The Outer Dimension Offensive Reloaded!

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Akira Thompson

Hearing her name being called by Solus as the battlefield slowly became quiet, she quickly saw what exactly was her name being called for, namely the sight of Lux bleeding on the ground. With a flash on her face as she understood the situation, she ran over as fast as she could to where Solus was holding Lorena upright.

Kneeling down next to the two of them, she started to do what would be needed, namely healing with the power of singing. As such, she started to sing a tune, letting her magic do the healing....
 
Lorena Lux
Threshold
The battlefield had many lessons to teach, and the many combatants upon it were its students. Among its most poignant lessons, one in particular always jumped out at Lorena. The pursuit of glory was often not worth it, with whatever feelings of elevation it might reward her swiftly overwhelmed by the pain accrued from it.

Alas, she had always been a poor student.

"T'is truly was-" Lorena spoke through gritted teeth, putting her weight against Solus as she stood up and held her ruined arm against her side. "- a glorious victory on our part." The girl winced at the boast, feeling the warm, icky liquid dripping down her limb and staining her hand as her remaining Wardens formed up around her and Solus, ruined shields forming an outward facing cordon with Gladys, a protective shell that only parted when Akira neared.

The sound of the human's voice was almost enough to make her forget the pain from the tumble off her mount as broken bones realigned themselves and the gash on her skin tried to knit itself back together. "Might I ask dear Akira, if you'd-" Briefly, the elf's eyes turned to the remains of one of her Wardens, armor shattered and skeleton already showing signs of dissipating into raw magic as its bindings failed. "Never mind. Might I know the name of this song instead? I quite enjoy its melody."

Though the words that slipped from her tongue were no different from the small talk she'd make around a campfire, there was no denying the pain that showed in the girl's face.
 
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"Foolish woman," Solus mutters under his breath while Lux makes to stand. Even injured she continues to act like this.

He firmly grabs her injured arm, peeling off the torn sleeve and blood-soaked glove. The wound is beginning to mend under Thompson's song, but not nearly fast enough for his liking.

"This is why you do not break formation. Do they not teach that in the Spell Batallion?"

Even while muttering, he uses the momentary cover and quiet to pull a roll of gauze from his pack. The clean cloth is wound tightly around the wound, where it soon adopts a crimson splotch.
 
Lorena Lux
Threshold
Naron said:
"Foolish woman," Solus mutters under his breath while Lux makes to stand. Even injured she continues to act like this.

He firmly grabs her injured arm, peeling off the torn sleeve and blood-soaked glove. The wound is beginning to mend under Thompson's song, but not nearly fast enough for his liking.

"This is why you do not break formation. Do they not teach that in the Spell Batallion?"

Even while muttering, he uses the momentary cover and quiet to pull a roll of gauze from his pack. The clean cloth is wound tightly around the wound, where it soon adopts a crimson splotch.
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Lorena visibly winced at Solus' actions, helpful as it may be, before she does her best attempt at a smile whilst ignoring the funny feeling that came from severed nerves gaining sensation once again. "I assure you commander, it was a calculated risk!" The mage's voice was cheery as ever. "Surrounded as we were, I took the initiative to lock down and eliminate enemy fire support from our flank so that the main body of the phalanx could face other directions." Already, feeling returned to her fingers, digits flexing in experimentation and wonder at the novel way strands of magic were carried through musical notes. Human practitioners were truly something else.

"True, it nearly cost me my life but!" The girl nodded in satisfaction, both at her own words and at Solus' first aid. "- it worked out, yes? I would dare not sully the family name by shirking my duty in combat."
 
Diane

A few fireball impacts had made her armor unpleasantly hot. Diane makes an ineffectual effort to fan herself with a hand. Things looked a bit quieter, or at least War Forger seemed a bit calmer.

And wasn't it a mental kick to be reminded just how far her own talents fell shy.

