The duty to live

[Ebiris]

"Yes, lets focus on Daun then," Alicia lets it go at that.

[Anastasia]

Thus you settle in. It's not hard to sense as from your faithful - Strength of Light gathers your forces along with Sulia's, as a contingent of Lathander's forces join in, as well as several bands of irregulars and mercenaries. The battle begins to loom, your forces at the ready.

Do you wish to add anything before they begin?

[Ebiris]

Alicia makes her presence felt to all those who fight under her banner. A simple affirmation that she is watching and with them in spirit.

[Anastasia]

It's like a ripple as you hear Strength of Light.

"Our plan is to take Cape Vital," he announces to the other commanders. "We are not going to only disrupt them, we are going to go forth and defeat the forces there and hold the city and cape. This will require a multipronged attack. While our main force approaches forward, aerial units will attack the city's strong points as well as the docks. At the same time, aquatic units will attempt to clear the ocean paths and surge towards the docks, as well as setting it up for expeditions into the sea caves about the cape. Done properly, the enemy will crumple under all the angles of assault and collapse."

[Ebiris]

Alicia watches, not as relaxed as she'd ordinarily be in Sulia's presence. Sitting happily sipping tea when others fight and die in her name isn't a good time after all.

I don't really need a play-by-play. Unless an avatar shows up all I'm going to do is watch.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100 low is good
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 low is good --> [ 1d100=76 ]{76}

It is a tight, tense struggle. Forces clash with forces, but they are well matched. What's worse - you're slowly losing. Powerful as your forces are, the aboleths have committed to this battle. They're losing skirmishes on the flanks and villages are taken, but little compensation when they're stopping the main assault and starting to push it back.

Sulia's hand finds yours, silently holding it as she watches, gaze here and yet far away. "I just lost another promising commander," she says, a note of pain her voice. "I fear this battle will not turn in our favor, not today. Do you concur?"

[Ebiris]

Alicia squeezes Sulia's hand, looking over the battle to see if there's any chance for victory at this point.

Buffed up profession (general) check with divine insight/improvisation/guidance of the avatar.

[18:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+113
[18:10] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+113 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{132}

[Anastasia]

There's a few chances - an all in assault, a desperate venture forth by Strength of Light - but they're both lower odds and highly risky. Victory isn't impossible, but the tides of battle have not favored you here. Unless you take a considerable gamble, Cape Vital will not fall this day.

[Ebiris]

"No," she says reluctantly to Sulia. "The day is not ours."

She sends her next words to Strength of Light, as her proxy and leader in the field. We no longer have the capacity to win the day here. Focus on preserving lives and retreating, the war ahead remains a long one.

[Anastasia]

'I apologize for my failure,' Strength of Light sends back, 'Next time, we will win.'

[Ebiris]

I accept it, and retain faith in our eventual victory.

"I've advised Strength of Light to focus on mitigating our losses now. Tomorrow is another day," she says to Sulia.

[Anastasia]

Sulia gently embraces you and rests her head on your shoulder. The gentle splash of tears on your shoulder is her answer, as without a word, she mourns her losses.

After a few moments of this, in a firm voice, "Today may be barred to us, but tomorrow is not."

[Ebiris]

Alicia has no tears to shed, absorbing the losses with grim stoicism as she puts a comforting arm around Sulia's shoulders. "The war is long. We won't be discouraged by a single loss."

[Anastasia]

Sulia rises from you after, "We will not be," she concurs.

'Tough fight,' Lathander's voice is heard in your mind.

[Ebiris]

Alicia thinks back to Lathander with her own thoughts.

The defenders were well prepared and fought intelligently. We can't underestimate our foes, no matter how much righteousness is on our side. Still, I'm disappointed.