Strategies

Sherbert gathered with the other Stelciars in the dim glow of the outpost. Each of them were gathered around a war table, scattered with maps of the lands around them, and small figures to represent both the voidlings and their comrades. The room hummed with tension, the walls, similar to the war table, were also covered with charts of void creatures and battle strategies. The war had been going on for months at this point, many of their fellow comrades and friends had passed away in the fights, and it had come to a point where a final battle was well on the way, Sherbert was confident of that. He had slaved away in his tent for nights, coming up with different strategies, and which specific Stelciars would be perfect to implement sush tactics. Finally, he had gathered those he needed, and was ready to lay out his plan to defeat and remove the voidlings once and for all. He stood at the head of the table, his wings folded tight against his body as his mind raced through different tactics and strategies that they could use. The others formed a small circle around the table: Seraphine, silent and composed, Sindra, leaning casually against the war table and Braketh, standing as still as a statue. Each Stelciar was unique in their own ways, and were very much needed to defeat the voidlings in the war.

Sherbert looked up from the war table and glanced at Seraphine as she stood in radiant contrast to the somber room, her massive Seraph wings unfurling in a stunning arc of rainbow hues. Her long, elegant tail mirrored the same colours as her wings.
Her bow, however, was the true masterpiece. It was a finely crafted relic, carved from only the best of woods and adorned with silver and gold filigree, and its frame was covered in intricate runes. Seraphine treated it as an extension of herself, a weapon that had saved her life countless times. Every scratch and notch told a story, and she maintained it with meticulous care, knowing it was both a symbol of her strength and her most precious companion in battle.
Sherbert moved his gaze to Sindra, who leaned against the war table with a sly smirk across her face, her draco wings arching behind her like shadows ready to strike. Her long, serpent tail coiled elegantly at her feet, its constant slithering movements foreshadowing her cunning personality. The tail was as much a weapon as it was a symbol of her unpredictable nature, always poised to lash out when least expected.
In her paws, she gripped a scepter crowned with the skull of a beast, its hollow eyes glowing faintly with dark magic. The scepter pulsed with necromantic power, allowing her to summon spirits and manipulate life force. The animal skull was a grim reminder of her mastery over death.

Lastly, Sherbert stared at Braketh as he towered over the others with his broad muscular frame. His size made him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, he was like a living fortress. His left paw, replaced by gleaming metal after a fierce battle ages ago, clicked softly as he moved. The prosthetic served as a constant reminder of how far he’d go to protect his comrades in battle.
His massive shield, dinged up from countless clashes, was his greatest weapon. Not only did it serve to protect his friends, but he wielded it like a hammer, slamming it into enemies with bone crushing force. Braketh was the group’s rock, always ready to stand in harm’s way.

"We all know what's at stake here," Sherbert began, his voice calm but commanding. "The void creatures are relentless, and their numbers keep growing. We've been lucky so far, but we need to step up our game. Each of you has a role, and we need to play them perfectly."

He turned first to Seraphine. "Your range is our greatest asset. Stay on the high ground and pick off the larger ones before they get too close. If they start overwhelming us, focus on disabling the strongest first."
Seraphine nodded, her eyes narrowing. "I'll keep them pinned. But what about the flyers? Last time, they nearly caught me off guard."

"Sindra will cover you," Sherbert replied, glancing at the mage. "Her magic will keep the skies clear."

Sindra smirked, lifting her scepter slightly. "Don’t worry. I’ve got enough magic to keep everyone covered, but if I get overwhelmed, I’ll let you know. I can create barriers, but I’m only as strong as my focus. If they start piling in, I’ll need Braketh or Seraphine to help keep them off me."

Seraphine shot her a wry grin. "Just keep them busy, and I’ll do my job."

"Braketh," Sherbert continued, shifting his attention to the shield warrior, "you’re our front line. Your job is to hold them off and keep the ground force from pushing us back. We can’t afford to lose ground, especially near the choke points."

Braketh rolled his shoulders, the heavy metal of his armor creaking slightly. "I won’t let them through. But what about the bigger ones? If a Voidspawn charges, I might need some extra firepower."

"I’ll be there," Sherbert assured him. "If they get too close, I’ll call for our reinforcements that are on the side. I need you to focus on protecting Sindra and Seraphine while I call out the strategies in real time."

Braketh grunted, his face set with determination. "Got it. Just don’t get reckless. You’re good, Sherbert, but even you have limits."

"I’m not planning on testing them," Sherbert said with a half-smile before looking around at all of them. "We’re in this together. If we stick to the plan, we’ll get through this. I’ll act as the backup for each of you when things get tight, but the key is coordination. Seraphine, you call out targets. Sindra, stay mobile, and Braketh, hold your ground. If we do this right, we’ll push them back."

Braketh gave a short nod, his grip tightening on the edge of his shield. "I know my limits. I’ll call for backup if I need it, but don’t expect it to happen often."

Seraphine, who had been inspecting her bow, finally spoke up. "What’s our fallback plan if things go south? You know the void creatures don’t always fight fair. They get unpredictable."

Sherbert took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the room, lingering on each of them. "If things start getting out of control, we pull back to the second line of defense. Braketh, you’ll hold the position while Sindra covers with barriers. Seraphine, you will focus on hitting the larger creatures while we retreat. Once we’ve regrouped, we’ll make another push. But we don’t run unless it’s absolutely necessary. The more ground we lose, the harder it’ll be to recover."

"Just don’t let it get to that point," Braketh grumbled. "I’d rather not be in a situation where we have to fall back."

Sherbert’s smile returned, a little more confident this time. "Trust me, Braketh. No one’s looking to retreat. We’re here to push them back, not give up ground. But like I said, we have to be ready for anything."

Sindra tapped her scepter lightly on the ground, its gemstone tip glowing faintly. "I think we’ve got it all mapped out. Stick to the plan, adapt if we have to, and no one plays hero alone."

"Exactly," Sherbert agreed. "We move as one. If we do, we’ll come out of this with minimal losses."

Seraphine sighed, adjusting her quiver. "Sounds like we’re ready, then. Let’s just hope those creatures don’t have any surprises left."

"They always do," Sherbert muttered, his eyes darkening with thought. "But this time, so do we."

With that, the Stelciars exchanged determined glances and began to prepare. The void creatures were out there, waiting in the shadows. But together, Sherbert knew they had a fighting chance.

Words: 1326

Seraphine (Stelciar 703): 8 fire power + 8 for weapon
Sindra (Stelciar 706): 8 fire power + 8 for weapon
Braketh (Stelciar 701): 4 fire power + 8 for weapon
Sherbert (Stelciar 9): 4 fire power

Total fire power: 48
Total SS: 24