Ones who stand against Hell (Ithea, Moore)

[Anastasia]

Tepen goes out and deals with Moore, quickly coming back at a jog. He sits right back down, "He's gone. Wish him luck. As for defenses, are soldiers are rallying and on high alert. A loose screen of positive energy protected air elementals are scouting around Aurora for any sign of the enemy. Gisfal says that due to the terrain, deploying troops outside of Aurora is not practical. He's turning the courtyard into a killing field and stationing defenses around the dome, in the even they can penetrate it."

[Merc]

"Do we have someone working on preparing defenses against undead? Protection spells and such like death ward? Or too inpractical for this kind of situation?" Ithea also asks.

[Anastasia]

"As best we can," Tepen says.

As he does, Elena pops right on in. "Working on it. Kascha's saying Rosa most likely won't be ready for battle, but she'll have her gear in case she has no choice but to defend herself. She's resting in her quarters. The short version is that Rosa's traumatized by coming into contract with Lixer's essence. With her unbound soul held by him, without a body to protect her or a spirit's natural hardiness? That's really bad, she says."

"Thank you. Tell her to rejoin the defenders as soon as possible." Tepen says, glancing at Ithea. "Pardon, I didn't mean to override your rank there, Ithea."

[Merc]

"No, don't worry about it. You really didn't anyway. I had already told Kascha that I didn't expect Rosa to be ready for battle. It's good that she's at least ready to defend herself if necessary," Ithea replies with a small smile. "Speaking of that though, what about other non-combatants? Are we basically just stuffing them deeper into the structure or what? What protections are in place for them?"

Keeping them protected while also not turning them into obvious 'Look, that area is protected, must be important, let's wreck it!' points of interests for their opposition was a tricky balance to put in play. Even evacuation could be risky with whatever magic was being used to prevent Aurora from traveling.

[Anastasia]

"Yes. If it falls that they come to harm, we've lost already." Tepen says, "If they die, we have all already fallen and Hell has won." His face grows tight at that, "We will not let that come to pass."

[Merc]

Not too encouraging, but maybe that's the best they were going to be able to manage.

Ithea nods to Tepen, and continues. "I'm going to go see Gisfal and see if there's anything I can help with. Since he's already taken charge, best if he just tells me what to do instead of us possibly switching places. He should probably also know how much of my magic I've expended on Earth, as well as the others that went with me, so he knows where we'd be best deployed."

[Anastasia]

"Good luck," Tepen offers, and quietly, "For Lifasa. Best to remember that this day most of all."

[Merc]

Ithea just nods, before she goes hunting for Gisfal in the courtyard.

[Anastasia]

Ithea heads to the courtyard, finding everyone at the gates. Going to look, she sees a commotion out there. Portals are opening, forces at the ready - and out emerges Afina and company from one. From others come Moore and mineral quasi elementals, coming out from the writhing portals.

Sylvie looks around, starting to drop into a battle stance, before stopping, "We made it?"

[Ebiris]

"That was odd, I suppose we weren't as clear as we could have been?" Afina says, resolving to better trust Sylvie's concerns in the future. "Lets go... wait, what's going on here?" she says as more portals start to disgorge elementals around Aurora.

[Merc]

"...good, welcome back all of you," Ithea says with relief. "Moore, you managed to get help, good."

"Afina, we're preparing for an attack from Lixer's forces. Gisfal has been preparing the defenses, I was about to ask him where I could help since he's been in charge so far."

[Nephrite]

Moore comes tumbling out of one, looking as if he had a bit of a bumpy ride. He raises both arms to the others in greeting as he flies to the courtyard!

"We made it in time! Oh, welcome back!" Moore greets the others. Ithea explains most of it, but he decides to fill in some other gaps. "They've sealed off Aurora's ability to move and some other things. You all made it back in the knick of time."

"Oh, Ithea, before I forget, defeating that necromental saved the spirits we were asked about. So don't let that weigh on you." Moore says with a smile.

[Ebiris]

"Not a moment to rest is there?" Afina says. "What information do we have to confirm this attack?" she asks, fluttering along with Ithea to find Gisfal and organise the defences. "Cresiel, stick with us for now? I'm afraid that base on the deep ethereal will have to wait."

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 208/208, heroes feast (CL 20), greater mage armour (CL 23), resist energy (cold) (CL 23), resist energy (acid) (CL 23), mind blank (CL 25), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 60, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/9/0/6/8/2/2/2/0/1

[Merc]

"Is that so? I suspected, but had no way to be sure. Thanks," Ithea replies, before searching for Gisfal, since he was probably drawn to the portals as well.

She still figures he's best suited for explaining their current defenses to the new arrivals as well as herself.

"Some of it was Moore's divinations that drove us back to Aurora quickly, though I believe there was already some warning for those here, but I am unsure as to the source for that," she answers Afina.

[Anastasia]

As reinforcements march into Aurora, "Divinations and enemy action both support it," Gisfal says, rather tersely. "Jaela's group has been delayed indefinitely through further enemy action and will likely be unable to have a meaningful role. The operating theory is that this is Lixer's plan - a powerful counterattack after we expend our own forces and he does his best to stop our officers from returning in time to help."

Cresiel looks about, "Of course. If there are fiends coming, I will be ready."