Diane jumped off the container and gave the injured elf a quick examination. If she took the metal case from her back and opened the healing kit could be helpful, but the other Practitioner seemed to have it handled. And Diane didn't want to go through the processing of cleaning the kit from physical and magical contaminates.

"Good job there. I'd suggest not having your, uh, friends carry you into a fight again. Big target and all that." Diane gave a thumbs up.

Something occurred to her after another glace over the surroundings, "Are we short a person?"
 
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Naron said:
"Foolish woman," Solus mutters under his breath while Lux makes to stand. Even injured she continues to act like this.

He firmly grabs her injured arm, peeling off the torn sleeve and blood-soaked glove. The wound is beginning to mend under Thompson's song, but not nearly fast enough for his liking.

"This is why you do not break formation. Do they not teach that in the Spell Batallion?"

Even while muttering, he uses the momentary cover and quiet to pull a roll of gauze from his pack. The clean cloth is wound tightly around the wound, where it soon adopts a crimson splotch.
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LucidProp said:
Lorena Lux
Threshold

Lorena visibly winced at Solus' actions, helpful as it may be, before she does her best attempt at a smile whilst ignoring the funny feeling that came from severed nerves gaining sensation once again. "I assure you commander, it was a calculated risk!" The mage's voice was cheery as ever. "Surrounded as we were, I took the initiative to lock down and eliminate enemy fire support from our flank so that the main body of the phalanx could face other directions." Already, feeling returned to her fingers, digits flexing in experimentation and wonder at the novel way strands of magic were carried through musical notes. Human practitioners were truly something else.

"True, it nearly cost me my life but!" The girl nodded in satisfaction, both at her own words and at Solus' first aid. "- it worked out, yes? I would dare not sully the family name by shirking my duty in combat."
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kelllogo said:
Diane

A few fireball impacts had made her armor unpleasantly hot. Diane makes an ineffectual effort to fan herself with a hand. Things looked a bit quieter, or at least War Forger seemed a bit calmer.

And wasn't it a mental kick to be reminded just how far her own talents fell shy.

Diane jumped off the container and gave the injured elf a quick examination. If she took the metal case from her back and opened the healing kit could be helpful, but the other Practitioner seemed to have it handled. And Diane didn't want to go through the processing of cleaning the kit from physical and magical contaminates.

"Good job there. I'd suggest not having your, uh, friends carry you into a fight again. Big target and all that." Diane gave a thumbs up.
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"Decanus Warwick and Specialist Strand are correct! Joining in a Phalanx that takes advantage of all our strengths will prove vital on the road ahead; I only wish that I had reacted more swiftly to even the odds more quickly. Nonetheless, admist this carnage, we are still alive."
kellogo said:
Something occurred to her after another glance over the surroundings, "Are we short a person?"
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Gladys took a quick glance herself, before sighing. "Indeed. The Counter Force member who had requisitioned an anti-tank weapon appears to have not come through the portal with us. Well, admist us all here, we shall simply have to rise to the occasion! Shall we inquire with La- Forger as to her immediate requirements? That shipping container won't be unpacking itself after all!"
 
catDreaming said:
"Decanus Warwick and Specialist Strand are correct! Joining in a Phalanx that takes advantage of all our strengths will prove vital on the road ahead; I only wish that I had reacted more swiftly to even the odds more quickly. Nonetheless, admist this carnage, we are still alive."

Gladys took a quick glance herself, before sighing. "Indeed. The Counter Force member who had requisitioned an anti-tank weapon appears to have not come through the portal with us. Well, admist us all here, we shall simply have to rise to the occasion! Shall we inquire with La- Forger as to her immediate requirements? That shipping container won't be unpacking itself after all!"
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Achilles maneuvers over to War Forger. Given the magical girl's behavior when she introduced herself, it was probable she didn't hold a lot of command experience. Therefore, he would ensure Forge had advice to do her job properly.

