Random DM nagging.

[Corwin]

How about putting Stille and Balyss on the feint team? I would like to keep Hanna with us on the rescue one. Kascha could chill at the Aurora with Tepen, sure, and Adrian is with us?

Any reason we don't want to send out Baleruk with the feint team?

[Anastasia]

<Corwin> roll 1d20+26 K:A
* Hatbot --> "Corwin rolls 1d20+26 K:A and gets 31." [1d20=5]
<Corwin> It's a pain to post from this on the forum, but it's probably too low anyway

That's correct. Posting this for the sake of reference.

[Ebiris]

I don't mind if Stille and Balyss go there.

As for Baleruk, it's always better to keep your strongest cards in reserve.

[Corwin]

Sure. Baleruk as backup in case of Nessians and such?

For NPCs, I'm fine with it in-combat.

[Anastasia]

Okay then, could you guys post updated teams and objectives?

[Ebiris]

On reflection Sylvie's as big a trump card as Baleruk with 21, so better to keep her in reserve. I figure a giant dragon abomination and a power above the gods to unmake evil are both going to get Nessians called out really early in the game, so better not to throw them out first. I've added the Master and Ebony to the Feint Team to make up for the loss of Sylvie and potential PCs

Operation Black Cloud

The Aurora will gate onto Lifasa in the vicinity of the Burning Aeropolis and take up position directly overhead. Feint Team will emerge and immediately occupy the defences. Once defences have been effectively neutralised, First and Second armies will muster out under command of Gisfal and commence envelopment attack on the surface while Feint Team pushes into the Polis and Rescue Team teleports to their objective.

Once Rescue Team moves onto objective 2, the armies will begin retreating back to Aurora, with the Rapid Response Force under Tannin available to provide cover during the retreat. Once all units are back aboard or Feint and Rescue Teams have departed (whichever comes first), Aurora will gate back to Ysgard to rendezvous with the two teams and the liberated prisoners.

If resistance is heavier than expected (notably the presence of Nessian Pit Fiends) then all operations are to be immediately halted. Feint and Rescue Teams must evacuate via the swiftest means available, while the Mage Heavy Force will be dispatched to slow down devil pursuit via battlefield control spells as the first and second armies retreat.

Feint Team
Dana, Arrel, Stille, Balyss, Master, Ebony, Canderella
Everyone gets Fire Resistance and Fortunate Fate cast on them. Anything that provides fast healing of a decent duration would be good, too.
Objective 1: Destroy or disable the burning cannons, brimstone launchers, and the sphere of dragonfire. (stealing the sphere if possible would be a bonus)
Objective 2: Penetrate into the Aeropolis, leading enemy forces with them to attack the Cloister of the Victorious Dragon. Retreat via plane shift to Ysgard once Rescue Team has departed

Rescue Team
Adrian, Lief, Hanna, Afina, Jaela, Ithea, Muirfinn, (Jarl)
Objective 1: Once defences fully engaged on Feint Team, plane shift or teleport to vicinity of prison. Stealthily take up positions near orthons and attack once Feint Team has penetrated the Aeropolis.
Objective 2: Secure area as Jarl plane shifts in with the circus tent and defend prisoners as they enter the tent. Plane shift to Ysgard afterwards for rendezvous with Aurora.

[Anastasia]

Okay, make sure you have an updated army roster based on your recent troop gains. Otherwise it's all good. Make sure everything's ready for tomorrow. If you have any questions, purchases or last minute preparation, now's the time. I want to hit the ground running tomorrow.

[Anastasia]

Okay, you guys have Lief and Hanna with you. I'd rather control Adrian since he wanted to come along, but the other two are up for grabs to control. I'd prefer if both of them are manned by someone. For Hanna, some spell list customization is fine if you want to go to the trouble, but try not to completely revamp her lists or I'll get peevish. I generally try and stick to fairly stable spell lists for NPCs for both distinctiveness and sanity reasons.

[Corwin]

I'm fine with Hanna. I'll do something about the army lists.

One adjustment to the plan is that I want the teams linked with telepathic bond. Say PCs+Hanna+Lief+Tepen and Tepen+leader of each other army+Jarl+Sylvie+Gisfal? If I recall correctly, the limit is caster + CL/3, which should be enough.

[Merc]

I didn't see any mention of buffs for our team, are we just getting our own usual personal buffs or anything extra?

