B 001

[Corwin]

[14:30] <Alicia> [19:56] <Kotono> As the blast of spell fire clear,s Alicia rubs her eyes away of the light. She can see a devastated group of demons below reeling, but a second later the host of the heavens comes down from above! "For the glory of the Light1" Sandriel can be heard, "Charge, decimate them!" As this happens, the blonde elf, the reserved old man and a single Astral Deva settle in near Alicia, keeping a loose screen around her.
[14:30] <Alicia> [19:56] <Alicia> Marie hangs back, happy to provide fire support rather than get into the thick of things.
[14:30] <Alicia> [19:58] * Alicia doesn't hang about, moving one hundred feet forward and ten feet down so she'll hopefully catch more of the fortress's innards with the next blast as she widens the breach!
[14:31] <Kotono> As below you the battle rages, Alicia surges to another part of the roof! THe screams of the demonic hordes and the valiant cries of the celestials echo like the din of a thousand souls in flux! OOC - Go, Alicia.
[14:33] <Alicia> Once more Alicia releases a massive blast of spellfire to tear through the roof above and the demons and possibly floor below!
[14:33] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[14:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 72."12 [12d8=8, 3, 1, 8, 8, 7, 8, 8, 4, 5, 8, 4]
[14:33] <Kotono> roll 8#1d10
[14:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 8#1d10 and gets 48."12 [8#1d10 = 9, 9, 6, 4, 4, 10, 5, 1]
[14:33] <Kotono> OOC - Strike, wrong die.
[14:33] <Kotono> roll 8#1d20
[14:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 8#1d20 and gets 58."12 [8#1d20 = 8, 13, 8, 12, 9, 1, 5, 2]
[14:35] <Kotono> Foosh! The spellfire wracks down below, a second hole! Below, ravaged demons are stunned as celestials plummet down to engage them! As this happens Alicia's cohorts of sorts catch up to her.
[14:37] <Alicia> "I'll be empty after one more blast," Alicia warns her guardians, "Someone hit me with something now and we'll fall back after I've widened the hole some more."
[14:38] <Kotono> "Right," The spry young elf carols, "Here you go! Oh light, surround her with raiments of restoration!" The magic flows into Alicia's waiting body, strenghtening her vitality! OOC - 6 spell levels.
[14:40] <Alicia> "Okay, going over there now!" Alicia points before she takes off one hundred feet away so that the centre of each blast would form a triangle pattern. Once in position safely away from the battling celestials but likely above any demon reinforcements, she unleashes Mystra's gift for the third time!
[14:40] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[14:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 59."12 [12d8=5, 3, 8, 5, 2, 2, 8, 6, 4, 4, 5, 7]
[14:46] <Kotono> roll 7#d20
[14:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 7#d20 and gets 68."12 [7#d20 = 7, 14, 12, 13, 5, 3, 14]
[14:48] <Kotono> The third blast is just as potent as the others, the final hole opened! Below Alicia can clearly see the pitched battles below. Forces of demons are hard pressed by the onrushing celestials, often to the point of near disintegration. A marilith fights bravely against several astral deva, scoring solid hits but being stunned and overwhelmed into oblivion. A horde of nalfeshnee battle against a contingent of Tulani and a few Planetars, an apocaly
[14:48] * Sierra_UghMornings is now known as Devourlord_Sierra
[14:48] <Kotono> a contingent of Tulani and a few Planetars, an apocalyptic battle going firmly the way of good. Lesser demons are blasted away by the score, holy power flying like rain from the heavens.
[14:51] * Alicia floats up fifty feet above the roof and waits for her escort to reach her so they can refuel before she goes to breach the next level. Part of her chafes, wanting to take part in the fighting directly, but she's not going to jeapordise the entire assault to satisfy her vanity.
[14:52] <Kotono> "...yes," The reserved old man says as he approaches, looking down at the battle. As the Marilith falls into oblivion once more, "Here," he whispers, touching Alicia's forehead, "Ready?" Thereafter, the AStral Deva touches Alicia as well, more power absorbed. OOC - 10 spell levels.
[14:54] <Alicia> "Seems like it's going our way, but this is only the beginning," Alicia comments, watching the battle below as she's energised with magic. "Keep going, I'll say when I'm ready to go again."
[14:55] <Kotono> More touches and absorptions, the cheerful young elf whistling as she does so. "I hope this ends soon. I don't knwo what the Abyss is doing here, but it's digusting."
[14:55] <Kotono> OOC - 10 more spell levels.
[14:55] <Kotono> The battles below are starting to slow. With the overwhelming advantage the demons have been beaten back. A few are isolated and being finished, but matters are on solidfying at the moment and recovering.
[14:57] <Alicia> "Okay, one more and I'll be good to go," Alicia nods, trying to pick out a spot below that she can detonate without catching any celestials.
[14:58] <Kotono> The third hole has the least celestials. You could blast there and perhaps connect it to one of the other two gaping chambers. Meanwhile more energy fills into her! OOC - 10 more levels.
[14:59] <Alicia> OOC: There's only one hole - all three of my blasts were close enough to be merged into one big hole
[15:02] <Alicia> Diving down into the fray, Alicia aims for an isolated spot and yells at any nearby friendlies to clear the area before she explodes to breach the next level of the abyssal fortress!
[15:02] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 yadda yadda
[15:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 yadda yadda and gets 48."12 [12d8=1, 4, 1, 3, 3, 3, 6, 5, 4, 2, 8, 8]
[15:10] <Kotono> roll 12#1d20
[15:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 12#1d20 and gets 106."12 [12#1d20 = 16, 11, 10, 1, 5, 12, 15, 1, 2, 11, 17, 5]
[15:12] <Kotono> With Alicia's burst, more spellfire disintegrates the blobby red walls! A path below is shown, a gentle throbbing of them! Ahead, she can see something - it's like a pillar of the red stuff in a room, a glittering field of translucent light surrounding it in a perfect sphere. Jelly ooses out of it, slowly flying and throbbing to the walls. Below, Alicia sees it - the horrible Balor, it's presence like an intoxicating hate. PErhaps two dozen gre
[15:13] <Kotono> PErhaps two dozen greater demons surround it - Marilith, Nalfeshnee and other horrors Alicia cannot put a name to. (More)
[15:14] <Kotono> The Balor says nothing, yet all the other demons vanish in a moment! With a triumphant smile in the vast chamber below, he points his sword at Alicia, "4Your soul is mine, mortal!"
[15:14] <Kotono> OOC - Roll initiative here, since the Balor's threatening you directly?
[15:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[15:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12."12 [1d20=7]
[15:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 Marie, wherever she is
[15:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 Marie, wherever she is and gets 19."12 [1d20=12]
[15:16] <Kotono> OOC: I assumed Marie was following with the others, honestly.
[15:16] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, she's hanging back and sniping demons in the overall battle, but in case it matters
[15:17] <Kotono> Okay.
[15:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[15:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 23."12 [1d20=12]
[15:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[15:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 18."12 [1d20=14]
[15:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[15:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
[15:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[15:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9."12 [1d20=1]
[15:18] * Kotono changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man>Alicia>Astral Deva'
[15:22] <Kotono> An unholy aura of darkness surrounds the balor, before a vast storm of fire erupts around Alicia! OOC - Ref save.
[15:22] <Kotono> roll 20d6
[15:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 20d6 and gets 74."12 [20d6=3, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 5, 5, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3, 5, 5, 4, 3, 6]
[15:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 someone should've cast holy aura on me :(
[15:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 someone should've cast holy aura on me :( and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
[15:26] <Kotono> The fire that erupts around Alicia flays her flesh and burns her bones, leaving her entire body screaming in the utmost agony of burning torment! Yet even in spite of that Alicia survives! OOC - Marie.
[15:27] <Alicia> Seeing the big explosion around Alicia that didn't look like spellfire, Marie makes her way down a bit so she can see through the hole while still keeping well above any potential blast radiuses to see if she can see what caused it, and if so shoot it.
[15:27] <Alicia> OOC: if the balor is directly below the 120ft wide hole Alicia made, Marie will shoot it, otherwise she can't see it.
[15:28] <Kotono> OOC: It is.
[15:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 cold iron
[15:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 cold iron and gets 28."12 [1d20=5]
[15:29] <Kotono> The arrow flies well, but deflects away from the vile aura around the demon leader! Meanwhile, both elf and man rush to Alicia! The elf touches Alicia's shoulder, relief coming to sooth her agonies!
[15:30] <Kotono> roll 4d8+12
[15:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+12 and gets 37."12 [4d8=8, 7, 8, 2]
[15:32] <Kotono> The old man touches Alicia's forehead quickly! A feeling of being protected passes over her body, "Careful...A balor's power is unmatched by lesser demons. Fighting one head on is folly!) OOC - +7 resistance bonus to your next save.
[15:32] <Kotono> OOC - Alicia.
[15:34] <Alicia> "There's an army right behind us," Alicia notes confidently, shifting position so that she has a line going through the balor to reach that glowing pillar which she assumes is fuelling the fortresses regeneration. Taking aim, she proceeds to fire a full power blast of spellfire directly through the both of them!
[15:34] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 24 reflex half
[15:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 73."12 [18d8=7, 4, 7, 3, 2, 6, 1, 3, 3, 6, 4, 4, 3, 1, 7, 7, 4, 1]
[15:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[15:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 31."12 [1d20=8]
[15:39] <Kotono> The balor stays where he is! His sword comes up, meeting the line of spellfire head on! For a moment the two are locked in deadly combat, a feral grin as the balor pushes his sword forward...and yet, the spellfire keeps going! It penetrates through the blade, pushing onward to the throbbing node! The spellfire fizzles considerably against the field of translucent light, but still punches through and pierces! The burn does considerable harm to i
[15:39] <Kotono> The burn does considerable harm to it, leaving it smouldering and holed!
[15:39] <Kotono> OOC - Astral Deva is up.
[15:49] <Kotono> The AStral Deva surges forth, now at Alicia's side! A pair of smites rock the fiend of the abyss, as, "Yes, but look! The demons just got reinforcements," The Astral Deva says grimly!
[15:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[15:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
[15:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[15:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[15:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[15:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 27."12 [1d20=4]
[15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 43."12 [1d20=20]
[15:50] <Kotono> roll 10d6/2
[15:50] <Kotono> roll 10d6/2
[15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6/2 and gets 20."12 [10d6=6, 2, 5, 3, 4, 5, 4, 2, 6, 3]
[15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6/2 and gets 14."12 [10d6=2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 3, 3, 6, 2, 1]

[Corwin]

[21:13] <Alicia> [15:39] <Kotono> The balor stays where he is! His sword comes up, meeting the line of spellfire head on! For a moment the two are locked in deadly combat, a feral grin as the balor pushes his sword forward...and yet, the spellfire keeps going! It penetrates through the blade, pushing onward to the throbbing node! The spellfire fizzles considerably against the field of translucent light, but still punches through and pierces! The burn does considerable harm to i
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:39] <Kotono> The burn does considerable harm to it, leaving it smouldering and holed!
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:39] <Kotono> OOC - Astral Deva is up.
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:49] <Kotono> The AStral Deva surges forth, now at Alicia's side! A pair of smites rock the fiend of the abyss, as, "Yes, but look! The demons just got reinforcements," The Astral Deva says grimly!
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 27."12 [1d20=4]
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 43."12 [1d20=20]
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] <Kotono> roll 10d6/2
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] <Kotono> roll 10d6/2
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6/2 and gets 20."12 [10d6=6, 2, 5, 3, 4, 5, 4, 2, 6, 3]
[21:13] <Alicia> [15:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6/2 and gets 14."12 [10d6=2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 3, 3, 6, 2, 1]
[21:13] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[21:13] * Hatbot (www-data@70.114.144.25) has joined #dunes
[21:13] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[21:15] <Alicia> OOC: also I never cast any spells on my turn so lets say I did a quickened resist energy (fire)
[21:15] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Strike thes econd smite. And okay, that's fine.
[21:15] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The Astral Deva soars in, a Holy Smite coming from above to devastate the balor! As it withstands the holy power with sickening ease, a white aura spring up around Alicia and her friends, a holy ward!  OOC - Balor is up.
[21:19] <Ko-VoteTaitori> In a moment the Balor is there, surging forward! It stops 15 feet away, a potent word coming from it's mouth as it's unholy aura continues to writhe around it's body!
[21:19] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+20 CL vs Astral Deva
[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+20 CL vs Astral Deva and gets 39."12 [1d20=19]
[21:19] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d4
[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d4 and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
[21:19] * Ko-VoteTaitori changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man>Alicia>Astral Deva(stun 3)'
[21:21] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The Deva cries as it goes limp, eyes dazed over! A moment later, with a sneer, it turns to Alicia! The magic around Alicia shudders and shivers!
[21:22] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - What effects do you have up?
[21:22] <Alicia> OOC: shield, enlarge person, mirror image, resist energy all at CL 13. Holy Aura at astral deva's CL (14?)
[21:22] <Alicia> OOC: if it's a targetted dispel I'll absorb it
[21:23] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Okay.
[21:23] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Even as the Deva reels, the potent magic dispellation has no effect. The Balor laughs derivisely, 4"So be it! I will tear you apart, mortal!" OOC - Marie's up. Also more.
[21:24] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Behind you, the sound of battle picks up, intensifying. "Reinforcements!" Can be heard a few times, intensities and calls to the light for power!
[21:25] <Alicia> OOC: since Marie is about 80 feet behind/above us, what's her situation?
[21:25] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Marie can see a swarm of demons appear, teleporting in! The battle, nearly mopped up, has suddenly become far more fierce! None seem interested in immediately attacking the innocent little courre, thankfully.
[21:27] <Alicia> Since the balor appears to be well out of Marie's league, she decides to do her bit for the rest of the battle to take out a few fiends before they can do too much. Drawing her potent banishing arrows she targets the nearest marilith and lets fly!
[21:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 41."12 [1d20=18]
[21:27] <Alicia> OOC: DC 24 will save or banished
[21:28] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23 if he rolls a 1...
[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 if he rolls a 1... and gets 35."12 [1d20=12]
[21:28] <Alicia> OOC: marilith, not the balor
[21:28] <Alicia> OOC: she's just hitting a random greater demon in the melee above
[21:28] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Oh, I'm sorry. My bad. Stirke the roll.
[21:28] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+14
[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+14 and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 attack 2 goes to nearest hezrou
[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 attack 2 goes to nearest hezrou and gets 30."12 [1d20=12]
[21:29] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Under seige, an Astral Deva desperately and bloodily holds off against a raging Marilith! It's fury is incomprehensible, yet an arrow lands in it's back! For a moment it shimmers like baking glass, than vanishes away!
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: DC 22 for that
[21:29] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+9
[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20."12 [1d20=11]
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 attack 3 goes to nearest vrock
[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 attack 3 goes to nearest vrock and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
[21:30] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+
[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+ and gets Error: Check syntax."12 [1d20=3]
[21:30] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Ack. Suffice to say he failed with a three.
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+1d4 no save, that was a regular arrow since she only had 2 cold iron ones
[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3+1d4 no save, that was a regular arrow since she only had 2 cold iron ones and gets 10."12 [1d4=3][1d4=4]
[21:30] <Alicia> OOC: cold iron banishing ones, that is
[21:32] <Ko-VoteTaitori> A hezrou fights against a planetar with a pair of nalfeshnee and babau, flanking him! It vanishes into the wind, gone! A vrock battles against several of the radiant blue constructs, shot in the back! The Astral Deva looks Marie's direction, raising it's mace to her before it goes back into the fray for a new battle! OOC - Elf is up
[21:35] <Ko-VoteTaitori> "No...no, no, no!" Backing up quickly and behind Alicia nad away from the Balor, "Oh...! Alicia, here!" Touch Alicia's arm again, powerful healing fills her body!
[21:35] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 4d8+12
[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 4d8+12 and gets 35."12 [4d8=4, 4, 8, 7]
[21:37] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Alicia's flesh mends, the agony of being cooked alive fading to a dull throbbing in a few patches! The old man gestures, a golden lion appearing behind the balor and promptly assaulting it's flaming body!
[21:37] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+7
[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19."12 [1d20=12]
[21:37] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+7
[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24."12 [1d20=17]
[21:37] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+2
[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+2 and gets 12."12 [1d20=10]
[21:38] <Ko-VoteTaitori> It fights at the demon lord ferociously, but cannot penetrate the inky black aura around it's body! OOC - Alicia.
[21:40] <Alicia> "Better than you have tried, demon!" Alicia replies to the fiend's taunting as she moves to engage it. Recalling what Marie said about the balor's sword she has no designs on claiming it now, and merely seeks to remove it from play in the swiftest and most brutal manner possible. Firstly stabbing out the wound the balor itself, she then whirls about to cleave his blade in two with Soul's Enslavement!
[21:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might, 4th level channel, generic stab
[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might, 4th level channel, generic stab and gets 35."12 [1d20=9]
[21:40] <Alicia> OOC: +2 flanking
[21:41] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Whiff thanks to unholy aura.
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+49 divine might, 4th level channel, sunder (+4 large, +4 two handed)
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+49 divine might, 4th level channel, sunder (+4 large, +4 two handed) and gets 63."12 [1d20=14]
[21:41] <Alicia> OOC: he gets an AoO before sunder resolves but even if he hits it doesn't stop it
[21:41] <Alicia> OOC: true strike on sunder attack, as if it wasn't obvious
[21:41] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+33 AoO he's not afraid of holy aura
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+33 AoO he's not afraid of holy aura and gets 42."12 [1d20=9]
[21:41] <Alicia> OOC: 7 images
[21:42] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d7
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d7 and gets 1."12 [1d7=1]
[21:42] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Make a will save.
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 30."12 [1d20=6]
[21:42] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 2d6+12
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 2d6+12 and gets 15."12 [2d6=1, 2]
[21:42] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC +1.
[21:42] <Alicia> OOC: save for him as well
[21:42] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23
[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 and gets 41."12 [1d20=18]
[21:43] <Alicia> OOC: now opposed roll for the sunder?
[21:43] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+33
[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+33 and gets 46."12 [1d20=13]
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 3d6+20+4d4 damage
[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+20+4d4 damage and gets 40."12 [3d6=2, 2, 4][4d4=2, 4, 3, 3]
[21:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 attack 3 on the off chance of a crit
[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 attack 3 on the off chance of a crit and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
[21:46] <Alicia> OOC: wait, make attack 3 a sunder attempt as well, so add 8 to that and have him make an opposed roll?
[21:46] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+33
[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+33 and gets 51."12 [1d20=18]
[21:46] <Alicia> OOC: worth a shot
[21:48] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The balor's blade is carved deeply into, the squeal of metal on metal ear splitting! Alicia cuts deep into the lighting-blade, almost deep enough to ruin it! The blade is cracked and horribly disfigured, but it survives yet! Even as the Astral Deva reels in a stunned state, the Balor smiles horrifically as it lays into Alicia!
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+31 (-2 PA)
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+31 (-2 PA) and gets 49."12 [1d20=18]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Will save.
[21:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 and for him
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and for him and gets 40."12 [1d20=16]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 and gets 32."12 [1d20=9]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+26 attack 2
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+26 attack 2 and gets 31."12 [1d20=5]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - AC?
[21:49] <Alicia> OOC: 36
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+21 attack 3
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+21 attack 3 and gets 40."12 [1d20=19]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+21 attack 3 crit?
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+21 attack 3 crit? and gets 22."12 [1d20=1]
[21:49] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Will?
[21:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 and for him
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and for him and gets 34."12 [1d20=10]
[21:50] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 and gets 42."12 [1d20=19]
[21:50] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+19
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+19 and gets 32."12 [1d20=13]
[21:50] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+28 WHIP IT GOOD
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+28 WHIP IT GOOD and gets 45."12 [1d20=17]
[21:50] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Opposed strength checks.
[21:51] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+12
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
[21:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 if he's trying to net me I point to freedom of movement and laugh
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 if he's trying to net me I point to freedom of movement and laugh and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
[21:52] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - You do, yes.
[21:52] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23 whip
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 whip and gets 35."12 [1d20=12]
[21:52] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 6d6+42+1d4+6
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 6d6+42+1d4+6 and gets 64."12 [6d6=1, 4, 1, 2, 5, 2][1d4=1]
[21:52] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+23 last whip blow
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+23 last whip blow and gets 29."12 [1d20=6]
[21:53] <Alicia> OOC: will save for the whip that hit, btw?
[21:53] <Ko-VoteTaitori> That was it right there.
[21:53] <Alicia> OOC: ah, sorry, missed amidst all the rolling
[21:54] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Alicia is stabbed and gutted, each blow making her visions wim - of a horrible place, endless and endless and endless! But she stays somehwo together, somehow here! Her lifeblood trickles down, her arm ripped open and her armor torn across her chest! OOC - OOC - Mroe.
[21:55] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Marie can see that the battle below is fierce! However, her banishing arrows seem to have helped turn the tide. Even with reinforcements the demons are on the defensive! Amid all of this, she can hear Sandriel's voice! "Forward! Press onward!" OOC - Marie.
[21:56] <Alicia> "If anyone wants to help Alicia, now would be a great time!" Marie suggests to any nearby celestials as she treats to balor to one of her rare full power barrages!
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 CL for magic missile
[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 CL for magic missile and gets 16."12 [1d20=2]
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 34."12 [1d20=11]
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 28."12 [1d20=15]
[21:58] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Marie fires magic and mundane arrows, but none bother the balor at all! It seems locked in combat with Alicia! As the arrows whizz by, 4"What a pure soul..." It spits, "You resist your base urges? Slaughter, kill, rend. You have the potential and the power. Why hold yourself back?"
[21:59] * Ko-VoteTaitori changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man>Alicia>Astral Deva(stun 2)'
[21:59] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Star, currently finishing off a vrock, calls back to Marie, "I'll get there," she says.
[22:00] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Meanwhile, the young elf behind Alicia blanches in coloration, even as she hangs just behind Alicia and touches her again, before fleeing back twenty feet! "Come on, just hold on," she encourages Alicia!
[22:00] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 4d8+12
[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 4d8+12 and gets 25."12 [4d8=2, 7, 2, 2]
[22:02] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Raising his hand to the sky, "Sacred ones, guide my hand!" he calls, as lighting crackles from his outstretched fingers at the balor!
[22:02] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+13 CL
[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
[22:02] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The lightning sizzles blue-white, yet fizzles in front of the horrible being! OOC - Alicia.
[22:03] <Alicia> "Because I'm not a beast!" Alicia replies fiercely to the balor as she tries to finish off his horrible blade with her own perhaps more horrible weapon!
[22:04] <Alicia> OOC: he gets an AoO, might as well resolve that first
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> 4"Are you? Hahahahaha...I can see your future, mortal. Alicia, the knight of a hundred massacres, defiler of Mystra!"
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+31 he'll take it, sure
[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+31 he'll take it, sure and gets 41."12 [1d20=10]
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d7
[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d7 and gets 1."12 [1d7=1]
[22:05] <Alicia> OOC: 1d8, btw
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Will save, man.
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d8
[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d8 and gets 7."12 [1d8=7]
[22:05] <Alicia> OOC: 7 images + 1 alicia
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d7 cleave
[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d7 cleave and gets 2."12 [1d7=2]
[22:05] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Two images are cut away in one deep thrust, winking both out, but Alicia is safe!
[22:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34 opposed roll, divine might, 4th level channel, +4 large +4 two handed +2 flanking
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 opposed roll, divine might, 4th level channel, +4 large +4 two handed +2 flanking and gets 49."12 [1d20=15]
[22:06] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+31
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+31 and gets 38."12 [1d20=7]
[22:06] <Alicia> roll 3d6+20+4d4 die
[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+20+4d4 die and gets 40."12 [3d6=1, 3, 3][4d4=4, 3, 3, 3]
[22:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+39 attack 2, true strike, divine might, 4th level channel, hitting balor himself since sword should be dead after that
[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+39 attack 2, true strike, divine might, 4th level channel, hitting balor himself since sword should be dead after that and gets 56."12 [1d20=17]
[22:07] <Alicia> roll 3d6+20+4d4
[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+20+4d4 and gets 37."12 [3d6=3, 2, 5][4d4=1, 2, 3, 1]
[22:08] <Ko-VoteTaitori> CRACK! With that slash the Balor's sword shatters into a million tiny shards! Cleaving through it breaks it like glass, each one a tiny nova of electrical fury and screaming! Each shard screams horrifically! OOC - Hit, damage and a fort save for the unholy aura effect.
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 fort save
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 fort save and gets 32."12 [1d20=8]
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d4 wis drain
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 wis drain and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
[22:08] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 rage save
[22:08] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+22
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+22 and gets 29."12 [1d20=7]
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 attack 3 in case of a crit
[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 attack 3 in case of a crit and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
[22:10] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The second blow cuts into the balor's flesh, incredibly resistant and like slicing layered diamonds! Yet Alicia manages to carve into it's flaming shoulder, making a wound of no small import! OOC Astral Deva is stunned. Rolling initiative for STar.
[22:10] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+8
[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
[22:10] * Ko-VoteTaitori changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man>Alicia>Star>Astral Deva(stun 2)'
[22:11] <Ko-VoteTaitori> "Alicia!" Star's voice can be heard as she begins to soar ahead towards her, "Reinforcements are coming!" OOC - Balor's up since the deva is still horribly stunned.
[22:11] <Alicia> It knows her name! They're not supposed to know her... wait. People have been shouting it all during the battle. And she wears Mystra's symbol proudly on her breast. Well, that puts the balor's bullshit into proper perspective. "As if I'd listen to the lies of a demon!"
[22:12] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The balor rears it's head back, 4"ENOUGH!" In one unholy word Alicia is buffered!
[22:12] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+20 CL for PW:S
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+20 CL for PW:S and gets 21."12 [1d20=1]
[22:14] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Yet the sacred aura around Alicia flares up, the profane power of the balor crumbling before it! 4"Lies? What do you have, fighting here so desperately? Nothing! No children, no family, no hope! You won't find meaning with them...but one day, you'll find your meeting beneath the shattered bodies of an entire nation!" With that, the balor glides back...OOC - You can AoO here if you want.
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 certainly
[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 certainly and gets 43."12 [1d20=19]
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 certainly crit check
[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 certainly crit check and gets 38."12 [1d20=14]
[22:15] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Just missed a crit. Damage and a fort save.
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: hang on! +2 for flanking!
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: the lion!
[22:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 fort save anyway
[22:16] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - I forgot about it completely since I forgot to put it into initaitive. Dur.  Okay.
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 fort save anyway and gets 40."12 [1d20=16]
[22:16] * Ko-VoteTaitori changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man=Lion>Alicia>Star>Astral Deva(stun 2)'
[22:16] <Alicia> roll 6d6+40+4d4
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d6+40+4d4 and gets 74."12 [6d6=2, 1, 5, 3, 6, 6][4d4=4, 2, 3, 2]
[22:16] <Alicia> roll 2d4 wis drain
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4 wis drain and gets 5."12 [2d4=3, 2]
[22:16] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 will save
[22:16] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Stat damage doesn't double on crits.
[22:17] <Alicia> OOC: it doesn't? Harsh. I'll take the 3, then.
[22:17] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC: It's bailed you guys out a few times. <_<
[22:17] <Alicia> OOC: what goes around comes around
[22:18] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Alicia cuts and severs far into the balor, deeply striking it's arm! It goes back to the holed, light sheathed node that has one spellfire drilling! OOC - Marie. The battle below is quite hectic but continuging to more or less go your ways, though a few devas hav efallen.
[22:19] <Alicia> Since it's again been proven that she can't touch the balor, Marie helps out where she can by firing on a vrock that seems entirely too merry.
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 26."12 [1d20=3]
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 26."12 [1d20=8]
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33."12 [1d20=20]
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 crit check
[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 crit check and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
[22:20] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - 3 normal hits.
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 3d4+9+3d4 they have AC 22 normally, lets assume this one does
[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d4+9+3d4 they have AC 22 normally, lets assume this one does and gets 21."12 [3d4=2, 3, 2][3d4=1, 2, 2]
[22:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 CL lets magic missile it as well
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 CL lets magic missile it as well and gets 18."12 [1d20=4]
[22:21] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 14."12 [5d4=2, 2, 3, 1, 1]
[22:21] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Three arrows go into the back of a bloodied vrock, then magical missiles hit the back of it's head! The avian demon breaks into a fould ust, shattered by Marie's potshotting! Meanwhile, the peppy elf surges forward to Alicia, "Careful," she chides as more healing embraces her!
[22:22] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 3d8+12
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 3d8+12 and gets 25."12 [3d8=6, 4, 3]
[22:22] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The solemn old man continues to chant, lightining flowing towards the balor once more!
[22:22] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+13
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25."12 [1d20=12]
[22:23] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Yet again, the balor's resistance turns the sacred lightning into nothing of power at all! OOC - Alicia.
[22:23] <Alicia> "It's on the run, now!" Alicia doesn't seem especially careful, although she does give her elven friend a smile in thanks for the continued healing. Dropping Soul's Enslavement into a loose one-handed grip she performs a quick prayer for her aim to be blessed before surging forward and drawing the Sword of the Sealed Gate to stab into the balor!
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 true strike
[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 true strike and gets 39."12 [1d20=1]
[22:25] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Alicia charges, her longsword thrusting out, but even True Strike cannot save this blow! It is lost in the unholy aura that flows around it's body, deflected away!  Star flies forward to Alicia's side, "Demon, your time is now!"
[22:25] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+28 (+5 charge and buffs, -2 PA)
[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+28 (+5 charge and buffs, -2 PA) and gets 39."12 [1d20=11]
[22:26] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 4d6+21
[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 4d6+21 and gets 40."12 [4d6=5, 4, 5, 5]
[22:26] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+16
[22:26] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
[22:26] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Surging in and hacking at the balor's leg, Star manages a successful strike, even as the Astral Deva is -still- dazed and confused! OOC - Balor is up.
[22:29] <Ko-VoteTaitori> The balor glances at the node, the light around it vanishing in an instant! He raises his fist up, slamming it at the exposed point!
[22:29] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+21 (-10 PA)
[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+21 (-10 PA) and gets 33."12 [1d20=12]
[22:29] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 1d20+21 (-10 PA)
[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 1d20+21 (-10 PA) and gets 36."12 [1d20=15]
[22:30] <Ko-VoteTaitori> roll 2d10+42
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Ko-VoteTaitori rolls 2d10+42 and gets 58."12 [2d10=10, 6]
[22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Two slams rock the node, already bored into by Alicia's spellfire! The entire tower shakes and wobbles like a bowlful of jelly shaken by a rowdy child! Turning towards Alicia, 4"Then...die in a tide of slime!"
[22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Marie can see the entire fortress shake horribly, even as the battle below goes better, demons being isolated and beaten!
[22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Marie.
[22:32] <Alicia> Fortress shaking is good. Them being in it is... wait a second. There's no gravity here. It's not like anything can fall *down* onto them. "Haha, stupid demon! That's not going to work at all!" Marie taunts, gaily firing a few arrows at the balor to punctuate her disapproval.
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 25."12 [1d20=2]
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25."12 [1d20=7]
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]

[Corwin]

