025.1 "He won't be talking, then."

[Corwin]

[20:59] <Kotono> Pain. Pain, fire and suffering. Lashes of flame wrack both women as they shift. Feelings of lost and hopeless despair sink into them, burning them just as much as the sensation of agonizing pain. You stand over a cracked wasteland. The skies burn red, occasionally bursting with explosions. The air reeks of sulphur and gasses, painfully unpleasant to breathe in. In the distance a great rising
[20:59] <Kotono> mountain can be seen, cloaked in great columns of black smoke. The mountain itself seems to writhe endlessly, as if fluid and moving.
[20:59] <Jaela> Ah, of course. She can't do much about the pain, but Jaela wards herself immediately against fire.
[21:02] * Afina follows Jaela's sound example and looks around. "That must be the adamantine mountain that way. I'll turn invisible now and start ranging out to see if I can see any victims nearby," she tells the angel, promptly vanishing from sight and flying up to get a good vantage and see if any devils are nearby.
[21:02] <Afina> roll 1d20+24 spot
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+24 spot and gets 28." [1d20=4]
[21:03] <Jaela> "If you're ever within thirty feet of me, I'll be able to tell," Jaela reminds Afina, even as she decides to stay on that spot for now.
[21:03] <Kotono> A ways ahead, Afina can spot a fissure in the ground. In it she can faintly see some sort of movement. It's about 500ft ahead from here or so. But something is distinctly moving in there.
[21:04] <Afina> Floating back down again, "There's something by that fissure just ahead. I'll go take a look," she quietly informs Jaela before zipping ahead and closer!
[21:06] <Jaela> Meanwhile, Jaela sifts through her available weapons and decides on Gae Dearg. It's not holy in some obvious way, and might well prove the most useful of her weaponry in this situation.
[21:08] <Kotono> Coming closer, Afina can see that the fissure is deep. On the walls she can see them. Dozens of men and women, nude. They are pinned to the walls by nine metal spikes each. One in each hand, one in each foot, one in each knee, one in each shoulder, and one through the forehead. Each one has his or her mouth wide open and yet shut, full of heavy-looking grey metal. Dozens of eyes look to Afina,
[21:08] <Kotono> eyes lost and broken, bloodshot and crusted over.
[21:10] <Afina> They can see her even while invisible? This could be problematic if they alert any nearby devils... she peers down into the fissure to see if there are any guards or torturers present.
[21:13] <Jaela> Left to her own devices, Jaela examines her hide armor and, upon finding it sadly lacking, casts Fortunate Fate just in case.
[21:23] <Kotono> The eyes seem to be on her, unrelenting. Unblinking. Unaverted. OOC: Make a spot check?
[21:26] <Afina> roll 1d20+24
[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+24 and gets 42." [1d20=18]
[21:27] <Kotono> Deep in the pit - about 100ft in, Afina can see something moving. Something misshappen, shadowed, hidden.
[21:31] <Afina> She could go for it, but those watching corpses are a liability. In case it results in getting in over her head, she quickly retreats back towards Jaela. "The fissure is full of people nailed to the walls," she whispers once close. "I think I saw a devil at the bottom, though. Can you move up closer while I go in and support me if you hear trouble?"
[21:32] <Jaela> "Not a problem," Jaela whispers back. "Are we going all out and flashy if I do, or should I keep up this illusion?"
[21:33] <Afina> "Don't scream 'for heaven and goodness', but do what works best," Afina replies dryly, casting greater heroism and haste before she hurries back towards the fissure.
[21:34] * Jaela follows up with her own Greater Heroism and approaches at a more sedate pace, her nerves calmed via her magic.
[21:35] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[21:36] <Kotono> As you walk back, the sky grows redder! Explosions, more than before, burst above you! You barely have time to react as you look up, for a great big ball of fire manifests and hurtles down at the duo, throbbing with malevolent flames!
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 SR?
[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 SR? and gets 17." [1d20=2]
[21:37] <Afina> OOC: 31
[21:37] <Jaela> OOC: 26
[21:37] <Kotono> The flames explode around the duo, but do not singe them. The magic crumbles away from the pair instead! The ground is scorched around them, but nothing more.
[21:38] <Jaela> "Bitch, please," Jaela mutters, casting a baleful eye skywards.
[21:38] <Afina> Ignoring it, Afina hurries on, intending to dive down into the fissure and attack the devils!
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[21:40] <Kotono> Returning to the fissure without incident, Afina plunges down, invisible and unseen! As she plunges down, she sees it. It lies at the bottom of the fissure. It is purplish and like a barbed devil, yet strangely fluid. It's voice calls, "Where are you?" It croons, "Come out, come out! My family's ready to embrace you! They're calling out to embrace you!"
[21:42] <Afina> Oh why must it be so disgusting. Hopefully it knows about Gathgarion at least to justify this, Afina thinks as she darts in to batter the devil before flying back up, remaining unseen throughout!
[21:42] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 nonlethal
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 nonlethal and gets 41." [1d20=9]
[21:42] <Afina> roll 1d20+27 nonlethal
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+27 nonlethal and gets 29." [1d20=2]
[21:42] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 (+2 if dr/silver)
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 (+2 if dr/silver) and gets 66." [1d4=4][5d6=4, 3, 6, 4, 4][2d6=2, 6][2d6=3, 5][2d6=4, 2]
[21:42] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 (+2 if dr/silver)
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 (+2 if dr/silver) and gets 60." [1d4=4][5d6=1, 1, 3, 4, 4][2d6=1, 6][2d6=6, 4][2d6=4, 3]
[21:46] <Kotono> The devil doesn't even have a chance to dodge! Afina strikes it twice, but nothing happens to it! Instead, from above, blood rains down! Blood rains down from above, "Oh, there you are!" The creature carols, "Now now, don't do that! You're hurting your family to be!" OOC: Init here.
[21:46] <Jaela> roll 1d20+6
[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[21:47] <Afina> roll 1d20+20
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[21:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[21:49] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(34)>Jaela(24)>Devil(8)'
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[21:49] <Kotono> Above, Jaela can see the blood raining down. Welts and tears appear on the pinned humanoids, in time of Afina's strikes.
[21:50] <Jaela> roll 1d20+18 planes
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+18 planes and gets 29." [1d20=11]
[21:51] <Afina> So it somehow channels any injuries to its victims? How many are there, anyway?
[21:51] <Jaela> "Drown the fucker in water!" Jaela calls out, witnessing the failure of their current strategy.
[21:52] <Kotono> Afina saw dozens of victims above.
[21:53] <Afina> While Afina can be pragmatic, there's too many for her to easily kill and save time that way. So she settles for casting hideous laughter on him before fleeing back up to join Jaela. "No water," she notes curtly.
[21:53] <Afina> roll 1d20+16 SR if needed, DC 16 will
[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+16 SR if needed, DC 16 will and gets 21." [1d20=5]
[21:55] <Kotono> You hear no mocking or insane laughter as you fly back up! OOC: Jaela, go.
[21:55] <Jaela> Water is something Jaela has plenty of, however, and she conjures up thirty four gallons of it in a display that makes the rain of blood just then look truly pitiful!
[21:59] <Kotono> Water pours down! For a moment there is no sound, before you hear horrible screaming below! Screams and screams and screams, then a boiling, sizzling silence. OOC: Free act.
[21:59] * Jaela snorts, but then she focuses on the tormented souls just below.
[21:59] <Jaela> roll 1d20+18+15
[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+18+15 and gets 50." [1d20=17]
[21:59] <Afina> "He won't be talking, then," Afina sums up.
[22:00] <Jaela> "If you couldn't take him out easily, I doubt I would've," Jaela muses, still pondering.
[22:01] <Afina> "There's a lot more devils here to try," Afina brushes it off easily. "What about the people nailed to the wall? Think we can get them out safely?"
