Io's Labyrinth

[Anastasia]

"Then go on," Chardonax steps aside. "You'd better not upset her," he adds, brashly.

Amaryl's smiling by this point and merely nods her head to that.

"She sounds like a sensible dragon," Oberuth remarks, "Most dragons seem content to be aerial ravagers rather than foster a deeper understanding of tactics."

"Mom's better than most dragons," Chardonax retorts immediately, strongly.

[Ebiris]

"We'll be perfect guests," Alicia smiles going in, hoping that victory in a war game will suffice over having to kill her now.

[Anastasia]

Ahead is a chamber filled with various cracks and crevasses. Atop a massive stone dais sits a vast pile of cut and shining sapphires - and atop that sits a single dragon seemingly made of carved sapphire. It is brilliantly bright, like the best examples of that gemstone. She is eyeing you already, posture tense as the party enters, but not a word said.

[Ebiris]

"Well met Scandamalonax, I am Alicia," the war goddess nods in greeting to the wyrm, stopping a few feet in past the door.

[Anastasia]

You get a long look over, "What is your preferred type of military unit?" she asks, right to it, voice brisk.

[Ebiris]

"Personally I prefer a squad. The low numbers allow for easy spell support to magnify their effectiveness, and they're able to keep a low profile for more subtle operations. It also allows for greater camaraderie between the soldiers since everyone has better chance of knowing each other more intimately so they'll fight harder for each other than they will for a larger but less cohesive group," Alicia gives her answer and the reasoning behind it. "Of course all units have their uses and I wouldn't allow preference to over-rule sound tactical sense," she adds though she hopes it would go without saying.

[Corwin]

"Infiltrators for me, they are the unsung heroes-- oh, are we talking about that sort of unit? My name's Seira, by the way, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

[Anastasia]

A nod, an understanding once, perhaps. "The spirit of the corps and morale are critical elements," she agrees. "It allows you to maximize the gain out of each soldier. It is particularly useful for elite soldiers and infantry, as well as spell casters."

"Adventurers, you mean," Oberuth steps in. "Our Crimson Guard operates on the same principle. Small squads of soldiers who form friendships and bonds, so that they'll fight to the strongest together. They're far less likely to break and panic when they have each other to rely on."

Scandamalonax sniffs and says, "Ah, a red dragon who can at least talk strategy. How wonderfully refreshing," she says, "Scandamalonax is my name. Infiltrators are so often unsung and so important. A blow from within can be equal to ten from outside. Two women and one man of fine taste," she says, turning to the others, "What say all of you?"

[Nephrite]

"A small, elite force." Moore says. "Of three to five people. A striker force for harder opponents or that you can always trust to get in and out safely."

[Anastasia]

"Any healing force," Jetina adds, "Doctors, clerics, healers - they're all essential to any army that has more than one encounter before being spent. They're what ever soldier counts on when it goes wrong."

"The lone, shining, singular champion," Antenora declares, "The one who leads the charge headlong, who faces the opposing champion and slays them, leading to the enemy lines being broken. The assault leader. A flashy position and no less essential than squads, units and even grand armies."

"Archery support units," Amaryl adds, "Small but mobile, able to rush to parts of the line that need ranged support on demand. Ones that aren't so immobile that they can't react fast enough, even if this means sacrificing power or versatility."

All of that is considered until at last Scandamalonax sniffs, "All intelligent answers. I worried at least one of you would be a tiresome dullard, a dull blade to hack through the enemy in the most insipid way possible."

[Corwin]

A shame they left Donald back home! He would've gotten a rise from Scandamalonax.

"What is your own preference?" Seira inquires, displaying none of her inner amusement.

[Anastasia]

"All of them," The dragon replies instantly, "From small forces to armies, from attackers to defenders, to elites to the common infantry. All of them are a part of warfare. I love the soaring mounted riders in the skies along with flying dragons breathing down wrath on any who are stuck to the ground.  I adore the brave knights who charge on horseback, crashing into a pike wall to shatter the enemy line. Give me all of them and more."

[Ebiris]

"You really should pick a favourite, but yes war is the totality of forces and personal preference gives way to necessity," Alicia says. "All of us here are champions and leaders, who got to where we are on the back of many victories. It's no place for the dullards uncaring of strategy."

[Anastasia]

"Blood, sweat and tears," Oberuth concurs, "The building blocks of any champion and any leader."

"And thus, you are here," Scandamalonax agrees, "You are here to challenge me and grow stronger by Lord Io's will. He would not choose weak champions, I see."

[Ebiris]

"Your son mentioned a fondness for wargames?" Alicia speaks up on that note. "Bredanalundalum faced us in a contest of skill without recourse to violence, should you prefer that sort of challenge."