[18:22] <Alicia> [22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Two slams rock the node, already bored into by Alicia's spellfire! The entire tower shakes and wobbles like a bowlful of jelly shaken by a rowdy child! Turning towards Alicia, 4"Then...die in a tide of slime!"
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> Marie can see the entire fortress shake horribly, even as the battle below goes better, demons being isolated and beaten!
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:31] <Ko-VoteTaitori> OOC - Marie.
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] <Alicia> Fortress shaking is good. Them being in it is... wait a second. There's no gravity here. It's not like anything can fall *down* onto them. "Haha, stupid demon! That's not going to work at all!" Marie taunts, gaily firing a few arrows at the balor to punctuate her disapproval.
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 25."12 [1d20=2]
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25."12 [1d20=7]
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[18:22] <Alicia> [22:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
[18:24] <Kotono> The arrows come flying, whizzing by the balor as he seems to barely notice, locked close with Alicia and Star!  The peppy elf hangs back for the moment, holding her action, as more sacred lightning comes from the solemn old caster!
[18:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 33."12 [1d20=19]
[18:24] <Kotono> OOC - -1.
[18:24] <Kotono> roll 10d6, half is non resistable divine typed
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6, half is non resistable divine typed and gets Error: Numeric values only."12 [10d6=6, 2, 6, 2, 5, 2, 2, 5, 2, 5]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 10d6
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 32."12 [10d6=1, 6, 4, 4, 2, 2, 6, 2, 3, 2]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 ref
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 ref and gets 39."12 [1d20=16]
[18:27] <Kotono> The lightning singes the balor, leaving gleaming white marks on it's flaming body! The Lion isn't very fast here, chasing after the faster moving heroes! OOC - Alicia.
[18:28] * Alicia continues trying to give the sword of the sealed gate it's first taste of blood since being reforged, praying for that all important hit!
[18:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 true strike again
[18:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 true strike again and gets 53."12 [1d20=15]
[18:28] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[18:29] <Kotono> OOC - Make a fort save after damage.
[18:29] <Alicia> roll 2d6+11 dimensional anchor with no save
[18:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+11 dimensional anchor with no save and gets 18."12 [2d6=5, 2]
[18:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[18:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 32."12 [1d20=8]
[18:29] <Alicia> Having landed her attack, Alicia proceeds to sheathe the sealing sword and regain her two-handed grip on Soul's Enslavement, grinning triumphantly but not in any mood to tell the balor why she's so happy. He can figure it out when he tries to teleport next.
[18:31] * Kotono changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man=Lion>Alicia>Star>Astral Deva'
[18:32] <Kotono> Star closes in, a grim smile on her face, "It's over, demon!" Her blindfolded eyes see nothing, yet her aim is flawless as she strikes, also deftly reaching out to touch Alicia even as she fights!
[18:33] <Kotono> OOC-  Healed for Alicia. +170 HP, that tops that off.
[18:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+26 (-2 PA)
[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+26 (-2 PA) and gets 38."12 [1d20=12]
[18:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 27."12 [1d20=6]
[18:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
[18:34] <Kotono> The Balor's defenses are just a little too good, the black aura swallowing the accurate but not accurate enough sword cuts! From behind the Astral Deva surges forward, a pair of holy smites bursting around the Balor!
[18:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[18:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15."12 [1d20=2]
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
[18:36] <Kotono> Yet both bursts shatter around the Balor, it's flaming body rendering even that powerful magic into obilvion! The vile creature looks up, amid all it's wounds, 4"SUFFER!" Even as it speaks that terrible word, it lays into th enode again! OOC - Will saves at -2 after CL check.
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 36."12 [1d20=16]
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 (-10 PA)
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 (-10 PA) and gets 27."12 [1d20=4]
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 (-10 PA)
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 (-10 PA) and gets 28."12 [1d20=5]
[18:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 32."12 [1d20=10]
[18:37] <Kotono> roll 2d10+42
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+42 and gets 53."12 [2d10=2, 9]
[18:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Star
[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Star and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
[18:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 deva
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 deva and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
[18:39] <Kotono> roll 2d6 str damage
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 str damage and gets 5."12 [2d6=2, 3]
[18:39] <Kotono> roll 1d10 paralysed
[18:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 paralysed and gets 1."12 [1d10=1]
[18:39] * Kotono changes topic to 'Balor>Marie>Peppy Elf=Solemn old man=Lion>Alicia>Star>Astral Deva(Paralysed 1 minute)'
[18:41] <Kotono> As the Astral Deva is stunned again, the battle above rages! The forces are starting to su rge forward in earnest, coming to support! However, as they do, the walls scream as one! The node cracks and melts under the balor's blows, starting to leak downward in a horrible red rain all around you, surging downward with stunning speed, walls dissipating! OOC - Fort saves all, including MArie.
[18:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 A
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 A and gets 26."12 [1d20=2]
[18:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 deva
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 deva and gets 19."12 [1d20=5]
[18:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 Marie who protests at the lack of gravity not being any help
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 Marie who protests at the lack of gravity not being any help and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
[18:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 planetar
[18:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 planetar and gets 28."12 [1d20=14]
[18:42] <Alicia> OOC: +2 for Marie if this is vs evil
[18:43] <Kotono> OOC - Mmm, okay.
[18:44] <Kotono> roll 1d4
[18:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
[18:44] <Kotono> roll 1d4
[18:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[18:45] <Kotono> roll 1d4
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
[18:46] <Kotono> Alicia feels ill. Her flesh burns a cool, a sliminess coating her flesh. Her eyes are slightly hazy-red, yet through them...she cans ee tiny little pustules forming on her skin rapidly, bursting over with red jelly! OOC - Marie's up.
[18:47] <Kotono> Marie can see that the celestials are so affected - most are, a few are lucky as the raining continues!
[18:47] <Alicia> OOC: I'm not too clear on the situation. Has the fortress imploded and are we all cocooned/submerged entirely or what?
[18:48] <Kotono> The fortresses walls continue to melt down in a red rain! You can begin to see holes opening, things about half dissolved! Below the node, 100 feet down or so, the slime seems to be gathering at the juncture to the fourth floor, welling there lik a lake and flowing into it.
[18:48] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (BRB, IRC difficulties. UGUU HARDER. -=SysReset 2.53=-)
[18:49] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[18:49] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[18:49] <Alicia> [18:46] <Kotono> Alicia feels ill. Her flesh burns a cool, a sliminess coating her flesh. Her eyes are slightly hazy-red, yet through them...she cans ee tiny little pustules forming on her skin rapidly, bursting over with red jelly! OOC - Marie's up.
[18:49] <Alicia> [18:47] <Kotono> Marie can see that the celestials are so affected - most are, a few are lucky as the raining continues!
[18:49] <Alicia> [18:47] <Alicia> OOC: I'm not too clear on the situation. Has the fortress imploded and are we all cocooned/submerged entirely or what?
[18:49] <Alicia> [18:48] <Kotono> The fortresses walls continue to melt down in a red rain! You can begin to see holes opening, things about half dissolved! Below the node, 100 feet down or so, the slime seems to be gathering at the juncture to the fourth floor, welling there lik a lake and flowing into it.
[18:50] <Alicia> OOC: btw, I don't suppose this shit counts as poison, does it?
[18:50] <Kotono> OOC - No.
[18:54] * Alicia keeps her mouth firmly shut and so doesn't say anything as she flies up through the descending filth before exploding in a burst of spellfire. It'll hurt her allies a bit, but if she positions herself right it'll also form a clear channel from where she made the initial incursion on the top floor all the way down to where they are now, and provide everyone with some relief from the seemingly sentient slime.
[18:54] <Alicia> roll 2d8 DC 24 reflex half
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 14."12 [2d8=7, 7]
[18:54] <Kotono> OOC - Uh, Marie's up, not you.
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: whoops, shit, sorry
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: strike all that
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: got confused, had a line for her earlier but it got lost in OOC stuff
[18:55] <Alicia> Marie turns incorporeal!
[18:58] <Kotono> Marie turns incorpreal without incident, the slimy rain now bypassing her, even as her body feels so gross, so slick and red! A scream comes from the peppy elf's mouth, her arms running red with a jelly-goo! "This is disgusting! This damned disease...It's slimy doom! Get magic, it's working faster than it should!" With that, she calls to the light, touching her arms!
[18:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
[18:58] <Kotono> Yet nothing happens - light flows from her hand, but the jelly-slime on her body refuses to budge!  EVen as he grimaces, slime trickling down his face, the old man keeps his lightning going!
[18:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
[18:59] <Kotono> It crackles amid the falling rain of goop, but cannot penetrate the balor's resistance this time! The lion runs with the goop but comes even closer to Alicia and company! OOC - Alicia.
[19:00] * Alicia keeps her mouth firmly shut to avoid swallowing and so doesn't say anything as she flies up through the descending filth before exploding in a burst of spellfire. It'll hurt her allies a bit, but if she positions herself right it'll also form a clear channel from where she made the initial incursion on the top floor all the way down to where they are now, and provide everyone with some relief from the seemingly sentient slime.
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 2d8 DC 24 reflex half, hopefully enough to disintegrate the slime at least
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8 DC 24 reflex half, hopefully enough to disintegrate the slime at least and gets 12."12 [2d8=7, 5]
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to see if Marie is affected
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to see if Marie is affected and gets 59."12 [1d100=59]
[19:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22."12 [1d20=12]
[19:03] <Kotono> The slime from the top vanishes for moments, burned away by Alicia's spellfire! It provides moments of respite and a corridor out, free of falling slime! Star is seren through all of this, the slime not touching her celestial form, "You can melt our flesh to slime, but we will not relent. Demon, farewell!" This timet here is no restraint, Star assaulting the balor as a thin green ray of energy comes from her as well!
[19:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 CL
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 CL and gets 29."12 [1d20=12]
[19:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 36."12 [1d20=11]
[19:03] <Kotono> roll 5d6
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d6 and gets 18."12 [5d6=6, 5, 1, 5, 1]
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 31."12 [1d20=1]
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 44."12 [1d20=19]
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 crit check
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 crit check and gets 27."12 [1d20=2]
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 37."12 [1d20=17]
[19:04] <Kotono> roll 4d6+
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+ and gets Error: Check syntax."12 [4d6=2, 5, 4, 3]
[19:06] <Kotono> A litlte of the balor disintegrates, a bit of it's leg gone! It's main body isn't deterred, fighting on even as it's gashed, it's unholy aura flaring around Star as she strikes!
[19:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28."12 [1d20=14]
[19:07] <Kotono> The Astral Deva is not so fortunate, melting in a tide of red goo! It manuvers into Alicia's safe tunnel, touching it's arms as a white burst assails the balor!
[19:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 CL slime
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 CL slime and gets 19."12 [1d20=6]
[19:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 CL balor
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 CL balor and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
[19:10] <Kotono> Yet neither effort seems to do much at all! The balor looks on at Star now, the slime rain continuing! Most of the form of the upper two floors is gone now, about 90% fallen and meeting the top of the fourth! With no words the Balor grins and assaults star with it's bare claw and whip!
[19:10] <Alicia> OOC: isn't the deva paralysed, or did the disease knock that off?
[19:10] <Kotono> OOC - Oh sorry, forgot. Assume it just floated there then.
[19:10] <Kotono> OOC - Thanks.
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 slam
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 slam and gets 53."12 [1d20=20]
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 slam crit
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 slam crit and gets 40."12 [1d20=7]
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 whipping
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 whipping and gets 42."12 [1d20=12]
[19:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22."12 [1d20=10]
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 2d10+24+1d4+6
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d10+24+1d4+6 and gets 49."12 [2d10=8, 7][1d4=4]
[19:11] <Kotono> roll 6d6-10
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6-10 and gets 10."12 [6d6=4, 5, 1, 6, 2, 2]
[19:14] <Kotono> Star is slammed hard enough to send her reeling back, the blow to her face sending red blood to contrast ther ed slime raining! A moment later it's whip comes out, ensnaring her and dragging her form across the balor's burning body! OOC - Marie, more.
[19:15] <Kotono> Marie cans ee that the battle is just about over. As the segment of the fortress disintegrates and rains down, the last of the demons are being exterminated. However, many of the celetials drip slime of their own, sagging and a few stumbling into Alicia's corridor.
[19:17] <Alicia> With not much else she can do, Marie fires her last magic missiles at the balor, hoping that solar or somebody high up can do something about the slimy doom before it kills all of them.
[19:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 CL
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 CL and gets 32."12 [1d20=18]
[19:17] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 23."12 [5d4=4, 3, 3, 4, 4]
[19:18] <Kotono> Marie's magical missiles slam down like a torrent of fury, even as the female elf retreats up to Alicia, "Ew, it's not going away,"s hes ays, trying again on herself!
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
[19:18] <Kotono> But again, nothing seems to happen! The old man stays his place, unmooved as he continues to assail the balor!
[19:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24."12 [1d20=11]
[19:19] <Kotono> But again, his magic does nothing to it! OOC - Alicia.
[19:22] <Alicia> Alicia's expression is grim as their likely fate settles on her. There's not even any point retreating if the disease will kill them anyway. "It's not over yet, though," she affirms defiantly, surging forward and lashing out with Soul's Enslavement... but not at the balor, instead at his whip so she can free Star!
[19:22] <Alicia> OOC: he gets an AoO
[19:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 38."12 [1d20=5]
[19:23] <Kotono> roll 1d6
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 6."12 [1d6=6]
[19:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 cleave
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 cleave and gets 34."12 [1d20=1]
[19:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+51 true strike, 3rd level channel, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed roll go
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+51 true strike, 3rd level channel, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed roll go and gets 52."12 [1d20=1]
[19:27] <Kotono> Channeling in arcane weaves and power, Alicia strikes out! Her blade is incredibly accurate, too accurate! It hits the whip right on, but at the wrong angle! The flat of the blade does little to free Star!  STar, however, tries to free herself!
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 opposed strength ooomph
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 opposed strength ooomph and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 she has as hot
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 she has as hot and gets 18."12 [1d20=11]
[19:27] <Kotono> But Star is kept on the balor, unable to burst form the whip's tyranny! Concentrating, another beam of green comes from her very eyes at the Balor!
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28."12 [1d20=11]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 31."12 [1d20=8]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 5d6
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d6 and gets 16."12 [5d6=1, 4, 2, 5, 4]
[19:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 escapea rtist then
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 escapea rtist then and gets 34."12 [1d20=13]
[19:30] <Kotono> Star is able to work free of the bonds, her distinegrating ray dissolving a litlte bit more of the balor! The beast is torn up, wounded, with small chunks of it's body simply gone! OOC - Balor is up.
[19:31] <Kotono> The balor grins, "You couldn't even finish it!" He leers, as...he does not vanish at all! With a look of momentary fury, he turns his attention to the two! His fist lashes out at Alicia, his whip at Star once more!
[19:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+31
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+31 and gets 49."12 [1d20=18]
[19:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 whip
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 whip and gets 36."12 [1d20=6]
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d5 images
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d5 images and gets 1."12 [1d5=1]
[19:32] <Alicia> OOC: will save for him, at least
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d10+12 wham
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+12 wham and gets 17."12 [1d10=5]
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 will
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 will and gets 41."12 [1d20=20]
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d4+6
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+6 and gets 9."12 [1d4=3]
[19:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
[19:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25."12 [1d20=18]
[19:33] <Kotono> roll 6d6-10
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6-10 and gets 18."12 [6d6=6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 2]
[19:36] <Kotono> Alicia is slammed in the chest, Star entangled once more! The balor's body is bloodied and wounded, surviving even as he lashes out! As this happens, the horrible rain stops! You are now completely in the Astral, below, the remaining fortress writhes with slime flowing into it! The hosts of the heavens are about perched to come down to help finish this! OOC - Marie.
[19:37] <Alicia> Marie turns corporeal again since she's not in any danger of further slime. Though from what she's heard it seems the damage has been done.
[19:38] <Kotono> As Marie reappears, the cute elf flies up and away, looking sick and slimy! The solemn old man at last relents, shoulder slumping forward and looking drained! Meanwhile, the lion at last closes in, pouncing on the balor!
[19:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 AoOing
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 AoOing and gets 43."12 [1d20=10]
[19:38] <Kotono> roll 1d10+12
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+12 and gets 13."12 [1d10=1]
[19:39] <Alicia> She does stop to consider that if the slime could fall in one direction it could certainly fall in the other, given the whole lack of gravity that it's already ignored... This could get messy.
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19."12 [1d20=10]
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
[19:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 14."12 [1d20=10]
[19:39] <Kotono> The lion is painfully slammed, the balor otherwise ignoring it's noble attempts ot wound it's demonic form! OOC - Alicia.
[19:40] * Alicia wheezes a bit from her dissolving innards and the punch she just took, really not looking anything close to her best. Nonetheless she manages a bitter smile for the demon. "I wonder whether your body or your mind will give out first?" she muses, before laying into the fiend with a fury!
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 4th level arcane channel, smite, divine might
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 4th level arcane channel, smite, divine might and gets 48."12 [1d20=17]
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+39 4th level arcane channel, divine might, true strike
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+39 4th level arcane channel, divine might, true strike and gets 55."12 [1d20=16]
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 in case of crit
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 in case of crit and gets 17."12 [1d20=3]
[19:41] <Kotono> OOC - Two hits.
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 fort save #1
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 fort save #1 and gets 35."12 [1d20=11]
[19:41] <Alicia> OOC: -1 to that
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 fort save #2
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 fort save #2 and gets 32."12 [1d20=9]
[19:42] <Alicia> roll 3d6+22+4d4
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+22+4d4 and gets 41."12 [3d6=3, 6, 1][4d4=3, 1, 4, 1]
[19:42] <Alicia> roll 3d6+20+4d4
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+20+4d4 and gets 47."12 [3d6=2, 4, 6][4d4=4, 4, 4, 3]
[19:42] <Alicia> roll 2d4 wis drain
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4 wis drain and gets 5."12 [2d4=1, 4]
[19:42] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 save vs rage
[19:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 35."12 [1d20=17]
[19:43] <Kotono> The balor's body is torn open at last! Alicia plunges Soul's Enslavement deep into it's flaming body, the hateful flames licking at her exposed flesh! The demon's eyes flare with fury, 4"Die...then....you foolish...mortal!" It's face disintegrates as a giant blast of fury erupts from it's body! OOC - Ref save.
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Star
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Star and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 elf girl
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 elf girl and gets 16."12 [1d20=8]
[19:45] <Alicia> OOC: didn't she flee?
[19:45] <Kotono> OOC - Strike, she moved out of range.
[19:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 old man who didn't
[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 old man who didn't and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
[19:46] <Kotono> OOC - Lion's save is moot. The deva is paralysed and thus unable to make a ref save.
[19:48] <Kotono> The burst leaves Alicia's vision misted over. Her entire body hurts like it never has. One eye doesn't work, the other only showing a few glimpses of the Astral sea all around her. She feels agony, but deatched, as if her body is barely worn, slipping away like a bit of clothing a size too large. She is very cold, yet parts of her burn with a mind shattering heat! OOC - Alicia, go ahead and act?
[19:50] <Alicia> Even though it's likely postponing the inevitable, Alicia clutches her sides and heals herself a little. If she can do that much maybe she can try and heal any survivors who aren't about to melt into goo... it's a bitter taste, the balor surely having the last laugh despite all their efforts.
[19:51] <Alicia> OOC: 17hp lay on hands
[19:53] <Kotono> Alicia's vision mostly clears. Angels are coming down - some dripping slime, a few untouched. The demons are gone, only a four story fortress above! More wings of angels are ascending carefully from below, keeping a few demons well at bay. Dimly, Alicia notices Star is gone - parts of her greatsword linger where she was, but nothing else. The solemn old man's body is broken and ruined, though the Astral Deva, while unmoving, seems to survive. S
[19:53] <Kotono> though the Astral Deva, while unmoving, seems to survive. She can hear, "Gather the wounded and fall back!" A glorious voice calls, almost tkaing her mind off the slimy pain all over her body.
[19:57] <Alicia> "Star..." Alicia's heart sinks at the absence, though it's nothing compared to what she feels upon seeing the old man's shattered body. She never even knew his name... Sheathing Soul's Enslavement, she takes the planetar's sword and the broken corpse of her elderly protector, cradling them both as she pushes the paralysed deva labouriously in the direction everyone else is going.
[19:57] <Alicia> During this her ravaged and pustule-covered familiar floats over to join her, for once uncharacteristically silent.
[19:58] <Kotono> As they float out, one of the untouched comes to them. An Astra Deva, a proud but sorrowful look on his face. "Thank you," he murmurs, touching Alicia's body.
[19:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
[19:58] <Kotono> OOC - +130 HP.
[19:58] <Kotono> The nurmeous wounds that cover Alicia's body are gone. However, red slime continues to leak forth. "Come back to the outer ring with me. We're going to see what we can do abotu this plague that has overtaken us."
[20:00] <Alicia> "Devils have got nothing on those things," Alicia remarks bitterly, accepting the deva's aid in returning to their siege camp.
[20:02] <Kotono> "It's why I fight them," The Astral Deva speaks with a respectful tone as he leads her back to the ring. As you fall back, you see that the four remaining layers only have light fighting in front of them. There don't look to be so many demons about now. "Was this your first time fighting them?"
[20:04] <Alicia> "Seriously, anyway," Alicia nods. "Had a few small group battles, but nothing on this scale."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Demons relish this - even if they lose, kill and maim as many as they can. "Devils...yes, they're more...civilised? They'd rather put chains around you as you fall into Hell than to slaughter."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Vigliance Nova," he says after a moment, "I heard about you, you're Alicia? The human with the spellfire that works so well on the walls?"
[20:16] <Alicia> "That's right," Alicia nods, briefly coughing and wincing as she feels something shift painfully in her slowly disintegrating lungs. "Was just passing by when I ran into your leader and was, *cough* invited to join. If I helped end it sooner I can at least be glad of that."
[20:17] <Alicia> Marie looks worriedly at Alicia as she floats along with them, not even sure what to say. She'd always expected that when Alicia was about to die then she wouldn't be hot on her heels. Hopefully someone can cure them before it's too late.
[20:19] <Kotono> With a warm smile that eases the tension inside of Alicia ever so slightly, "Let's get you somewhere where you can rest and get looked at." The trip back to the Outer Ring is otherwise peaceful. A large tent has been set up in the very rear, silvery and blending into the Astral Sea around. Inside Alicia and Marie are taken to a cot. "Don't worry," Vigliance Nova says to break the silence, "At worst, I'm sure you'll get taken to the Heavens to b
[20:20] <Kotono> "At worst, I'm sure you'll get taken to the Heavens to be healed there, if we can't do it here. Alicia," he says to her, "Want the company right now? I can stay if you'd like." Around them, celestials lie on the beds, staining the pristine white sheets slimy.
[20:24] <Alicia> "And even if you do die, you'll go to heaven anyway," Marie finally breaks her self-imposed silence, grinning weakly at her wit.
[20:24] <Alicia> "I don't mind," Alicia nods to the deva as she sits down, still holding onto Star's sword even after setting aside the body of the old man along with the other casaulties of the day. Despite his reassurance she recalls how the elf's magic availed her not at all, and feels resigned to her fate. "Vigilance Nova's a bit of a mouthful. Is Vigilance or Nova by itself okay?" she asks, trying not to show her maudlin feelings.
[20:27] <Kotono> "Nova's fine. And she's right. Surely you'll rise to Mystra when your time as a mortal has concluded?" Vigliance Nova stands in the empty air as Alicia sits, his eyes going to the broken greatsword held. "The Planetar that wielded that died bravely. I saw the balor as it died."
[20:32] <Alicia> "I hope that time won't end soon... I suppose Star's back in whichever upper plane she called home?" Alicia changes the subject halfway through her spoken thought.
[20:32] <Alicia> "I don't, *cough* understand this, though. We float here because there's no gravity, so how did that slime fall on us? We don't age here because there's no time, so how can disease progress in our bodies?" She shakes her head, wheezing quietly and resisting the urge to squeeze a particularly large pustule on the back of her hand, "I don't understand."
[20:32] <Alicia> "It surprised me as well," Marie nods sadly, wishing she hadn't made fun of the balor so.
[20:36] <Kotono> "Nor do I." Vigliance Nova is silent for moments, "...perhaps that was the appeal to him. What more would a demon like than bringing suffering when none should be able to be brought? Demons..." Vigliance Nova reaches out, gently touching Alicia's hand, a reassuring gesture on some of her still not pustuled skin. "I'd like to know what they're doing here now very much. This reeks of Jubliex and his slimy horrors. I don't understand it...but I wi
[20:36] <Kotono> This reeks of Jubliex and his slimy horrors. I don't understand it...but I will wreck and rend evil for this deed."
[20:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 planes what do I know about jubilex
[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 planes what do I know about jubilex and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
[20:43] <Alicia> "You should probably be careful in case you catch what I've got," Alicia comments dryly as her hand is touched. Her attempt at poise is somewhat ruined by the weak coughing that follows it. "A pity I'm not one of those paladins who're immune to disease, really."
[20:46] <Kotono> Laughing at that and brushing back his silver hair, "Not so tender, are you?" As this occures, a feeling of love and respite washes over Alicia. Light fills the tent, gleaming like the sun itself. The solar steps in, his majestic gaze sweeping over the slimy infirm. His steps take him to Alicia's cot, going to stand slightly below her cot, so that his gaze is on eye level with hers. "Give me your hand, brave warrior."
[20:49] * Alicia carefully reaches out to take the solar's hand without risking any pressure on the pus filled boils decorating her own hand. She's again struck that she doesn't know his name either. It's rather depressing to be so oblivious.
[20:49] <Kotono> He shakes it gently, "Let me try this first...and if not, I'll use more direct measures," he says, divine fire crackling around his hand!
[20:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[20:51] <Kotono> Relief. Alicia sees the slime flow off her body, boils withering away into flesh that rejoins her body normally. The faint pain and slimy feeling is gone from Alicia. "Superb," he says, "It is possible to break it this way, if difficult. Now you, noble eladrin?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "Oh, yes please!" Marie lands herself on the solar's hand as Alicia sighs in relief and rubs her now smooth skin.
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 37."12 [1d20=17]
[20:53] <Kotono> The boils on Marie fade, the elardin no longer a slimy plague as fire crackles on the solar's hand. "I hear the two of you fought bravely and are responsible for our breakthrough."
[20:55] <Alicia> "We did our part as best we could," Alicia agrees before demuring, "Others fought just as bravely and lost more, however."
[21:00] <Kotono> "I know." The solar gently pats Marie once before putting her down on the bed. "There will be a reckoning with the remaining demons. Because of your sacrifices and the sacrifices of those valiant souls, we are closer to ending this struggle once and for all. In the coming hour, I will lead our reserves in a strike to attempt to decapitate the rest of the demonic forces. They are reeling, let us end it while they are weakened."
[21:02] <Alicia> "We'll be ready," Alicia replies to that, quite happy to send a few more demons to the Abyss today.
[21:03] <Kotono> "I'll be glad to have you, but only if you're ready," The solar cautions, "Will you be able to fight in an hour?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Thanks to the healing you've provided, yes," Alicia nods. "I have enough spells."
[21:09] <Kotono> The solar offers his hand again. "Alicia, you will be at my side then. Your power to destroy the slime will be valuable. You as well, Marie. Now...I must go attend to the others. Immortal will or not, they suffer too long with this oozing."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Yes, I won't keep you," Alicia nods, briefly clasping the solar's hand in her own.

[Corwin]

[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> "We'll be ready," Alicia replies to that, quite happy to send a few more demons to the Abyss today.
[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "I'll be glad to have you, but only if you're ready," The solar cautions, "Will you be able to fight in an hour?"
[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> "Thanks to the healing you've provided, yes," Alicia nods. "I have enough spells."
[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > The solar offers his hand again. "Alicia, you will be at my side then. Your power to destroy the slime will be valuable. You as well, Marie. Now...I must go attend to the others. Immortal will or not, they suffer too long with this oozing."
[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> "Yes, I won't keep you," Alicia nods, briefly clasping the solar's hand in her own.
[18:53] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Vigliance Nova keeps quiet, bowing his head with a murmur of respect as the solar leaves. Once he is, "IT's done, thank the Heavens. You're going to fight at Jamais's side? What an honor!"
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 do I know that name? (planes)
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 do I know that name? (planes) and gets 19."12 [1d20=3]
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 does Marie know that name? (planes)
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 does Marie know that name? (planes) and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
[19:06] <Alicia> "I've never even seen a solar fight before," Alicia admits. "Just hope I can give a good account of myself. Hmm..." she eyes Marie for a moment then reaches out to tap her, a silvery light briefly transmitted between the two of them as the eladrin is healed.
[19:06] <Alicia> "I know you devas can't heal indefinitely but you do have other magic that you can use without limit. If you want you could use some of that on me and I can then convert it into healing energy for the wounded?" she suggests, wanting to do something in the time before battle is rejoined.
[19:06] <Alicia> roll 2d4+2 for Marie
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+2 for Marie and gets 7."12 [2d4=1, 4]
[19:10] <Alicia> "Maybe you should clean us first?" Marie suggests hopefully, since they're both still somewhat slimy.
[19:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I can," Nova stands up and goes over to Alicia, magic flowing into her over several moments. As Jamais goes around, the smile infections are cured in the meantime.
[19:11] <Alicia> "Oh, right... yuck," Alicia makes a face at their state, nodding and casting prestidigitation before she sets to thoroughly cleaning the two of them. Then with Nova's help she goes to help mend any non-disease-based wounds for those that need it.
[19:18] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The healing goes well. Alicia gets looks of thanks and support, including one from Hopiel, who lies on a bed near the door. "Well fought," he compliments both with a smile as his wounds are mended. "What of Star? I lost track of her in the battle, but I last saw her around you."
[19:19] * Alicia shakes her head sadly. "The balor made sure to take two lives with him as his own was snuffed out," she explains.
[19:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hopiel reaches out, closing his hand around Alicia. His face is composed and resolute, "Star's happy that she helped defeat the balor. Of that I have no doubt. Still...you survived the balor's blast? Most celestials can't withstand it after defeating a balor, let alone a mortal."
[19:26] <Alicia> "I probably wouldn't have if Star hadn't healed me as she entered the fray," Alicia admits, squeezing the planetar's emerald-hued hand in reply. "As is I was close enough to my limit... Listen, Hopiel," she glances back to where she left Star's sword, "She left her sword behind. Would you be able to take it back to her?"
[19:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You saved it for her? Thank you," His eyes follow Alicia's glance, "It will be done."
[19:28] <Alicia> "I appreciate it," she gives him a smile. "Anyway, I better get moving. The more people I can heal with spellfire the more everyone else can save their cure spells for the next sortie."
[19:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Godspeed," Hopiel lets Alicia's hand go, "Good luck and may you come back safely."
[19:34] <Alicia> "You too," Alicia nods to Hopiel, resuming her rounds with Nova's help.
[19:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The rest fo the healing goes weill, with praise and thanks given. Thereafter, Vligiance Nova looks about as the tent empties, "Well then," he offers his hand, "I need to help prepare and give you time to prepare for the coming battle."
[19:39] <Alicia> "I'm going to see if I can scrounge up some more cold iron arrows," Marie notes as she zips off, leaving the two alone.
[19:41] * Alicia clasps Nova's hand warmly. "Thanks for all your help, Nova. Stay safe so we can see each other again after the battle," she encourages him.
[19:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You as well," The clasp is returned, and after a moment, "You'll be facing the worst the Abyss has as the side of Jamais. Don't get yourself killed trying to keep up, don't go over your limit."
[19:42] <Alicia> "Do you think there's still something worse than the balor in there?" Alicia asks seriously, having thought this would be a mopping up exercise.
[19:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I don't know. I pray not, but..." He shrugs his shoulders, "Assumptions get you killed."
[19:44] * Alicia nods. "True. Well, I better go find Jamais - I have a few ideas on how we can do better than last time, anyway," she muses before giving the deva a wave and turning away. "Take care."
[20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Finding Jamais goes well enough. He is gathering all he can, a great horde of angels, eladrin, guardials and archons, as well as mortal heroes. He listens well enough to Alicia's suggestions. "Yes, that is good. Especially if they are so weakened that they have no viable rush out."
[20:01] <Alicia> "Either they rush out and we fight them on our terms instead of theirs, or they stay inside and we can bombard them with impunity. Either way we win," Alicia summarises.
[20:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Agreed," Jamais says, each word like a force that cuts the looming evil past the Outer Ring like a knife, opposing it with each breath. "ARe you prepared for this?"
[20:04] * Alicia casts her usual suite of combat spells - shield, enlarge person, and mirror image. "Ready," she affirms.
[20:04] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8."12 [1d4=4]

[Corwin]

