PART III - TRAVEL AGENCY
Callie scrunched up her eyes in near disbelief, hand on her face. “Let me see if I have this straight. We need to go close a magical Rift that is creating rock monsters, and the longer it takes the more rock monsters there will be, and in the meantime we’re cut off from Meadowglade.”
“That’s right,” Xera said.
“And we don’t have enough mounts for people to ride, and only one Druid that can carry anyone the whole way quickly, while using the transport cart will be too slow.” She glanced out the window. “And we’d need to attack in the next, maybe, five hours or so to have enough light left, otherwise we realistically need to wait until tomorrow, unless everyone has Darkvision, which isn’t likely. That’s bad, because more rock monsters will emerge from this Rift thing during the night, so we really need to address this quickly.”
“That’s also correct,” Vanis confirmed.
Callie stared at the two maps in front of her, lining them both roughly up with each other, even though the scale was off. From what it looked like, the forest extended to a point only a few kilometers from the rock formation, the road winding around it to the north. From there, it was essentially open fields the rest of the way.
“How many people are needed for this fight?” Callie asked.
Nobody was quite sure, but Maugra recommended a sizable force just to be sure. Ten to twelve was chosen as a general target, under the assumption that there would be a lot of Elementals, but maybe more if there were delays.
“I don’t suppose you have anyone in camp that knows teleport magic?” Callie asked with a flippant laugh. She wasn’t seeing a way to get people moved quickly, and time was ticking to make it before night would threaten.
“Sorry, no Astralists here,” Xera said. “They are incredibly, incredibly rare, and there hasn’t been a need.”
“And I’m sure you can’t carry anyone through the trees,” Callie mumbled to Juniper, again being flippant, her thoughts just spilling out in a random stream.
“Of course I can,” the Dryad said.
You wouldn’t have needed Gnome ears to have heard a pin drop as all eyes turned to the Sylvan.
“What did you say?” Callie asked quietly.
“Yes, I believe I could carry up to two people with me.”
“And why didn’t you say anything?” Callie snarled, throwing her arms out.
“You wished to move many people, so I did not think it important.”
Callie took a calming breath, resisting the urge to wring her green friend’s neck on general principle. “Okay, you can take two people. Could you bring them here?” She pointed to the edge of the forest, as close as possible to both the road and the Elementals.
“Of course,” Juniper nodded, her voice chirpy. “I could even bring up to four, if they are all smaller races.”
“Hang on. So how many people you can carry is based on how much everybody weighs in total?”
“Yes.”
Callie took another irritated breath, now imagining additional potential ways to wring Juniper’s neck. An idea was starting to form, though, and slowly narrowing her eyes, she asked, “What if someone was holding a Druid or Shaman in one of their small forms, like a Druid’s stealth form. Does that count as something tiny or as what their size is normally.”
“They would only be as big as their transformed animal, so I could probably take more if they were held by someone.”
A bit of a rumble went around the room, as people started to feel the situation changing. Callie quickly held up a hand. She didn’t want anyone to derail Juniper. Slowly and carefully she asked, “How many times can you do this quickly?”
The Dryad scrunched up her face. “I would need to go from here to my tree, and then from there to the final destination. As a result, I am able to only make two complete trips. I could only take people out, and then return. After that, I must rest. I’ve been working on improving my Heartwood tree so I may use its power more often, but trees do take time to grow and change.”
“Last question,” Callie asked, still wording everything carefully, making sure Juniper didn’t misunderstand anything. “How quickly, after you took people out and came back, could you take another group out?”
“With how I’ve grown my tree, about one hour now, perhaps a little less.”
Callie tapped the pencil to her cheek as she slid to the floor and started to pace, Xera urging everyone out of her way as they smiled, recognizing that Callie had shifted into strategizing-mode.
“Where’s the Major?” Callie asked, looking around the room and really noticing for the first time the officer was absent, having just assumed she’d be here for any mission planning like this. “She might be helpful.”
“I’d assume she’s up on the field,” the Legate said. “But now that you mention her, she didn’t come when the attack horn sounded.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Kyra?” Xera called out as they reached under the table.
The door opened. “Yes, Commandant?”
“Could you ask a Sprite to retrieve the Major? She should be on the training field.”
“She isn’t here. She went into Meadowglade with the shipment Quartermaster Baelneis was taking, as one of her guards.” Kyra glanced at the Captain, before adding, “That important shipment. They should be back by midday tomorrow with return supplies. That’s why the Bunkerball game was moved to the afternoon.”
“Oh shit!” Callie gasped as a sudden dread overtook the room. “How long ago did they leave?”
“I’m not sure,” Kyra said. “Two or three hours, perhaps? I saw Quartermaster Baelneis around ten, so they left sometime after that.”
----------------------------------------
“Hell,” Legate snarled. “We need a real plan so someone can warn them. Can Juniper intercept?”
“Hang on!” Callie snapped. “Let me figure this out.”
For a half moment, Galin was about to rebuke Callie at being cut off, but then he saw her deep in thought, seeming to draw rapidly in the air with her pencil, and held back.
“You didn’t see them on the road?” Vanis asked the Captain as they all watched Callie do whatever she was doing.
“I mostly came overland. I must have ridden around them.”
Vanis snarled in frustration, before focusing back on the Gnome.
