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[img]https://i.imgur.com/C7nwoGY.png[/img]
[b]Words:[/b] 960 (+2)
[b][color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith: Level 9 (22 cells) (2 level ups stored)[/color] [/b][color=ea590c]/////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (25/90)
[b]Location[/b] Frozen highlands - The Midnight Walk 
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It was a relief to get to the surface again in some ways, and a pain in others.

On the positive side, the mind rattling sound of the drill finally came to an end, as did the bug attacks, meaning they could finally get a moment of true respite. On the negative, there’d be no more coach riding and their rest spot was the most barren and cold spot the frozen highlands had yet to offer.

Also, really, there’d be little respite to be found for Edward in particular, as there was a lot that needed dealing with before they set out again. The impossible creatures needed feeding first off, and that involved them going through the last of their leftover supplies because there was not a lick of vegetation to be found. The only reason they did not run dry was the hunting expedition he had sent out during their drilling accent.

Then there was the question of what to do with the sheildrix now that they were no longer useful for towing the stagecoach. Technically they still had value as troops, but their combat abilities had been mostly neutered by the specifics of their fusion and they’d have to be herded across a narrow bridge before being put to any use. The Chillanth and SomnaDrix were already going to have enough trouble with that path as it was, and they, he hoped, could mostly slither across it.

The unkind option was butchery, but that was a terrible waste in Edward’s opinion, and that wasn’t merely sentiment talking. If only they had more pal spheres, but alas, they were all out. They did have the ingredients for some, and Edward had (while dealing with his requests about the vegetubes) coordinated the request of the smelting of the massive padlock into ingots that could be combined with Ganondorf's ore, but they would not be done any time soon.

Still, if they couldn’t make use of them, perhaps someone else could. Not the other team, or the Avenger, mind. They simply represented too many mouths to feed. The lost numbers had a city somewhere however, that he knew, and surely they might find some value from their reliable beasts of burden.

Thus after going around and collecting Fulton devices from the rest of the team, it was time to bid farewell to their reliable stagecoach pulling companions as they were sent off into the sky. The coach itself was also offered, given the thing was frankly far too bulky for its own good.

The same went for their savior from the deep, as the Drilldozer was not something that would really fit on the avenger long term, but surely would have value either to the lost numbers, be it for mining or as something to sell/salvage. 

By the time it was all sent away, the white team’s force looked positively tiny compared to where it had been before, even if most of what had been lost was the bulk of the coach. Still, their presence in the barren snowfield had diminished greatly, causing the cold desolation of the frozen highlands to loom just a little larger in comparison. 

It also brought a serious problem to the forefront, that being Sandalphon’s condition. She was no longer able to be transported within the coach, and was also, naturally, in no condition to walk. Edward approached her about this and, after testing the waters and finding no appetite for abandoning her position and heading back to the Avenger, they set about finding a solution.

His inferno steeds were an option, but beyond just their anathema demonic (imitating) nature that would put her life entirely in his hands due to the nature of their control. After some consideration they ended up selecting the Chillanth as a suitable carrier for her, as the Chillet section on the rear spotted an almost natural saddle upon which she could ride. 

The need to solve that problem caused him to entirely forget to question her about her condition.

Well, that and the need for a break himself, little of one that he would get. The little stew that they had would have had to have been eaten up before the coach went, leaving only a smattering of cold leftovers for himself and Taffy to eat while squatting next to an inferno steed for warmth. 

Belly filled (somewhat) and body warmed (somewhat), Edward finally had the time to complete his morning routine. He checked his equipment, he combed his hair, and, at last, shaved off the ridiculous beard he’d accidentally given himself down in the caves.  

That was all the rest he could squeeze in before needing to make ready again. 

He organized his forces. Construct wise he sent scouting drones ahead while dissolving the rest so as to avoid clogging the bridge. The only exception was an inferno steed they’d be using for warmth and light (and transport of Edward’s grenade launcher).

At his side were the somandrix, along with Taffy and Loona, while several palsheres holding the more situationally useful snoruyo and Reindrix rested in his bags and pouches. 

It was a reduced force, but with the narrow approach to the castle it was preferable to an expanded one. Indeed Edward had put aside the thought of creating fresh impossible creatures, despite the possibilities the bugs from the caverns represented in terms of samples. The Glyphid Menace in particular would have provided excellent firepower. It also would have provided another mouth to feed, and another body to clog up the bridge, neither of which were a good thing.

With his affairs in order, he and his own formed up facing the stairway that represented their only way forwards, and reported to their leader that he was [color=ea590c]”Ready to depart.”[/color] before commenting  [color=ea590c]”Let us hope we will not need to siege the castle. Our fliers might make it less defensible than its builder might have hoped, but I still suspect it will be a tough nut to crack if we encounter any resistance”[/color]