[16:56] <Alicia> [19:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I don't know. I pray not, but..." He shrugs his shoulders, "Assumptions get you killed."
[16:56] <Alicia> [19:44] * Alicia nods. "True. Well, I better go find Jamais - I have a few ideas on how we can do better than last time, anyway," she muses before giving the deva a wave and turning away. "Take care."
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Finding Jamais goes well enough. He is gathering all he can, a great horde of angels, eladrin, guardials and archons, as well as mortal heroes. He listens well enough to Alicia's suggestions. "Yes, that is good. Especially if they are so weakened that they have no viable rush out."
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:01] <Alicia> "Either they rush out and we fight them on our terms instead of theirs, or they stay inside and we can bombard them with impunity. Either way we win," Alicia summarises.
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Agreed," Jamais says, each word like a force that cuts the looming evil past the Outer Ring like a knife, opposing it with each breath. "ARe you prepared for this?"
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:04] * Alicia casts her usual suite of combat spells - shield, enlarge person, and mirror image. "Ready," she affirms.
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:04] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[16:56] <Alicia> [20:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8."12 [1d4=4]
[17:00] <Blondezilla> So Alicia prepares! Jamais turns to the gathering celestials, speaking in a great voice, "We will sever into the tower and then lay in with overwhelming ranged force. We will break them as far as they can be broken. Prepare!"
[17:03] * Alicia is ready to perform her role by blowing apart the walls and letting the rest do their thing to the unsuspecting demons within.
[17:10] <Blondezilla> "Now...!" Jamais leads the heavenly host ahead through the silver astral sea! You come to the tower, it's red-jelly walls throbbing and pulsing faster, beating with a more open, thicker motion. Most demons ahve been driven from the outside now, Jamais pointing to the third floor. "Sever into there. Be ready to strike as soon as you see the demons!"
[17:12] <Alicia> "On it," Alicia nods, flying over to position herself on the roof of the second floor where it meets the wall of the third so that her blast will displace more volume of slime. Tensing a moment, she explodes in incandescent spellfire before jetting up and out of view so that she won't suffer any immediate reprisals from within!
[17:12] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[17:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 46."12 [12d8=2, 6, 1, 8, 5, 2, 4, 6, 2, 2, 5, 3]
[17:14] <Blondezilla> roll 7#1d20
[17:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 7#1d20 and gets 86."12 [7#1d20 = 13, 13, 3, 14, 3, 20, 20]
[17:25] <Blondezilla> The spellfire bursts in, a massive hole torn open! As Alicia sees into the slimy fortress, she sees several burnt demons and followers for a few scant moments. "FIRE!" Jamais calls, a virtual hail of arrows, Holy Smites, fire, lightning and even sonic bursts blasting inside in a terrible, glorious focused range!
[17:26] * Alicia holds position above the hole - if any demons come out to meet the celestials she can dive down to engage them, but otherwise she's happy to wait for this group to be cleared before she makes another hole and they continue their assault in a methodical and inexorable fashion.
[17:29] <Blondezilla> Indeed, amid the storm, Alicia can see a demon working it's way out, flying up like a shot - no, actually, it's not a demon. A man in armor with a skull helmet, surging out with his two handed greataxe dripping blood, coming forth! OOC - Alicia, you can go engage it if you like or hold or whatever. Ball's in your court.
[17:31] * Alicia zooms down from above, hoping to catch this vanguard of the demonic horde by surprise!
[17:31] <Alicia> OOC: init?
[17:34] <Blondezilla> OOC: Sure.
[17:34] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20
[17:34] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20 and gets 11."12 [1d20=11]
[17:34] <Blondezilla> OOC +5, excuseme.
[17:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[17:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
[17:35] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Skull Knight>Alicia'
[17:37] <Blondezilla> Surging in the silver sea, the armored knight charges Alicia! He's not as big as her, giving her reach and a free shot on him if she wants.
[17:38] * Alicia takes it, her greatsword scything through the astral air to hopefully bisect him before he can reach her!
[17:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -5 power attack
[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -5 power attack and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[17:39] <Blondezilla> OOC - Bare miss.
[17:40] <Alicia> OOC: taking into account the charge?
[17:40] <Blondezilla> OOC - That's why it's a bare miss.
[17:40] <Blondezilla> Alicia thrusts out, cleaving by him! She cuts into his armor, but the weight of it deflects her blow! As this happens, the knight cleaves his axe into Alicia!
[17:41] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA)
[17:41] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA) and gets 37."12 [1d20=13]
[17:41] <Blondezilla> OOC - AC?
[17:41] <Alicia> OOC: 32, image 15
[17:43] <Blondezilla> roll 1d9
[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d9 and gets 2."12 [1d9=2]
[17:43] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA) cleave
[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA) cleave and gets 26."12 [1d20=2]
[17:43] <Blondezilla> roll 1d8
[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d8 and gets 7."12 [1d8=7]
[17:43] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA) cleave
[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+24 (+3 smite, +2 charge, -3 PA) cleave and gets 34."12 [1d20=10]
[17:43] <Blondezilla> roll 1d7
[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d7 and gets 2."12 [1d7=2]
[17:43] <Blondezilla> The skull knight's helmet twists like it's alive, deathface scowling in fury as he cleaves through a tandem of Alicias that are not real! The realm one is still safe, unharmed! OOC - Go.
[17:45] <Alicia> He's dangerously competent, so Alicia unfortunately has to pull out the stops when she makes her retaliatory attack, trying first to sever his axe inbetween her strikes on the man himself.
[17:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls (no AoO for him since I 5ft step back and have reach)
[17:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls (no AoO for him since I 5ft step back and have reach) and gets 36."12 [1d20=8]
[17:48] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+23
[17:48] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+23 and gets 37."12 [1d20=14]
[17:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls attack #2
[17:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls attack #2 and gets 28."12 [1d20=5]
[17:49] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+23
[17:49] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+23 and gets 35."12 [1d20=12]
[17:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls attack #3 true strike dammit
[17:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 divine might, +4 large, +4 two handed opposed rolls attack #3 true strike dammit and gets 53."12 [1d20=15]
[17:49] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+23 Well, he can't win this even with a 20, so yay?
[17:50] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+23 Well, he can't win this even with a 20, so yay? and gets 43."12 [1d20=20]
[17:50] <Alicia> roll 3d6+20
[17:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+20 and gets 24."12 [3d6=1, 1, 2]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> Alicia carves a fairly deep gash into the axe of the skull knight, as arrows and smite sand divine power continues to rock inside of the tower! The axe is intact and surviving, however, even ashe whirls it around for another go! "Die!"
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-2 PA)
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-2 PA) and gets 38."12 [1d20=18]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d6
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d6 and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 (-2 PA) cleave
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 (-2 PA) cleave and gets 32."12 [1d20=12]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d5
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d5 and gets 2."12 [1d5=2]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d4 cleave
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d4 cleave and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[17:52] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+15 attack 2
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+15 attack 2 and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
[17:53] <Blondezilla> roll 1d3
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d3 and gets 2."12 [1d3=2]
[17:53] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 attack 2 whew
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+10 attack 2 whew and gets 30."12 [1d20=20]
[17:53] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+10 attack 2 whew crit?
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+10 attack 2 whew crit? and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
[17:53] <Blondezilla> roll 1d2
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d2 and gets 1."12 [1d2=1]
[17:53] <Blondezilla> roll 1d12+20
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d12+20 and gets 21."12 [1d12=1]
[17:55] <Blondezilla> Alicia finds her images cut down like ripe wheat under the scythe! Onlyone remains, bypassed, as with his last swing the knight cuts into Alicia's forearm, drawing a shallow but dragging cut all the way up to her elbow! OOC - Alicia.
[17:56] <Alicia> "Urgh..." Alicia grimaces at the wound she just took. "You're not bad. Pity you picked the wrong side," she concludes upon resuming her efforts to destroy his weapon and kill him.
[17:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 divine might +4 large +4 two handed -2 power attack opposed roll (he also has his pa penalty on his opposed rolls, btw)
[17:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 divine might +4 large +4 two handed -2 power attack opposed roll (he also has his pa penalty on his opposed rolls, btw) and gets 40."12 [1d20=14]
[17:57] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 more or less moot
[17:57] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 more or less moot and gets 31."12 [1d20=11]
[17:58] <Alicia> roll 3d6+22 die
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+22 die and gets 33."12 [3d6=5, 2, 4]
[17:58] <Alicia> OOC: +2
[17:58] <Blondezilla> CRACK! Alicia cleaves through the knight's axe, making it shatter all about into useless metal!
[17:58] <Alicia> That done she can now beat on him with impunity!
[17:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
[17:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
[17:59] <Alicia> She also casts mirror image again, because she can.
[17:59] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[17:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 5."12 [1d4=1]
[18:02] * Haruka is now known as El-Cideon
[18:04] <Blondezilla> As the battel rages, the knight finds himself weapon less! He flies back a little bit...OOC - You can AoO.
[18:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 sure
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 sure and gets 35."12 [1d20=17]
[18:05] <Alicia> roll 3d6+24
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+24 and gets 36."12 [3d6=4, 6, 2]
[18:05] <Alicia> roll 1d4 drain
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 drain and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
[18:05] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 or rage
[18:09] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+14
[18:09] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28."12 [1d20=14]
[18:09] <Blondezilla> Despite the ripping wound into the knight's side, he stands firm! His face twists and contorts, before a cloud of pale white dust comes from his helmet's mouth! OOC - Fort save.
[18:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 (+4 if this is poison)
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 (+4 if this is poison) and gets 33."12 [1d20=13]
[18:12] <Blondezilla> roll 8d8 halve this
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 8d8 halve this and gets 40."12 [8d8=3, 8, 2, 8, 3, 3, 8, 5]
[18:14] <Blondezilla> Alicia is covered in the white powder, making her skin throb and itch! However, she bravely resists the worst of it! OOC - Go Alicia.
[18:15] * El-Cideon is now known as El-Deadeon
[18:16] * Alicia pursues her foe, intending to finish this with a devastating final blow - he's proven far too resilient to pussyfoot around at this stage when she needs to be paying attention to the overall battle.
[18:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 true strike -11 power attack
[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 true strike -11 power attack and gets 46."12 [1d20=17]
[18:17] <Alicia> roll 3d6+35
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+35 and gets 52."12 [3d6=6, 6, 5]
[18:17] <Alicia> roll 1d4 drain
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 drain and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[18:19] <Blondezilla> This last blow is enough! Alicia claims his head, severing it from his body! The skull helmeted head goes limp, his lifeblood globbing out into the Astral all around! Alicia can see that the barrage is slowing, most of the front wave of demons very very dead.
[18:21] * Alicia floats back towards the celestial lines, seeking out Jamais. "Shall I penetrate deeply into the hole already made or open a second front?" she asks/
[18:44] <Blondezilla> Jamais is readying the troops, "Blast in," he says, "Go in and penetrate deeper. There's has to be some focus to this."
[18:52] <Alicia> "Got it," Alicia nods, racing off through the massive gap she's already carved and towards the far wall of the exposed chamber.
[18:55] <Blondezilla> It's a long, vast chamber inside. Past the first wave of blasted demons is a fair bit of emptied space. In the back, the wall throbs as Alicia approaches! AS she does, two blobs of reddish jelly the size of basketballs detach, coming at her! OOC - Go ahead and roll initiative, neither side is particularly surprised or has ac hance to act first.
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12."12 [1d20=7]
[18:57] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+1
[18:57] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+1
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+1 and gets 13."12 [1d20=12]
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+1 and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
[18:57] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'THE BLOB>Alicia>THE OTHER BLOB'
[19:00] <Blondezilla> The blob drifts towards Alicia, tendrils of red forming from it's body and lancing at her!
[19:00] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+5 touch aC?
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+5 touch aC? and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
[19:01] <Alicia> OOC: 14, mirror 15
[19:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d7
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d7 and gets 7."12 [1d7=7]
[19:05] <Blondezilla> OOC - Wait, strike, I'm sorry, blindsense.
[19:05] <Blondezilla> *sight
[19:06] <Blondezilla> roll 4d6 and a fort save, Alicia.
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 4d6 and a fort save, Alicia. and gets 15."12 [4d6=1, 6, 3, 5]
[19:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 21."12 [1d20=1]
[19:08] <Blondezilla> roll 1d4 yeah, slimy doom. Hatbot hates you.
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d4 yeah, slimy doom. Hatbot hates you. and gets 2."12 [1d4=2]
[19:09] <Blondezilla> Alicia is startled when the blob goes right for her! It just gets past her, attaching onto her back! Her flesh burns, a horrible slimy feeling covering her body as it attaches! OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[19:11] <Alicia> "Not again," Alicia grimaces as her body is wracked, starting to melt away into vile slime from the inside. How far is she from a: the far wall, and b: the flying blobs?
[19:12] <Blondezilla> The other blob is perhaps 25 feet away. The wall is 50, not too far at all.
[19:14] <Alicia> Alicia's devotion to the mission eclipses her desire to kill the blobs (though hopefully all those celestials back there will fry them within a few seconds), so she moves to the far wall and readies herself to detonate and then immediately flee to seek healing.
[19:14] <Alicia> OOC: moving to position adjacent to the wall 50 feet away
[19:15] <Blondezilla> So Alicia moves! The other blob comes towards her, taking it's cheap shot as well!
[19:15] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+5
[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+5 and gets 24."12 [1d20=19]
[19:16] <Blondezilla> roll 4d6 and no fort save needed
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 4d6 and no fort save needed and gets 11."12 [4d6=3, 2, 3, 3]
[19:17] <Blondezilla> Alicia gets one on her front now, attaching and burning in! She feels horrible for a moment, but then a bevy of smites explode around her! You can hear Jamais, "Support her! Purify the wicked slime!" he calls!
[19:17] <Blondezilla> roll 7#d20 saves
[19:17] <Blondezilla> roll 7#d20 saves
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 7#d20 saves and gets 62."12 [7#d20 = 5, 7, 8, 17, 8, 6, 11]
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 7#d20 saves and gets 57."12 [7#d20 = 2, 15, 5, 5, 5, 17, 8]
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 21."12 [5d8=8, 5, 3, 2, 3]
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 23."12 [5d8=3, 6, 2, 8, 4]
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 23."12 [5d8=8, 2, 3, 3, 7]
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 19."12 [5d8=3, 8, 5, 1, 2]
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 23."12 [5d8=8, 2, 4, 3, 6]
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 21."12 [5d8=8, 5, 3, 2, 3]
[19:20] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 and gets 21."12 [5d8=5, 1, 4, 4, 7]
[19:20] <Blondezilla> The bursts of holy power utterly decimate the slimes, turning them into a vaporised goo within an instant and leaves Alicia unharmed!
[19:20] <Blondezilla> OOC - Go ahead and act.
[19:21] * Alicia detonates her spellfire to bore another vast hole in the fortress interior before immediately fleeing back to rejoin the celestial forces arrayed outside.
[19:21] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 60."12 [12d8=5, 3, 5, 8, 5, 3, 8, 4, 6, 5, 1, 7]
[19:21] <Blondezilla> roll 23#1d20
[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 23#1d20 and gets 248."12 [23#1d20 = 5, 12, 10, 17, 16, 6, 11, 15, 19, 18, 11, 2, 7, 15, 4, 14, 7, 2, 10, 11, 5, 15, 16]
[19:23] <Blondezilla> As Alicia allows the spellfire to gush from her body, she falls back! For a moment later as she reaches back to Jamais and his healing touch, a few words being murmured even as he looks ahead, a great horde of demons lies behind that wall! Inside is a vast throbbing node, bigger than the last and surrounded by a field of light1 The demons within, even those badly burnt, waste no time in charging forward! "Attack! Destroy them before they c
[19:23] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20 healed, HP maxed, CR check for slimy.
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 healed, HP maxed, CR check for slimy. and gets 36."12 [1d20=16]
[19:25] <Blondezilla> "Attack! Destroy them before they can get out!" Jamais calls!
[19:25] <Alicia> OOC: distance to the node?
[19:26] <Blondezilla> OOC: Several hundred feet. 300? There's alos a shitload of demons coming between that and the node.
[19:26] <Alicia> OOC: distance from us to the fortress?
[19:26] <Blondezilla> OOC: 80. Enough space to avoid your spellfire but not enough to compromise ranged attacks much.
[19:27] <Alicia> OOC: could I get within 240 feet of the node without entering the fortress? (by say going up to the next tier and aiming diagonally down)
[19:28] <Blondezilla> OOC: Just, but you'll be closer to the surging demons.
[19:28] <Alicia> "Don't enter the fortress itself!" Alicia cautions her own warning. "We don't want a repeat of the last time."
[19:30] <Blondezilla> Thus a great battle of ranged attacks begin! As the demons surge forward, fireballs and horrible blights and worse peper the angels as well! One blight happens to burst around Alicia! OOC - Make a will save, Alicia? Do you have SR from Holy Aura going?
[19:31] <Alicia> OOC: not unless one of the celestials nearby popped one off at the start of this attack
[19:31] <Blondezilla> OOC: No, they're all focusing on reducing the demons into dust. Make a will save then?
[19:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 (i'm surely within 20 feet of someone with a protective aura)
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 (i'm surely within 20 feet of someone with a protective aura) and gets 30."12 [1d20=6]
[19:32] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8 halved, yes.
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 halved, yes. and gets 17."12 [5d8=1, 5, 2, 5, 4]
[19:32] <Blondezilla> The unholy blight leaves Alicia feeling dimly sickened and violated, but the darkness is no match for her often tested and devleoped inner mettle! OOC - Go ahead and act, Alicia?
[19:33] * Alicia decides to wait a moment until the demons are just about to exit the breach in the fortress, at which point she intends to surge into their midst and detonate her spellfire, hopefully finishing off a large number of already weakened fiends.
[19:35] <Blondezilla> roll 1d2
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d2 and gets 1."12 [1d2=1]
[19:36] <Blondezilla> As Alicia positions and waits, a fireball is directed at her, bursting around her in a cloud of incandesant fire! Beyond this, the demons and celestials batter each other with power, a vast light show that overwhelms the normal silver tint of the Etherial like an eternal play of light and dark! OOC - Ref save.
[19:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 I have fire resistance still up, anyway
[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 I have fire resistance still up, anyway and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[19:38] <Blondezilla> roll 10d6 halves, I doubt this gets past your defenses anyway
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 10d6 halves, I doubt this gets past your defenses anyway and gets 39."12 [10d6=4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6, 2, 4, 4]
[19:39] <Blondezilla> As Alicia's ward stops the fiery inferno from burning her, she can see that the demons are gushing out! Many fall, but more come! They are lead by a marilith with ruby red skin and a short spear in each hand, gushing outwards!
[19:41] * Alicia rushes to meet them, ducking and weaving in their midst as several rocket past her in search of celestial blood before she comes to a stop making sure not to stop within melee range of the marilith. Situated properly, she proceeds to detonate the last of her spellfire reserves, slightly widening the initial breach and more importantly decimating the onrushing fiends before they can get into melee!
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 45."12 [12d8=4, 2, 7, 5, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 7, 7, 1]
[19:41] <Blondezilla> roll 15#d20
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 15#d20 and gets 184."12 [15#d20 = 11, 17, 13, 20, 15, 17, 16, 1, 5, 14, 8, 13, 15, 10, 9]
[19:50] <Blondezilla> The burst leaves the demon ranks decimated, many crackling away into nothing! Amid the warfare chaos erupts out, one in particular coming for Alicia even after her spellfire erupts: A massive glabrezu, it's pincered claws snapping at her! OOC -I'm going to go ahed and call initaitive here. All sorts of shit is flying around you, being in the middle of a battlefield might lead to some randomf ire going your way. Fair warning.
[19:51] <Alicia> OOC: I'm hoping most of the stuff from our side will be holy smites anyway
[19:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
[19:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 Marie will shoot whomever attacks Alicia this time
[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 Marie will shoot whomever attacks Alicia this time and gets 13."12 [1d20=6]
[19:55] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20
[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20 and gets 19."12 [1d20=19]
[19:56] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Alicia>Mr. Friendly Crab that is not a Marilith>Marie'
[19:58] <Alicia> Having done her part, Alicia doesn't actually plan on sticking around out in the open and so promptly retreats back to the front lines of the celestial ranks so she can benefit from their protective auras, ignoring the glabrezu and firing an enervation at the marilith on her way.
[19:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 ranged touch
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 ranged touch and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[19:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 CL
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
[20:03] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+13 CL
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 28."12 [1d20=15]
[20:04] <Blondezilla> The spell crumbles before the marilith as the battle continues! Many demons are falling, as well as a few angels, devastated by unholy magics! Jamais fires great arrows from his bow, dealing devastating injuries and peppering the marilith with fire! The glabrezu declares as it chases Alicia, "YOU! You took Gremm's head!" His pincer goes out for Alicia, as a hammer of pure chaos is thrown her way!
[20:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+22 pincer, it has reach on you so no AoO
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+22 pincer, it has reach on you so no AoO and gets 33."12 [1d20=11]
[20:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d7
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d7 and gets 4."12 [1d7=4]
[20:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+22 you know, they give all these upper tier demons at least cleave. Kinda wasted feats except for this
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+22 you know, they give all these upper tier demons at least cleave. Kinda wasted feats except for this and gets 42."12 [1d20=20]
[20:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+22 you know, they give all these upper tier demons at least cleave. Kinda wasted feats except for this crit?
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+22 you know, they give all these upper tier demons at least cleave. Kinda wasted feats except for this crit? and gets 33."12 [1d20=11]
[20:05] <Blondezilla> roll 1d6
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d6 and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
[20:06] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+22 And great cleave? C'mon now, that's two feats when one at most is reasonable.
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+22 And great cleave? C'mon now, that's two feats when one at most is reasonable. and gets 40."12 [1d20=18]
[20:06] <Blondezilla> roll 1d5
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d5 and gets 1."12 [1d5=1]
[20:07] <Blondezilla> roll 2d8+10 and guess what time it is? Improved grapple time!
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 2d8+10 and guess what time it is? Improved grapple time! and gets 26."12 [2d8=8, 8]
[20:08] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+30 grapple checks I'm sure you're just gushing enthuiasm right now.
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+30 grapple checks I'm sure you're just gushing enthuiasm right now. and gets 31."12 [1d20=1]
[20:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 hate for the freedom of movement nerf
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 hate for the freedom of movement nerf and gets 48."12 [1d20=12]
[20:09] <Blondezilla> OOC - Will save for Chaos hammerings.
[20:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28."12 [1d20=4]
[20:09] <Blondezilla> roll 5d8 halved
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 5d8 halved and gets 26."12 [5d8=2, 5, 6, 5, 8]
[20:10] <Blondezilla> Alicia finds her body pincered and hammered, a bit of a dazed moment coming over her before she manages to push out of the grasping claw! OOC - Marie's up, then I'll deal with the round by round stuff ot he melee and various smites and blights flying.
[20:10] <Alicia> Marie unloads a barrage of arrows upon the glabrezu in support of her mistress!
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 28."12 [1d20=5]
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25."12 [1d20=7]
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
[20:11] <Blondezilla> OOC - First two hit.
[20:12] <Alicia> roll 2d4+6+2d4 not rolling electricity
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+6+2d4 not rolling electricity and gets 19."12 [2d4=4, 4][2d4=4, 1]
[20:13] <Blondezilla> The glabrezu, already burnt and wounded, takes the arrows badly! It screams it's fury out, "Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, 4DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE WITHER AND DIE WORTHLESS TRASH!"
[20:13] <Blondezilla> Smites detonate all around, 3 coming to Alicia's direct aid!
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+13
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+13
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15."12 [1d20=2]
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+13 and gets 25."12 [1d20=12]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+17
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33."12 [1d20=16]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 10d6
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 10d6 and gets 42."12 [10d6=5, 5, 6, 5, 4, 6, 1, 2, 6, 2]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 10d6
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 10d6 and gets 35."12 [10d6=3, 2, 5, 5, 2, 2, 6, 1, 3, 6]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+11
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+11 and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+11
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
[20:14] <Blondezilla> Battered by this, the glabrezu rocks back, still up but maimed like Tyr himself, claw nearly broken and cut away from righteous flames of judgment!
[20:15] <Blondezilla> roll 1d3 less demons now to fire
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d3 less demons now to fire and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
[20:15] <Blondezilla> No bursts of unhoyl power detonate around Alicia, none too close at all! OOC - Alicia.
[20:16] <Alicia> "Grem?" Alicia asks mockingly. "I'm sorry, I've killed so many demons lately, but the name doesn't mean anything to me. Just as you'll only be another stain on my blade!" And at that she lashes out with a flurry of strikes to hopefully finish this particular fiend off for good!
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22."12 [1d20=2]
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 true striked
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 true striked and gets 39."12 [1d20=9]
[20:17] <Blondezilla> OOC - Two hits.
[20:17] <Alicia> roll 6d6+26
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d6+26 and gets 52."12 [6d6=5, 3, 1, 5, 6, 6]
[20:17] <Alicia> roll 2d4 wis
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4 wis and gets 8."12 [2d4=4, 4]
[20:19] <Blondezilla> The pair of blows is enough! As his eyes grow dull, the glabrezu expands and thins out, fading into nothing as it's form rushes past Alicia! Meanwhile, the rest of the battle is going well - many of the demons are down, only a few left. Jamais has advanced, greatsword out as he goes to fight the battered marilith directly.
[20:22] <Alicia> Marie does her best to help Jamais by plinking a few arrows in the marilith's direction!
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 cold iron
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 cold iron and gets 35."12 [1d20=12]
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 cold iron
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 cold iron and gets 29."12 [1d20=11]
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 cold iron
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 cold iron and gets 22."12 [1d20=9]
[20:22] <Blondezilla> OOC - Two hits.
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 2d4+6+2d4
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+6+2d4 and gets 18."12 [2d4=2, 3][2d4=3, 4]
[20:27] <Blondezilla> The paired arrows slam into the marilith as the battle is joined, leaving the snake-demon with even vaster wounds! OOC - Adding them to the initaitive.
[20:27] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+9
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+9 and gets 17."12 [1d20=8]
[20:27] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+4
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+4 and gets 16."12 [1d20=12]
[20:27] * Blondezilla changes topic to 'Alicia>Jamais>Marilith>Marie'
[20:28] <Blondezilla> The battle is settling out. Only a few demons remain - a hezrou that has reached a few Astral Devas, locked in combat with it. A succubus has slipped away and to the side of the tower, it's unclad, magnificent body doing an amazingly good job of dodging as she soars away, and the marilith.
[20:29] <Alicia> Jamais probably can handle the marilith quite easily, so Alicia spends a second to quickly survey the battlefield to see if any celestials are in more pressing need of aid. Seeing the succubus seeming to be maneuvering around them, she considers her a priority target and so charges up to deeply penetrate into her! With her sword.
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2 power attack, charge
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2 power attack, charge and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
[20:32] <Blondezilla> Much to Alicia's surprise, the succubus rolls backwards and evades the penetration! Her hair is wild and unkempt, blood running down from a gash across her left leg. "Leave me alone! You win, just let me get out of here," she snaps, tumbling backwards out of Alicia's reach and flying even further away! Alicia can meanwhile hear the death cry of the marilith, a cheer going up amid the celestials, as well as the cries of the Astral Devas as
[20:32] <Blondezilla> Alicia can meanwhile hear the death cry of the marilith, a cheer going up amid the celestials, as well as the cries of the Astral Devas as they fight on against the hezrou.
[20:33] <Alicia> "Hah! And let you spread your wickedness elsewhere? Not a chance!" Alicia snaps in reply.
[20:34] <Blondezilla> OOC - Go ahead and go, Alicia?
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: how far away is the succubus?
[20:34] <Blondezilla> OOC - It flew 140 feet away last round.
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: close enough to charge, then!
[20:35] * Alicia doggedly pursues the succubus, albeit somewhat aware that she could be facing a diversion to take her away from the bulk of their forces she still presses on heedlessly.
[20:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 33."12 [1d20=11]
[20:35] <Blondezilla> OOC - Hit. Make your jokes and roll damag.e
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 3d6+13
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d6+13 and gets 20."12 [3d6=2, 3, 2]
[20:36] <Alicia> roll 1d4 wis
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 wis and gets 2."12 [1d4=2]
[20:37] <Blondezilla> The succubus has it's stomach thrust into, a gurgling cry as she winces! "You...stupid...bitch!" she hisses, "You just won't leave me alone! Why! I didn't sleep with your boyfriend, did I?" Even as she staggers from the wound, Alicia's mind is assailed! "Just...go fight the other demons!" OOC - Will.
[20:37] <Alicia> OOC: she has to make her rage save as well
[20:38] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+12
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21."12 [1d20=9]
[20:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35."12 [1d20=15]
[20:39] <Blondezilla> "Grr..." Wincing again, "Just...please! I'm not so bad! You like to kill demons, not a nice succubus!" OOC - Will again. Astral spamming is fun.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 26."12 [1d20=6]
[20:39] <Blondezilla> OOC - Alicia, you're up.
[20:42] <Alicia> OOC: she's still in melee range?
[20:42] <Blondezilla> OOC: Yes.
[20:42] <Alicia> "Oh, come on! How many people have you tortured and killed in your existence?" Alicia replies bitingly to the fiend, even if her desperation does prompt comparisons to Antenora's initial behaviour. "You're not nice at all!"
[20:43] <Alicia> She punctuates her statement by stabbing the fiend.
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22."12 [1d20=2]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 crit check
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 crit check and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
[20:43] <Blondezilla> OOC - One hit, but it's a c-c-crit.
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 6d6+26
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d6+26 and gets 44."12 [6d6=3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d4 wis
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 wis and gets 2."12 [1d4=2]
[20:46] <Blondezilla> The succubus is impaled in the chest, sliding limply off Alicia's sword! As her blood flows out, "Stupid...stupid...paladin. Just like men...use me for their egos...and then kill me." With a look of pure disdain and hatred, "I hope...only dying children...spawn from your oh so sacred womb...bitch...." With her last words the succubus fades away, raining down black rain from where she was.
[20:47] <Alicia> "That ship has sailed," Alicia replies bitterly to the fading demonic remnant, flicking the ichor off her blade before she flies back down to rejoin the bulk of their forces.
[20:48] <Blondezilla> The celestials seem to have won! There are no demons about, only a force going inside, while a few planetars, including Sandriel, fire green rays of distingration at the edges of the established openways, slowly helping keep them closed. Jamais is deep inside, at the throbbing node itself.
[20:50] * Alicia follows after Jamais. "If we take down the node it'll probably collapse a large portion of the fortress, but we should probably do so with long range bombardment from outside," she suggests, idly glancing around and wondering slightly at just what this fortress functions as. It seems to be nothing more than a collection of large and entirely empty rooms so far as she can tell, which doesn't make much sense.
[20:50] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+33
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+33 and gets 36."12 [1d20=3]
[20:52] <Blondezilla> Jamais is examining the node, floating a bit here and there as he views it. Closer, you can see that droplets of slime ooze out of it, spreading. "See that," He says, "These nodes control the slime. It'll have to be destroyed once we take samples. Those blobs were able to infect you again on contact, Alicia?"
[20:52] <Blondezilla> "By range is my preferred method, yes. I heard about the last battle," he adds after a moment.
[20:53] <Alicia> "That's right," Alicia nods slowly. "But what would we want samples for?"
[20:54] <Blondezilla> "You saw the slime? It works instantly and even on the Astral, where time doesn't flow, and it's difficult to cure. It's quite advanced, learning from it may indicate an easier remedy or a way to stop it altogether. Especially if this occurs again, be it by the hand of the Faceless Lord or another, I have concerns that it may be in more bulk than this."
[20:57] <Alicia> "True," Alicia concedes. "So we dispel the barrier, take a sample, then retreat so our forces can blast it away from outside?" she summarises.
[20:58] <Blondezilla> "That's exactly it. Light willing, this will be an infection that has no chance to claim any more lives." Jamais turns to Alicia, his presence lightening her spirit. "The entire situation here, while requiring ample force to defeat, was fortunately unsophisticated. Once this is done, I can begin leading the efforts to track down more of this and bring justice to those that perpetrated this horror."
[21:00] <Alicia> "I would like to join you, but I cannot leave my duties on the Prime unattended for much longer," Alicia replies respectfully. "Lets end this quickly, at least."
[21:01] <Blondezilla> "Yes," With a momentarily sad smile that seems to bring comfort in it despite it, "I understand. I was going to ask you to join me for this matter if you were not so occupied, but I will not take from your mortal duties."
[21:04] * Alicia gives the solar a smile, "If you require me for any important battles you can certainly call on my aid, but a prolonged campaign is not something I can commit to. Anyway, we can surely talk about this after the immediate matter is resolved," she turns her attention to the node, praying quietly to Mystra. "Mother of all magic, strip away the enchanted protections of this fell nexus of disease and decay!"
[21:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
[21:05] <Blondezilla> With a ripple, the field of light is gone! "Nicely done. Go now...I'll deal with the collection." Jamais says, "Then we will end this for good."
[21:06] * Alicia nods and flees out of the slimy fortress to rejoin the others.
[21:07] <Blondezilla> Soon enough Jamais emerges as well, everyone out! Most of the troop has survived, as the solar points far ahead, "On my call...level that abomination with all you have!"
[21:07] <Alicia> Unfortunately none of Alicia's spells have that sort of range, but she's ready in case anything unexpected pops up closer to home while the others are focused on their long range strikes.
[21:09] <Blondezilla> Thus comes a vast arrange of smites and magic! Colors and sounds burst as the node is obliterated under a heavy fire! The entire tower seems to contract, flowing inward! It gushes deeper and deeper inwards, a huge sucking sound as it all fades away into a tiny hole, which then itself is gone! As that happens, a great cheer overtakes the celestial host. "VICTORY!"
[21:12] <Blondezilla> Sometime later...
[21:12] * Blondezilla is now known as Kotono
[21:12] * ChanServ sets mode: +q Kotono
[21:13] <Kotono> Back in the Outer Ring, celebrations have been going on for a time. Alicia has been healed and had time to recover when she goes to see Jamais, floating just outside the Astral Ring, watching the celebration with a gentle smile.
[21:15] <Alicia> "Jamais, might I have a moment before I depart?" Alicia asks the solar as she approaches him, alone since Marie is off organising some strange game or performance involving all the lantern archons as her contribution to the celebration.
[21:16] <Kotono> "By all means," He turns to Alicia, the void vast and endless all around him. Again his raw presence touches Alicia, the feeling of his very existance impossible to deny and all the good that encapsulates.
[21:18] * Alicia does feel rather pleasant around the solar but also oddly on edge, like she has to be on her best behaviour. "Marie tells me that you've fought in many campaigns against both demons and devils. I myself have... considerable, problems with devilkind, and was wondering if you might have some knowledge or advice regarding a few notable foes of mine," she explains.
[21:19] <Kotono> "Who are they," Jamais asks, a sternness of war overtaking him. "I'll be glad to tell you anything I know."
[21:20] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles. "The first one is a devil named Esthan - he appears to be a courtier for a more powerful fiend, probably a duke or perhaps even a lord, and has been making himself particularly busy on the Prime of late. Unfortunately we've been able to learn next to nothing about him - not even his true form."
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 35."12 [1d20=2]
[21:24] <Kotono> "The name isn't familiar," Jamais replies after some thought, "Do you have any clue on who his superior is, or what lord he's toadying for?"
[21:26] <Alicia> "This is somewhat indirect, but I know that Martinet, the Constable of Nessus, has taken an interest in my destruction."
[21:27] <Alicia> "Esthan came to my familiar professing friendship and an alliance - when she pointed out the hostility from Martinet he said that wasn't a concern."
[21:27] <Alicia> "I could read that as being that his master is already hostile to Martinet, or so powerful as to not be worried, or that the whole thing is an elaborate ruse and he actually works for Martinet himself," Alicia explains, wishing she had more to go on. "Also, I understand that Helm himself owes Esthan or his master some sort of debt."
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 38."12 [1d20=5]
[21:27] <Kotono> "Helm...?" Jamais' eyes narrow at that, "I do know a story of one devil who could be it.":
[21:29] <Alicia> "Yes?" Alicia prods hopefully, seeing progress dangled teasingly just out of reach.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Irrylan, Knight of Dis, Member of the Order of the Iron Shield. He was said to be able to bring even good and evil together in agreement, serving an ambassador for Dispater in other realms. But...he was slain over eons ago. The legend goes that a divine priest saw through his lies and smote him in a titantic battle."
[21:32] <Kotono> "He had negotiated an agreement with Helm amid others, even giving up going after some of their souls in exchange for benefits."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Hmm... well, I'll try dropping the name if - when - I run into him again, see what reaction it gets," Alicia nods slowly. "But a devil presumed dead by all likely wouldn't have reason to fear Martinet's wrath, it's true. Alright, the next one is one that I've had numerous dealings with and have a fairly good handle on, but any further information couldn't hurt - are you at all familiar with Duke Agares of Stygia?"
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 36."12 [1d20=3]
[21:36] <Kotono> "I've heard of Agares. He abodes in Stygia and is a Duke of Entropy?" Jamais answers. "He resembles an overgrown Osyluth? He comamnds legions of gelugons and stands high in the infernal hierachy. I do know some of him, yes."
[21:38] <Kotono> After a pause, "What I'm asking is that if you want anything specific or just general information."
[21:39] <Alicia> "Specifics, hopefully," Alicia confirms, "I've fought him personally and heard of his weakness for water from Arborea from a deva I know, but any additional specifics you've heard of would be appreciated."
[21:43] <Kotono> "You've been to Hell then?" Raising an eyebrow to that, "And I assume STygia? Then you know that Levistus is frozen in an iceberg by Asmodeus' hand. The Dukes and nobility of Stygia have a lot of freedom because of this, Levitus can only do so much from his prison. Agares is an ambitious one, willing to take risks. He likely desires the throne of Stygia directly." (More)
[21:46] <Kotono> "It's a contrast - he wants Entropy, but desires to grow himself. I heard that he's often frusturated in his attempts, for he sets his own house against itself. To dominate everything in entropic loss, but he himself is limited by his own beliefs. You understand that us - angels, devils, demons, all of us - aren't like you mortals. What we represent is what we are. It's why you need a holy weapon to truly wound a greater devil...and Agares is a
[21:46] <Kotono> ...and Agares is a great devil and very hard to wound. I know of one, a Tome Archon, who confronted him. She gave her life, scoring a dozen blows on him that barely had any effect at all. For Dukes of Hell and greater, you may not just need sacred power, but a repudiation of what they are."
[21:48] <Alicia> "Tch," Alicia scowls, "I was afraid of that. My holy blade barely scratched him, but I'd hoped a silvered holy weapon would suffice - in terms of martial and magical prowess I'd hesitate to place Agares above the balor I battled today. But that's a tricky thing - weapons are made to kill. Even the most sacred blade is still an instrument of entropy, isn't it?"
[21:50] <Kotono> "Yes," Smiling a little bit to that, "You understand and I was afraid you'd have found that out if you did combat with him. Yet he also desires his own growth, a paradox. I would recommend something that affirms life, that affirms growth and freedom and change, and the defeat of his entropic control, a rejection of him forcing you down an ever narrowing path into shorn oblivion."
[21:53] <Alicia> "Hmm... perhaps some kind of weapon that devastates undead but has little affect on the living?" Alicia wonders, groping for ideas. "I'll admit this is rather beyond my expertise. At worst we have the Hammer of the Shard, which should be equally effective against any devil, but its nature runs counter to my own tendancies as well."
[21:59] <Kotono> "It's not common," Admitting that, "Facing a Duke of Hell is no easy matter. You'll be opposing a tyrant that has had countless eternities to polish his dominating craft. Finding such a weapon could be the difference."
[22:01] <Alicia> "Something to bear in mind, and knowing that will certainly help me avoid what could have been a disaster if I were to challenge him again with my normal weapons," Alicia agrees. "Okay, the only other high profile devil I've had any involvement with is the one mentioned earlier - Martinet."
[22:01] <Alicia> "It's not been anything direct so I don't anticipate battling him in the near term, but anything you know about his tactics and methodology could help in countering him."
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33
[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 and gets 39."12 [1d20=6]
[22:03] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-514c480b.l3.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[22:03] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-514c480b.l3.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit
[22:05] <Kotono> "The Constable of Nessus? You're aquiring a plethora of foes. I suppose that means you're very good at what you do," Jamais does smile at that, his words pressing a soothing relaxation out with his mirth. "Oh, I know of him. He's a very famous devil. Asmodeus uses him as a diplomat, he's even been to the Seven Heavens. His arrogance is legendary."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Arrogance is a weakness, but that doesn't necessarily make it unjustified," Alicia notes. "Do you know how he prefers to deal with troublemakers such as myself?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "By afar. He considers himself above combat. If you ever cornered him, he'd summon and stay well away," Jamais answers. "So very hands off, using lots of minions and third parties."
[22:11] * Alicia nods. "It's those minions and third parties that concern me for the moment far more than any threat of direct confrontation. What sort of devils is he most likely to employ - and for that matter what third parties would he utilise?"
[22:12] <Kotono> "Any he can. As standing as a Duke of Nessus, I doubt he would use any but Pit Fiends...or..." A moment here, a pause. "The worse horrors. There are whispers that truly abominable things lie within Nessus."
[22:13] <Alicia> "Well so long as they stay there," Alicia replies, not at all comforted by the thought of creatures to give a solar pause. "I've no intention of visiting that dark hole any time soon."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Good. No one should.' Jamais turns back to the revelry at that, "Except to obliterate it."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Which sadly is beyond me, and probably always will be," Alicia admits honestly. "Well, I think that's all the major players covered. So I suppose now I had best get moving, and wish you luck on your future campaigns."
[22:16] <Kotono> "Are you returning home now?" Jamais asks.
[22:17] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia nods. "I'm hoping I can convince someone to plane shift me and Marie back to the Prime, but failing that I'd take directions to a portal or one of those coloured pools."
[22:18] <Kotono> "I can return you," Jamais offers. "It's the least I can do after your brave service."
[22:21] <Alicia> "Oh. If you're willing, certainly," Alicia nods, a bit dumbfounded. She hadn't expected he'd be willing to perform essentially the role of a taxi himself. "Let me just call Marie over, then," she asks, going to summon her familiar, surely to the disappointment of all her new friends.
[22:24] <Kotono> Getting Marie goes without relative incident, the eladrin in tow for Alicia. "Now then," Jamais says, even despite Alicia's surprise, "The Prime Material? Where?"
[22:26] <Alicia> "The city of Balmuria, on the coast of the Bay of Sparkling Stars. My home is near the West gate, just behind the Temple of Mystra," Alicia replies, giving as much detail as possible for an accurate location. She also quells her golden holy radiance for the first time since arriving on the astral in readiness to return to more earthly surroundings.
[22:28] <Kotono> "I must warn you that this magic is not always accurate," Jamais warns, offering both his hands. "Each of you take one of my hands and form a circle."
[22:30] <Alicia> "I'm familiar with how it goes, yes," Alicia admits, forming a rather lopsided circle with herself, the large solar, and the tiny eladrin. Maybe Uatu will help in some way, at least? It's hard to say just what that crystal is capable of...
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 5#d100
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5#d100 and gets 198."12 [5#d100 = 62, 30, 80, 14, 12]
[22:31] <Kotono> There is a moment, then a strange, cloying mist about you. It is merely an instant, but you stand before Uatu once more. It doesn't feel that different from the Astral, really, even as the mysterious artifact glows briefly, surrounded by protectors at every directional point.
[22:32] <Alicia> "Well, it seems I was right," Alicia smiles ruefully. "We're several days from my home, but perhaps this was the best place to return to."
[22:32] <Kotono> "This place...is the Prime?" Jamais looks about, uncertainness in his voice.
[22:33] <Alicia> "Not... exactly. I think," Alicia replies. "We're half in the prime and half in the ethereal, as I understand it. Uatu here was the one who sent me to the astral in the first place," she graciously indicates said crystal.
[22:34] <Kotono> Jamais looks at Uatu, before simply vanishing abruptly, Uatu flashing white.
[22:35] * Alicia blinks at the abrupt departure, doubting it was the solar's own doing. "Why did you send him away?" she asks the crystal guardedly. Helpful as it has been in the past, she can't say she understands it on any meaningful level.
[22:37] <Kotono> The artifact flashes thrice and then twice more, each time brighter. There is a moment - and then OW! Alicia winces as she falls a few feet, brain needing a moment to register. Alicia is in her bedroom, Marie having plopped down besides her.
[22:38] <Alicia> "Ow..." Alicia rubs her head. "I get the feeling we're not going to be welcome around there in the future, Marie," she notes to her familiar.
[22:38] <Alicia> "I don't know, maybe it was trying to be helpful and save you having to come back on foot?" Marie hazards groggily as she picks herself up and takes to the air.
[22:43] <Kotono> Returning to the temple of Mystra, Alicia finds that it's the evening. Shankar is there, Antenora listening to him lecture on Mystra in front of the altar. Jessica's there as well, though she's fallen asleep, half leaning on the outsider.
[22:46] <Alicia> "Dawwww!" Marie makes her feelings known upon seeing the trio, while Alicia just gives an indulgent smile.
[22:46] <Alicia> "It's nice to see you all," she greets them, unsheathing Soul's Enslavement as she approaches the altar. She knows there will be questions about Aym, but she really wants to rid herself of this burden before getting into that.
[22:49] <Kotono> Antenora glances over, wearing her armor, though sleeping against metal doesn't seem to bother Jessica. 'Aym?' Antenora asks in one silent word to Alicia.
[22:50] <Kotono> The sword begins to thrub with purple-white flame as Alicia approaches the altar. Shankar looks to the blade, "Alicia, place this sword for Mystra to see and to turn this magic to her service!"
[22:54] * Alicia stops her approach to the altar and turns her attention to Antenora at her question, almost ignoring the flaming sword in her hand. "He refused to follow the path I set for him, and I could not convince him to stay," she tells the erinyes openly.
[22:54] <Alicia> "A lot happened on our journey, which I'll share with you after I relieve myself of this burden," she lifts the blade to be held between both open palms, waiting for Antenora's assent before she turns her attention back to the altar.
[22:54] <Kotono> Antenora nods, her expression betraying nothing.
[22:54] * Alicia proceeds to lay the weapon out on the altar, bowing her head in respect to her goddess.
[22:58] <Kotono> The blade is consumed in fire! The silver-purple flames melt the sword, the melted metal rising into the air! Before your eyes it reforms as a thick blade with a slight curve, words written on the blade in silver: 'In the name of the treasure of the soul,' is on one side, and the other, 'My acts will never be deterred in anger.'
[22:59] <Kotono> *by
[23:00] * Alicia lifts the now reshaped blade, turning it in her grip a few times before giving an exploratory swing well clear of any bystanders to try and get a feel for it.
[23:01] <Kotono> As Alicia swings the blade, she feels contentment in her. She feels like she can see her trials in a new light of understanding.
[23:05] <Alicia> "Hmmm..." Alicia smiles after a moment, sheathing the blade before her expression turns more serious and she goes to take a seat on the bench with Antenora and Jessica. "I was sent to the astral plane to defeat a creature of rage - someone who was once a warrior of the light who fell to rage and darkness battling the yugoloths, who was sealed away because normal weapons could not kill him," she begins to recount events.
[23:07] <Kotono> Antenora starts to shift, before Jessica moans, "Oh, Roald...don't move..." she murmurs, making Antenora half smile, half sigh and crane her neck instead. "I assume you found a way to kill it for good?"
[23:09] * Alicia eyes her sister suspiciously for a long moment. "It was surprisingly simple," she admits after that awkward pause. "It seems Soul's Enslavement was indeed the perfect weapon in this case - honestly, though, that battle was nearly inconsequential compared to other events that transpired out there."
[23:10] <Kotono> "She has been tired today,' Antenora murmurs and glances at her, before turning back to Alicia, craning her neck. "...What? Did the yugoloths come for a second round with him at the same time, perhance? Your words are exceedingly ominous."
[23:11] <Alicia> "We ran into a solar named Jamais on our travels, actually. He was going to lead a siege against a fortress manned by demonic servants of Jubilex and their mortal followers. I offered my aid in the coming battle after concluding my business with the sealed creature," Alicia explains.
[23:12] <Alicia> "She killed a balor!" Marie finally exclaims, seeming to have been having trouble keeping quiet for a while.
[23:12] <Alicia> "Yes, Marie," Alicia gives her familiar a level look. "We'll get to that soon."
[23:13] <Kotono> "A sol-" A full stop there, "You defeated a Balor in combat?!" Antenora's jaw drops a little, "That's extraordinarily impressive!"
[23:15] <Alicia> "Not as much as it sounds," Alicia shakes her head humbly, "I had help, and two brave souls lost their lives in the battle. But like I said, I'll get to that soon. Anyway, we arrived at the site of the demon fortress, and I offered Aym a chance to take part in the battle - he'd seemed ashamed after fleeing from the rage-beast and I thought this would serve as a chance for him to put my lessons to the test."
[23:15] <Alicia> "I also managed to beat a marilith with just one shot!" Marie interrupts. "Speaking of that, I'll need more of those banishing arrows..."
[23:20] * Alicia goes on past Marie's interruption. "In the first sortie Aym went berserk and rushed to engage a marilith in melee. We were able to slay it, but not before it inflicted utterly horrendous wounds upon him - he was tremendously lucky that one of the planetars was nearby with a heal spell. After we withdrew I challenged him on his recklessness, and he admitted that he wanted to die - and demanded that I be the one to kill him."
[23:21] <Alicia> She sighs heavily, "I refused, and after I disarmed him when he pressed the issue, he simply turned around and left. I couldn't really force him to stay after that."