[22:04] <Jaela> "Condemned souls," Jaela says gravely, kneeling next to the nearest group of them. "But no one deserves this sorta fate of torture until they become a lemure, do they? I'm gonna send them across. Aurora or somewhere like the Triad?"
[22:08] <Afina> "Would anywhere else take them?" Afina asks reasonably. She'd expect any other plane to say they deserved hell and that's that. "We could end their suffering even without that, though."
[22:15] * Jaela scowls. "They'll just become lemures anyway if we do that. Let's try this method first." And then she channels plane shift into the eight nearest suffering souls, with the destination being just past the gates on the Aurora's courtyard!
[22:16] <Kotono> For a moment the condemned souls blink away - before returning a second later, still pinned to the wall.
[22:16] * Jaela studies the magical reaction!
[22:16] <Jaela> OOC: spellcraft?
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[22:17] <Jaela> roll 1d20+21
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+21 and gets 22." [1d20=1]
[22:19] <Jaela> "I can't break them out now," Jaela admits with a grimace. "I don't think sending them straight into Hell's bootcamp is good, either. Let's find some other devil? When I get an idea of how to free these guys, I'll come back for them."
[22:21] <Afina> "I thought killing them on hell was supposed to stop respawning anyway," Afina frowns despite being invisible, sensing another avenue of permanently killing devils being closed to her. Nothing else to do but go back to hunting, though. "Towards the mountain, then," she tells Jaela, flying up a hundred feet or so before she starts in that direction, eyes sharp for devils.
[22:22] * Jaela follows at a more sedate pace, after a final glance at the condemned souls.
[22:23] <Kotono> OOC: Spot again, Jaela.
[22:23] <Jaela> roll 1d20+7 me?
[22:23] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+7 me? and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[22:23] <Kotono> OOC: Oh right sorry. Afina. Dur.
[22:25] <Afina> roll 1d20+24
[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[22:31] <Kotono> You search along a time. After a bit, you find a series of boulders lying about. Peering ahead, Afina can see a thin whisp of smoke rising from between them, like the smoke from a cabin or house.
[22:32] <Afina> Flying down, Afina relays her findings to Jaela before she approaches the smoke. Because where there's smoke, there's fire!
[22:33] * Jaela is more than ready to approach the smoking boulders and the devils they might hide behind them!
[22:37] <Kotono> On the duo goes! Within the boulders you find a stone house - old but well kept, not a speck of dust on it or anything out of place. It's made of heavy looking gray and brown stone, scorch marks all over.
[22:38] <Afina> Highly suspecting this to be a torture den, Afina goes to peek in a window, exercising the utmost stealth even with her invisibility!
[22:38] <Afina> roll 1d20+30 hide
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+30 hide and gets 33." [1d20=3]
[22:39] * Jaela is more than content with Afina leading, and short of a fight breaking out or detecting a devil suddenly approach her she will wait for the pixie to return and detail their plan for the assault on that stone house, same as before.
[22:42] <Kotono> Within is a single bed in the middle of the room. Beyond that, there is nothing of note on there. The bed is empty - no one's immediately visible aroun.d For that matter, you don't see any fireplace, though there is a chimney spewing smoke from th eroof.
[22:42] * Jaela busies herself studying the surroundings for magics or any strange similar effects.
[22:44] <Afina> Invoking her natural ability to detect the thoughts of others, Afina uses that to sense if there are any minds within the dwelling...

[Corwin]

[19:48] <Kotono> AFina does not sense any thoughts ahead of her in the cabin.
[19:48] <Jaela> roll 1d20+21 spellcraft
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+21 spellcraft and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[19:49] <Afina> Therefore she's content to return back to Jaela. "No one's home. I'd rather hunt elsewhere than wait on someone coming back."
[19:49] <Jaela> "I think the ceiling's got some sort of portal or whichever, but I can't really tell," Jaela responds, frowning. "How about you?"
[19:51] * Afina casts detect magic and has a look!
[19:51] <Afina> roll 1d20+26
[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+26 and gets 41." [1d20=15]
[19:54] <Afina> "There's a small demiplane in the ceiling, we could get in through the chimmney. No telling what's inside, though," Afina shakes her head. "Too risky for our first run, lets move on."
[19:55] <Kotono> OOC: What are your perceptions, both ofyou"?
[19:55] <Jaela> "A demiplane?" Jaela raises an eyebrow. "Beyond weird. Okay, closer to the mountain, or around it?"
[19:55] <Jaela> OOC: Darkvision 60ft, blindsight 30ft
[19:55] <Afina> OOC: blindsense 30ft, low-light vision
[19:56] <Afina> "We still have a lot of distance, lets move towards it but veer left," Afina suggests, skirting around the hut and starting along that direction for Jaela to follow before she gains height to see better.
[19:57] <Kotono> Behind you, 30ft. Both of you can sense something approaching. Something big.
[19:59] * Afina abruptly turns and casts see invisibility!
[20:01] <Jaela> Gae Trocaire will do, when in doubt! Jaela draws it and flies up to gain some altitude, coming about in mid-air.
[20:01] <Kotono> Behind you, from the window you came in? Afina can see it. A great lion, transparent and ghostly. It has oversized fangs, peering into the window with blood red eyes. It raises its mouth open, as if to...OOC: Init. You caught the danger in time.
[20:01] <Afina> roll 1d20+20
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+20 and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[20:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ghost cat
[20:02] <Jaela> roll 1d20+6
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ghost cat and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[20:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Jaela(24)>Ghost Cat(22)'
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[20:03] <Afina> On the off chance it's intelligent, Afina opts to incapacitate. Flying towards and past it, she strikes with the flat of her sword to try and knock it out!
[20:03] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 nonlethal
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 nonlethal and gets 43." [1d20=11]
[20:03] <Afina> roll 1d20+27 nonlethal
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+27 nonlethal and gets 28." [1d20=1]
[20:04] <Afina> OOC: it is an evil outsider, right?
[20:05] <Afina> roll 1d4+17+5d6+2d6+2d6 lets assume no?
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+17+5d6+2d6+2d6 lets assume no? and gets 49." [1d4=1][5d6=6, 5, 5, 1, 3][2d6=5, 1][2d6=1, 4]
[20:05] <Afina> roll 2d6+2 and add that if it is
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 2d6+2 and add that if it is and gets 9." [2d6=5, 2]
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: It is. You also didn't hit.
[20:06] <Kotono> Afina darts in, flat of the blade slashing out twice...and both times are nimbly evaded! The creature reacts already, not even the least bit flat-footed! Its ghostly mane shakes in the air as it rears back on hind legs, avoiding the attacks! OOC: Jaela, go.
[20:06] <Jaela> roll 1d20+22 planes/devotion
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+22 planes/devotion and gets 31." [1d20=9]
[20:08] <Jaela> "Heya, kitty!" Jaela greets brightly, diving at the hellcat!
[20:09] <Jaela> roll 1d20+30+2+4+4+10 (charging smite, dive, GH, K:D)
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+30+2+4+4+10 (charging smite, dive, GH, K:D) and gets 66." [1d20=16]
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: That be a hit.
[20:11] <Jaela> roll 2#1d8+23+15+4 (K:D, smite, trasmuting, dive)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 2#1d8+23+15+4 (K:D, smite, trasmuting, dive) and gets 88." [2#1d8+23+15+4 = 45, 43]
[20:11] <Jaela> roll 1d6 also merciful/nonlethal, transmuting (+2 if DR/silver)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d6 also merciful/nonlethal, transmuting (+2 if DR/silver) and gets 4." [1d6=4]
[20:13] <Jaela> OOC: My bad, +12 more damage, and I'll gambit
[20:15] <Kotono> Jaela dives in, hitting the Hellcat dead on! Its side is impaled deeply with her charging lance, as it roars back! Its mouth opens wide, as flickering, intensely hot flames erupt out of its mouth, spewing out on Jaela! OOC: Reflex.
