B8C10/B8C11

Our ranged Classes, be they Archer or Mage, would be left shooting up a cliff, while the Greycloaks could peak over the edge and fire down onto us. The mountainous paths left little room to dodge – and if a fireball took out a rope bridge? Well, that was the assault over before it could begin. And we knew Mages were on the parapet, because they were there to deal with any ships that tried to leave.

"If the problem is the Mages, then we might have to deal with them," Weiss whispered to Adam. "Is there any way for you to suggest that?"

Adam looked over to the Mage and asked, "How?"

"I could open a small portal to the spire if I had a line of sight to it. I wouldn't be able to keep it open for long or make it very big, but it could fit a small group through."

Nodding, Adam stood. He cracked his flagon down on the table three times. The sound resounded out across the decking, silencing all, including the ten at the central table. The way they looked over told me there wasn't some custom for three-strike interruption, because they glared Adam's way. He'd just flat-out cut in.

"I have a Mage among my crew who is capable of opening a portal," he quickly said, before tempers could rise. The proclamation cut through the annoyance, leaving the council of ten with curious, interested expressions.

"Is that true?"

"It is." Adam gestured and Weiss rose, letting those nearby see her Class.

"Girl." It was one of the old women who spoke. "You are able to direct and control a poral?"

"I am." Weiss' voice was clear and confident. "It would only be for a short time, and I would need line of sight to where it is." That prompted some worried expressions, and with good reason. Getting her sight to the top of the spires was all but impossible. "Or I would need to have visited the location before to have a strong understanding of it."

"Such is useless, then."

"I could open a portal onto an upper walkway. As long as one is visible."

"If nothing, it would cut the distance to climb, and the chance of discovery." Adam spoke clearly. "Alternatively, she could open a portal behind Vernal's reinforcements, allowing us to cut off their retreat."

"We'll need to deal with that bitch either way," one of them said. "Might as well have the option of surrounding them."

"Both options hold merit," the faunus woman said. "Both delivering a small strike force higher, one that can climb the last distance and kill or distract the mages, and then a larger party to portal in behind Vernal, cutting off her retreat." The woman looked to Weiss. "Can you do that, girl?"

"I can. It would be easier if you have any Mages who would let me draw on their power, but even on my own, I'd be able to open a portal for a small time. Maybe two or three minutes."

—B8C10



"Everyone is out for themselves," Blake said, "So we should do the same. Once Weiss has begun the attack with her portals, she should be taken to the ship. If she can open another portal from there to one of the cliff edges, we can get the supplies loaded on board before the others can do anything about it."

[...]

A quick glance up and to the side revealed the upper levels of the spire, upon which, if I looked closely, I could just about make out two figures slowly scaling the rockface. The Greycloak cloaks we'd taken earlier let Blake and Ruby blend into the rock, but if even a single person were to look over the edge or walk out onto the rope walkway Weiss had opened a portal up to, they would be seen and killed.

Yang elbowed me in the side. "Don't look. You'll give it away."

I doubted Vernal would be able to see me and figure out where I was looking, but I followed Yang's orders nonetheless, looking back to the front ranks themselves as Weiss, guarded by Ren and Nora, slipped around to the far edge of the decking, closest to the ships without crossing the killing line the Greycloaks had set up. Her rapier was in hand and her eyes were affixed not on Vernal and her procession, but the space behind them, as far up the hewn path as could be seen from the decking. Weiss was mumbling to herself, no doubt arcane or mystical calculations. Or even just reminding herself of all the detail she needed for a portal.

[...]

As per the plan, half would storm the Greycloaks holding the docks and half Vernal's relief party, while a smaller group would come rushing down the path from behind thanks to a portal from Weiss.

—B8C11