Lethe (Jaela, Surraruthru, Moore)

[Anastasia]

Starting this one OOC as well.

The attack on Lethe itself will be conducted in a straightforward manner so as to keep our forces consolidated, which will allow for a quick retreat should the battle prove untenable or the strike force succeed early on. Any breaches in Lethe's defences will be heavily fortified and widened so as to allow a clean path of retreat at all times while forces led by Jaela will form the vanguard. Smrgol specifically will be tasked with defending Aurora's gates, and he will be accompanied by a pixie of appropriate build dressed up to look like Afina.

Obviously there's a lot of setup. Are you all familiar with what you were told about Lethe before, or do you need a refresher?

[Corwin]

First of all, let's go for refreshers! Always good.

As for our action plan/formation/what not, how much do you need provided ooc?

[Anastasia]

The more the better, usually. Also, there's a question and a choice. On what scale do you want to be involved in this battle? Do you want to be leading a charge on the front line? Commanding in the middle? Overseeing it all in Aurora? Obviously, each PC may make different choices here as well, but that'll help define topics and who is doing what.

Anyway, quote about Lethe incoming.

"Finally, we have Lethe. We know almost nothing of it, for somehow Lixer has made the details of it anathemic knowledge. What we do know is that it is hidden in the Deep Ethereal and that rumor suggests there...there..." Morniel pauses, a murmured prayer spoken aloud, "Oh Zaphkiel, bringer of light, turn away this darkness."

> roll 1d20+33
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+33 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{42}

"Rumor suggests," Each word is a struggle, but Morniel continues. He begins to glow, a golden-white radiance, his words coming softer but clearer. "That Lixer has diverted a tributary of the River Styx there. To what ends are not known, but it may be part of why Lethe is anathemic knowledge."

So the one million gold piece question: How are you going to find a fortress wrapped in anathemic secrecy, when all you know is the plane it supposedly resides on?

[Ebiris]

Cresiel's been there, he can guide us!

[Anastasia]

Indeed, that neatly solves that one. Y'all hadn't mentioned how you were getting there so I was wondering.

[Corwin]

Aurora will gate over, guided by Cresiel. Half of our forces will be divided under officers as I discussed with Gisfal and Adrian, broken up into squads rather than large armies. The other half will be spread between Aurora defense, lead by Tepen, the vanguard lead by Gisfal (Mirima as second in command) and the reserves lead by Adrian (Hanna as second in command). This specific division will be according to what Gisfal believes is necessary to achieve our main goals of being the most violent distraction possible and keeping Aurora safe.

Candy will be handling telepathic coordination and the backup runners, ridiculously fast, and place herself available to Tepen. Cresiel will also be there, to guard Tepen if need be, and more importantly to provide his input from his knowledge and experience. That information could then be calculated into how our plans change on the go and disseminated to all our commanders more easily than if he were somewhere in the vanguard.

Kascha will be in charge of our healers, and presumably Surraruthru will be bodyguarding (up to Iddy). Similarly, up to Moore if he wants to coordinate buffing efforts or integrate himself with one of the task forces instead. I intend to lead a small taskforce at the vanguard, intent on dealing with powerful enemies that will inevitably show up rather than the actual armies. I believe our armies and commanders are superior to theirs, so as long as I keep the heavy hitters away we should prevail!

For my team, I want Mirajane, Dana and Finnegan. There's an empty spot or two if someone is interested in joining me.

[Nephrite]

Moore would suggest one of Vivantha and Ebony help out each on the offensive and defensive side of things -- Vivantha is probably better suited to defense? That's of course up to them. Moore is happy wherever -- but I think he's especially helpful on cracking tough nuts, as it were. Of course there's something to be said for bardic music on an army. Ultimately I'm fine with wherever he goes, so maybe just see where everyone else is going before deciding.

[Anastasia]

I think Cresiel going into a little more depth of what he can remember is important here, so I'll cover that IC.

As everyone prepares, Cresiel is prepped. Balyss and Tepen take him aside and work powerful magics to jog his memory as best they can. When he enters the room where Jaela, Surraruthru, Moore, Adrian, Gisfal and a few others wait, he is clad only in a loincloth. Almost every inch of his skin is covered in one massive arcane diagram and celestial writings. You can spot the names of the Hebdomad about his body, as well as various angelic names, the River Oceanus and Deep Sashelas.

Cresiel's eyes are closed as he walks in and stands before all of you and speaks languidly. "I came on Lomar Mountain on the Deep Ethereal, a great fragment of stone from another plane. I traveled away from it for a time and came on a river. A river black as the Styx, one I followed to Lethe. The devils fight and destroy your mind as you do war there. Memories are lost and you become nothing but a shell. The air is thick with mist from the river. Lethe itself is..."

> roll 1d20+9
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=9]

"I do not remember, only that it sits astride the river."

[Corwin]

"Before we get into how we could defend against the effect, were the only memories damaged those of the deep ethereal? Or do you feel other holes in them, trailing back farther?"

[Anastasia]

"Just the Deep Ethereal," Morniel replies.

"Ahem," Elder Magi Tepen clears his throat, "A brief explanation of anathemic knowledge. Anathemic knowledge is knowledge that cannot be remembered or recorded. The nature of the knowledge or something about it makes it a self-perpetuating secret. There is an excellent example of such in the library, though the details naturally escape me. Mortal magic is generally ineffective at stopping the memory loss, though each instance seems to have slightly different rules or ways to mitigate it."

Tepen pauses to clear his throat again, "Anathemic knowledge is usually self contained. It's not like a curse that attacks the greater memory, but something that cannot be properly remembered. While sometimes associated with the Styx, it is not a property of evil. It is known to us that some of the Arch-Angels of Elysium use it, though I do not recall which ones at this time. In this case, it seems to be tied to the River Styx. As such, I would recommend means of stopping the Styx as a first line of defense. Mind Blank can provide protection to typical Styx water, but there are many places where the waters are stronger and may be able to erode that defense."

Tepen pauses to fetch a glass of water nearby, a sip before he continues. "That's the greatest difficulty of defending against the Styx. It inevitably wears away and erodes any defenses. A hero may resist a brief fall into the Styx, but staying in too long will doom even the most willful champion. I would recommend strong defenses and regularly rotating soldiers back into Aurora."

[Corwin]

"That works with our combat model," Jaela muses. "We'll have to see how the rotation of the squad goes, and stipulate they renew their defenses regardless of duration spent outside." Nodding to herself, she decides to change the topic. "Alright, how do we stop the Styx? If Lixer diverted a branch of it, then it must be possible somehow. Ideas?"

[Nephrite]

Anathemic knowledge? Moore furrows his brow. Is that what he remembers -- or doesn't remember?

"Do you think people inside Aurora will be safe from its effects?" Moore asks.

[Anastasia]

"I could speculate," Tepen says, "But do bear in mind that it is only speculation. I would guess some sort of dimensional fissure or portal, or otherwise evoking the Styx in the Deep Ethereal. With Lixer's resources, I am hesitant to commit, because he may have something we simply cannot predict. If it is a portal, it is simple enough to find it and destroy it. If not, we will need to know more before taking action."

[Corwin]

"What about scouts? How were you first detected, Cresiel? I'm trying to get a measure of when we'll be spotted if we gated to Lomar Mountain, rather than to the closest spot you can remember."

[Anastasia]

"I was a ways away. Days," Cresiel says in deep contemplation. "It was not fast."