Diana nods.  "I think we can make that happen.  Better to have less variables."  Just shuffle this there, that over a day, memo to give the Desnan something useful to do tomorrow...

"Alright. When you know, please give us some warning, though a few hours morning-of should be enough if you'd prefer. Thank you."

"Just let me know when your cohort's graduated, and I'll have the maintenance crew out in the next three days.  It's been a pleasure meeting you all."

"Likewise."

And so, a week later:

"Yeah, these boys will be ready tomorrow. I'll prod the mirror after dinner."

"I met a few of their paladins while I was still wandering the border. I wonder how similar they'll be?"

"I'd guess not that much. Front-line soldiers and - people who deal with magical problems - don't really pull the same people. But I guess we'll find out."

That night:

"Hello, Lastwall Watch? This is Estel of the Steel Exiles. We're ready for the maintenance crew for at least the next three days."

There is a brief clatter, as if of a die rolling.

"Looks like we'll send them over tomorrow.  Thank you for letting us know.  I will be in touch tomorrow to do as much as I can to make sure they don't vanish into the Astral mid-transport and get replaced by succubi with malicious intent."

"...Not that that's happened to us before, but there's always a first time someone accomplishes something previously thought to be impossible."

"Should be one fifth-circle Desnan priest - for the teleport - one technically-not-Arodenite alchemist and a construct who are coming along to talk to your people about crafting, trade agreements, and possibly how to make potions and spells stretch since from what I hear you need those tricks, two of Lastwall's rangers, and obviously a cleric of Iomedae for ritual purposes.  There was spirited debate about whether to send a paladin along as well; we won't be put out by one less blade on our lines, if that's a relevant factor, but the consensus was that we should inquire with you."

"No objections to a paladin. If you happen to have someone available with experience training new soldiers, talking our training decisions over with someone with a different background might be valuable, but don't delay on that account."

She makes a hmm noise, from the dim of her own office.

"I think I know of any, for the sorts we regularly request.  Paladins, or rangers?"

"Training rangers would probably have a more similar group of recruits, of the two."

"Then I'll make the request of the Ranger-Marshal that he do so.  Is there aught else?"

"No, that should be everything, thank you."

"Then do expect a party of no more than eight to arrive tomorrow; we will be drawing from the morning-shift troops and sending them out after mess."

"We'll be ready for it."

The mirror closes with a 'click'.

The morning finds Genevieve Costanza practically buzzing with nervous energy.

On the one hand: She's honestly pretty excited to hopefully break new ground in organized herbology!

On the other: These people don't like magic!  What is up with that!  Magic is exciting, from minimum safe distance!  And so is alchemy!

Honestly, the OSI disagrees with Genevieve on that one - magic most often means Wizards Getting Up To Shit.

They have a whole checklist of Wizards Getting Up To Shit and if they can make it through a month without filling the damn thing, head office - well, makes sure nobody's lying or suborned or dominated, because while they trust their people it's just so implausible, even with Lastwall's limited number of wizards and the OSI's limited external presence - but then they have a party.  It's a very quiet party; they have canapes and a soft burbling fountain and everything's peaceful and not exploding.

And then they go back to the fruitless and - outside of their command, at least - often thankless task of making sure there's no more Tar-Baphons.

It's really quite exhausting.  But it's necessary work.

Lastwall's rangers are pretty interested in learning about these people.  They're no chroniclers, but - they want to know about new and strange beasts, in case they're useful and someone can get the nature's ally to stick.  Or an aspect, for that matter.

The three are waiting outside the Wardstone enclosure, which they've left basically unmodified; it's inside an unusually-large chicken hut which is more-or-less-permanently kneeling, not moving like the smaller ones Baba Yaga left elsewhere on the line. There's four fighters on each of its two doors, and another squad in a perimeter around it - not because they think it's necessary, but because they want to be in place to be an earlier line of defense if the demons make an attempt. (Most of them regard this as a mild punishment detail because it is boring and they have to be constantly reminded that they're still relying on Baba Yaga.)

They're all in full gear (clean, not that that's saying much given it's all at least mildly magical), not having anything resembling dress uniforms. They have a telepathic bond ready to go whenever they see the delegation arrive - social situations they just get much better if they can rely on each other's instincts.

And lo, there is a ranger.  "Ahoy the fort!  We're with Lastwall!"

The bond goes up.

Reads Lawful Good, matches a non-priest storied adventurer, Corl says. Nothing suspicious to arcane sight, Estel adds a round later, And he's a divine caster, first circle. So, a hunter.

As expected, then. Thanks, dears.

"Welcome to Kellis! Any checks you want to do before we meet the rest of your group?"

There is a brief moment in which the hunter rolls to disbelieve everything, just in case.

"Ehh, not like we're gonna outdo the professional paranoids; I hear tell they've already done 'em!  What's your forecast for today, as far as demons go?"

"Not expecting anything serious, but we don't have extensive patrols inward, and the major threats usually elude scouts anyway. Corl and Estel" - she indicates the two beside her in turn - "made sure to keep the spells for a major threat response in their preparations for the day, so if we're interrupted at the Wardstone we'll still be able to fight at peak capacity."