Callie paced as she drew, trying to run all the permutations in her head. In her mind, she saw the transport slots Juniper would have, and started shoving different people into each of them, trying to build as large a team as she could, given the several constraints. Since Vanis was leading, he needed to be present for sure, unless someone else took over for him. He may not be the most-optimal choice against non-living Elementals, but at least his summoned Demons would be a useful distraction, if nothing else, and his threat suppression aura would help keep the ranged from being bombarded. She focused the other openings on the four-role tactics.
Guardians. She only had one slot for a non-shapeshifting normal-sized person, and the Major wasn’t available. Callie needed Tazrok for something else, so who could fill the role? Koda maybe? Possibly one of the Bladedancers? Actually, one of Bratig’s forms was literally called a Rockjaw, and his Guardian form was naturally armored in addition to having a smashy, spiked tail. That would work and not use the large-person slot, since he could be carried. The rest of the Druids would be there, too, also carried by someone, so some could go Guardian if need be. By that token, Vanis’s Fiends were sort of throw-away Guardians, or at least a meaty shield.
Strikers. Fighting with swords seemed pointless against rock monsters, so the Duelists were all out. But the Bladeweavers could slice through anything and blow things up from short range. Perfect for rocks! Without the Major, there was a space for a regular sized person; so take one of the Bladeweaver students? No, best not to screw around, so take Olin. She didn’t know if there was a limit on the number of trainers, but neither Xera nor Thorn said anything, so he was perfect. Pixyl as another Striker, then, since she was small and could go with the second wave. If more Strikers were needed, again there were Druids and whatever Vanis called forth.
Healers. Lots of them were available already. Between Druids and Shamans, that should be covered. Maybe one Combat Healer to help with pain? If there was room, it would need to be someone small, so Ambria or Tasi.
Ranged. She should go for sure, her layered arrows could blow things up with a Piercing Burst Shot. Plus, Juniper would be there, and she had plant options, while the Shamans could unleash Elemental-magic hell. Which Shamans? Maugra needed to go for sure, to seal the rift. Should they take Lhawni? One of the Goblin guys? Better to not mess around. If Cheena came along, she could handle the rift if Maugra wasn’t able to for some reason, and would be able to be carried.. Maybe also bring Lhawni primarily as a healer? Her only animal form wasn’t much smaller than she normally was, so couldn’t be carried by someone.
“I’ve got a plan,” Callie finally said after less than a minute, seeming to push her invisible air-writing out of the way. “Juniper, tell me if you could do exactly what I say.”
The Dryad nodded in rapt attention.
“I need you to take two groups to this point.” Callie jabbed on the map. “The first wave is Vanis, since he’s the Sergeant, and Trainer Olin, and they will be carrying Bratig and Trainer Rowani in their smallest forms. Could you transport that many?”
“I believe so, yes,” Juniper confirmed with a sharp nod, Loki mimicking her confidence.
“Good. As soon as you drop them off, you get back here so you can recharge for the next group. That wave will be Pixyl, me, and Lhawni. We’re going to be carrying Wallir, Melga, Maugra and Cheena in their tiniest forms. If you think you could take another small race, then we can add either Ambria or Healer Tasi.”
The Dryad thought for a moment, Loki striking the same pose, before saying, “I believe I could do that as well.”
“What about Tazrok?” Vanis asked. “I’d think we want him for this.”
Callie shook her head, before turning to the Ogre. “Tazrok, you will run the Major and Quartermaster down and stop them before they get to the rocks. Your curvax form is fast as hell over long distances, faster than one of the camp’s would be with a rider. You could sprint all the way to the Elementals without tiring, if you needed to, right? Especially on the road?”
The Ogre nodded. “Yes. Can run long ways, very fast, as curvax.”
“Good! You should be able to catch them quickly, then.”
“I could fly to them,” Rowani suggested, then demurred. “Actually, fifteen kilometers or more at a sprint could be a bit taxing. I have great speed to maybe eight kilometers, maybe ten, but not the endurance of Tazrok’s Curvax form, even after my change.”
“That was my thinking, too,” Callie said. “I’ve got something for you to do when you get there, too.”
“I’d still want Tazrok for the fight,” Vanis said flatly. “He’s just too useful against things we may need to smash.”
Tazrok grinned at the compliment.
Callie nodded. “I’ve got you covered.” Then she turned to Rowani. “When you arrive with the first group, you go bird form and fly back along the road to meet Tazrok at the wagon. I’d guess they’ll be fairly close to you by that point unless the Major and Baelneis have really been taking their time. Then lead him back to everyone else.” Callie looked back to Vanis. “While she does that, Bratig can use his flight form to scout out the Elementals. He just needs to stay out of range of any attacks.”
Callie turned to Xera and Galin. “That would make an attacking force of thirteen or fourteen people, depending on the Combat Healer, in a little over an hour, plus prep time and any extra time needed to retrieve Tazrok. Does that work?”
There was a quiet silence before Thorn whistled slowly. “That was one-hundred twenty eight seconds, from when she told the Legate to shut up and let her think.”
“Who won?” Maugra asked.
Shaking his head slowly in disbelief, Thorn gestured to Xera. “The Commandant said ‘under three minutes’. Rowani was next with under five.”
“I trust you all to pay up by the end of the day tomorrow, once you’ve returned,” Xera said smugly, winking at Callie. “Corporal Vanis, Corporal Tazrok, we’ll work out a suitable substitute for coin. Fifteen minutes? Truly, your Majesty, what were you thinking?”