Going with your gut is what this story has been all about. On my end as well. I have been trying to invoke the sensation of being a leader in an arcane martial conflict. But the decisions I have been bouncing off of are Vibria's ethical choices. Her diplomacy more so than strategy. She is doing strategic thinking and doing general stuff that is beyond our ken. But that is a function of her ability scores. Like her magic. And you are learning where the character needs to improve before the next time you do this.
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Azevastjepan glares, pulls you aside and growls a whisper in your ear. Don't push it! They don't know who you are but they know who you are not! But sign and sigil on the scroll prove the deal is real, and they'll follow you. You can end this war. Don't blow it!
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Basically, though not as hard as you may think. Instead of convincing them they need help, just help. Think in three dimensions. The magi will see enemies drop out of the sky, you land and tell them to say thank you.
Sebastian will fill you in latter on about the treasure. Only the headmaster knows about it, he knows the deal, and only Sebastian can access it and even then only under imperial command. Or at least that's what he tells you.
This will end the war. That is almost certain. You outnumber the Stormriders, you will have them by surprise. With their defeat (and assimilation), all Magic Realm Dragons will be united and Infernal forces will crumble. The Pax Draconis will be restored as enforced by this newly formed Order of the Dragon.
That isn't what this story is about.
This story has two questions left to be resolved. It is almost over.
[tab][/tab]Will Vibria be able to maintain her humanity and not screw everything up with her greed and fantasies about being a dragon?
and...
[tab][/tab]How well will Vibria perform in this upcoming battle? Survival hangs in the balance.
Vibria lies awake long into the night mulling over her options and strategies for the battle on the morrow. First and foremost is her belief that she can't be a back-line general: she feels the need to be, if not in the thick of the battle, at least close enough to make a difference.
She decides to take the skyship in high enough for her to get a good vantage point (crow's nest?), and to get her commands disseminated to her forces.
The hardest decision for her is what form to take in the battle. She really wants to soar with the dragons, to bathe her enemies with gouts of flames, to reach into their bodies and pull out their entrails with her claws. But she knows that all the other dragons are vastly more experienced than she is in fighting, and she's not sure of her chances of survival. As she argues with herself, she absently fiddles with the ring on her right finger.
She finally falls into an uneasy sleep, with dreams in which she finds herself flying (although, when she wakes up and thinks on the dreams, she can't remember if she was flying in her human or dragon form – she just remembers that it was utterly fantastic).
She strides onto the deck in the morning, dressed only in her Transylvanian robes, to oversee the final preparations for the battle (a DFA the likes of which the world had never seen before), and gives people a pep talk as needed. (Com 0 + Leadership (soldiers) 3 + die roll of 6 = 8; she will spend a Confidence and up to 7 of my Fortune Points to jack that up to a 18 if need be.)
General Vibria watches the battle with rapt attention, wishing she knew enough to spont a spell to allow her to see the battle below her better (Eyes of the Eagle is InIm 25, and she has no chance of pulling that off...unless we have an item that will do that for her) and resisting the urge to shed her human shell and take part in the battle with every ounce of her will. If it looks like the tide starts to turn against the Hermetics and Abbie's brood, she will drop the robe and dive overboard, taking her dragon form and doing what she can to help. Or get closer to give better counsel. Whatever.
I am still at a loss as to how to end this right. So I will tell you what. I know you are a writer kinda guy PB. Give us something good, and I will hand out a generous award. The more praise and acclaim the story is, the more generous I shall be. I have a range in my head. I am hoping to have to push the limits
Been thinking about it, but been fairly busy and a little brain-foggy. Was hoping to get it cranked out this weekend, since I'm off and not going anywhere, as far as I know. We'll see.
