Chapter 120: Chapter 7.10 - Man with the Plan

"So starting with the ground rules. First, we will ensure that Haven will be protected when we take on this endeavor. Second, We will ensure that each member of the team's identity is secured, and the team is voluntary. And third," Serin smiled, "No casualties''.

This particular winter was a brutal one, so while Haven's high mountains protected its interiors from the worst of the frost, The Collective and the Corvid Society had to request food aid from Haven, as the winter's coldsnap was bad enough to kill off their insulated agri-botanical gardens.

But now Serin was sitting with representatives of each race and they were deciding on the 20 participants that were going to collectively pay an enemy nation 1 million credits to participate in the public raid dungeon that had appeared where the previous capital of Sarween, Morat, once stood. Serin had worked with his merchants and spies to determine whether it was cost effective to do this. After reviewing the data that was gathered, the assessment was positive. 'If even 1 runestone is different from what we have and as useful as the ones we pull from our dungeon, it's worth getting.' Serin understood.

Both the Dhamphir and the Forest Elves elected not to participate. The Elves were too concentrated on ensuring the growth of their newest grove and the protection of their current grove and could not risk their few champions to this endeavor. The dhamphir, having been told violence was a requirement, respectfully declined participation. The same for the Transmuted and for the Parasites. The Transmuted were not suited to 'small combat' yet and decided they would relegate themselves to fortifying the borders while this team of haven's absolute strongest were outside the territory. As for the Parasites, they wouldn't do it if their host didn't agree, and most of their hosts were either inherently weak compared to the rest Haven, or they were already on fairly important assignments around the continent. And although they were a plated creature, the Spiritfolk hadn't left the cathedral and hadn't communicated in any sort of way yet.

From the Humans, Serin and Jericho were selected. Serin, as the nation's most powerful asset, would be wearing his 'subjugator' armor from the moment he left Haven. No need for his enemies to know he was participating. Jericho had finally broken his limit with the defeat of a Titan, so he had progressed quite a bit, spending most of his off hours delving the training dungeon with a lowered level thanks to Ref.

From the Demis, Ferrah and Liza were selected. Ferrah was an accomplished Dungeon guide who favored the magenta scattergun making her fairly devastating at short to mid range. Liza was an expert caster but was there to be a primary healer. Although she had not given birth yet, she would have given birth by the time the team left, and they expected time away from the nation would be a month, so it would not be too difficult on her children. Also Liza was one of three people in Haven that could cast [Bring to Life] without killing themselves.

From the Changelings Olma, Sakina, and Edel were selected. Edel was well experienced in group combat and formations as the leader of the protectorate. Sakina was the second best Entomancer in the nation, and Olma despite being the [beholden] of Serin was still an icon of her people as the 'scion of change', making her the first and most powerful aberrant mage in the Nation. She was also one of the most successful dungeon guides. Where most might think that Olma got to go based on nepotism, it was instead based solely on her own merit.

From the Planetouched, Mast and Flick volunteered. Being the most powerful from the two planetouched clans, Mast and Flick were obvious choices. They were also 'volun-told' by their respective charges, Uriel and Sute. Serin remembered Sute's words of 'if you use my protection as your excuse, you will be relieved of your duties.' Both were expert Melee Fighters, and experienced in the dungeons. So their participation would be invaluable.

The Gole sent three representatives. Juni the Lancer Gole would be acting as support and magical defense from psychic attack. She was probably the most powerful Lancer for combat. Mikael the Guardian Gole would act as a tank, taking the brunt of large attacks. And Sasha, the Mechanist Gole who rarely spent time in the foundry, usually to upgrade his equipment, would be the ranged attack. Sasha's dungeon team also held the records for highest approved floor by non-dungeon guides and most credits spent on medical services. Sasha's team also worked together in the Protectorate, and had earned the title of 'Krasnaya Smert' or 'Red Death' for their overwhelming use of magic and technology that rendered their enemies into piles of flesh and pink mist.

The remaining 8 slots for the team were assigned to the team's battle maidens that were not pregnant or nursing, which at the time only included Serin's Avea.

So with that, a team was assembled. Twenty of the most powerful people of Haven that had experience in the dungeon. Each person would be in charge of their own autocart, as there was no room for teamsters or porters on this trip, however the cart would have auxiliary motors and redundant power supplies, as well as semi autonomous controls for each user. The best 20 carts Shurik could make, costing almost 280k credits themselves. But it would be worth it.

Each team member would be given access to the [Inventory] Skill rune, a state secret that they would then have to practice to make the most use of. It increased the chances of this information getting out, which would again make Haven a target. But it would be worth it.

Every single member would need to have their armaments and armor evaluated and calibrated for sustained combat operations inside the raid dungeon. The estimated costs of materials and labor were in the hundreds of thousands of credits, and would have to be paid from the nation's coffers. But it would be worth it.

The entire team would have to take time from now until spring to practice fighting in the training dungeon (with the exception of Liza) to ensure that they were ready for fighting in the dungeon. Since half of them were dungeon guides or high members of their races, it would be putting an administrative drain on the nation, slowing the resource growth from the dungeon as well as lowering the groups ability to handle administrative tasks. But this is why winter was chosen as the spin-up period for the raid team, and Spring was chosen for entering the raid dungeon. It would be worth it.

To be able to go into a raid dungeon for the low cost of 1 million credits and not only pull all of the materials they could, but also determine what everyone else in the continent would soon get access to was worth it. And if they did what they were supposed to and secured the most secretive and valuable items using the [inventory] skill, their heist would weaken their opponents without them knowing.

Serin and the other finalized their roster and began preparations. It would be a long winter, but the planning and preparation would be key to the success in this large scale mission.