So here's a basic plan based on what we know. I'll obviously adjust to use TSS if that turns out to be viable with Stoking Engage. Notably, Discord conversation made it extra clear that fire may be a bad call here.
[X] Plan Speedy Engagement
-[X] Assign our 8 shapeshifting slots to Increased Lung Capacity x8
-[X] Use Sundersight to analyze our opponents weaknesses as we fight
-[X] Invest 4 Orthstirr in Hugr, 2 in Fylgja, 2 in Composure, 4 in Tactics, 4 in Scouting (-16 Orthstirr)
-[X] Unassign Heated Shroud, assign Beaconlight. Assign all Hugareida levels of Standstill to Instances (+5 Instances total).
-[X] Activate Banish the Night
-[X] 101d6 Attack (101d6 tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Defense (0d6 tricks)
-[X] 40d6 Intercept (40d6 tricks)
-[X] Draw a shield, put 5 Orthstirr each into 10 layers of Reinforce Shield each on the shield and armor before the combat begins (Total -10 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate Stoker State 4 (-12 Orthstirr), Slipstream (-8 Orthstirr), Beaconlight (-3 Orthstirr), Mire Ward (-6 Orthstirr), and Against The Odds (-35 Orthstirr). All actions below should add the bonus from Against The Odds, but that's variable and thus not added. If we count as in sunlifght, all attacks should also add the +1d6 from Sunshine, but again, that's not clear and thus has not been added.
-[X] Put up two 40d6+7 Atgeir Bodyguards adding 1 Odr each on Abjorn (-92 Orthstirr, -2 Odr), and an Atgeir Counter-Stab prepped to make 28 3d6+7 Sharpened Basic Attacks adding 1 Odr (-36 Orthstirr, -1 Odr), having Sagaseeker take charge of one of the Bodyguards and the Counter-Stab using them himself. Draw Burning Caress. Ask Shadeclaw to guard him as well, to the best of her ability when not worn.
-[X] Set up a 120d6+7 Semi-Halting Vortex adding 6 Odr (Total -121 Orthstirr, +4 Stoked Pool, -6 Odr) set up to only be used as a rolled defense never as a Perfect, and do not use it against Fleinns
-[X] As backups, put up a 40d6+7 Sword Guard (-44 Orthstirr), and three 40d6+7 Semi-Halting Vortexes (Total -123 Orthstirr, +12 Stoked Pool) set up to only be used as rolled defenses never as Perfects, and neither against Fleinns
-[X] Make a Stoking Engage for 36 Stoked Pool, making thirty-six 3d6+7 Sharpened Basic Attacks (-49 Orthstirr, -36 Stoked Pool, +144 Stoked Pool) all followed up by 4d6+7 Sharpened Sword Strike Basic Attacks (-324 Orthstirr total, +144 Stoked Pool), then using a 273d6+7 Sharpened Stoking Cleave adding 270 Stoked Pool (-13 Orthstirr, -270 Stoked Pool) to attack all shades nearby, being careful not to harm the forest as much as possible, and making sure to release the energy as force rather than fire.
-[X] If the Stoked Engage is broken prematurely use the Stoking Cleave prematurely as well, burning enough Stoked Pool to get down well below our cap but leaving at least a few dice.
-[X] Against ranged attacks, defending should be easy and simple due to Mire Ward. If something cancels that defend the same as against melee attacks below.
-[X] Against melee attacks against Halla default to using Contested Movement (-1 Orthstirr, 12d6+7 Hamr Roll) and counterattack with Sharpened Lightning Charged Basic Attacks (-2 Orthstirr), if attacked by multiple opponents at once use the big Semi-Halting Vortex, then Sword Guard, and then the smaller Semi-Halting Vortexes and quick-drawn Shield Sacrifices (-Reinforce Shield usage or -3 Endurance on one Shield). If we fail on the opposed roll with Contested Movement stop using it, just use the other defenses in the listed sequence.
-[X] For Abjorn, always defend with the big Semi-Halting Vortex, then use the two Atgeir Bodyguards, then the three smaller Semi-Halting Vortexes, then Contested Movement and/or up to forty 2d6+7 Reinforced Hefty-Halter Chop defenses (-4 Orthstirr each) as seems appropriate. If we have to prioritize defending one of the two of us, defend Abjorn over ourselves.
-[X] If attacked with a Fleinn that isn't handled by Mire Ward do not use Guards, just go straight to using a Shield.
-[X] If needed, and only if needed, use Slowing Slog for 9 DR adding 3 Odr for duration (-81 Orthstirr, and -3 Odr) to reduce damage against ourselves.
-[X] Tactics – The basic idea here is to set up some serious defenses in depth over Abjorn especially (including asking Sagaseeker and Shadeclaw to guard him), and stand over him protectively, then go to town using Stoked Engage as fast as possible to whittle down our enemies numbers as they come to us (we should have Speed 29 for our Stoking Engage stuff), then a Stoking Cleave to really clear them out.
EDIT: Added more active roles for Sagaseeker and Shadeclaw. Added Odr to Slowing Slog if we use it.
EDIT2: Fiddled around to add One Big Semi-Halting Vortex under the circumstances