"War Forger, your orders? It is likely that the disappearance of this group will eventually draw notice, so staying is likely a bad idea."
 
kelllogo said:
Something occurred to her after another glace over the surroundings, "Are we short a person?"
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"We are, the lieutenant." Rift Diver looks at Diane as she responds, for once not glaring at the trooper.

"I thought someone would get cold feet, guess I still owe Tat money though." Rift Diver continues mostly under her breath as she jumps off the shipping container and manages a three point landing.

Xenon Reav said:
Achilles maneuvers over to War Forger. Given the magical girl's behavior when she introduced herself, it was probable she didn't hold a lot of command experience. Therefore, he would ensure Forge had advice to do her job properly.

"War Forger, your orders? It is likely that the disappearance of this group will eventually draw notice, so staying is likely a bad idea."
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"N-no, I need to get set up immediately. Besides, we didn't make too much noise, right?" Forger responds as she holsters her pistol and reloads her flare gun.

"We should be fine for a few days. I didn't see any groups around here leave their territory often, plus we've got good sightlines here and this place is in the middle of my net." Diver calls back.

"If you're sure."

"I am, now get going. We need more meat shields."

War Forger raises her flare gun and fires once more. A glowing red orb shoots out and lands on the ground, which is soon replaced by a construction site. After around 20 seconds a copy of the log cabin and watchtowers from the briefing stand before the group, the door opening as a group of sixteen figures with the shape of humans but almost none of the detail walks out and form lines of eight on either side of the cabin's entrance. Ten of the constructs wield wooden clubs and wear rough and simple clothes, while the remaining six have wooden mallets, slightly nicer clothes, and what appear to be toolbelts. Once in formation, they all turn to War Forger and salute.

"That never gets old." The magical girl says as she reloads her flare gun again and heads inside, saluting the constructs as she passes.
 
Gladys looks over the constructs with the clubs. Presumably they are the basic level, and strengthening War Forger will probably involve them growing stronger somehow as well. Their synchronous salute to War Forger suggests a chain of command exists to some degree in the latter's magic, and that means a Phalanx could well be organized. Worth keeping in mind, for the future. With that positive thought in mind, Gladys heads in after War Forger.
 
Seeing that Lux is capable of maintaining her bravado and seen to, Solus foregoes further comment. Hopefully she learned her lesson.

"Let's move," he declares to the cordon around her still keeping the area secure. Then he makes to follow War Forger into the newly created building.
 
Cmd. Frost said:
"N-no, I need to get set up immediately. Besides, we didn't make too much noise, right?" Forger responds as she holsters her pistol and reloads her flare gun.

"We should be fine for a few days. I didn't see any groups around here leave their territory often, plus we've got good sightlines here and this place is in the middle of my net." Diver calls back.

"If you're sure."

"I am, now get going. We need more meat shields."

War Forger raises her flare gun and fires once more. A glowing red orb shoots out and lands on the ground, which is soon replaced by a construction site. After around 20 seconds a copy of the log cabin and watchtowers from the briefing stand before the group, the door opening as a group of sixteen figures with the shape of humans but almost none of the detail walks out and form lines of eight on either side of the cabin's entrance. Ten of the constructs wield wooden clubs and wear rough and simple clothes, while the remaining six have wooden mallets, slightly nicer clothes, and what appear to be toolbelts. Once in formation, they all turn to War Forger and salute.

"That never gets old." The magical girl says as she reloads her flare gun again and heads inside, saluting the constructs as she passes.
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Achilles salutes War Forger in time with the constructs as he grins internally. "Understood ma'am."

Achilles starts walking into the command center.
 
Akira Thompson
LucidProp said:
"Never mind. Might I know the name of this song instead? I quite enjoy its melody."
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"Oh the name of the song?" she said as she stopped singing for a brief moment to answer her question as she saw the injuries heal up, "It's called House of Love." Afterwards, she continued to sing, with more of Lux's injuries mending together, however it would take some time for them to fully heal.