[Corwin]

[18:54] <Alicia> [23:15] <Alicia> "Not as much as it sounds," Alicia shakes her head humbly, "I had help, and two brave souls lost their lives in the battle. But like I said, I'll get to that soon. Anyway, we arrived at the site of the demon fortress, and I offered Aym a chance to take part in the battle - he'd seemed ashamed after fleeing from the rage-beast and I thought this would serve as a chance for him to put my lessons to the test."
[18:54] <Alicia> [23:15] <Alicia> "I also managed to beat a marilith with just one shot!" Marie interrupts. "Speaking of that, I'll need more of those banishing arrows..."
[18:54] <Alicia> [23:20] * Alicia goes on past Marie's interruption. "In the first sortie Aym went berserk and rushed to engage a marilith in melee. We were able to slay it, but not before it inflicted utterly horrendous wounds upon him - he was tremendously lucky that one of the planetars was nearby with a heal spell. After we withdrew I challenged him on his recklessness, and he admitted that he wanted to die - and demanded that I be the one to kill him."
[18:54] <Alicia> [23:21] <Alicia> She sighs heavily, "I refused, and after I disarmed him when he pressed the issue, he simply turned around and left. I couldn't really force him to stay after that."
[18:56] <Kotono> Antenora sighs a tthat, "No, you're right. You couldn't have made him stay. It sound as if he'd given up hope or fallen into despair."
[18:56] <Alicia> "He looked really sad," Marie agrees.
[18:57] <Alicia> "All I can hope is that something of what I tried to impress on him sticks and he doesn't just end up exactly where he started. It's up to him, though," Alicia nods gloomily.
[18:58] <Kotono> Antenora reaches out, clasping Alicia's shoulder. Jessica murmurs at this, "No...sleepy..." even as Antenora speaks over her. "You've planted a seed in him. It's up to him on if it ever blooms, yes."
[19:00] * Alicia smiles at the supportive gesture. "Anyway," she moves on, "Has anything happened while we were gone? I think we managed to keep a decent track of time on the astral, since I wasn't that hungry when we left, so it should only have been a bit over a week since we left Balmuria, right?"
[19:09] <Kotono> "About," Antenora nods, "It's been fairly quiet. I've helped the Guard a few times patrol and kept a watch out for evil, but there's not been too much of notice."
[19:09] <Kotono> Shankar clears his throat.
[19:10] <Kotono> "And some time here," Antenora adds in, even as Jessica murmurs, "...Roald...shh..."
[19:13] <Alicia> Marie and Alicia both smile at Antenora's interest in the church. It's almost eerie. "Oh, I also learned a thing or two from the solar - Jamais, about some of our foes in Hell. Apparently not even a sacred silvered weapon is sufficient to truly wound a Duke, so it seems we'll have to get something special for Agares," the paladin goes on after registering her approval.
[19:17] <Kotono> "Yes, we'll have to look into that," Antenora's smile becomes predatory, "If we can do that and we can defeat a Duke of Hell..." Antenora's voice becomes hopeful, "To defeat a spirit that has spent innumerable eternities tormenting and twisting reality to it's own whims would be a true victory and a blow against Hell."
[19:20] <Alicia> "As he's the self styled duke of entropy, it sounds like most weapons wouldn't work, but I was thinking something that harms the undead while sparing the living might also work on him - Jamais said we need to think in terms of opposed concepts when dealing with such powerful beings," Alicia explains. "The other bit of information I got concerns Esthan."
[19:24] <Kotono> "It sounds like life energy might do it, or healing energy?" Antenora proposes that, "But go on about Esthan." Her eyes narrow even more, lenaing forward. This dislodges poor Jessica, who falls to the pew with a heavy THUMP! "OW!" she groggily sits up, rubbing her forehead.
[19:25] <Alicia> "Oh, Jessica..." Alicia shakes her head slowly, offering her unfortunate sister a hand up.
[19:34] <Kotono> Jessica rubs her head and blinks, "Oh, sister," she yawns, smiling. "You're back!"
[19:35] <Alicia> "Just got back a few minutes ago," Alicia confirms. "Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "Oh...not much..." Rubbing her eyes clear, "You didn't get hurt or anything?"
[19:40] <Alicia> "Nothing that wasn't easily healed," Alicia replies with a smile. "Anyway, I was just telling Antenora something I'd learned about or friend Esthan. It's somewhat sketchy and uncomfirmed, but still rings true to my ears - I believe that Esthan is a servant of a devil named Irrylan. Supposedly long dead, but perhaps just in hiding instead. It would explain a few things, and Irrylan's history fits with a few others."
[19:41] * Kobot (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[19:41] * Kotono sets mode: +v Kobot
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[19:41] <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+16 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{32}
[19:43] <Kotono> "Irrylan...has something to do with Dis and the second layer?" Antenora replies after a few moments. "The name is very faintly familiar."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Good," Stretching back as she awakens, Jessica makes a face. "Oh, Hell Talk. It's like discussing court politics, only with impossibly powerful and evil beings."
[19:47] <Alicia> "It's depressing, I know," Alicia agrees sadly. "But since they keep trying to kill us we do need to pay attention. Anyway, Irrylan was a Knight of Dis and member of the Iron Shield, an ambassador for Dispater to other realms. The key thing is that he apparently negotiated some sort of agreement with Helm in exchange for the souls of some of his followers, which reminds me of Esthan's hold over Demedais."
[19:47] <Alicia> "Allegedly he was slain by a priest but I don't know of what god."
[19:50] <Kotono> "Oh yes," Antenora perks up a little more, "I remember a fragment of that story now. Some imps were singing a perverted version of it; about how Dispater's lapdog grovelled at the feet of the powers beyond Hell. They didn't live long past that, stupid creatures."
[19:52] <Alicia> "Do you remember the words?" Marie asks innocently. "It could be important."
[19:54] <Kotono> "Do you need to hear a detailed, bawdy tale of how a devil fellated worthless non-devil powers," Antenora raises an eyebrow at Marie. "The main perversion was showing a devil as openly subservient to others beyond Hell."
[19:54] <Alicia> "I just wanted to hear you sing it, honestly," Marie admits without shame, prompting a long-suffering look from Alicia.
[19:56] <Kotono> "I'll pass on that," Antenora shoots a withering glare at Marie, before turning back to Alicia. "What role does this Irrylan play, then, if he is involved? Does this mean Dispater is involved, or another powr of the second? Or is he working for himself or another lord after all this time?"
[19:58] * Alicia shakes her head. "Irrylan's name is a tenuous lead by itself, and we know nothing beyond that. If I had to guess I'd say Irrylan perhaps faked his own death and is now in hiding, pulling the strings in secret - it would explain why he doesn't fear Martinet's retribution for 'aiding' us. If he is working for another lord, it would have to be one who doesn't care about the constable - know any who fit the bill?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "No." That comes quickly, "Martinet has the authority of Asmodeus behind his words and actions. I doubt any of them would truly not care about his wrath, for it may extend up to his master. If he is in secret, perhpas Irrlyan is manipulating matters for a Lord who wishes to stay anonymous, or perhaps a Duke or other lesser lord?"
[20:03] <Alicia> "Also possible," Alicia agrees. "And it's still possible that Irrylan's dead and irrelevant. Still, it's a lead - should any of us encounter Esthan again we can perhaps get confirmation, then."
[20:11] <Kotono> "You know," Jessica continues, "Weren't you saying something about concepts or something like that? With allt hese ifs and maybes, how about hitting them with some hard facts and truth? It can't be any harder than hitting them with life."
[20:12] <Kotono> "It's a lead," Antenora agrees to that.
[20:14] <Alicia> "You heard that?" Alicia eyes her sister for a moment. "Tricky..." she murmurs before forging on, "Anyway, the problem is that the uncertainty is on our side. I'm sure Esthan and his mysterious master know exactly who they wre without any doubt, after all."
[20:17] <Kotono> Smiling sunnily to Alicia, "Yes, I suppose." Smoothing her clothing, "Alicia, why don't we talk about this at home? I'll mkae you a late dinner and you can tell us all about it."
[20:19] <Alicia> "So all that talk about Roald while you were pretending to be asleep was just you having fun, right?" Marie asks impishly as she alights on Jessica's head, leaning over to look down and meet her gaze.
[20:20] <Kotono> The faintest blush coverss Jesscia's face as she turns away, starting to walk out with Marie on head. "O-Of course. Now let's go home. I'll make you a small bowl of dinner too, Marie."
[20:22] <Alicia> "You're the best!" Marie grins as she settles herself.
[20:22] <Alicia> Chuckling, Alicia gets up to follow. "It'll be nice to eat something besides trail rations. I'll see you tomorrow, Shankar," she waves to the priest as she heads out after her sister and familiar.
[20:52] <Kotono> Alicia happens to be watching Antenora and Marie 'talk' when it happens. "Yes, because that lack of control is so much more favorable," Antenora rolls her eyes as she spears a dummy. The trio is out back, a normal day's training and upkeep passing by. As she can hear this, a voice sounds in her mind. 'Esthan situation worsened. Would need a lot of capable forces to handle it. We may only have a few days. Returning to Balmuria today. Seira.'
[20:52] <Kotono> Returning to Balmuria today. Seira.'
[20:55] <Alicia> Familiar with how the sending spell works, Alicia replies with an economy of words, no doubt to the confusion of her companions. "Understood. Demedais still not back, will alert Commander and discuss when you arrive." That done she turns her attention to the embodiments of law and chaos. "That was Seira, it sounds like she's had a run-in with Esthan and needs help. She'll be arriving in the city today."
[20:56] <Alicia> Wait. Was it Seira?
[20:56] <Alicia> Who's voice was it?
[20:57] <Alicia> Oh, wait.
[20:57] <Alicia> The name was mentioned at the end, not the start.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Really now?" ANtenora stops her work, putting down thet raining spear. "Good, I'd love another attempt at him."
[20:59] <Alicia> "Aww, we should've fixed that bow first," Marie complains. "I bet it'd turn into a great anti-devil weapon, too."
[21:00] <Alicia> "We'll just have to make do," Alicia pats her familiar. "The message said that the situation has worsened and she'd need a lot of capable forces to handle it - that really doesn't sound like Seira, so he must have done something to frighten her a lot," she then concludes worriedly.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Not good," Antenora does agree with that, "Did she say why it went bad?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "No details," Alicia shakes her head, "But she should be on her way. I'd better inform the Commander about this."

[Corwin]

[18:30] <Kotono> ----
[18:30] * Celenu is now known as Ebiris
[18:31] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[18:31] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:32] <Kotono> Heading over to Elle's shop, you find her assistant talking with one of the new women mages in the guard. Abagail leans against the counter, the two locked in a rapt discussion. It seems to be the merits of basic metamagics - about how empowering a spell works and when it's relatively merited to use. Elle's not in immediate site, the story is otherwise quiet right now.
[18:35] <Alicia> "That sort of metamagic is a waste unless you're limited in how many spells you know," Alicia invites herself to join the conversation. "A fireball is better than an empowered burning hands spell in nearly any situation."
[18:39] <Kotono> Abagail turns, looking over Alicia, "Oh, yes, I rather agree in principal," she says, "Unless precision is more worthwhile. For someone who has innate magic, it's entirely different, yes."
[18:42] <Kotono> "Like you?" Alice smiles faintly at Alicia, "As I recall, yes?"
[18:47] * Alicia smiles in reply to Alice. "I've sometimes considered it for myself based on that, yes. But since most of my spells go to protecting and enhancing myself rather than striking directly, it probably wouldn't be the best use of effort anyway," she concludes.
[18:47] <Alicia> "I've considered learning to boost my magic missiles that way, but I can only shoot a few of them a day so it'd probably be overspecialising for nothing," Marie pipes up beside Alicia.
[18:47] <Alicia> Meanwhile the paladin turns her attention to Abagail, "I've seen you at the garrison but we've never been formally introduced. Alicia Reynes," she offers a hand, "And this is Marielle. It's always nice to meet another magic user... well, except when they're trying to kill me."
[18:50] <Kotono> "Abagail," She offers a polite smilte, "Naturally, I've heard about you and your deeds." The hand is taken briskly, shook. "Seira has mentioned you as well."
[18:51] <Kotono> "Oh yes, natural magic," Alice asks Marie, "That would be a lot of work for little return, yes."
[18:54] <Alicia> "That's right, you're her apprentice... one of many, I understand. How is she as a teacher?" Alicia asks curiously while Marie nods to Alice.
[18:54] <Alicia> "This bow you and Elle made for me is just as good as my magic missiles anyway, so they're even less needed," she smiles brightly, indicating the lightning-themed bow fastened to her hip.
[18:56] * Kotono is now known as Infinite_Ko_Loop
[18:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Quite well enough. She is very generous, as is fitting one of her rank," Smiling with a regal air to herself as she lightly preens the sides of her dress,
[18:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Quite well enough. She is very generous, as is fitting one of her rank," Smiling with a regal air to herself as she lightly preens the sides of her dress,.
[18:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "She'll appreciate that compliment. If you're here for her, she went home for lunch. She should be back within the hour." Alice explains.
[19:00] <Alicia> "I was hoping to see about her casting a spell for me, but I don't mind waiting around," Alicia nods in response to Alice before turning back to Abagail. "Waukeen smiles on her, so she can certainly afford to be generous." Although really most of Seira's wealth acquisition falls under a very very loose definition of 'trade'.
[19:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Countess Stronger says much the same," Alice smiles more earnestly here, yet reserved, "You three bring back the most interesting artifacts and curios."
[19:03] <Alicia> "There's always something, yes," Alicia nods, happy to talk shop. "Remember that fallen planetar and his friends? We sold you the berserker's swords, but I kept hold of the planetar's. It was a very strange weapon, one that coursed with unholy power and would strip away the mind and reason of any unfortunate enough to be struck by it."
[19:07] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The Countess mentioned it," Alice says agreeably, "Oh yes, I remember the story now. A fallen angel that spat fire with every word it spoke?"
[19:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "How fascinating," Abagail murmurs.
[19:10] <Alicia> "He stunned Antenora with a word of power as well!" Marie pipes up, before glancing at Alicia. "So I heard. I wasn't there."
[19:10] <Alicia> "Anyway, I was instructed in the means to purify that same weapon - I won't bore you with the details, but having accomplished it the weapon is now a bane to fiends and the wielder has their own reason and will significantly bolstered. It's like a sword and one of those periapts of will all rolled into one," Alicia concludes after giving Marie a brief nod.
[19:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Excellent." Abagail agrees to that, "Anything to boost our reserves of magical power. I love this shop," she says, with an imperious look around it, "More concentrated magic than most large cities lies within these walls. It's superb that we keep having those things come to us."
[19:23] <Alicia> "There wasn't anything like this back in Kelara. Or even in the Desert Fiefdoms that I saw while travelling there," Alicia agrees. "Although I understand this shop is fairly new, so who knows what's sprung up there recently?"
[19:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "One would imagine that opportunity would find the right sorts," Elle's voice is cheerful as she enters, whistling a merry tune. She has a cute rabbit in her arms, "Here to shop or just for the chatter, you two?"
[19:31] <Alicia> "Well I was hoping to ask for a favour, but the conversation has been pleasant," Alicia smiles while Marie flutters over to Elle.
[19:31] <Alicia> "Oh, that's a cute little rabbit!" she exclaims. "What's his name?"
[19:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Flopsy, my familiar." With a slight smile as she holds the rabbit, "Well, it's mine now...but it's a long story. Anyway, what's the favor, Alicia?"
[19:35] <Alicia> "Was hoping I could talk you into doing a Sending for me," Alicia replies as Marie pats the rabbit and talks about familiar solidarity - not that anyone except the rabbit and Elle can understand her since she's using Tongues to share their secret mistress/familiar language.
[19:37] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Flopsy seems to like Marie, lightly touching it's nose to her hand. "You familiars do need to stick together." She agrees, "After all, if something happen sto Alicia or I..." Petting Flopsy, "That's how I got Flopsy in the first place." Her smile is a wistful one, "But...yes, a Sending? What for?"
[19:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Meanwhile Abagail and Alice quietly go back to their previous discussion, albiet at a lower tone of voice.
[19:40] <Alicia> "I don't know if you've spoken to Seira lately but she had a run in with a devil who is also an archmage - he cast time stop after she attacked him."
[19:40] <Alicia> "For some reason he didn't kill her and she's set up a 'meeting' with him which is likely going to be a horrible battle. So I'm hoping to contact a friend I recently made on the astral plane who might be able to offer some assistance," Alicia explains while Marie makes a sad face at Elle's hinted tale.
[19:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Flopsy whimpers, sinking into Elle's arms. She takes a moment to pet the rabbit reassuringly, before, "A devil...Archmage?" With an open, undisguised grimace, "That's as bad as a demon vampire or a troll cleric. Time Stop? That's..."
[19:44] <Alicia> "The very limit of mortal magic imposed by Mystra herself," Alicia concludes grimly.
[19:46] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> You notice the conversation Abagail and Alice were having has abruptly stopped. "So...By Mystra, what are you going to do? Fighting an archmage is supposed to be like trying to swim through a lake of lava - short, painful and a complete failure that ends in your burning death."
[19:52] <Alicia> "You can swim through lava if you take the proper precautions," Alicia reasons. "That's part of why I'm seeking help like this - on the astral plane I fought alongside a planetar who cast Mass Heal. Also a ninth circle spell as I understand it, and within the abilities of any of their kind."
[19:52] <Alicia> "Regretfully one of the other planetars was killed by the destruction of a balor we were fighting. I also heard of a planetar being killed by an orthon back in the desert campaign. Sad fates, true, but also proving that simply having access to that level of magic does not make you invulnerable," she concludes levelly.
[20:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Alright, alright," Elle agrees to that, "You made your point. What's the name and what do you want to say in your sending?"
[20:06] <Alicia> "Thanks, I really appreciate you doing this. Address it to Jamais the Solar," Alicia begins gratefully. "Message from Alicia Reynes. Going to battle Esthan, devil is also archmage, ninth circle spells. Require any forces you can spare. One week. My house."
[20:06] <Alicia> "Twenty five words on the nose!" Marie exclaims, having been counting along.
[20:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Going back into her private rooms in the rear of the shop, Elle begins to cast!
[20:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d100
[20:12] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Infinite_Ko_Loop invited Hatbot into the channel.
[20:12] * Hatbot (www-data@70.114.144.25) has joined #dunes
[20:12] * Infinite_Ko_Loop sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d100
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d100 and gets 76."12 [1d100=76]
[20:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> At last the spell is done, the arcane rituals and casting finished! Opening her eyes from her intense concentration, "He said that he will endevour to do so, though he is uncertain as of now to how many and how strong."
[20:19] <Alicia> "It's a pity that sending limits how much information we can impart, but it's better than nothing," Alicia smiles. "He's led many campaigns against the lower planes, so hopefully his judgement will be sound in whomever he sees fit to send my way."
[20:23] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yeah," Picking up Flopsy once more and going to sit, Elle pause and instead gets a glass of wine. She sits, sipping. "We could use an archmage of our own. We would almost have one by now if..." Looking down at her rabbit, Elle continues to gently pet Flopsy. "Bleh, and next I'll be acting all miserable for the rest of the day. Stupid devil archmages."
[20:27] <Alicia> "I think you're be selling yourself short, Elle," Alicia offers kindly. "Besides, Esthan's probably had thousands of years to practice. It's hard for mortals to match that."
[20:27] <Alicia> "Even so, most outsiders don't actually learn magic or improve themselves the way mortals do - any skills we learn that way usually don't carry over if we evolve into a more powerful form so it's usually not worth it in the long term. Esthan must be very satisfied where he is if he's went to all that effort," Marie puts in.
[20:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That level of practice, eh?" Elle rubs her chin as she listens, "So he's likely unusual for a devil? Since isn't the point of their psychology to advance on the corpses of their former superiors?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "Well, I'm not really an expert on devils even with all my experience," Marie admits with a shrug, "And Alicia's fought devil monks and warlocks and blackguards and so on. But generally for an outsider to follow a profession they get pulled away from the core of their being - remember, we're not just physical beings of flesh and blood like you, we're belief and ethos given form."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Take me as an example. I'm limited right now as a familiar but lets ignore that - if I were to say try to learn magic like a wizard, or develop my skills as a fighter, I could do so. But in doing that rather than focusing on my innate eladrin-ness - that core of pure chaos and good that defines my existence as a spirit - I'm actually stunting my growth, clinging to something more suited to mortal life."
[20:41] <Alicia> "I could become the most fantastically powerful coure archmage or warrior, but I'd never become anything greater than that. And if I changed my mind after a while and followed my innate being, I might achieve the transformation to a firre or a ghaele, but all the magic or skill at arms I'd learned would be forgotten as I changed into the most basic expression of the next step up."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Of course," she shrugs, "Devils have their own promotion mechanic which is determined more by the approval of their superiors than their own personal connection to their ethos, but I suppose that's one of the differences between Law and Chaos."
[20:41] * Alicia looks impressed. "That was surprisingly deep, Marie."
[20:42] <Alicia> "Yeah, and Antenora wasn't even here to be impressed by it..." the eladrin grumbles.
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That's really interesting, Marielle," Marie can hear the approval in Elle's voice, "So by strenghtening yourself you advance, and taking on more focused, 'mortal' pursuits is a regression? But in the case of a devil, say...what of his superior ordered him to do that? What if there wasn't any sort of dissonance between that?"
[20:49] <Alicia> "Well, I think for devils they basically get promoted by the say so of their superiors - and their superiors and their superiors. Basically a big fiendish committee. So a devil that hasn't really done any proper introspection could possibly get advanced anyway, but they'd be doing so at the whim and power of their superior rather than actually evolving by themselves."
[20:49] <Alicia> The eladrin smiles a bit smugly, "That's a big part of Law though, isn't it? Stifling evolution?"
[20:49] * Alicia coughs and glares, prompting Marie to look a bit apologetic. "Well, for some more than others. Anyway, the thing is though that even if they get promoted, they're likely to lose a lot of their previous skill. So say a very powerful ice devil might become a pit fiend, but the transformation is actually a loss for them, at least at first."
[20:49] <Alicia> "So you see, those sort of pursuits become a self-enforcing cycle that ultimately limits the one following them."
[20:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That's what I don't get. A devil combined with the power of an archmage would rock our world to the foundation if he wanted to. That's the sort of power that a wizard can only dream of at his absolute utter pinnacle, if everything he tries goes without flaw. I have trouble accepting that it's some sort of deviation, and that's not a sign of superiority over his caste instead of inferiority. My instinct is to assume that he's out of t
[20:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> My instinct is to assume that he's out of the normal mold of a devil." (more)
[20:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Even with that aside, why? Why would he be acting like this then? He could wink away, appear when one of us is weak, and pick us off one by one. Or poison us in our sleep, or banish you to the Abyss or Hell with a few words. He has power that's staggering, and he's a regression from the norm AND...mgh." Stoppping there and rubbing her forehead, "Urgh."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well, he could have reached his limit," Alicia thinks for a moment. "What Marie said is right, a devil can't be promoted without the approval of their superiors. So a renegade has to seek other paths to power. Or conversely he might have reached the pinnacle of power for the normal advancement track - a pit fiend with nothing to do except practice his magic?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "You also need to remember that we don't think the same way mortals do," Marie puts in. "Every one of us has a fundamental impetus to embody our morality and ethics to the fullest extent - it's why fallen angels and risen fiends are so fantastically rare, it's almost impossible to reject the very stuff that gives us form."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Hmmm..." Alicia hums at Elle's comment. "Perhaps he fears escalation? Powerful though Esthan may be, there are beings just as powerful in opposition. He limits himself because he believes he can accomplish his goals even without 'going all out' and it keeps him from drawing the attention of his peers?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Also," Marie raises her hand, "He wants to use us to kill his enemies, not kill us himself. At least that's the impression I got."
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "About that," Elle speaks up, "His enemies, if they're other devils, are also our enemies? I mean, he's not so foolish as to try and sell you on killing angels and eladrin?"
[21:10] <Alicia> "Probably," Alicia shrugs. "But I'm not buying into any 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' rubbish. He's my enemy's enemy, nothing more. If I battle fiends I'll do it on my own terms, not as an attack dog for their just as vile rivals.""
[21:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes, but there is one point. If his enemies are here..." Elle spreads her hands, "It would be nice to know that before sending him away."
[21:11] * Alicia smiles thinly. "I'll try to ask him about that before one of us dies."
[21:13] <Alicia> "And then he can lie!" Marie chirps brightly.
[21:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes, but...it's also notable that one came to you in friendship, even if it's just a mockup of one. You've done much to inflame Hell, so why you and why take that risk if you're so anti-devil?"
[21:17] <Alicia> "I have my theories on that, actually," Alicia admits, going to lean on the counter. "It's nothing concrete yet, but I believe Esthan serves a devil that all believe to be dead. Likely his master is hiding on the outskirts of Avernus, hoping to marshall his power and weaken his rivals in order to stage a triumphant return. Or perhaps he simply wishes to see his rivals suffer."
[21:17] <Alicia> "In any case, the mere fact that I've inflammed hell so and still live proves that I would make a useful... assassin, I suppose."

