B 001

[Corwin]

[14:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> Her hair's probably going to get wet anyway... Alicia puts her brush in her backpack and turns to the priestesses while Marie flutters along beside her. "I'm ready. And call me Alicia, please," she adds with what she hopes is a reassuring smile.
[14:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Will me being this size cause any problems for the ritual?" Marie asks thoughtfully. "Since Alicia can fix that if we need to!"
[14:37] <Kotono> > "No." One of the woman, a gorgeous brunette, smiles winsomely, "I'm a VERY good tailor."
[14:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Alright then, we're ready to go in that case," Alicia nods, attired rather simply in a black shirt and leggings, while Marie favours a little green dress.
[14:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You'd have to be if you're going to make clothes during the ritual!" the eladrin replies with admiration, fluttering over to said brunette.
[14:37] <Kotono> "I try. I noticed you may like to be carried," she asks, "If you'd like to alight on us, you may." The others begin to walk out in the meantime.
[14:40] <Alicia> "Sure!" Marie lands on the woman's head and makes herself comfortable while Alicia just shakes hers and follows them out. "So, what's this ritual involve? There must be a lot to do if it takes twelve hours!"
[14:43] <Kotono> The woman tolerate Marie's presence most agreeably as they head downstairs, "There is much to do. Singing, worshipping, relevery, blessings, purification." She lists off,
[14:45] <Alicia> "Big day ahead, then," Alicia agrees pleasantly as she heads along with the cadre of Sunites. It actually sounds like it could be fun, to her.
[14:56] * OgreClubofJustice (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[14:57] * OgreClubofJustice is now known as Anastasia
[14:57] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[14:58] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[15:01] <Anastasia> As the group walks down the streets of Abgriam, they see a glorious sunrise is blossoming. It's the very start of it, reds and oranges bleeding over the flat, endless horizon. The streets end at the shore of the lake, a vast cool, blue spread that flickers with sunrise colors over it's smooth surface. It's as flat as the ground, almost like watery glass to look at. As you approach, the priestesses begin to sing in Celestial. "Oh Empress Suli
[15:01] <Anastasia> As you approach, the priestesses begin to sing in Celestial. "Oh Empress Sulia! Glory be to your name, eternal beauty and bounty to your palace!" For now it starts with praise and admiration, though as they do, you can see that there are several bowls and small sealed jars littered about by the edge of the water.
[15:02] * Alicia would like to join in but since she lacks a hymm sheet and doesn't know the words she'll just follow along quietly. For her part, Marie hums to the tune of the song.
[15:04] <Anastasia> "Sulia, beloved of the cosmos! Bless our humble home with this vision of your magnificence! Bless this Plainswalker!" As they continue to sing, several versuses like this, they gather up the bowls and jars. The jars stay sealed, as the blonde priestess drifts towards you for a moment, "Go ahead and disrobe, then enter up to your waist into the water. About ten steps or so, it's a gentle slope," she says, "We'll guide you through it."
[15:08] <Alicia> Marie takes off from the head of her new friend and shucks off her little dress and underwear without any hesitation, showing that she may be small but she's perfectly formed. Alicia is a bit more reserved, hesitating as she makes sure there aren't any peeping toms around before she gets naked out in the open like this.
[15:08] <Alicia> She's got no real problems bathing in a lake, she just doesn't want to give a free show to people who'd appreciate it more than she's comfortable with.
[15:14] <Anastasia> There don't seem to be, at least as Alicia can see. After disrobing and walking in up to her waist, the priestesses follow suite and then enter the water. Singing allt h ewhile, "Great Sulia, we offer the water you have given us to sanctify this beauty! Oh Sulia, creator of all that is passionate and joyous!" Each one fills the bowls they carry with water, pouring it over Alicia and Marie's heads as they chant. This goes on for several minut
[15:14] <Anastasia> pouring it over Alicia and Marie's heads as they chant. This goes on for several minutes, the song repeating. As it does, "Join in," Another priestess whispers. "Sing with us."
[15:19] <Alicia> Marie is getting rather soaked by this as she has to tread water just to keep her head above. This prompts some sympathy from Alicia who goes ahead and casts a spell to transform her familiar into an admittedly short aasimar so she can take part on the same scale as everyone else. Then hearing the prompt she nods and starts to sing now that she's gotten the hang of how it goes, while Marie joins in enthusiastically.
[15:19] <Alicia> While neither are practiced performers, they still pull it off fairly well and keep up with the tempo.
[15:22] <Anastasia> As they sing, the sun contines it's ascent over the plains. Red and yellow washes over the priestesses and plainswalkers, coloring them the colors of passions and bloodshed. The songs and splashing goeson for about twenty minutes, before the jars are opened. The song briefly stops, as fragrant leaves and grasses are sprinkled over thet wo, then washed away with more water. They usually smell quite good, like lavender and vanilla and roses, a
[15:22] <Anastasia> like lavender and vanilla and roses, and other things Alicia can't put her finger on. "Empress Sulia! Gird this child to walk the plains! Let her natural talents shine forth to connect us with others! For Alicia and Marie are two of our lifelines that save us from isolation! Let her life be full of love, passion and triumph!"
[15:26] <Alicia> Well neither Alicia nor Marie could object to such a pleasant wish for them both, so they quite cheerfully accept the blessings of Sune, not really having much else to do but be wet, pretty, and smell nice right now!
[15:29] <Anastasia> An hour of this passes. The day has dawned entirely by the time the priestesses come out of the water. Coming out, they find a set of clothes waiting for them: Ornate silk robes, colored to match their hair. Each one has gentle words of Celestial written into them, words like 'Travel' 'Safety' 'Life' and 'Connection'. They're quite flattering to wear, one would imagine, though not quite scandalous.
[15:31] <Alicia> "Anyone have a towel or anything?" Alicia asks as she emerges from the water with a little shiver, while the elf-like Marie checks to see if her clothes are suited for her current stature or her normal one.
[15:32] <Anastasia> There are a few cloths to dry with provided. Marie's clothes are sized for her nomral eladrin body.
[15:33] <Alicia> Both of them dry themselves off before Alicia dismisses her spell and returns Marie to normal, and they proceed to garb themselves in their new clothes. "These are really nice," Alicia compliments as she slides into the silk garment.
[15:34] * ragetoro is now known as Demedais
[15:36] <Alicia> Marie hopes they left room for her wings as she pulls her own on.
[15:37] <Anastasia> It goes down to a bit above her knees, clothing her midsection and torso, going into sliken straps that go across her shoulders and cover the essentials. It's airily light to wear, but not chilly. "They are blessed with Sulia's protection."
[15:38] <Alicia> "And so comfortable, too!" Alicia marvels, running a hand over the fabric while Marie finds the straps can accomodate her wings readily enough. "Really, you're spoiling us!"
[15:40] <Anastasia> "They will protect you, like the metal clothing you wear," The blonde says reverently, "For the rituals of purification make them so they will turn away club and javelin both."
[15:43] <Alicia> "Hard to believe something so delicate could be so strong... but that's how Empress Sulia would like it, wouldn't she?" Alicia muses, smoothing out her skimpy little robes. At least they're far more decent than some of the fashions of the fiefdoms she was exposed to - she could see herself wearing something like this well enough. "So what now?" she asks as Marie flutters around them.
[15:46] <Anastasia> The two are lead back through town. As they pass, they find the people of th etown line the streets. They toss red petals behind the procession, singing Sulia's praises in a well practiced melody. The priesteses keep their heads bowed, whispering the same prayers as a quiet counterpoint.
[15:49] <Alicia> Without any other direction, Alicia copies the priestesses and lowers her head respectfully while praying uncharacteristically but not insincerely towards Lady Firehair. Marie is a bit less reserved, waving and smiling to people as she flies along amidst the procession.
[15:50] <Anastasia> The procession winds back to the temple. Alicia taken around to the back, a cellar dug into the earth. Here light comes from a thousand candles, several huge lots of them about. In the center is a simple mat of layered cloth. "Sit there," One of the priestesses instruct, "For we shall annoint you now."
[15:52] * Alicia sits down primly on the mat with her legs folded to her side, while Marie Marie kneels down to try and leverage a bit of extra height and make the anointing go more easily.
[15:54] <Anastasia> There is no song here - instead, much time passes as the two are annointed with oils. Most of them smell good or like nothing at all. Some of them make Alicia sleepy, others make her skin go numb or tingle. Some of them make her smile foolishly, others bring her focus into razor sharp clarity. Each of them is rubbed into her arms, or smeared on her back, or dabbed onto her face, or massaged into her legs. The same is done for Marie, a genera
[15:54] <Anastasia> or massaged into her legs. The same is done for Marie, a general air of pleasant smells taking up the room. Everything fades into a soft focus after a time. At some point during it, "These oils will make you radiant as Sulia herself for this one day. It's said the Goddess gives Plainswalkers a little of her beauty and majesty for the duty and destiny they are given."
[15:56] * Sierra_UghMornings is now known as Sierra_TrappedinTVland
[15:57] <Alicia> "Mmmm... they feel very nice," Alicia murmurs agreeably. "Sulia is most generous."
[15:57] <Alicia> "Be a nice counterpart to your blessing from that mountain, won't it?" Marie teases, quite pleased to have a more ethically suitable influence on her mistress.
[15:58] <Anastasia> "A...mountain?" A blink there, a long one, "What's a mountain?" The priestess asks.
[16:00] <Alicia> Ah, these plains certainly are endless. Still, Alicia is more than pleased to provide some education! "A mountain is a piece of ground that goes very high - you know how the lake is basically a pit with water in it? A mountain is when the ground goes in the other direction. With less water. I suppose you've never seen one here because the plains are so flat."
[16:02] <Anastasia> "Oooh..." There's some murmuring and nodding, as Alicia's back has a hot oil rubbed into it. "I see...it's hard to imagine."
[16:04] <Alicia> "Mmmm..." Alicia groans softly at the feeling of pleasantly hot oil on her skin. "How best to describe it..." It's hard to do without the same shared reference pool.
[16:04] <Alicia> "I know!" Marie pipes up. "If you think of your stomach as a plain, then your boobs would be mountains!"
[16:04] <Alicia> This only prompts a considerably less pleased groan from Alicia. "Such a way with words you have, Marielle..."
[16:05] <Anastasia> There's a pause there, then much laughter amid the priestesses. "An amusing analogy, fair eladrin," one says between laughs.
[16:06] <Anastasia> "Then..we are on the stomach of the world," Another ponders, the blonde, "Or our world is very flat chested."
[16:07] <Alicia> "Well see, now they understand," Marie tells Alicia, entirely vindicated. "You're probably on the stomach but there's some magic that keeps you from exploring the other parts. Which is a shame, because while the stomach is nice the other parts can be way more interesting."
[16:07] <Alicia> "I think you're carrying this analogy a bit too far, Marie..." Alicia comments with a sideways glance.
[16:09] <Anastasia> More laughter comes, "It might be more interesting to live in those parts, but such is not the will of Empress Sulia," The blonde one smiles.
[16:12] <Alicia> "Perhaps..." Alicia muses. "But things change, even if it just takes a while. I don't think the Lady of Mysteries sent us here for no reason - perhaps change is brewing even now?"
[16:25] <Anastasia> "Maybe...maybe one day, you will find an answer in the plains," One questions back, curious.
[16:29] <Alicia> "That's what I'm hoping," Alicia replies with a smile. "So it's certainly lucky that I'm a plainswalker, otherwise I'd be stuck!"
[16:32] <Anastasia> Thus the ritual goe son. Alicia's sense of time continues to blur, as does Marie's. (More)
[16:34] <Anastasia> At last the oils are done. The two feel very good, rested. They feel warm all over, muscles at ease and soothed.  Each feels and looks divinely radiant, gorgeously clad in silks. "Is it done," The brunette says, "How do the two of you feel?"
[16:37] <Alicia> "I haven't felt this good in a long time," Alicia replies, well pleased. "You girls really know your oils." Pausing for a moment, she chuckles afterwards, "You know, it's funny that after all that I don't even know any of your names..."
[16:41] <Anastasia> "Alexia," The blonde one answers, "Ella," The brunette adds, and then a few more ocme, names like Ashe, Della, Constance.
[16:42] * Alicia nods to each in turn, trying to commit their names to memory. "So what comes now?" Marie asks as she stretches her wings and takes off into the air.
[16:44] <Anastasia> "This way," The priestesses rise as one, "Next we pray to the altar of Empress Sulia."
[16:46] * Alicia smoothly rises to her feet along with them and follows them back upstairs.
[16:48] <Anastasia> The two go back around. Alicia notes it's past noon now based on the sun, the sunlight making her feel warm and alive and glowingly radiant. Almost literally, her skin so bright and fresh it seems to have a faint aura around it. On reaching the temple and the altar again, you find the male priests waiting, lead by Elezar. The female priests fan out, forming a corridor to walk through, "Approach and kneel before the altar of the Empress Sulia
[16:48] <Anastasia> ""Approach and kneel before the altar of the Empress Sulia, so that we may speak benedictions to her eternal grace."
[16:50] <Alicia> With uncanny poise and grace, Alicia strolls down the path made and sweeps low into a kneel before the altar of Sune. Marie flutters adroitly behind her before landing next to the paladin with her own kneel. "And you were worried this would be debauched," she whispers in common before Alicia quietly shushes her.
[16:56] <Anastasia> Prayers are said again, twenty minutes of it. Alicia is told to repeat them, the time passing. AS they finish, "Plainswalker, Empress Sulia is a Goddess of Passion and Love. What are your passions in this mortal life that guide you and give your days meaning?" Elezar asks.
[17:01] <Alicia> Since Marie has no mortal life, she defers this one entirely to Alicia! "I live to serve my goddess Mystra, the Mother of all Magic. My passion is in protecting others, to fight injustice and exemplify the ideals of chivalry and honour," she declares in a strong and earnest tone. "My love is for my friends and family, and all who would share my passions for justice. This I declare truly, before Mystra and Empress Sulia both."
[17:17] <Anastasia> Elezar comes forward, gently kissing Alicia's head at it's very top. "Come with me, both of you," He says. "There is rest and reflection until the feast at sunset."
[17:18] * Alicia smoothly rises to her feet while Marie takes to the air. "Lead on, Heart Warden."
[17:22] <Anastasia> You are lead to the second floor again. Here, back in the soft room, you find several full body mirrors have been placed in here. On a glance, Alicia and Marie can tell that they look incredible, glowing with an outer beauty that captivates. "Rest and mediate in here," he says, "And reflect on your stunning looks."
[17:25] * Alicia can't help but laugh. "That's a bit self absorbed," she observes lightly.
[17:25] <Alicia> "We can reflect on each other's stunning looks if that's any better!" Marie suggests as she flies up in front of Alicia's face.
[17:26] <Anastasia> "Both of you are divine," Elezar says, going to Alicia's side, "But if you want, I can reflect on your magnificence as well."
[17:30] <Alicia> "Almost tempting..." Alicia admits, eyeing the clearly Sune-graced man in return. This whole experience has put her in a somewhat more receptive state of mind than normal, but even so she's not one for torrid and brief affairs. "But perhaps not appropriate. Lets stick to the script, for now..."
[17:33] <Anastasia> "As you wish," He touches Alicia's shoulder lightly before he departs out of the room. "There are three hours until sundown. If you need anything, I will be outside the room."
[17:40] <Alicia> Three hours of reflecting on her and her familiar's good looks sounds rather dull, even if Alicia will admit that they do look a lot nicer than normal. "Until then," she nods to Elezar, going to pose before the mirror and see how her new attire looks from all angles.
[17:40] <Alicia> As she does this, Marie flutters up beside her. "You shameless hussy! You were flirting with him!" she accuses in common.
[17:40] <Alicia> "I was n- well, okay. Maybe a little," Alicia concedes before insisting defensively, "I was just being nice, I'm not going to jump his bones or anything."
[17:40] <Alicia> "Well maybe you should," Marie opines as she plays with Alicia's hair. "Might do you some good."
[17:40] <Alicia> That prompts Alicia to become a little more strict. "We're not here to have fun, Marie. We're here on a holy quest in case you've forgotten."
[17:40] <Alicia> "I still think it's not a coincidence that we got sent to this sort of place in particular..." the eladrin replies. "What if Mystra's trying to tell you something?"
[17:40] * Alicia snorts amusedly. "I'm all for a deep and personal connection with my Goddess, but telling me to get laid is a little more personal than I had in mind."
[17:47] <Anastasia> The three hours pass amid a haze of master-familiar arguing. When the third hour passes, there is a knock on the door. "Plainswalkers, are you ready," Elezar asks.
[17:48] <Alicia> "Yes!" Alicia is more than happy to do something beside sit around, no matter how pretty she may be while sitting.
[17:54] <Anastasia> Alicia is lead back downstairs, and as the two go down, "Now the feast will begin outside." Elezar says simply, teh temple now empty besides the three of you.
[17:56] <Alicia> "Good, I haven't eaten all day," Alicia comments, rubbing her silk-covered belly as she heads for the exit.
[17:58] <Anastasia> Heading out, Alicia finds the street transformed! SEveral tables have been laid out, full of steaming hot food! Here the people are gathered, chanting, "Plainswalker Alicia! Plainswalker Marie! Blessed be you in the name of Empress Sulia!"
[18:00] * Alicia smiles and waves in response to the chanting, Marie doing the same. She's not quite sure on the etiquette here (although likely a plainswalker would be forgiven a lot), so takes her cues from Elezar whether she should dive into the food or something else.
[18:05] <Anastasia> The eating starts immediately. Food is eaten, people coming up to her. Many outright stare, enraptured. Amid all of this, Mizin approaches Alicia, "It's true," he says in soft wonder, "Mystra must have sent you here by her own hand, for you can walk the plains."
[18:08] <Alicia> "The fact that I can implies that the solution for both of us is out there," Alicia agrees with a gesture towards the gates. "So if you get yourself ready, we can head off first thing tomorrow and put some of your theories to test."
[18:09] <Anastasia> "Thank Mystra," he says, "I'm already packed."
[18:11] <Alicia> "Good. Make sure you sleep well tonight then, Mizen," Alicia nods her approval. "For now though, let us partake of Lady Firehair's bounty," she offers him a convenient kebab to try, "This is certainly a more involved ritual than any I've done at my own temple, I can say that much."
[18:16] <Anastasia> "Yes," As he eats, "Religion here is very involved. Of course, it's the only game in town, so they can develop their own rituals as deeply as they want and weave it in."
[18:18] <Alicia> "It's refreshing, really. To be honest I've never really visited a Sunite temple or really gotten to know any of Her followers, but I'm finding the whole experience quite pleasant," Alicia admits. "Still, I'm sure you've spent enough time stuck here, so hopefully we'll have some luck out on the plains tomorrow."
[18:20] <Anastasia> "Yes." With a cracked smile, "I had worried they might all be hedonists, but apparently Sune is more restrained here and focused on pure beauty, and there's no sign of Sharess."
[18:23] <Alicia> "Really, Sune's great," Marie chimes in as she flies over from where she'd been entertaining some children with tales of her adventures. "We Mystrans don't have that much contact with her, even in the Upper Planes, but she's pretty close to Selune, and she's Mystra's strongest ally. So it all works out good."
[18:37] <Anastasia> "Good," Mizin takes the kebob and goes, "Enjoy, for I need to rest and recover my energy for the early morning."
[18:37] <Alicia> "Until then," both wave to him and resume enjoying the festivities.
[18:45] <Anastasia> The night passes. Alicia wakes before dawn, ready to go...OOC - Back in armor and stuff as usual?
[18:47] <Alicia> OOC: Marie is sticking with her Sune clothes, Alicia will wear armour on top of her Sune clothes with all her other usual magical gear attached
[18:51] <Anastasia> At dawn, you arrive at Mizin's house. He has a well worn backpack on his shoulders, comfortable looking white clothes worn. "Are you ready," he asks, even as he starts to walk. "Mystra above, I am!"
[18:53] * Alicia nods. "I have some magic that can provide us with supplies as needed, but from what I saw on the plains water and game should be plentiful enough, anyway." As she starts leading him towards the gates, "So, why don't you tell me about your theories while we walk?"
[19:04] <Anastasia> "The first is that this is some sort of...cage, for lack of a better word. A prison around or for these people for reasons I can't understand. A banishment or atonement for some grave sin? Yet, I have to admit, they live far better lives than they could otherwise, even when it runs counter-current to logical assumptions."