Cmd. Frost said:
War Forger raises her flare gun and fires once more. A glowing red orb shoots out and lands on the ground, which is soon replaced by a construction site. After around 20 seconds a copy of the log cabin and watchtowers from the briefing stand before the group, the door opening as a group of sixteen figures with the shape of humans but almost none of the detail walks out and form lines of eight on either side of the cabin's entrance. Ten of the constructs wield wooden clubs and wear rough and simple clothes, while the remaining six have wooden mallets, slightly nicer clothes, and what appear to be toolbelts. Once in formation, they all turn to War Forger and salute.

"That never gets old." The magical girl says as she reloads her flare gun again and heads inside, saluting the constructs as she passes.
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As War Forger built the base and headed inside, Akira followed suit, walking alongside the others as they all gathered inside....
 
While it's not exactly cold in this area of Threshold, a wall of heat welcomes any who enter the cabin. A roaring firepit sits in the center of the building, with stonework around it ensuring the fire won't spread and providing a surprisingly pleasant place to sit. A hanging pot and metal grate cover half of the pit, with a cabinet for storing wooden dishes and utensils sitting nearby with a washbasin. The walls are covered with simple tapestries, a few deer skins, and a few pelts from various small game. The right side of the building is dominated by a long table with benches on either side the spans almost the length of the interior, while the front half of the left side of the cabin is empty save for a few chairs and small tables. The back left corner seems to be the strategy area, a table in the center hosting a map across it's whole surface with various markers in the center. Bookshelf also hangs on the wall with a few tomes in easy reach.

War Forger walks to the back of the room and grabs a book, placing it on the table before flipping through the first few pages.

"Interesting." The magical girl says as she lays her hand on a page.
 
Solus is neither the first nor the last to enter. A gentle heat welcomes him, reminiscent of the forges at home if not as stifling. He relaxes a little at the sight of open flame, gravitating toward the hearth. His pack is carefully put aside, then he takes a seat at the roaring flame.

"A humble abode, but certainly a pleasant one," he judges quietly, arms now crossed. He awaits the remainder of their group to join them.
 
Cmd. Frost said:
War Forger walks to the back of the room and grabs a book, placing it on the table before flipping through the first few pages.

"Interesting." The magical girl says as she lays her hand on a page.
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The humble building from War Forger's powers is certainly more pleasant than the outdoors, and perhaps a bit reminiscent of home. Gladys sets her own pack aside where she could get to it quickly, before sitting down and looking towards War Forger. Interesting could range from 'we are missing half of our squads scheduled for the frontline' to 'the enemy has decided to charge headfirst into a firmly entrenched pike-backed shieldwall'. Better to let the Magical Girl explain which type of situation had arisen.
 
Akira Thompson

Heading over to where the fire was roaring as she entered the building, she sat down next to it. She let the warmth bask over her, leaning a bit back to get more of it as she awaited the others to arrive behind her...
 
Diane suppresses an urge to compare the magically generated structure to a tent. She drifts over to the map and gives it a brief examination, mostly trying to judge if something hostile was nearby.
 
Lorena Lux
Threshold
It reminded her of a hunting lodge.

True, it did not have even half the opulence of the lodges preferred by her more martial siblings and she suspected the animal skins and pelts on display were magical constructs rather than genuine articles, but for a base of operations? It was...

Adequate.

A skeletal hand held the door open for the girl, a whispered spell cleaning the sole of her boots from mud, dirt, and blood before they made contact with the rugged floor. Though her face was the very picture of regal apathy, adrenaline still flowed through her veins and the mage felt the incessant beating of her heart against her chest.

That just wouldn't do.

