Yearning for liberation (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"That's my analysis," Afina agrees. "Aurora is best used as giving a beachhead and safe haven on Benfal as a ready made fortification. We're in a supporting role, which is fine. We don't have the numbers to take an entire world, and the fight with Semyaza is one they've been building to too long for us to step in the way of."

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Tepen says, "Due to all of these factors, we don't expect Semyaza to take the battlefield. We can't rule it out entirely, so we have some information on him. He has the ability to charm even the uncharmable, and once charmed, you're as good as his. He's turned entire war parties into loyal slaves in seconds."

"He's a bit like Belial without all the pain and suffering," Sylvie interjects, "A large percentage of the diabolical analysis we've read suggests he'd be the next Lord of the Fourth if Belial and Fierna died or lost the position."

"Ahem," Tepen clears his throat and Sylvie goes silent. "His one weakness is true seeing. What precisely it is we're not clear on, but ancient lore suggests Semyaza's true form is twisted. It's an option if all else fails, but be wary of it. Also, he is a master of a bard's arts - a rarity amid the lawfully inclined - and has clerical magic as a fallen solar. Whatever true seeing can do may be better than trying to face him head on."

[Ebiris]

"21 would doubtless be ruinous as well, but it's not our fight," Afina says, giving Sylvie a look there. "We'll content ourselves with guarding the flanks and holding ground. I'm sure there'll be plenty of action still to go around for us all."

[Anastasia]

"I might have a chance if I had to face him, but it's a gamble. My instincts say he'd run from me if I have 21, not sure why. I...just know." She finally finishes, a note unsureness in her voice.

[Ebiris]

"If True Seeing unsettles him it's an easy inference to make," Afina says. "21 is weaponised truth, isn't it?"

[Anastasia]

"It's not so simple, but close enough," Sylvie says. "As far as I understand it. My knowledge of 21's growing but I've not even scraped the surface yet."

[Ebiris]

"Well anyway," Afina puts that digression aside since no new insights await, "What do we know of the tactics of his forces? I'll ask Ebony later for the disposition of how they're spread around Benfal, but in general we should have ideas of how he deploys his pieces, what they prioritise and shy away from and so on."

[Anastasia]

"There's a lot of the pretty sort. Most are powerfully charismatic, expect sorcerers, dark paladins and favored souls who worship Hell. Semyaza himself has a small cult of minimal power, most of them are from it, but he has a few crusaders from the Fourth Hell and the First Hell," Gold cuts in. "Spellcasting's common and minions are used to shield them. They often prioritize movement to further keep themselves safe. Ranged options are common. They're lovers and not fighters to a degree, don't expect a lot of melee from those sorts."

"One popular tactic is to isolate a single opponent and surround them. This is fairly basic tactics, but devils in it have a trick. They use telepathy to inflict illusions on the target to make everything seem that much worse and force them to act rashly or surrender. Often you'll see powerful enemies surrounded and simply give up, even when they had a good chance of victory." Sylvie says.

"In most cases, forcing melee will be to our benefit," Gold cuts back in, "But not always, especially for the exceptions mentioned and irregular troops pulled from Benfal. Commanders should be aware of this and coordinate local strikes accordingly. It needs a flexible response at the officer level - I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with Aurora's rank structure yet," Gold admits, "Your squad and platoon members, or however you organize it, should have the flexibility to respond to this rather than being locked in a strategy."

[Ebiris]

"We're quite handy with illusions ourselves so it's not a tactic that'll catch most of us off guard at least," Afina says as she digests that. "Alright, that should give me plenty to work with. I'll talk to Gisfal and Adrian and start running people through some exercises. Thanks for all your hard work, you three," she gets up to leave, pausing to add, "Oh by the way I like the spectacles, Sylvie. They really soften your features."

[Anastasia]

Sylvie smiles, "Thank you. Do you think my features are too hard without them?"

[Ebiris]

"I wouldn't say hard, because that sounds unpleasant. Sharp is a better contrast," Afina shakes her head. "Imagine a spectrum from Kascha to Annalise?" she gives an example providing two beautiful women so no hard feelings will be engendered by the comparison. "The glasses move you closer to the left on there. Make you seem more approachable."

[Anastasia]

"Really?" Sylvie considers, "Kascha's too...too...soft, yes, that's a good word. Too cutesy." Sylvie takes them off and considers, "Where do I stand naturally?"

[Ebiris]

It was just a throwaway compliment, she's been trying to be nicer about giving those! But now she's put on the spot, Afina peers intently at Sylvie's face. "If we take Kascha as one and Annalise as ten, I'd put you as six," she announces after a moment.

[Anastasia]

"...hm." Sylvie finally says, waving you away. "I'll think about it."

[Ebiris]

"Have fun with that," Afina bids her, flying off to find Ebony next so she can share the brain trust's insights which she can pass on to her superiors in Sylica if need be, and also get an idea of where Alicia will want Aurora deployed on Benfal.