[19:10] <Alicia> "And I doubt any living today have done anything to warrant such... although it could be they were afflicted by an unjust entity, and Sune interceeded on their behalf to make things bearable?" Alicia considers, recalling the fey bound in Pallanth. "Such magic could have been possible in the past, and as the gods withdrew from the world there was little else they could do to undo this state of affairs?"
[19:11] <Anastasia> "That's the other branch of the prison theory," A nod there, "It's possible it's also a natural or quasi natural phenominon that can't be undone. An unknown quirk of nature, if one will." As you walk past and out of the city, past guards who cheer your presence, Mizin takes a breath of th eopen air. "Or perhaps this has some role in cosmic balance. As this realm is a prison, others can be free."
[19:14] * Alicia smiles to the guards but the language barrier prevents more meaningful interaction. "I don't buy into that 'balance' nonsense," she tells Mizim. "A wrong is a wrong and that's that. It could have been an accident, though - do you know anything about the war with the gnomes, millenia ago? Great magic laid waste to much of the land then, so perhaps someone attempted to shelter these plains from the ravages of war, and cut them off entirely?"
[19:15] <Anastasia> "Gnomes?" With a frown, "My grandmother told me songs about silly gnomes as a child. They're just a fairy tale."
[19:17] <Alicia> "No, they're very real," Alicia affirms. "Or at least they were. The Gods united as one to utterly annihilate them to the last. I'll spare you the history lesson, but they were vicious tyrants at home with baatezu-kind, and their skill at magic and artifice was considerable." But certainly not without peer, as relics like the Ring of Eternal Celerity and Hammer of the Shard attest.
[19:20] <Anastasia> A low whistle, "So you're getting at this it something that might be connected to that war you mentioned?"
[19:21] <Alicia> "I don't know or anything, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me," Alicia agrees as they head out onto the plains. As they walk she casts detect magic and takes a look around for the aura mentioned. "So, on a more practical level, do you have any theories as to what can be done about it?"
[19:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 14."12 [1d20=7]
[19:22] <Alicia> Marie also takes a look!
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft familiar
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft familiar and gets 25."12 [1d20=18]
[19:29] <Anastasia> "I believe that it has a central source, it could be dispelled. Otherwise, I hope to find information out here that could lead me to an answer." Answering as he looks about and shakes his head, "I'm already lost. What about you?"
[19:29] * Alicia blinks and looks back towards the town they just left less than five minutes ago.
[19:32] <Anastasia> Alicia can see it just fine. Everything's flat, but her senses seem to be entirely clear.
[19:33] <Alicia> "It's right there," Alicia points back the way they came. "Let me see if dispelling magic on you has any effect. Look in that direction and tell me if you see anything different." Once he's facing the town she incants, "Mother of all magic, I call upon you to cast aside the dweomer that fogs this man's eyes!"
[19:33] <Alicia> *the town's right there
[19:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
[19:34] <Anastasia> Smiling wryly there, "Nothing. I've tried Dispel Magic myself. It doesn't even dent it.:"
[19:35] <Alicia> "So I see, yet we're barely a few hundred yards from the town... Can you see the lake? Those bison there?" she hopefully points out each in turn.
[19:36] <Anastasia> "I can see the bison...but not anything else," A hard shake of his head, "Smooth, blank, empty plains. I can't even seem to understand which way is north. The sun changes positions every time I look up."
[19:37] <Alicia> "How bizarre... still, the fact that I can see the landmarks doesn't help if I don't know where to go. Marie, can you fly up a few hundred feet and take a look around for any interesting terrain or anything that catches your eye?" she asks her familiar, who readily agrees and does just that.
[19:40] <Anastasia> Flying up, Marie finds that she can surely see for miles and miles! Far ahead, to the northwest, is a large set of white stones. They're jagged, as if some uncaring child left his broken, stony toys behind on the playing field.
[19:41] <Alicia> Marie flies back down to rejoin the pair. "There's some odd looking white stones that way," she points to the Northwest. "Besides the town that's about all I can see."
[19:41] <Alicia> "Good enough. Lets go investigate," Alicia nods, striking off in that direction. "Better stick close, Mizin. Don't want you getting lost, after all."
[19:49] <Anastasia> Two and a half hours pass in travel. You come on these white stones - often pointing upwards, about fifty of them scattered about a half mile radius. As you get very close to it, Mizin blinks. "Ah! I can see them now!" They are a pale, sunbleached white, well worn but still largely intact. In the center you can see what looks to be a firepit, albiet not recently used.
[19:51] <Alicia> "Just seemed to pop up out of nowhere?" Alicia asks as they approach, deciding to start with the firepit for an investigation before checking out the stones themselves.
[19:53] <Alicia> As the enter the circle, Marie looks to see if the magical aura is obviated or changed within the radius where Mizin can see properly.
[19:54] <Anastasia> "Yes," Immediately going to the stones and examining them, Mizin taps them with his knuckles, before taking out a small chisel and cloth bag. "Let me get a sample of these, just in case. They look like old stone that's been out awhile, nothing obviously magical..." Meanwhile, Alicia investigates the firepit! While nothing is immediatley in sight there beyond scorched ground, she does notice one thing. One of the large rocks near it has somet
[19:54] <Anastasia> One of the large rocks near it has something written on it's side.
[19:54] <Alicia> "Marie, there's some writing over here," Alicia waves over her handy translater, going towards said rock.
[19:55] <Alicia> "There's no magic here either. There's probably a gap in the aura around all landmarks," Marie guesses as she flies over to take a look.
[20:07] <Anastasia> Marie reads the writing! "North, 1 day's travel: Sendramount. Southeast, 2 and a half hours: Abgriam. South, two weeks: Citadel." After that, "Blessed be Empress Sulia!" Then, "MCL: Moderate."
[20:08] <Alicia> "Directions? Have you heard of any of those places, Mizin?" Alicia calls over to him after Marie reads it out.
[20:08] <Alicia> "What does MCL mean, though?" Marie wonders.
[20:13] <Anastasia> "I've heard of Sendramount. Plainswalkers have talked of it. It's another town."
[20:13] <Alicia> "What about Citadel?" Alicia asks. "Just hearing the names, it certainly sounds like a more important place..."
[20:14] <Anastasia> "Never heard of it. Doesn't citadel mean fortress?" he calls back as he chips away rocks, bagging them.
[20:15] <Alicia> "It does, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a military stronghold - the capital of Pallanth is called the Citadel of Light," Alicia observes. "Marie, take a quick scoot around the other rocks for any writing, if there's nothing else I say we head South."
[20:15] <Alicia> "Got it!" Marie gives a little salute before she zips off to do just that.
[20:28] <Anastasia> Marie flies around! One of the rocks has more writing. It lists the following: "Eye-Tyrant: Be wary of it's central eye. Fighting in is better, as you'll lose from far away. Sloths: Huge and immune to magic. Arrows and weapons work best, but they'll crush anything at hand. Plain Trolls: All around menances. Are immune to heat, cold and electricity. Regenerate from any wounds except acid burns. MCL level here is generally moderate, so greater
[20:28] <Anastasia> MCL level here is generally moderate, so greater threats are not likely."
[20:29] <Alicia> After Marie relays her findings, Alicia considers. "Magic Creature Level?" she wonders. "In any case, we can probably handle most except for plain trolls - do you have any acid-based magic, Mizin?"
[20:31] <Alicia> "But that would mean it's saying Magic Creature Level level," Marie points out. "It must stand for something else."
[20:31] <Anastasia> "No. I have fireball, but that's it. I can cast up to third circle," His answer there comes as he checks himself over, "I don't have any scrolls or expendibles, they're generally not seen in Abgriam."
[20:32] <Alicia> "Well if we encounter any trolls we'll just fly away from them - hopefully they'll get just as lost in the plains as anyone else," Alicia decides. "If there's nothing else here, lets get moving South."

[Corwin]

[17:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> After Marie relays her findings, Alicia considers. "Magic Creature Level?" she wonders. "In any case, we can probably handle most except for plain trolls - do you have any acid-based magic, Mizin?"
[17:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> "But that would mean it's saying Magic Creature Level level," Marie points out. "It must stand for something else."
[17:09] <Kotono> > "No. I have fireball, but that's it. I can cast up to third circle," His answer there comes as he checks himself over, "I don't have any scrolls or expendibles, they're generally not seen in Abgriam."
[17:09] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Well if we encounter any trolls we'll just fly away from them - hopefully they'll get just as lost in the plains as anyone else," Alicia decides. "If there's nothing else here, lets get moving South."
[17:09] <Alicia> "Why don't we stop at the town again and see if anyone there knows about Citadel?" Marie suggests. "It's pretty much on our way, anyway."
[17:10] <Alicia> "Good idea, Marie," Alicia nods, intending to do that. Assuming there's nothing else of interest amidst these stones.
[17:14] <Kotono> The two don't find anything else of interest amid the stones after some more searching. OOC - Heading south to Citadel?
[17:15] <Alicia> OOC: heading back to Abgriam first to ask around if anyone knows about Citadel
[17:21] <Kotono> A trip back to Abgriam passes pleasantly enough - no problems. On enteringn...OOC - MAke a Gather Info check? +5 circumstancial bonus.
[17:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 I think it's still within 24 hours since Sune blessed me with awesome charisma
[17:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 I think it's still within 24 hours since Sune blessed me with awesome charisma and gets 37."12 [1d20=7]
[17:25] <Kotono> The lunch hour comes and goes, the last of Alicia's magically bestowed radiance used to extract information! She finds out that a few plainswalkers have mentioned Citadel in passing and Elezar is much more knowledgeable. "Citadel?" he asks, as they stand in the Temple of Empress Sulia. "I hear it said on the lips of plainswalkers. It is described as a gleaming fortress in the Endless Plains."
[17:26] <Alicia> "Who lives there?" Alicia asks curiously.
[17:26] <Kotono> "Noble people, more worshippers of the Empress Sulia," he answers, "People like us."
[17:29] <Alicia> "Hmm... it's nothing concrete, but perhaps we might find someone knowledgable about this land's history, there?" Alicia muses, wishing it had been something like a forbidden gnome fortress of lost magic or something like that. "I think that's where we'll head then. Thank you for your help, Heart Warder."
[17:32] <Kotono> "Of course, Plainswalker. Should your travels bring you back here, the Temple of Empress Sulia is always open to you."
[17:33] <Alicia> "I'll certainly visit if I'm back in the area," Alicia confirms with a smile, grateful for all the help she's received here. "Until then, though," she gives him a little wave and heads off, intending to head west and line up with the stones before starting south.
[17:35] <Kotono> As the three of you do that and then head south once more, the afternoon sunshine gloriously warm in summer's caresses, "How is Mystra's worship in the real world?" With a touch of a sad smile at the last two words, "I surmise it has a base in this splinter kingdom of yours?" Around you, the endless plains stretch and sprawl, without ending.
[17:38] <Alicia> "It has a strong following in Kelara, where I hail from originally," Alicia begins. "As for the United Baronies, there was little organised when I first arrived, but I helped found a temple in Balmuria, which is prospering nicely. The world's changed a lot recently, as magic and wonder become more prevalent, so more and more temples are springing up everywhere."
[17:46] <Kotono> With a longing smile on his aged but firm face, "I'd have loved to have seen that. There must be a truly good reason for me to be living here then. There must be," he says, but even as he does. Ahead of you the air ripples! Dozens of motes of dark colored light swirl together into two shapes! As it does, you hear a cackling male voice intone in Elven, "Let the battle begin again!" One shifts into a board the size of a small horse, gleaming ivor
[17:46] <Kotono> "Let the battle begin again!" One shifts into a board the size of a small horse, gleaming ivory tusks contrasting it's black, red scarred hide! The other is of a horrible abomination - a floating eye with several stalks, topped with more eyes! The central eye is a sickening red with yellow puss dripping from it!"
[17:48] <Alicia> Well, so much for being able to spot trouble from far away on the open plain...
[17:48] <Alicia> OOC: how far away are they?
[17:48] <Kotono> OOC - 40 feet.
[17:48] <Alicia> "Do you know Fly?" Alicia quietly asks Mizin as she steps in front of him protectively. These things sure don't look friendly.
[17:49] <Kotono> "No," he answers back, arching up in alarm, his voice coming quickly. "Not worth it when...nevermind, this isn't the time for a justification!"
[17:51] <Alicia> "We don't want to fight, but we will defend ourselves if we have to!" Alicia calls over, not drawing her sword just yet. Marie floats above the pair, protecting them with her warding circle. If they're summoned monsters then maybe she can hold them off if Alicia's sword doesn't banish them.
[17:52] <Alicia> OOC: speaking in Elven
[17:52] <Kotono> The boar lowers it's head and begins to charge at the duo, whilst the floating eye horror looks at the party...OOC - For organization I'm going to call initiative here, even if you're just going to be defending yourselves until more actions are taken.
[17:52] <Kotono> OOC - Okay.
[17:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 16."12 [1d20=11]
[17:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[17:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
[17:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24."12 [1d20=17]
[17:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
[17:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1
[17:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 and gets 11."12 [1d20=10]
[17:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'Mizin>Marie>Alicia>Eye Horror>Black Boar'
[17:54] <Kotono> Mizin steps a little back behind Alicia, words to magic on his lips as he waits! OOC  - Marie.
[17:55] <Alicia> Marie readies her bow along with a banishing arrow and fires at the boar before it can charge!
[17:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[17:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 29."12 [1d20=6]
[17:55] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3
[17:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3 and gets 7."12 [1d4=4]
[17:55] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 (+2 for good/silver DR beating) will save if it's summoned/called/extraplanar/whatever
[17:58] <Kotono> Marie's arrow is fired, having a hard time getting into the flesh of the boar! Nonetheless, it manages to penetrate in,  ashallow wound that glows an angry red! It doesn't seem to be banished, however! OOC - Alicia.
[18:00] <Alicia> While ordinarily she'd take her time with this and fight defensively to take her foe's measure, the curse of Marie's bow means Alicia can't fool around. Drawing her sword in readiness, she fires off a crackling ray of dark red energy at the eye horror!
[18:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 29."12 [1d20=13]
[18:00] <Alicia> roll 1d4
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
[18:03] <Kotono> As Alicia feels some of her vitality slip away, she fires her own red draining beam at the horror! IT lances it through one of the eye stalks, making it's body wither like a tomato left out in the sun too long! Pus drips eagerly from it's main eye as it focuses it on Alicia, a pasty white beam also coming from one of it's eye stalks at her! OOC - Fort save and a will save, 'licia.
[18:04] <Alicia> OOC: spellfire absorbing the fort effect if possible
[18:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 will (+2 vs evil)
[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 will (+2 vs evil) and gets 34."12 [1d20=12]
[18:04] <Kotono> OOC: The fort effect is an SU, so no dice there.
[18:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 fort (+2 vs evil)
[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 fort (+2 vs evil) and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
[18:05] <Kotono> roll 10d8 halve this
[18:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d8 halve this and gets 42."12 [10d8=3, 7, 1, 6, 7, 4, 2, 3, 5, 4]
[18:06] <Kotono> The white beam is flatly resisted as Alicia suffers under the main gaze of the abomination! She feels her body weaken and grow old, fetid, sickened! It drains some of her precious vitality but she handily survives, having taken far worse! As if on cue to that, the boar reaches her on it's charge!
[18:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 charge
[18:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 charge and gets 28."12 [1d20=4]
[18:06] <Alicia> OOC: AC 29, 31 vs evil
[18:07] <Kotono> Clang! Alicia's armor saves her from an ivory tusk impalement, the hard metal stopping the hard bone structure! Mizin gestures in the air, lines of fire in a pentagram forming, "Flames of the hottest inferno, burn them to ashes!" he says, as a burst of fire explodes around the eye horror!
[18:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ref
[18:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ref and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
[18:08] <Kotono> roll 7d6 halve this rotten luck
[18:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 7d6 halve this rotten luck and gets 23."12 [7d6=4, 2, 6, 6, 1, 1, 3]
[18:09] <Kotono> The fires burst around it, the creature having the good speed to levitate above the worst of the blast! Nonetheless, it has a fire scarred underbottom now, as the endless plain has a new landfeature - flaming, burnt patch of grass! OOC - Marie.
[18:09] <Kotono> "Strong," Mizin mutters under his breath, creeping another five feet backwards, "A single spell didn't even put a large dent in it!"
[18:09] <Alicia> "Focus on that thing with the eyes, it's the real threat!" Alicia tells Marie, who duly fires a barrage of magic missiles its way!
[18:09] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[18:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 16."12 [5d4=1, 4, 1, 2, 3]
[18:10] <Kotono> OOC - AS a note, that should've onlky been a +2 mod to it's ref save, but it hardly  matters with a 20.
[18:11] <Kotono> The horror is hit hard with magical missiles, rocking backwards with the blows! It's withered form is battered again, looking like a sick, wounded thing creeping closer to oblivion! OOC - Alicia.
[18:11] <Alicia> Hoping she can finish it off quickly, Alicia steps away from the boar and fires a salvo of fiery rays at the eye creature, while the same spell is channeled into her blade for use against the boar!
[18:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 21."12 [1d20=5]
[18:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 20."12 [1d20=4]
[18:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 17."12 [1d20=1]
[18:12] <Kotono> OOC - Two hits.
[18:12] <Alicia> roll 8d6
[18:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d6 and gets 30."12 [8d6=3, 1, 1, 6, 5, 5, 4, 5]
[18:14] <Kotono> One of the beams whizzes whide, while two bury into the floating eye! It's body catches aflame, pierced with lances of fire! It shudders in the air and sags, an inferno ravaging it's body! As it's central eye broods on Alicia, a sickly yellow ray comes from it's eye at Mizin!
[18:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Alicia
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Alicia and gets 21."12 [1d20=15]
[18:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Mizin Touch AC?
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Mizin Touch AC? and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
[18:14] <Alicia> OOC: 15, 17 vs evil
[18:15] <Kotono> OOC - Fort.
[18:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 (+2 vs evil)
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 (+2 vs evil) and gets 39."12 [1d20=17]
[18:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
[18:15] <Kotono> roll 10d8 halve this
[18:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d8 halve this and gets 46."12 [10d8=4, 8, 4, 4, 3, 1, 8, 3, 5, 6]
[18:16] <Kotono> The whithering glare weakens Alicia further, as Mizin screams! Pure terror overtakes his face! Meanwhile the boar assaults Alicia with a tusk stab and a pair of hooves!
[18:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 39."12 [1d20=17]
[18:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28."12 [1d20=11]
[18:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 34."12 [1d20=17]
[18:17] <Kotono> roll 1d8+8+1d4+4
[18:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+8+1d4+4 and gets 16."12 [1d8=1][1d4=3]
[18:18] <Kotono> The board slashes and kicks Alicia back, making her head swim with pain as it ravages her! Mizin, meanwhile, screams and runs well away from the eye horror! OOC - Marie.
[18:19] <Alicia> "Dammit!" Alicia curses. "Marie stay with him or he'll get lost out here!"
[18:19] <Alicia> "Got it!" Marie replies, firing off another magic missile at the eye thing before zipping after Mizin and bravely shouldering the curse on herself this time.
[18:19] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 18."12 [5d4=3, 3, 2, 2, 3]
[18:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Mizin>Marie>Alicia>Black Boar'
[18:21] <Kotono> As a barrage flies again, the eye creature is hit just a little too hard! From it's mouth you hear the same cackling voice, unhurt even as it breaks into motes of dark lights and fizzles away, "Suuuuunnne! Suliaaaaa!" OOC - Alicia.
[18:21] <Alicia> "Hey, Mizin! Look, I killed it! You don't need to be scared anymore," the cute little eladrin reassures.
[18:22] <Alicia> "What in the hells is your problem?!" Alicia demands of the unseen voice in elven as she lays into the boar with a fury!
[18:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 3rd level channel, divine might
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 3rd level channel, divine might and gets 26."12 [1d20=3]
[18:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 3rd level channel, divine might
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 3rd level channel, divine might and gets 34."12 [1d20=16]
[18:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 3rd level channel, divine might
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 3rd level channel, divine might and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
[18:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 3rd level channel, divine might crit check
[18:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 3rd level channel, divine might crit check and gets 24."12 [1d20=11]
[18:23] <Kotono> OOC - Two normal hits.
