Preparing for Benfal (Everyone)

[Nephrite]

"Speaking of, if Semyaza takes to the field, I would guess our goal would be to get away as quickly as we can?" Moore asks.

[Ebiris]

"From what I understand, Alicia and Syala intend to battle him personally, and the results will not be kind to anyone on the same continent," Afina looks Ebony's way in case she wants to elaborate. "So yes, in that case we'll retreat to Aurora first and then off the plane. However, 21 should function with its usual efficacy against beings like that, and Semyaza has a peculiar weakness to being seen by True Seeing spells, so bear that in mind if we're pressed."

[Anastasia]

"C-Continent?" Kascha pales, "Seriously?"

Ebony merely nods. "Yes. There are factors in play, that is all we need to know."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I like the plan for the ships, with a caveat. I think we should still gate or teleport a few of our more high mobility units into a picket around the city. While the ships will work great, it will still take a bit of time for them to get from Aurora to their drop off areas. Having some skirmishers already there will let them have at least a semi-secure landing area, and we'll have a force that can react if something crazy starts happening.

Like they somehow blast our ships out of the air or render them immobile in some way. A storm or something. Almost any of us in this room who can use magic can summon up either enough elementals or a storm to cause problems. There's no reason to assume they can't do the same."

Surraruthru does perk up at the mention of Seira doing battle personally. "Hmm.. I would like to see Seira rip him apart. From a safe distance, of courses."

[Yuthirin]

Calleigh pats Surraruthru on the side, "Gods fighting usually destroys everything. Safe distance is usually out of sight."

[Corwin]

"As it stands, the ships are have the highest mobility out of anything we have available," Jaela voices. "Myself, Afina, a few others could outrun them, but not any of the rank and file. We could gate some of them in at strategic spots around the city, as long as each detachment can manage the spell. But they'd be risking finding themselves isolated, or between two forces if reinforcements arrive swiftly."

[Anastasia]

"Then each ship needs to be self sufficient," Gisfal studies the image some more. "We have attack from the air and attack from the ground level. The earth elementals should be able to attack from below, right into the tunnels. If we do that, we can cut off and perhaps surprise them before hide holes and tunnels are fully fortified, as well as straining reinforcements further."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hmm.. If we're using elementals... Afina, you've been hitting the para-elemental planes, right? What do you think of some of the oozes or lava types helping us out? I'd say fire, but fires and cities mix about as well as fire and trees do."

[Ebiris]

"What we have is what's in Aurora. Having to incorporate a sudden infusion of new and untested troops to our ranks right now would just cause more confusion than it's worth," Afina shakes her head. "I'm working on something to improve relations with Ooze but it's long term, and to be honest any additions from there would probably cause morale to plummet amongst anyone with a functioning nose. We do have plenty of earth elementals who'll be particularly useful in this environment, though. The water elementals we can have blockade the river, while air elementals serve their usual roles in the midst of our forces. I'd prefer to keep the fire elementals back for Aurora defence - that city could go up in flames easily enough, so best not to risk it."

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru nods. "Having the water elementals on hand is a good idea. The devils may decide to burn the city when they start losing just to be spiteful. We'll need a way to put them out if they do. What about main targets in the city? Other than the seer stronghold, are there any other areas we need to worry about? Garrisons or supply storage?"

[Anastasia]

"Several," Gisfal says, "We've already marked them. Food's less important, we need it and the devils don't. Best not to destroy it if possible, we can make up the shortfall but it's a strain. The devils are regular with garrisons and organization, we have a good idea of where they are and how to attack them. Supplies are generally in garrisons, which is good for logistics but poor for defense, since it's a single point of failure."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Good. If we're liberating the city, the survivors are going to need supplies. Do we have any plans to put people in leadership positions until the people of the city can pick their own leaders? They'll need help with food, rebuilding, and probably healing. Or counseling at the least."

[Ebiris]

"That's not our concern. We take the cities and hold them. Once the devils are gone, I'm sure the existing resistance has plans for a transfer of power but that's out of our hands," Afina says.

[Corwin]

"Speaking of noses and water elementals, what would they think about attacking through the sewers to supplement the burrowing earth elementals? Blockading the river is fine, but it likely won't need all of them." At Surraruthru's question, she adds, "Our cafeteria and casting Heroes's Feast should be enough to feed a city easily enough for their transitional government to get its feet up."

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru turns to Jaela, "That's a good idea. If it all goes wrong, they can flood the system and flush them out."