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[Ebiris]

Get our army positioned on Sylica's flank closest to the direction of that valley while continuing to monitor what the demons are doing - are they rampaging/fortifying/coming here/going elsewhere? How we respond depends on that.

[Anastasia]

Getting the army moving is as simple as a few commands.

The demon hordes look to be fortifying and preparing the valley, extending outwards and downwards. What's more is that more come - riff raff for certain. Half fiends and tieflings, aberrations and oddities, corrupted elementals and mortal thralls. In spite of some battles and some killing in the ranks, there are s many that still show no sign of stopping that it's flooding out of the valley, usually in the general direction of Sylica.

[Ebiris]

After comforting Rolens, Alicia's avatar takes over the legwork of organising her armies while Alicia herself meets with Antenora, Jessica, Syala, Latha, Strength of Light, and a freshly returned Marie.

"So far it's a rabble with no obvious leader figure, if lots of major demons taking local charge," Alicia says as they stand around a map showing the terrain of Ysgard between that valley and Sylica, a stretch of the Oceanus between Sylica's islands and Ysgard proper. "That might change but right now we're seeing the dregs of the army coming out of the portals rather than a leader's bodyguard. They're definitely headed our way, so this'll be our first test of Sylica's defences without the bottleneck of the Felic Gate to secure us."

[Anastasia]

Antenora stands, arms crossed as she studies it. Latha is sitting, taking it all in.

Strength of Light goes to the map, "Right now, we see no leader," he agrees. "With demons that means something or nothing - sometimes a horde is simply a horde. What we're seeing of the banners shows symbols of Demogorgon, an Athux remnant, several independent companies, Pazuzu, the Blood Quintet, Pale Night and others. Which also means only so much, demons hardly hesitate to use the symbols of an enemy if it serves them."

"Does that mean we should be offensive and strike this down before it builds further, or wait for them to come for us? What of our allies?" Jessica asks.

[Ebiris]

"The lack of a leader means it could be a feint to draw us out, with another force waiting to strike after we sally out," Alicia admits. "But either way I'm reasonably confident Malcanthet stirred this up. Anyway, we usually do meet our foes outside Sylica so that Ysgard can make good our losses and I won't change that approach now. We have time to fortify up here," she points out a hilly area between the demon horde and the beach on the Oceanus, closer to Sylica than not, "And make our stand."

"As for allies, I haven't called on any. This isn't anything we can't handle ourselves," she tells Jessica. "But still I'd like to cut off this invasion before their numbers grow too much. You and Marie can handle that if you hit them at the rear - sneak in, shut down the portals, kill anyone trying to take charge or giving you meaningful opposition."

[Anastasia]

"I'll manage that when needed," Jessica agrees.

Antenora's watching the map, fingers drumming on her armored side, "If this is Malcanthet, I assume has more of a plan than throw demons at us and hope it works out. That's not her style. It's surely some sort of first step or a feint, as you said. The question is, what is it a feint for?"

[Ebiris]

"Either another demon army to hit our flank while we're occupied elsewhere, a chance to sneak infiltrators into Sylica to wreak later havoc, or have someone stealthy and powerful mixed in with that army poised to assassinate one of us in the chaos of battle?" Alicia speculates on the ways to take advantage of this demonic rabble if one were so inclined.

[Anastasia]

"Or to destroy something here directly," Syala remarks, "Something meaningful, like Liberton or Mercia - or anything of Antenora's, as that's the root of why Malcanthet is offended."

"We can't rule out a random factor, either," It's Antenora who goes on, "Seira recently had an attack that by all signs seems to have been a single person's insane plot. It could be something bizarre, or something involving something we can't adequately plan for. But all we can do for that is be ready and prepared, and crush the demons decisively."

[Ebiris]

"There's no shortage of targets. That's why Antenora, Syala, and I will remain in Sylica so we can respond immediately to any sudden new factors. Our avatars along with Latha can join our forces where they meet the demons head on, and have Jessica and Marie regroup with them after they complete their flanking attack," Alicia says. "Any other suggestions for how to handle this?" she asks the group.

[Anastasia]

"Be ready for anything," Jessica says, "But we'll do this, we'll win and we'll crush this invasion."

General agreement as...

Go ahead and lay out your general plans here.

[Ebiris]

Avatar Alicia, Avatar Syala, and Latha lead our army out of Sylica and into Ysgard in the path of the demon army, set up fortifications/difficult terrain and wait.

Jessica and Marie teleport to the far side of the valley they're pouring out of and sneak in to close the portals, kill some notable demons, cause some disruption then fade away and hide to wait on fresh opportunities.

Alicia, Syala, and Antenora remain in Sylica with our reserves to stay on guard and deal with any new problems.

[Anastasia]

Okay, while I work that all out, give me a quick d100.

[Ebiris]

[16:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[16:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d100=59]

[Anastasia]

We'll begin with Jessica and Marie's set up. Any prep for them I need to be aware of?

[Ebiris]

Marie will give Jessica a casting of epic mage armour (CL 32, +22 armour AC) if she wants it.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Marie: 608/608
Active spells: Extended superior resistance (CL 32), extended mind blank (CL 32), greater arcane sight (CL 32), extended repelling shield (CL 32), bibliotheca arcana (CL 32), extended nondetection (CL 32), epic mage armour (CL 32), sensual blessing (CL 32), extended ray deflection (CL 32)
Defences: AC 98 (touch 40, vs incorporeal 73), CMD 82, spell resistance 46, energy immunity (electricity), energy resistance 10 (acid, cold), status immunity (petrification, polymorph, form-altering, energy drain, ability drain, ability damage, mind-affecting) protective aura, nondetection (DC 47)
Stat buffs/penalties: +11 shield AC, +15 insight knowledge, +4 morale saves, +4 dodge AC
Perceptions: Darkvision 60, blessed sight 120, see invisibility, blindsight/tremorsense 60, scent, greater arcane sight, perception +71
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/10/10/9/7/8/8/8/8/7/7/5/4
Limited SLAs available: Limited wish, radiant assault, heal, meteor swarm, time stop