Marit's here to provide history advice, not to lecture people. But. "What is achieved by telling her you're suspicious of her? Check if Clepati confirms the Lorthact story, by all means, but why tell her you intend to?"

"I wanted to bring it to the Lord-Watcher's attention, and she might have had some reassurance or proof… It was an error, though. I'm sorry, sir."

They don't work for him. He does not really want to hang around scolding them for everything he can possibly notice, and not noticing she might be lying is objectively more of a vice than noticing it and then immediately saying to her that you noticed it. "That's approximately the person I knew. I'd be surprised if she's undead because I'd expect it to have changed her more."

"Thank you for the analysis. Do you think the Goddess may have been wrong in advising us to treat her as an ally in this?"

"There's enough at stake it's worth even expensively checking. But no. I expect she wants to fight Hell, or she'd be doing something else. Iomedae knew her better than anyone, and was right there, with something like a tenth of Her attention. I don't think She missed anything."

They've passed Nefreti's deadline and all is not lost; far from it, they now have three archmages instead of two. Cansellarion's army reaches the Tomarsulk with the main Chelish army too far east to contest the crossing or get between him and Egorain. According to his plans last week, he would've crossed the river and tried to lure the Chelish army into a fight on the plains of Chelam. He thinks he can do better, now. How does Morgethai feel about doing another teleportation circle to move his army north of Ostenso and clear out the Eastern army engaged on the border with Andoran?

Wildly in favor, obviously. Is Nefreti still willing to help? 

For unclear Nefreti reasons, no. But they're getting some help from another archmage who is very secretive and doesn't want their involvement advertised. (He checked, he's allowed to tell Morgethai that much.)

Morgethai is very confused, but if Cansellarion thinks this will work she'll do it. (Andoran's border forts will…probably hold, with her dropping by to hit the Chelish attackers? But this will be a much better solution and means she's less tied down shortly.) Where does he want his army to be.

Does she know how much scouting the Chelish armies on the border are doing in their rear? He wants to be able to get the whole army through before they can get attack it with a sizable force, which might mean five miles behind the Chelish forts if the scouting is thorough or two if it's not.

She thinks they're being sloppy in their hurry to get across the border before Andoran can get help. It's one of those things where Nefreti would helpfully pipe up and tell them for sure, though.

Seems like one of those things. He's not going to bother her again about this operation, though, she didn't pipe up with any warnings when he asked her about the circles, and she seems to have limited patience for him and he doesn't want to spend that down when he might need it for warnings about bigger things.

Well, she'll do two miles or five, as he prefers, as soon as tomorrow morning.

…Two, why not. Most of the things Cheliax has that might actually endanger his army don't actually have to march to get places.

So at dawn they place the circle in a valley two miles out from where an Andoren border fortress north of Ostenso is besieged, and then Morgethai flits off to help at a different one.

They march through the teleportation circle and the extra two miles and straight into battle. It's not very different from a normal march into battle, apart from not being able to split up and take multiple roads until they're on the far side of the teleport. In some ways, it's simplifying.

Cheliax in fact has a disciplined, well-equipped army with a lot more spellcasters than anyone else in Avistan. The typical soldier has some Worldwound experience; it's not the embarrassing strong-only-on-paper nonsense of the time of the Andoran and Galt revolutions.

They don't stand a chance. Guns are just a profoundly unfair advantage. Cansellarion's army has their first interaction with friendlies since they marched on Isger; when the Chelish are dead or fled men come streaming out of the border forts to greet them and marvel at the guns and ask if they need anything. (The political details of Andoran and Lastwall's alliance are still getting worked out, but it doesn't seem very complicated to Andoran's soldiers.)

The Reclamation requests more provisions to simplify their supply situation. And they've got some surrendered prisoners and nowhere good to put them. Apart from that - well, they're not going to be doing any more serious marching after the battle, today, but they're planning to go after the rest of the Chelish forces along the border tomorrow, if the local commanders have better maps or up-to-date information on the Chelish positions.

Their maps are notably better! They're in radio contact with the commanders at the other border forts, though nothing secret should be said over those lines, obviously, and they're happy to send along some local guides who know the terrain. 

Also, Andoran's border forts have had a large garrison since the independence war ended and that means a large secondary population of people who keep soldiers supplied and laundered and happy - okay, a lot of prostitutes. Their allies should really make the most of the rest of their day off!

Cansellarion's officers are, on the whole, pretty uncomfortable with this!

The enlisted soldiers are more varied in their comfort levels.

The officers ban the prostitutes from the Reclamation camp.

The enlisted soldiers continue to have a mix of opinions about this but some of the opinions are now more extreme!

…Soldiers who are not currently on watch or other duties can visit the Andoren camp, but are advised to think long and hard about whether they want to tell their wives after the war that they have orphaned bastard children in Andoran.

The joys of cultural exchange!

There is another Wishnapping attempt around midday.

Does it get anyone?

More than half, like last time. Not any of the primary targets that the Glorious Reclamation is aware of, like last time.

Cansellarion is starting to worry. If they try enough times they'll eventually get someone essential, and they are getting people, and he suspects, now, that the wishes are coming from pit fiends, not diamonds. Which means - well, they're burning through Asmodeus' ability to act, and for no great effect. But it also means he has no bounds on when they're going to run out, if ever.