"And maybe I'll try making myself look like one of those 'Catfolk' I keep getting mistaken for."  Rose commented, already looking Aria over and imagining her with pointed ears and a more slender frame.  "...Well, after trying a few other things, anyway.  Then again, I may just decide to take a few requests..."<br/><br/>Ah well.  That was enough talk.  Holding her friend close, the shifter teleported the two of them onto the roof of the house, where it would be fairly easy for them to sneak up on the front without being seen.  She made a careful sweep of the front, taking in all the decorations, the shrubbery, the statues, the well-cared-for grass upon the lawn...  And the fairly obvious set of double doors that led into the house.<br/><br/>"Probably best to bypass the doors entirely, I'd think."  She suggested, upon learning of the ward that had apparently been set to guard the mage's home from intruders.  "We could Blink in through the roof or walls pretty easily, I'd say.  Probably better to get down to ground level, considering that we don't know how much of a drop we'd be in for, but at the same time, those stone walls might be thick enough to give us some trouble...  What are your thoughts?"<br/><br/>A difficult drop, or the possibility that the walls were thick enough that they'd be at risk of phasing material before they were completely through...  Neither seemed like a pleasant risk, but both seemed like acceptable alternatives to the shifter over just trying the door.  As her tiefling companion had told her, the element of surprise was their best protection against powerful spellcasters, and triggering whatever magic was on the door would likely tip off their presence and give Astos time to prepare...<br/><br/>"We'll probably want to keep our Rings of Blinking active the whole time while we're in there."  Rose also suggested.  "No telling what sort of traps or guardians he might have waiting in there, after all."<br/><br/><br/><br/>Well, I actually had a reason for needing to stay up last night. ^^; Now that that reason's all taken care of, though, I'll definitely be heading to bed early tonight.  Lack of sleep is messing with my head enough at the moment that I can't really think of much to type, other than to say that Rose probably would have taken herself and Aria onto the roof of the house, as the best way to get a good look at the front without being seen out any windows.<br/><br/>(Ah, and I suppose I should add in that the reason I'm not posting in the other thread is because I can't think of a proper reply, and not because I find it uninteresting or annoying. ><; I've got the beginnings of a post for that one worked up and saved, but it's basically just one or two sentences...  I'll probably be able to come up with more after a good night's sleep, though.)<br/><br/><strong>Edit:</strong>Okay, done.