PART I - ADVANCED FORCES

The final plan and mission members ultimately changed very little from what Callie initially proposed. The only change was for Maugra to go in with the first wave, rather than Bratig. Callie’s initial thinking was that, because he was naturally armored in Guardian form, Bratig was the safer choice on the chance there was combat before the second wave could join. Maugra countered with her own justification for going first, which was simply that she had more experience with Elementals and the Rifts that created them. Thus, she would serve as a better scout than the Druid would, and being able to determine exactly where the Rift was would ultimately save time. For defense concerns, she added that she could use her own Totem-summoned Earth Elemental as a Guardian in a pinch if she was back, and Vanis also had his Fiends. Callie deferred the decision to Vanis, admittingly not knowing very much about the Shaman Elementals, while Rowani worriedly made Maugra promise to stay out of range of any hurled boulders.

That roster change settled, Vanis took to his Sergeant duties, coordinating with Kyra to send Sprites that would retrieve the rest of the mission party. The summons included instructions to get fully armed and armored and proceed directly to a muster point outside of the provisioning building. Ambria was ultimately chosen as the alternate Combat Healer, and Juniper felt confident she’d be able to carry her with the rest of the second-wave as well.

Pixyl arrived at Ogre House soon after Callie, Tazrok and Vanis, not really needing to change any of her armor, except to swap into heavier boots. She also wanted to use the facilities before things started getting crazy. Callie, for her part, had done the same, before needing to switch out the Ranger fedora for her regular helmet, and exchanging her dull training swords for sharpened combat blades. They were part of the gear, even if not likely to help against rocks.

Tazrok also took the time to use the little Ogre’s room before donning his own helmet and strapping a trio of Ironwood daggers to his leg. Well, what he called daggers were more like short swords to most, and almost the length of Callie’s longer blade. The daggers, being made of a natural material, allowed him to shape change with them, unlike if he’d been using steel blades. Unfortunately, Ironwood wasn’t nearly as strong as steel, so they’d tend to wear or break much faster. With his part of the mission being time sensitive, Tazrok then took his leave so he could outfit his potions and start running down the road to catch the Major and Quartermaster.

“What are we fighting?” Pixyl asked as the door closed, while she worked on lacing her boots tight.

“Stone Elementals,” Vanis said flatly as he patted himself down, as if trying to determine if he had forgotten anything. He wore a focused but worried expression on his face.

Pixyl scoffed. “Easy, then.”

“Really?” Vanis asked, distracted momentarily by Pixyl blowing off the threat.

“They have a w-w-weak spot. I can explain once we’re all together.”

“Ahh, that is good to know,” Vanis said, returning to patting himself down, the fretting look still on his face.

“Hey, are you okay?” Callie asked.

“What? Yes, I believe so. I just feel like I’m forgetting something and, honestly, I’m feeling a little unprepared for leading this mission. Captain Huvaen wouldn’t have come this way with a cipher, especially under the cover of being a courier, unless it was something important. While he said the message can wait, I’m afraid part of me is more than a little distracted with concern. Still, that is exactly the reason why Thorn gave me this responsibility at this specific moment, and I must focus on the matter at hand.”

Callie smiled, walking over to take the Elf’s hand, gesturing for him to sit on his bunk. “I totally understand how you’re feeling.”

“I suppose you do,” Vanis said with a chuckle. “You were thrust into the same predicament two weeks ago, weren’t you.”

“I was, and when I felt like you are feeling right now, the Sergeant-Major gave me some really good advice that helped me get focused.”

“Oh really? What was that?”

Grinning, Callie looked Vanis firmly in the eyes. “Get your shit together!” Then she smacked Vanis lightly on the side of his helmet.

Vanis grinned in return, accepting the ‘advice’ in the light spirit it was offered. “That is actually quite helpful, thank you. I needed a laugh.”

“I thought it might be,” Callie giggled. Then she got serious. “She added one more thing, and I think it’s good advice too. She said that when I eventually fucked up, I needed to focus on the problem, and not let emotions get in the way. That stuck with me when the Bogwump fight went sideways a couple times. Deal with the emotion later, focus on the issue now.”

“‘Went sideways’? You sometimes have the strangest ways to say things, Calliope Archer, but your words are always unique poetry nonetheless. I humbly thank you for the inspiration and support.”

“Any time,” Callie said, oddly not feeling any irritation towards Vanis for using her full name.

