>>5488399The Blackwings’ fliers quickly mobilize, ready to move out and follow you into the fray. Under Nero’s command are 15 Wyvern Riders wielding a variety of weapons. Under Ava, there are 15 Pegasus Riders who are similarly equipped. Flanking your sides as usual are Shelley and Diana.
“Hah! Their fliers haven’t attacked us yet. Are they getting cold feet?” Nero laughs. Up ahead, one can unmistakably see the Dukedom’s flying knights circling the skies.
“They’re not here to wipe us out. They just want to make sure we can’t help the Knights of Seiros. As long as we aren’t moving, they’re perfectly content to sit up there and wait until the Knights are exterminated.” Shelley says. “There’s something else I’m worried about though. See those cliffs over there? The ones overlooking the path forward?” Shelley points out the landmarks in the distance. “I think some of their fliers have been dropping off soldiers on them. Best case scenario, they’re archers meant to stop our infantry from moving through the valley. Worst case scenario, they’re mages capable of using siege magic. From that distance, a well-placed Bolting or Meteor spell could wreak havoc on our supplies.”
You squint your eyes as you try and look further into the distance. Shelley seems to be right. You watch closely as an enemy Wyvern Rider flies to the side of a cliff, allowing a passenger to dismount and stand atop a rough ledge. Below them, a small line of enemy cavaliers is beginning to form, possibly readying themselves to charge into the Blackwings’ infantry.
>“If those are siege mages, they won’t need to engage us at all. They can assail us with their magic while their fliers work to keep us away from them.” Nero grimaces. “What a dirty move. We could mop the floor with their fliers, but if they’ve set up an ambush, it’ll be a bloodbath.”
“What if we avoid fighting them? At least for now.” Ava suggests. “If our goal is to aid the Knights of Seiros, we can fly there in a different direction. They could choose to pursue us or stay behind and skirmish with the rest of the Blackwings. We’d reach the Knights at full strength, and we wouldn’t have to worry about being shot down from those cliffs.”
“That could work.” Shelley says. “But if they really are siege mages, we’ll be leaving the others left behind with no reasonable way of dealing with them. Those cavaliers will give our archers a hard time.”
“So, we either put ourselves at risk, or the supplies and the other Blackwings.” Ava mutters.
>A): We’ll cut a path through their fliers and take out as many siege mages as we can.>B): The others will have to find a way. We’ll fly around the enemy and head towards the Knights. 