Preparation for Esthan

[Anastasia]

Okay, since you guys have free time this morning before I get up:

1. Get your buffs and precast spells ready. This includes for any you want to cast on NPC allies or have Hopiel cast. Please don't ask Hopiel for twenty million SC spells, I want to keep overhead sane. Don't ask the other casters for a bunch of non core spells either. No really, I have enough overhead without having the SC open.

2. Purchases. If you have any last minute consumables you want, post 'em. If you haven't done this by the time you're there, you don't have them. Period.

3. NPC prep. If this turns into a m-m-m-megabrawl, I'll have each of you run at least one allied NPC as bandied about earlier. Donald for Seira and Antenora for Alicia are the obvious ones; make sure you're familiar with how they fight. Antenora's fairly simplistic; Donald's a bit more complex with his spell selection. His non-core spells are from the PHB2. If I'm really swamped I may dump Latha on one of you as well.

4. As of last check, this is the following array of people involved:

Alicia, Seira, Antenora, Marie, Oberuth, Donald, Bey Onur, Archon Guy, Moon Dog, Hopiel, Oolu, Saul, Umut, Elle, Gil, Latha, Elves to be announced.

Group 1 (goes first, banters): Seira, Alicia, Antenora, Obureth, Latha. Group 2 (heavy melee support): Hopiel, Donald, Archon, Oolu, Bey Onur, Group 3 (ranged support): Elle, Marie, Saul, Gil, Moon Dog

5. Gear distribution. I know you guys talked about Commander Oberuth having the Hammer of the Shard, but have that and any other equipment issues resolved ahead of time. If in doubt about anything, ask me when I first start.

6. Mercs. Cor, in the event I get up late/we're pinched for time, what's the offer you're going to make them?

[Ebiris]

Hopiel will have the following spells prepared for sure, anything else I'll leave to his (DM's) judgement. Note he gets an extra 3rd and 4th level slot thanks to the sword I gave him. I'd suggest he focus on buffs and heals, since his melee and spell likes give him plenty of offense.

Level 1: Cure Light Wounds x2
Level 2: Remove Paralysis
Level 3: Magic Vestment x4
Level 4: Imbue with Spell Ability, Magic Weapon (Greater)
Level 5: Plane Shift
Level 6: Heroes' Feast, Bear's Endurance (Mass), Bull's Strength (Mass)
Level 7: Greater Plane Shift SC page 159 - plane shift without the miss chance

First of all, he'll cast Imbue with Spell Ability to transfer Remove Paralysis and the two Cure Light Wounds to Marie. This'll let her serve as an emergency medic if the need arises.

Then he'll cast Heroes' Feast which will give everyone participating a +1 bonus to attack and will (morale), immunity to Fear and Poison, and 1d8+8 temp hp.

He'll cast Greater Magic Weapon on his sword to make it +4, and Magic Vestment on his clothes so they'll give him a +4 armour bonus to AC. He'll also cast it on Donald, and any two other people with +1 or poorer armour - I'd suggest Balzar and Obureth.

Then just before group 1 teleports off he'll cast Mass Bear's Endurance and Mass Bull's Strength so everyone taking part gets +4 Str and Con (assuming they don't have relevant stat boosting items)

Alicia will cast Greater Magic Weapon on both her swords, Anty's spear, Marie's bow, and the Hammer of the Shard. She'll precast Shield and channel a Dispel Magic into the Sword of the Sealed Gate, and two Enervations into Hell Striker. Also Silversheen will be used on both Hell Striker and the Black Unicorn Horn Spear.

She'll also cast True Seeing from scrolls on both Anty and Seira.

[Corwin]

Let's see. For Seira, she'd have on the two precast spells (mage armor and false life), heroism, an extended bull's strength, extended haste (on all their group and those in Hopiel's group) and an extended shield. The Resort would have silversheen and bless weapon oil on it. I wouldn't participate in the feast. Stoneskin from a 4th level slot on Alicia.

Gear-wise, it should probably be alright as-is. Oberuth with the mage-slaying sword, and Donald with the hammer and his sword as backup.

For the mercs, my pitch would be pretty simple. I'll ask them, confidentially, if they are interested in defending a couple high-level mages from high-level devils (basically, nothing like being on the front lines). With the ring of greater teleport, I could then help them get pretty much anywhere in the world they would like. If this wouldn't be enough for them, I could offer more, but that depends on their reaction.

Telepathy-wise, we should tag at least Alicia and myself, someone from each group, and someone remaining in Balmuria to coordinate, such as Abby.