[20:16] <Jaela> roll 1d20+28
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+28 and gets 31." [1d20=3]
[20:17] <Kotono> roll 10d6 fire damage, full.
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 fire damage, full. and gets 28." [10d6=1, 1, 6, 2, 5, 5, 3, 2, 1, 2]
[20:17] <Jaela> OOC: Fire res 30
[20:19] <Kotono> White hot flames engulf Jaela, yet not a single one scorches her! A moment later, both women sense someing appearing by blindsight/sense! It's on the roof, three of them! Meanwhile 100ft away, Afina can see two more of the ghostly cats, coming towards the battle at a run!
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 group init for roof
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 group init for roof and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 cat 2
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 cat 2 and gets 24." [1d20=15]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 cat 3
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 cat 3 and gets 21." [1d20=10]
[20:20] * Jaela just gives the overgrown feline a look of supreme disdain. If it were smart, this is where it would have run away! No matter how many of them there are, the outcome would be the same!
[20:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Jaela(24)>Ghost Cat(22)>???roof(17)'
[20:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Hellcat 2=Jaela(24)>Ghost Cat(22)>Hellcat 3(21)>???roof(17)'
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[20:22] <Afina> She'll have to step things up, now. Casting haste on herself and Jaela, the fairy blurs into motion, becoming visible as she streaks towards their initial attacker and stabs it fully before ascending up into the air over it!
[20:22] <Afina> roll 1d20+45 4th level arcane strike
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+45 4th level arcane strike and gets 57." [1d20=12]
[20:22] <Afina> roll 1d20+40 4th level arcane strike
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+40 4th level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=2]
[20:22] <Kotono> OOC: One hit.
[20:22] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+4d4
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+4d4 and gets 72." [1d4=3][5d6=2, 5, 3, 4, 4][2d6=1, 6][2d6=2, 4][2d6=5, 4][4d4=2, 3, 4, 1]
[20:23] <Kotono> Another deep wound in the Hellcat draws transparent blood to stain the ground, like a ghost's last pains! It staggers on its feet, sagging under its pair of wounds! OOC: Okay. Hellcat 2 and Jaela are up. Go ahead and go first, Jaela.
[20:24] <Jaela> What can she do but put the thing out of its misery and straight into dreamland? Opening herself for further attacks -- attacks that will draw bloody retaliations -- Jaela strikes at the hellcat right by her side!
[20:25] <Jaela> roll 1d20+30+4+4
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+30+4+4 and gets 54." [1d20=16]
[20:25] <Jaela> roll 1d20+30+4+4
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+30+4+4 and gets 39." [1d20=1]
[20:25] <Jaela> roll 1d20+25+4+4
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+25+4+4 and gets 35." [1d20=2]
[20:25] <Jaela> roll 1d20+20+4+4
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+20+4+4 and gets 40." [1d20=12]
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: One hit.
[20:28] <Jaela> roll 1d8+23+1d6 all I need? nonlethal
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d8+23+1d6 all I need? nonlethal and gets 31." [1d8=3][1d6=5]
[20:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Hellcat 2=Jaela(24)>Hellcat 3(21)>???roof(17)'
[20:29] <Kotono> With a powerful slam, the Hellcat is staggered and collapses, its wounds too much to bear! Meanwhile both Hellcats approach to within 40ft at a good charging run! Meanwhile as Afina ascends back up, she can see them. Each one is small and spined, like a malicious, overgrown imp. They are each a dull red, spines all over as they ascend! As one they hurl a storm of spines at Afina!
[20:29] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 AC?
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 AC? and gets 36." [1d20=14]
[20:30] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Hellcat 2=Jaela(24)>Hellcat 3(21)>Spinagon Trio(17)'
[20:30] <Afina> OOC: 45
[20:33] <Kotono> But the spines don't even come close, Afina dodging the plentiful projectiles! At this the smoke from the chimney becomes thicker! From it nine appear! Each one is a beautiful man or woman, with wings as black as night. Each one has a bow readied, "Surrender, intruders!" the nine call as one!
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 Nine Erinyes
[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 Nine Erinyes and gets 11." [1d20=2]
[20:33] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Hellcat 2=Jaela(24)>Hellcat 3(21)>Spinagon Trio(17)>Nine Erinyes(11)'
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[20:34] * Jaela has to pause and stare at the roof incredulously for a moment.
[20:35] <Afina> "This is nostalgic," Afina notes, looping around and casting an elegant gesture at the erinyes to set their minds aflutter with confusion, "Except the shoe is on the other foot."
[20:35] <Afina> roll 1d20+16 SR
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[20:36] <Afina> OOC: DC 24 will, confusion
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[20:37] <Kotono> The magic settles in on the nine devils, but nothing seems to happen! OOC: Hellcat 2 and Jaela. Go Jaela. It'll still act at the same time in case it targets you, bear in mind.
[20:41] * Jaela will let the hellcats come to her, ready to counter their advance with Gae Trocaire. But something should really be done to ward herself against the annoyance of the fake angels, and so she decides to try and get a few of them over to her side with a beckoning gesture.
[20:41] <Jaela> OOC: Mass Charm Monster, Will 28, 34HD total
[20:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[20:42] <Jaela> roll 1d20+27 SR, Assay SR
[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+27 SR, Assay SR and gets 46." [1d20=19]
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: Roll SR first next time.
[20:44] <Jaela> OOC: Okay
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Forgot the +5 part but they still fail anyway.
[20:45] <Jaela> "Why are you working for a loser that keeps you guys at a kennel with his pets, anyway?" Jaela has to wonder. "Our side's clearly stronger, so why not give it a try?"
[20:46] <Kotono> As Jaela speaks, works of magic floating over the erinyes swarm, the Hellcats charge! The second one reaches Jaela first, intent on tearing her apart! OOC: What's your reach, Jaela?
[20:47] <Jaela> OOC: 5ft with this shortspear
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw  and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw  and gets 25." [1d20=8]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw  and gets 13." [1d20=1]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 (+2 charge, -2 PA) AC? claw  and gets 28." [1d20=16]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 bite
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 bite and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[20:48] <Jaela> OOC: Can I use my immediate?
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Yeah, sure. What is it?
[20:50] <Jaela> OOC: On second thought, I'll save it. AC is 20. Do I get to gambit them back?
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: No, they have reach on you.
[20:51] <Kotono> roll 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR?
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR? and gets 17." [1d8=3]
[20:51] <Kotono> roll 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR?
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR? and gets 15." [1d8=1]
[20:51] <Kotono> roll 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR?
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+14 hit 1 what's your DR? and gets 16." [1d8=2]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 2d8+8
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+8 and gets 23." [2d8=8, 7]
[20:52] <Jaela> OOC: Magic+evil
[20:52] <Kotono> OOC: They bypass that.
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 improved grab with bite CMD?
[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 improved grab with bite CMD? and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[20:54] <Jaela> OOC: 34
[20:55] <Kotono> Jaela's defenses are overwhelmed in an instant, the Hellcat ripping into her tender flesh like ribbons of sweet candy! Blood flows out and splatters on the ground, but it's not over yet! The third Hellcat is approaching, pouncing on her as well, a duo both assailing her! OOC: You mentioned an immediate. Going to take it before I start rolling or anything?
[20:55] <Jaela> OOC: Saving it for any spells/SLAs used on us
[20:56] <Jaela> OOC: AC is actually 21 and not 20 due to haste, if it does roll really low
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw and gets 36." [1d20=20]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw owwies
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 (+2 charge, -1 PA) claw owwies and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 bite
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 bite and gets 29." [1d20=18]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d10+10
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+10 and gets 20." [1d10=10]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: Strike that roll.
