friendly and subtle spirit that agreed to help so she would have to waste mana forcing it to obey her. The spirit melded with the leader, invisibly guiding her towards the designated spot where Ash waited, ready to use his hypnotic powers.