[18:24] <Alicia> roll 1d8+19+3d4
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+19+3d4 and gets 30."12 [1d8=3][3d4=3, 1, 4]
[18:24] <Alicia> roll 1d8+19+3d4
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+19+3d4 and gets 26."12 [1d8=1][3d4=1, 4, 1]
[18:24] <Alicia> roll 12d6 fire
[18:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d6 fire and gets 40."12 [12d6=3, 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 4, 1, 2, 1, 4, 6]
[18:25] <Kotono> The boar is ravaged by Alicia's blows, body torn open and burnt half alive! Even as it's ribs show, wounds trying to restore themselves quickly as it continues to mindlessly tear into her!
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 26."12 [1d20=4]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 30."12 [1d20=13]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 22."12 [1d20=5]
[18:25] <Kotono> roll 1d4+4
[18:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8."12 [1d4=4]
[18:25] <Kotono> It's hooves kick Alicia in the leg again, another rising bruise! Meanwhile Mizin continues to run, Marie after him! OOC - Marie's up if she's doing anything besides chasing, otherwise it's Marie.
[18:26] <Kotono> OOC - Alicia.
[18:26] <Alicia> OOC: Marie merely chases, and gets hurt
[18:27] <Alicia> Channelling another scorching ray into her sword, Alicia stabs it right into the creature's neck as it ignites in flames!
[18:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 -5 power attack, divine might, 3rd level channel
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 -5 power attack, divine might, 3rd level channel and gets 32."12 [1d20=14]
[18:27] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[18:27] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+3d4
[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+3d4 and gets 44."12 [1d8=8][3d4=2, 2, 3]
[18:28] <Alicia> roll 12d6 fire
[18:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d6 fire and gets 39."12 [12d6=1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 5, 2, 3, 6, 6, 6, 2]
[18:28] <Kotono> The boar is utterly consumed by this, burnt away into a thin smear of ash on the ground! As what little remains breaks up into light, "Suuuunnnneeee! SUliaaaaa!" The same crackling, cackling voice shouts in fury1 OOC - Battle's over. Free act.
[18:29] <Alicia> "Speak sense, will you?!" Alicia demands as she channels her stored spellfire energy into healing herself.
[18:29] <Alicia> roll 20d4+20
[18:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 20d4+20 and gets 77."12 [20d4=4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 3, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1, 3, 1, 3]
[18:31] <Kotono> Alicia's wounds largely heal as the Endless Plains stretch out in front of her. Fortunately, as she does so, body made mostly whole once more, Mizin stops his running. He blinks and looks around. "Alicia? Marie?"
[18:31] <Alicia> "Hi!" Marie lands on his head. "Alicia's back that way," she points to the paladin.
[18:33] <Kotono> "Aaah!" Looking up, and blushing heavily, "Young one...could you not..." he stammers in embarrassment. "It feels scandalous for you to put your rear and private parts in contact with me. But thank you. I'm fine now. That voice, though..." He starts to walk back, calling, "Alicia? Alicia?" About halfway, still about 100 feet away, he narrows his eyes, "Alicia! Right here."
[18:35] <Alicia> Marie blushes and zips off his head with alarming alacrity. "You have a dirty mind, Mizin," she reprimands quietly before Alicia rejoins them.
[18:35] <Alicia> "Well, that was unpleasant," she sighs, "But at least we all made it through in one piece. I never expected hostile creatures to be teleported on top of us like that."
[18:36] <Kotono> "I didn't either. But..." He stops here, "That man's voice. His name is Halian." He says it then shakes his head, "No, I don't know how I know. When I stopped running, I just knew it."
[18:37] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "Know anything besides the name?"
[18:38] <Kotono> "No, but...I saw you from a hundred feet away or so. Better than I would have expected out here."
[18:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 arcana for Alicia
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 arcana for Alicia and gets 15."12 [1d20=8]
[18:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 arcana for Marie
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 arcana for Marie and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
[18:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
[18:39] <Alicia> "It's probably because I'm a plainswalker?" Alicia surmises. "In any case the day still has a few hours left in it - lets press on."
[18:39] * Alicia heals herself and Marie a little as they walk.
[18:40] <Kotono> The rest of the night's walk passes without incident. Dusk falls, turning the Endless Plains into a smooth, dark sheet of endless black glass to the eye's casual view.  The darkness out here is absolute, save for the moon and stars casting a faint silvery glow over everything. No signs of humanity at all save for the three of you...
[18:42] * Alicia sets up camp and absorbs a few spells into herself to recharge her spellfire reserves. "With luck we should reach citadel late on tomorrow - for now just rest, Marie can keep watch," she tells Mizin as she sets up their tents.
[18:43] <Kotono> As they do, "Alicia, I saw what you did there. What are you doing when you cast spells but they seem to harmlessly flow into you?" Mizin asks, tents pitched and a fire being started.
[18:43] <Alicia> "Have you ever heard of Spellfire?" Alicia asks with a smile once she's satisfactorily stocked up.
[18:44] <Kotono> "No," he says, as he tosses a few more bits of stored tinder and then ripped up plainsgrass into the fire.
[18:45] <Alicia> "Ah, well it is very old," Alicia admits. "It's a blessing Mystra once gave to favoured servants long ago. I believe I'm the first person in a very long time to have been granted it. Effectively it allows me to absorb magic directly, and then release it as either pure healing or destructive force."
[18:47] <Kotono> "Oh." As he warms his hands in front of the fire, "Can anyone cast those spells on you to charge it, or only yourself?
[18:48] <Alicia> "Anyone can," Alicia nods. "Which is great when I'm attacked by a hostile spellcaster - naturally it's not something I advertise too loudly, since otherwise they'll know better and just not use spells. But since we're travelling together you might as well know."
[18:53] <Kotono> "If you need more, I can contribute a dearth of spells. I'm long on endurance and not so long on versatility." As he sits down and rests, "But for now...rest. I hope it's a rest that isn't disturbed by this Halian again."
[18:55] <Alicia> "I'm sufficiently stocked up for now, but that could prove useful later on," Alicia agrees. "I'm going to sleep in my armour just in case. Having monsters teleport on top of us won't really give much time to prepare." And on that cheery note she wishes him goodnight and crawls into her tent to sleep.
[18:58] <Kotono> The night passes without incident. The next day dawns bright and early, the trio taking off. The morning is an uneventful one, noon passing with only a break to eat. In the early afternoon, you come on something to break up the monotony. It's not quite a lake - more like a natural spring. It's perhaps thirty feet wide at most, bubbling up to the surface. A few bison drink at it, as well as a few deer. Reeds grow around it, in contrast to the ot
[18:58] <Kotono> as well as a few deer. Reeds grow around it, in contrast to the other grasses elseware on the plains.
[18:59] <Alicia> "Hmm... does the magic aura alleviate around here, Marie?" Alicia asks her familiar, who duly checks.
[19:00] <Alicia> "Nope," Marie reports.
[19:01] <Alicia> "Well, I suppose it's not a proper landmark - even animals have to drink somewhere, though. No reason for us to stick around," Alicia decides, continuing on past the spring.
[19:03] <Kotono> Travelling on, the rest of the day passes without incident. Two down...sleep comes and passes, a third day on the trail starting. At about 10 AM, you come on something. It's a little to the west and out of your way, but you can see what looks like a cairn. Dozens of stones are piled into a cone shape, a small ring of grassless dirt around it.
[19:04] <Alicia> "Another signpost?" Alicia points it out, wondering if Mizin can see it, yet.
[19:05] <Kotono> As you get closer, Mizin squints. "I see it now," he says, at about 100 feet away or so. "Looks like a pile of stones. Let's take a look?"
[19:05] * Alicia heads for the cairn and circles around it, looking for any writing.
[19:08] <Kotono> Searching, Alicia and company find several bits of writing. One stands out for being in Common in long weathered, half blurred letters: 'Here lies Alicia Kesselstein, once of Nodlitz. May Lliira guide her home.' Others Marie has to translate: 'Eye-Tyrants have the same powers on their eye stalks each time. One is a ray that slows you down, another inspires fear, a third deals direct harm. The center ray always changes. Red with yellow puss mean
[19:11] <Kotono> The center ray always changes. Red with yellow puss means physical agony and rot, clear white means magical negation, purple means lightning and a loss of mental acuity.' Then another, 'Citadel: Week and a half south. Manshire - two days southwest, one day west.' 'This is known as Alicia's Cairn. The unknown writings speak of a woman named Alicia who died here.' 'One day north: Natural Spring. It has no bottom.'
[19:11] <Kotono> 'One day north: Natural Spring. It has no bottom.'
[19:14] <Alicia> "That's a weird coincidence, isn't it?" Marie asks as she sees the namesake of her mistress.
[19:14] <Alicia> "Nodlitz is right next to Kelara, too..." Alicia muses. "I wonder how long ago she was brought here?" Sparing a few moments, Alicia offers a prayer for the departed.
[19:15] <Kotono> Taking some time to read, "Manshire's six days off course if we want to go see it." Mizin considers, as he copies the writings onto a scroll, taking a single rock and a bit of soil into his bag. He whispers a few words of magic, eyes glowing blue a moment. "Strange, though. It's like signposts and fragments of useful information stored whereever there's a chance to store it."
[19:16] <Kotono> Alicia's prayer goes well enough. She feels a little better after saying it.
[19:16] <Alicia> "Well, unless you've heard anything about Manshire to suggest it's worthwhile, I think we should keep on towards the Citadel," Alicia then suggests to Mizin after she's done, while Marie flies up a thousand feet or so to get a good view of the lay of the land.
[19:17] <Kotono> The land in all directions is a blur here, but it looks flat, featureless, plain-like. Quite like everything else in the Endless Plains. "The only other thing that interests me at all is that why someone would claim that a spring has no bottom. Sooner or later you'll hit rock even on the deepest spring, even if it connects to an underground water source."
[19:18] <Kotono> "But honestly, neither interest me enough to turn off course, no," He says a moment later, shaking his head.
[19:19] <Alicia> "Perhaps it links to the elemental plane of water?" Alicia suggests. "Though that's one way out of here I'd rather not try. In any case we've still got a lot of walking ahead, so lets keep going South."
[19:22] <Kotono> The rest of the day passes without incident. Night comse and goes again, monotony presing closer as a fourth day starts. In the early morning, perhaps merely an hour past dawn, Mizin stops. He frowns, "Something's coming..." he mutters under his breath.
[19:23] <Alicia> "How can you tell?" Alicia asks, casting mirror image and drawing her sword.
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4 A
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 A and gets 5."12 [1d4=1]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4 M
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 M and gets 6."12 [1d4=2]
[19:25] <Kotono> "Don't know," he says, even as he readies himself, drawing arcane lines of magic around his body to form armor! As he does, ahead of you it happens! Again you can see the ripplings of the air, dark motes of energy forming! Three of them this time! "Let the battle begin again!" The same voice declares in elven! The three are humanoid, about six feet tall, and with razor sharp claws instead of hands! They are brown furred and with strange, mockin
[19:25] <Kotono> They are brown furred and with strange, mocking grins plastered on their faces! OOC - Initiative, sicne you guys took the chance to buff up. They're 20 feet away.
[19:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Mizin
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Mizin and gets 19."12 [1d20=12]
[19:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 1
[19:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 2
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 1 and gets 15."12 [1d20=13]
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 2 and gets 10."12 [1d20=8]
[19:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 3
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 3 and gets 9."12 [1d20=7]
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
[19:26] * Kotono changes topic to 'Mizin>Marie>Creature 1>Alicia>Creature 2>Creature 3'
[19:27] <Kotono> With a quick snap of his fingers, a fireball bursts around the three creatures at once, lines of arcane power forming in front of him as the streaking fireball explodes!
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 7d6
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 7d6 and gets 17."12 [7d6=2, 2, 5, 1, 4, 2, 1]
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
[19:28] <Kotono> The burst leaves each of them lightly singed, each one's shape rippling like a funhouse mirror was glimpsed, distorting! OOC - Marie.
[19:30] <Alicia> Turning into an incorporeal ball of light, Marie flies forward so she's between Alicia and the sloths, intending to use herself as a lure to distract them from attacking the other two.
[19:31] <Kotono> The first creature lumbers forward at a dreadfully slow rate, striking at Marie with it's claws! This is a waste of effort, doing no damage to the incorpreal eladrin! OOC - Alicai.
[19:33] * Alicia maneuvers to the side of the neatly lined up creatures, her hands shimmering with silvery fire which she unleashes in a terrific blast that lances through all three of them, intending to end this battle swiftly and decisively!
[19:33] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 24 reflex half
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 73."12 [18d8=1, 4, 1, 2, 6, 7, 3, 2, 7, 6, 1, 2, 5, 7, 6, 3, 4, 6]
[19:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11."12 [1d20=4]
[19:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 12."12 [1d20=5]
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25."12 [1d20=18]
[19:34] * Kotono changes topic to 'Mizin>Marie>Alicia>Creature 3'
[19:35] <Kotono> Pierced with energy, two of them break into oblivion! As they do, "Suuuunnneee! Suliaaaaa!" The voice calls in fury! The last is only winged by it, it's arm almost oliterated but it's body primarily intact! It lumbers forward, just barely reaching Alicia with what looks to be an all out charge!
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 38."12 [1d20=20]
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 crit?
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 crit? and gets 21."12 [1d20=3]
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 4d4+4
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d4+4 and gets 15."12 [4d4=4, 4, 2, 1]
[19:35] <Alicia> OOC: 5 images
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d6 MI
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 MI and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 cleave at least
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 cleave at least and gets 22."12 [1d20=4]
[19:35] <Kotono> roll 1d5
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d5 and gets 1."12 [1d5=1]
[19:36] <Kotono> The thing tears through one of Alicia's images, but she herself deflects it's seconds wing around blow safely! Mizin snaps his fingers, a storm of four magical missiles streaking out at the opposition's survivor!
[19:36] <Kotono> roll 4d4+4
[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d4+4 and gets 13."12 [4d4=1, 2, 2, 4]
[19:37] <Kotono> The missles make it shimmer and shudder again, form devastated and beaten by the forces involved, yet it seems to still exist! OOC - Marie.
[19:37] <Alicia> Turning corporeal again, Marie batters the beast with a barrage of magic missiles! "Stop repeating yourself!"
[19:37] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 18."12 [5d4=4, 4, 3, 1, 1]
[19:46] <Kotono> The missiles strike true, the last one shattering away! "Suuuunnneee! SUliaaaa!" It cries in the same cackling voice again! OOC - Free action.
[19:48] * Alicia promptly heals herself. "I really want to find that idiot," she grumbles. Turning to Mizin, "Out of interest, have you seen or even heard of any elves among these plains?"
[19:50] <Kotono> "...no." Shaking his head a moment, "The name of those creatures are Plains Trodyglites. Empress Sulia named them so, even though they're not reallly the same thing as Troglodytes. Elves live in Leafmourn to the north, next to the twin city of Stonemourn." These words come in a hasty jumble, Mizin's gaze half blank.
[19:52] * Alicia blinks. "What?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "...I don't know," Mizin says, sounding somewhat...helpless? "It just came out. I just knew."
[19:54] <Alicia> "Just like you knew that name before?" Alicia surmises. "This is... very strange."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Yes, as the battle ended, I just knew it," Mizin says, before looking around. He looks up at the sun, down and then back up. "It's in the same place..." he mutters.
[19:57] <Alicia> "It seems as if after every battle here you're becoming more accustomed to the plains, as well as gaining knowledge from nowhere - it's just knowledge though, right? No new inclinations or urges?" she checks, casting detect magic and giving him a once-over.
[19:58] <Kotono> "No, just knowledge as far as I know. I don't have an urge to suck blood or steal souls," Smiling with a jovality that isn't really running deep, "I just know."
[19:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft Mizin
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft Mizin and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
[19:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft Bow
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft Bow and gets 15."12 [1d20=8]
[20:01] <Alicia> "There seems to be some fading transmutation and divination effects on you," Alicia comments. "Looks like it was an instantaneous effect, though, not something I could dispel. Still, if you're fine then we should continue - I don't suppose you have any knowledge pertaining to why people get lost in the plains, or this Halian character, do you?"
[20:04] <Kotono> "No. It was just a burst of knowledge," Mizin answers.
[20:06] <Alicia> "Hmmm... you seemed to know about elves maybe because I asked about them - after the next battle, which I'm sure is inevitable, I'll try asking you about Halian as soon as our foes fall." She doesn't look entirely thrilled with this, "It feels like I'm treating you as a guinea pig, but I'm not sure what else to do."
[20:09] <Kotono> "I'm fine with it." Mizin straightens up, "There has to be a point to all of this. I'm not going to turn away from it."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Alright then, lets press on. Marie, why don't you get the lay of the land while we walk?" Alicia asks as she resumes heading South, recharging her spellfire reserves as she walks while Marie flies up a few hundred feet for a better view.
[20:13] <Kotono> The morning and most of the afternoon passes like this. Come evening, Marie can see something far ahead, ab it off path to the west: It looks like a single tree is growing here. A rather tall tree, casting a large zone of shade.
[20:14] <Alicia> Marie points out the tree, and since it's not too far off their path Alicia has no qualms about investigating. "A single tree out here is odd enough, it probably has another signpost," she reasons.
[20:20] <Kotono> The tree is an old, old, old oak. A green fruit hangs from it's branches, heavy and plentiful. A few lie o nthe ground as well. But as you get close, you notice something - the tree is subtly, slowly, drifting away. It's location changes, not disturbing the ground at all, though the fruit on the ground follows.
[20:20] <Kotono> It doesn't look hard to approach, you can move faster than it drifts.
[20:21] <Alicia> "Does it look to be moving to you two?" Alicia asks her two companions, casting detect magic as she moves to catch up with it.
[20:23] <Kotono> "Yeah," Mizin says as the three approach! The tree radiates moderate magic, including the fruits. Catching up to the tree isn't hard, Alicia and company doing so.
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft Marie will try
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft Marie will try and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[20:26] <Alicia> "Hmmm, check for any signs or carvings, Marie?" Alicia asks her familiar, casting detect poison as she examines one of the fallen fruits.
[20:26] <Alicia> Marie obediently circles the trunk in search of any text as she adds, "There's enchantment and transmutation magic on the tree and the fruits."
[20:28] <Kotono> There's writing on part of the trunk! 'Drifting tree. I've never seen this before on the Endless Plains. I don't know what it is or what it can do. I intend to take a sample of the fruit and try and figure out what it is, or try it and eat it.' That's all that's written.
[20:29] <Alicia> "But is it beneficial or harmful?" Alicia wonders as she bends over and picks up one of the fallen fruits. After hearing Marie's report, "The fact that the person never wrote their findings after eating it implies that it's probably harmful. Still, lets take a couple just in case we can find out for sure later on." And so Alicia puts three of the fruits into her backpack.
[20:31] <Alicia> Assuming no one has anything else to do with the tree, Alicia resumes their journey, heading Southeast for a little to get back on track before angling straight South.
[20:37] <Kotono> Mizin takes a couple of fruits as well. Returning to path, the trio soon make camp for the night. Rest comes as a fourth day dawns. This passes, a fifth day here starting.  On this day, you come across a small lake. It's bigger than the spring before, though not as big as the lake around Abgriam. The noonday sun pounds down, the entire air rather hot today. You see a few animals drinking from it, but otherwise it looks serene. There's a few whi
[20:37] <Kotono> You see a few animals drinking from it, but otherwise it looks serene. There's a few white rocks littered by one part of the shore, rather large and heavy ones.
[20:42] <Alicia> While Alicia checks if the magic aura is present or not, Marie goes to examine the rocks for writings.
[20:46] <Kotono> The aura is not around. The rocks have the following writings: 'Lake Odolio.' ' Blessed Lake of Sune and Empress Sulia, dedicated to eternal beauty and grace.' 'One week south: Citadel. One week north: Abgriam. One day northeast: Dendragram's Tomb.' 'Legend has it that Sulia's Crown was cast into this lake.'
[20:48] <Alicia> After Marie reads that off, Alicia invites her to go take a look in the lake for any crowns. Marie laughs and goes to do just that while Alicia and Mizin have a drink. "Think Dendragam's Tomb would be worth a detour?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "It may be." The water is crisp and cool, clean as a mountain spring. Alicia feels much better after drinking it, banishing some of the sweat from her travels. Drinking as well, Mizin goes to sit by the shore. "It hints at an established building, so that certain feels like it is."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Well, the citadel was really just a hunch due to lacking any better direction to go in," Alicia admits, likewise sitting down. "I don't mind changing direction if something seems more promising, and at worst it only costs us a couple of days."
