Hammer (Ithea, Moore)

[Nephrite]

"Let's not worry about that just yet." Moore says. "If everything's in order we should press on, since Ithea's right -- the longer we wait, the worse this will be."

[Merc]

"Agreed," Ithea says before starting to move forward, using gestures to motion the rest of her forces along instead of calling out any commands. "Hopefully we'll avoid taking further losses, and if not, then at least hopefully minimize them like we did here."

[Anastasia]

"Agreed," Crystal says, looking to Ithea. "Then let us go."

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=31 ]{31}

The army advances another mile, to three miles in or so. Through fire and flames, water and earth, air and forest. As you go, you are currently heading through an open space of air. Above you is rocky earth, which begins to rumble. Ithea and Moore's sharp ears can easily pick up noises from the other side - voices calling out in Infernal.

[Merc]

Ithea tries to make out what's being said, even as she calls out in warning the others, "Infernal chatter above! Ready yourselves!"


[21:05] <@Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+54 listen
[21:05] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+54 listen --> [ 1d20=8 ]{62}

[Anastasia]

You can hear it, far away and a bit distorted. Battle commands. Cries of pain. Orders to rally. You can also hear something more mixed in. Abyssal, orders and commands as well. Threats are shouted, an ancient war once again fought. It's all somewhere above the stone above, which shields the army from it.

[Merc]

Ithea frowns. "Wait... Some abyssal as well. There may be a fight between devils and demons going on up there. We may not want to get involved, let the two forces just weaken each other, rather than turning it into a three-way battle. It risks us having to deal with an attack from behind later on though from whomever survives that..."

Ithea glances towards the officers with her to get their thoughts.

[Anastasia]

Crystal flutters over during the conversation and says, "Pragmatically, we let them fight or even..." she scowls mightily, "Relieve the devils. They're trying to stop the portal from what we know. Idealistically, we go and smash both groups." Here she shakes her head, "There is little valor in this, but I council that we simply move on. We must not be distracted and our victory is more important than a fiendish squabble."

[Nephrite]

"It's possible that the demons are a force from the group we're on the way to deal with." Moore suggests. "So we may in fact be able to attack them while they're weakened by whatever's going on up there. If they try to involve us then we'll get involved."

[Merc]

Ithea nods to both pixies, as that was her own thought on the matter. "Alright, let's move someone with good vision near the back of our group that is aware of the situation and knows we could have trouble come up from behind or above as well as an extra officer back there, and then keep moving."

Pausing as she lets them figure out who should move to the back, she adds, "As you head to the back, give out commands for people to try and reduce their noise while we move so we don't catch unwanted attention from above. Also, they are to stay ready for combat, as they could realize we're down here and try to drag us forcefully into a skirmish. If that happens, the officers in the back have priority command since I'll be at the front and may not be able to react quickly enough to handle the situation."

[Anastasia]

"We should also send a runner to Jaela's group," Crystal speaks up, "In case the demons flank us by a large amount."

[Anastasia]

Meanwhile, Ithea hears a voice in her head. It's Ebony's. 'Pale Night influence suspected by archons through omens. Be advised. Aurora is unattacked so far.'

[Merc]

As always when names come up: Pale Mother? Should I know this, or need a Knowledge check?

[Anastasia]

Ebony's post used Pale Night, not Pale Mother. Unless you mean something else?

[Merc]

Sure, yes, that.