About ten minutes later, the three arrived at the Provisioning building, having been joined en route by Ambria, Lhawni and Wallir. Olin was already present, along with the senior officers and Captain Huvaen, deep in conversation.

“Sergeant!” Olin called out, seeing Vanis leading his small group and calling him by his acting rank.

“Trainer Olin,” Vanis replied with a nod, clasping wrists with the Lionkin. “Thank you for joining us.”

“No trouble at all,” Olin replied, his excited grin almost as happy as Koda’s always was. “Stone Elementals? This should be interesting. I’ve never fought them before.”

“Nor I, but I know Trainer Maugra has experience with Elementals, so she’ll be able to brief us all on the needed tactics, I’m sure.” Vanis then gestured towards Pixyl. “Apparently, the Corporal-Major also has extensive knowledge, and indicated they have a weakness we can exploit.”

“Just destroy the glowing center stone,” Pixyl said while stretching an arm casually behind her head to loosen up. “They’ll f-f-fall apart instantly. They aren’t that hard to kill.”

“What?” Olin asked the little Pixie, confused curiosity on his face. “Please, explain, if you would.”

Pixyl sighed, realizing she’d probably need to do this a few more times. “I’ve fought them in the past. They are just made up of a b-b-bunch of random rocks, held together by magic. In the center is a glowing stone. Think of it as their heart. If you destroy that, or separate it from the rest of their body, they die. Our Ethereal swords go right through it easily enough. I’m sure Ethereal Blast will be j-j-just as effective.”

“How do you know this?” Thorn asked, his face as confused as everyone else's. “From Marindine?”

“That’s right. I’ve fought them many times in the Pits,” Pixyl said, nodding. After the first Demon demonstration, a few details of Pixyl’s past as a veteran pit fighter quickly made their way through the camp, most people in further awe of the tiny Bladeweaver. Bratig, in particular, was given a new round of grief for who he chose to pick on that first day, and realized that had he not caught her unawares, Pixyl would have completely kicked his ass.

“Fought them? Even if true, these are Greater Elementals. They summon and throw boulders,” Captain Huvaen said incredulously. He’d been briefly warned by Vanis that Pixyl was a melee-oriented Pixie, but was having problems wrapping his head around how she could have battled Stone Elementals. She was just so tiny. How could she have survived such a thing?

“Greater Stone Elementals?” Pixyl said nonchalantly. “You just need to w-w-watch where they throw so you aren’t where it lands. They can’t summon again for at least fifteen seconds, so that’s you’re opening to get in and destroy the core.”

“Recruit Pixyl, how many times have you fought these?” Xera asked, amazed that the Bladeweaver could be so casual about something so dangerous, despite the shows she’d put on demonstrating the Demons.

“Greater Stone ones? At least a few dozen times, probably,” Pixyl shrugged again. “Usually in groups of three or f-f-four at a time. That was as many as our Elementalist could create at once.”

“Well, it appears they are in expert hands, Captain,” Legate Galin said with a twinkle in his eyes as he clapped the visitor’s shoulder.

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“But …” Huvaen gasped, tumbling over his words. Eventually, all he could blabber out was, “But she’s a Pixie!”, gesturing towards her with two hands.

“Who is this guy?” Pixyl sneered, glaring as she looked him up and down. He didn’t look like much, and honestly, was acting like a bit of an ass.

“He’s a captain in the Imperial Guard,” Vanis muttered. “Although you wouldn’t know it from his attitude.”

“And she’s probably going to hit Silver tier tomorrow, leveling that far from Iron after only four weeks,” Olin added in a growl, defending his recruit. “A little more respect, if you would, Captain.” Olin added a heavy sneer at spitting out Huvaen’s rank.

Pixyl just scoffed an implied ‘whatever’, blowing off the visitor and refocusing on the group in general. “Just go for the center stone and they will drop like … well, they’ll drop like rocks.”

“Cool!” Callie cheered. “Sounds simple enough. Tazrok may need to go Hellhound though. His spider legs may be too thin to stand up to being hit by a thrown boulder.”

Ambria laughed. “Hellhound form would still be devastating. Remember what he did to that poor giant eel that was eating Trainer Reynard?”

“Hellhound?” Huvaen said, still confused. “The Ogre? Surely you jest!”

“Captain, a word, if I may?” Vanis growled. He was getting irritated at Huvaen’s constant interruptions of disbelief and, quite honestly, the effect his incredulous attitude might have on the morale of the other recruits. Pixyl was happy to laugh any negativity off, and probably Callie too, but the rest of the team didn’t need him constantly second-guessing everything going into an unknown situation.

