Getting the band together

[Anastasia]

Go ahead and refresh me real quick on all of that, Seira? It's been a month or two thanks to Io dungeon and I want to make sure we're on the same page.

[Corwin]

Please look here.

[Anastasia]

"We have some of the weapons, the rest is being developed," Donald speaks up here, "As far as Earth and Fire go, we're preparing for more pushes there once all of our forces are ready again."

[Corwin]

"Is there a strike on either plane that would benefit from my direct participation, at the head of the army or otherwise?" Seira inquires. "Xorn in need of rescue, or others enslaved by our enemies? If Valar and Honeydip's efforts are sufficient at this stage, I could focus my energy elsewhere in support of the war. If, however, we have our targets but lack the sufficient force to assault them, I'll open the way forward for us."

[Anastasia]

"Give me five minutes to find out," Donald says, getting up.

Once he's out, "Back to the war," Amaryl murmurs, "At least we haven't been attacked here yet. I'm worried for that day - it'll be the Cauldron's first true test in this war."

[Corwin]

Seira did hope the Great Xorn would contribute as well, but learning to work properly together is what she's trying to advance here, anyway.

"Honestly, with my model of combat, we can only be challenged by a select few," she tells Amaryl. "If that happens, it happens, but those who could challenge me would risk something by coming here and they know it. If, instead, they send an army, I will kill that army. We've moved past engagements where regular troops could prevail. Even a company of Nessian pit fiends, Asmodeus's elite soldiers, will not be able to take Cauldron in a frontal assault. And were he to send a battalion or regiment of them thing would get fun! Also, now that I think about it, I'm not sure how many Nessians Asmodeus actually keeps in reserve."

[Anastasia]

"I've heard it's 9,999,999," The Great Xorn speaks up, "But that's a lot of 9s. Too many if you ask me."

"No one knows," Lady Sanzha says, "And I doubt he'll be forthcoming if you ask him."

[Corwin]

"That's the thing! A reserve exists for a reason. I have plenty of troops, though nowhere near Asmodeus's resources, naturally. But most of them are committed. In fact, a large portion of them were committed even before this war. We know Asmodeus wishes to oppose Shar in his own way, out of sheer self-interest. We know things are heating up in Avernus, in large part due to Pale Night's efforts. Could Asmodeus use all his forces to crush us, or come in person to do it? Naturally. Can he afford to use that much force against us while leaving his other interests exposed? I doubt that, especially since the other heavens may well come together to stop him from acting so blatantly."

[Anastasia]

"So you're saying that most wars are fought with only what everyone can spare?" Amaryl speaks up at that.

"In essence," Lady Sanzha says, "Committing true forces causes others to do so in turn. The more that is committed, the more cataclysmic wars tend to become. The riskier, too."

[Corwin]

"Yes, it's a function of competing needs and interests. How much you're willing to sacrifice to get what you're after."

[Anastasia]

"Then send more," The Great Xorn seconds, "You can't win if you don't play, can you? It's like when I started gambling gemstones in Brightwater. Everyone wondered why they didn't get gemstones, it's because they didn't bet them."

[Corwin]

Let's wait on Donald!

[Anastasia]

Donald returns, "Got it," he says, "What did you want to know, Seira?"

[Corwin]

"Was there any planned operation that got scrapped or pushed back because we didn't have confidence in being able to overcome the opposition?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes, one," Donald says, "An attack on the Burning Salt Flats," he says, "Partially because we have word they're expecting attack now and fortified, partly because it's well defended and in hostile terrain. Worse than Fire."

"Worse than everything melting in flame," Elle notes, "Impressively lethal."