[Corwin]

[17:01] <Alicia> [21:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes, but there is one point. If his enemies are here..." Elle spreads her hands, "It would be nice to know that before sending him away."
[17:01] <Alicia> [21:11] * Alicia smiles thinly. "I'll try to ask him about that before one of us dies."
[17:01] <Alicia> [21:13] <Alicia> "And then he can lie!" Marie chirps brightly.
[17:01] <Alicia> [21:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes, but...it's also notable that one came to you in friendship, even if it's just a mockup of one. You've done much to inflame Hell, so why you and why take that risk if you're so anti-devil?"
[17:01] <Alicia> [21:17] <Alicia> "I have my theories on that, actually," Alicia admits, going to lean on the counter. "It's nothing concrete yet, but I believe Esthan serves a devil that all believe to be dead. Likely his master is hiding on the outskirts of Avernus, hoping to marshall his power and weaken his rivals in order to stage a triumphant return. Or perhaps he simply wishes to see his rivals suffer."
[17:01] <Alicia> [21:17] <Alicia> "In any case, the mere fact that I've inflammed hell so and still live proves that I would make a useful... assassin, I suppose."
[17:16] <Kobreakfast> "Perhaps it is so," Elle agrees, "This entire thing is discoordinating to me, I grow weary of Hell." SIpping from her wine deeply, "Go give them enough Hell to make them homesick, Alicia."
[17:18] <Alicia> "Heh, I will," Alicia nods. "I think I still have those notes we took from one of Esthan's underlings who was operating in Parsifal - I should probably refresh my memory in case there's anything relevant there. Thanks for your time," she nods before waving to Abagail and Alice, "And nice talking to you two as well," she finishes as she departs with Marie in tow.
[17:22] <Kobreakfast> Returning to home passes without incident. Reading the old notes of a gelugon provides Alicia with quite the embarrassing surprise. Antenora curses openly on hearing this, gloomy and out of sorts. There's not much of a mood to be had over an early dinner, none at all. Antenora's there, though she's mostly glaring holes into the wall. Only Jessica is openly cheery, whistling as she serves salads. "Hm?" she asks as there is the sound of a kn
[17:23] <Kobreakfast> "Hm?" she asks as there is the sound of a knocking. "I'll get it, you guys can dig in."
[17:23] <Alicia> "Go ahead, Jessica," Alicia puts on a smile, not wanting to take her bad mood out on her poor sister.
[17:24] <Kobreakfast> There's the sound of the door opening and some polite chatter. "Alicia," Jessica calls, "It's someone from the Temple of Mystra in Kelara. It's a message for you."
[17:27] <Alicia> "Oh? Invite them in!" Alicia calls back as she gets up in surprise. The last messenger probably hasn't even made it back to Kelara yet, so she wonders what it could be.
[17:30] <Kobreakfast> The person in question is a young woman, a limp and a cane to help walk. She wears the garb of Mystra, slanted eyes and ears telling of non-human ancestry in part.  Her hair is russet red and gold, her eyes a piercing, unmatching blue. "It's an honor,' she says quickly, offering a hand to Alicia. "I've heard some of the stories that have trickled into Kelara."
[17:30] <Alicia> Is it someone Alicia recognises from her own time back home?
[17:31] <Kobreakfast> Her face is dimly familiar - Alicia thinks she might've seen her at the temple at time or two, but not as a regular. Her name starts with a B, you think? Bi-something Bianna?
[17:32] * Alicia isn't about to risk saying the wrong name and so defaults to introductions. "Alicia Reynes," she confirms her identity as she shakes the half-elf's hand. "You've met Jessica, obviously, and this is Antenora and Marielle," she indicates the other two.
[17:32] <Alicia> "Hi!" Marie waves cheerily as she takes off from the dinner table and flutters over.
[17:37] <Kobreakfast> "Biranna," She offers her hand, nodding to both. She goes to sit once the hand is shaken, "Recently of The Lady of Mysteries. As honored as I am to meet you, I'm here on business." She blinks at Jessica a moment oddly as she glances at her again, before going back to Alicia. "Taldeer needed a message to reach you and the temple at good speed."
[17:38] <Alicia> "Well, I'm all ears," Alicia replies as she goes to sit down as well. "Would you care to join us for dinner? We always cook too much for some reason," she smiles briefly at Antenora and her lack of a plate.
[17:40] <Kobreakfast> Antenora looks up to politely smile in brief. "No thank you. I need to hurry to see...Shankar right after this. Now then, Taldeer wanted to let you know that your mother was wounded yesterday." Immediately going on, "However, first and foremost, she's going to be alright. She's in no danger of death, the arrows only grazed her."
[17:42] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia's posture turns more rigid, food forgotten. "Who attacked her?"
[17:43] <Kobreakfast> "Rebels," The answer comes quickly, smoothly. "The rebel situation is getting out of hand in Kelara. Yesterday, several attacks were launched in the city against the rich and nobles. Several were wounded and a few were killed. Your mother was at one of the attacks."
[17:46] <Alicia> "Bandits more like..." Alicia all but snarls, guilt welling up in her for not having been there. Again. "You say this was just yesterday, does that mean you can teleport?" she asks as the compulsion to do something about these brigands takes hold.
[17:46] <Kobreakfast> Jessica puts down her fork, "Oh no..." Shaking her head a little bit, "It's not serious, though?"
[17:48] <Kobreakfast> "Taldeer lent me the scrolls," With a slight blush at that, "To get to the crux of the matter, the Church in Kelara believes that the rebellion has fair odds of succeeding now. They've won the majority of the sorties and used effective hit and run tactics to whittle down the Kelaran counterattacks. We're going to be requesting aid and funds from the other temples to ensure the safety of the one in Kelara, including refuge for religion work
[17:48] <Kobreakfast> Kelara, including refuge for religion works, icons and even people if need be."
[17:50] <Alicia> "Horrible timing, since we have our own problems here," Alicia admits, "But I'm not going to stand by while my home is overrun by thieves and murderers. How long do you think Kelara can hold out?" she asks, all business.
[17:52] <Kobreakfast> "Realistically?" With a sigh, a soft and slight one, "A month. Our best leaders were assassinated, at times by their own bodyguards. This civil war - there's really no pretending it's not one now - has gone bad and worse for us. People are starting to send feelers out to surrounding kingdoms. Frankly, the rich and the nobles are preparing to flee if they have to."
[17:56] <Alicia> "Their own bodyguards?" Alicia repeats, looking appalled. Just how low has her country sunk? "Were they bribed or have they actually fallen in with these brigands?"
[17:58] <Kobreakfast> "It varies. Some admitted to bribes, some spotued revolutionary dogma when captured. That's the gossip," Bowing her head low a moment, "Lady of Mysteries, protect Kelara..." After that and raising her head back up, "They're supremely good at unorthodox tactics. Hita nd run, assassinations, attacking supply depots, blending into the citizens."
[18:02] <Alicia> "And more die by the day..." Alicia concludes with a heavy heart. "Alright," she then nods after coming to a decision. "I'm coming with you back to Kelara. I'll have to return to Balmuria within a week to deal with that other problem I mentioned, but that's more than enough time to make a difference, as the Malmuthians learned."
[18:03] <Kobreakfast> "I'll come with you, then," Antenora speaks up, "Two are better than one."
[18:05] * Alicia nods gratefully to the erinyes. "Marie, you stay here in case any of Jamais's forces arrive early," she then tells her familiar. "How about you, Jessica? I don't expect you to take part in this, but you could come with us to see the rest of your family if you want?" she offers, although she'd hoped the trip would be under better circumstances.
[18:08] <Kobreakfast> "I'd love to see Kelara," She answers brightly, "Pallanth was so much fun, and even if this isn't, I'd like to see it at least once."
[18:09] <Kobreakfast> "Alright then." Standing up and using her cane to lean on, "That's my message. I'll come back here in an hour or two once I finish matters with Shankar. Alicia, would you walk with me to the Temple?"
[18:10] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia nods to her guest, getting up to walk alongside her out the door.
[18:11] <Kobreakfast> Once outside into the late afternoon warmth, a sea breeze blowing in from the bay, "Jessica?" She asks with a wry smile on her face "I've heard of and I met your sister once ages ago, but she wasn't called Jessica then."
[18:13] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head. "It's a long and rather sad story... did you know she very nearly assassinated the ruler of the United Baronies?" she asks as they slowly walk the short distance to the temple next door.
[18:13] <Kobreakfast> "No. I won't pry," She smiles, "I'm sorry, but I was simply curious. Excuse the question then."
[18:15] <Alicia> "I don't mind," Alicia shakes her head, "Anyway, to make the story short she lost her memories while trying to better herself. As her old name carried so much baggage, she chose to take a new one for a fresh start."
[18:19] * Kobreakfast is now known as Kotono
[18:20] <Kotono> "Ah.' With a slight nod there, "From what I heard, that was a good choice."
[18:20] <Alicia> "I wasn't so sure at first, but... she does seem happier this way," Alicia concludes with a wistful smile.
[18:24] <Kotono> As you approach the Temple, people coming in and out as bells ring, "Then bless Mystra for it," Biranna smiles at that, slowly advancing in.
[18:25] <Alicia> "It was the Mother of All Magic who even granted her the chance to escape her fate, yes," Alicia smiles in reply there as they head in, looking around for Shankar.
[18:35] * Hatbot (www-data@70.114.144.25) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by halbarad))
[18:35] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af11536.wfd102.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[18:36] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[18:37] <Kotono> Shankar is found at the altar, as a prayer for the sunset and the mystical signifigance it holds is gone through. Once that finishes, he goes to meet the two of you. "Biranna? News from Kelara?" He nods, "Alright, we'll go to my study. Will you be coming, Alicia?"
[18:38] <Alicia> "Ah, so you two already know each other," Alicia smiles before she shakes her head in response to the question. "I'll need to go inform Commander Obureth that I'll be indisposed for a while - matters in Kelara demand my attention. If you'll excuse me..." she nods respectfully to each before departing.
[18:42] <Kotono> OOC - Skip ahead?
[18:42] <Alicia> OOC: certainly
[18:45] <Kotono> Once you return home to prepare, Antenora is waiting. "Jessica's getting her things together," she says, wearing her armor and weapon at the ready. "What about you, any packing to do?"
[18:49] <Alicia> "Just my usual supplies... well," Alicia manages a slight smile. "One more thing, actually." She then heads up to her bedroom and returns a moment later, Marie edging far away as Alicia enters with a coiled black whip in her hand and an unsettling smile on her lips. "I think I'll give this to Taldeer," she concludes, resisting the urge to give it a hearty crack.
[18:53] <Kotono> "......" Antenora looks at the whip without comment, "Yes, that would be just as well. That....thing makes you rather unsettling."
[18:54] <Alicia> "Why do you think I want to get rid of it?" Alicia replies as she caresses the hilt seemingly without noticing.
[18:55] <Kotono> "Unless you wish to impersonate a succubus," Antenora raises an eyebrow, "Then again, I can almost see it while you hold that whip. Yes, let's give it to your friend straight away."
[18:58] <Alicia> "She'll appreciate the humour, trust me," Alicia insists still with that same vaguely off-kilter smile as she sizes Antenora up and slowly uncoils and recoils the implement between her hands.
[18:58] <Alicia> "Maybe you should keep it in your backpack for now, then?" Marie suggests, hoping she's out of reach in case Alicia decides she's speaking out of turn.
[18:59] <Alicia> "I..." Alicia looks to be having a difficult internal struggle before she finally nods, "I suppose you're right," she agrees, forcing herself to stow the whip away, even though her hands linger overlong on its smooth leathery surface.
[19:00] <Kotono> "Maybe you should, unless you're going to whip me," Antenora smirks and chuckles, putting away her look of uneasiness. "Yes, do put that nicely away, would you? Marie is completely correct."
[19:01] * Sierra_Deadness is now known as Sierra_MomentaryLife
[19:02] <Alicia> "It has an... odd effect on me," Alicia admits uncomfortably after having safely put the whip out of sight. "As if harming someone with it would actually be an act of kindness..." she shakes her head before chuckling slightly, "Still, it's not overwhelming."
[19:03] <Kotono> "Really?" Antenora asks, "If you say so, Mistress." Laughing a bit, "I'm ready to go to Kelara when you are. Jessica should be ready soon, I hope."
[19:06] <Alicia> "And likewise so should Biranna arrive," Alicia goes over to pat Marie on the head. "You'll get to visit Kelara some day, Marie. For now just look after things here while we're gone, okay?"
[19:06] <Alicia> "You can count on me!" the coure insists with a wide grin.
[19:06] <Kotono> "I'm reassured," Antenora drawls.
[19:08] <Alicia> "Well, I'm counting on you to make sure Alicia doesn't get her throat slit in her sleep by any so-called 'bodyguards'," Marie rounds on the erinyes. "You better be careful out there, you two!"
[19:12] <Kotono> "Of course," Antenora says, watching Marie as she flies around to her. "I won't let bodyguard or whip cause her to get into any trouble. After all, I have discipline and patience.
[19:16] <Alicia> "Discipline is no good without enthusiasm!" Marie counters brightly. "And patience is hardly a lawful-only trait."
[19:17] <Kotono> "Really? You spout off at the slighted provocation without any thought. It certainly SEEMS chaotic to me. Little eladrin, as flighty and chaotic as a child who chases after pretty lights and colors."
[19:19] <Alicia> "What does being provoked have to do with anything?" Marie asks. "There are plenty of eladrin who spend decades in isolation, patiently contemplating existence or perfecting their craft. I don't think they'd appreciate being called lawful, though."
[19:21] <Alicia> "Ladies, ladies," Alicia wearily comes between the two of them. "This is unseemly. Can you please let it lie? Or do I have to get the whip out again?" she concludes, her tone sounding quite serious.
[19:27] <Kotono> "Oh Mistress," Antenora simpers, "Whip me!" After that, Antenora straightens herself up, calm now. "Yes, let's move ona nd wait for Jessica now. Enough of this petty bickering."
[19:29] <Alicia> "I'm so glad," Alicia smiles warmly at each of them, even as she knows it won't last.
[19:32] <Kotono> IT may not last long, but it's enough for Jessica to come out. Biranna returns after just about an hour, escorted in by Jessica. "If the three of you are ready," she says, "We'll leave immediately."
[19:34] <Alicia> "All set," Alicia confirms with one last look at Marie that says 'stay out of trouble'.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Of course," Jessica says brightly, "Have fun while we're gone, Marie!"
[19:36] <Alicia> "I will!" Marie promises too quickly.
[19:36] <Kotono> "Mystra," Taking out a scroll, Biranna begins to chant, "Oh Mystra, open the pathways of the dimensions to us, let us go to where we wish!"
[19:36] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:36] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=5 ]4,0{5}
[19:41] <Kotono> "Ma-" Antenora begins, but the teleportation has occured! The three stand the desert in the late afternoon. Wind and sand flickers, a town ahead of the party. It looks like an oasis, rich and cool and bubbly. "One down," Biranna says, preparing another scroll. "One to go."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Are we going straight to the temple?" Alicia asks, recalling the trouble she had with the gate guards on her last visit.
[19:45] <Kotono> "Yes, the city's locked up well with security." Answering that as she reads the second scroll, "Mystra..." she begins again!
[19:45] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:45] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=4 ]4,0{4}
[19:49] <Kotono> The Temple of Mystra hasn't changed much. You appear in the main worship room, mostly empty. Only a few priests are about, walking together close and in deep, quiet discussions. The mood is heavy, the normal day noise of the temple not present.
[19:51] * Alicia looks around for any familiar faces after their abrupt arrival. "Only here for a moment and already I can tell things are not right." Since the sad fact is that there likely are going to be a lot of people around that she doesn't know and she won't have time to really find out how trustworthy they are, she keeps her eyes alert for evil and intends to stay that way for the duration of her time in Kelara.
[19:56] <Kotono> No evil that Alicia sees offhand. Biranna takes the lead, "I'll take you to Taldeer," she says, leading them out of the main room. As Antenora follows and Jessica looks about, the four-some head to the back parts of the temple. They are busy, filled with worshippers, and also what look to be men at arms at a few doorways, nodding curtly to Biranna as she passes.
[19:58] * Alicia follows Biranna obediently enough for the moment.
[19:59] <Kotono> Lead to the back, you find Taldeer in a large room. She sits at a table, baggy eyed and drinking a fouls melling, steaming mug of something or another unknown. "Alicia," she stands up, "I wish this was under better circumstances."
[20:02] <Alicia> "I didn't think it would come to this, myself," Alicia admits as she goes to hug Taldeer in a rare but unreserved gesture of friendship. "If it wasn't for the difficulty of getting here..."
[20:05] <Kotono> The hug is returned tightly, "It's alright. Your mother's doing fine; a minor spell took care of the worst of it and she's resting at home. And..." She looks over
[20:05] <Kotono> The hug is returned tightly, "It's alright. Your mother's doing fine; a minor spell took care of the worst of it and she's resting at home. And..." She looks over Alicia's shoulder. "Guests?"
[20:07] * Alicia nods as she parts. "This is my sister, Jessica," she indicates one, "And this is Antenora," she gestures to the other.
[20:09] <Kotono> "Welcome to Mystra's House," She greets them, "Will you be going to see your parents now?"
[20:10] <Alicia> "I'd like to do that first, yes," Alicia confirms. "Will there be problems coming and going from the city?"
[20:20] <Kotono> "Yes. The city's guards are on high alert." Going to the table, she takes several sheets and writes a few lines on each of the bottom of them. "These are city papers to get in and out, they'll help. You can probably get as et from your family as well, both sets should make sure that no one bothers you too much."
[20:22] <Alicia> "Thanks," Alicia takes the papers and hands one each to Jessica and Antenora while keeping one for herself. "We'll probably be staying at my family's estate while we're here, but we'll be back shortly so we can properly discuss what's happening."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Good luck and be careful. Not even Kelara proper is safe now," Taldeer warns, drinking deep from her mug. "The entire city is in a near panic after yesterday's attacks. A single spark could set off a reaction. For Mystra's sake, don't be that spark."
[20:25] * Alicia smiles grimly. "I'll try to keep my head down," she relents. "But I expect I'll be in the thick of things before long."
[20:31] <Kotono> "You have that look on your face..." Taldeer shakes her head, "Stay safe. The rebels are dangerously competent and fanatical. If you cross blades with them, they don't take prisoners."
[20:32] <Alicia> "All the more reason for us to take a stand against them," Alicia affirms before putting it aside, "But we can discuss that later - for now I'd like to see my family. Until then, dweomerkeeper," she bows respectfully to the head of her church before departing.
[20:34] <Kotono> Once outside thet emple, you see that the streets are busy. Yet soldiers are everywhere, the citizens cowed and often nearly running from place to place. The sky is cloudy and dark. As you walk about, "You can taste the fear in the air," Antenora observes.
[20:35] <Alicia> "It should never have come to this..." Alicia shakes her head bitterly. "I wonder if they've had any victories at all against these 'rebels'?" she wonders aloud as she starts walking to the East gate.
[20:36] <Kotono> "It's sad," Jessica looks about, as soldiers often look your way. A few look at Alicia and company harshly, some apathetically. But almost all of the certainly look. "Sister..." She hurries up, going to Alicia's side, "You're not blaming yourself for this, are you?"
[20:39] * Alicia hesitates for a moment before shaking her head. "No. I was half the world away when all this broke out. And I hardly have any love for the noble council... but I won't stand to see the people suffer at the hands of glorified brigands. I'm here now and I intend to do something about it." She walks tall and proud through the streets, but doesn't rise to the bait of any harsh looks.
[20:42] <Kotono> "Well said," Antenora smiles at Alicia, "You're right. Y ou can't be everywhere and you can't-" Antenora stops abruptly as an egg hits Alicia's side! The runny, shelly  mess runs down her armor, as a man from the side calls, "We know what you're doing! You and all of your limp wristed friends are going to magic out of here and leave us for the rebels!" He looks like a normal man, dressed in peasant clothes and balding.
[20:43] <Kotono> A moment later, a pair of guards diverges towards him, weapons drawn. "Down!"
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC - Strike.
[20:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 thrown
[20:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+3 1,0thrown --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{13}
[20:45] <Kotono> "Well said," Antenora smiles at Alicia, "You're right. Y ou can't be everywhere and you can't-" Antenora stops abruptly as an egg just misses Alicia's side! It lands on the street, as a peasant bellows to her, "We know what you're doing! You and all the limp wristed Mystraites are going to run off and let the rebels have us! You aren't fooling anyone!" As he speaks, a normal man in peasant clothes, two guards peel away and at him, spears out, "
[20:45] <Kotono> two guards peel away and at him, spears out, "Down!" they instruct sharply.
[20:47] * Alicia turns to the man and walks towards him, speaking up over the guards. "I just *arrived* here, sir," she replies firmly, her voice loud enough to carry. "And I'm not afraid of any glorified bandit who pretends to have a political agenda!"
[20:51] <Kotono> Antenora stays back, protectively staying in front of Jessica. As Alicia turns to the man, the two guards are on him. He begins to go down, the soldiers pinning his arms behind his back. He looks at Alicia even as this happens, "Oh yeah?" he says, even as many a gaze turns to Alicia, "Well, you certainly don't give a damn about us if you just arrived!"
[20:55] <Alicia> "You have no way of knowing who I do or don't give a damn about," Alicia replies scathingly, "You're just lashing out because you know I have the decency to not rise to your baiting. Would you be so quick to stand up and hurl invective if I was one of those rebels you claim to hate so much?"

[Corwin]

[18:39] <Alicia> stops abruptly as an egg just misses Alicia's side! It lands on the street, as a peasant bellows to her, "We know what you're doing! You and all the limp wristed Mystraites are going to run off and let the rebels have us! You aren't fooling anyone!" As he speaks, a normal man in peasant clothes, two guards peel away and at him, spears out, "
[18:39] <Alicia> [20:45] <Kotono> two guards peel away and at him, spears out, "Down!" they instruct sharply.
[18:39] <Alicia> [20:47] * Alicia turns to the man and walks towards him, speaking up over the guards. "I just *arrived* here, sir," she replies firmly, her voice loud enough to carry. "And I'm not afraid of any glorified bandit who pretends to have a political agenda!"
[18:39] <Alicia> [20:51] <Kotono> Antenora stays back, protectively staying in front of Jessica. As Alicia turns to the man, the two guards are on him. He begins to go down, the soldiers pinning his arms behind his back. He looks at Alicia even as this happens, "Oh yeah?" he says, even as many a gaze turns to Alicia, "Well, you certainly don't give a damn about us if you just arrived!"
[18:39] <Alicia> [20:55] <Alicia> "You have no way of knowing who I do or don't give a damn about," Alicia replies scathingly, "You're just lashing out because you know I have the decency to not rise to your baiting. Would you be so quick to stand up and hurl invective if I was one of those rebels you claim to hate so much?"
[18:41] <Kotono> "Who cares?" Glaring back balefully even as his back his thumped, his wind knocked out enough so his next words are gasping, "We're all going to lose everything! All because your church and the nobles and the army sat on their asses!" Around you, the street people often hurry along, though with eyes that turn to the scene playing out in front of them. The stationed guards have hands on weapons, keeping a sweeping gaze out.
[18:42] <Kotono> keeping a sweeping gaze out.
[18:48] <Alicia> "The church of Mystra is not an arm of the government," Alicia tells him, before gesturing back to the temple. "And for your information, the people in there are just as terrified as you are. As for what the nobles and the army have been doing... that's a very good question. One I intend to find out the answer to." Although she suspects they've been doing what they've *always* been doing; protecting the city at the expense of the villages.
[18:49] <Alicia> "Would you let him up, please?" she then asks the over-enthusiastic guards. "He might be ill-mannered but he's not a threat."
[18:49] <Kotono> The guards are rough with the peasant man, knocking the wind from him harder this time, before shaking their heads. "Standing orders. This is inciting a riot and that's mandatory arrest and hard time in the stocks."
[18:50] <Kotono> "Go to...hell..." The man manages to pant out, his discourse fading as his wind is knocked from his body quite unpleasantly.
[18:51] <Kotono> "That-" Jessica's voice can be heard, but it's cut off before much else can be said.
[18:52] * Alicia shakes her head at the sad state her home has come to. "I understand that, but there's no need to beat the hell out of him," she tells the guard who spoke. If any of her subordinates behaved like this in Balmuria there'd be harsh words.
[18:54] <Kotono> One of the guards simply shrugs. "Orders are orders." As the man is hauled up, "C'mon, you, off to the stocks." The man is dragged away, a final look at Alicia managed. His eyes are wide and full of fear and confusion and desperation, even as he tries to show hateful scorn at Alicia.
[18:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive what's up with him
[18:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive what's up with him and gets 13."12 [1d20=3]
[18:55] <Kotono> "Tch," Antenora quietly says, "Back, Jessica," she murmurs.
[18:56] <Alicia> The confusion's what gets Alicia's attention. "Hold on a second," she tells the guards, casting detect magic. His behaviour was entirely irrational and she wonders if there was an unnatural provocation.
[18:56] <Kotono> Quickly casting magic, Alicia sees that there's no magic around the man at all.
[18:57] <Alicia> "Oh, nevermind..." Alicia looks at the loutish shell of a man with vague pity as he's dragged away before returning to her two companions. "Come on, the sooner we're off the streets the better, I think."
[18:59] <Kotono> As Alicia falls back in step, Antenora murmurs, "The city's on edge. Just how bad were those assassinations?"
[19:00] <Kotono> Jessica's face is stricken, looking long at the man as he is dragged out of sight and around a corner. "He doesn't need to spend that long there...Orders are orders can go take a soak."
[19:02] <Alicia> "Kelara's always been short of strong leadership," Alicia admits, keeping her voice low. "The noble council is a joke, and this situation is only making things worse." Then to Jessica, "They're trying to show that they're still in control by coming down hard on anything they can, but it sounds like they can't even touch the real problem."
[19:03] <Kotono> "Lead by brute force in the city and let everything go to hell outside of it? How marvellously heartless," With a cold look at nothing at particular as you hurry through the tense streets, "That's not control, that's self centered tyranny."
[19:04] <Kotono> Jessica sighs at Alicia's words, "I didn't want to come here and see something like that! This isn't fair; home should be a good place!"
[19:06] <Alicia> "It used to be," Alicia sighs. "But the underlying problems were always there. People here in the city didn't care if those in the villages suffered, so long as they were kept fed and safe - now they're reaping the harvest of their neglect." Making sure no one's close enough to overhear, "I almost wonder if these rebels aren't somewhat justified, but their methods are too extreme to elicit sympathy."
[19:08] <Kotono> "Tch," Antenora shakes her head, "Reform it from the inside instead of tearing the entire rotten structure down. The latter is far too destructive." As they reach the outside gates, you see that there are about twenty five people on duty there, the going slow for inside. Going out is somewhat easier, only a cursory inspection. The line's short.
[19:08] * Alicia leads the group along to show their passes and head out so they can walk the mile or so to the Reynes estate.
[19:11] <Kotono> The guards take a glance at it and then Alicia's armor, before motioning them through. Once out of the city, you see that ther e are several patrols keeping a tight perimeter. The Reynes estate has a small detachment of soldiers outside of it, a few tents pitched at the sides of the house for them. A squad of four of them interdict as the party approaches. "Identification? What's your purpose of coming here?"
[19:13] <Alicia> "I used to live here," Alicia replies showing her pass in lieu of her family signet ring which is sitting at the bottom of her jewellery box back in Balmuria. "Alicia Reynes, daughter of Arthur and Beatrice," she identifies herself if it's necessary.
[19:14] <Kotono> The papers are inspected thrice, gone over with a critical eye. "Alright," they relent at last. We'll escort you in until they confirm who you are."
[19:16] <Alicia> "Well, I'm glad my family's safety is being taken seriously at least," Alicia notes, even if she can't help but think these troops would be better employed hunting down the rebels. What happened to all the great Kelaran warriors she admired growing up? She hopes they aren't on the rebel side...
[19:18] <Kotono> Thus you are lead inside, upstairs. You're lead to your mother's bedroom, the soldiers knocking on the door. "Sir, are you in there? An Alicia Reynes is here. Sir Arthur?"
[19:19] <Kotono> The knocking is answered after a short pause, a voice coming from beyond. "Alicia?" Arthur Reynes's words are weary, the door opened. Your father is there, looking pale and waxen. "Oh, Alicia. You're home again."
[19:20] <Alicia> "Hello father," Alicia gently embraces her father and kisses his cheek. "I'm not alone, either," she steps back to reveal the prodigal daughter in question.
[19:25] <Kotono> Alicia is gently kissed back, before Arthur's face shows a look of momentary surprise. "Beth...?" he asks, looking her over. He focuse son her face, solemn. "You look...happy."
[19:26] <Kotono> "...Father." Jessica answers with a dazed voice, looking him over. She reaches out, taking his hand. "My name's Jessica, but...Hello, father."
[19:27] * Alicia discreetly hangs back in order to give the pair a moment together.
[19:28] <Kotono> "Hello Jessica," Arthur Reynes responds, before hugging his daughter. It's surprisingly tight, Jessica gasping. "It really is true. I've never seen you look so happy since you were a young child."
[19:29] <Kotono> "...Alicia...?" The voice of Alicia's mother carries outward, rather subdued. "Arthur, I thoguht I just heard Alicia's voice. But she's off magicking and killing again."
[19:30] * Alicia winces at how that was put. "I'm right here, mother," she calls back through the door from behind her sister and father.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Alicia?" Looking over, you can see that Beatrice Reynes lies in her bed, covers up to her chin. She is propped up on several pillows, a thin white bandage over a small cut on her cheek. "Oh Alicia, you have come home! Arthur, get someone to make her something warm to eat. It's so ghastly these days; even when the weather is good, everything's so worried."
[19:34] <Alicia> "Here," Alicia carefully moves past Jessica and Arthur before approaching her mother, going to sit by her bed and reaching out a hand towards her cheek to bestow as much healing as necessary. "We came as soon as we heard," she tells her mother.
[19:34] <Alicia> OOC: 17hp lay on hands or whatever gets her to full
[19:34] <Kotono> OOC: 2 HP is fine. She's not an HP tank or anything.
[19:36] <Kotono> "Aaah..." Sighing in relief, "Thank you, dear. But yes, things are becoming ghastly. Now the bandits strike in Kelara proper! Lord Roth is trying, but they always seem to outsmart him.
[19:36] <Kotono> "
[19:36] <Kotono> A grunt comes from Arthur at that name, even as he hugs his daughter. "Well, sooner or later bracing mediocrity rises to the top."
[19:37] <Kotono> Antenora quietly enters in the meanwhile, going to stand behind Alicia.
[19:38] <Kotono> Tsking lightly, "Arthur, don't speak like that! He's doing a good a job as he can being thrust into the position."
[19:38] <Alicia> "This is Antenora," Alicia provides by way of introduction, "She's come to help. Since we have experience in war, hopefully we can provide better direction than Kelara has at the moment."
[19:39] <Kotono> "Good day to you," she offers a smile to Beatrice, but doesn't press the matter.
[19:39] <Kotono> "Oh, is she a friend of yours? Another warrior friend from that Balmuria?" Beatrice asks.
[19:42] <Alicia> "We met elsewhere, but yes, we're both living in Balmuria right now," Alicia confirms, the memory of that odd illusory scene with Antenora and her family tugging at her. "How are Charles and Rose?" she asks, making with the pleasantries before they get down to business.
[19:46] <Kotono> "They're preparing for a trip." Arthur says quietly, "Theyr'e going to see about business matters in the east, maybe even go as far as the first oasis in the desert."
[19:47] <Alicia> "Hoping to escape the trouble here?" Alicia summarises. "I just hope they're careful - the desert is very dangerous to travellers."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Yes," Beatrice says, "It was your father's idea. Just in case."
[19:49] <Kotono> "What about you," Your father speaks up then, "How long are you going to be here, Alicia?"
[19:50] <Alicia> "At least a week," Alicia replies. "I'll have to return to Balmuria then to deal with another problem, but if necessary I'll return to Kelara after its resolved. I intend to do something about this rebellion."
[19:52] <Kotono> "How noble of you," Arthur turns, "Quite the right spirit. ARe you going to enlist in the city's army as an officer?"
[19:54] <Alicia> "I'm not sure - I'll see how things pan out after I discuss things with Dweomerkeeper Taldeer. To be honest, I know hardly anything about this rebellion." She looks between her two parents hopefully, "Just how did things come to this?"
[19:54] <Kotono> Jessica is at last released, hanging back behind Arthur for now.
[19:55] <Kotono> "Oh, that's all the gossip," Beatrice gestures, "Arthur, get the servants to bring tea, pastries and get the chairs in position. We can't have a proper discussion standing up like savages!"
[19:56] <Kotono> "Yes dear," Arthur goes out past Jessica into the hall. As he does, Alicia's mother's gaze happens on Jessica. Her face parts into a slight frown, though she doesn't say anything.
[19:56] * Kotono is now known as Infinite_Ko_Loop
[19:56] * Alicia looks over to Jessica expectantly, since this would be a good time for her to meet her mother before they get back to business.
[19:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Hello...Mother." Jessica smiles slowly as she approaches, "I don't remember you because of what happened, but I'm glad to see you again." She approaches her bed, smiling warmly despite the scowl. "I'd wanted to meet you."
[19:58] * Alicia hopes her mother won't be difficult. She seemed to miss Beth last time Alicia spoke to her. Nonetheless she lets this play out without interfering, for the moment.
[19:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Beatrice looks at that smile and that face, "Beth, you look happy now," she says in soft wonder. "Gods, you haven't looked like that since you dunked Alicia in that mudhole as a young girl."
[20:00] <Alicia> Thanks to the passage of two decades, Alicia can at least look back and laugh. Barely.
[20:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh." Coloring faintly at that, and murmuring sorry to Alicia, "I'm very happy now. My name's Jessica now, though."
[20:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora cracks a smile, but doesn't speak overtly.
[20:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Beth," she says this with emphasis, "It's the name I gave you when I held you the first time, and that's what I'll call you until my deathbed." Sitting up more alertly on her pillows, "Have you finally gotten over your rebellous streak?"
[20:02] * Alicia shrugs as her mother proves where they got their stubborness from. Hopefully Jessica can indulge such idiosyncracies.
[20:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With a slightly straining smile, "Mother, I don't even remember that, so I suppose I am."
[20:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Good," Brightening at that, "Beth, sit down and have some tea with us. Your father should be back soon and the servants should have it ready shortly."
[20:04] * Alicia blushes slightly but gives Jessica a reassuring smile that basically says 'just go with it'.
[20:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Beth goes and gets a soft sitting chair, bringing it over to the bed. As she does, "Heavens, Beth! That's what the help is for! You'll ruin your back!" With a reproachful look, "Arthur," she raises her voice, "Do hurry now."
[20:05] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora starts to smile, creeping up her face.
[20:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Beth just blushes and smiles back as much as she can to Alicia and her mother. "Sorry," she says, sitting down and putting her hands into her lap.
[20:07] <Alicia> "Really mother, she'll be fine," Alicia admonishes, "She's probably in better shape than any of the help, anyway."
[20:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Arthur returns, a servatn bringing a tray with tea and pastries. He sets it on a table, getting chairs into position. "Nonsense," Beatrice dismisses. "Now then, sit down and we can talk like civlized people."
[20:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora sits down as well, smiling quite widely. "Thank you, ma'am."
[20:12] * Alicia thanks the servant and picks up a cup and saucer to drink from. "So... just what's happened to bring Kelara to this state?" she returns to her earlier question.
[20:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Arthur gets his own tea, as JEssica gets right to the pastries. "Well, at first it was just loose banditry. We're familiar with that. But then, as time passed, it's begun to become more organized. I believe this was around the time you visited last, Alicia? There were signs it might be serious, but it was still far away.{"
[20:16] * Alicia nods, sipping on her tea as she takes in the background details.
[20:25] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "A little after you left, the rebels began to be felt. The army was sent after them in ernest, but a series of setbacks sent them staggering back. Betrayls, ambushes, guerilla tactics and good knowledge of the terrain lead to several piercing victories. Thanks to our leadership they were prevented from becoming routes...an d then the first wave of assassinations started."
[20:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Beatrice interrups Arthur here, "The army leadership lost several people, as well as nobles. Further, a message began coming out in earnest; the nobility was going to fall and fall hard. The scariest part is that it's come from many, but it doesn't seem to have a direct source. It's always the rebels or a few isolated prisoners who claim not to know, or traitors who say the same."
[20:27] <Alicia> "Do you know anything about who's behind this rebellion?" Alicia asks. Surely to have any popular support it must have at least a visible figurehead.
[20:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Arthur nods, "The stories began to spread like wildfire along with the assassinations. It reached a cresendo yesterday with the coordinated attacks in Kelara proper." A stop there, "No, I don't. The rumor mill is abuzz - it's a disgrunted noble, it's someone making a power play, it's a foreigner, it's him or her or it. I don't know if Lord Roth knows, though."
[20:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Of course," Beatrice says with disdain there, "They're all stationed in the country sticks and away from Kelara proper. It's probably some farmer with a gift for being a pest."
[20:30] <Alicia> "Mother, that's where I used to live," Alicia dryly reminds Beatrice.
[20:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "And we know how that worked out. THere are downright savages in the countryside," Beatrice jabs, "Savages with no respect for law and order."
[20:34] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Dear," Arthur interjects there, "Be that as it may, this situation is very serious."
[20:35] <Alicia> "That's because they never get to experience it," Alicia retorts. "Everyone outside those walls is left to fend for themselves. If that effete noble's council had actually shown a firm hand all across Kelara then you can be sure this rebellion would never have had fertile ground to sprout from."
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Arthur starts to speak, then at last stops. Instead, after a breath, "Maybe so, but hindsight is without merit to us. Lord Roth is not the man to save Kelara, but he's entirely too good to holding onto power, like a baby who refuses to give back his rattle."
[20:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Charming," Antenora murmurs. "How badly beaten is the army?"
[20:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "There's been losses of competent commanders; the officer corps are depleted. Many of the enlisted are suspected of having sympathies with the rebels. In short, not good." Arther grunts now, "Or so the rumors go, but I suspect these are tragically close to the truth."
[20:40] <Alicia> "They think they're beaten, it's no wonder," Alicia surmises. "But I just don't understand how a rebellion could flourish so much in secret - certainly secrecy makes sense in the beginning, but at this stage when they're poised for victory? Where's the rallying figurehead? What's actually drawing them together?"
[20:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's always the rebellion, or taking down the nobility," Arthur answers, drinking his tea. "It's quite disturbing.
[20:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "You're right," Antenora speaks up, "Rebellions don't last on word of mouth and rumor alone. I could perhaps believe one very capable or a small cadre of capable people were managing several isolated cells or small divisions, but someone has to be directhing everything."
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Jessica has been lsitening, often paying more attention to her parents than the words. "Don't worry. If Alicia says she'll save it, she'll save it. I haven't seen her fail yet."
[20:48] <Alicia> "And none of the prisoners have offered anything? The loyalists don't have any spies to call on?" Alicia asks, despairing at the what she has to work with. She then smiles at Jessica. "I've never had to put down a revolution before."
[20:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The rumors vary a little, but...Then again, Lord Roth could have the leader delivered to him ona  silver platter and he'd manage to bumble it." Arthur Reynes sharply scowls.
[20:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If we're not hearing about that, it means that surely Lord Roth has the discretion not to spread his state secrets into the gossips," Beatrice chides, "The man is not so incompetent, dear."
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It can't be harder that saving Antenora or killing a dragon," Jessica smiles even brighter at that, "Or going to fight a pit fiend.?
[20:52] <Alicia> "I haven't done that last one yet," Alicia deflects with a smile. "But it sounds like it might be better if I went directly to Lord Roth rather than simply enlisting way down the chain of command," she turns her attention to her father, "Do you think that could be arranged, father?"
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Ask your mother," With a sour look, Arthur passes it to Beatrice! She nods and smiles, starting ot getup, "I feel better now, and that pain relieving herb should be wearing away soon. Of course, dear. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."
[20:55] <Alicia> "I'd like to talk things over with Taldeer first, but if it could be arranged for sometime tonight or tomorrow morning..." Alicia turns back to her mother.
[20:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I shall." Standing up, and after a moment, "Beth, you're going to come with me," she decides, "If you're forgotten everything, then it is paramount to have you begin to make social ties again. Starting with Lord Roth and staff would be splendid."
[20:59] * Alicia maintains perfect poise and composure, and certainly does not sigh. Much as she wants to. "Alright then," she puts down her teacup. "In that case I'll return to the temple and discuss things with Dweomerkeeper Taldeer."
[21:00] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "...Mother?" Jessica blinks, even as Beatrice approaches her and taps her shoulder. "Of course. Come, Beth," she says, leading your sister away with her. Arthur looks on at them go, a curious smile on his face for a few moments.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Good luck, sister," Alicia mouths as they leave, before smiling at her father. "At least they're getting along... I think."
[21:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Close enough." Arthur then turn sto Antenora, offering her a hand after approaching her. "It's nice to meet you. I'd love to talk to you more under better circumstances, but life is difficult these days."
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you," Antenora shakes the hand briefly, which makes Alicia's father stop. "You have a grip of iron, just like Alicia," he says, wringling his hand. "My word."
[21:06] <Alicia> "The armour isn't just for show," Alicia smiles, recalling that Antenora didn't always wear armour... or clothing at all. "Anyway, we'd best head back to the temple for now, but we'll return tonight if it's not an imposition."
[21:07] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's a side effect of my calling," Antenora joins Alicia, "Until then, sir."
[21:07] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Good luck with him. The man's as hard headed as a living rock." Arthur says.
[21:08] <Alicia> "I can be very persuasive," Alicia assures her father as she heads out.
[21:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> As you head downstairs, "It's bad. I think it's recoverable unless something unpleasant is at the bottom of it," she surmises, pace brisk, "As long as the army hasn't distingrated, they can still be rallied. Your family's minor nobility or close to it, if I recall?"
[21:11] <Alicia> "They're about as high up as it's possible to be without sitting on the council," Alicia confirms. "What worries me most is that there doesn't really seem to be anyone fit to lead - it's no good putting down the rebellion if Kelara is just going to lurch along like a zombie afterwards. Something needs to be done about the way this country is run."
[21:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That's harder. You can kill the leaders or subdue them, but do you want to spend your life leading them?" Antenora looks at her askance, "You're talking about your own sort of rebellion there, even if it's a peaceful one."
[21:15] * Alicia snorts. "Weren't you the one who wanted her own kingdom to rule?" she asks as they begin the walk up the road to Kelara's gates. "I couldn't, though. Even if I could break my ties with the United Baronies, the fact is I still need to be there to continue the work in those ruins, to eventually confront Daa-vid."
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We all make mistakes," Antenora smiles a little there, warmth creeping into her features, the cloudy weather overcast and dim. "Anyway, the point I'm making is that if you want to change Kelara, someone has to do the heavy lifting. Unless you're as lucky as a fairy tale, something's going to happen, or they'll simply revert to the old behaviors otherwise."
[21:19] <Alicia> "I know," Alicia sighs heavily. "First we'll see if Taldeer has any ideas - she's lived here since before my parents were even born, so she knows the place better than anyone. Then we'll see what we can make of this Lord Roth... he's not someone I remember much of offhand, anyway."