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 2d10+20
[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+20 and gets 32." [2d10=3, 9]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 2d6+6 and grapplin' times
[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+6 and grapplin' times and gets 11." [2d6=2, 3]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 30." [1d20=7]
[20:58] <Jaela> OOC: Still 34
[21:00] <Kotono> Jaela gets mauled again, skin torn open and armor bloodied! The two Hellcats press her relentlessly, a stormo f clawing and biting! OOC: Spinagons.
[21:01] <Kotono> Meanwhile and above the spinagons close in around Afina, circling her and peppering her with spines! "Give up," the demand, "You're nothing but a disgusting little fairy! You have no place in Hell!"
[21:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 AC?
[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 AC? and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[21:01] <Kotono> But the spines fly errant each and eveyr time, missing her completely! OOC:Erinesy.
[21:02] <Jaela> "Speak about disgusting! Ugh! How the fuck can anyone work with those ugly freaks?" Jaela has to wonder, surely still prettier and more convincing while dripping blood all over Hell than the spiny things.
[21:05] <Kotono> The erinyes glance between each other, nothing heard. But abruptly the Hellcats slink back slightly, as the Erinyes fly down towards Jaela. "Well then, pretty little angel," They purr, one of them calling that, "Aren't you so interesting. Surrender and you'll be our personal pet," The hover around Jaela - one going to wrap an arm around her, another to nuzzle against her side. The Master will
[21:05] <Kotono> forge you, even." OOC: You're free to AoO them if you desire, Jaela. Do you?
[21:05] <Jaela> OOC: Not unless they're pretending and attacking me
[21:07] <Kotono> OOC: They aren't. Go ahead and react. Meanwhile...
[21:07] <Kotono> Farther away, 100ft away? Afina can see three more of the Hellcats, 100ft away and approaching!
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 Trio of Hellcats
[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 Trio of Hellcats and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[21:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(25)>Hellcat 2=Jaela(24)>Hellcat 3(21)>Spinagon Trio(17)>Hellcat Trio(14)>Nine Erinyes(11)'
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[21:08] <Jaela> Oh, the things she does to get her revenge....
[21:08] <Jaela> "How about a compromise? Let's go somewhere, not on the upper or lower planes, and just have a nice chat. There's plenty I'd love to hear from you all."
[21:08] <Afina> "No, that's disgusting," Afina retorts at the angelcest occuring below her. Even if they have pulses, Annalise is still leagues better than any devil. Diving away from the spinagons, she lunges at one of the hellcats to carve it open as she passes and flies away!
[21:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+30 tumble
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+30 tumble and gets 37." [1d20=7]
[21:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+46 5th level arcane strike
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+46 5th level arcane strike and gets 64." [1d20=18]
[21:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+41 5th level arcane strike
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+41 5th level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=1]
[21:09] <Kotono> OOC: One hit, Afian
[21:10] <Kotono> .
[21:10] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+5d4
[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+5d4 and gets 78." [1d4=4][5d6=1, 5, 2, 5, 5][2d6=6, 3][2d6=3, 2][2d6=6, 2][5d4=3, 2, 4, 3, 3]
[21:13] <Kotono> Meanwhile Afina dives down, digging deep into the side of the Hellcat! At this a voice sounds in both Jaela and Afina's mind. It's a wizened old voice, a man's voice. At the same time you can smell smoke and metal, tickling your nose unpleasantly. 'You're no mere intruders. A battle does neither of us good. Come inside and let us parley instead. Perhaps we are not so opposed to one another's
[21:13] <Kotono> goals...do you seek the boiling mountain or Bloodletting Peak, by chance?'
[21:14] <Kotono> OOC: Go Jaela.
[21:15] <Kotono> The erinyes look between each other, abruptly going silent.
[21:15] <Jaela> "Come to think of it," Jaela muses, her wounds sealing up, "who is your master?" Since they never responded to her, she might as well try a different topic.
[21:15] <Jaela> OOC: Are they preventing me?
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: No.
[21:23] <Kotono> The nine look to each other, "Well..." One says at last, before he suddenly exhales. "Our master is Tenraluus."
[21:23] <Afina> Ahh, intrigue. Ilsenine would flourish here... were she not chained to Gathgarion's bed up on that damnnable mountain. Afina is far less skilled, but she at least knows there is a game and that it is played. She could surely barter secrets with this devil and gain a needed edge in her goal... and open the door just a crack to further friendly relations with devils, giving them openings to betray
[21:23] <Afina> her and Lifasa later on. No, it's intolerable to give hell so much as a quarter of an inch. "Or perhaps we seek you," she retorts, refusing to give anything away. They can take what secrets they need by having Annalise rend this devil's mind apart, after all.
[21:24] <Jaela> roll 1d20+22+15 do I know this guy?
[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+22+15 do I know this guy? and gets 39." [1d20=2]
[21:25] <Kotono> 'I doubt that,' The voice retorts, a note of ever so slight mocking. 'Not one pixie in Hell but two, so close together? No, I doubt you are after me very much.'
[21:26] * Jaela snorts. "What, for real? That's who you are? Step outside and we'll chat," she voices. "Call it a parley."
[21:31] <Kotono> After a moment, the Erinyes back off slightly. The Hellcats stop, even the faraway ones and the wounded ones. The spinagons abruptly dive down, prostrating themselves on the roof. The erinyes kneel as one, heads bowed. The smoke from the chimney expands out, becoming thick and blacker. It forms the shape of a large throne ten feet above the chinmey, where in he sits. It is a pit fiend. You have
[21:31] <Kotono> seen these before. This one...as mucha s its emancipated, body body is red scales and hard, symmetrical edges, it is hate. You can see hate and oppression, eyes telling you things you can scantly understand. It rests one arm on his fist, resting on the armrest of his throne of choking smoke. "Come up," He invites, "There is no reason to shout."
[21:33] <Afina> Giving Jaela a somewhat dubious look, Afina elects to go along with it for now and floats up to within thirty feet of the fiend.
[21:34] * Jaela kicks the thoroughly defeated and unconscious hellcat at her feet, sending it to the Aurora's courtyard just past the gate. Then, she flies up towards the roof, preferring to hover rather than set foot upon it. "Glad you could see it my way," she tells the pit fiend. "From how it must look to you, we might be the enemies of your enemies, so you tell us how to best off them and you get on ahead in life? That about right?"
[21:36] <Kotono> With a smile of nothing but pure white fangs and incisors, "You want Gathgorian...no. If you wanted him, you'd find him elsewhere since he seldom comes to his keep. You want something in there...the fey he holds there," Tapping a finger to his lips while still smiling, "'twould explain a pixie in Hell well."
[21:37] <Jaela> "Before we actually go further, just what fucking gives me away?" Jaela insists to know. "I used nondetection and got the color on my wings right and everything. How is it that every fucker still sees through my cunning disguise?"
[21:39] <Afina> Since Jaela's better at the talking Afina contents herself with remaining a silently hostile presence on the edge of the proceedings for now.
[21:39] <Kotono> "You came here. No lawful or evil being can see or detect this place by any means. Not even the magic that shields it," Chuckling a moment, his smile growing, "I daresay you've told me everything I need to know by coming here. Exactly as planned."
[21:41] <Afina> "Hiding from your own?" Afina's curiousity compells her to ask at that.
[21:41] * Jaela rolls her eye. So he cheated. And he's boasting about it, too! "Yeah whatever. Listen, it's pretty much how I said at first. You don't like Gath-what's his name, you'd be better off if he up and died. You'd be rolling around laughing if he lost face, too, like through losing something of his. So how're you gonna be helping us with that?"
[21:42] * Jaela nods at Afina curtly. "Yep. Think of him as a deserter."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Hardly something so...uninformed," His smile grows yet broader, showing even more teeth, row after row of them. All sharp, like oversized needles. "The true order of Hell. But yes, I believe we could come to an arraingement."
[21:54] <Jaela> "So what do you know about that guy? His home? His minions? Defenses? Secret ways in?"
