A storm on the silver sea (Everyone)

[Corwin]

"Let's go see the leaders in person," Jaela proposes to Morniel. "Moore too, I think. Vul'lath, you should prepare our forces for departure."

[Anastasia]

Okay, so Afina's staying here to coordinate defenses. Very good. Jaela and Moore (as well as Morniel) are going to make contact with Celestia's forces. Excellent. What about Surraruthru, Ithea and Tryll?

[Iron Dragoon]

I sorta assumed I'd be with Kascha since I'm supposed to be part of her group. I'll go wherever I'm useful, but I'm not sure I really have much to add out of combat at this specific time.

[Merc]

As far as I knew, I was switching with Afina and going on the backup/support group to watch Tepen/Jaela's backs, and...that was it really? The only sorta thing that seems to have changes is that it seems like Jaela decided to grab Morniel and Moore for a pre-assault diplomacy session with other good forces at the area, so I think everyone is just on standby/Aurora defense while the three of them do that.

[Yuthirin]

Without direction, Tryll & Calleigh will find somewhere to be. No guarantees they won't cause trouble.

[Anastasia]

Okay, I'm going to split Moore and Jaela off while dealing with all of you.

As Jaela and Moore leave with Morniel to make contact, Aurora is abuzz with preparations. Elena constantly blinks about, seeing to this matter or that.

Go ahead and declare where each of you are, since it may matter.

[Ebiris]

Allowing room for the other two armies to sortie out the main gate, Afina currently has the defensive forces under her command spread out around the courtyard with a wide channel down the middle empty for others to depart. That'll close up later. The golems are all positioned near the main gate with the oozes and animals such as wolves and griffins close to Aurora's main portal chamber since they're not really capable of fielding into the astral, while the roof of the main structure is peppered with ranged specialists mostly bulked out by their centaurs. The rest are spread around fairly diffusely.

She herself remains near the gates, currently perched atop Smrgol's head both to oversee and be seen.

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh is buzzing around Tepen, attempting to help and possibly succeeding to a degree. Behind her trails an erratic ring of mist as she darts back and forth.

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru is meandering around Kascha, waiting for something to happen or catch his attention.

[Merc]

Ithea spends her time with the rest of the team she will be leading, going over hypothetical scenarios and discussing how to respond to them quickly once they're out dealing with...well whatever they might face.

[Anastasia]

The courtyard is filled as the heroes prepare. Smrgol is silent as Afina sits atop his head, using the view to see the battlefield ahead. It is a roiling mass of elements and darkness, celestials flying and out of it at all times.

Tepen works with the other groups and around as commanded, weathering Calleigh's help with patience and focus.

Kascha merely waits as commanded, eyes outside on the battle ahead. She listens to commands and comments but seems far away, her gaze sharp as she takes everything in. "I never noticed," she murmurs aloud, hands twitching.

Ithea keeps busy preparing her team, everyone tense as the battlefield is prepared.

Amid all of this hecticness, the party can see a ray of sunshine from above. Literally, as if the sun reached the Silver Sea. It burns outside of Aurora's gates, chasing away the darkness like a scolded dog.

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh points, "Ooooh, pretty!"

[Ebiris]

Afina makes a few more changes to her force distribution, setting the air elementals to patrol the sky above Aurora but still within the force dome while the ground underfoot is seeded with earth and mineral elementals to deter a burrowing infiltration and to offer a surprise flanking force should they be needed to emerge from below.

"I think that's Lathander," she says seeing the great beam of sunlight. Hopefully it means Moonlight is coming back, but whatever it is it's probably good. "Calleigh, Tryll, come with me," she calls over both to spare Tepen and to give their newest officer some more experience. "Lets go see what that sunbeam's brought us." Waiting for the coure and unbodied to catch up she flutters out through the gates to have a look.

[Anastasia]

The two promptly head out. From the sunbeam they step - a dozen creatures Afina now knows well. Adamantine golems, lead by Origin. "Oh look," he calls, "Aurora beat us here! Damn." He laughs, the golems all sharing a laugh. "Afina, Lathander ordered us here and told us not to come back until we were bored of smashing undead skulls in or the rift's dealt with."

[Ebiris]

At least they beat someone here! "It's good to see you again, Origin," she smiles up at the golem. "This is Tryll and Calleigh, they're new recruits to our Crusade," she adds to introduce the two with her. "Jaela's off discussing strategy with Dorniel before we commence our assault. You're welcome to join with our forces if you're willing," she invites.