[Corwin]

[18:57] <Alicia> [21:15] * Alicia snorts. "Weren't you the one who wanted her own kingdom to rule?" she asks as they begin the walk up the road to Kelara's gates. "I couldn't, though. Even if I could break my ties with the United Baronies, the fact is I still need to be there to continue the work in those ruins, to eventually confront Daa-vid."
[18:57] <Alicia> [21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "We all make mistakes," Antenora smiles a little there, warmth creeping into her features, the cloudy weather overcast and dim. "Anyway, the point I'm making is that if you want to change Kelara, someone has to do the heavy lifting. Unless you're as lucky as a fairy tale, something's going to happen, or they'll simply revert to the old behaviors otherwise."
[18:57] <Alicia> [21:19] <Alicia> "I know," Alicia sighs heavily. "First we'll see if Taldeer has any ideas - she's lived here since before my parents were even born, so she knows the place better than anyone. Then we'll see what we can make of this Lord Roth... he's not someone I remember much of offhand, anyway."
[19:02] <Kotono> With those words, the two proceed back into Kelara. It takes some time to get through the gates - each person is searched, frisked and interrogated. As the two wait in line, a drizzly-cool rain begins to fall from the skies, making everyone damp but not truly wet, like a sheen of cool water. When at last Alicia and Antenora are up, the guards look her over, "Papers?" they ask.
[19:03] <Alicia> "Exact same ones we had half an hour ago," Alicia smiles as she presents hers once again.
[19:04] <Kotono> The papers are examined carefully, the two armored women looked at intently. At last the papers are passed back, "Enter," the guard annouces briskly, rain drops falling all around.
[19:05] * Alicia folds up her papers and puts them back into her backpack so that the rain won't ruin them and heads directly for Mystra's temple once inside the city.
[19:11] <Kotono> The trip back to the Temple of Mystra is a tense one. The city is wet, on edge, busy. Once back in thet emple and dried of the rain, the two go to meet Dweomerkeeper Taldeer. She is sitting where you last saw her, drinking from her strange smelling mug and penning a scroll, writing swiftly.
[19:13] <Alicia> "Taldeer?" Alicia speaks softly in greeting to the cleric as she enters her chambers to get her attention.
[19:15] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.15.47) has joined #dunes
[19:16] <Kotono> "Alicia." Putting down her pen and then sprinkling sand on the scroll to dry the ink, "How's your mother?"
[19:19] <Alicia> "Quite well, now," Alicia replies as she takes a seat. "She's going to arrange a meeting between me and Lord Roth, and is busy helping my sister make... social ties." She smiles lopsidedly at said concept.
[19:20] <Kotono> Antenora stays standing, hovering over Alicia. "Social ties? Oh dear, even now she's acting like that? She's feeling better." With the faintest smile at this occurance, "How're things out there? I've heard they're tense, but I haen't had the chance to go out and see it."
[19:22] * Alicia makes a face. "The church doesn't seem to be popular right now," she admits. "A man threw an egg at me and spouted all sorts of abuse about 'limp wristed Mystrans'. The guards were none too gentle in apprehending him, either." Shaking her head and leaning on Taldeer's desk, "I see now why you were so worried."
[19:24] <Kotono> "Yes. It's gone from a background worry to a serious threat in a most alarming way. The panic that is gripping Kelara proper is a grave threat. The people are lashing out at established authority, alternating between needful terror to be saved and fear tinted anger for letting 'the end come' as they see it."
[19:27] <Alicia> "And no one seems to know anything about these rebels," Alicia sounds entirely unconvinced as she says it. "I just don't understand how an uprising could develop into such a threat and yet remain so wholly unknown - where's the charismatic figurehead? The attention getting propaganda? The sugar-coated ideology? If the council does fall, what's going to replace it?"
[19:30] <Kotono> With a bitter smile, "I don't know. That's what keeps me up at night, Alicia. There's nothing running it but apparently hate of the current regime and fear and all the damned rumors."
[19:33] <Alicia> "I don't think this is a real rebellion," Alicia shakes her head. "I've heard nothing to indicate any sort of popular support - it's all cloak and dagger assassinations, banditry, and bribery. No... my instinct is telling me that someone powerful is trying to make the council fall so they can sweep in and pick up the pieces."
[19:42] <Kotono> "Who then?" Taldeer asks. "This is looking to be well organized at some level, so it' snot some bumpkin attempting to stir shit up." With a grimace as she rubs her temples, "I'm worried the Fiefdoms or maybe someone to the west is trying to get lucky."
[19:45] <Alicia> "Speaking of West, the crown prince of Kesse is a devout follower of Shar, so I wouldn't expect anything friendly from them," Alicia tells Taldeer. "But there's a huge jungle between here and there, so I doubt they'd have any real interest. The Fiefdoms... maybe, though they often talk as if Kelara is utterly unimportant to them. As for our other neighbours... I don't know. How are relations these days?"
[19:51] <Kotono> "Kesse...Oh yes, I think I read of that region once. It's past the jungle, so let Mystra care of that for now." As she settles in, Antenora's expression briefly flickers into anger at the mention of Shar. "The Fiefdoms lent us some money to help put the invasino down. Relations are good, they seem content not to attack our borders. Thankfully they're generally not expansionist. The others? We haven't been getting along with Bath - a few of thei
[19:51] <Kotono> The others? We haven't been getting along with Bath - a few of their traders got drunk and raped a few women in a bar. The problem was that it happened to be the daughter of Sir Lahn, an officer in the army and a well respected land owner. Relations have been strained because of the incident. Past that? Nodlitz hasn't caused any trouble either."
[19:55] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia digests that. "Nothing obvious, but then if they've managed to pull off their fake rebellion so well so far we could hardly expect them to be. It could even be a Kelaran seeking power - but what it comes down to is that everything points to this being a coup led by a secretive - by definition small - group rather than a genuine popular uprising."
[19:55] <Alicia> It could even be an outsider of some sort, although Alicia prefers not to think of that.
[19:57] <Kotono> "That makes a strike of decapitation quite viable," Antenora speaks up now, "If we can pinpoint the leader and deal with him, the rotten body will wither."
[19:57] <Kotono> "Or her," Taldeer corrects, "Antenora, wasn't it? There's a few ambitious women in Kelara as well, make no mistake. Like Alicia's mother," With a faint smile, "Always working to get ahead in her social standings."
[19:59] <Alicia> "At least she's harmless, if somewhat trying at times," Alicia smiles slightly before her expression turns grim, "But even if we defeat the rebellion, it still leaves Kelara in a precarious state - the people won't soon forget the impotence of their rulers, and the government likely will continue overreacting to try and maintain the illusion of control - I've heard little of Lord Roth but none of it inspires confidence."
[20:01] <Kotono> Holding a hand out, Taldeer waves it side to side. "He's not incompetent. He's not really risen to the occasion, either. He also has the inpolitical tendency to not care what people think of him once he has power."
[20:02] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia looks somewhat buoyed. "My father didn't seem to think much of him. I suppose I'll reserve judgement till I meet him myself, then."
[20:05] <Kotono> "But you're still right. This has really frayed the basic social fabric of Kelara. Win or lose, the confidence in the council has been critically wounded. At best it will take a long time for it to be restored. AT worst..." Lowering her hand and then her head, "Mystra only knows what could follow."
[20:07] <Kotono> "Chaos, anarchy, bloodshed." Antenora surmises gloomily. "Do you think the council could recover after this?"
[20:08] <Alicia> "We really need a strong leader, something that the political backstabbing of the council has never really encouraged..." Alicia furrows her brow in thought, but no easy solution becomes obviously apparent. "With all the assassinations, how many are actually left besides Lord Roth?"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Six more or less have power right now. Lord Roth, Lord Lahn, Lord Kesper, Lord Anders, Lord Kelvan, Lord Frost. Your parents are getting very close to cracking that, between the various deaths and the discord. A lot of the lesser nobles are busy being officers in the army, trying to hold things together, so they're not as much of a factor."
[20:10] <Kotono> "Of course, Lord Roth commands the army. Lord Lahn and Kesper more or less deal with the city here. Lord Anders, Kelvan and Frost are serving as commanding generals under Lord Roth."
[20:11] * Alicia shakes her head. "It's been so long, I can hardly even remember any of those names... anything noteworthy I should know about any of them?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Lord Lahn's an old school sort - you probably would remember the face, he's been at your mother's parites a few times. Lord Kesper is relatively newly risen, but he's dealing with all the guards and patrols. Lord Anders is a patient old man, good defensive strategist. I hear he's dealing with defending if the rebels attack Kelara proper. Lord Kelvan's a trader who recently retired and bought his way into things, coming with lots of money. Lord
[20:13] <Kotono> bought his way into things, coming with lots of money. Lord Frost is another old one. I don't think he's on good terms with your family."
[20:16] * Alicia nods as she takes in that information. "Defence isn't the problem, though - we should be focusing on finding the ringleaders. Are there any prisoners from the assassins, do you know?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "Lord Roth might know, but all I've heard is rumors on it," Taldeer answers.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia drops the matter as she shifts her backpack onto her lap. "On a lighter note," she smiles slightly, "I brought you a present."
[20:20] <Kotono> Antenora steps back a few feet.
[20:21] <Kotono> "Really?" Smiling at that, "Mystra knows I could use something to bolster my spirits! What is it?
[20:21] <Kotono> "
[20:22] * Alicia digs out the coiled black whip and sets it down on the desk in front of Taldeer with a proud smile, looking for all the world like a cat who just brought a dead rat before its owner.
[20:23] <Kotono> "It's..." Taldeer blinks as she gazes the black whip, "It's...a whip. Alicia, I didn't think you'd give me something like that...I mean, it must be ensorcelled, yes?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "Of course it is!" Alicia replies quickly. Then, after an awkward silence, "Don't you feel... different?" she hazards.
[20:25] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.15.47) Quit (later)
[20:26] <Kotono> "I..." Taldeer reaches out for it, "I kind of...oh!" As her hand closes around the handle, Taldeer's words stop. She picks up the whip, and with a strangely  mischevious smile, cracks it! "Oh...my, Mother of All Magic!"
[20:26] <Kotono> Quietly behind her, Alicia can hear someone quietly slipping out of the room.
[20:28] <Alicia> "You see!" Alicia looks pleased. "It has a very interesting-" she pauses and glances at the door before turning back to Taldeer, "Don't mind Antenora. Honestly, the way she acts you'd think I'd done something improper with it."
[20:29] <Kotono> CRACK! The whip lashes out again, cutting through the air. "Oh, it's just marvelous. Where did you find such a wonderful item?" Taldeer can't seem tos top grinning, cracking it a second time.
[20:31] <Alicia> "In a treasure chest belonging to a suicidal undead nalfeshnee," Alicia replies, managing to keep a straight face. "Anyway, as I was saying, it has a very interesting history that I thought you'd appreciate - in addition to the obviously entertaining enchantment."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Yes," A fourth crack comes a little close to Alicia, as Taldeer preens. "I feel like being called a Queen now...oh yes, I just like this so much." Going to sit back down and rubbing the whip's handle happily, "Even if it's the enchantment talking, who cares?"
[20:37] * Alicia is just glad to have brought a smile to her mentor's face, even as she's unsure whether to avoid the lash or accept it. "Its name is Shar's Caress - it was actually made by servants of the Lady of Loss as an implement to torture followers of Mystra. But as you can see, they botched the job."
[20:37] <Alicia> "It still functions admirably as a weapon - if you're into that sort of thing - but it also draws those who venerate Mystra to it in a rather pleasing fashion."
[20:39] <Kotono> "What ac urious history and a curious origin..." The whip lashes out again, at least not at Alicia this time. "Mmmmmm...." After a long moment she gets up, going to put it into a drawer. Shaking her head wearily, "As much fun as it is, this isn't the time for games...I think."
[20:40] <Alicia> "I suppose it's not," Alicia agrees, "But still an entertaining diversion." Leaning back towards the door she calls out, "It's safe to come back now, Antenora."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Good," Antenora enters again after that, "I'd have hated to have spoiled your two special alone time with the whip."
[20:43] <Alicia> "Very considerate of you," Alicia nods, deciding to just go with it. Any protests would surely just make things sound worse.
[20:44] <Kotono> Taldeer gives Antenora an even look, though she doesn't press it. Instead, "Are the two of you going to linger much longer? Not to be a rude hostess, but I'm quite busy. In case the worst does happen, I'm preparing the temple to preserve our sacred texts and keepings."
[20:45] <Alicia> "I told my mother to meet me here after she'd spoken to Lord Roth," Alicia admits. "So in that case is there anything we can do to help out?"
[20:58] <Kotono> Taldeer looks at Alicia and Antenora critically, before smiling. "There is. Both of you are fairly strong?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "Oh, yes," Alicia nods. "Even without this belt of giant strength a mage in Balmuria made for me, I haven't gotten any weaker over the years."
[21:03] <Kotono> "It's humble work, but humility helps one appreciate how wonderous Mystra's gifts are." Clapping her hands, "There are some shelves we need to move, but the soldiers are on orders to maintain guard, all the strapping young men are being drafted into the army, and all the casters capable of doing it with magic are busy preparing. If the two of you would be so kind?"
[21:05] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia smiles agreeably as she gets up, happy to help in whatever capacity is needed.
[21:07] <Kotono> Thus shelf movements take up Alicia's next few hours. Antenora helps, the two removing books, moving shelves and then restocking in an underground cellar, secured and protected. As thet wo work, "It's humble work." Antenora snorts as the two of you lug a particularly heavy, wooden behemoth of a shelf. "Does this mean you have stories of all sorts of hard labor as an acoylte at the temple?"
[21:10] <Alicia> "I suppose I do," Alicia grunts as they negotiate the stairs with their burden, idly wondering just what's taking her mother so long, "But since it's hard to work an unexpected twist and heartwarming moral into this sort of thing, they're not very good ones."
[21:16] <Kotono> As they manuver downward, "Speaking of twists and stories, what DID Marie say?" As the two put the bookshelf down at last, another one done, "You look like you could use a few moments of a break anyway."
[21:20] <Alicia> "Oh, that," Alicia dusts her hands off as they set the shelf in place. "She thought she could explain my distaste of drinking with the idea that Beth nearly drowned me in a wine vat when we were children," she explains in exasparation. "No one seems able to grasp that I just don't like the taste of alcohol."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Oh." Leaning agaisnt the massive bookshelf and wiping her head clean, "It is hard to believe, since you grew up on a vinyard.  Imagine if a farmer said he hates the taste of food."
[21:24] <Alicia> "I love grapes," Alicia volunteers with a smile. "Making wine just seemed like a horrible waste to me."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Ask Marie to feed you grapes for breakfast." Starting to smile coyly, "She stays in your room anyway, so she can make it breakfast in bed." Brushing her armor off briefly, "Ready to get back to work?"
[21:26] <Alicia> "They're hard to get in Balmuria. Better when I can just eat them straight off the vine," Alicia replies as she heads up to collect their next load.
[21:32] <Kotono> About a half hour later respite comes. A young acolyte comes and leads Alicia and Antenora back to Taldeer's chambers. Here Beatrice and Jessica are waiting, both rather rain wetted. Jessica sneezes a few times as the pair enters, while Beatrice simmers, arms crossed.  "There you are, Alicia! Do you believe it? I got stuck waiting in the RAIN for a half hour and THEN we got caught in a downpour! Abominable!"
[21:33] <Alicia> "You were kept waiting outside?" Alicia asks in disbelief. Either her mother is very unpopular or noble hospitality has taken a severe downturn in this city.
[21:35] <Kotono> After another sneeze, "It wasn't like that. The -achoo!- problem was that Sir Roth was inspecting a legion of soldiers, and we ended up waiting and watching him do -achoo!- that." Rubbing her nose, Jessica sniffles. "Mother," With a hint of irritation, "I believe you said, 'It is only proper that we stay here and show our support to our beloved nation's troops in this difficult time,'?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "Even if I did, I was obviously at fault for Lord Roth's timing," With a scowl she uses a hankerchief to dab at her face and clothes, drying them slightly. "Irregardless, we did see him."
[21:37] <Alicia> "Here, at least let me dry you both off before you continue," Alicia offers, casting a cantrip and proceeding to briskly run her hand over each woman just above the surface of their clothes as she magics away the accumulated drizzle.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Aaah. Thank -achoo!-" Jessica sneezes again, sharply, "Thanks, sister. But yes, Mother, if you weren't so worried over my social status..."
[21:38] <Kotono> "It's only proper, Beth," With a quick look back to her daughter, and then back to her other daughter, "He'll see you at dinnertime."
[21:39] <Alicia> "Tomorrow?" Alicia asks, frowning a bit at the delay. She really doesn't want to waste her time on this.
[21:40] <Kotono> "Today. It's not that late out yet." Beatrice answers.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Oh..." Alicia shakes her head, "We actually had dinner before coming to Kelara... so how long till then?"
[21:42] <Kotono> "I can explain that," Taldeer speaks up, "When you move very far west or east very quickly, as with teleport, you'll find that time isn't exactly the same. When going westward, you find it gets earlier in the day."
[21:43] <Kotono> "A half hour, if that. You shouldn't dally too much longer," Beatrice replies.
[21:44] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia looks askance at Taldeer. "I'd never actually noticed... but I suppose that does make sense. Anyway," she shakes her head, "That should be fine - where will I find Lord Roth?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "At the administration center for the city garrison," The answer comes after, "It should take you about twenty minutes to get there in this weather."
[21:46] <Alicia> "We'll wait five minutes then head off," Alicia nods, knowing the way. "What does Lord Roth look like?" she asks so as to hopefully avoid any faux pas by not recognising him.
[22:07] <Kotono> "Tall man, small nose, white uniform," Jessica recounts between a few sneezes.
[22:08] <Alicia> "Thanks. Now, the two of you should go home and have something warm to drink in front of the fire," she suggests to her mother and sister, her tone not brooking any argument.
[22:09] <Kotono> "That would be nice. Come along, Beth, we can talk about some gentleman callers who could come by once this unpleasant business concludes." Rising up, Beatrice takes Jessica along with her.
[22:10] * Alicia just shakes her head. Her mother would never have dreamed of foisting Beth off on some suitor back when they were young.
[22:11] <Kotono> As she's gone, the Dweomerkeeper hides a smile with her hand. "It's rather funny to see, when you consider the past. She really doesn't remember a scrap of it, though?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "The waters of the Styx took a heavy toll," Alicia concludes. "I still don't know if it's better this way, but she seems happy and I suppose that's all I can ask for."
[22:15] <Kotono> "The Styx strips everything away in it's blank hunger. In a way, even this loss was it's own blessing. I'm not sure if Beth would have ever been happy from what I saw of her," Antenora adds.

[Corwin]

[18:17] <Alicia> [22:09] <Kotono> "That would be nice. Come along, Beth, we can talk about some gentleman callers who could come by once this unpleasant business concludes." Rising up, Beatrice takes Jessica along with her.
[18:17] <Alicia> [22:10] * Alicia just shakes her head. Her mother would never have dreamed of foisting Beth off on some suitor back when they were young.
[18:17] <Alicia> [22:11] <Kotono> As she's gone, the Dweomerkeeper hides a smile with her hand. "It's rather funny to see, when you consider the past. She really doesn't remember a scrap of it, though?"
[18:17] <Alicia> [22:14] <Alicia> "The waters of the Styx took a heavy toll," Alicia concludes. "I still don't know if it's better this way, but she seems happy and I suppose that's all I can ask for."
[18:17] <Alicia> [22:15] <Kotono> "The Styx strips everything away in it's blank hunger. In a way, even this loss was it's own blessing. I'm not sure if Beth would have ever been happy from what I saw of her," Antenora adds.
[18:18] <Kotono> "Alright." After a nod to that, "Get going, you two.  Good luck with Roth."
[18:20] <Alicia> "One thing to help with that perhaps..." Alicia smiles slightly before gesturing before her and saying a few magic words, after which her voice seems to possess some indefinable quality that makes it so much better to listen to. "A spell I invented to make negotiations go more smoothly," she smiles at Taldeer. "I'll talk you through it later if you're interested," she offers before departing.
[18:24] <Kotono> "Fascinating! Do so!" With an interested look Taldeer bids them off, the duo heading out into the rain. It's intolerably rainy, wet and even a touch chilly in this sort of downpour. The streets are slick and muddy, most of the foot traffice now finished. The administration center is busier than most of the city now, many, many troops here or on patrol. You are ushered through no fewer than four checkpoints before you get insisde the old, grand
[18:24] <Kotono> You are ushered through no fewer than four checkpoints before you get insisde the old, grand stone and marble building. A well trained old man in bulter's clothes bows as he waits for you. "Lady Alicia?" he greets her. "Lord Roth is waiting for you."
[18:26] <Kotono> Antenora shakes her head lightly, freeing it of the moisture that has soaked her. She stays behind Alicia otherwise for now.
[18:28] <Alicia> While ordinarily she prefers Mrs Reynes, Alicia decides that grandiose titles are likely to be of a benefit in this situation and so goes with it. "Excellent," she nods, quickly prestidigitating all the water off herself and briefly fussing over Antenora to do the same for her. "If you'll show us in, please?" she then asks.
[18:29] <Kotono> The servant doesn't seem alarmed by the magic at all. He simply bows again, leading you within. You go past grand offices for generals and marshals, past a dining hall grand as any a noble lord might have in his home. You go into a smaller dining hall, ornate but more restrained. It's dominated by a single table, smooth darkwood and showing an etched in, moving, very much alive scene of a band of mounted knights breaking up a defensive line. (M
[18:30] <Kotono> mounted knights breaking up a defensive line. (More)
[18:32] <Kotono> Lord Roth is a tall man. Even sitting he flows above his chair like a perched pelican. He has fine gray-blonde hair, kept very short. He wears a perfectly kept white uniform and white gloves, the latter supporting his chin as he waits, balled up. A jewelled saber rests attached to his belt. His nose is absolutely tiny, more like a miniscule speed bump on his face. "Alicia Reynes, Lady; daughter of Beatrice and Arthur Reynes." He does not stand,
[18:32] <Kotono> "Alicia Reynes, Lady; daughter of Beatrice and Arthur Reynes." He does not stand, though he does look to you. (More)
[18:33] <Kotono> Only a few servants are in the room, bringing in trays of roasted bird and vegetables for dinner. They are silent and well trained, fading into the background and away once the food is put down. "Your timing is impeccable. Please, introduce me to your friend and come sit."
[18:38] <Alicia> "This is Antenora," Alicia introduces the erinyes simply as she goes to take a seat at the side of the table. "Thank you for taking the time to see us on short notice, Lord Roth." she goes on, on her best manners since she doesn't want to wind up at odds with someone she needs to work with to save Kelara.
[18:38] <Kotono> Antenora goes to sit net o Alicia, taking a moment to go through the motions of a curtesy, even if she lacks a skirt. "Allow me to second those thanks."
[18:39] * Taishyr is now known as taicls
[18:41] <Kotono> As a servant makes plates up for each of the three, Lord Roth peers past them and to Alicia. "Your absence from Kelara is an excuseable one after that barbaric business with your husband. Again, allow me to express my condolences to your family and yourself." After a second for that to set in, "I also hear the stories that travel the gossip circles about you in the United Baronies far to the east. Reports speak of you as a competent warrior and
[18:41] <Kotono> Reports speak of you as a competent warrior and spellcaster." (More)
[18:42] <Kotono> He stops a moment as a servant pours him a glass of water, taking pause to drink it. "You are coming to offer services and succor to our nation in our time of need?"
[18:47] <Alicia> "Succinctly; yes," Alicia confirms. "As I'm a serving captain in the army of the United Baronies, I cannot formally enlist myself here. But I have no desire to see Kelara fall to ruin - so therefore I am offering my services as an advisor, of sorts. And if necessary I will have no hesitation in taking up my blade against this conspiracy against Kelara."
[18:47] <Kotono> "I will second Alicia in that. She is my master; I will join my wrath to hers," Antenora adds, not eating even as plates are put in front of her.
[18:49] <Kotono> "Your nobility to your homeland is appreciated." Lord Roth nods, "Your timing is superb. I need a sword that can sever the snake's head of this rebellion. You," He stops here, his gaze boring into Alicia, his will virtulaly felt along her, almost oppressively potent, "Will be my sword. Tell me, Lady Alicia, what do you know of the rebellion thus far?"
[18:53] <Alicia> He has presence, Alicia will give him that. "I know that it first emerged several months ago in the periphery, though as little more than banditry with a political facade. While it has grown more threatening since then, there still seems to be a lack of any rallying figurehead or public ideology behind it. Yesterday several nobles were assassinated, in some cases by their own guards."
[18:54] <Alicia> "Those assassins either admitted to bribery or spouted revolutionary dogma when questioned - though I have not been informed of any specifics regarding who bribed them or what the dogma entails, so I assume it's not public knowledge," she concludes, listing the facts without her interpretations.
[18:54] <Kotono> "You are correct." For a moment he smiles, a sharp thing, even as his eyes do not relent. "Of what you said, what is the morest vital, telling fact?"
[18:55] <Kotono> *most
[18:58] <Alicia> "To me it's the lack of a leader or defining ideology," Alicia replies, meeting his gaze calmly while her own potent and attention-getting voice issues forth.
[18:59] <Kotono> He smiles at that, "You are correct again. You will serve me well, Lady Reynes. There is no idealogy behind it, beyond rabble rousing. But before we continue, stand up." He does the same, "The following information is a state secret. I require an oath and bond before these words are shared."
[19:00] <Alicia> OOC: after this much interaction I'm taking 10 for 20 on sense motive to get a gut feeling on whether this dude is trustworthy or not
[19:03] <Alicia> "You can rest assured that I only have Kelara's best interests at heart," Alicia replies smoothly. "I would not share any secrets if it was contrary to the nation's best interests."
[19:04] <Alicia> *nation's wellbeing
[19:13] <Kotono> "Good. Then repeat this: I, Alicia Reynes, do solemnly swear to serve and protect Kelara, to obey the lawful orders I am given, and to uphold these until I reach the life beyond this life."
[19:16] * Alicia is silent for a moment after the oath, letting the stillness hang in the air just long enough to become awkward before she finally speaks. "I cannot," she states with finality. "My first duty is to Mystra, and my second is to the United Baronies. If an order conflicted with either of those, I would refuse it. I will not make myself an oathbreaker, Lord Roth."
[19:24] <Kotono> OOC - Make a diplo check?
[19:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 and gets 55."12 [1d20=17]
[19:26] <Kotono> Lord Roth listens well ot that, before he goes on. "I suppose that you speak well for how intensly you take your duties, speaking with moving clarity and candor." He nods very shortly, "Very well, I will accept that. Sit again." Once Alicia does so, "We know that this rebellion is the act of one man and a few advisors whom he whispers poison into. A dreadfully capable man, no less."
[19:27] <Alicia> "Everything points to a small conspiracy rather than a popular uprising, yes," Alicia agrees. "So if you know who this man is..." she trails off leadingly.
[19:29] <Kotono> "He's capable of magic, shielding himself from casual divination. Further, he is very skilled at blending into things and disguising himself. He is a plague on us, a pervsion of the highest order. He has killed our best operatives, slicing them apart." A moment here to let the air grow heavier, "We do not know his name, only his mode of operation and his gear."
[19:30] <Alicia> "Go on..." Alicia invites, it sounding like she's going to be up against someone who blends swordplay and magic as she does. And is immune to divination, as she is. This should prove interesting.
[19:33] <Kotono> "He fights most precisely, tearing oppoents apart with a pair of barbed, hooked daggers. He calls them Shame and Blame and they sever apart limbs as easily as scroll-paper is cut. He tumbles wildly about the battlefield. Further, he uses several wands for magic. He is an overwhelming opponent and always wears a steel mask of a fearsome bearded man.
[19:36] <Alicia> "So there are those who have fought him and lived? Or has this information come from prisoners?" Alicia clarifies, narrowing her eyes at how his entire style seems way too similar to her own. Except she has a true warrior's weapon in her sword.
[19:37] <Kotono> "One of our agents got away, if barely. Most of our information comes from him, a few fragments from prisoners who have managed to trade this as repreive from the executioner's axe." Stopping to take a bite of his food, before putting his silverware down, "As of a week ago he was in the vincinity of a farmstead four days northwest of Kelara. We haven't gotten any newer information than that."
[19:38] <Alicia> "If he has any sense - and I'm sure he does based on what we know - he'll be far away by now," Alicia concludes. "So I take it we have no informants or spies amidst the 'rebellion'?"
[19:43] <Kotono> "We've had a few in cells we've been able to use to snuff each cell out. The problem is...imagine this rebellion like a vast mansion. Each room is self contained, there is no doors. Even if you clean one room otu of this menance, it offers no path to the other rooms."
[19:43] <Kotono> "In essence, it's not organized as a rebellion. Our problem comes, lays his poison out and forms a cell, and fades away to repeat the process."
[19:44] <Alicia> "What we need, then, is a lure," Alicia states decisively. "What are the circumstances in which our ringleader has personally involved himself in combat?"
[19:44] <Kotono> "Snuffing out spies and those who found him and attempted to end his life," Lord Roth answers. "When simple underlings would not suffice, I suspect."
[19:48] <Alicia> "Hmm... I could attempt to infiltrate them myself as a spy, but that would take time, and I must return to the Baronies in a week's time, even if only briefly. Any thoughts, Antenora?" she glances at the erinyes to see if she has any insight.
[19:50] <Kotono> "Do you have any cells you know of, but haven't been broken up yet? If we're going to bait him, perhaps one of us could be the bait in one. Does he have a weakness for women? Anything exploitable like that?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "We have the hints of one; but we haven't confirmed it yet. We don't knwo much of his habits beyond his role as our troublemaker." With a pause there, "His personality is largely a blank slate to us, beyond all the trouble he makes.
[19:52] <Kotono> "
[19:54] <Alicia> "Speaking of that, have you received any clues as to his motivation?" Alicia asks. "Clearly he wants the noble council to fall, but to what end? Does he plan on replacing it himself? Is he acting at the behest of another nation that plans to take over? Does he simply enjoy anarchy?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "He speaks with overwhelming eloquence of overthrowing the old order and replacing it with the new, but...nothing of him. No real motivations, only a doctrine of hate and revolution. It's all about the now and the overthrow, nothing of the later."
[20:07] * Alicia looks thoughtful for a moment. "Attempting to pass myself off as a spy is probably the best approach, although given the recent round of assassinations it's quite likely that the finaly push is imminent. What do we know of this suspected cell?"
[20:09] <Kotono> "It's about six hours outside of Kelara on horseback. A small farming community named Whitewall; it's being lead by a goodwoman named Jane. We know that our revolutionary entered the town, and further, that he likely talked to her. We just haven't managed to prove it yet, since the information is new as of today."
[20:15] <Alicia> "I could go there to investigate while posing as someone sympathetic to the rebellion," Alicia offers. "Either I successfuly infiltrate the group, or they suspect me and the leader comes to kill me - although preferably I'd kill him first. Thoughts?" she looks between Lord Roth and Antenora.
[20:15] <Kotono> "It could work," Antenora allows, then mentally, 'Alone, or...?'
[20:16] <Kotono> "You speak well of yourself. I will entrust that to you," L ord Roth agrees, his meal only half eaten at best. "Your absence will likely render you as an unknown, unless a spy identfies you and this information quickly reaches the rebellion."
[20:18] <Alicia> "I'd disguise myself anyway," Alicia replies. To Antenora 'I'd prefer to give the appearance of being alone, but if I was truly alone then I'd likely have my throat slit in my sleep. We'll need to practice deception ourselves in this.'
[20:19] <Kotono> 'I understand.' As Antenora replies, "This is acceptable and proposes a good chance of success, the best we may have. Begin immediately," Lord Roth says.
[20:20] <Alicia> "I'll make preparations with what's left of the day and depart for Whitewall in the morning," Alicia nods as she rises at the dismissal. "Thank you for your time, Lord Roth."
[20:22] <Kotono> "Thank you," Antenora echos, thus the two leaving. As they walk out of th eroom, 'So...deception?' Antenora broaches.
[20:25] <Alicia> 'Either we keep you out of sight,' Alicia begins, leading the way out out and back to the temple. 'Or give you a disguise as well... Something unexpected.'
[20:27] <Kotono> Antenora is silent for a little bit, 'Like a naked bat winged devil from Hell who wants to slither in and help them?' Suggesting that with half a smile and half a look of disgust, 'You get the idea, at least.'
[20:30] <Alicia> 'I was going to suggest succubus,' Alicia banters back, 'But magic permits lots of options - you could pose as my imp or quasit familiar, for example. Although perhaps we'd be better off to not be quite so showy, to ensure our foe properly underestimates us.'
[20:32] <Kotono> 'I'm glad we're on the same page then,' Antenora glares at Alicia, 'Pervert. But no matter, the point I'm making is that I'd rather not wear my armor to this. Something far less conspicious would do as long as it' sfitted for wings.'
[20:35] <Alicia> 'Yes, our armour and weapons are perhaps too showy for this,' Alicia regretfully agrees. 'Keeping you hidden or shapechanged into another form is the best way of hiding them in that case - although there's little point in you carrying my armour, anyway.'
[20:48] * Disconnected
[20:48] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
[20:48] * Rejoined channel #dunes
[20:48] * Topic is 'Alicia>Jamais>Marilith>Marie'
[20:48] * Set by Blondezilla on Sat Nov 08 20:27:22
[20:48] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
[20:48] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:48] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:49] <Kotono> 'Agreed.' As you head back towards the outside, the rain having stopped as night has fallen heavily over the city, 'Going to return to your parent's home and plan from there?'
[20:51] <Alicia> 'Church first,' Alicia replies. 'At the very least I need to organise travel back to Balmuria in time to go after Esthan - hopefully we can get some teleport scrolls, since if not we'll need to rely on Seira picking up which'll take a few days using her ring.'

