Wiped clean (Moore)

[Anastasia]

A short nod to that, Crystal leaving you be after that. The moment she's gone, Elena appears, "Oh, Moore," she says, "Gisfal wants to see you in the strategy room."

[Nephrite]

"All right." Moore will head that way!

[Anastasia]

You find three in there - a scribe who writes everything down, Adrian and Gisfal. It's the last who speaks first.

"Moore, at ease." He commands, "I'd like you to recount what happened to you, from when you walked out of Aurora's gates to start the battle to returned to them to finish the retreat."

[Nephrite]

Ah, this probably has something to do with the memory loss... To make sure everything lines up.

"Very well." Moore nods.

"From the first cry of 'for Lifasa!' that was echoed across our battlefield, Surraruthru and I took position in the back of the main forces, trying to coordinate things as best we could with supportive spells. It was only a few minutes before our line crossed with that of the devils, at which I began to offer my support through words and magic." Moore says. "Something about showing them our courage, if I recall correctly."

"We maintained this for... a good while, before Surraruthru and I happened to notice small droplets of black water in the air around us and our forces. We identified it as water from Styx. We called for a runner to inform you --ah, to inform Commander Gisfal of our findings. I studied the magic for a brief time and discovered that it was slowly stripping away the magic around our troops. I would presume this has something to do with its forgetful properties -- perhaps making the magic simply forget what its purpose was?" He shrugs idly at that.

"Surraruthru and I called for another runner to pass that information on again. We tried to come up with some ways to disrupt the water, but none of the magic I have would have sufficed and Surraruthru didn't want to disrupt our battle lines with stronger spells to make wind or blizzards, but I am of the opinion that those spells would probably work to at least clear the area." Moore says. He clears this throat and continues.

"Some time passed again with us maintaining, when we hit the outer line of defenses of the devils. From where we were we couldn't see much, but my guess is they were somehow using the Styx water on our forces through the fog. A runner informed us around then that Aurora had been flanked. We called again for a runner to inform Commander Gisfal that the concentration of the water had become stronger in the area we were moving into. Some martial artists around then were carried through our lines, I'd assume victims of the water." Moore says.

He pauses a moment and clears his throat again. "We passed along our need of magic to get the water away from us, but I presume that was waylaid when we were attacked by some spinagons and malebranches. Surraruthru dealt with most of them with some magic, but they tried to go into melee with us -- they failed, but they tried. We then heard the call to retreat and held our lines. Jaela and her forces must've come back around this time as we were reinforced around then. I took the time to call out words of healing power and Surraruthru summoned a unicorn to help. We continued to retreat, I met up with Jaela, and then I helped her with a healing spell. After that we came back inside." Moore concludes.

[Anastasia]

Adrian speaks up as the scribe takes it all down, "From your position, was was your opinion of how the battle went? Do you think the battle plan was sufficient?"

[Nephrite]

"I think we vastly underestimated the Styx water in the surrounding area. Were we go back, I would say we should have magic users dedicated to using spells to get rid of it around our forces and being ready to try and dispel any magic used to make it worse." Moore responds.

"However, it's my opinion that we saw the majority of the forces. From Lixer's side of things, anyone that assaults that place has to do so very quickly, which they can't really do due to the fog and his defenses. I would imagine that he effectively puts all his eggs in a basket on that defense, and that whatever is beyond isn't as significant." Moore says. "I mean, we should probably assume it is significant, regardless, but I don't see how he could manage to put up that strong a defense on both sides, as it were."

[Anastasia]

Adrian considers that, while Gisfal says, "It's my opinion that we only ran into a delaying force, with the real defense held in reserve. What about Lixer makes you think he'd rely on only that defense?"

[Nephrite]

"I suppose I don't have any hard evidence, but if your defensive line is effectively just one where even a limited amount of time erodes the fighting forces of your enemy, why would you see any reason to have a stronger force held in reserve?" Moore asks. "I mean, we met rather significant resistance outside, it just seems... I don't know, It doesn't strike me as very tactically sound to put that much into defending, along with the Styx trap, and then still put even more inside. If he's doing that, then this must be one of his most important holdings... I don't think even Hopelorn was that bad in terms of reinforcements, from what I heard." Moore says.

[Anastasia]

"One reason - paranoia. Devils are nothing if not prepared," Gisfal says. "If this is something serious, I'd expect multiple layers of defense and reserves. Right now, our working theory is that even if we busted inside, it was set up to be a kill zone, funneling our troops into carefully prepared killing zones. The butcher's bill would be a nightmare."

[Nephrite]

"Well, there's really no reason to assume otherwise, no matter what." Moore says. "If we happen to be wrong and there aren't that many forces inside, then it doesn't really change much for us in the end. Did it seem like they were prepared for us?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes and yes," Gisfal agrees, "This doesn't go beyond you, but the devils seemed more than prepared. How could they not be, after our attacks on Castle Crumbling and then his other holdings? If it seemed under defended, I'd assume it was a trap."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Yes, I would agree. It felt like they fielded their forces far too quickly, at least from what little I saw." Moore says. "But... then, isn't that still odd? Why not just let us get closer, where the concentration of Styx water was worse? As we got closer, it seemed like it was increasing..." He trails off, looking to the side. "Perhaps it isn't a constant defense, then..." Moore raises his hand to his chin in thought. "Perhaps there was someone, or something... or someones controlling and directing the water... perhaps it took them time to muster enough of it, which is why the force was sent out to delay us."

[Anastasia]

"Possibly, or possibly Lixer has troops to burn." Gisfal admits.

"It comes down to the fact we just don't know enough." Adrian says, "We're taking measures that none of this will be forgotten, but we don't know how they'll hold up and what here is anathemic knowledge. In a week's time we may even forget we attacked Lethe and records of it will be wiped clean." He checks a sheet of paper nearby, "You have the ability modify a creature's memory? Here's an order: Use it on yourself every day and magnify various points of the battle at Lethe. Try to remember everything about it."

[Nephrite]

Moore blinks, then nods. "All right, I can certainly do that."

[Anastasia]

"Others are trying that as well," Adrian goes on, "We're hoping your fey nature might provide some extra measure of resistance, due to the fey's trickster nature." He sits back with a sigh, "Sylvie will as well for 21, as well as Morniel for his celestial nature and Baleruk, in the hopes his nascent divinity will shield him. If you start to forget, notify one of them and see if it's spreading, and also tell one of us. Myself or Gisfal if possible, otherwise another general. Tell them I sent you if you can remember."