[21:59] <Kotono> "All you need to know to succeed, I assure you," Tenraluus replies as he sits up straight. "My Lord seeks aid for his coming triumphs. In exchange for this information, a few tasks will be required. Small things of no objection to you, unless slaying devils loyal to the False King of Hell is a problem?"
[22:02] <Afina> "No deal," Afina interjects abruptly. "You can tell us useful information and watch us use it to harm an enemy, or we can go back to where we were before the parley. There's no middle ground with hell. Ever."
[22:03] <Jaela> "I don't give a shit," Jaela responds bluntly at the same time. "We're gonna be taking on your neighbor, here. Whether you want us to succeed or not? Up to you."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Who said Gathgorian is my enemy?" He smiles even more now, nearly splitting his face apart. "In a minute's time, a servant could teleport to Gathgorian's unit and pass information on about you, and in turn his fortress could be fully locked down, and anything of value within it taken to places you'll never have a hope of reaching." Thoughtfully brushing a claw against the smoke that rises around him, "Gone, like kindling in the fire. All it needs is a match to light it. Now...the only question is...shall I light it, or shall we talk instead?"
[22:09] <Jaela> "You're hiding yourself," Jaela points out.
[22:11] <Kotono> "That I am, yet I would be remiss not to have a servant in good standing who can contact my neighbor, eh?" The devil remarks easily to that, "Can you achieve your goals within one minute, going in blind? I wonder."
[22:12] <Jaela> "No, I mean that you'll lose this nice hiding spot and the false king's minions will pick up on the millennia-old scent," Jaela deadpans. "Minor inconvenience to me. Lost demiplane to you."
[22:13] <Afina> "And we'll settle for killing you here instead," Afina retorts. "It's up to you to decide what's more useful. A chance to direct a force of nature against another target, or to be blown over yourself. Trying to control it is folly, though."
[22:14] <Jaela> "Reminds me of something we said not two hours ago to another rigid fucker," Jaela recalls. "Know when to cut your losses and adjust properly. We do. Do you?"
[22:17] <Kotono> For the barest moment the creature's smile slips a little bit, a mere blink of the eye. "Perhaps a modified agreement is called for," Pure smoothness as he continues, "Let us reduce this to the simplest denominator. You have no battle with us, nor no need to make me an enemy. A simple equivalent exchange ensures cooperation. Perhaps instead a sum of currency is more agreeable to you?"
[22:17] <Afina> "You want us to pay you?" Afina asks in naked disbelief.
[22:18] <Jaela> "This is like talking to children. Fucking retarded children who were dropped on their head a lot," Jaela mutters, just as incredulous. "Okay. I'll speak slowly. We wanna kill devils. You get to tell us about devils, and if we don't like them, we'll kill them. Don't wanna do that? Fine by me."
[22:20] <Kotono> A sigh. A long suffering sigh, "Indeed, you are naught but vulgar children, all sound and fury. When offered friendship, you reject it. Then I shall have to bring you to heel." Bright red fire surrounds the pit fiend, crackling like an inferno! "I shall grace you by being the instrument of your chastisement!" OOC: INit here.
[22:20] <Afina> roll 1d20+20
[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+20 and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[22:20] <Jaela> roll 1d20+6
[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+6 and gets 17." [1d20=11]
[22:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Tenraluus
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Tenraluus and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[22:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 trio of Hellcats 100ft away
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 trio of Hellcats 100ft away and gets 23." [1d20=14]
[22:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 9 erinyes
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 9 erinyes and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[22:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 cat 2
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 cat 2 and gets 23." [1d20=14]
[22:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 cat 3
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 cat 3 and gets 28." [1d20=19]
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: +2 to cat 3.
[22:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(30)>Hellcat 3(28)>Hellcat Trio=Hellcat 2(23)>Tenraluus(20)>Nine Erinyes=Jaela(17)'
[22:23] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[22:26] <Afina> Time abruptly stands still as Afina moves like lightning! Invoking her greater heroism spell once more and hasting herself and Jaela while hell moves like molasses around her. Even as she slows down to attack Tenraluus she still seems to be moving impossibly fast to any observer, diving towards the pit fiend and stabbing him twice before stopping in position to keep him distracted for Jaela's
[22:26] <Afina> attacks!
[22:26] <Afina> roll 1d20+46 5th level arcane strike
[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+46 5th level arcane strike and gets 64." [1d20=18]
[22:26] <Afina> roll 1d20+41 5th level arcane strike
[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+41 5th level arcane strike and gets 43." [1d20=2]
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: 1 hit.
[22:27] <Afina> roll 1d4+21+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+5d4
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+21+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+5d4 and gets 73." [1d4=2][5d6=5, 5, 2, 1, 3][2d6=3, 3][2d6=5, 4][2d6=1, 6][5d4=4, 1, 3, 2, 2]
[22:29] <Kotono> Afina dives in lightning fast, stabbing into the pit fiend! The first strike tears into his arm, ripping scales and spewing fiery, sparking blood! The second blow is stopped - in a split second Tenraluus has produced a saber of searingly hot flames, parrying Afina's blade back! Meanwhile, the Hellcats approach the house, staring up at the battle for the moment and prowling about! OOC: Tenraluus.
[22:32] <Kotono> Before anything else can happen, an explosive fireball erupts around Jaela, engulfing her! OOC: Reflex save, Jaela.
[22:32] <Jaela> OOC: No SR?
[22:32] <Jaela> roll 1d20+28
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+28 and gets 33." [1d20=5]
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 26." [1d20=6]
[22:32] <Kotono> OOC: Does that beat your SR?
[22:33] <Jaela> OOC: SR is 26
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 10d6 halve this fire damage
[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 halve this fire damage and gets 39." [10d6=6, 1, 1, 3, 2, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5]
[22:33] <Jaela> OOC: Fire res 30
[22:34] <Kotono> As fires explode around Jaela, leaving her unburnt, Tenraluus turns his attention to the pixie before him, "Now," he declares, "This shall be your chastisement!" His sword of fire throbs, red energy coursing into it from throughout the pit fiend's body! He grows yet more haggard, but yet his strikes come with a sizzing viciousness!
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 37." [1d20=4]
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 30." [1d20=2]
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 AC?
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 AC? and gets 27." [1d20=9]
[22:34] <Afina> OOC: 45
[22:35] <Kotono> Each swing leaves the air around Afina crackling and smouldering, but only a few errant sparks graze her, doing no true damage! Yet those sparks make her feel drained inside, empty and burnt out! OOC: Nine Erinyes.
[22:35] <Jaela> "Keep the fucking cats off my back," Jaela calls over to the erinyes. "Your old boss and I are gonna decide who'll be the new one!"
[22:36] <Kotono> OOC: Make a charisma check?
[22:36] <Jaela> roll 1d20+10
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[22:39] <Kotono> The erinyes hesitate for several moments, before flying down slightly and glaring down at the bezekira! The bezekira snarl back impotently! Meanwhile Tenraluus grunts, "My master can offer you power, wealth, revenge...whatever you want," he observes as the two cross blades again, "You're right if you hate the order of Hell as it is now! My Master will remember well his enemies and his allies
[22:39] <Kotono> when his time comes!" OOC: Jaela, go.
[22:40] <Jaela> "Fuck your master if he's dumb enough not to adjust to the times!" Jaela cries, charging down into the opening provided to her by Afina, her lance drawn!
[22:41] <Jaela> roll 1d20+31+4+4+2+2+10 (charging smite, divine might, Gae Dioltas)
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+31+4+4+2+2+10 (charging smite, divine might, Gae Dioltas) and gets 57." [1d20=4]
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: HIt.
[22:45] <Jaela> roll 3d8+126+6+6+12+30 what a relief, good+silver
[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 3d8+126+6+6+12+30 what a relief, good+silver and gets 192." [3d8=4, 7, 1]
[22:46] <Jaela> OOC: Lance, 10ft reach, gambit
[22:46] <Kotono> Jaela stabs in fast and hard, impaling Tenraluus through the chest! He staggers back and claws at the impalement, but is caught fast in it! OOC: AFina, go.