[20:52] <Alicia> As they sit and chat, Marie pops up from the water. "The lake gets *really* deep in the middle!" she calls over. "I might be a while if I go down there, and it could be dangerous! Want to come with?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "Let's go for it then?" Mizin says after another drink, taking a bottle out and getting a sample of the water. AFterwards he splashes it on his face and chest, down his shirt. "Can you cast a spell to let you breathe underwater?"
[20:53] * Alicia is intrigued. "Could be worth a look," she agrees. "I can turn myself into a sea elf to survive underwater. What about you? I can cast it on you as well if necessary."
[20:55] <Kotono> "I'd rather stay with you, just in case," Mizin agrees, going to put his pack and supplies aside. Once that's done, "Alright then."
[20:57] * Alicia proceeds to transform into a svelte blue-skinned and green-haired elf, and channels an alter self spell into her sword which she gently bops Mizin with to change him in the same manner. "Alright, lead on, Marie!" she requests, linking them all via a message spell before walking into the lake.
[20:57] * Alicia also casts Shield on herself, just in case.
[21:01] <Kotono> Thus the trio ascends down! It's quite dark down here, but Marie's lights help a lot! Down and down they go! Ten minunes of controlled sinking takes them quite into the depths. For a long time it's essentially a wide tunnel, but at this point it expands again. Alla round you is a vast, endless underground lake. It goes in all directions, no bottom able to be seen from here.
[21:02] <Alicia> "You know, it would be very easy to get lost here," Alicia notes as Marie sends her lights to their farthest extent downwards before sweeping up and in a circle around the party in hopes of illuminating some terrain.
[21:02] <Alicia> OOC: 240 feet range on the lights
[21:03] <Kotono> At the edge of the range, you can just make out what looks to be a muddy bottom to all of this. You'd need to descend some more to get a really good look, though.
[21:05] <Alicia> "I'll make a marker so we can find the exit easily," Alicia decides, using her sword to carve out a small chunk of rock from the side of the tunnel leading back up. Casting Light upon said rock, she slots it back in where it came from before she starts swimming down to the lakebed.
[21:06] <Kotono> Coming closer, the trio goes to the bottom! They find it to be a thick, churning mud. It almost seems to boil, bubbles popping out of it. It occasionally sucks water down, deep deep deep into it! The mud stretches as far as you can see in all directions down here.
[21:08] * Alicia keeps some distance from the mud and suggests the others do likewise. "Well, if the crown fell down there I doubt anyone will recover it." Still, Marie does try checking over the area for any magical auras besides those created by their own spells.
[21:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[21:10] <Alicia> "The mud has transmuation magic on it," Marie declares.
[21:10] <Alicia> "Hmm... probably best not to mess with it without knowing what we're doing," Alicia decides. "Lets explore a bit around in case there's anything else before we head back up."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Perhaps not, but why would mud be magical?" Mizin peers down at it.
[21:11] <Alicia> "Does it rain here?" Marie asks curiously. "You said something about the lake at Abgriam always staying well stocked, maybe it's because of something like this?"

[Corwin]

[17:34] <Nikori> <Alicia> "I'll make a marker so we can find the exit easily," Alicia decides, using her sword to carve out a small chunk of rock from the side of the tunnel leading back up. Casting Light upon said rock, she slots it back in where it came from before she starts swimming down to the lakebed.
[17:34] <Nikori> > Coming closer, the trio goes to the bottom! They find it to be a thick, churning mud. It almost seems to boil, bubbles popping out of it. It occasionally sucks water down, deep deep deep into it! The mud stretches as far as you can see in all directions down here.
[17:34] <Nikori> * Alicia keeps some distance from the mud and suggests the others do likewise. "Well, if the crown fell down there I doubt anyone will recover it." Still, Marie does try checking over the area for any magical auras besides those created by their own spells.
[17:34] <Nikori> <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[17:34] <Nikori> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[17:34] <Nikori> <Alicia> "The mud has transmuation magic on it," Marie declares.
[17:34] <Nikori> > "Perhaps not, but why would mud be magical?" Mizin peers down at it.
[17:34] <Nikori> <Alicia> "Hmm... probably best not to mess with it without knowing what we're doing," Alicia decides. "Lets explore a bit around in case there's anything else before we head back up."
[17:34] <Nikori> <Alicia> "Does it rain here?" Marie asks curiously. "You said something about the lake at Abgriam always staying well stocked, maybe it's because of something like this?"
[17:37] <Nikori> "That would be possible," Considering as he starts to look around...OOC - Make a search check?
[17:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 haha
[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 haha and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
[17:41] <Nikori> It's very vast and muddy. Alicia and company don't really see much of note. It's pretty much a great underground aquifer as far as Alicia can see.
[17:43] <Alicia> Well, before calling it a day, Alicia sends Marie to scoot on through the mud and see if it becomes normal bedrock underneath or if there's something more interesting. They do this directly below the mile long tunnel to the surface for convenience.
[17:45] <Nikori> OOC - Etherial or normal Marie?
[17:45] <Alicia> OOC: ethereal, obviously
[17:49] <Nikori> Marie goes into the mud! It goes about sixty feet down and then another sixty. No sign of hard bedrock at all. Thick, watery mud is the order of the day.
[17:50] <Alicia> Marie is happy to give up at this point, because even if there is something interesting past this much mud, there's no way they could ever reach it. Alicia agrees when the eladrin returns to report her findings, and so they start to swim back up to the surface.
[17:52] <Nikori> Once out and in the air again, Mizin dries off. As he does, "Dendragram's Tomb next?"
[17:53] * Alicia dries herself off via prestidigitation and reverses the elven transformation upon them both. "Lets," she agrees, content to head in the signposted direction for said tomb.
[17:55] <Nikori> The trip to Denedragram's Tomb takes a day and some change. The trio comes on it near sunset of the next day. It is an imposing stone edifice that stands out in the endlessly flat plains, carved of delicate pink stone and rose colored coral. It looks very out of place, yet even from a distance, one can tell it is gorgeous.
[17:57] <Alicia> "Can you see it, yet?" Alicia asks Mizin, knowing that he's been getting better at spotting these things as the days go by.
[17:59] <Nikori> At about 200 hundred feet away, Mizin peers ahead and nods. "That's stunning," he says, hurrying along. "No one who lives in the Endless Plains could build this as of now, as far as I know."
[18:00] <Alicia> "I certainly don't see anywhere they could get the stone and coral from," Alicia agrees as they approach the tomb, alert for both magic and evil. Sadly undead often like to dwell around tombs as well.
[18:03] <Nikori> As you approach, you see the front of the tomb has a door. It's a pair of gently curved double doors, each one flanked by an engraved carving of a gorgeous woman moving to open them, clad in flowing dresses.
[18:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 10."12 [1d20=3]
[18:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft I rely on my familiar too much for this
[18:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft I rely on my familiar too much for this and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[18:06] <Alicia> "At a guess, I'd say this was built by followers of Sulia," Alicia assumes as she approaches. After Marie warns her of the abjuration magic on the door, she nods and says, "You two should stand back - I'm hoping it will permit access to plainswalkers without trouble, but no sense chancing fate." Once Mizin and Marie are at least thirty feet away, she attempts to open the doors.
[18:09] <Nikori> The door opens! Inside you see a front foyer. Here several more statues and relief carvings are about, as well as a ceiling mural. On the ceiling you see an image of a glorious heaven. A fire haired woman in a diphanous gown - Sune is easily enough identified by now - is flanked by two others, a woman wearing brightly colored clothes like emeralds and rubies, and the last is a stunningly gorgeous woman with the head of a cat. The three of them
[18:10] <Nikori> and the last is a stunningly gorgeous woman with the head of a cat. The three of them are watching a ghostly man ascend toward the heavens. He is a pretty man, clad in light armor with a rose insignia. (More)
[18:11] <Nikori> Around, thes tatues show scenes of love and romance. Beautiful maidens are courted by worthy suitors, all impeccable. Statues of Lady Firehair are seen as well, each statue as alluringly beautiful as the most well formed woman Alicia can think of.
[18:11] <Nikori> There are double doors leading deeper in.
[18:12] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 18 on religion to identify the two women besides Sune
[18:13] <Nikori> "Stunning works," Already scooting in now that the door's open, Mizin goes to examine things, taking out a scroll and sketching likenesses of many of the statues and images on the quick.
[18:14] <Alicia> "Seems safe," Alicia waves for her companions to join her as she heads inside, unable to keep from admiring the statues a little - craftsmanship so fine has to be respected, after all. With only one way to go, though, she proceeds to open the next double doors in short order.
[18:14] <Nikori> Alicia goes to open the door! As she does...
[18:15] <Nikori> The doors open easily enough. Past them is a narrow hall that twists to the right, with a branching side passage to the left.
[18:16] <Alicia> "Mmm..." Alicia pauses a moment and rubs the back of her neck. "No disrespect to Lady Firehair, but my allegiance is spoken for," she murmurs in a soft whisper.
[18:18] <Nikori> "Hm," Looking up from sketching away the ceiling mural, "Did you say something, Alicia? Anyway, you can go on if you want. I need some time to study and record all of these."
[18:19] <Alicia> "Nothing," Alicia shakes her head. "Marie, why don't you stay here with Mizin in case of trouble?" she suggests to her familiar, heading inwards and taking the left path.
[18:20] <Nikori> OOC: #evil, Marie?
[18:21] <Nikori> Alicia heads down the path! The way is lit by little frescos of radiant light, casting everything in flattering shadows. Ahead lies a room with a large, soft bed. Around it are a pair of bookshelves. More art is on the walls, the room otherwise a dead end.
[18:23] * Alicia impulsively sits on the bed, mostly just curious about its softness and comfort. She doesn't linger too much on that before examining the bookshelves as the most salient point of interest in the room.
[18:25] <Nikori> The bed is quite soft. The sheets are smooth silk, the pillows down feathers. There are several books - the first is a well written collection of romantic essays, fanciful and praising. The second is a treatise on how to make love instead of war. The third is a discussion of courtly romances and skillful etiquette. The fourth is a book on sensual and pleasurable things to do in the bedroom. The fifth looks to be a book of Sunite worship. As she
[18:26] <Nikori> The fifth looks to be a book of Sunite worship. As she does this looking, she can note that there is a small statue of a tiny angel tucked into the back of the bed that she couldn't see from the hall. Carved into it are the following in Celestial: "Worship of the three: Joy, Pleasure and Love."
[18:28] <Alicia> The book on making love instead of war seems somewhat interesting, so Alicia decides to give it a quick skim. The fourth book also seems interesting, but really who would Alicia practice it on? So book number two wins the contest of getting her attention.
[18:30] <Nikori> It references Lliira several times. It talks of making enemies to friends and bringing people to her worship. It also talks of the rewards awaiting in Aborea and her divine realm, where joy is eternal and pain is forgotten.  However, it does warn against spreading joy to those that cannot understand it. Even in this, it mentions treating harshly with the abominations of undead and those who crawl from the lowest plains. It's a fairly well writt
[18:31] <Nikori> from the lowest plains. It's a fairly well written work for what it is, though it would take a lot more freading and time to fully digest. A few hours, say.
[18:32] <Nikori> *reading
[18:32] * Alicia wouldn't mind giving it a proper read, but for now she might as well explore the rest of this tomb and pay her respects to its inhabitant before settling down. Spending a moment to examine the artwork, she impulsively looks under the bed before heading down the opposite path.
[18:34] <Nikori> Alicia peers below! She notices there's a single metal rung attached to what looks to be a pink painted slab of wood. A trap door
[18:34] <Nikori> ?
[18:35] <Alicia> Well, that's going to get checked, but first she'll see what's out in the open, so continues on down the path leading to the right from the main entrance.
[18:36] <Nikori> Down the right side path Alicia goes! It leads to another set of double doors. These ones are shut, engraved with the image of a regal woman. She wears a shining crown and carries a gleaming sceptre.
[18:37] <Alicia> "Sulia's lost crown?" Alicia wonders aloud with a faint smile before she tries to open the door.
[18:38] <Nikori> The door opens! Inside the large room is a life sized statue. It is made of pure gold, looking to be the same woman as enscribed on the door, save for a crown and the sceptre being missing. Her hand is even in place as if to hold something. Otherwise, the room is pleasant enough. Quite large and enjoyable, with what looks to be an altar to Lady Firehair behind the statue.
[18:40] * Alicia wonders where the actual tomb is... well, perhaps down that trapdoor. Which is what she's going to investigate next. Returning to the bedroom, she pushes the bed aside so she can open it.
[18:42] <Nikori> The bed moves aside quite easily. Despite it's comforts, it's constructed fairly light. The trapdoor opens without incident, revealing stairway into the depths.
[18:43] * Alicia picks up the small angel statue to use as an impromptu torch, casting light on it as she heads down.
[18:45] <Nikori> The stairway goes down perhaps seventy feet. It leads to a room of rose and flesh colored quartz walls, shining light back in a hundred refractions. This room is perhaps fourty feet wide and long, a coffin lying near the center.  It is engraved with the image of a man in rose styled armor on the top, his eyes closed, as if at rest.
[18:47] * Alicia approaches the coffin with an appropriately respectful demeanour, looking around for any art or writings that would perhaps tell her about what sort of man this Denedragam was.
[18:47] * CC is now known as Seira
[18:51] * Alicia pauses and asks aloud. "Why would anyone want to open your crypt? Why would you want anyone to try?" she asks curiously. Disturbing the dead was not her reason for coming here.
[18:52] <Nikori> There is no reply to Alicia, the coffin ahead. The light from her statue casts everything beautifully in soft, sensual lights.
[18:53] * Alicia continues with her original goal of examining the coffin and its surroundings for any pictures or texts that might elaborate where the whispered voice failed.
[18:55] <Nikori> The coffin is not otherwise engraved, save for a plaque fitted into the side. It reads, in Celestial, "The last step of this part of the journey is here. Only the bravest, purest and most true to Empress Sulia's ideals can win."
[19:00] * Alicia is brave. She's... pure, for various interpretations of pure, anyway. But while she's passionate and capable of great love, she would hardly presume to be the truest to Sune's doctrine. Besides, she's not here to perform a holy journey in Sune's ideals, she's here on a mission from Mystra.
[19:00] <Alicia> "Fallen Denedragam, I know not what you seek from those who journey here, but I know you will not find it from me. Rest well in your place of love and joy until that person is found," she prays respectfully in celestial as she stands over the coffin with her hands clutched around the angelic statue held against her chest. After concluding her prayer, she turns to head back up the way she came.
[19:01] <Nikori> OOC - Make a charisma check?
[19:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[19:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
[19:02] <Nikori> Alicia heads back up the stairs without incident. OOc - Returning th eother two?
[19:03] <Alicia> OOC: yep
[19:04] <Alicia> OOC: I'll close the trapdoor and replace the bed once up in that room
[19:05] <Nikori> Alicia returns to the front of the temple. Mizin and Marie are there, unharmed. "What lies beyond," he asks. "I've about finished my notes on the first room."
[19:06] <Alicia> "To the right is an altar, to the left is a bedroom," Alicia explains, having also replaced the statue where she found it now that she no longer needs it. "There's a few books I wouldn't mind reading while we're here, so I'll probably just do that while you make your notes and sketches - this is a good place to spend the night and we can head out in the morning if there's nothing else found?"
[19:10] <Nikori> "Certainly," Mizin starts to walk ahead now, "I have a lot of research to do then. Excuse me." With a polite nod he walks away. He deals with the statue room first, fiddling with the statue and taking sketches of everything. As he goes to the bedroom and stops to talk to Alicia, "A trapdoor and a coffin? You don't think it should be disturbed, though?"
[19:12] <Alicia> Marie is a bit suspicious of him 'fiddling' with the revealing statue of a beautiful woman, but so long as he doesn't damage it she lets it slide.
[19:12] <Alicia> "It seems to be some sort of test for those embarking on pilgrimages here," Alicia explains from where she's sat on the bed reading the book on love and war. "I don't think it has anything to do with our goals, and it could be dangerous."
[19:14] <Nikori> "I'd like to at least see the coffin," Mizin insists, "This isn't a chance that's likely to show itself again." Meanwhile Alicia's made good progress on the book. It's written by a wise mind, expanding her horizons on love, joy and mercy. She's rather sleepy and comfortable from being on the bed too.
[19:17] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia relents, hopping off the bed and sliding it to the side. Opening the trapdoor she picks up her still glowing angel statue to serve as a light, "Let me know if you hear any voices," she warns, leading him downstairs.
[19:17] <Alicia> Meanwhile Marie eyes the books before grabbing the volume on Sune's bedroom fun so that she can expand some horizons of her own.
[19:19] <Nikori> Marie finds the book is...oh my! But on other more pressing matters, Alicia and Mizin proceed down to the coffin! As Mizin steps into the chamber of rosy quarts, "I just heard something," he glances backwards.
[19:20] <Alicia> "Someone saying you're not worthy to open the crypt?" Alicia asks. "I think it's the culmination of some Sunite rite of passage or something - not something we should involve ourselves in."
[19:21] <Nikori> "Yes, that was it," Mizin says, going to examine and copy the crypt. As he finishes a few minutes later, "Still..." he murmurs. "My curiosity is piqued. What treasure could lie within? It may be something that could help discover the truth about the Endless Plains."
[19:23] <Alicia> "I think you're reaching," Alicia shakes her head. "Without any solid evidence to say so I won't condone desecrating this man's grave."
[19:23] <Alicia> "If there is any reward within, it's almost certainly a spiritual one for Sune's faithful, anyway."
[19:24] <Nikori> "True, I might be. Still..." He eyes it longer and a moment. As he does...
[19:24] <Nikori> roll 1d20+4
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+4 and gets 20."12 [1d20=16]
[19:27] <Nikori> "Hm?" Glancing behind himself again, "...yes, let's go," Mizin's interest fades rather quickly, starting to head back. "On second consideration you are completely correct."
[19:28] <Alicia> "Did the voice tell you something?" Alicia asks curiously as she follows him back upstairs.
[19:29] <Nikori> "Yes, yes it did," He says, but doesn't elaborate on it automatically, instead going back upstairs and to the book reading Marie.
[19:29] * Alicia naturally prods him even while replacing the trapdoor and eliciting a little yelp from Marie as she moves the bed, "What did it say, specifically?"
[19:31] <Nikori> "It's scandalous to repeat it," he says in an even voice. "Yes, I believe now it's a Sunite ritual."
[19:32] <Alicia> "Ah..." Alicia nods, wisely deciding not to press further. "In any case, lets just take it easy for the rest of the day and we can head off tomorrow - probably to Citadel unless we can find a signpost nearby with more interesting directions." At that she settles on the bed with Marie and resumes reading her book.
[19:33] <Nikori> OOC - Skip ahead?
[19:33] <Nikori> OOC - Who gets the bed? Alicia?
[19:33] <Nikori> OOC: For the night, that is.
[19:33] <Alicia> OOC: I'll claim it
[19:35] <Nikori> The night is a good one. Alicia has pleasant, warm dreams. Dreams of what she lost; her husband's face, voice, smell, touch, laugh, love, life all remembered in vivid dreams. There is no sorrow to them this night, only a long forgotten contentment and a wistful, happy nostalgia. On waking in the morning, Alicia can swear she almost sees him lying besides her as she blinks her eyes clear, vanishing like the sleep sand in her eyes.
[19:35] <Nikori> vanishing like the sleep sand in her eyes.
[19:38] <Alicia> Sadly nostalgia must give way to melancholy when she rises, knowing that it was just a dream, however pleasant. Still, she gives silent thanks to Sune - it's been so long since she dreamt of him that an outside influence is naturally suspected - as she goes about getting ready for another day's travel, making sure to replace the books (and wonder at her familiar's choice in reading material) before they depart.
[19:38] <Alicia> "Alright, lets check for signposts first," she decides, going to circle the tomb's exterior while Marie flies up for a wider look at the surrounding area.
[19:39] <Nikori> As the duo leaves the tomb, Mizin stops. "Something's coming," he says sharply, taking a step backwards as the party stands just outside of the tomb.