[Corwin]

[18:10] <Alicia> [20:27] <Kotono> Antenora is silent for a little bit, 'Like a naked bat winged devil from Hell who wants to slither in and help them?' Suggesting that with half a smile and half a look of disgust, 'You get the idea, at least.'
[18:10] <Alicia> [20:30] <Alicia> 'I was going to suggest succubus,' Alicia banters back, 'But magic permits lots of options - you could pose as my imp or quasit familiar, for example. Although perhaps we'd be better off to not be quite so showy, to ensure our foe properly underestimates us.'
[18:10] <Alicia> [20:32] <Kotono> 'I'm glad we're on the same page then,' Antenora glares at Alicia, 'Pervert. But no matter, the point I'm making is that I'd rather not wear my armor to this. Something far less conspicious would do as long as it' sfitted for wings.'
[18:10] <Alicia> [20:35] <Alicia> 'Yes, our armour and weapons are perhaps too showy for this,' Alicia regretfully agrees. 'Keeping you hidden or shapechanged into another form is the best way of hiding them in that case - although there's little point in you carrying my armour, anyway.'
[18:10] <Alicia> [20:49] <Kotono> 'Agreed.' As you head back towards the outside, the rain having stopped as night has fallen heavily over the city, 'Going to return to your parent's home and plan from there?'
[18:10] <Alicia> [20:51] <Alicia> 'Church first,' Alicia replies. 'At the very least I need to organise travel back to Balmuria in time to go after Esthan - hopefully we can get some teleport scrolls, since if not we'll need to rely on Seira picking up which'll take a few days using her ring.'
[18:11] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-544615c6.lns1-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[18:11] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[18:14] <Kotono> Returning to the church goes wihtout incident, thankfully without needing cantrips to dry this time. Taldeer is found writing another scroll, the request heard. "Teleportation scrolls? We have two left - I've used most of them to secure other matters over the past week."
[18:15] <Alicia> "If you can keep a hold of them until a week from today I'd appreciate it," Alicia asks, "Antenora and I need to return to Balmuria then so we can join our comrades in confronting a horribly overpowered devil."
[18:16] <Kotono> "Alright." Taldeer nods, "I'll have them put aside. How'd your meeting with Lord Roth go?"
[18:18] <Alicia> "It was quite productive, actually," Alicia admits. "I suspect he was using some sort of magic to boost his presence just as I was, funnily enough, though something different - it was in his eyes more than his voice. Reminded me a bit of King Ferdi, though to a lesser degree."
[18:20] <Kotono> "Really?" Blinking at that, "He's not a magic user as far as I know. He's patronized our temple...then again, he might have a magical item. He has the resources and money for it." AFter a moment to ponder this, "He's always had good presence, though being stubborn makes that a flaw at times."
[18:23] <Alicia> "Could've been a potion, maybe," Alicia shrugs. "Anyway, it seems he did have some information on the leader of this conspiracy after all. It seems he has a habit of appearing in person to slay Kelara's spies - a skilled magic user as well as a warrior, which makes it a shame we're on opposite sides."
[18:24] <Kotono> "Tsh." With a look of disdain now, "Now soemone using Mystra's gifts is behind this carnage and discord? Abominable." With a long, unpleasant look, "Alicia, I must encourage you even moreso to end this problem now. This is not the way to use Mystra's wisdom and gifts!"
[18:26] * Alicia nods sadly. "Too many people use magic without any care for the teachings of its source," she agrees. "Anyway, there's a few things I could use that might make things go easier, if the temple has them to spare..."
[18:28] <Kotono> "What are they?" Taldeer asks, eyeing Alicia, "There's no need to be subtle. You're going to try and save Kelara from banditry and bring truth to someone who's misusing Mystra's power."
[18:30] <Alicia> "When have I ever been subtle?" Alicia asks innocently in reply, before giving the game away by chuckling. "Okay, yes. A few scrolls or potions of invisibility, or possibly a wand if possible - naturally they'd get used up. Also if you have a spare bag of holding or handy haversack or something like that I could borrow, it would be very useful."
[18:32] <Kotono> "I can get you the wand. No such luck on the bag, I'm afraid," Taldeer shakes her head, "You can borrow the wand, just return it assuming any charges remain at the end."
[18:34] <Alicia> "Should only need to use a few, hopefully," Alicia replies. "Oh, one more thing - have any old quarterstaves lying around? Hell Striker," she pats the elaborate looking blade on her back, "Is a bit too distinctive for what I have in mind."
[18:36] <Kotono> "Speaking of that, that's a beautiful weapon. Where did you get it?" Asking as she stands, "Yes, we have one you can borrow."
[18:38] <Alicia> "In the Halls of the Vanquished, on the fifth layer of Hell," Alicia replies honestly as she unslings the blade and holds it out for Taldeer to take. "Say hello," she adds with a smile.
[18:39] <Kotono> "Oh!" Taldeer gasps as she takes the sword, a look of surprise going over her face. "Truly, this is a magnificent piece!" She stares at the blade raptly, "It must have been Mystra's will for you to bring it back from Hell."
[18:41] <Alicia> "Well, it did ask," Alicia shrugs easily. "I wouldn't have thought to grab a sword from there no matter how nice it looked, otherwise."
[18:43] <Kotono> "Oh..." Staring at the blade, as Antenora smiles just a little, "I'll get that quarterstaff as well." Once Taldeer is gone, Hell Striker with her, Antenora speaks. "Alicia, do you think it was Mystra's will that you'd done everything you've done?"
[18:45] <Alicia> "If you mean that I've spent my whole life simply playing a role that was predetermined by Her will? No," Alicia shakes her head. "On the other hand, I do like to think that at least most of what I have done is what She would have wanted me to do, anyway. And I'm certain She's given me a little nudge, here and there."
[18:47] <Kotono> "Good." Smiling at that as she goes to sit, "What's your plan that's brewing now? If you're asking for things, you've working something out already."
[18:54] <Alicia> "For the most part it's as I said - we proceed to Whitewall and I pose as a disaffected city dweller and try to ingratiate myself to any recruiter for the cell that supposedly works there. For your part I'd prefer if you kept yourself concealed as much as possible - the invisibility wand would be to get you into my room at the inn without anyone seeing," Alicia explains.
[18:54] <Alicia> "Then I either successfully infiltrate them and work my way towards a meeting with the leader, or expose myself as a spy and he comes in order to 'deal' with me. Whichever way it goes, we win."
[19:01] <Kotono> "That works well enough," Antenora agrees. As she does, TAldeer comes back. She's not long, carrying a purple wand and a smoothly carved and polished quarterstaff. "Here," she says.
[19:04] * Alicia slips the wand into her belt before taking hold of the quarterstaff. After a moment to get a feel for it she says, "An enchanted one isn't really necessary, Dweomerkeeper - I'll be using it primarily as a prop, and if need be I can temporarily enchant it myself."
[19:05] <Kotono> "I can get you a more rugged looking, less enchanted one then," OFfering her hand out, "It'll take just a moment."
[19:06] <Alicia> "Just a glorified walking stick is fine, yes," Alicia smiles as she hands it back.
[19:09] <Kotono> This doesn't take long - a well kept but obvfiously weathered walking stick is passed to Alicia when she returns.
[19:10] <Alicia> "This'll do nicely," Alicia nods as she takes the staff, before looking at her sword. "Did you two have a nice conversation?" she adds pleasantly.
[19:11] <Kotono> "Let's go, then?" Antenora stands, "You'll want to get a full night's rest so you'rea t your best for this, Alicia."
[19:13] <Alicia> "Well, Hell Striker seems to like you, Dweomerkeeper," Alicia smiles at the cleric. "Why don't you keep a hold of it until I come back?"
[19:17] <Kotono> "I will. Mystra's blessings on you, Alicia," Taldeer bids. OOC - Skip ahead now?
[19:18] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[19:29] <Kotono> Resting at home in her old room, sleeping like a child. The night that passes is a glorious one in  many ways, a sleep of odd restfulness coming over Alicia. She awakens with the dawn well, breakfast provided. Her family wakens early as well, a breakfast provided together. Once that's done, Alicia and Antenora prepare...OOC - YUou said you wanted to take ten on your disguise? Go ahead and describe it?
[19:38] <Alicia> Since she's not wearing any armour, Alicia can afford to let her hair down today, having earlier applied some red dye so its now russet coloured, though still held back from her face by her black blindfold, the rest is allowed to cascade freely down her back.
[19:38] <Alicia> Makeup is applied to make her skin appear slightly paler than it truly is, and she wears one of her old dresses that still barely fits - a long and flared brown skirt with a burgandy jacket and black petticoat, her usually gold coloured cloak temporarily dyed copper. A poufy maroon coloured hat perched at a jaunty angle on her head completes the ensemble, obscuring the blindfold worn as a hairband.
[19:41] <Kotono> Wearing her old chain shirt, though not looking like it, going for a dumpy dress instead, "You look like a noble a few seasons poor and out of contact."
[19:43] <Alicia> "I'll have you know this was the height of fashion... ten years ago," Alicia replies primly as she adjusts her hat, before twisting slightly to the side and eyeing her flowing tresses. "I think I'll get a haircut when this is over. It's starting to get a bit unruly."
[19:46] <Kotono> "Heh, heh. Going for short hair?" Antenora asks, as she starts to walk out, "We can talk while we travel, the sooner to Whitewall, the better."
[19:48] <Alicia> "Just a little trim. I normally try to keep it from going past my shoulderblades when loose," Alicia explains, grabbing her staff and heading out with a spring in her step. "That said, there's something nicely liberating about getting dressed up like this and not feeling the weight of my armour on my shoulders."
[19:50] <Kotono> "Freedom?" Antenora smiles as the two travel out into the slightly cloudy Kelaran morning. "Let's go and enjoy it then!" OOC - Skip along?
[19:51] <Alicia> OOC: certainly
[19:53] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:53] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=37 ]4,0{37}
[19:53] <Kotono> The trip to Whitewall goes without incident. It's a set of several frams in a loosely spiral pattern, with a densely populated center, several farmhouses and other buildings there. A few rivers dot the land here, swoolen with rainwater still. It looks rather quiet - only a few people in the fields as it comes into sight.
[19:59] <Alicia> "Okay..." Alicia surveys the town while they're still at a good distance and unlikely to have been seen. "I'll go alone from here and get myself set up."
[19:59] <Alicia> "It'd probably be simplest if you flew up to say cloud level so you'd be more or less out of sight to anyone below, and when I'm ready I'll come and meet you say... there," she points, "By that river where it curves around those trees between the field and the town itself. You should be able to hide yourself easily enough around there."
[20:01] <Kotono> "Yes," Antenora beginst o fly up, waving once at Alicia, "Be careful, just in case."
[20:02] <Alicia> "If you see any commotion feel free to investigate," Alicia replies as she waves, casting voice of the archon to ensure she'll be taken seriously no matter what she says before treking onwards into town.
[20:13] <Kotono> As you approach the town, a few people look your way - m ostly fieldhands, who look with half interest and half utter disgust. As you enter the center of the spiral, you see more people about - good wives and farmers, some hauling vegetables about in carts. Most don't seem to have much besides a silent contempt for Alicia on a glance.
[20:17] * Alicia affects a somewhat harried demeanour, as if she's fleeing from something but far too tired to run at this point. Leaning on her walking stick she meets the disgusted looks with confusion and just a hint of fear.
[20:18] <Kotono> As Alicia looks about and puts on her act, one man approaches her, "Hail," he calls, a muscled and dirty farmer. He's perhaps thirty, with coal black hair and green eyes. His clothes show many a day of working the soil on them. "I think you're lost, city girl. You look awfully lost."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Lost? Hah," Alicia replies with a trace of bitterness etched into her voice. "No, I'm out of the city and that's exactly where I want to be, friend."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Hmph." With a shrug at t hat, "Got more sense than most of them, aye. Still, it can be right dangerous around here. How about you give me the honor of escorting you along?"
[20:24] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 20 on sense motive to get a gut feeling on this guy's intentions
[20:27] <Alicia> "No, I don't think so," Alicia replies. "Now that I don't have to worry about the insanity back there I feel quite safe." She sounds mostly convincing but with just the faintest hesitation in case anyone with a skilled ear is listening.
[20:28] <Kotono> "Hmph," He crosses his arms there, leering down at Alicia! "What's your name then?" He leans forward just a little, looking bigger than he is.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Lyssa," Alicia mangles her own name just enough to avoid being caught in a lie. Technically. Mystra would understand, surely. "And yours, my simian countenanced friend?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "SImian? What the fuck is that?" He asks with a stormy look. "It's Peter."
[20:34] * Demedais is now known as taihover
[20:34] <Alicia> "Don't worry your sloping head about it, Peter," Alicia smiles disarmingly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a trying few days and would like to rest my feet for a spell, perhaps parch my thirst," she makes a little shooing gesture before looking around for a tavern or inn or somesuch.
[20:36] <Kotono> "What...?" Peter looks confused as Alicia looks about! There is indeed an inn, a small one. It's named 'Whitewall's Bed and Breakfast.' Going inside, you don't see much of a tavern, but there is a teenaged girl up front, playing with a few copper coins as she keeps watch. On Alicia entering the plain inn, "Oh, a traveler! Our rate is 2 CP for a hay mat in the stables and 2 silver for a room. 1 gold for a room and a bath."
[20:39] <Alicia> "A room will do nicely, my dear," Alicia smiles at the girl. "But before that, is there much in the way of refreshments around here? I need to sit down and have a nice drink..."
[20:40] * taihover (~ferixstad@141.218.208.193) Quit (backlatermustgonowsheesh)
[20:41] <Kotono> "Water or..." She makes a drinking motion with her hand, "That sorta drink?" A snort then, "Got some fancy wine for ya, too. It's from the Reynes winery, if you want it."
[20:42] <Alicia> "Oh. Those people," Alicia mutters in disgust. "Well, I suppose wine is wine. I'll have the bottle," she nods while taking a seat.
[20:45] <Kotono> "'nother 5 silver," she says as she gets up, coming back with the bottle. There's just a few tables here, not really any sort of tavern proper, jus ta small commons room. The chairs are hard wood, not all that giving compared to others Alicia has sat in recently. The bottle and a wooden cup are put down in front of her. "Those people? I hear they live not to far from here - bunch of rich stoneheads."
[20:48] <Alicia> "Have a seat and pour yourself a glass - I find drinking alone to be terribly sad, and things are depressing enough lately," Alicia smiles invitingly to the girl, putting a single gold coin on the table. "Anyway, I'll admit that I don't know too much about the Reyneses, but they're supporting the idiots in charge of Kelara and that's bad enough for me," she nods sagaciously.
[20:51] <Kotono> The gold coin gets attention, alright, the girl going to sit next to her. She gets another wooden cup first, pouring drinks for both of you. "Don't mind if I do," she says, taking a drink.  "Yeah, just a bunch of rich idiots,"
[20:54] <Alicia> "Nothing wrong with being rich," Alicia smirks as she clinks her cup against the girl's. "But oh, those blasted ignorant nobles... I'm starting to think that those rebels have a point, the way the idiots in charge are clambering over each others corpses to mess everything up."
[21:00] <Kotono> "Maaaaybe," Drinking again from her glass, "Dangerous times here, at least. Alls orts of things could go wrong..."
[21:03] <Alicia> "I confess, I had heard things weren't exactly sunshine out in the periphery," Alicia admits as she sips her wine, "But now they'll lock you up or worse just for speaking out of turn - I was lucky to get out of Kelara, and I don't plan on returning until things are settled. And let me say I'm not expecting any miracles from those idiot nobles," she concludes knowingly.
[21:05] <Kotono> "Of course not," Raising her glass and finishing it off, "That's just how it goes. I'm sure they'll ride on golden wagons and carraiges all the way to the Desert Fiefdoms or Nodlitz at worst."
[21:08] <Alicia> "I wouldn't be so sure. Half of them are dead already, and I don't see the other half getting out of this with their heads," Alicia declares grimly. "Hopefully once they're gone we can get some proper leadership around here."

[Corwin]

[18:46] <Alicia> [21:00] <Kotono> "Maaaaybe," Drinking again from her glass, "Dangerous times here, at least. Alls orts of things could go wrong..."
[18:46] <Alicia> [21:03] <Alicia> "I confess, I had heard things weren't exactly sunshine out in the periphery," Alicia admits as she sips her wine, "But now they'll lock you up or worse just for speaking out of turn - I was lucky to get out of Kelara, and I don't plan on returning until things are settled. And let me say I'm not expecting any miracles from those idiot nobles," she concludes knowingly.
[18:46] <Alicia> [21:05] <Kotono> "Of course not," Raising her glass and finishing it off, "That's just how it goes. I'm sure they'll ride on golden wagons and carraiges all the way to the Desert Fiefdoms or Nodlitz at worst."
[18:46] <Alicia> [21:08] <Alicia> "I wouldn't be so sure. Half of them are dead already, and I don't see the other half getting out of this with their heads," Alicia declares grimly. "Hopefully once they're gone we can get some proper leadership around here."
[18:47] * Celenu (WinNT@user-514ff92b.l4.c4.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
[18:48] <Kotono> "MIght just be," The woman drinks her second cup down at a more reserved pace, "It might just be. Got out when the getting was good, girl? Didn't want to lose your own head"
[18:48] <Kotono> ?
[18:52] * Alicia is still sipping away on her first cup. "Lets just say I'm more worried about what the people currently in charge would do rather than what anyone hypothetically about to become in charge would do," she opines darkly. "Oh, we haven't been introduced - you should always know the name of the person you're drinking with, I say. I'm 'Lyssa," she then adds in a show of manners.
[18:54] <Kotono> "Thanks. Name's Jessica," She offers her hand out, "Jessy's fine."
[18:56] * Alicia shakes the hand and chuckles. "I know another Jessica. Nice woman," she notes before making a show of looking around the empty inn. "You know, given the reception I got coming into town, I can't say I'm surprised you don't have many travellers."
[18:58] <Kotono> "Pfah," With a snort, "Most of them are too scared to leave their precious town, I bet." Finishing her second drink there, "At least you got some guts for a city girl."
[19:00] <Alicia> Having finished her first drink Alicia pours another round for each of them. "Guts, common sense, call it what you like," Alicia smirks. "I'm better off here than I was there, trust me on that."
[19:01] <Kotono> "Good for you," Toasting Alicia with her wooden glass, "Where are you going to go then, Lyssa?"
[19:05] * Alicia returns the toast and drinks up. "I was thinking of just laying low around here for a while. Much as I'd like to settle a few scores with those nobles there's a lot of them and only one of me - so instead I'll just wait for them to get killed by the rebels and return once they're gone." Setting her cup down she finishes with a question, "Anything interesting around here besides dodging the ham-fisted attentions of amorous farmhands?"
[19:07] <Kotono> "Not much. Kelara's sewn up tight," With a waveo f her hand as she drinks, "We're only seeing soldiers coming to buy food and send it in. Bastards. They're gonna start shorting us and call it an emergency situation soon, I bet."
[19:10] <Alicia> "Well, they're just doing their jobs, really," Alicia allows graciously. "It's the ones pulling their strings that are at fault. Hmm..." she picks up her cup, has a sip and then swirls it idly in her hand as she leans back. "To be honest with all the rumours, I'd half expected to be accosted by rebels while on the road here."
[19:14] <Kotono> "Well, it just shows you what the city people know: Just about zero!" Sipping again befgore she watches Alicia swirl her cup, "And that's the truth, no matter how you spin it up."
[19:16] <Alicia> "Then by all means, dear Jessy - educate me," Alicia invites, batting her eyelashes winsomely. She straightens up and affects a more composed demeanour, "In all seriousness, though, I am interested in hearing what's actually going on out here."
[19:28] <Kotono> "Oh, there are things. Say, you're staying the night?" With a long look to Alicia, "Why don't you head upstairs and get some rest, Lyssa? Be nice and fresh for the evening, say?
[19:28] <Kotono> "
[19:37] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 20 on sense motive to get a gut feeling on the girl's intentions
[19:38] * taicone (~ferixstad@resnet208-193.resnet.wmich.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[19:39] <Alicia> "Oh?" Alicia arches an eyebrow. "Some exciting social event, perhaps? You've piqued my curiousity, Jessy."
[19:41] <Kotono> "Something like that. Go get some rest," STanding up and patting Lyssa on the shoulder, "I'll see you tonight."
[19:42] <Alicia> "Hmph. A woman in my position might be inclined to get worried by such mysterious foreshadowing," Alicia notes as she also rises. "But I've got a good feeling about you, Jessy. Keep the change," she offers with a smile as she grabs her staff and heads upstairs.
[19:45] <Kotono> "Don't worry about it," THus Alicia goes upstairs. She finds her room to be a simple looking one, with a straw bed and a few chairs. There's a small fireplace, currently not in use. Otherwise it's very much a standard, basic inn room. OOC - Ball's in your court
[19:48] <Alicia> Is there a window?
[19:50] <Kotono> There's a single window, yes. It gives a view outward towards the spirals, several fields of grain and crops visible.
[19:52] * Alicia opens the window and settles in to make herself comfortable for the next twenty or so minutes...
[19:55] <Kotono> Twenty minutes pass without incident. You can see men working in the afternoon outside, cropwork continuing apace. You can hear a moo as a man walks a cow down the side streets.
[19:56] <Alicia> Oh, while she's here she checks over the furnishings, looking for a place someone could theoretically hide - is there room under the bed? Up the chimmney? Is there a closet?
[19:57] <Kotono> The chimney is fairly wide but would require climbing, not to mention getting you quite sooty. There's no closet, but there's space under the bed.
[20:00] <Alicia> Alright, now it's time to collect Antenora. Casting Fly on herself while standing well out of sight from the window, Alicia then uses her borrowed wand to turn invisible before zipping out of said window and flying straight towards the meeting place she agreed with the erinyes.
[20:04] <Kotono> The river bend and the trees are indeed quite an agreeable spot. On arriving, Alicia doesn't see Antenora immediately - on a casual glance, one wouldn't think anything was amiss at all.
[20:05] <Alicia> Unfortunately Antenora still has a sad aura from her six hundred years as a nasty fiend, and Alicia is perfectly capable of seeking it out if it's within the vicinity.
[20:07] <Kotono> She's hiding quite well in some bushes, obscured well enough from Alicia's searching eye.
[20:07] <Kotono> *not well enough.
[20:08] <Alicia> "Antenora," Alicia hisses quietly after floating over towards the bushes.
[20:10] <Kotono> Antenora slowly pokes her head out, shaking it to dislodge a few leaves from her hair. "Alicia?"
[20:12] <Alicia> "I've got a room at the inn, that building over there," Alicia takes Antenora's hand and points it in the direction of said inn, since any pointing on her own part would be a futile gesture. "I'm going to turn you invisible, then we'll fly back over to my room - it's the one with the open window facing West."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Right," Antenora emerges ever so slightly, bulging up from her hiding spot, "Do it."
[20:15] * Alicia waves the wand over Antenora to make her vanish from sight before stowing it away once more. "Use telepathy from here on," she whispers before taking off back to the inn.
[20:16] <Kotono> 'Right.' As the two fly back, or at least in theory they do, 'Anything happen there yet?'
[20:18] <Alicia> 'People from the city aren't popular here at all. I've laid some groundwork establishing my opposition to the current regime but it might take a while to bear fruit. Apparently there's some sort of event in the evening that the nice young lady at the inn said I should be well rested in preparation for,' Alicia summarises as they silently and invisibly fly back across the town.
[20:21] <Kotono> On arrivial to the room, you find nothing seems to have changed. Once inside, 'So are we waiting for this evening now, or...?'
[20:24] <Alicia> 'I'm going to wait for now - something tells me that whatever occurs this evening is important. She wouldn't have been so foreboding if it was trivial,' Alicia surmises. Belatedly, she goes to see if the door can be locked from the inside, and whether it's a key or a bolt lock.
[20:25] <Kotono> There's a lock on the door - it's a simple iron bolt lock.
[20:30] * Alicia slides the lock shut. 'You'll need to hide if someone comes - either under the bed or up the chimmney - but the lock should give enough time that you don't have to stay there all the time.' Dismissing her invisibility spell, Alicia goes to close the window, 'Just keep away from here. No sense taking chances.'
[20:31] <Kotono> 'Right,' Antenora says, 'Once the invisibility wears off. How long does it last?'
[20:32] <Alicia> 'Three minutes - wands are always made with the lowest amount of power necessary to get the spell out, for some reason,' Alicia replies as she goes to sit on the bed.
[20:33] <Kotono> 'Until then...' Antenora settles in. Soon enoughy ou can see her, resting in a corner and simply waiting...OOC - Do you want to skip aehad?
[20:33] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-222-120.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #dunes
[20:33] * Taishyr is now known as taihome
[20:33] <Alicia> OOC: works. I'll recast voice of the archon around sundown if nothing happens before then
[20:36] <Kotono> The day passes in a relative peace and quiet. Light conversation is had here and there, but nothing really of note. Come sundown Alicia casts her spell, invoking the voice of the archon into her again. Red rays of dying sunlight spill into the room, darkness onrushing, coming closer with every second.
[20:37] * taihome (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-222-120.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
[20:37] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-222-120.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #dunes
[20:39] * Alicia watches the sun set before deciding now's as good a time as any to do something. 'I'm going to see what's happening. Hide yourself in case anyone wanders in, but keep an ear out for trouble,' she tells Antenora, going to open the window so it'll be easier for her to hear any potential trouble outside.
[20:40] <Kotono> 'Yes. Be careful," Antneora takes the time to hide under Alicia's bed, and lightly, "I wish this room had a closet or some place to hide in with more space."
[20:42] <Alicia> 'I know, it's a pain,' Alicia agrees. 'But it's the only inn in town, I think.' Grabbing her staff, Alicia goes to unlock the door and head downstairs, closing it behind her.
[20:43] <Kotono> Thus Alicia heads out! The inn has a few people in it's front, mostly farmers and farmhand relaxing and drinking. A few look a ther rather long, though none make any -immediate- move at her. Jessy's sitting back and looking out a window at the encroaching night.
[20:43] <Alicia> OOC: wait a sec
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: Strike then.
[20:44] <Alicia> OOC: before heading down I cast message to link Anty and myself
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Carry on then.
[20:45] <Alicia> If anyone smiles at Alicia, she gives them a smile back. If they look hostile she simply averts her gaze and moves on, going to take a seat by Jessy. "Well, it's evening time and I'm now thoroughly bored. Perhaps now you can tell me what excitement the night promises?"
[20:48] <Kotono> "Sure," Smiling as Lyssa comes up to her, "C'mon with me." She stands up, heading out towards the door and the fresh air of outside.
[20:48] <Alicia> "Do lead on, then," Alicia smiles in reply as she follows easily enough.
[20:51] <Kotono> The pair heads outside. They head down an arm of the spiral, away from the clustered center of the city. Out here there are a few things - including a bar with wide open doors that Alicia is lead to. Inside you can see a fire burning bright, no stalls and mostly open space for hay. A few men are here nad there, sticking close to the fire.
[20:52] * Alicia looks around curiously, naturally alert for any evil presences as she waits for some sort of elaboration from Jessy. Is this a bar or a barn?
[20:54] <Kotono> It's pretty much a barn to a look, though mostly empty. One of the men - a short one wearing only pants and having a lot of muscle - radiates faint evil. "Is that her," Another asks, a tall one with flowing brown hair and a scar over his chin.
[20:54] <Kotono> "Yeah, it's her," Jessy calls, "Lyssa's her name."
[20:54] * Taishyr is now known as taibeep
[20:55] * taibeep is now known as tai-beepinglaggymodel
[20:55] <Alicia> "Hello," Alicia greets him, giving Jessy a faintly curious look before giving her attention to the man. "And you might be...?"
[20:57] <Kotono> "Michael," He grins to Alicia, all while restraining back from her. "I heard you came from the city while the going was good."
[20:58] <Alicia> "Things are hardly good there right now, but I expect they'll get worse before they get better," Alicia replies with a nod, briefly glancing at the others present to see what their take on this is.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Right," A stronger nod to that, "So you know the city, eh? I was wondering if you could do us a favor since you do."
[21:04] * Alicia narrows her eyes. "That depends..."
[21:06] <Kotono> A third speaks up, a well worked farm man with a slight limp. "I need to get into Kelara. My daughter's there and I need to go to talk sense into her. Problem is that I don't have any papers to get in. But if you just came from Kelara, that means you have papers, don't you?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "You don't look like a 'Lyssa to me," Alicia tells him with a smirk, enjoying the accident of language that made her say her name normally despite the mangling she gives it in this persona. "Besides, how do you know I walked out the gates like a good girl? Maybe I had to sneak out without anyone knowing about it..."
[21:12] <Kotono> "Maybe so," He says, "But I lose nothing by asking." Looking on at Lyssa, "We can work something out once we get some papers to work with, I'ms u re."
[21:13] <Alicia> "You're right, there's nothing lost in asking," Alicia agrees. "So lets turn the question around - what do I gain from answering?"