[22:48] <Afina> He looks pretty hurt now, so perhaps they can take him alive and gain all his knowledge that way. With that in mind, Afina loops around Tenraluus several times, hitting him hard with the flat of her sword in sensitive spots she can find before ending back where she started!
[22:48] <Afina> roll 1d20+45 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking
[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+45 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking and gets 65." [1d20=20]
[22:48] <Afina> roll 1d20+40 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking
[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+40 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking and gets 58." [1d20=18]
[22:48] <Afina> roll 1d20+45 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking crit check 'bout time
[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+45 nonlethal, 6th level arcane strike, flanking crit check 'bout time and gets 57." [1d20=12]
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: Yep, luck rebound.
[22:49] <Afina> roll 2d4+42+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+6d4
[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 2d4+42+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+6d4 and gets 102." [2d4=3, 4][5d6=1, 3, 6, 4, 2][2d6=2, 6][2d6=2, 6][2d6=6, 6][6d4=1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1]
[22:49] <Afina> roll 1d4+21+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+6d4
[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+21+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6+6d4 and gets 76." [1d4=4][5d6=1, 1, 2, 3, 6][2d6=3, 2][2d6=2, 3][2d6=6, 5][6d4=3, 4, 3, 1, 4, 2]
[22:51] <Kotono> Already impaled and wounded, Tenraluus can't do much but take the blows! Two of them send the blade of Afina's sword glowing white, as the pit fiend is knocked down and out! At this the Hellcats below hiss viciously, before turning tail and running away at full steam! OOC: Tenraluus is up but out. Nine Erinyes and Jaela. Go Jaela.
[22:51] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(30)>Hellcat 3(28)>Hellcat Trio=Hellcat 2(23)>Nine Erinyes=Jaela(17)'
[22:52] * Jaela snorts, taking the chance to smack the prone pit fiend a few more times before turning towards the group of erinyes. "See? Weak little fucker. Are you gonna come with me and see what true power is all about?"
[22:54] <Kotono> OOC: Make another charisma check.
[22:54] <Jaela> roll 1d20+10
[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6." [1d20=1]
[22:54] <Kotono> The erinyes approach Jaela, one going to hug her from behind and whisper, "Maybe you can give us a better offer, hm?"
[22:55] <Kotono> OOC: Free act.
[22:55] <Afina> "This should be plenty for information," Afina opines, landing upon the pit fiend and looking dubiously at the angelcest starting up again. "Really?"
[22:55] <Jaela> "Oh, count on it," Jaela says brightly. "This guy?" She nudges the pit fiend with the tip of her boot. "He was all talking about offing Bel. For how many millennia, I wonder? But we're gonna take that fucker out and keep on going."
[22:56] <Kotono> "Oh, that isn't who he wants to take out," The one whispers back to Jaela, "He wants to take out the False King of Hell."
[22:57] <Jaela> "You gotta start somewhere," Jaela says quite reasonably. "What did this loser do lately? Sit here and hide?" She snorts again. "Anyway, anything interesting or important back at his hideout? Secret plans or info about Gathgorian or his burning mountain place? Intel on Bel or the False King? Something about his master?"
[22:58] <Kotono> "Tenraluus knows it all," Is the reply, "His spies report to him directly and alone."
[22:59] <Jaela> "Good enough. Any shit you need to grab before we plane shift over to my place?"
[23:00] <Kotono> "Oh, we're fine. Very fine," The nine insist, all around Jaela, resting or stroking parts of her body.
[23:01] <Jaela> "Can't cast like this," Jaela says, squirming out. She nods at Afina. "You, the prisoner and two of the girls? Then the rest of us follow. Ready?"
[23:01] <Afina> "Yes, bring all the girls you want," Afina replies with an unconcealed shudder. They can fit right in the dungeon.

[Corwin]

[23:08] <Kotono> On getting back, the erinyes are safely locked up. Once done, Annalise is gotten by Jaela, the two walking to Tenraluus' cell. You pass the erinyes in the meantime, which gets a smile from Annalise. "Mmmm. I am rather hungry," she observes, "So considerate of you to bring food home."
[23:09] * Afina floats along behind the two with an 'I knew it' expression.
[23:10] <Jaela> "Now, now," Jaela says mildly, still elated from their success. "Play nice. Focus on the nice old deserter who knows all about Gathgorian and the False King for now?"
[23:11] <Kotono> "Mmmm," Annalise merely smiles as you walk along. You reach Tenraluus' cell without incident. He lies there, Annalise checking over her copy of the typical interrogation form briefly, "Standard form," she glances over at Afina, "Anything to add to it, or just put him through the paces?"
[23:12] <Afina> "Start from the top, we'll go into more detail once we get to the Gathgarion part," Afina replies. "He's probably full of information on all sorts of things, but that's for the future."
[23:13] <Jaela> "I do think we need to know about his master and their plans, too?" Jaela adds. "After all, his disappearance will be noticed, so if there's something urgent there to take advantage of, we might not have lots of time for it."
[23:13] * Jaela shrugs. "In fact, any info that's time sensitive and he knows about might be good here."
[23:14] <Kotono> Annalise nods, going over to Tenraluus! She focuses her will a few times, "Mmm, his will is strong." Reaching out to run a finger over the devil's chest, "He smells of strong blood, burning with power. Oh, you have a treat here, Jaela."
[23:14] <Jaela> "Still fell down to three blows like most of our enemies."
[23:14] <Afina> "He doesn't look very healthy," Afina says, looking over the emaciated fiend.
[23:16] <Kotono> "Isn't it strange how three always comes up?" Annalise murmurs as she works her mind on him. After a moment, "Have you ever set foot on Lifasa?" Annalise asks, to which the wooden, slow reply is, "No."
[23:17] <Jaela> "Might've been four," Jaela admits, blushing slightly despite herself at the possible embellishment. "I wasn't really keeping count."
[23:17] * Afina scribbles dilligently into the parchment as she listens.
[23:17] <Kotono> "Have you ever interacted with known Lifasans or the people of Lifasa," Annalise continues, faintly disinterested in tone. The answer is again, "No."
[23:18] <Kotono> "Do you have any knowledge of devils who have been on Lifasa or interfered with the people of Lifasa?" AGain the answer is a negative, after which Annalise glances over at Jaela, "We probably could have omitted these for a random devil like this with signs of being on another task."
[23:18] <Afina> "Probably, but it doesn't take long and we may as well be thorough," Afina adds without looking up.
[23:20] <Kotono> "Do you know anything about plans or schemes regarding Lifasa or its people," She asks, which is again a no. "Do you possess command rank in Hell?" Another no, Annalise snorting as he also shows no knowledge of how to destroy a devil's soul. "Right then, pass me the second sheet? I haven't memorized that one yet."
[23:22] <Afina> "More ignorant than he pretended," Afina mutters, setting aside her parchment and fluttering along to quickly grab a spare before returning and handing it to Annalise before she gets back to writing on her own.
[23:23] <Jaela> "You really would've expected him to connect the dots and know who he was interacting with," Jaela agrees.
[23:23] <Kotono> "A devil putting on airs? Never." Annalise smirks as she reads off it. The parts about the Bronze Citadel are without incident. He served there as a barbed devil for a time, commanding bearded devils. It doesn't really turn up anything new. Once past all that and onto the Bloodletting Peak, "Do you have any knowledge of Gathgorian?" Annalise asks, which gets an immediate nod of yes.
[23:24] * Afina sighs in relief at a chance to write something new.
[23:24] <Kotono> "As I thought," Annalise murmurs, "Describe your relationship with Gathgorian." To this he replies, "To observe him and see if he is suitable for indoctrination, and if not, for possible elimination."