[19:41] <Alicia> "Tch. They'd desecrate this holy site with bloodshed?" Alicia curses as she draws her sword and casts mirror image. Wasn't the point that creatures only appeared on the plains themselves and not at landmarks? Another assumption put to rest.
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4 MI A
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 MI A and gets 5."12 [1d4=1]
[19:41] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4 MI M
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 MI M and gets 6."12 [1d4=2]
[19:43] <Nikori> Gesturing around himself, armor of force girds Mizin! As he does, the air ripples! This time, a huge creature appears! It's titantically bulky and blubbery, like a green skinned humanoid with light fur and thousands of pounds overweight. It looks on lethargically, but around you comes, "DIE DIE DIE! NO ONE SURVIVES THIS CRYPT!" The cackling voice is full of outright fury this time! OOC - Since you guys took the chance to buff, initiative.
[19:43] <Nikori> OOC - Since you guys took the chance to buff, initiative.
[19:44] <Nikori> roll 1d20-3
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20-3 and gets 8."12 [1d20=11]
[19:44] <Nikori> roll 1d20+7 Mizin
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+7 Mizin and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 12."12 [1d20=7]
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 27."12 [1d20=20]
[19:45] <Nikori> roll 1d20+1
[19:45] <Nikori> roll 1d20+1
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+1 and gets 21."12 [1d20=20]
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+1 and gets 13."12 [1d20=12]
[19:47] * Nikori changes topic to 'Marie>Mizin>????1>????2>Alicia>Big thing'
[19:47] <Nikori> OOC - Marie, you're up.
[19:48] <Alicia> Hovering above Alicia, Marie fires a trio of arrows at the presumed plains troll!
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 34."12 [1d20=11]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
[19:49] <Nikori> OOC - Two hits.
[19:49] <Alicia> "Look out, there's two other things hiding behind the big one!" Marie warns as some of her arrows pierce its flesh.
[19:49] <Alicia> roll 2d4+6
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+6 and gets 9."12 [2d4=2, 1]
[19:51] <Nikori> The two arrows pierce the vast flab of the creature, tiny wounds into it's oversized body! Mizin steps back to the door of the tomb, a foursome of magic missiles hitting the behemoth!
[19:51] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 12."12 [4d4=3, 1, 3, 1]
[19:52] <Nikori> The missles hit the creature and make it's body shake like a bowlful of jelly! As it does, the two creatures come around, one coming from each side of the flabby block! They come to within 15 feet of Alicia and twenty five of Mizin, slavering mouths watering at the sight of them! OOC - Alicia.
[19:54] * Alicia channels a scorching ray into her readied sword while casting voice of the archon to increase her and Marie's persuasiveness.
[19:54] <Nikori> The big thing stomps forward five feet! The ground quakes under it's movement, the early morning sunshine blocked by it's bulk! A deep dark shadow engulfs Alicia! OOC - Marie.
[19:57] <Alicia> Whatever language the big thing speaks, Marie speaks it as well! And she provides the following simple suggestion, "Those little green guys are going to steal your food - you should deal with them, first!"
[19:57] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 suggestion
[19:57] <Nikori> roll 1d20+8
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
[19:57] <Nikori> OOC - Mizin's up.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Focus on the little ones!" Marie quickly tells Mizin after her suggestion hits home.
[19:58] <Nikori> As the suggestion works, Mizin targets the one on the right with a set of magic missiles, "Got it," he says, stepping back a little further!
[19:58] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 16."12 [4d4=4, 1, 3, 4]
[20:00] <Nikori> This salvo of missiles rocks the troll on the right, as they both reach Alicia, tearing into her!
[20:00] <Nikori> roll 1d20+16 (-2 PA)
[20:00] <Nikori> roll 1d20+16 (-2 PA)
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+16 (-2 PA)  and gets 24."12 [1d20=8]
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+16 (-2 PA)  and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
[20:00] <Nikori> roll 1d6 attack 1
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d6 attack 1 and gets 2."12 [1d6=2]
[20:00] <Nikori> roll 1d6 attack 2
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d6 attack 2 and gets 1."12 [1d6=1]
[20:00] <Nikori> Both attacks are voided, one getting an image and the other blocked by Alicia's very real armor!  OOC - Alicia.
[20:01] <Nikori> Even as it gets closer, Alicia can see that the burst skin and bruises on the magic missiles thats truck the one on the right are already mending...
[20:02] * Alicia focuses on the wounded troll, deciding it best to work entirely on putting it down before attacking the other!
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel and gets 31."12 [1d20=11]
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 -3 pa, divine might, 3rd level channel and gets 12."12 [1d20=2]
[20:02] <Nikori> OOC - Two hits.
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 2d8+50+6d4
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+50+6d4 and gets 73."12 [2d8=5, 5][6d4=2, 2, 4, 1, 3, 1]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 12d6 fire
[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d6 fire and gets 41."12 [12d6=2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6]
[20:04] <Nikori> The sword blows through the troll's body savagely, but Alicia finds out a rude shock! Despit the deep cuts and massive tearing to the troll's chest and torso, it lives on! The flaming rays don't even seem to lightly burn it's skin, let alone greviously injure it! OOC - Big thing is up.
[20:05] <Nikori> The big thing lumbers forward another five feet! With a screetch like a bird, it slams it's fist down at the troll on the left!
[20:06] <Nikori> roll 1d20+35 (-10 PA)
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+35 (-10 PA) and gets 50."12 [1d20=15]
[20:06] <Nikori> roll 4d6+35
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d6+35 and gets 54."12 [4d6=5, 2, 6, 6]
[20:07] <Nikori> WHAM! The troll is knocked prone, slammed viciously by the giant flab! OOC - Marie.
[20:08] <Alicia> "So, think maybe flying away and letting our friend deal with the trolls is a good idea?" Marie hazards, turning incorporeal to avoid any attacks on herself.
[20:09] <Nikori> Wincing at the massive blow, "That may be wisest," Mizin says, even as he shoots off more magic missiles at the troll on the right!
[20:09] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 11."12 [4d4=1, 4, 1, 1]
[20:09] <Nikori> The troll is perforated once more, staggered! Nonetheless, it tears back into Alicia with a dumb fury!
[20:09] <Nikori> roll 1d20+18
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32."12 [1d20=14]
[20:09] <Nikori> roll 1d20+18
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
[20:09] <Nikori> roll 1d20+16
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+16 and gets 17."12 [1d20=1]
[20:09] <Nikori> roll 1d5
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d5 and gets 1."12 [1d5=1]
[20:09] <Nikori> OOC - AC?
[20:09] <Alicia> OOC: AC 29, 31 vs evil
[20:10] <Nikori> roll 1d6+9
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d6+9 and gets 14."12 [1d6=5]
[20:10] <Nikori> One of the troll's savage claws grazes Alicia's arm, warm lifeblood freed from the confines of Alicia's delicate veins! The troll on the right meanwhile manages to stagger up! OOC - Alicia.
[20:11] * Alicia falls away from the grazing wound, tucking herself into a defensive roll to avoid further attacks as she retreats towards Mizin and casts a spell on him. "Wings of magic, let us slip the surly bonds of earth and take to the air!"
[20:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 tumble. DC 15 anyway
[20:11] <Nikori> So enchanted, Mizin can now fly! The behehmoth isn't done, attacking the troll that just got up!
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 tumble. DC 15 anyway and gets 25."12 [1d20=10]
[20:11] <Nikori> roll 1d20+25 (-20 PA)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+25 (-20 PA) and gets 35."12 [1d20=10]
[20:12] <Nikori> roll 4d6+45
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d6+45 and gets 61."12 [4d6=2, 5, 6, 3]
[20:12] <Nikori> The troll on the left goes down in a shower of blood at this, even as it's body pieces itself back together! OOC - Marie.
[20:13] <Alicia> Marie flies up so she's well out of reach even for tall flabby giants, deciding that she really doesn't need to worry about attacking when their tenuous ally can clearly handle the trolls with ease.
[20:14] <Nikori> Mizin does the same, soaring straight up as fast as he can! The downed troll is quite out of it, regenerating! The troll on the left, meanwhile, turns and claws into the flabby monster!
[20:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+18
[20:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+18
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+18 and gets 21."12 [1d20=3]
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29."12 [1d20=11]
[20:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+16
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+16 and gets 35."12 [1d20=19]
[20:39] <Nikori> roll 1d6+9+1d8+5
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d6+9+1d8+5 and gets 25."12 [1d6=6][1d8=5]
[20:39] <Nikori> It tears into the flabby behemoth nonetheless, even as the wounds don't seem to seriously injure it! OOC - Alicia.
[20:40] * Alicia casts fly on herself and likewise takes to the air!
[20:41] <Nikori> Thus the trio fly up and away! As they do, they can see the behemoth utterly slaughter the poor trolls, stargint to eat them one limb at a time! But by that point the party has slipped away, safe and sound, in the sky and well away! OOC - Free action.
[20:44] <Alicia> "Well, digestive acid counts, doesn't it?" Marie hazards as they fly around the tomb for some cover.
[20:44] <Alicia> "I want to make sure that thing doesn't try to damage the tomb once it finishes with the trolls - Marie can you keep an eye on it without being seen while we wait here?" Alicia asks her familiar.
[20:45] <Alicia> "Got it!" Marie is happy enough to comply, zipping straight through the tomb in her incorporeal state as she goes to stealthily keep an eye on the behemoth. Meanwhile Alicia flies up to get an idea of the surrounding terrain in case there's any nearby landmarks.
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 hide for Marie
[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 hide for Marie and gets 30."12 [1d20=6]
[21:13] <Nikori> Marie hides about and sees nothing but Endless Plains. Checking back, she finds it busy at work eating the remnants of one of the trolls.
[21:14] <Alicia> Marie waits for it to finish dining, waiting to see what it does afterwards.
[21:16] <Nikori> The troll looks around for at ime. It looks confused, and then...is simply gone, fading away into motes of dark light once again.
[21:17] <Alicia> Marie flies back to report her findings to Alicia, who has used this time to fly up and check the surrounding area as well as examine the exterior of the tomb for signposts.
[21:27] <Nikori> A rear wall of the tomb has the following, Mizin able to translate: "Estaunce: 2 days northeast." "Blessed be Sulia, taken to the higher truths forevermore." "Avoid the guardian of the crypt. We joyously passed the other trials, but he killed my friends and only spared me when I ran. It is too strong, no matter what lies in that coffin." "MCL: Moderate, rising to high in the east. Be wary of Steelwings: These creatures have razor sharp feathers
[21:27] <Nikori> "MCL: Moderate, rising to high in the east. Be wary of Steelwings: These creatures have razor sharp feathers in a storm around them. It can send a hail of razor sharp feathers, much like a dragon's breath."
[21:30] * taifk (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-190-20.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:31] <Alicia> "Ever heard of Estuance?" Alicia asks, assuming it's probably a town. "Maybe we should add a note ourselves, too - something about that fat giant and how it's slow but hits with tremendous force?"
[21:32] <Nikori> "That's a good idea," Mizin takes out a knife, starting to slowly carve the stone. "Not offhand, no. It's only another day, and they might know more about the tomb or Citadel there if we're lucky."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Perhaps, although if we do want to get to the citadel I'm not sure about adding further delays... I wonder what trials they're talking about, though?" Alicia sounds vaguely intrigued. "Even though it's irrelevant to our purpose, I haven't gotten where I am by ignoring the tests that gods put before us - I admit I'm curious about the tomb."
[21:34] * Alicia also heals herself while they talk.
[21:38] <Nikori> Mizin doesn't reply immediately, carving away in foreign letters. When he's done a few minutes later, "If you've changed your mind, it's best to go and do it instead of backtracking."
[21:41] <Alicia> "Hmmm... what do you think, Marie?" Alicia asks her familiar, who in turn looks surprised.
[21:41] <Alicia> "You're asking me if you should give in to poor impulse control?" she queries while pointing at herself.
[21:41] * Alicia is less than comforted by that reply, but does make up her mind. "No, this isn't like the gnomish ruins - this is a holy site for followers of Sune, Sharess, and Lliira. We shouldn't disrupt it. Okay, you wanted to try Estuance, Mizin?"
[21:42] <Nikori> Mizin chuckles at that, "I'm still curious, but I'll continue to abide by your choice. Yes, if that's true, let go ahead and head for it. If it's only a day, we might reach it before sundown."
[21:44] <Alicia> "Two days," Alicia corrects. "Still, we might run into something interesting on the way - lets get moving."
[21:46] <Nikori> OOC - Spot check, everyone?
[21:46] <Nikori> roll 1d20+3
[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+3 and gets 16."12 [1d20=13]
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 8."12 [1d20=1]
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 10."12 [1d20=4]
[21:47] <Nikori> Most of the day passes without incident. As dusk comes and it's time to start making camp, Mizin peers forward. Shielding his eyes from glare with one hand, he points. "I think I see something - there's some smoke on the horizon. Pretty small, like a campfire."
[21:48] <Alicia> "Another plainswalker?" Alicia wonders. "Lets see if we can push on for a bit longer to join them for camp," she suggests, picking up the pace to do just that.
[21:51] <Nikori> As you get closer, your eyes are able to see better. A small campfire. A man and a woman are there. The man is short and stocky, with a swarthy black beard, dwarven like even if he looks human overall. The other is a human girl without an inch of hair on her head, young and she'd probably be pretty if not for that. She sits by the fire, a small animal on a spit over it.
[21:52] * Alicia waves and calls out as they approach, not wanting to startle the pair. She has to use celestial since she doesn't know the default language here, but lots of people seem to know the language of the heavens, anyway. "Hail, plainswalker!"
[21:53] <Nikori> The man runs up at a solid clip, slowing down about 50 feet away. "Fellow plainswalker," he says loudly. "Ah, one I haven't met yet!" Approaching, he offers out his hand. "Name's Birdsong, singer and performer extrodinare, in the service of Empress Sulia." He bows sweepingly to the three, "We're roasting a rabbit and have some fairly fresh bread for dinner. Join us."
[21:54] <Nikori> Mizin takes the offered hand and shakes briefly. "Mizin, from Abgriam," he replies. "Don't mind if I do. It's been a long day's travel and I'm hungry..." HE stops a moment there, glancing to Alicia, "You know, I was the first one to see the smoke, wasn't I?
[21:54] <Nikori> "
[21:55] <Alicia> "Alicia Reynes, knight errant in the service of Mystra," Alicia returns as she firmly shakes his hand. Then at Mizim's comment she nods thoughtfully. "You're getting better at this all the time," she agrees.
[21:56] <Nikori> "Mystra? Haven't heard that one yet." Still, he starts to walk back, "Oh, and that...did you find a friendly creature out here? I haven'ts een a little woman with wings yet either."
[21:57] <Nikori> The woman by the fire is standing now as you approach. She has a long scar running down the left side of her head, as if the skin was severed neatly and sewn up. You can see she has a stubble of dark hair starting to grow on her head, but only a stubble.
[21:57] <Alicia> "Mystra's the goddess of magic!" Marie announces brightly. "I arrived here at the same time Alicia did - my name's Marielle."
[21:58] <Nikori> "Nice to meet you," With a grand smile to the eladrin, "The little lady there is Annath, my younger sister."
[21:59] <Nikori> Annath smiles just a little, though it doesn't reach her eyes. HEr eyes are deep and longing to look into, a slight blush ot her cheeks. "Greetings."
[21:59] * Alicia and Marie both say hello to Annath as they go to sit by the fire. "So where are you two headed?" Alicia asks.
[22:00] <Nikori> "Around, tos ee the wilds hidden away. Nowhere in particular, we've been travelling east for a good long while." As the party sits around the fire, you can see a rabbit is for dinner. Smells pretty good, too. "The more of Sulia's wisdom I see, the better."
[22:01] <Nikori> "*west
[22:03] <Nikori> "I read there were a few lakes around here. I'd like to see them and go swimming," Annath adds to the conversation as she keeps here eyes cast towards the fire. "Have you seen them yourselves?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "There's Denedragam's Tomb a little over a day to the Southwest," Alicia suggests, "Apparently there's a test for followers of Sulia to undergo there, although it's very dangerous - some have died according to the writings there. From there another day Southwest there's a lake where Sulia allegedly cast her crown into the waters." She smiles knowingly, "We checked, and while it's amazingly deep, there's no crown, just a lot of mud."
[22:09] <Nikori> "Shame," Goign to a backpack that sits a little away, Birdsong takes out a flute. "Sulia's crown, eh? It would be nice if someone ever found it. It was supposed ot have been a powerful magical item, though it was lost just before she went to the Heavens to be with Sune."
[22:10] <Nikori> "Wait," Mizin speaks up sharply there, "I've noticed a few references out here to Sulia and Sune perhaps being two different people, but you're saying it like it's a foregone fact."
[22:10] <Alicia> "Oh?" That piques Alicia's interest. "I had thought Sulia and Sune were synonymous, from what I've understood since arriving here. So Sulia is a different person?"
[22:11] <Nikori> "That's right. Ah, you must be new at this," Tapping his flute agains thte botton of his well worn heel, "Some towns thing Sulia and Sune are the same
[22:11] <Nikori> OCO - Gah.
[22:12] <Nikori> "That's right. Ah, you must be new at this," Tapping his flute agains thte botton of his well worn heel, "Some towns thing Sulia and Sune are the same Goddess, while others remember another story. Sulia was a high priestess of Sune who was so perfect and belowed of Sune that the Goddess took her to be with her in the Eternal Palace, and thereafter swore to forever watch over Sulia's homeland."
[22:12] <Nikori> *some towns believe
[22:12] <Nikori> *beloved. I suck.
[22:13] <Alicia> "I see," Alicia nods thoughtfully. "That puts a new spin on things... Well, since you seem to be quite knowledgable, Birdsong, let me ask - have you ever heard of anyone called Halian?"
[22:14] <Nikori> "Yeah, that name." Making a face, "Occasionally a dying monster'll mention it if they're not screaming about Sune and Sulia. But what about you? How long have you been at this?"
[22:14] <Nikori> "Not long," Mizin admits, "About a week."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Less than a week," Alicia admits. "Mystra sent Marie and myself here from our home, and we found Mizin in Abgriam - he's originally from around the area we came from. Since then we've been trying to figure out just why the plains work the way they do, and if they can be fixed."
[22:15] <Nikori> "Fixed?" A long look to Alicia there, "What's wrong with them?"
[22:16] <Alicia> "People get lost and die? Monsters appear out of thin air?" Alicia suggests. "These things aren't normal, certainly not where we come from."
[22:16] <Nikori> Annath looks up, "What's your home?" Her voice is pleasant enough, though ever so slightly hesitant. "You wear strange clothes of metal and talk of strange notions for plainswalkers."
[22:17] <Alicia> "Alicia Reynes," Alicia introduces herself. "I'm a servant of the goddess of magic, Mystra."
[22:17] <Nikori> "It's the the way the world is. I suppose the Heavens and Sune's realm may be different...but that's the Heavens." He just looks to the fire, turning the rabbit as it cooks. "And that Mystra. Never heard of a Goddess of Magic or a Mystra."
[22:19] <Alicia> "Well now you have," Alicia smiles. "Don't worry, I'm a knight, not a priest - I won't try to convert you. But where I come from is not the heavens, it is a place of plains and hills and forests and oceans, where monsters can be seen approaching on the horizon, and anyone can walk along roads between towns without worrying about getting lost."
[22:19] <Alicia> "I'm from the heavens, though!" Marie can't resist piping up.
[22:22] <Nikori> "How curious. I should compose a song about this," Birdsong can't help but smile, "You're an eladrin, servants of Sune and Sulia?"
[22:23] <Nikori> "She is. A courre eladrin. Not the greatest, but she is capable as well as being a plainswalker," Mizin leans back onto his hands, "I can second what Alicia says. The rest of the world isn't like this."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Servant of Mystra!" Marie corrects. "Most eladrin do live in Arborea, which is where Sune is, but a few can appear on other planes even if we're rare elsewhere. Mystra gave me this form for a reason, though."
[22:24] <Nikori> "I see," Annath says slowly, "I don't really understand this."
[22:25] <Nikori> "There's a lot to learn out here, sister," Birdsong says lightly, "It's a good night to exchange tales and tell of what lies ahead. For example, have you ever heard of steelwings? They're a common beast ahead and they're ferocious."
[22:26] <Alicia> "Well if you have any questions I'd love to answer them," Marie smiles as she flutters over to the girl.
