Revisiting Spindrift: Alpha Strike Planning

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 2 PM – The Godcarvers]

That evening, the Spindrift Away Team emerged from the signature white
and black banded Tunnel mouth of Finfin’s Dimensional Fold, stepping out
onto the memorized spot in the Godcarver winter camp now being pressed
into service as a telepad. As planned, the elven wizard had more
passengers returning than had departed that morning. Tramma, as planned,
had joined the expedition, with the wizards and Alaelia picking her up
that morning from Fort Resolute before continuing on to the Yelti city
of Spindrift.

However, not at all unplanned while being *most* welcome, they had yet
one more passenger in this Dimensional Fold from Spindrift. Holding
Alaelia’s hand in the hand-in-hand chain was another woman dressed in
much the same manner as the Moon Priestess. Any particularly astute
observer might have noticed that the newcomer’s Bitani finery was, if
anything, even slightly more ornate than Alaelia’s.

“You’re glowing again,” Josie cheerfully accused Alaelia as the
newcomers made their way into the camp.

“Perhaps,” the Moon Priestess allowed. “Just as I recall a certain pop
singer glowing this morning.”

“Ya got me there,” Josie laughed. “So who’s your friend?”

Alaelia smiled. “Everyone, please meet a very dear friend of mine from
way back. It is my *great* pleasure to introduce Songbird, Yeltanar’s
Sybil of the Moon.”

Those familiar with the inner workings of the Tellic Church could
recognize the title as an ecclesiastical rank favoured by the Bitani for
a range of positions, varying from Abbot Kenobi’s equal at one end to
the overall Patriarch (or Matriarch) of the Church at the other extreme.
Unlike some, the Bitani were clearly not obsessed with ranks and titles.

Sister Erin, however, well understood what the rank meant. “Your Grace?”
the young Belmakian asked quickly. “Abbot Kenobi is in his personal
tent, getting ready for the Evening Mass. I would be honored to show you
the way.”

“No need,” Alaelia answered easily, and nodded to the array of colourful
charts the clerk had been discussing with her fellow priestess,
Laurelin. “I can introduce Songbird; it rather looks like you have your
hands full.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Erin had to admit.

“So you show our good Captain here what you have crafted,” the Moon
Priestess suggested, “while I introduce my Sister in Faith to the Boss.”
Alaelia winked at Erin, and added, “And I promise we shall behave.”

“Yes, ma’am!” the Belmakian replied, rather more cheerfully this time.
So while the two Bitani – *three*, including their most recent convert,
Tramma – were headed off to the Abbot’s tent, Erin was laying out one
colourful chart after another.

“That should certainly leave a mark,” the elven Captain mused
approvingly as he looked over the estimation at how much damage the
“Alpha Strike” team could perform in a single instant. “And I like the
distribution of damage types, in case our Dead Raiser is highly
resistant to any one form.” He chuckled grimly as he observed, “Though I
am unaware of any resistances to Hizzoner calling upon the Sky King to
impale our kobold with a sixty foot sword. I rather like both its
effectiveness, and the statement that it will make to the survivors.”

“Will you be adding something yourself?” Erin asked politely.

“I am not much of a Boom Mage,” the elf admitted. “I *can* toss a
fireball at need, but I have not done so in ages.”

“Shockbolt?” Laurelin asked. Those had indeed been one of his signature
spells in their seaborne – and especially underwater – adventures together.

However, the elf shook his head. “If he is as tough as we suspect, he
would likely bounce the whole thing.” He quickly did some figuring in
his head, and mused, “I could work in a Cone of Cold; the range appears
short enough. Though I am concerned how it might interact with the
Pillars of Flame and Fireballs that will also be raining down on this
target.”

“You could always try that Cone of Base you and Gil picked up ages ago,”
Laurelin suggested.

“Alkalai Spray?” Finfin considered, and then nodded. “Indeed. This might
be a fine time for that. I shall see if I can work it in. Now, let us
turn to the defenses.” Obligingly, Sister Erin produced an even more
elaborately colour coded table.

“Very nice,” Finfin stated after a moment. “I had not realized exactly
how much Great Medicine Woman Jeyshann’s defensive buffs can aid us.”

“*Nearly* all of ye,” Erin corrected. “One of ye has ta be left out, and
Jeyshann rather made it clear it’d be the DwarfLord.”

“He *is* easily the toughest of all of us,” Finfin mused, “and likely
the least in need. Except in one area.”

“You see it too?” Laurelin asked quietly, glancing around to confirm
that the Khuzdar was not standing behind her.

“Indeed,” the elven captain agreed. “Balzac is absolutely and without
question the toughest fighter here, and quite likely the best in this
corner of the continent. But his defense in combat hinges on an
overwhelming offense. Which IS a viable strategy.”

“Until it isn’t,” Laurelin observed sagely. In their careers, both elves
had seen overwhelming forces meet immovable objects… and the results had
not been pretty for either side.

“Exactly,” Finfin agreed. “I have no idea what a ‘formorian’ or whatever
his team encountered the other morning actually is, but they may well
have been a case in point. So I would like to see what extra defenses we
might bring to bear. Do you mind if I mark up this very handsome chart?”

