"Or, to translate that from Military into Common -

"We've found a wide-open back door into Deskari's command and control, but we don't know if there was a tripwire on it, and if there was, it's definitely been tripped - so we're trying to get what we can while the getting is good, and resorting to hope that this will allow us to trip the forces at Drezen and Iz onto their back foot long enough to steal a march or three inwards."

"Which is to say, I believe, that the Watch-Commander has not been able to overdetermine this to the level she prefers, this mission is consequently an Adventure of the sort that goes in the histories if we pull it off, and we might all die because Baphomet decided to look at us funny in person - though, if it comes to that, I have a contingency I'd hesitate to use for anything less."

"...That is...not a summary I can honestly say is false in the broad strokes, though if there is hostile divine intervention, I and what other forces we have available will be on ready-one to stand between it and you."

Which is to say, one round after they receive the message, Diana and the remaining high-level adventurers on the lines, those not currently fighting for their lives, will show up (most likely via teleport) to fight for hers.

Lastwall's reserve strike force most likely will as well, but she is not going to promise that.  They're likely having a mirror of this same conversation with their own troops, she imagines.

"I can handle schirs, babaus, incubi and mortals of similar power. The stronger demons usually don't use weapons or items in battle, or not until you get to mariliths, and I can't steal all of their weapons before they use the rest to kill me. Magic won't stop me, except the way it would stop anyone - more protection against mind-affecting spells is always welcome."

"I volunteer, if that wasn't clear. In whichever capacity you think I would best serve. I'm not concerned about your ability to estimate the risks and decide they're worth it, only that this mission serves Good broadly defined and not Lastwall more narrowly. And making lasting progress against Deskari's forces definitely serves Good."

"Also, I can afford a Resurrection if you recover my body and sell some of my equipment, you've got my authorization filed somewhere."

"I do hope that if it comes to that that you will not be their most pressing problem."  She grins.  She has teeth.  "I can be quite the distraction when pressed.  But yes.  I believe she raises a cogent point; a writ for any of us that do not have mind-buttressing armor, bastion shields, or similar, to acquire something enchanted thusly, would be useful."

"...There are not many of those not already held by persons in critical positions.  It may be possible to acquire or," she nods at Genevieve, "rush-order additional equipment, but there is a point at which we would be risking more than we can afford, in terms of continued control of the lines; just because we are less riddled with cultists than Mendev does not mean that they do not try to usurp us, and while we do try to ensure defense in depth...  I'd hazard, without other rapid efforts to cover for weakened positions, that Lastwall's Worldwound forces have floating availability of no more than four such items of either kind - plus some personally held - without consulting the quartermaster's records, and that does not guarantee that we can retrieve them within the allotted time.  Still.  This we can try to make available, though priority on what was already in our reserve will be - has been - given to the mission-critical asset."

"...Well, then.  And I've already signed out the disposessed reserve; that's one of our four right there.

"It would be medium or heavy armor, regardless, which - I am under the impression your nimbleness is important, but that enchantment just refuses to stabilize without a certain critical mass.  That, or you'd have the bracers of armor problem; we do have some of those, though they're mostly all out right now.  Bastion shields...do not provide the sort of lasting protection mind-buttressing armor does, either; rounds, and it drains the rest of the shield's magic, versus a flat rejection.  And there would still be the critical mass problem.  Heavy and tower shields only, and while there's been people speculating that it would work on a folding shield, we can't and haven't actually commissioned any; the exponential increase in cost wasn't worth slightly less stringent requirements."

She sighs frustratedly.  "Wish there was more I could do for you, there, but the wishes that matter need diamonds, not words."

"Absent items, the best defense against mind control is support spells and watching each other's backs. How are we doing for cleric support? And bards, wizards..."

She looks briefly frustrated. "I might be able to pull a cleric of Sarenrae from Kenabres to help us, but I take it we can't spare the time that would take, unless you have Teleports going spare."

"I've also heard that compulsions can be briefly supressed with a second-circle spell. I'm not about to suggest taking a bunch of barely-trained wizards on a dangerous mission, but maybe someone's made a wand of that?"

"I'll be going."

"My spellbook is well-stocked up to fifth circle, and I have a few extra tricks I've picked up."

"...If you're thinking of shroud thoughts, I've actually figured out how to infuse it.  Which is more effective, actually, because it doesn't just cover me."

"I believe she's thinking of Suppress Charms and Compulsions, which I suppose you wouldn't have bothered formulating.  It's hardly worth the effort of preparing, though, if you can hand out potions of enshroud thoughts - let alone reduplicate them."

"...Unfortunately, no, I cannot make extracts that work with the specialized coreagent I use to craft vaporous potions.  Yet.  ...Seems like we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves, though.  Madam Inquisitor, were there other prospects?"

"Hm."  You're not my boss or technically in control of this meeting whatsoever, she conveys with a Look, but you have a reasonable point.

"If everyone is satisfied?"

"I've no additional comments on the person, but if we feel that the Sarenran cleric she mentioned would be of use, and I daresay they would be, I suspect I could pick them up overnight, given what must be true about the travel distances for this to be a 'tomorrow morning' operation.  It would separate me from the party, but Chronicler Sunaph is not incompetent at getting people places."

High praise, when he gives it.

"Aw, you really do like me.  We do indeed have all of those casters, incidentally, Arna; one each, save the cleric - and Vive here does a really good impression of one.  Possibly better, in some respects.  Though I'm embarrassed to admit that I've somewhat neglected my spellcasting in comparison to my songs.  Still, they're quite useful."

"I believe we will have more than sufficient healing and restoration, overall.  And I can provide certain very useful domain effects, for that matter, though I will ask you to not spread which ones around willy-nilly."

"...Regardless.  Mira, if you would be so kind as to get the next potential recruit; Arna, please have a seat."

She leaves.  She returns.  There is no other person with her.

"Unfortunately, with the details of the mission more known to them, the other candidates decided they were unfit or unwilling.  This is what we have, unless Kalara's contacts turn someone up."

"It's unlikely, though it's not impossible someone could Teleport up overnight in a way that they could link up with the cleric in Kenabres.  Marshal, do you have room for more passengers on whatever your plan is to catch up?"

"Depends on how many people, how much they weigh, and how comfortable they'd be in close quarters with someone else."

"My cleric friend is called Vesta. She's an odd kind of cleric, Sarenrae only gives her some spells and none that could be used to hurt people. Which might be a be good idea! - but it's not Sarenrae's usual policy, I don't know what's up with that. Anyway, she's very good at healing, protection, removing curses and so on. And I trust her."

"I'll Sending her so she can start packing, and you can give her a more detailed briefing when you pick her up."

"Vesta, of Sarenrae.  Alright."  Probably an oracle, much like how he's neither ranger nor druid but still a potent natural caster.

"Well, if that's that, and no-one has equipment they need to fetch, then we'd best be going.  I've only so long before my beacon expires."

Elsewhere:

Ophelia's face appears on the mirror once more.  "We will be returning soon."