Anvil (Afina)

[Anastasia]

A first post that's reference. Don't reply to this until I have the next post up, thanks.

Anvil (Aurora Reserve)
Command: Afina
Officers: Sylvie, Dana, Ebony, Ellese, Morniel, Tannin, Master, Vivantha
Forces:
1 Ironwyrm Dragon
3 Slaughtestone Behemoths
1 Shredstorm
55 cloud giant warriors from Elysium. They range from 17 to 17 hd, having levels in fighter. Alignment: Neutral Good and Chaotic Good. Morale: 100/100 (Devoted)
66 dire wolves. They range from 6 to 8 hit dice, having levels in fighter, spell-less ranger and scout. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 95/100 (Fanatic)
231 elven warriors. They range from 4 to 8 hd, having levels in various classes. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 83/100 (Fanatic)
50 earth elementals of medium size. They range from 6 to 7 hd, having levels in fighter and ranger. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 84/100 (Fanatic)
50 fire elementals of medium size. They range from 6 to 7 hd, having levels in fighter, scout and hexblade. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 89/100 (Fanatic)
50 water elementals of medium size. They range from 6 to 7 hd, having levels in fighter, rogue and monk. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 89/100 (Fanatic)
50 air elementals of medium size. They range from 6 to 7 hd, having levels in fighter, rogue and ninja. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 84/100 (Fanatic)
12 earth elementals of large size. They range from 8 to 10 hd, having levels in fighter and dwarven defender. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 84/100 (Fanatic)
163 catfolk warriors of medium size. They range from 3 to 8 hd, having levels in many various classes. Alignment: Neutral, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral. Morale: 98/100 (Fanatic)
25 conflagration oozes of large size. They range from 7 to 7 hd, having levels in fighter. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 69/100 (Good)
143 tortles of medium size. They range from 3 to 7 hd, having levels in many various classes. Alignment: Neutral, Neutral Good. Morale: 90/100 (Fanatic)
992 refugees from the burning aeropolis. They range from 4 to 12 hd, having levels in monk, fighter, swashbuckler and various monk PrCs. Alignment: Neutral, Neutral Good, Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Good. Morale: 87/100 (Fanatic)
100 satyrs of the sunrise. They range from 5 to 8 hd, having levels in bard, jester and battle dancer. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 72/100 (Good)
120 fey-blooded centaurs of halas. They range from 4 to 9 hd, having levels in fighter and deepwoods sniper. Alignment: Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral. Morale: 68/100 (Good)
50 dire lions. They range from 8 to 12 hd and do not gestalt. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 50/100 (Fair)
50 griffons. They range from 7 to 12 hd and do not gestalt. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 50/100 (Fair)
46 mineral quasi-elementals. They range from 3 to 10 hd, having levels in fighter. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 60/100 (Fair)

[Anastasia]

Afina readies herself in Aurora. The gates are ready to open in a moment, the situation tense and full of waiting. Afina flutters about, often landing on Smrgol as she gives commands and looks out over the vista of the disturbed Astral. As she does so, Ebony quietly approaches.

"A moment, Afina?" she asks quietly.

[Ebiris]

"Ebony," Afina responds, fluttering down to eye level with the bard. In all honesty she's not really anticipating an attack on Aurora right now, not with the rift occupying everyone's attention. But Medi's fortress demiplane is a tempting enough target that some could find it taking priority over the rift if it were to seem an easy target, so the main purpose of being here is to be visible and deter any trouble from even starting.

Might get an infiltrator though, using the confusion of battle to slip someone in. She'll keep a close eye on things if any forces retreat into Aurora for safety.

[21:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp
[21:10] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp --> [ 1d8=4 ]{14}

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 208+14/208, heroes feast (CL 20), greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 60, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/8/8/6/7

[Anastasia]

"A few things," she murmurs, hood up and head largely hidden. She gazes out, "I have prayed to Saint Alicia for aid. I have not received word back, nor did I automatically expect it. She may choose to aid Seira's efforts instead of ours, as the two are extremely close. But it is possible we will receive reinforcements as the battle unfolds. Secondly, I have Lady Amaryl several times. Should she come here, I offer my aid for any diplomacy."

Meanwhile, the centaurs have bows ready, held in position in case anything comes to the gates. The cloud giants are just a little further back, boulders and oversized javelins at the ready. The elementals and the tortles await the command to attack, in case of enemy.

[Ebiris]

"I've met Amaryl myself," Afina says, recalling her recovery after she attained her current mixed elemental state. "She's nice. I'll keep you on hand for any dealings we may have with that contingent."

[Anastasia]

Ebony turns to Afina, an eyebrow raised. "I was not aware you had met her."

[Ebiris]

"It was at the Cauldron, after I became part water elemental," Afina answers. "I was away for about a week then, letting my body recover from the change. Adapt. She visited me while I was resting, saw her again at the party held to celebrate the first real success in their elemental mingling efforts."

She looks out over the silver sea that surrounds the blackened chaos of the rift now. "Once things have settled down and I can spare the time I'll go back, see if they can help me add Air and Earth to the mix."

[Anastasia]

"What better way to prepare than this? All the elements mix in chaos," Ebony murmurs. "I hope and pray you succeed, Afina."

[Ebiris]

"That's tomorrows problem. For now we've got the easy job of keeping Aurora secure. Give your prayers to the ones out there," she points out at the rift.

[Anastasia]

"Yes, ma'am," Ebony looks on and smiles, murmuring a single Word of Creation. Afina doesn't understand it, but a sense of peace and love fills her. Ebony then goes off, back to her station.

A short time passes as everyone waits. Soon Afina and company can see something approaching Aurora's gates. Afina's sharp eyes can see 8 small, spine covered creatures approach. These are little pests she knows well - spinagons. The eight of them carry a large pole with a white flag of truce attached. Following them is a single gelugon, lacking the spear customary to his caste. It instead has no visible weapon, though it does wear a robe of crimson tinged blue.

You can hear angry murmurs ripple through the troops, more than a few readying weapons.

[Ebiris]

Afina laughs bitterly before saying one word. "No."

She makes no attempt to go receive the approaching devils, somewhat hoping they'll be stupid enough to just go through the gate and get magic missiled for their trouble.

[Anastasia]

Morniel approaches and quietly murmurs to Afina, "Shall I see them off?"  he asks, "Or do you wish to turn our industries of war against them?"

[Ebiris]

"Just ignore them for now, I want to see what they do," Afina says, shaking her head and not moving even as she watches the approaching devils from through the gate. "If they're truly eager to speak with us I have a fitting price in mind."

[Anastasia]

The devils come to within 100ft. At this point they stop, the gelugon's voice loud. Unnaturally loud, carrying far about. "Aurora," he calls, "I come to parley in the name of Lord of the Eighth!" Its insectile face is expressionless, mandibles clinking against each other as it speaks.

[Ebiris]

Afina can't shout that loudly, but luckily she has Smrgol here who's been taking diction lessons from Baleruk. "Repeat exactly after me," she whispers to the crystalline dragon. "Devils have come to us for parley in the past, and abused our hospitality for the sake of temporary tactical advantage." She makes sure to put a lot of stress on the temporary part, trusting Smrgol will do the same. "If you wish to treat with us then prove your sincerity. Bring us the head of the last devil to betray the strictures of parley. Bring us Mala of Lifasa."

They'll surely come up with some feeble excuse, but really what does she care? Either they go away and leave her alone or they deal with a wretched traitor. Either outcome will please her.