[23:26] <Kotono> "Fascinating," Annalise murmurs again, glancing back, "Do you to pursue that or keep going?"
[23:26] <Afina> "Lets come back to it after the rest," Afina shakes her head.
[23:28] <Kotono> "Detail any notable deeds or accomplishments Gathgorian has achieved," Annalise continues. To this, the answer is, "Aiding in the elimination of the Fallen Zariel and securing his position with rallies against Zquujaj's invasion."
[23:29] <Afina> "Not very grateful for getting a house from Zariel, was he?" Afina mutters as she quickly and neatly writes this all down.
[23:29] <Jaela> "Maybe that's how he got it?"
[23:30] <Kotono> "I'd be more concerned if he was loyal." Annalise remarks, "It's a sign of weakness to be too loyal in Hell, no matter what they say. Really rather charming." After that, "Do you want me to bother asking him the next one? We already know the answer."
[23:31] <Jaela> "It's not like divination magic where we're limited by questions or words, is it?"
[23:32] <Afina> "Never know, he might reveal a useful discrepancy," Afina agrees with Jaela.
[23:32] <Kotono> "Where does Gathgorian reside when he is not in battle," Annalise asks, getting exactly the expected reply. "Have you ever been in the Bloodletting Peak?" To which the answer is, "Yes."
[23:33] <Afina> "We're at the good part, now," Afina focuses intently on her writing!
[23:34] <Kotono> On being prodded with the next question, "To contact and turn Tylurn to the True King, 99 years ago."
[23:35] <Kotono> "So, who was your immediate supervisor at the time of the visit," Annalise continues. This, however, draws nothing out. The Pit Fiend stares with a slack, unresponsive, flat stare ahead.
[23:36] <Afina> "Get him to elaborate on who Tylurn was," Afina prods, before pausing at the devil's sudden turn for slack-jawed idiocy. "Did you break him?"
[23:36] <Jaela> "Can you ask one question here to confirm this?" Jaela voices, now alert. "Is it that he doesn't know, or that he can't say?"
[23:36] <Jaela> roll 1d20+18+15
[23:36] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+18+15 and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[23:36] <Kotono> "No." Annalise smiles a tiny bit, "Someone doubtless prefers to remain anonymous. Who is Tylurn?"
[23:37] <Jaela> "Some loser cornugon," Jaela answers that one.
[23:38] <Kotono> "Tylurn is a cornugon stationed within Gathgorian's house staff and guards. He has rejected the lies of the False King and wisely thrown in his lot with the True King of Hell." On this reply Annalise hums to herself, "It's probably some sort of interdiction magic, perhaps Forbidden Speech or a similar spell."
[23:39] <Jaela> "So Tylurn is this guy's minion?" Jaela follows up on that. "Does he have some means of passing instructions or orders to him? A way to be authentic?"
[23:41] <Kotono> Annalise repeats Jaela's question, to which the reply is, "The code is that he says he is here to find the truth. The answer I give is that the truth is the True King of Hell."
[23:43] <Afina> "That could be useful for spurring a brief rebellion at the peak when we attack," Afina smiles as she writes the code down.
[23:43] <Jaela> "Or a way to sneak us in, perhaps?" Jaela muses. "Or someone out, say."
[23:44] <Kotono> "I'm quite curious to whom this True King is," Annalise observes, "But I doubt we'll get an easy answer from him."
[23:44] <Jaela> "Yeah, don't break him just yet over that. There's plenty we can still learn here."
[23:45] <Kotono> "List all other devils who are in the Bloodletting Peak," Annalise commands. You immediately get a list - 98 other cornugons for security and protection, 99 other staff - Erinyes, spinagons, imps and other servants.
[23:46] <Jaela> "Does Gathgorian keep any strong servants? Say on the level of this guy?" Jaela asks, nodding at the pit fiend.
[23:51] <Kotono> The question is asked, the answer is, "No. Gathgorian fears nothing."

[Corwin]

[20:05] <Jaela> "Moving on?" Jaela suggests.
[20:09] <Kotono> "What passive defenses are in the Bloodletting Peak," Annalise asks next. The answer is, "Teleportation wards, scrying wards, site-wide alerts connected to the entire staff via telepathic message, gas vents that poison intruders, several torture rooms that attack and attempt to torment and kill any non-devils who blunder into them.
[20:10] <Afina> "Our own defences need work," Afina notes as she scribes all of this down.
[20:10] <Kotono> "You can do worse than studying devils for security," Annalise turns with a slight, mocking smile, "Endless paranoia and backstabbing does have some productive outcomes."
[20:10] <Jaela> "Speaking of, maybe he can tell us how he made his own anti-devil defenses? We could get those for the Aurora!"
[20:11] <Afina> "Save it for the end at least, lets focus on our target here," Afina prods.
[20:14] <Kotono> The next question is a matter of triggers, which gets the answer of, "Any staff member can trigger an alarm an dmessage. Gas vents are triggered by the presence of non devils with no devils in certain rooms, and the torture chambers are triggered by entering them."
[20:15] <Jaela> "So if we had a devil guide along, no matter who went there, we would be fine?"
[20:16] <Kotono> The question is asked, to which Tenraluus nods.
[20:16] <Afina> "What means is used to detect non-devils?" Afina asks since a guide can hardly be relied on. Most traps can be circumvented if you know how they work.
[20:18] <Kotono> "The magic Duke Malphas placed," is the answer Afina gets.
[20:19] <Jaela> "What's stopping some loser minion from triggering the defenses out of spite to get rid of an enemy with one of those torture chambers?" Jaela wonders out loud. "Is there some sort of way to just shut it all down?"
[20:20] <Afina> "Probably works like a glyph of warding," Afina guesses but doesn't write at that unhelpful answer. Only way she'll know for sure is to see it herself. Jaela's question is a good one, though.
[20:21] <Kotono> "Nothing," Is the answer Jaela gets after the question is repeated.
[20:22] <Jaela> "No review of it, either? So that cornugon we know of could keep on triggering it on and on until it starts getting ignored?"
[20:23] <Kotono> "A keep from a Lord of the Nine and a Duke enchanted his defenses personally?" Annalise brushes a bit of hair out of her face, "My, our Gathgorian travels in high circles." Tot hat question, repeated, the answer is, "Unknown. It does not relay with the alert system, though our source suspects Gathgorian may be alerted, or another devil."
[20:24] <Jaela> "Hey, now that I think of it, were there any recent cases where the alarm got triggered? As in, do we know what happened for real instead of in theory? Does Gathgorian keep on rushing back every time?"
[20:26] <Kotono> "Twice and he did not. Once was a mistake by a cornugon. He was punished for incompetence. Another was due to a renegade devil attempting to break into the keep. It was exterminated."
[20:27] <Jaela> "So we can probably get rid of anyone in the keep before he even bothers showing up," Jaela muses, ready to get on with the interrogation.
[20:31] <Kotono> The next question is about active defenses. You get a wealth of information about guard patterns - three shifts of 33 cornugons on active patrol and 66 at rest at any given time. They follow a regular, precise pattern. 11 on the outer walls, 11 patrolling inside and 11 on flights above and around the Peak.
[20:33] <Jaela> "Is invisibility in any way viable, here?"
[20:33] * Afina dilligently scribes away every last iota of information about shift and guard patterns, response times, and blind spots.
[20:34] <Kotono> The question is asked, and the answer is, "No. The cornugons are all trained to see with their minds. Superior forms of invisibility or stealth are required."
[20:39] * Jaela is satisfied with that.
[20:44] <Kotono> The next question is about large scale assaults, which draws the answer of, "All the cornugons take defensive positions, while alerts are sent. In the event of a serious attack, Gathgorian is to be notified."
[20:45] <Afina> "Describe the defensive positions in more detail," Afina requests.
[20:45] <Jaela> "What qualifies an attack as serious? Casualties, or how far we end up breaching?"