“Please do,” Erin encouraged the elf. “It’s a working document, and when
all the changes are made, I’ll be sure ta make a final version, pretty
as ye please.”

“Thank you.” To Laurelin, he asked, “You are willing to share the load
of Stoneskins for all with me?”

“Of course,” the elven priestess agreed.

“Good,” Finfin replied, adding a few notes to Erin’s chart.”We can
discuss whether or not to bill the material expense with Hizzoner. But
for Balzac in particular,” he pondered. “I shall do my best to come up
with a spare Displacement for him. That should help considerably.”

Laurelin nodded. A Displacement spell of her own had prevented her from
becoming Hippo food not too long before.

“There’re a few fings Oi can add ta ‘is DwarfLordShip,” Mithi suggested,
and after reaching for Erin’s chart, added several entries of her own to
what might aid the Khuzdar.

Finfin looked at his apprentice with considerable respect; the last
spellcasting discussion between the young wizard and the DwarfLord had
not gone well. “You would be willing to cast all of those fine buff
spells on Balzac?” he asked carefully.

“Most certainly,” Mithi replied with an impish grin. “All the more proof
of ‘ow important it is ta ‘ave working mages *willin’* ta ‘elp. An’
‘aving a bunch of spells on record might be ‘andy if ‘e gets shirty
about payin’ again.”

“It will be part of the Abbot’s records,” Erin affirmed.

Finfin next turned his attention to a different section of the defensive
list. “And I rather like the defensive effect of Hizzoner’s Greater
Angelic Aspect,” the elf added. “It is not *quite* as good as the full
bore Globe of Invulnerability that I had to abandon, but it has one key
advantage that mine lacks.”

“You mean, ‘is will work, while your’s wouldn’t?” Mithi quipped cheekily.

“Exactly,” Finfin agreed. “That IS a *most* important difference. Mine
would be left behind by the teleport, while his would accompany him –
and us.” He glanced at the layers of defenses, and added, “In addition
to Balzac, I should like to shore up both Laquendi and Jeyshann, the Cat
Priestess as she is liable to share in any damage that hits any of us,
and we must keep her standing.”

“I can work with the Boss to see if he can swing a few extra prayers,”
Erin promised.

“Thank you,” the elf replied sincerely. “And if I can find a way to
offer it without giving offense, the day before we launch I would be
willing to offer Jeyshann a Superior Resistance. Not, alas, a permanent
one, but one that will last long enough.”

“Oi’m sure ye’ll be fine,” Mithi replied reassuringly.

He smiled warmly at his apprentice before checking his own far less
elaborate notes. “Laurelin,” he mused. “If you would care for one, a day
or so before the big Raid, I could provide you with a Superior
Resistance as well. If you wish.”

“Sure,” the elven priestess replied with an enigmatic smile. “But if you
have a better use for the slot, I'll be okay.”

She would indeed; the magical defenses she could bring to bear were
considerable. But the theme of this expedition seemed to be overkill,
and it was hard to be TOO cautious. “With it’s long duration,” Finfin
judged, “I should be able to fit in a couple before the final retool on
Raid Day.”

He then reached again for Erin’s damage estimates. “Might I see this
again?” At the clerk’s nod, he ran a finger down the columns, and
nodded. To Laurelin, he asked, “I take it you were able to help the
DwarfLord obtain a coachbow from Kirgond for his Candles of Blasting?”

“We did,” the elven priestess agreed. “And we were able to find you that
sharp cleaver you wanted.” Out of a pocket, Laurelin produced a
remarkably well crafted miniature sword barely over four inches long.
“It’ll look nice in a cocktail glass,” she suggested.

For just a moment, Finfin gaped at his long ago lover. Only after a long
moment did he notice the light in her eye, and recalled her offbeat
sense of humor.

“Of course for chopping kobolds,” the priestess blithely continued, “you
might want bigger. Size isn’t *everything*,” she quipped to Mithi. “But
it does help.”

Mithi nearly collapsed from a fit of giggles, while Laurelin spoke an
arcane command word… and held in her hand was now a full sized sheathed
falchion. “They didn’t have any particular quality toys like this
sitting waiting on the shelf,” she shrugged, easily holding up the large
two handed weapon in her hand, “but they did have a standard rack grade
one, and they asked me to pass along one of their cards.”

With her free hand, she deftly plucked a small business card from
another pocket, and handed it to Finfin. As expected, it held the name
of a premier weaponshop, along with the motto of the dwarven city’s
famed trade:

The Weapon Shops of Kirgond
The right to buy weapons is the right to be free

“If you come in and make an appointment,” Laurelin continued easily,
“they will be happy to measure one up for you and make you whatever you
need.”

“I shall do that sometime,” Finfin promised. “But for our purposes on
this raid, a Greater Magic Weapon and a Tenser’s will suffice.” After
accepting the blade from the priestess, he mused, “You know, that trick
with a Shrink Item could make for a *very* handy concealed weapon. Carry
a folded handkerchief in a pocket or a sleeve, flip it out, and after a
command word, you have a two handed sword in your hands.”

“Could even make it Permanent,” Mithi suggested.

Both elves nodded. “An even better holdout weapon than my Nogrodnan
toy,” Finfin agreed.

With that, they returned their study to the planning tables and charts.