“Sire?” the captain asked after they had stepped away.

“Captain, I ask that you only make me say this once. You need to speak less and withhold your constant negative comments. Each of the recruits here are well-qualified, easily surpassing the power and skills of many non-officers in the Imperial Guard. You would do well to treat each of them only with respect. Many here are unusual, but have proven themselves time and time again. Yes, we have an Ogre Druid, that Pixie is an incredibly-skilled Bladeweaver, and we even have a Cheetahkin Beastmaster. Callie, that silly, unicorn-riding Gnome that we just watched plan this entire mission in just over two minutes, is also a Ranger, with aptitude far surpassing her simple Bronze Tier.”

“A Ranger?” Huvaen laughed back at the pink-haired Gnome, currently giggling about something as if she was only ten years old. “How could she even shoot a bow?”

“Callie?” Vanis called out, not breaking eye contact with the Captain.

“‘Sup?”

“If you would, summon your bow to show Captain Huvaen.”

“Uh, sure, I guess,” Callie replied, shrugging. She snapped out her arm, the magic Heartwood bow appearing in the blink of a moment.

“Now, she has a bow,” Vanis said curtly, not looking at Callie and this time speaking loud enough that everyone could hear. “So, kindly comport yourself as is fitting a captain in the Imperial Guard, and keep your foolish comments to yourself! Don’t make this an order. Do you understand?”

Huvaen swallowed, eyes drawn to the obviously magical bow the Gnome was holding. “Yes, Sire.”

“Duwana!” Vanis hissed in finality. He didn’t even wait for the response before he turned his back and walked to the rest of the team, his face re-brightening.

“Apologies for briefly stepping away,” Vanis said, pretending he hadn’t just publicly chastised Huvaen.

“Not a problem,” Callie sighed, storing her bow away again. She had heard the entire conversation with her Gnome ears, and could see why Vanis was irritated. She gestured to herself and Pixyl, speaking quietly. “I have a feeling we’ll encounter that everywhere we go, won’t we. Jerks like him, that is.”

“Regrettably,” Vanis concurred. “You certainly recall what it was like those first few days here for you both. But, you’ve more than proven yourselves in only a few short weeks.”

“Please don’t tell the others I said this,” Olin said to Pixyl after overhearing Vanis, “but you’re one of the finest students I’ve ever trained. I’ve only had one other reach Silver by the end of the fourth week, and he was already mid-tier Bronze when he arrived. The biggest challenge has been untraining you of some of your old habits”

“Thanks,” Pixyl replied, blushing, embarrassed slightly by the praise.

“And what’s this about hitting Silver tomorrow?” Callie asked. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“With my l-l-luck, I’ll miss it by two points, just like you did,” Pixyl said, blushing even deeper. “But I was Bronze.988 this morning. I just wanted to save it as a surprise, until I was sure.”

“We’re going into combat, so you definitely will get twelve measly points.” Callie cheered, giving her blushing friend a hug. “We will be able to celebrate tomorrow!” Ambria quickly concurred that a Homeday celebration was going to be needed. Even Wallir, who wasn’t really part of Pixyl’s close friend group, was excited for the little Bladeweaver.

Callie caught Vanis shooting a glare at the Captain, cutting off any comments before they formed. She wasn’t sure what the Captain’s problem was, but was glad Vanis set things straight before she had to say something she’d probably regret. Still, Vanis was right, the first few days here were accompanied by a lot of people expressing constant disbelief about her and the other two anomalies. Now everyone was used to the constant oddness of the camp, to the point that Jesca’s Beastmaster class and unicorn companion walking around with her was only considered strange for two days or so. In fact, Artemis was now generally greeted by everyone, by name, as they walked by, almost as if she was another recruit.

Bratig and Melga soon arrived, seeming worried about what was happening. Bratig asked if it was another Bogwump nest, and Melga breathed a sigh of relief when informed it wasn’t, not relishing the idea of anything even remotely related to water or swamps. Apparently, Dwarves sank even faster than Gnomes did.