I'd like to at least ask Tepen for Heroism, since I don't have any morale bonuses, and every little bit helps. Duration is long enough that I shouldn't need to keep track of it outside of a dispel too.

[Anastasia]

Easily enough done. If you guys want any more buffing prep, get it set up before session via posts here.

[Corwin]

First, the army stuff. I'm updating for recruits/NPCs.

3 main armies: 475 in each
150 Ysgardian regulars
60 elven warriors
40 catfolk warriors
40 air elementals (Chan)
30 Ysgardian warriors
30 Graceful Blow students
20 healers (Priest)
15 air elementals (Cauldron)
15 water elementals (Cauldron)
15 earth elementals (Cauldron)
15 fire elementals (Cauldron)
15 Sylican regulars
10 firre warriors/clerics
10 tortles
10 courre scouts
Officers: (1) Drena, Dana, The Master; (2) Mirima, Misalea, Sylvie; (3) Crystal, Lief, Canderella.
In command: PCs or the first/second choice listed for each army.

1 rapid response force: 304
65 air elementals (Chan)
66 dire wolves
50 phase spiders
43 catfolk
40 pixies from Lifasa
40 courre scouts
Officers: Tannin, Arrel, Stille
In command: PCs or Tannin.

1 mage-heavy force: 219
50 Ysgardian regulars
47 firre warriors/clerics
45 Graceful Blow students
20 elite healers (Priest)
20 air elementals (Chan)
12 githyanki acolytes
12 earth elementals (Earth)
8 Ysgardian warriors
5 cloud giants
Officers: Hanna, Kascha, Sage Vul'lath, Balyss
In command: PCs, Hanna or Kascha.

Aurora defense: 172
51 elven warriors
31 refugee warrios from Lifasa
25 conflagration oozes
20 healers (Priest)
13 tortles
7 courre scouts
5 Sylica regulars
5 air elementals (Cauldron)
5 water elementals (Cauldron)
5 earth elementals (Cauldron)
5 fire elementals (Cauldron)
Officers: Adrian, Baleruk, The Jarl, Elder Magi Tepen, Ebony, Priest
In command: Gisfal

Next, the army configuration we'll be using.

Feint Team: Dana, Arrel, Stille, Balyss, Master, Ebony, Canderella.
Main assault force: Army1+Army2 [950 soldiers] lead by Gisfal. If he needs lieutenants to aid him, Crystal and Mirima should work quite well for it.
Rescue Team 1: PCs, Adrian, Hanna, Lief.
Rescue Team 2: Jarl [using the tent].
Aurora Defense: the normal defense, Army3  and Rapid Response Force [951 soldiers] lead by Tepen, with Tannin as his second. Tepen will also coordinate between the different armies.
Reserves: Mage-Heavy Force [219 soldiers] lead by Sage Vul'lath.

Sound about right, Eb?

Now, about buffs. I'd like to have Greater Anticipate Teleport precast on me. I can spare 4 Fortunate Fate castings to cover the PCs, and Hanna can probably cover the other four on the Rescue Teams? If Priest can be assumed to cover the Feint Team and the leader(s) of Army1+2 with Fortunate Fate, I think we're mostly good. Merc asked for Heroism from Tepen, and I want him to cast two Telepathic Bond spells as indicated in a previous post (interplanar, if possible, and regular if not). I will also handle the Heal on Tepen after he casts whatever he needs to, so he'd be at top shape after.

Dune, as with the assault on Gathgorian's place, if Yian were asked which 5 spells Greater Spell Immunity [up to 8th level] can best be deployed against in our assault on the Burning Aeropolis, how would he respond?

[Anastasia]

The typical - Fireball, unholy blight, blasphemy, order's wrath and dictum.

[Corwin]

Okay. I'll precast Greater Spell Immunity on myself. I can probably spare another casting, but more than that is difficult.

Hanna will drop Extended Exalted Raiment in favor of Fortunate Fate to be able to precast 4 of them (3 normal and 1 extended on herself). It's a bother to complicate things by calculating Hanna's attack/defense routine normally, with buffs and under Righteous Might as well, so let's swap those two Extended Righteous Might spells for Heal to have 3 Heal spells total. Since you want to keep her spells as is, let's go with the rest of them as is.

[Anastasia]

Okay. Keep track of Hanna's spells since you're running her.

Do I have a volunteer for Lief?