[22:26] <Alicia> Meanwhile Alicia nods to Birdsong, "There was a warning at Denedragam's Tomb saying they could appear to the East, though we haven't encountered any yet."
[22:30] <Nikori> "Nasty vermin. They attack from the air with feathers stronger than metal. Very tenacious if you can't wound them, they fly fast. That scar on Annath's head is from a feather storm. One of them cut her hair off on that side entirely and scraped across her skull.
[22:30] <Nikori> "
[22:30] <Nikori> Annath's color drains at that, a hand going up to her head, "It's taken weeks to heal right," she whispers. Raising her voice, "What are the Heavens like then, Marie?"
[22:33] <Alicia> "It's a shame we never met sooner, or I could've offered magical healing that would've made it go more smoothly," Alicia gives Annath a sympathetic look. "Thus far we've encountered boars, eye horrors, plains troglodytes, plains trolls, and a fat green-skinned giant. I could tell you about any of those if you like," she offers Birdsong.
[22:34] <Alicia> "Well there's all sorts of different heavens - you'll probably want to hear about Arborea though, if you're a follower of Sune..." Marie begins as she goes through her sales pitch for the chaotic good afterlife. Again. It'd be nice if she met more people interested in Elysium, but so it goes.
[22:36] <Nikori> Annath listens raptly, as meanwhile, "Plains trolls I've met, as well as the damned Eye Tyrants. Boars aren't a serious threat and the troglodytes are easy once you understand that you can't attack them with weapons. But what of the blob? Where did you fight that?"
[22:36] <Nikori> Birdsong says as he listens.
[22:39] <Alicia> "Outside the tomb of Denedragam," Alicia begins, keeping her voice low so as not to go over Marie's planar lecture - she even keeps half an ear on it herself since it's somewhat interesting. "Halian's voice spoke to us just before it appeared, sounding utterly enraged that we hadn't died in the tomb."
[22:39] <Alicia> "The creature was very slow, so luckily Marie was able to enchant it into attacking the two trolls that appeared with it - while one of them stood up to several powerful strikes from me, the other crumpled in an instant from the giant's fists. We fled while it consumed the fallen trolls."
[22:43] <Nikori> "It killed and ate trolls?" With a complete look of utter disgust, "I'll try to avoid it...though. Your story is fmailiar. ANother plainswalker told me that he was once ambushed leaving a site in the plains. It was a particularly vicious fight, which is unusual since buildings are usually left alone, as well as towns."
[22:43] <Alicia> "That was my understanding as well," Alicia agrees. "Which site was it, do you know?"
[22:44] <Nikori> "Serpent's Coils," He answers, "It's an old ruin that has a serpent's design. I'v enever seen it myself, I heard it second person."
[22:45] <Alicia> "Any idea where it is? It sounds like it could be important," Alicia muses. Although really their trip to that tomb didn't bring them any closer to finding Halian - Mizin never even had a sudden burst of insight after the battle.
[22:45] <Nikori> "Far to the west somewhere." Looking that way himself, "I'll need to be careful if I go by that tomb then."
[22:47] <Alicia> "You should," Alicia suggests. "Even leaving aside the ambush, the danger within the tomb itself should not be understated - though so long as the crypt is undisturbed you should be quite safe, since we never had any trouble ourselves." Putting that aside, "We're headed to Estaunce right now, following the signpost at the tomb - have you been there?"
[22:49] <Nikori> "We stopped by. Nice town, very pleasant. It's a good supply point and the temple is..." A momentary pause here, "It's nice."
[22:50] <Alicia> "You hesitated," Alicia points out, none too subtly.
[22:51] <Nikori> "Not for the reason you think," Coughing, "MIZIN might like the high priestess there, though."
[22:51] <Nikori> Annath blushes a little amid the lecture on the afterlife.
[22:51] * Alicia glances at Mizin then looks back to Birdsong. "You're just going to let us find out for ourselves, aren't you?"
[22:52] <Nikori> "It's not something to talk about in refined company," Clearing his throat, "She likes plainswalkers and believes they are the heralds of Sulia and Sune. She treats them very well."
[22:53] <Alicia> "I see..." Alicia decides not to press further. "Well, beyond that we'd been planning to eventually head for Citadel to the South - know anything about that?"
[22:56] <Alicia> "Did she treat your brother very well?" Marie whispers to Annath, briefly interrupting her description of Rillifane's great tree.
[22:57] <Nikori> "I'm afraid I don't," He stops a moment to start fixing up dinner in earnest, a short pause in the conversation. "What are you seeking in the Endless Plains? Most plainswalkers go from town to town, enjoying the praise and love the townsfolk give us while trying to see and survive out here in between."
[22:58] <Nikori> "I mean, besides the obvious part about fixing things," Birdsong corrects himself. "I mean, most of us have a reason to be out here."
[22:58] <Nikori> "I want to study the plains, and maybe find a way home. I find this surreal and fascinating at the same time. I want to find out everything I can here...one of my questions is why only Sune is here, and your story about Sulia could naswer that. However, that proposes a dozen other questions."
[22:59] <Nikori> "He was in a good mood, and she was very familiar with him,"Whispering back, "Even for a priestess sof Empress Sulia..." Annath says.
[23:00] <Alicia> "Well, I'm assuming there's a connection between the aura of the plains that makes people lose themselves and the teleporting monsters, and that leads us to Halian," Alicia explains. "Mystra didn't send us here to enjoy the adulation of Sune's followers, I'm certain of that. And given the immense magic that must have put the plains in this state, it certainly falls within Her purview."
[23:01] <Nikori> "Halian curses both Sune and Sulia. If he's behind this, I would think he's aware they're two different people. This ascension of Sulia to Heaven strikes me as a possible lynchpin of it, if the story is remotely true.  But as to what the real facts of the matter are, I don't know. But I'm going to track them down."
[23:02] <Alicia> Marie nods knowingly to Annath. Mizin is almost a plainswalker himself, so perhaps it might do him some good... Well, back to her stories about Arborea!
[23:02] <Nikori> "Thanks to Alicia, I'm becoming a Plainswalker. I'm not going to idle it away in the adorations of the Sunite clergy and thanks of people who don't know any better. I don't know if I can solve all of these problems, but I'm going to try and find out all :I can about them and see."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Maybe he is and he's cursing them both seperately?" Alicia suggests. "Certainly he hasn't been particularly coherent when I've heard him."
[23:03] <Nikori> "That old voice sounds like a cackling old man," Birdsong adds, "Not the pinnacle of stylistic sanity. I wish you well, but...dinner's nearly ready. We can eat and rest and talk again before we split up?"
[23:05] <Alicia> "Certainly," Alicia agrees readily. "Since Marie's wrapping up her exposition on Arborea I could tell you about the land I hail from, since there's not too much I know about this one."
[23:08] <Alicia> roll 4d4+4
[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+4 and gets 14."12 [4d4=1, 4, 1, 4]
[23:08] <Nikori> The night passes...the groups split up with the dawn, the part continuing towards Eustance. As you walk along, "I've been thinking about what I said last night," Mizin says, "The urge is getting stronger as I see more of these Endless Plains. I want to see them and find everything out about them. There's great mysteries lying in the stretches here, I'm certain of it."
[23:09] <Alicia> "So you'd rather stay here than go home once we fix them?" Alicia asks curiously.
[23:10] <Nikori> "I'd lost most of my faith in Mystra in these thirty years. Oh, I still said her name in curses and used it when the Sulia clergy irritated me, but...Pfft. But now? I feel like all of what's happening is a calling. A reason for being stuck here so damned long. A point to all of this that makes it something besides a lifetime of bored futility."
[23:12] <Alicia> "Well I'm glad to hear that," Alicia smiles warmly. "We've all had our faith tested at times, and not everyone can recapture it - if my being here has helped you do so, that alone justifies coming here. Still, I certainly want to at least get to the bottom of why these plains work the way they do, before I return home."
[23:14] <Nikori> "Yes..." Mizin looks ahead as he walks, to the morning sunshine, "However, it's taken me 30 years to get this far. It might be a long time before I figure that out, surges of knowledge or not."
[23:15] <Alicia> "But at least it gives you something to do," Alicia nods.
[23:15] <Alicia> "And you have to admit," Marie adds, "Sune's followers are really nice."
[23:16] <Nikori> "Heh," With his own faint blush and laugh, "They're certainly focused on pleasures of all types, as well as romance. The people of the Endless Plains live well enough."
[23:17] <Nikori> The noon hour comes and passes. A few hours past it, Mizin looks sharp. "Incoming," he says quickly, hands already weaving magic around his body!
[23:18] <Alicia> "Lets try and get some answers this time," Alicia suggests, casting fly and drawing her blade - she suspects steelwings so flight will probably be more useful than mirror image, here.
[23:19] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@24-176-14-8.dhcp.klmz.mi.charter.com) has joined #dunes
[23:22] <Nikori> Thirty feet above you, it appears in the sky! It is a huge steel-gray bird, a cloud of feathers racing over it's body constantly! Broken feathers molt down in a slow rain, clittering together like steel! It is a noble bird, it's head crested back. It's feathers seem to be edged, a thousand thirsty blades! From it's mouth comes, "NO NO NO I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS! I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS, MIZIN! DIE HERE!" OOC - Initiative.
[23:22] <Nikori> roll 1d20+7 Mizin
[23:22] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+7 Mizin and gets 10."12 [1d20=3]
[23:22] <Nikori> roll 1d20+12
[23:22] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
[23:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
[23:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 15."12 [1d20=10]
[23:22] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[23:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
[23:22] * Nikori changes topic to 'Steelwing>Marie>Alicia>Mizin'
[23:23] <Nikori> Quickly, a three set of carefully aimed, keen feathers are fired from a flap of the bird's wings, one at each of the three!
[23:23] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21 A
[23:23] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 A and gets 24."12 [1d20=3]
[23:23] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21 M
[23:23] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 M and gets 29."12 [1d20=8]
[23:23] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21 Mizin
[23:23] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 Mizin and gets 23."12 [1d20=2]
[23:23] <Nikori> OOC - ACs?
[23:24] <Alicia> OOC: 29 for A, 26 for M, +2 vs evil
[23:24] <Nikori> roll 1d8+9 Marie
[23:24] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d8+9 Marie and gets 15."12 [1d8=6]
[23:24] <Nikori> roll 1d8+9 Mizin
[23:24] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d8+9 Mizin and gets 13."12 [1d8=4]
[23:25] <Nikori> Marie gets a steel feather right in her leg, harder than steel! Mizin gets a long graze down his side, though Alicia ducks the deadly feather! THe missed one plunges into the ground like a knife! OOC - Marie.
[23:25] <Nikori> "Damn!" Mizin grimaces, "They cut like blades! Careful!"
[23:25] <Alicia> Marie decides to turn incorporeal to protect herself against further attacks!
[23:25] <Nikori> OOC - Alicia.
[23:26] <Alicia> "I'll keep it occupied!" Alicia promises, wincing as the curse of Marie's bow exacts its toll but nonetheless flying up to stab into the bird in a vertical charge!
[23:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2 pa, charge, divine might
[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2 pa, charge, divine might and gets 35."12 [1d20=15]
[23:27] <Nikori> OOC - As a fair warning, you're right next to and in the cloud of sharp feathers around it if you get in melee range. That okay? If so, hit.
[23:28] <Alicia> OOC: oh, so it has like its own blade barrier spell? Sorry, I thought it just had sharp feathers on it, not like a field around it - strike, then
[23:29] * Alicia elects to weaken the creature before closing in for melee, firing an enervation spell at it!
[23:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 ranged touch
[23:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 ranged touch and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
[23:29] <Nikori> OOC - Hit. d100, Alicia.
[23:29] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[23:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 13."12 [1d100=13]
[23:30] <Alicia> roll 1d4
[23:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 2."12 [1d4=2]
[23:30] <Nikori> Alicia's beam fires true, but the cloud of feathers obscures the bird! Instead of a hit, the bombardment of negative energy narrowly misses instead! OOC - Mizin is up, rough luck Alicia.
[23:31] <Nikori> Mizin veers to the side, "It has a storm of feathers, remember! Spread out!" As he calls this, a quadra of magical missiles fire up at the bird!
[23:31] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[23:31] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 16."12 [4d4=3, 4, 3, 2]
[23:32] <Nikori> The bird is stricken by the missiles, veering through the feathers and hitting it dead on! It focuses on Alicia, keeping aloft in the air and raining a three-some of feathers down on her!
[23:32] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:32] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:32] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 32."12 [1d20=11]
[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31."12 [1d20=10]
[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 25."12 [1d20=4]
[23:32] <Nikori> roll 2d8+17
[23:32] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 2d8+17 and gets 25."12 [2d8=6, 2]
[23:33] <Nikori> The feathers are sharp as throwing knives, embedding into Alicia's knee and stomach! Shallow but razor sharp wounds are made, cutting through her protections like nothing is there at all! It holds in place for now, dominating above and firing! OOC - Marie.
[23:33] <Alicia> "Hey, leave her alone!" Marie cries, firing a barrage of her own missiles at the creature as she flies up into the air above it!
[23:33] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[23:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17."12 [5d4=1, 1, 2, 4, 4]
[23:36] <Nikori> The magical missiles slam true and home, making the steelwing buckle in the air! It eyes her with a deadly, wrathful glare! OOC - Alicia.
[23:37] <Alicia> Channelling a scorching ray spell into her blade, Alicia casts enlarge person so she can strike at the beast with impunity when the time comes...
[23:37] <Nikori> Mizin continesu to circle around the bird, firing more magic missiles!
[23:37] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[23:37] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 12."12 [4d4=2, 2, 3, 1]
[23:38] <Nikori> The bird is hit again, looking around...
[23:38] <Nikori> roll 1d3 1 Alicia 2 Marie 3 Mizin
[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d3 1 Alicia 2 Marie 3 Mizin and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
[23:38] <Nikori> The bird turns in the air towards Mizin, firing hree more feathers at him!
[23:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 35."12 [1d20=14]
[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 24."12 [1d20=3]
[23:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21
[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 and gets 39."12 [1d20=18]
[23:38] <Nikori> roll 1d20+21 crit?
[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+21 crit? and gets 30."12 [1d20=9]
[23:39] <Nikori> roll 4d8+36
[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d8+36 and gets 51."12 [4d8=8, 1, 1, 5]
[23:40] <Nikori> Mizin is rattled with feathers! His face has one through his cheek, another going in right over his heart! As one pierces his arm, he falls down onto his back! His eyes are still open, even as he bleeds massively, "Stupid...bird..." he says, staggeringly trying to get up,e ven as his lifeblood gushes out! OOC - Marie.
[23:41] <Alicia> "Hey, focus on me please?" Marie tries her best to distract the bird with another blast of magic missiles to the beak as she flies right in front of its face, just out of reach!
[23:41] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[23:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17."12 [5d4=4, 2, 1, 1, 4]
[23:41] <Nikori> Once again magic missiles pierce the bird, making it's body shake in the air! OOC - Alicia.
[23:42] * Alicia has to abort her attack in order to protect Mizin, zipping over to channel some healing spellfire into him while her larger frame provides some degree of cover from further attacks!
[23:42] <Alicia> roll 18d4+18
[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d4+18 and gets 54."12 [18d4=1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 1, 2]
[23:43] <Nikori> Mizin is able to get up with the help, most of his injuries fading! "T-thank you," he says, even as he peers to Alicia's side long enough to fire more missiles, "Die, damn you!"
[23:43] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[23:43] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 16."12 [4d4=1, 4, 3, 4]
[23:45] <Nikori> The missiles deal yet more damage to teh bird, it's body punctured and beaten by dozens of force volleys! It's still up, as this time it turns to Marie! Three feathers go at her...but nothing happens! OOC - Marie.
[23:46] <Alicia> "Hahaha! Try again, you nearly got me!" Marie taunts, smacking it with some more magic missiles for good measure!
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 19."12 [5d4=2, 4, 3, 1, 4]
[23:46] <Nikori> More magical missiles, more steely feathers broken and falling away from it's body! IT looks beaten up now, but it's still up and moving! OOC - Alicia.
[23:48] <Alicia> "Just keep behind me," Alicia urges as she prays to Mystra for her sword to be guided to the creature's week point. "I'll finish this in one blow..."
[23:48] <Alicia> OOC: true strike
[23:48] <Nikori> Mizin stays back, firing yet another volley of magic missiles, "I still have a few more of these in me," he says back, hiding behind Alicia's bulk!
[23:48] <Nikori> roll 4d4+4
[23:48] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d4+4 and gets 19."12 [4d4=4, 3, 4, 4]
[23:48] <Nikori> roll 1d2 1 Marie 2 Alicia and Mizin
[23:48] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d2 1 Marie 2 Alicia and Mizin and gets 1."12 [1d2=1]
[23:49] <Nikori> This time the bird turns to Marie! It flaps it's wings in a furious storm! A furious storm of pure feathers, massively penetrating! Yet Marie isn't touched at all, despite enough barbs being thrown to kill a dragon! OOC - Marie.
[23:49] <Alicia> Marie has no more magic missiles left, and isn't about to turn corporeal to use her bow, so she settles for lighting the steelwing up with some faerie fire. "It's all yours, Alicia!"
[23:50] <Nikori> OOC - Go Alicia.
[23:50] <Alicia> "Now!" Alicia surges upwards, cracking the steelwing viciously about the side of the head with the flat of her blade, hoping the sword of the sealed gate will prevent it from teleporting even if unconscious!
[23:50] <Nikori> roll 1d4 also
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d4 also and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
[23:51] <Nikori> OOC - Carry on, not for you.
[23:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -11 pa, -4 nonlethal, 4th level channel, charge, divine might
[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -11 pa, -4 nonlethal, 4th level channel, charge, divine might and gets 47."12 [1d20=16]
[23:51] <Nikori> OOC - Hit. No d100 due to true strike. Roll damage.
[23:52] <Alicia> roll 2d6+42+4d4 nonlethal
[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d6+42+4d4 nonlethal and gets 58."12 [2d6=2, 1][4d4=4, 2, 3, 4]
[23:52] <Alicia> roll 12d6 fire
[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d6 fire and gets 48."12 [12d6=6, 1, 3, 2, 3, 5, 2, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5]
[23:52] <Alicia> OOC: DC 20 will save vs dimensional anchor
[23:52] <Nikori> roll 1d20+10
[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
[23:53] <Nikori> The massive blow leaves the bird out cold! It collapses on down, landing fourty feet below hard! However, it's not vanishing away, even though clearly it's out cold! The storm of feathers around it ceases, littering the ground around it with deadly weapons!
[23:53] <Nikori> roll 4d6 falling damage
[23:53] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 4d6 falling damage and gets 12."12 [4d6=3, 5, 2, 2]
[23:54] <Nikori> OOC - Free act.
[23:54] <Nikori> Mizin approaches carefully, "We won. That beast must be made of pure steel, or at least it's feathers are."
[23:55] * Alicia lands by the fallen bird and casts detect magic. "Check it over for magical auras," she tells her two companions. "Lets see if Halian's controlling it with a spell."
[23:57] <Alicia> "Hmm... only aura comes from the dimensional anchor I put on it," Alicia admits. "Well, we could try restraining it somehow and then wake it? Maybe that'll get Halian's attention?"
[23:57] <Nikori> Checking around the outside of the feathers on the ground, "How to we restain a giant bird?" Mizin asks curiously.
[23:57] <Alicia> "Notice it mentioned you by name?" Marie notes as she appears besides Mizin. "Wonder when this became personal?"
[23:58] <Nikori> "I'd guess the crypt?" Mizin carefully picks up one feather with two fingers, tossing it onto the ground. IT cuts grass like  arazor! "That's when it got nastier."
[23:58] <Alicia> "We could bury it," Alicia suggests. "Or really I could just heal it enough to rouse it so it'll be knocked out again from a single magic missile. Either works."
[23:58] <Nikori> "Burying it would take hours and hours," Mizin shakes his head, "Let's just do it the other way."
[23:59] <Alicia> "There are quicker ways," Alicia observes but she'd prefer not to use them. "Stand back and shoot it if it becomes unruly." At that she stands over the fallen bird and starts off by using her wand of cure light wounds.
[23:59] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[23:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 8."12 [1d8=7]
Session Time: Sun Dec 21 00:00:00 2008
[00:00] <Nikori> It's still out.