Next to arrive were the recently inseparable Rowani and Maugra. Looking at the two now-young trainers, Callie noted that they seemed to have become almost as close as she and Pixyl had. Given the subtle animosity that had been directed at them over the last two weeks, Callie understood why that might be the case, and she hated to see the two of them as pariahs. Thankfully, things of late had seemed to finally be easing as people started moving on. The two trainers still kept to themselves, though, seeming to be extremely reluctant to let down their personal guards. Maugra didn’t have any ‘friends’ before her youth transformation, her sour mood essentially driving everyone away, and Rowani had mostly kept to herself, not fitting in with the other, younger trainers. Now that they had returned to the prime of their lives, they weren’t really sure how to make friends again.

The next to arrive was Juniper, accompanied by Loki, who was now proudly sporting a well-fitting leather helmet of his own. It didn’t look like it would provide much protection, and Callie suspected the little plant-monster just wanted to be like everyone else, and Juniper had somehow talked Fullo into making it for him. Still, he looked really cute.

Cheena was the last to join the team, a little breathless after a hard flight from her cabin. “Apologies for the delay,” Cheena said after resuming her Elf form. “Maugra informed me it was Stone Elementals, and I had an old Talisman with an Elemental warding on it I wanted to find.” She removed a round, dark-red piece of stone tinged with flecks of light blues from a leather pouch on her belt. It hung on a leather cord to allow the user to wear it around their neck. “Once activated, it will weaken the bonds of any Elementals within a few meters of whoever wears this. Unfortunately, it also would affect our Totem-summoned Elementals if we use them, so we'll want to be aware of that if we activate it.”

“That could be quite useful,” Vanis said as a thank you.

“Unfortunately, it only has one use per day, and only for a short time. Still, anything helps.”

Now that everyone on the team had arrived, save Tazrok, who had already departed to chase down the Major and Quartermaster, Vanis proceeded to give a quick mission overview and organize everyone loosely into the two transport waves. Spirits remained high, although the prospects of Juniper using her ability to teleport everyone via the trees added a significant unease for some reason.

“The biggest danger with Stone Elementals,” Maugra explained, “is that while they are slow, they hit very hard, so all of us healers need to be aware of the kinds of crush injuries we will be seeing. Since at least some of these are Greater Elementals, their thrown rocks are an extra threat, and some of those rocks can get quite large. It’s critical you know if one is throwing, so you can be aware where it’s going to be landing. For the smaller people, we could get outright squashed if we don’t watch ourselves. Also note, the Guardian Druids won’t be able to use a Taunt on the Elementals, as they are immune to charms, so be careful that you don’t appear to be the bigger threat.”

“I have a melded threat suppression aura that should help, assuming it works on the Elementals,” Vanis added. “It has a range of about five meters, so those close to me should draw less attention as long as I channel it.”

“Hmm. If it’s a variation on a charm, it’s not likely to,” Maugra said, mulling the idea over. “See what happens, but just be ready to scatter if something is incoming. Above all, don’t risk being squashed.”

Pixyl also took a few moments to explain the weakness the Elementals had to those that had just arrived, with Maugra concurring, wowing those new arrivals first learning more about her extensive background fighting them, in addition to the Demons they already knew about. She, of course, waved it all off as a casual every-day thing to be fighting boulder-throwing rock monsters, but Callie could sense she was enjoying impressing the others a bit. “Just remember, they are m-m-made of stone,” Pixyl said. “They will be resistant to anything but blunt and magical attacks, except piercing attacks directly to their glowing stone hearts.”

While the quick overview-briefing had been ongoing, those in the first wave collected their potion allocations from the stand-in provisioner, along with Healer kits and three body bags, of which Olin and Cheena each took one. The goal was to get the first group on site quickly, so Maugra could start scouting and Rowani could backtrack along the road to retrieve Tazrok. They’d be arriving still missing a few things, but would be a few kilometers from the Elementals, so the threat was considered minimal if they didn’t engage. The second wave would bring anything else that might be needed, as well as food and other provisions for after the fight.

Xera shared some final words of encouragement, echoing Maugra’s warning about not getting hit by boulders, with pointed glances at Pixyl, Lhawni and Callie. Legate Galin also offered parting thoughts, and even Captain Huvaen seemed to get his negativity under control enough to at least wish everyone ‘good hunting’.

Vanis set off with the others, Juniper at his side. In order to carry all four people at once, along with the second wave of eight, the Dryad would need to use the twisting vine-tree over the Medical tent as her starting point, jumping from the camp to her Heartwood tree deep in the forest first. From there, she’d teleport to the final destination at the forest’s edge, before returning the same way. Callie and the rest had been assured by Juniper several times that her method of travel was perfectly safe, and coming from the Dryad, there was absolutely no way anyone was going to believe that.