[20:45] * Jaela gestures at Afina. "You first."
[20:50] <Kotono> "An outer wall 99 feet tall, with cannons that can channel and fire boiling adamantite. The courtyard is meant to hold serious assaults, with more adamantite cannons and defensive fortitifactions. Past that, the keep is constructed to have many choke points and defensible places, as well as one-way secret passages to allow troops to flank invaders that penetrate in that far."
[20:50] <Afina> "How thick are the walls?" Afina asks.
[20:51] <Kotono> "9 foot thick," The pit fiend replies.
[20:51] <Jaela> "Of course," Jaela mutters. "So what's a serious attack? I bet it's all in the devil manual."
[20:52] <Kotono> "Any demonic incursion, sight of outsiders above a stage 3 threat, mortal intruders or other forces that outnumber the defenders or penetrate past the courtyard."
[20:53] <Jaela> "Stage 3 threat?" Jaela repeats, even as she asks Afina, "Think we can use any of those secret passages?"
[20:54] <Afina> "Hold on, we'll get him to make a map at the end," Afina shakes her head to Jaela. "Then we'll see."
[20:55] <Kotono> "A stage 3 threat is an outsider above the station of a trumpet archon, an astral deva, a ghaele, a kolyarut, a green slaad, a nalfeshnee or an arcanaloth."
[20:56] <Afina> "Your mother?" Afina asks Jaela.
[20:56] <Jaela> "She's a threat, alright."
[20:59] <Kotono> Annalise chuckles at that, "Yes, I have to agree with Jaela. Quite the brute for an angel. Temperance is not one of her virtues." After smirking again, Annalise asks about intruders. To that, the answer is, "An alert and immediate capture and interrogation. No more than 11 cornugons reply to any alert, unless more than 9 are dispatched."
[21:00] * Afina nods and scribbles that down.
[21:01] <Jaela> Humility is not one of Annalise's, and Jaela is sure she lacks plenty of virtues herself. "Do the defenses count dead cornugons, or would anyone sent into slumber be counted as well? And are they in constant telepathic communication, or it's more like the Aurora's defenses?"
[21:01] <Kotono> The next question is about layout, which various details are given. OOC: For the moment I'm going to skip past this, as it requires making a map. One will be provided on the boards tonight.
[21:01] <Kotono> After that, "Confirmed kills or incapacitation." Tenraluus replies.
[21:02] <Jaela> "So stuff like charm might still work?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "It may," Is the reply Jaela gets.
[21:05] <Jaela> "How far does the dimensional travel ward extend? We might actually be able to Wall them off and keep going, if that's how it works."
[21:07] <Kotono> "999 feet around from the outer walls in all directions," Is the answer.
[21:08] <Jaela> It seems they are getting to a sensitive subject, now, and Jaela decides to be satisfied with this and keep the rest of her questions for after.
[21:09] <Kotono> The next question is about Ilsenine, which gets the simple reply of, "Yes." On asked for the source of the knowledge, "My spy within the Peak." Followed by, "She is held within Gathgorian's personal chambers. She is bound within the room by unknown means. Only Gathgorian is allowed in, and 33 of the 66 cornugons at rest are instructed to be at rest around the entrance to his quarters."
[21:09] * Afina is quite braced to hear more horror stories about Ilsenine's fate. She needs to know her current state to have a chance of rescuing her anyway.
[21:10] <Jaela> So many cornugons are going to die....
[21:11] <Afina> "Does he know anything about those personal chambers?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "There are nine interconnecting chambers for his personal chambers. It is believed that she is held in the third chamber. More details are unclear - even the cornugons are not often allowed into his chambers, and never past the third."
[21:21] <Afina> That answers the location part, now just the question about any actions this devil may have taken regarding her and the script is done. Then they can come back to Jaela's other questions.
[21:25] <Kotono> "None for now, only observed. The role of tis fey is not entirely known to us yet."
[21:25] <Afina> "That's me done. Jaela, you had other questions? I'll put them as an addendum to this report," Afina looks up at the angel momentarily.
[21:27] <Jaela> "Let's start with one of Annalise's, actually?" Jaela suggests. "This guy mentioned attempts at indoctrination, so what was that all about? And he also talked about elimination, so it sounded like he had a plan at work to kill Gathgorian. Learning about this might be good."
[21:28] * Afina nods, ready to write!
[21:29] <Kotono> To that, the question is asked. "If Gathgorian can be brought to serve the True King of Hell, he is to be done so immediately. He is to be shown the infernal truth if viewed to be receptive. Analysis is currently ongoing. If he is not, at the proper time, Gathgorian must be eliminated so he is not an obsticle to the True King of Hell."
[21:30] <Jaela> "So it's more wishful thinking than a plan?" Jaela sounds disappointed, before she perks up once more. "Is that 'infernal truth' something we can show devils? Maybe it's something horrible that stuns them and will give us a tactical advantage!"
[21:31] * Afina gives an approving hum.
[21:32] <Kotono> To this question, "The Infernal Truth is the truth of who shall and must rule Hell, and tear down the false rule of the False King. Any right-thinking devil can and shall be indoctrinated. All others will be rent asunder."
[21:33] * Jaela frowns anew. "For a hellish truth it's not very hellish," she comments. "Hmm, what else? Oh! The defenses! Let's ask him about his anti-devil defenses for his demiplane, and how to make them for the Aurora! Or, I dunno, if we can make them mobile and use them to sneak into Gathgorian's place."
[21:36] <Kotono> "He's speaking of it but stepping around it," Annalise observes, "Curious, he should be more forthcoming." Nonethless she repeats Jaela's qustion, "The Obscured Forge is the work of the True King of Hell." There are a few moments of silence, Annalise frowning and leaning in to look into his eyes. Then slowly, "My Master...I have studied it. It is...a ritual. I will write of it."
[21:37] <Kotono> Leaning back, "I'm not sure if that was somehow close to whatever's stopping him talking more of his superior or if he was petrified of telling us, to the point it strained the magic," Annalise remarks, "What exactly did this demiplane have as defenses?"
[21:37] <Jaela> With a bit of luck it's not even a horrible ritual that sacrifices innoncents! But how often does her luck hold outside of combat? "That's nice. Does his place have anything else that's useful to us? Stuff about his master, stuff to kill devils with?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "You mean this devil's place or his master's place?" Annalise asks back.
[21:38] <Jaela> To Annalise, she says, "He claimed that no one of law or evil could set foot there, and it was this smokey demiplane thing. But he also boasted a lot."
[21:38] <Afina> "It was invisible to devils but anyone else can see it fine. Pretty situational," Afina adds dryly as she writes.
[21:39] <Jaela> "This guy's place," she adds after. "I doubt he can tell where his master is, anyway."
[21:40] <Kotono> Nodding slightly as she makes him go on, "The Book of Truth."
[21:41] * Jaela gives Afina a dubious look. "Think it's useful? Should we go back for it?"
[21:42] <Afina> "I don't really care but if you want it go ahead. It might try and brainwash you, though," the fairy shrugs.
[21:44] <Jaela> "It might. Annalise, how about you? Interested?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "Why yes, you read my mind," Annalise smiles, "Speaking of, are we done with him, or are we going to try and find a way to get him to speak of his hidden master. If not..." Annalise slowly leans closer, running a hand along his scaled, red neck, "His blood smells of power. Ever so enticing, ever so intoxicating."
[21:46] <Afina> "Just don't kill him so he can respawn," Afina says, going away now to the library to file the reports, having no intention of watching Annalise feed.
[21:46] <Jaela> "We might need more from him, but let's put the master thing off for now? I don't really care about him--" Jaela pauses suddenly. "This reminds me, does he know of anything time-sensitive? Something we could exploit? His own plots or those he spied on or overheard?"
[21:47] <Kotono> Such is asked, and the answer is, "No. My mission is to wait and observe for now."