[00:00] <Nikori> Meanwhile Mizin is ready and waiting!
[00:00] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[00:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 2."12 [1d8=1]
[00:01] <Nikori> It's still out.
[00:01] <Alicia> Thinking for a moment, Alicia also casts Voice of the Archon, sharing it with Marie. It could be handy. That done, she resumes methodically healing the beast to wakefulness.
[00:01] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[00:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 4."12 [1d8=3]
[00:01] <Nikori> It's still out.
[00:01] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[00:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 7."12 [1d8=6]
[00:02] <Nikori> That one does it! The great bird stirs, eyes opening as a cloud of feathers starts to fly around it's body again!
[00:03] <Alicia> "Stop!" Marie commands in whatever the bird's language is. "Calm down and talk to us, we don't want to fight you."
[00:03] <Alicia> OOC: DC 21 suggestion
[00:04] * Targo is now known as Nao
[00:06] <Nikori> roll 1d20+10
[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
[00:06] <Nikori> The bird stops! It speaks in Common, "What do you want?"
[00:07] <Alicia> "We want to know why you attacked us, first of all," Alicia replies, pleasantly surprised that it speaks common.
[00:09] <Nikori> "I had to," It answers simply. "I was so commanded because my Master is afraid of Mizin and the bow your eladrin carries."
[00:10] <Alicia> "Why is your master afraid? How does he command you?" Alicia rattles off her questions, very pleased to be getting some real answers, now.
[00:11] <Nikori> Mizin looks to Marie at that in surprise.
[00:11] <Nikori> "The bow is helping Mizin gain great power as it's magic unravels. He believes that an outsider to the Endless Plains that becomes a Plainswalker will defeat him, as Sulia prophesized."
[00:12] <Alicia> "Long story, but hellforged cold iron isn't really standard issue for us," Marie admits breezily to Mizin as she brandishes her bow.
[00:13] <Nikori> "I see..." He looks at it, "Why would it it be helping me be stronger?"
[00:13] <Alicia> "Alright, how does he command your loyalty, then?" Alicia asks the great bird.
[00:13] <Nikori> "He is the Master. That is all."
[00:13] <Alicia> "Beats me," Marie shrugs. "The point of this quest was to purify the bow, since right now it's kinda nasty."
[00:14] <Alicia> "Alright... now for the big question," Alicia leans closer to the avian. "How do we find your master?"
[00:15] <Nikori> "The Master believes it is leeching his power into Mizin," The bird adds to Marie, then, "My Master is in the Other Place. We come from there to kill the Plainswalkers, the bearers of Sulia's hope."
[00:15] <Alicia> "Where is the Other Place? How could we get there?" Alicia asks.
[00:15] <Nikori> "I don't know. When we are needed, we appear here. When it is done, we go back."
[00:16] <Nikori> "Leeching his power? It explains the information I gleaned, but...a little information hardly instantly defeats this Halian." Mizin crosses his arms now.
[00:16] <Alicia> "It all adds up," Marie nods sagely. "One step at a time."
[00:18] <Nikori> "It does. Both times I gained insight, you had just defeated a creature, Marie," Mizin says.
[00:18] <Alicia> "I see," Alicia seems to have hit a brick wall. "What do you intend to do, now?"
[00:18] <Nikori> "I am supposed to have killed you, but I failed. Yet I am still here. I wait for the Master."
[00:20] <Alicia> "Do you always return to the master after killing a plainswalker?" Alicia asks, frowning at the concept.
[00:21] <Nikori> "Yes." He answers.
[00:21] <Nikori> "Or unti I am defeated," he amends.
[00:22] <Alicia> "So even if you die here you still return to your master to be sent out again and again?" Alicia seems even less enthused, now.
[00:23] <Nikori> "Yes," The bird says.
[00:24] <Nikori> "Then...if Marie dispatching these creatures siphons this knowledge to me..." Mizin meaningfully looks to the little flying eladrin.
[00:25] <Alicia> "As distasteful as it is," Alicia sighs. "We won't have you suffer, at least... maybe once we defeat Halian you'll be truly free."
[00:26] <Nikori> "I serve the Master." Is all the bird says.
[00:27] <Alicia> "For now," Alicia replies as she puts several magic missiles into its form to knock it out once more.
[00:27] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[00:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 15."12 [5d4=1, 2, 3, 3, 1]
[00:28] <Nikori> With those missiles, the bird is knocked out once more!
[00:29] <Alicia> "I really don't like this," Marie whines as she flies over the creature and draws her bow, aiming to put an arrow through its eye and hopefully deliver a quick death.
[00:30] <Alicia> roll 2d4+6 coup de grace
[00:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+6 coup de grace and gets 11."12 [2d4=2, 3]
[00:30] <Nikori> "It did try to kill us," Mizin adds, "It's a servant of this Halian. Why waste mercy on it?"
[00:32] <Alicia> "Because it never had a choice," Alicia replies sadly. "This isn't even really killing it, since it'll still just return to its master. That only makes it more distasteful."
[00:33] <Nikori> With the bird being out, it's in no position to resist! It's body breaks into black lights once more! Mizin goes rigid before his eyes widen, "Halian...Sulia..." He mutters, falling down onto his knees. "Good heavens..."
[00:33] <Alicia> Since he's already focused on Halian, Alicia sees no need to press him, instead waiting for him to compose himself and reveal what he's learned.
[00:34] <Nikori> Mizin is down for a time, before getting himself back up. "I...I know one thing now. Halian is an unlucky fool to have loved Sulia and been unable to control what he started. It got out of his control...only Sulia's prayer let Sune at least make the people of this realm have any hope and lives at all."
[00:35] <Alicia> "What did he do?" Alicia asks with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
[00:37] <Nikori> "I'm not sure, but..." Mimicking a few words and making a gesture, a crackling black-red beam comes from his hand! An enervation beam, one Alicia knows all toow ell. "Yes, that's it. That's the trick to it...!"
[00:37] * Alicia blinks. "I thought you said you only knew up to third circle magic?"
[00:38] <Nikori> "I do." Mizin shakes his head, "I did? I know this spell now. That time, the feeling was much stronger."
[00:39] <Alicia> "Did you learn it from copying me or from information about Halian?" Alicia asks curiously. Ah, if only it was so simple. Many's the time she tried to copy the incantation and gestures of some wizard or priest in her youth, to no avail.
[00:41] <Alicia> "Bigger question!" Marie interjects. "What did Halian start that went out of his control?"
[00:42] <Nikori> "I'm not sure. It's just in me now." As he looks around, "I feel...moitivated as well. I'm not sure, but it was something bad...and I want to find out. Very badly." He takes a few steps ahead, "I feel like the answer is out there, somewhere."
[00:43] <Alicia> "Perhaps we'll know after the next battle?" Alicia wonders as she heals herself a bit. "For now, lets press on to Estuance?"
[00:44] <Nikori> As Alicia starts to walk, she notices something out of the corner of her eyes. Mist, etherial mists, starting to creep towards her.
[00:46] <Alicia> Seeing the mists, Alicia feels a definite conflict inside herself. "It looks like I'm being called home now, Mizin... that must mean the journey is yours to complete, now. If I can, I'll find a way to return here, but the rest is up to you." She wants to see this out for herself, but recognises that Mystra must want Mizin to see the rest of the challenges ahead for himself.
[00:47] <Nikori> Mizin turns, mists swirling around, sealing him away from you. "I...I see." He says, "Then...Until we meet again, Alicia. I have a lot of travel ahead of me, but I'm going to find out what Halian did and fix it. Marie, you too, and thank you."
[00:48] <Alicia> "Good luck, Mizin!" Marie waves as the mists envelop them. "Keep faith in Mystra and you'll do fine!"
[00:48] <Alicia> "Until then," Alicia waves sadly.
[00:49] <Nikori> The mists are cool and refreshing. Alicia's vision is lost for a few seconds, but distantly, "I will! Alicia...I'll see you in Balmuria one day! I promise, even if it takes me another thirty years!"
[00:50] <Alicia> Not even knowing if her words will reach him at this stage, Alicia calls back, "I'll see you then!"
[00:51] <Nikori> For a moment Alicia can see the calmness of Uatu's realm, the closeness of Mystra. Then she stands in her living room. Antenora and Jessica are there, deep in discussion and seemingly oblivious. "...chaotic or not, you're putting too much stress into it," Jessica says, "I'm sure that Alicia'll be back soon if you need expert advice on that."
[00:53] <Alicia> "Well..." Alicia raises an eyebrow as she appears, resplendent in her silken Sunite robes and gleaming Mystran armour. "That was odd timing."
[00:53] <Nikori> Antenora turns, eyeing the two, "Interesting robes. I'm sure you have a good story behind this, but yes. It's nothing that important, just something Demedais brought. It can wait."
[00:54] <Alicia> "It's a good story, unfortunately we never got to see it end," Alicia agrees. "For now we need to take this bow to the temple - you two want to come along?"
[00:56] <Nikori> "Certainly," Antenora rises, while JEssica demurs. "I have to go get bread...and yes, see Roald," she smiles.
[00:56] <Alicia> "Have fun," Alicia smiles at her sister, before waving for Antenora to join them as they head out and around to the temple.
[01:01] <Nikori> ---
[01:03] <Nikori> Later that day, after the bow is dealt with, Alicia and Antenora head to Elle's shop. "So from what Countess Stronger said," Taking a moment to brush some of her hair away from her long, soft neck, "This deck bestows various enchantments. Eudard and Donald are running around like it's fine to have wings." With a bit of a haughty pout as she crosses her arms, the two climbing up the hill the shop is atop, "Though I suppose that I shouldn't begru
[01:03] <Nikori>  begrudge making two champions of good stronger."
[01:04] <Alicia> "So, it sounds like the deck has given rewards to everyone on their first draw, although Seira suffered some setbacks from drawing multiple times - Demedais seemed to get nothing for his second, while Eudard still got a good thing for his second?" Alicia summarises. "It sounds like there's no harm in drawing so long as you stop at one, then."
[01:05] <Alicia> "Wouldn't they be flying around, not running around?" Marie asks innocently as she alights on Antenora's head.
[01:05] <Nikori> "Perhaps. I'm not sure I trust it...it feels entirely too chaotic for my tastes." At the top of the hill, Antenora looks up but withholds comment. Instead, "Countess Stronger pointedly dislikes the deck as well."
[01:06] <Alicia> "I don't know, it was a reward from Helm and Talos, after all. I think it just punishes the greedy, albeit in an unpredictable manner to encourage said greed," Alicia seems quite confident in her reasoning as they head into the shop.
[01:07] <Nikori> The two find Alice out front, who directs them to the back. Countess Stronger is there, drinking an amber colored liquid in a tiny shot glass. She eyes the deck before she looks up. "Oh, Alicia, you're back in town. You heard about this rascal of an artifact?"
[01:08] <Alicia> "It sounds like it's brought boons to several people," Alicia nods as she approaches Elle. "No one's had a bad result on their first draw, right?"
[01:09] <Nikori> "Not that I know of," Elle says, gesturing towards it. "Go ahead if you want. I recall that you liked that roulette wheel as well."
[01:09] <Nikori> OOC - STrike.
[01:09] <Nikori> "Not that I know of," Elle says, gesturing towards it. "Go ahead if you want."
[01:10] <Nikori> Antenora eyes the deck, withholding comment again.
[01:11] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia reaches out, then pauses a moment. It never hurts to ensure things are aligned correctly. So she utters a quick prayer, referencing her love of duty and loyalty to appease Helm, and noting that she and Talos seem to be okay ever since she passed that trial of courage in the gnomish ruins. But mostly she prays to the Lady of Mysteries to ensure this particular mystery resolves in a positive manner.
[01:11] <Alicia> That done, she draws the topmost card!
[01:11] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[01:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 72."12 [1d100=72]
[01:13] <Nikori> Alicia draws a card! A great catherial can be seen on it before the card vanishes back into the deck!
[01:13] <Nikori> "I've seen that card before. Demedais seemed to benefit for it," Elle eyes Alicia, "How about you?"
[01:14] * Alicia smiles in a very satisfied manner. "The Mother of All Magic approves," she intones, stepping back. "It's a bit hard to describe, but I feel a deeper connection than before... like there's some wellspring of knowledge I can use that I couldn't previously."
[01:15] <Nikori> "Good for you," With a smile that doesn't really look happy at all, "Going to try again, or eithe rof you two," A look at Antenora and Marie.
[01:15] <Nikori> "You look happy. Great," Antenora says earnestly, "Congratulations then."
[01:16] <Alicia> "I stand by my belief that taking multiple draws is a bad idea," Alicia shakes her head.
[01:16] <Alicia> "I'll draw, if it's okay?" Marie asks as she lands on the table.
[01:16] <Nikori> "Go head, I don't care. It's your risk," Countess Stronger waves her hand.
[01:17] <Alicia> Marie rubs her hands together as she mentally prepares herself before she grabs a card in both hands and takes to the air with it, flipping it around to see the face as she ascends!
[01:17] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[01:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 54."12 [1d100=54]
[01:18] <Nikori> OOC: Uh, reroll.
[01:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 not familiar-friendly?
[01:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 not familiar-friendly? and gets 26."12 [1d100=26]
[01:18] <Nikori> OOC - Roll another d100.
[01:18] <Alicia> roll 1d100 this is becoming ominous
[01:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 this is becoming ominous and gets 17."12 [1d100=17]
[01:19] <Nikori> Marie vanishes away, drawing a card of ad iagram of the planes! The card vanishes a moment later! OOC - Marie, #evil.
[01:20] <Alicia> "Aaaah! Where'd she go?!" Alicia cries in alarm as her familiar vanishes!
[01:22] <Nikori> "Marie!?" Antenora says sharply! "Marie?"
[01:22] <Nikori> Elle looks up, "Ah hells, figured this would happen again. I have a sending prepared, I'll start casting. Hold on," With that, Elle begins to chant!"
[01:27] <Nikori> At ten minutes past, Antenora looks gravely worried as Elle finishes the spell!
[01:27] <Nikori> roll 1d100
[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d100 and gets 19."12 [1d100=19]
[01:28] <Nikori> Far away, Marie hears the following, 'Marielle, are you safe? Where are you? Do you need rescuing? Elle Stronger.'
[01:28] <Nikori> OOC - Feel free to reply in here, Eb.
[01:30] <Alicia> Marie readily responds, briefly interrupting her attempt at securing passage back to the Prime. "Deck sent me to the Abyss! I banished myself back to Dweomerheart. Will be home soon. Love and kisses, Marie."
[01:30] <Nikori> Elle sighs, "It's alright, she's in Dweomerheart," she says in relief.
[01:31] <Nikori> "The deck sent her to the Abyss, but she apparently managed to banish herself back home. She said she'd be back as soon as possible."
[01:31] <Alicia> "The abyss?" Alicia looks startled. "By Mystra, I shudder to think what would've happened if she didn't have those banishing arrows on her..."
[01:32] <Nikori> Antenora sighs very deeply, muscles relaxing. "She got lucky. Maybe the deck merely dislikes chaos then? I mean...Seira and Marie both qualify."
[01:33] <Alicia> "Maybe, but it's clear there's a risk even on the first draw," Alicia notes, clearly worried. "It shows how lucky an escape I had... are you still going to draw?"
[01:34] <Nikori> After a moment, 'What do you think,' Antenora asks, 'There's a perverse appeal to it that I can't deny.'
[01:35] <Alicia> 'It's certainly tempting - and I did receive a very nice boon, as did most of the others. But if it could send you to the Abyss...' Alicia considers a moment before, 'I could use the sword of the sealed gate to ensure that you wouldn't be sent to another plane, at least.'
[01:36] <Nikori> "That's a thought," Antenora murmurs out loud, eyeing the deck now.
[01:36] <Alicia> "Okay," Alicia draws the longsword from her hip. "I'll just tap you with it, don't resist the magic," she tells Antenora, proceeding to lightly bop her with the flat of the blade to anchor her on this plane.
[01:37] <Nikori> The bap goes without incident! After, Antenora leers at the deck, looks at it as hard as she might stare at an enemy. "Mystra help me," she mutters, "For I must be losing my senses..." But nonetheless, after a pause, she draws a card!
[01:37] <Nikori> roll 1d100
[01:37] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d100 and gets 38."12 [1d100=38]
[01:38] <Nikori> roll 1d16
[01:38] * Hatbot --> "Nikori rolls 1d16 and gets 9."12 [1d16=9]
[01:40] <Nikori> Antenora frowns, "I feel like I've forgotten something," she mutters.
[01:41] <Alicia> "That's ominous," Alicia replies. "But since you've forgotten you don't know what it is?"
[01:42] <Nikori> "No, I used to know how to...Idon't know, find things. Tricks to it. Now, it's just blank," With an ominous glare at the deck, "Yes, I had obviously lost all of my good senses to mess with this deck. I'm done with it." Stalking away and out, "I'm going to go train and meditate for someone above to remind me of basic things, such as common sense."
[01:43] <Nikori> "See?" Elle looks to Alicia warningly, "It's like playing roueltte with your entire being. I mean, if you like that, try it. But otherwise?"
[01:44] * Alicia sighs. "Well, my theory that drawing just once is safe is now thoroughly disproved," she shakes her head to Elle, "I thought after four people had used it - five counting me - that it was a safe rule to go by."
[01:44] <Nikori> "Who knows?" With a light shrug, "I'm of the opinion that it's nothing but luck now. I suppose that means you're quite lucky, Alicia. Perhaps Mystra's watching over you again and guiding your fate?"
[01:47] <Alicia> That thought does bring a smile to Alicia's lips, but, "Perhaps, although I wish some of my luck could have been shared with Marie and Antenora. At least Marie could fix her problem easily enough, Antenora's going to have a hard time regaining her lost knowledge."
[01:47] <Nikori> "She has a long time too, at least." Rising up, "Are you done drawing or...If you are I'm going to put them away."
[01:48] * Alicia shakes her head. "No, I only intended to draw once from the start," she insists. "Anyway, I better go and make sure Antenora's okay - I'll talk to you later?"

[Corwin]

[18:21] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> ---
[18:29] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> In summer's moderate warmth in Balmuria, Alicia rests from her recent travails and journies. One day, the heat comes heavier, the normal cooling breezes of the ocean shifting to the north instead. This day is hot, humid and altogether unpleasant. Except for Antenora, seemingly unaffected as she practices in the morning, everyone in the city looks quite miserable. Even Commander Oberuth, as Alicia meets him in his office. "Misera
[18:29] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> Even Commander Oberuth, as Alicia meets him in his office. "Miserable heat wave," he observes.
[18:31] * Alicia doesn't mind it that much, although she's as physically affected as anyone else. "It's a Kelaran Summer, alright," she returns with a smile as she joins him. "Anything special on the agenda today, sir?"
[18:33] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> "Yes, actually." Using a white cloth to dry his brow and face, "We have a prisoner in from Valandia today. We'd like to get him to talk, as we have some evidence and suspicion that he knows where some caches of weapons in Valandia are. Even though Valandia's settling down, we'd rather not leave any dry tinder out."
[18:37] <Alicia> "Need my gentle touch to coax the information from him?" Alicia asks with a sardonic smile. "What's his story?"
[18:40] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> "Name's Jorsun, hails from Estar, a small village in the Dutchy of Valandia. He was in the army for both wars, got to the rank of Seargant. He's very competent but low key from all I've read. After the second war he turned up in a raid on a rebel hold. He was the only one taken, apparently our tip was good but luck wasn't on our side. He's kept his mouth shut so far." After a moment, "The entire inciden twas over tracking down t
[18:40] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> After a moment, "The entire inciden twas over tracking down these caches and sleeper agents. By being at that house and keeping his silence, it leads us to believe that he knows more than he's telling."
[18:43] <Alicia> "Naturally he doesn't want to betray his colleagues," Alicia nods, resisting the urge to mop her brow as she starts to feel perspiration gather there. "Commendable, although perhaps someone should tell him that the war is over."
[18:46] <Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan> "That's where you come in. I'd rather have him profess the information and spend some time in a cell, rather than getting the short end of a noose for treason." Standing up now and matting down his face again, "He's in the dungeons right now. Jorsun's a military sort of man and has a lot of patience."
[18:48] <Alicia> "Very well, I'll see what I can do," Alicia salutes, waiting for dismissal before she leaves, and only wiping her brow once she's safely out of the office and no one else is around to see her do it. Casting voice of the archon to make things go more smoothly, she heads off to the dungeon.