With uncharacteristic quietness, Lorena walked towards the sink and took off her gloves with slow, languid motions, the girl visibly shivering in delight at the feeling of cool air against her skin. As if sensing its master's will, the Grave Warden besides the mage turned the knob on the washbin, the sound of flowing water and its caress against the girl's hands causing Lorena to sigh in relief. True, she had multitudes of spells for self-grooming, but there was nothing relaxing about them when she had mentally associated many of them with the rush of the battlefield.

Besides, being able to take her time was its own luxury.
 
War Forger looks up as the full team enters the command center.

"Alright so here's the situation. It looks like we've cleared out all the demons in the immediate area so I can start setting up the base, but until the demon camp to the south is dealt with I can't set up any farms. This isn't a problem for now thanks to the shipping container of supplies, but if I start producing constructs we're going to burn through the food fast, I need supplies to build them and even more to keep them around. Making things worse, the only regions suitable for setting up a woodcutter are also close to demon held areas, so I can't get any defenses built either. I know its been an... exciting day already, but I need you all to go take out that camp as soon as possible." The magical girl looks apologetic as she makes her request.
 
Cmd. Frost said:
War Forger looks up as the full team enters the command center.

"Alright so here's the situation. It looks like we've cleared out all the demons in the immediate area so I can start setting up the base, but until the demon camp to the south is dealt with I can't set up any farms. This isn't a problem for now thanks to the shipping container of supplies, but if I start producing constructs we're going to burn through the food fast, I need supplies to build them and even more to keep them around. Making things worse, the only regions suitable for setting up a woodcutter are also close to demon held areas, so I can't get any defenses built either. I know its been an... exciting day already, but I need you all to go take out that camp as soon as possible." The magical girl looks apologetic as she makes her request.
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Achilles salutes. "Understood ma'am. Volunteering for reconnaissance duty."
 
Solus attentively turns around as War Forger begins briefing them on her abilities.
Cmd. Frost said:
"Alright so here's the situation. It looks like we've cleared out all the demons in the immediate area so I can start setting up the base, but until the demon camp to the south is dealt with I can't set up any farms. This isn't a problem for now thanks to the shipping container of supplies, but if I start producing constructs we're going to burn through the food fast, I need supplies to build them and even more to keep them around. Making things worse, the only regions suitable for setting up a woodcutter are also close to demon held areas, so I can't get any defenses built either. I know its been an... exciting day already, but I need you all to go take out that camp as soon as possible."
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It is a shame that he has to leave the hearth so soon, but needs must. For now he lets the flame warm his back as he considers.

"What is our intelligence level, miss?" he then asks. "Do you think we can improve it by sending scouts first? Or should we march on them at once?"
 
Rift Diver speaks up.

"There were eighteen demons over there last time I checked. Six hounds, an alpha, three imps, four husks, two footsoldiers, and a pair of fliers I was never able to get good pictures of. They're set up in a good size clearing next to the river bend, and... I think that's it. The trees are also pretty thick between them and the neighboring encampments, so you shouldn't need to worry about your gunfire drawing anything in."
 
"Gunfire will likely be an effective answer to the fliers... The rest seems imminently answerable by a Phalanx so long as the Husks do not manage to break it. Would you prefer that some or all of your combat golems remain here? Bringing them along would be a force contribution, especially if there is a way for you to designate who they should look to for direction."
 
Lorena Lux
Threshold
The elven mage listened in on the others as she whispered a spell, drying her hands before she slipped one hand back into a glove. She would have liked some time to get dressed in a fresh pair of clothes after the last battle had ruined her current outfit, but duty waited for no one.

Besides, she thought, casting a glance at the now healed arm that was ravaged by a hellhound, she quite liked the asymmetrical look of having bandages on one arm and normal cloth on the other. "A clearing next to a riverbed, surrounded by a thick treeline?" The girl's mind whirled as she walked towards her companions, former cheer returning to her expression and voice. "Since they have yet to be alerted to our presence, this one thinks an ambush would be quite plausible. Though the flyers are a danger, the lush forest canopy ought to hide us from prying eyes in the sky."
 
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