[Corwin]

[16:35] <Alicia> [21:04] * Alicia narrows her eyes. "That depends..."
[16:35] <Alicia> [21:06] <Kotono> A third speaks up, a well worked farm man with a slight limp. "I need to get into Kelara. My daughter's there and I need to go to talk sense into her. Problem is that I don't have any papers to get in. But if you just came from Kelara, that means you have papers, don't you?"
[16:35] <Alicia> [21:09] <Alicia> "You don't look like a 'Lyssa to me," Alicia tells him with a smirk, enjoying the accident of language that made her say her name normally despite the mangling she gives it in this persona. "Besides, how do you know I walked out the gates like a good girl? Maybe I had to sneak out without anyone knowing about it..."
[16:35] <Alicia> [21:12] <Kotono> "Maybe so," He says, "But I lose nothing by asking." Looking on at Lyssa, "We can work something out once we get some papers to work with, I'ms u re."
[16:35] <Alicia> [21:13] <Alicia> "You're right, there's nothing lost in asking," Alicia agrees. "So lets turn the question around - what do I gain from answering?"
[16:37] * CC is now known as Seira
[16:40] <Kotono> "My gratitude and the gratitude of my friends," Looking about to the men assembled here, "People in the countryside have to help each other. You can't just go running to the guard whenever you get a stubbed toe or someone looks at you wrong."
[16:42] <Alicia> "I've learned that guards can't really be relied on anyway," Alicia replies cooly. "Perhaps you can offer a more meaningful incentive?"
[16:46] <Kotono> You get long looks at that, the evil aurad man spitting and speaking up for the first time. "City dwellers, always in it for them. Me, me, me, me, me. Spoiled witch." Even as he heaps disdain on Alicia, the other man calmly clears his throat.
[16:47] <Kotono> "I can respect self interest. It's a sign of motivation," he says, "I can offer you a little bit of gold, if that's what you want."
[16:50] <Alicia> "Self interest is what keeps me alive through such difficult times," Alicia favours the namecaller with a smile before turning back to the other man. "I might be able to provide a set of forged papers for you, my friend..."
[16:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive on his reasons for getting the papers
[16:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive on his reasons for getting the papers and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
[16:52] <Kotono> "Really?" With his eyes growing wider at that, "How will I know forged papers will pass muster?"
[16:54] <Alicia> "You won't," Alicia replies honestly. "The guards might see right through them and have you locked up for making the attempt." Her eyes narrow, "And they're not very kind to lawbreakers right now, in case you haven't noticed."
[16:56] <Kotono> "Mph." Crossing his arms as he bows his head to think, "Tell you what. How about I write you a note and you go back to Kelara yourself. No forged papers, no problems."
[16:59] <Alicia> "Certainly a safer plan for you, my friend," Alicia smiles toothily, it not reaching her eyes. "Less so for me. Still, I'm not without my resources... I might be able to do this for you, yes."
[17:02] <Kotono> "That would be good," Smilling back at her with a wide grin, "I really need to at least get a message to my daughter. Besides...if things go really sour, it'll pay to have someone out here owing you a favor."
[17:06] <Alicia> "Hmph," Alicia gives him a warning look, "You'll find I'm a woman who collects on her debts. Alright - go and write up your missive, and I'll have it delivered to your daughter by morning."
[17:10] <Kotono> "Yeah," He nods and goes off, leaving Alicia alone. The first, barechested man watches him go, before turning to Alicia, "You're not an easy mark, woman," he observes without much emotion in his voice, eyes half shut as he looks at her. "Milked poor Reg for all he's worth."
[17:12] <Alicia> "Trying to make me feel guilty?" Alicia smirks at him. "Please, he should be grateful I'm doing this much."
[17:13] <Kotono> "Brr," The evil auraed man makes to rub his arms, "It just got nippy in here."
[17:14] <Kotono> "Just like ice," The barechested man agrees, "Colder, even."
[17:14] * Alicia rolls her eyes at the theatrics. "Anyway, the father's problem is obvious. What's your stake in this?" she looks between the remaining men.
[17:23] <Kotono> The shirtless one shrugs. "We got our reasons. That's good enough."
[17:24] <Alicia> "Does everyone in this town delight in vagueness?" Alicia turns to Jessy to ask her question with a slight edge of irritation.
[17:25] <Kotono> Jessy just grins, thumping's Alicia's back. "Like hell if they trust a city dweller right off. Just go with it. You gotta earn your stripes, is that clear enough?"
[17:27] <Alicia> "Things never used to be this way," Alicia grumbles, half tempted to force the evil man into confessing his whole agenda. But better not to do that with witnesses. "So what happens once I 'earn my stripes'?"
[17:32] <Kotono> "You'll fit right on with us then," Jessy clasps Alicia's back again. "Won't that be good once you do that and get back, Lyssa?"
[17:35] <Alicia> "What, you mean get back to the city you all hate so much?" Alicia returns. "I'm likely only here until those nobles are gone - I don't exactly plan to settle down for a quiet country life just yet."
[17:45] <Kotono> "Yes, well..." Jessy just smiles again. "We'lls ee about that."
[17:46] <Alicia> "You're back to being vague and foreboding," Alicia comments nonplussed. "I may have to do something about that."
[17:56] <Kotono> "Aaaw," Batting her eyelashes at Jessy, "You wouldn't, would you?"
[18:12] <Alicia> "You might be surprised at some of the things I'm capable of, young lady," Alicia replies warningly, crossing her arms and looking around impatiently.

[Corwin]

[18:51] <Kotono> <Alicia> "What, you mean get back to the city you all hate so much?" Alicia returns. "I'm likely only here until those nobles are gone - I don't exactly plan to settle down for a quiet country life just yet."
[18:51] <Kotono> > "Yes, well..." Jessy just smiles again. "We'lls ee about that."
[18:51] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You're back to being vague and foreboding," Alicia comments nonplussed. "I may have to do something about that."
[18:51] <Kotono> > "Aaaw," Batting her eyelashes at Jessy, "You wouldn't, would you?"
[18:51] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You might be surprised at some of the things I'm capable of, young lady," Alicia replies warningly, crossing her arms and looking around impatiently.
[18:52] <Kotono> The barechested man gawffs at that, "So touchy. Just relax for a little bit. Here," He takes a small metal flask he has tucked into his pants pocket, taking a nip from it before offering it to Lyssa. "Good strong stuff to help you unwind."
[18:57] * Alicia accepts the flask and takes a swig without any hesitation.
[18:58] <Kotono> This, so to speak, puts hair on Alicia's chest. It's incredibly strong whiskey of some sort, making her eyes water freely and her throat burn. Her head swims from it, the taste like slightly refined acid. However, a few moments later, the kick that follows is incredibly potent.
[18:59] <Kotono> The evil man chuckles at Lyssa, going to warm his hands in front of the fire, while keeping a sidelong view of her going.
[19:00] * Alicia is grateful for her resistance to poison, because that's really all she could call this. "Vile stuff," she opines, doing her best to seem entirely unaffected as she replaces the cap and tosses the flask back to its owner.
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 bluff
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 bluff and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
[19:00] <Alicia> OOC: +10, voice of archon
[19:02] <Kotono> The man grins as he takes it back, goign to thump Alicia on the shoulder. "Gond alive, you took that like a champion. You're alright." Putting the vile flask away, even as Alicia feels her head swim, "You're still up. Did I even introduce myself before?" His face splits into a wide, toothy grin. OOc - Make a fort save?
[19:02] <Kotono> OOC: +4 to poison applies, it's close enough.
[19:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31."12 [1d20=7]
[19:03] * taireallysick is now known as taigraine
[19:05] <Alicia> "No... in fact none of you have," Alicia looks between all those present, before belatedly adding, "Aside from my good friend Jessy here," and swinging her arm around the girl's shoulders and affecting a tipsy grin. It might be better to make them lower their guard if she does seem a bit inebriated.
[19:05] <Kotono> Jessy grins and supports Alicia, "I'm really surprised your up. I didn't think some city girl had it in her."
[19:07] <Kotono> "Alan," The barechested man says, as the other says, "John."
[19:07] <Kotono> After that, "Yeah, neither did I." Alan admits, still grinning. "Look, Iknow it's like we're trying to wring you out and bullshit you around. But most of your city folk aren't worth a horseshit left on the ground."
[19:07] <Alicia> "What, you think all we do in the city is sit around sipping tea an' tradin' knitting' recipes?" Alicia asks in a tone of amused indignation, seemingly oblivious to her calculated verbal slipup. Giving Jessy an affectionate squeeze she nods to the men in turn, "'Lyssa, as you already know."
[19:08] <Kotono> "Yeah," Jessy grins as well, squeezing back, "You're alright, Lyssa. Do this favor and you'll get in real good, trust me. I know it's a pain the ass, but it'll be worth it."
[19:09] <Kotono> "Ha ha ha," Taking his flask out and having a second hit, "Guess you don't, at least."
[19:10] <Alicia> "It better be," Alicia nods her head up and down. "Was a lotta trouble gettin' out of there clean. Lucky I've gots a ways to send word in there without any old 'friends' catchin' wind."
[19:11] <Kotono> "Heh, heh," Going to sit, the barechested man pats the ground, "C'mon, sit down and we'll pass the time 'till he gets back."
[19:12] <Kotono> Jessy laughs at that, "Good, good. All those stupid bastards in the city don't have a clue 'cept to be dumb assholes."
[19:12] <Kotono> John is quieter, keeping a polite distance.
[19:14] <Alicia> Disentangling herself from Jessy, Alicia goes over to the fire - her feet seem steady enough despite a little sway in her gait - and primly kneels down with her legs folded under her and fully obscured by her long skirt. She lays her quarterstaff on the ground beside her, "Hey now, I'm from the city and I'm plannin' to go back there, too," she reprimands.
[19:15] <Kotono> "Yeah, well..." Jessy shrugs and sits next to Lyssa. "Maybe you'll change your mind by the time all this blows over?"
[19:15] <Kotono> Alan grins and offers the flask again, "Maybe she won't, but she'll be okay. Lyssa's got a real good head on her."
[19:17] * Alicia accepts and takes another swig, steeling herself beforehand for the wretched taste violating her poor throat. There's really nothing good about being a spy, she reflects, before handing the flask back to Alan with an apologetic look to Jessy, "You're too young for this," she nods with overdone seriousness.
[19:19] <Kotono> Another drink makes Alicia's vision blur, her body burning like a white hot fire as the drink works down to her stomach. "Ah, bullSHIT!" she protests, glaring with mock heat. "Gimme that," she challenges. "I can take two shots of that like it's no thing at all!"
[19:20] <Kotono> Laughing now as he takes a slight sip of it, Alan puts the flask back, "Fraid she might be right, Jessica. 'sides, you'll try to drink too much of it and fall flat over. I ain't wasting good booze on that."
[19:21] * Alicia leans close to Jessica as if to whisper, but her voice comes out very loud. "Don't feel bad, Jessica. It tastes like ogre-piss."
[19:22] <Kotono> "Baaah!" Alan crosses his arms even as Jessy breaks into laughter. "No taste from a city girl!"
[19:22] <Kotono> OOC - Make another fort save?
[19:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 34."12 [1d20=10]
[19:23] <Kotono> Meanwhile, "Having fun?" Your message maker has returned, a glance at Alan seen briefly as he comes into view. Alan nods back to him.
[19:24] <Alicia> "No," Alicia huffs. "They're trying to poison me."
[19:25] <Kotono> "Heh," He cracks a bit of a smile, a rolled up scroll held in his hand. "Don't mess her up anymore, you idiots," he sighs. "Fun and games are good, but not now. Here's the scroll. I wrote the instructions down here," he produces a second one, a smaller scroll, "In case Alan got to you."
[19:26] * Alicia takes both scrolls and unrolls the second. "Directions, description, name, that sort of thing?" she confirms while scanning it by the firelight.
[19:30] <Kotono> "Yep," He says. It has a handdrawn map of a part of Kelara - the lower-middle part of it for wealth, a small communial house from what Alicia knows of the city. A boardhouse. The person's name is Elizabeth, she has short blonde hair, green eyes and is medium height.
[19:31] <Kotono> "See, that' done. She can leave in the morning," Alan grins, "We were having fun getting drunk." Making a shooing motion, "Go back home now, it's taken care of."
[19:32] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia uses her quarterstaff as a lever to pull herself to her feet. "Worry not, Reg. I'll have a reply from your beloved daughter tomorrow," she confirms.
[19:33] <Kotono> Jessy rises as well, throwing an arm around Lyssa. "See, she has it taken care of! She took two drinks of Alan's homebrew and she can stand!" Grinning, "Girl's tougher than a troll, you hear? Damn, it took you years to be ablet o take one shot without falling on your ass."
[19:34] <Kotono> Without much of a smile, "Still, the matter's done. And if that's true, congratulations. You're made of steel." With a nod to Lyssa. "Thank you. We'll talk again once you return."
[19:35] * Alicia nods to Reg, though her eyes narrow slightly as she looks between Jessy and Alan. "And what would have happened to delicate and innocent me if I *had* been knocked out by your witch's brew?"
[19:36] <Kotono> "I'd have taken you back to your room," Jessy answers smoothly, "Oh come on, you passed a biiiiiiiig test," she leans in to whisper it, before wobbling out and away, barely holding onto Lyssa. "Anyone who can take a shot of that's not a worthless city girl."
[19:38] <Alicia> "I've been called many things, Jessica, but never worthless," Alicia notes, dusting off her skirt. "Anyways, I'd best get going. Things to do and such."
[19:39] <Kotono> "Yeah, yeah," Jessy amidts, "Want some company?" she asks, "Have a nice stroll back to the inn?"
[19:41] <Alicia> "I'd be delighted to enjoy your presence, of course," Alicia smiles sweetly. Too sweetly, for anyone with half a brain. Holding that for a moment, she turns for the exit. "Alan. John. I'm sure we'll chat again," she gives them a brief wave in passing.
[19:42] <Kotono> Thus the two head out, a few partings called. Once out, Jessy stretches under the dark sky. "Yeah..." she breathes out, too easy laughter coming. "Sorry if I talked down to you earlier, Lyssa." Her smile tames itself, "You really aren't so bad."
[19:44] <Alicia> "Well you didn't glare and mutter as soon as you saw me, or imply I might get raped, so it puts you ahead of most people here," Alicia replies smoothly.
[19:44] <Kotono> "Yeah, well..." Rubbing the back of her head, she stops as you walk down the quiet farmland. "Hey, Lyssa. Stop. I wa-need to ask you something."
[19:45] * Alicia obligingly stops and turns to Lyssa with an expectant look.
[19:45] <Alicia> OOC: to Jessica
[19:46] <Kotono> "Look..." She looks down a moment, holding her arm with her other hand, "Were you looking to return to the city after all this?"
[19:48] <Alicia> "Most likely... or perhaps I'll move elsewhere if things don't turn out for the best, but we'll see how things turn out first," Alicia replies after some consideration. "The quiet country life isn't for me, Jessy."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Alright, then do what you're asked here and come back. It'll make your life a lot better once this lbows over," After that her smile returns, taking Alicia's hand. "Alright then," she asks as she starts to walk again.
[19:49] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (Client exited)
[19:50] <Alicia> "There's a lot you're not telling me, Jessy," Alicia observes as her hand is taken, walking in step with the young woman.
[19:50] <Kotono> "Yeah...come on, can't you guess," she smiles a little, "Do this and you'll be in good shape after all of this."
[19:52] <Alicia> "All of the ominous vagueness was a clue in of itself," Alicia agrees. "You're with the rebels, aren't you?" she asks, keeping her voice low.
[19:52] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5445eb1d.lns4-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[19:52] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[20:01] <Kotono> "Yeah, well..." She shrugs again, "Just do what you're asked and you'll be golden. Okay?" She turns to look at Lyssa, her smile there, but not really on. Her eyes are far too serious.
[20:04] <Alicia> "I've no love for the nobles of Kelara," Alicia replies honestly, "But... what if I'm asked to do more than send a message next? I've heard that the rebels are somewhat... indiscriminate in their targets."
[20:05] <Kotono> "Don't worry about it," With a warming smile as the two saunter back towards the center of the spiral, "Come on. How about we go and have another bottle of wine and then talk?" she offers, "Instead of talking all out here."
[20:06] <Alicia> "I think there's a lot to talk about, yes," Alicia agrees as she walks in step with her rebellious young friend.
[20:08] <Kotono> The return to the inn is otherwise without incident. It's more or less emptied out by now, the two having it alone as Jessy fetches a bottle of wine. Pouring a pair of wineglasses full and then raising her glass, "Cheers," she says, "Yeah, guess you got our eyes, alright. You're pretty lucky and good that you're coming off so well."
[20:12] * Alicia clinks her glass with Jessica's and then takes a long sip. After that swill earlier wine is almost welcome to wash the taste away. "Aren't you a little young to be mixed up in this sort of thing, though?" Admittedly she's probably older than Seira, but Seira's special.
[20:14] <Kotono> "Special times call for special measures," she says plainly. Drinking deeper of her own glass, "A bit of wisdom from my Dad. It's true...and I'm 19." Puffing out a bit, "Really. I'm an adult as much as you."
[20:16] * Alicia gives Jessy a melancholy smile. "They grow up so fast..." she reflects, briefly thinking of her own lost son. He'd be ten, now... Forcing herself to return to the present before she becomes too maudlin, she focuses on the mission. "So, what's this rebellion all about? Aside from the welcome dissolution of the noble council, I can't say that I've heard much of anything good about it."
[20:17] <Kotono> Smiling as she drains her drink, "It's time for a change. It's time for hope instead of all the endless neglect from the nobles. It's time to do something besides be easy prey for bandits and the occasional monster. You probably don't have a clue since you're from the city." With a nasty snort, "We're not even a day from Kelara here and they may as well be on the other side of the ocean."
[20:19] <Kotono> Getting another glass, "I grew up hearing about how we had to be careful, about how bandits and monsters can get you, about how careful my Mom was with me until I got taught how to defend myself." Drinking deeper from her new glass, "And you can go in the city and be safe from them. Fuck that."
[20:21] <Alicia> "I know all about bandits," Alicia replies with aching bitterness, before she collects herself. "And that's what the tales in the city say - that the rebels are bandits, dressed up in fancy dogma but still the same in action."
[20:23] <Kotono> "They don't know shit!" With a sharpness that belies her feminine voice, "I lost my dear Aunt Diana to a bandit raid. Bandits kill for greed. We're not like that, no matter how much the nobles lie about it!"
[20:23] <Kotono> Draining her glass again and putting it down with a thump, "You know all about bandits, eh? Do you think I'd give them the time of day if they were just bandits?"
[20:27] * Alicia shakes her head. "You seem like you have a good head on your shoulders, Jessica," she admits. "But it's easy to dress up abominable acts in pretty rhetoric. And easy to be taken in if the one speaking for the cause is charismatic enough. So tell me - tell me all about this rebellion so I can know for myself."
[20:29] <Kotono> There's a pause there, a longer one. As it stretches, she goes for another drink, draining it down in one gulp. "It's for change," she says slowly. "To overthrow the nobles. It's ...because he talked to us so well. It's because overthrowing them is so important."
[20:31] <Alicia> "Then what happens?" Alicia presses, finishing off her own drink and pouring another round for them both. "You won't hear any disagreement from me that the noble council is a wretched system of government, but what replaces it?"
[20:32] <Kotono> Sipping her drink, "...I don't know," she says, half in wonder. "I mean, things will change for the better, but..."
[20:32] <Kotono> After a moment, she looks up with widening eyes. "I'm really not sure."
[20:33] <Alicia> "That doesn't sound good," Alicia shakes her head. "A weak government is bad, yes. But no government? That's far worse."
[20:33] <Kotono> After a longer moment, "I don't know. I just...he made everything sound right. His voice. That's what I remember the most besides that mask. Everything was so reasonable and h ewas right! The nobles have to go! But..."
[20:35] <Alicia> While Alicia does want to know about the leader of the rebels, she's taken with Jessy enough that she considers it more important to undo her apparent bewitchment. "That's all we've heard in the city as well. Bring down the nobles! But, as sad as it makes me to say it, if the nobles fall then so will Kelara, unless someone is there to pick it up once they're gone."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Then, surely he will?" Jessy asks, drinking again. Her eyes are quite red now, her words starting to slur. "There's no way he won't. Right? Why else would he be doing this?"
[20:37] <Kotono> After a moment, Jessy reaches out for Alicia's hand, "Lyssa, I never thought about this like that. It's just...I really can't explain it. It's like he knew what was bothering us and lanced open all the resentment."
[20:38] <Alicia> "Has he said anything about what he'll do in that case?" Alicia asks, subtly moving the bottle away to the other side of the table with her free hand as the other is taken. Jessy's had enough to drink and Alicia would be happy enough to forgo any more.
[20:39] <Kotono> "No. But he made so much sense." With a deepening scowl, "He even deflected telling us his name. We just called him 'him' or 'he'. But it worked. I twas finally our chance to change things!"
[20:40] <Alicia> "Why don't you tell me about him, then?" Alicia asks as she squeezes Jessy's hand. "It sounds like he's the mastermind, after all."
[20:43] <Kotono> "He came on us one evening, when we were having drinks. He started talking to us, casually, but he got our attention. He got Jane's the most, she latched right into it. Jane...my Mother." she adds in. "He told us what was coming and we could be a part of it."
[20:43] <Kotono> "That mask...that's what stuck out the most. I twas of a bearded man, with some sort of strange hat. We never saw his face, but the mask was very well made and polished."
[20:45] <Alicia> "Do you know where he came from? Where he was going?" Alicia asks, idly noting the irony that she's probably having a similar effect on Jessy as the mastermind did.
[20:46] <Kotono> "No. Just that..." After that she shrugs, squeezing Alicia's hand. She gets up, coming to sit at the chair right next to her. "I was happy. I could finally do something to make my AUnt's death mean something."
[20:51] <Alicia> "I understand," Alicia sighs. "That need to do something to make things right. It was the same for me, eight years ago..." she lets that linger for a moment before she shakes off the urge to reminisce, leaning close to Jessy. "But do you know something, Jessy? Never trust a man who won't tell you his name."
[20:52] <Kotono> With a faint, wan smile, "You know, my Mom told me something like that once." With a weak smile as she looks into Alicia's eyes, "But it's funny, Lyssa. You remind me of him a little. You're just so...so....so....powerful. Bigger than life with just words."
[20:55] <Alicia> "Perhaps we're destined to be rivals?" Alicia chuckles, though with little mirth. "I admit, I do have my own secrets... but it's no lie that I want Kelara to be better than it is. I just don't think this nameless masked man has the answer."
[20:57] <Kotono> "You oppose him?" Lyssa asks softly, voice low indeed. "Lyssa...who are you? Are you really just some city girl running away?"
[20:57] <Kotono> *Jessy. Ooops.
[21:00] * Alicia takes a deep breath. She honestly has no love for this skulking about and misdirection. And it's possible she could lure the mastermind here by providing a more interesting bait. "I used to live in Lorasce, you know," she begins. "It's a day or so to the North of here, probably half the size of Whitewall, if it's lucky..."
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 fiat K:L check
[21:00] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0fiat K:L check --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{17}
[21:01] <Kotono> There's a pause, "Lyssa...no...your name's Alicia? I remember, years ago, a story about how bandits killed a husband and child, but the wife survived. Her name, it was Alicia."
[21:03] <Alicia> "Alicia Reynes, at your service," Alicia gives Jessy a wan smile. "Do the stories also tell of what I did to those same bandits when I caught up with them?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "I don't remem-" She stops there, her eyes widening. "Reynes...hahahahahahahahahaha!" Despite it she begins to laugh, drunkenly wobbing and eventually leaning against Alicia. "The same Reynes as the Reynes wineyard?"
[21:05] <Alicia> "The same," Alicia steadies Jessy. "My sister and I weren't intended nor were we inclined to follow the family business, though."
[21:06] <Kotono> "I see..." Using Alicia to keep herself upright and then back up in earnest, "I'm sorry. But you...you took revenge from them, from the sounds of it?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "I did," Alicia nods. "I was neither merciful nor kind, to them or any other bandits I encountered in my bloody swathe through Kelara. It is not something I am proud of, but in truth I do not regret it either. Afterwards... this land held too many bitter memories for me, and so I walked into the desert, not knowing if I would ever return."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Why are you back then," Jessy gazes into Alicia's eyes, rapt and drunk and allured and so many other things at once. "Because he's here?"
[21:13] <Alicia> "When I heard that Kelara was all but overrun with brigands, and even my own mother had her blood spilled, the hundreds of leagues of desert and waste seperating us were as nothing at all. I sought answers from those in the city, and then I came here to see what those in the country would say..." Alicia is free enough with the drama in weaving her tale. If she's to compete with this mastermind, she needs to be larger than life.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Ooooh..." Listening and nodding well, "You crossed the desert that quickly?"
[21:17] <Alicia> "On wings of magic the vast lands of the Pasha were traversed in the blink of an eye," Alicia smiles, before admitting, "In truth though, my summoning and means of travel were more at the behest of the Mother of All Magic."
[21:18] <Kotono> Eyes going wider and wider as Alicia's tale ensnares her, "O-oooooh...! Magic...you can cast magic?"
[21:21] <Alicia> "I can do a great many things, dear Jessica," Alicia smiles, before her expression turns troubled. "Though whether I can fix Kelara..." she shakes her head, "The noble council is not fit for its purpose, but it is likewise clear that the rebellion will not solve anything, and is in fact more likely to make things worse. It is a troubling set of events that have brought me back home..."
[21:23] <Kotono> "I think you can," Jessy blurts out, before turning bright, almost glowing red.
[21:23] <Kotono> "I mean...well..." She stumbles there, before coloring even more.
[21:26] * Alicia smiles and puts a hand on Jessy's shoulder. "That's sweet of you to say. I certainly plan on doing my best, at any rate."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Y-yes..." Taking Alicia's hand on her shoulder with her own, reaching across her body, "Can you promise me something, Alicia?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "If it's within my means..." Alicia allows.
[21:30] <Kotono> "If you win...You'll make sure nothing happens to me and my family? My mother, if they find out she's a rebel..." Jessy lowers her head. "Please."
[21:31] <Alicia> "This is important, Jessica," Alicia shifts her hand from the girl's shoulder to cradle her chin and lift it up so their gazes can meet. "Agitating for change is one thing, but has your mother directly harmed anyone during this?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "No." Jessy says earnestly, "We haven't been in all that long."
[21:32] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 on sense motive for 20
[21:35] * Alicia nods. "Alright. I'm going to do what I can to reform the noble council anyway - they need to learn to care more about what happens outside those walls, and they won't get far if they lock up everyone who just wanted things to get better." Her tone turns more grim, "I won't promise anything for those who've robbed and murdered for the rebellion, though."
[21:36] <Kotono> "I understand," Bowing her head to that, "Thank you, Alicia."
[21:38] <Alicia> "You're a good girl, Jessy," Alicia puts her arm around the younger woman again. "Your mother should be proud."
[21:39] <Kotono> "She...she is." After a moment Jessy hugs Alicia, reaching out to embrace her.
[21:43] * Alicia gives Jessica a tight hug, the alcohol and her oddly motherly feelings towards the girl making her more demonstratively affectionate than normal even now that she's no longer playing a role. "Do you know if anyone here would be able to arrange for me to meet the man in the mask?"
[21:44] <Alicia> "Or know where to find him?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "I can...I can ask my mother," Jessy says. "I don't know, but she might." She stays agaisnt Alicia, sighing lightly.
[21:46] <Alicia> "Lets do that tomorrow, then," Alicia nods slowly. She remains in the embrace for a moment longer before, "For now, though, I have a letter to deliver and you should probably get to bed. Do you stay here or in another house?" she asks, wanting to make sure Jessy gets to bed without any mishaps.
[21:48] <Kotono> "I can go home." Slowly breaking it as well and blushing, "Or I can stay here."
[21:49] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 20 on sense motive. Is she hitting on me?
[21:52] <Alicia> "I'll walk you home," Alicia decides. "If you're going to wake up with a hangover it should be in your own bed, after all."
[21:54] <Kotono> With a blush, "I can stay here," she murmurs again. "You're drunk too, you know." Jessy slowly gets to her feet, "Unless you want to walk me home?"
[21:57] <Alicia> "It's your inn," Alicia chuckles, defering to Jessica since she's pressing the point. At least this way she can keep an eye on her, at least.
[21:58] <Kotono> Going towards the hall, "Going to bed," she asks, using a wall to support her briefly, as she walks away.
[22:01] <Alicia> "Goodnight, then," Alicia replies, heading upstairs to her own room.
[22:02] <Kotono> Alicia makes it back to her room without incident. Once she enters, you hear a slight rustling as Antenora emerges from under her bed. She sniffs the air and, 'Have fun?' she asks dryly. 'You smell like you have, whatever you drank is really strong.'
[22:05] <Alicia> 'Drinking paint stripper is hardly fun, but it was productive,' Alicia replies, channeling an alter self spell into her staff as she closes the door. 'It was productive, at least. They were rebels and they were quite taken with me... just as they were taken with our masked man, as it happens.'
[22:06] <Alicia> OOC: strike that 'it was productive, at least' bad repetition
[22:06] <Kotono> 'Lovely.' Going to sit atop Alicia's bed and stretching backwards, 'Drunk?'
[22:06] <Kotono> After a moment and another sniff, 'It can wait for the morning if you are.'
[22:09] <Alicia> 'Only a little,' Alicia sits down next to Antenora. 'Anyway, I'd rather not waste time - got a job for you.' she sets aside her staff and takes out both scrolls, beginning to glow with her inner radiance since she doesn't have anything to light the lamp in her room to see by.
[22:10] <Kotono> Antenora stays next to Alicia, but after a moments she scoots away a little bit. 'What is it?'
[22:11] * Alicia sniffs. 'It smells that bad?'
[22:11] <Alicia> 'I'd hoped the wine would've gotten rid of it...'
[22:14] * Ko (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[22:15] * Ko is now known as Anastasia
[22:15] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[22:15] <Anastasia> Alicia smells a pleasant millieu of wine, a bit of sweat, some of a faint womanly scent. There's a sharper smell under it. 'It makes my nose itch,' Antenora answers. 'It's just very strong. Anyway, go on. I'll live.'
[22:17] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:20] <Alicia> 'Okay, I've been asked to deliver a letter to a man's daughter in Kelara - because of the lockdown of the city he can't do it himself,' Alicia explains, 'Since you can fly a lot faster than I can walk, I was thinking you could do it - and while you were there pick up hell striker and our armour for when you come back.'
[22:20] <Alicia> 'I made more progress with one of the rebels after I told her my true identity so I think I'd prefer to have everyone know who they're really dealing with.'
[22:21] <Anastasia> 'Understood,' Antenora nods to punctuate her words, 'Do you think matters are going to come to a head quickly?'
[22:23] <Alicia> 'Well, the mother of the girl running the inn seems to be the leader of this particular cell - they were swayed by a lot of impressive but fundamentally empty talk by the masked man - so I'm hoping she can get me in contact with him.' Alicia then casts detect magic and detect poison while looking over the letter in question.
[22:23] <Anastasia> There is no poison nor is there any  magic.
[22:24] <Anastasia> 'Right,' Antenora says, and after a few moments, 'I hope it's that quick and easy.'
[22:24] <Alicia> Is there any seal on the scroll?
[22:25] <Anastasia> The scroll isn't sealed.
[22:26] * Alicia unrolls the scroll and scans it to make sure it's an innocent letter from father to daughter and not coded assassination instructions or something heinous like that. 'We'll see. Perhaps playing spy for longer would be safer, but I think I prefer things this way.'
[22:26] <Anastasia> It looks like a normal letter - it's addressed to his daughter, pleading with her to come home under the dangerous circumstances.
[22:27] <Anastasia> 'You're better at guile that you think,' Antenora observes as she leans in to read over Alicia's shoulder.
[22:29] <Alicia> 'Oh, I won't disagree that I'm good at it - I had those rebels practically eating out of my hand earlier - but I don't especially care for it, either. I'm supposed to be a figure of inspiration, and I can't well do that while sneaking around and spouting innuendo and misdirection,' Alicia replies, letting Antenora read the scroll before she rolls it up and sets it down on the bed.
[22:29] <Alicia> 'That's the letter, and those are directions to the recipient,' she indicates the second scroll.
[22:30] <Anastasia> 'Got it.' Gathering the two up, 'What's your plan while I'm gone?'
[22:33] <Alicia> 'Well if you hurry you should be back by midmorning, so I think I'll just wait for you,' Alicia admits, taking hold of her quarterstaff. 'I'm about to change you into something that'll attract less notice flying out of here as well as be a bit faster in flight. Ready?'
[22:35] <Anastasia> 'Tell me what it is before you transform me,' Antenora stands up, storing her scrolls away. 'But I'm ready.'
[22:36] <Alicia> 'An air mephit,' Alicia replies. 'Most of what you have on you will merge into the new form, but it's still humanoid in case you need hands. I expect you'll revert to your true form about halfway to Kelara.'
[22:36] <Anastasia> 'Go ahead,' Antenora waits.
[22:40] * Alicia gently taps the erinyes on the head, transforming her into a small impish creature with a pale blue skin and a very delicate feminine frame. 'I won't say it suits you, but no one has to get a good look at you like this,' she notes while going to open the window. 'Remember to bring back a reply, and come meet me here when you're done.'
[22:41] <Anastasia> Antenora stars to fly by the window, but stops. You can see a strange look cross her face as she flies up again, going to settle on Alicia's head.
[22:41] * Alicia laughs softly. "Even though you're bigger, you actually weigh less than Marie, like this," she whispers amusedly.
[22:42] * Alicia makes sure to stop glowing as she stands by the window, as well.
[22:42] <Anastasia> Antenora leans over, a devil-may-care smile crossing her mephit face. She taps Alicia's nose, "Good. I must admit, it's oddly comfortable here. I think Marie's broken in your head." She whispers back quietly.
[22:44] <Alicia> "Well she wasn't the first, but she'd probably be jealous if she saw us like this," Alicia chuckles. "Anyway, get going and I'll see you in the morning."
[22:44] <Anastasia> "Sleep well and I hope you don't get a morning headache,' Antenora flies off and out, leaving Alicia alone at last.
[22:47] * Alicia watches Antenora go until she's vanished from sight, and then closes her window and undresses for bed. Taking hold of her quarterstaff she channels an enervation spell into either end so that she'll have a nasty surprise in store if anyone tries sneaking in here, then clambers into bed to sleep the night away...
[22:50] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5445eb1d.lns4-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit
[22:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 flasheart diplo attempt go
[22:54] <Anastasia> D'oh.
[22:54] <Anastasia> Could you wake REi up for a sec?
[22:54] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5445eb1d.lns4-c13.telh.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
[22:54] * Anastasia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[22:54] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+21 flasheart diplo attempt go
[22:54] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d20+21 1,0flasheart diplo attempt go --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{31}
[22:55] <Anastasia> roll 2d6
[22:55] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 2d6 --> 6,0[ 2d6=8 ]4,0{8}
[22:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d20
[22:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d20
[22:55] <Anastasia> roll 1d20
[22:55] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{3}
[22:55] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{12}
[22:55] <Rei-chan> 6,0Anastasia rolled :6,0 1d20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{13}