[18:53] * Rabite_Lolimage_Kochan is now known as Kotono
[18:54] <Kotono> A single guard stands in front of a heavy wood cell door. "Sir," he salutes, sweaty faced. "Do you want the door open, sir?"
[18:54] <Kotono> OOc - Gah.
[18:54] <Kotono> A single guard stands in front of a heavy wood cell door. "Sir," he salutes, sweaty faced. "Do you want the door open, sir?" The dungeon is moderately cooler, being dark and out of the sun. Still, the heat lingers here like a plague.
[18:56] <Alicia> "Go ahead," Alicia nods, stoicly enduring the heat without letting any sign of visible discomfort show.
[19:01] <Kotono> The door is unlocked! The man inside wears gray clothes, sitting indian style on the stone floor. He has a chain attached to his leg, a loose one tied to the floor with a few feet of slack. He's in his thirties, hair mostly gone and face long weathered by the sun and age. He looks Alicia right in the eye, blue eyes hard.
[19:04] * Alicia can be just as hard, and so she decides to test his patience by meeting his gaze with an unrelentingly flinty look of her own. No greeting or even any other words cross Alicia's lips, she merely... stares.
[19:05] <Kotono> He stares right back! His own eyes don't show much of anything, his face the dead calm of steely control holding everything in controlled flux.
[19:08] * Alicia can respect that. But since she started this impromptu staring match she's not about to give in in any hurry. If he cracks and speaks first it'll hopefully make the rest of the interrogation go more smoothly.
[19:11] <Kotono> OOC - Make a charisma check?
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[19:12] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[19:12] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[19:12] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
[19:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 snarf
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 snarf and gets 8."12 [1d20=5]
[19:22] <Kotono> Times tretches on. The heat, the warmth, the discomfort grow. Alicia can feel herself growing hot all over, radiating out from this fleshy places that are never truly cooled. Despite her misery, despite the twenty five minutes it takes, at last the prisoner looks away. It's a subtle thing, but he breaks the eye contact.
[19:24] <Alicia> But he hasn't talked! Alicia refuses to relent until she wins that particular victory. She can be patient - she's spent days hiding in a tree trunk, nursing her wounds while devils patrolled the forest around her and warring with the primal urge to fight or flee. This is nothing!
[19:26] <Kotono> It's like a steady whipping across her body. Alicia can feel the warm-wet sweat trickle down her face. Her armor sits uncomfortable, all the moisture slicking and dripping down her body. The room smells of the salty tang of sweat, the prisoner doing a lot of it himself. He studies the floor for a long time...twenty more minutes pass, then twenty more, then a final twenty. A full hour has come and gone. (More)
[19:26] <Kotono> A full hour has come and gone. (More)
[19:27] <Kotono> Sometime after this, time becoming painfully relative and distored in the heatful waiting, "What do you want," he asks, his voice short and clipped.
[19:31] <Alicia> Phew! Despite her bravado, Alicia is glad to bring this stage to an end - it's an interesting approach but honestly not one she'd like to use frequently. Not that she lets any of this show, of course. "You know what I want," she tells him, her magically augmented voice a siren's call through the heavy silence.
[19:35] <Kotono> He shakes his head, droplet sof accured moisture flying about. "No."
[19:40] <Alicia> "You disappoint me, then," Alicia allows a melancholy sigh to pass her lips. "I trust you have a good reason?"
[19:41] <Kotono> He doesn't say a word, staring down at the floor.
[19:44] <Alicia> And so back to the waiting game. While she could certainly just wring the answer out by magic, she doesn't really want to become too reliant on that particular crutch when there's no pressing need to hurry. "I'm a patient woman, Jorsun."
[19:45] <Kotono> Heat. So hot. Alicia's throat has become parched, dry as the sands of he Desert Fiefdoms. After about another half hour of this, there is a knock. "Water," the guard says, "Water for the prisoner, sir."
[19:46] <Alicia> "Go ahead, drink up," Alicia allows. "Wouldn't want your throat to get parched, after all." Nothing for her, sadly, but again her finely honed endurance and patience should see her through, while hopefully sending a message to him that she isn't so weak.
[19:48] <Kotono> As the prisoner is given water, the guard looks back, "Want some, sir," hea sks to her. Jorsun doesn't resist this, drinking deeply of it.
[19:48] * Alicia shakes her head with a thin smile. "I don't need it."
[19:55] <Kotono> "Yes sir," The guard leaves. Jorsun doesn't reply, going back to his inspectin of the floor immediately after.
[19:57] * Alicia just keeps staring at him, her presence an uncomfortably oppressive weight in the cell. Yes, it's somewhat boring and maybe she should have went for a more conventional question and answer approach, but now she's committed so there's no backing out! Besides, it'd be nice if she could do this without having to raise her voice for once.
[19:59] <Kotono> An hour passes. Alicia can feel her head growing ever so slightly light from the constant pounding of the heat. Her mouth is painfully dry now, her body in contrast wet. Memories of the Desert Fiefdoms flash through her mind occasionally, memories of heat like this on the wrong days.  Memories of horribly humid and hot days in her childhood, going to ponds and streams to splash around to cool off. Memories of the cold, salty ocean, Darlina and
[19:59] <Kotono> Memories of the cold, salty ocean, Darlina and Namor. OOC - Make a fort save?
[20:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[20:04] <Kotono> Despite that, Alicia endures! As this hour passes, "Persistant..." Jorsun mutters this.
[20:07] <Alicia> He'll have to do better than that! Until he addresses her directly, Alicia keeps right on with the creepy staring! He likes silence? She'll give him silence in spades! Oh boy, a cool dip would be absolutely divine right now, but she's not so weak as to give in so early in the day.
[20:11] <Kotono> Another hour passes. Alicia feels miserable now, hot and generally soaked in her own sweat. But at last Jorsun looked up at her. "At least you have discipline."
[20:14] <Alicia> A nice prestidigitation spell would clean up all that icky sweat... just a few magic words and she'd be fresh and clean as if she just stepped out of the bath! But no, that would be an admission of weakness... although really, she's been in here for three hours and this is starting to become silly. Swallowing some saliva to moisten her throat, she speaks, "I won't leave until you answer my question," she announces simply, leaving it at that.
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC - Make a diplo check?
[20:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 42."12 [1d20=14]
[20:20] <Kotono> He's silent for the next little bit, the torment stretching out another set of hot seconds. "Ugh...I'll tell you...if you can get me to a better room. Something with a breeze. Cooler."
[20:23] <Alicia> "That can be arranged," Alicia nods, not having any real problems making concessions now that he's come this far. It's not as if he's committed any horrible crimes that she knows of, anyway. Knocking on the cell door she summons the guard and asks him to unchain the prisoner.
[20:24] <Kotono> The guard comes in and does just that. "Where are we talking him, sir," he asks.
[20:25] <Alicia> "Up to the garrison itself," Alicia replies. "I'm sure an empty room with a nice big window facing the bay can be arranged so we can have our conversation in a modicum of comfort."
[20:26] <Kotono> "Sir," The guard leads the prisoner and Alicia a long. There's an empty room reasonably like that, with a fairly big window after the heavy shutters over it are removed. A fairly cool breeze blows through. Not as good as usual, but it's utterly divine compared to the rest. There's a real bed as well, Jorsun lying on it in front of the window.
[20:29] * Alicia allows him his comfort, also requesting that the prisoner's lunch and some water be brought up. Once it has and has been placed on the table, she takes a seat at one end and gestures for Jorsun to sit at the other. "Now, if you'd take a seat perhaps we can talk?" she invites.
[20:30] <Kotono> He does take the seat, drinking the water first. After that, "...Damn, I just can't stand tos ee a woman suffer..." he says awkwardly. "Even one that runs around in armor like a man."
[20:32] <Alicia> "Your concern for my welfare is heartwarming," Alicia replies drolly in response to the sexist comment. "Now, I believe you were going to explain why you don't want to satisfy my curiousity?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "You've ripped apart my kingdom, taken a part of it as booty and slain the lord I swore fealty to." He says this back, letting his voice stay reserved. "If you are who I think you are, you had a part of it with your own hand."
[20:35] <Alicia> "Your kingdom struck first," Alicia points out. "You fault us for defending ourselves?"
[20:35] <Kotono> "You rebelled first," he answers back, having drained down most of the water.
[20:38] <Alicia> "Unfortunately I was far away back then, so I can't debate you on the finer points of the rebellion that resulted in the United Baronies being formed," Alicia concedes gracefully, rather enjoying the cool breeze ruffling her hair. "But since then there was peace, was there not? Or have I been misinformed and now you'll tell me that you acted against the Baronies even before the more recent war?"
[20:41] <Kotono> "The end of the rebellion was a mistake, made by incompetent men who knew no better. King Ferdi attempted to remedy the situation, but..." His head goes down. "I am your enemy."
[20:44] <Alicia> "So, you use your fealty to King Ferdi as reason for your actions, yet you happily besmirch his legitimate predecessors? And since you're acting against the peace treaty signed by Queen Tant, you likewise disrespect his successor?" Alicia leans her elbows on the table, he chin cupped in her interlaced fingers. "How curious."
[20:45] <Alicia> her chin*
[20:45] <Kotono> "I have my beliefs." He says that, looking out as the breeze blows more into the room. Cooling relief, Alicia's hair moving slightly with it.
[20:48] <Alicia> "I'm sure you do. Along with everyone else in the world," Alicia agrees. "But since you have my undivided attention, why don't you elaborate upon them for me?"
[20:50] <Kotono> "Why?" Looking Alicia in the eyes again, "If you have something you want from me, get to the point."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Locations of your weapon caches and names of your confederates," Alicia replies quickly. "I assumed you knew that since surely you've been asked already."
[20:59] <Kotono> "I can tell you where a set of weapons are...but the others are gone and out of your reach."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well, lets start with that one then," Alicia gets some paper and a quill ready before looking expectantly at Jorsun.
[21:05] <Kotono> "Twenty miles northwest of Estar, there's some sinkholes and caves. Search for one that has a rock with red paint on the bottom side near it. That's it."
[21:06] * Alicia jots down the pertinent information. "Alright. And if the others are gone and out of reach, it begs the question of where they have went," she comments leadingly.
[21:09] <Kotono> "You don't need a map to guess," he says just as dryly as before.
[21:11] <Alicia> "Which comes back to my earlier question regarding the identities of your confederates," Alicia returns.
[21:12] <Kotono> "I can tell you the names they used around me, but good odds are that those names are false," he adds with a very slight smile.
[21:15] <Alicia> "You mean you organised acts of sedition with a group of perfect strangers?" Alicia raises an eyebrow. "I hadn't pegged you as the overly trusting type."
[21:16] <Kotono> That doesn't get you an answer, the soldier looking away instead.
[21:19] * Alicia smiles knowingly. "I'm sure they may have given you false names if they were, but how hard would it be for you to check up on them; make sure they're really on the level and not double-agents? That's if you worked with any strangers at all instead of old comrades from the army..."
[21:21] <Kotono> "...John Strongheart," he says after a short few moments again.
[21:22] * Alicia copies the name down in her crisp and neat handwriting. "Go on."
[21:25] <Kotono> "Alexy of Stardale. Rivuny Butcher. Reginath Ricks." He lists the three off.
[21:26] <Alicia> All are copied down by Alicia's dilligent hand. "Any more?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "That's it," he finishes.
[21:28] <Alicia> "Alright. What can you tell me about these four?" Alicia asks as she looks up.
[21:30] <Kotono> What follows is a list of features - height, weight, identifying features, that sort of thing. It's all quite precise, Alicia writing it all down.
[21:32] <Alicia> "And what plans did they have? Specific targets, sources of information, that sort of thing?" Alicia asks, glad that they're finally close to wrapping this up.
[21:45] <Kotono> After doing so and reporting back, Oberuth takes the information. "Good work," he says, "Dismissed. Go home and try to cool off - I've ordered half shifts wherever possible today to cut down on heat exhaustion."
[21:47] <Alicia> "I think I'm going to go for a swim, actually," Alicia smiles. "Visit our friends in the bay. By your leave, sir," she salutes before departing.
[21:50] <Kotono> With that leave given, Alicia heads out! Outside of the garrison, she finds Antenora waiting for her. She looks unnatural here - wearing armor and carrying her spear, yet sweatless and relaxed. It even gets some attention from far less comfortable soldiers, glares of curiousity and envy at the unruffled beauty waiting for Alicia.
[21:51] <Alicia> "Hello, Antenora," Alicia nods to the erinyes with a smile, her prestidigitation spell having cooled her off nicely so that the heat now is quite pleasant, hopefully a state of affairs that will last long enough for her to get changed and go for a swim. "Were you waiting for me?"
[21:53] <Kotono> "Yes." Falling in step with her easily, "I was going out to the Temple of Gond anyway."
[21:54] <Alicia> "Anything in particular?" Alicia asks as they stroll along through the sun-drenched streets.
[21:56] <Kotono> The streets are quite busy, the scent of hot, working humans pungent throughout. "Clockwork inventions. Reliable, orderly things. What of you? Training? Arcane study?"
[21:59] <Alicia> "I just finished a rather long interrogation, I need to get my limbs moving - I was thinking of going for a nice long swim in the bay to go and visit Darlina and Namor," Alicia replies. "Although I think you may be a bit disappointed to expect reliability from clockwork tinker-toys - the great cogs of Mechanus they aren't."
[22:01] <Kotono> "I know, but they're better than nothing," Antenora answers right back, "One day, when I have leisure, perhaps I can go to Mechanus and obtain better representations." As the two of you head west towards Alicia's house, "Jessica's off at the bakery and still no sign of Marie."
[22:03] <Alicia> "I'm sure she's fine," Alicia smiles, idly glancing to the sky. "Probably catching up with her friends and trying to sweet-talk someone into plane shifting her back here." Cocking her head amusedly at the erinyes, "Shouldn't you be enjoying the respite?"
[22:05] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't reply right away, looking straight ahead. "Company you don't want to kill or view as nothing but expendable worms is nice."
[22:06] <Alicia> "Does that mean you'll stop threatening to eat her when she comes back?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Why would I do that?" Smiling with nearly angelic innocence, "It's all in good fun, isn't it?"
[22:09] <Alicia> "Hmph. Sometimes I wonder..." Alicia muses, but nonetheless she smiles. "I take it you'd still prefer if I didn't tell her how distraught you were when she vanished, though?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "That wouldn't be any fun to tell her," Agreement there as the two get closer to home, "How was your trip? You mentioned plains, I think?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "Yes, it was a fascinating place - I hope I can go there again to find out the full story. It seemed to be a part of the world that was cut off from the rest by great magic - somewhere far to the East, I suspect - where all but a select few would become terminally lost whenever they left the safety of their towns."
[22:14] <Alicia> "I thought we were sent there to lift that enchantment, but it seems instead that we were only there to set someone else on the path to eventually doing so."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Starting a chain reaction?" Reaching home, Antenora opens the door for Alicia. "I suppose so. You can't spent forever wandering plains when everyone's waiting for you here."
[22:19] <Alicia> "No, but I'd hoped to find a solution before forever happened," Alicia smiles as they head inside, taking off her armour and going into the kitchen to fix up some lunch. "It was an enlightening experience, regardless."
[22:21] * Kosick (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[22:21] * Kosick is now known as Anastasia
[22:21] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[22:21] * Kotono (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:23] <Anastasia> "I'm glad to see you becoming more enlightened," Antenora goes to sit at the table, taking off her armor as well. Joining Alicia in loose, light padding underneath the armor, "Alicia, where do you see yourself in five years?"
[22:25] * Sierra_NewWorldFool is now known as Sierra_Mikain
[22:28] <Alicia> "Hmm... well, I'd like to think that by then we'll have settled things with Daa-vid," Alicia begins, thinking over the question. "How that affects the world will likely have a big effect on where I end up. Still, Hell isn't going anywhere, nor is the Abyss, and then there's creatures like that dragon we fought in Pallanth - I hope I'll still be somewhere fighting the good fight against such." She cocks her head curiously, "Why do you ask?"
[22:31] <Anastasia> "Just thinking," Antenora says, head on one of her hands as she weatches Alicia prepare lunch. "Thinking about the future. I'm doing that again now...oh, devils do it all the time, but not like this."
[22:32] <Alicia> "So where do you think you'll be in five years, then?" Alicia turns the question around, going to take a seat opposite Antenora and start on her jam roll.
[22:34] <Anastasia> Antenora doesn't answer this immediately. When she does, it's slow, speculative. "Somewhere, atoning for myself. At least when I'm working. When I'm not...perhaps the Heavens...or Dweomerheart?"
[22:41] <Alicia> "The heavens are nice places to be, certainly," Alicia agrees thoughtfully. "I'm sure you could find a great deal of peace and contentment among them, and not have to fear the diabolic blade in the back."
[22:43] <Anastasia> "So could you," Antenora looks at Alicia, "I don't have to be the only one there."
[22:44] <Alicia> "Perhaps," Alicia smiles as she leans to the side with a hand propping up her cheeck and chin against the table. "But I don't intend to be dead within five years. I'll have plenty of time to appreciate the Upper Planes after I pass on."
[22:47] <Anastasia> "Maybe you don't have to die," Antenora says, after taking just a moment to think. Then, "I had a discussion with Hopiel on it. He said that it's not unheard of for select mortals to ascend directly to the Heavens."
[22:49] <Alicia> "If Mystra chooses to call for me I'm sure She will make Her feelings known," Alicia returns. "And I'll be happy to obey. But until then I wouldn't presume to leave my earthly existence behind."
[22:52] <Anastasia> "Yes..." Antenora smiles a little there, "Of course, Alicia."
[22:54] <Alicia> "Really, what's the rush?" Alicia concludes as she finishes off her roll. "Didn't you say once before how brightly mortals shine in our brief lives? That's something I should be savouring while it lasts, surely?"
[22:58] <Anastasia> That gets Antenora to blush openly. "You do. Still...I'd rather see you shine eternally than glow briefly." There's another pause, then, "I talked to Hopiel in part about that I was worried something could happen to you or Jessica. Maybe I'm just insecure or worried or Esthan got to me, but...I was worried I might fail in protecting you one day."
[23:01] * Alicia nods sympathetically. "I admit, my one fear is that I might end up as a grisly trophy in something like the Halls of the Vanquished, but barring that I'll be able to shine in the afterlife in whatever form Mystra sees fit to grant me. It'll come when it comes, but until then there's too much work to do here on the Prime for me to relax in Heaven."
[23:02] <Anastasia> "Alright. For now..." Antenora looks up a little, "Let's just worry about the Prime, then?"
[23:07] <Alicia> "And there's a lot of it to worry about," Alicia concludes brightly, getting up to rinse out her mug and plate before leaving them to dry. "Now, I think I'll head off to visit Darlina and Namor. I'll see you in the evening?"

[Corwin]

[18:29] <Kotono> -------
[18:29] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
[18:29] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-25-141-28.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[18:29] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[18:29] * Alicia sets mode: +o Demedais
[18:29] <Kotono> The five gather inside of the garrison: Alicia, Antenora, Demedais, Pollyanna and Eudard. Each are girded up for battle and travel as they await. "Where are we going first?" Pollyanna asks Demedais.
[18:32] <Demedais> "Southwestern Baronies. That's our latest lead into the vrocks, as dated as it may be." Demedais replies. "Unless we've heard of anything else?"
[18:34] <Alicia> Marie is there, too! Looking especially sharp in her plainswalker's robes, to boot. "Only what you told us about Helm saying we had plenty of time before they became a threat," the eladrin pipes up.
[18:34] <Alicia> "Well, we'll start at Linton - it's a village on the Baronies side near the edge of the desert to the South. I passed through it when I first arrived here, so I should be able to get us there easily enough, and we can work from there," Alicia speaks up, concentrating on her mental image of the town square where she spent a sunny afternoon chatting up the locals on the latest gossip. "Everyone ready?"
[18:35] * Demedais nods. "Ready."
[18:36] <Alicia> Assuming no other objections, Alicia has everyone join hands (except Marie who sits on her head), and teleports the group away!
[18:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100 lets say its seen casually
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 lets say its seen casually and gets 88."12 [1d100=88]
[18:36] <Kotono> "Ready," Eudard says, Antenora nodding as well. Pollyanna adds her consent and takes Demedais and Antenora's hands as the group vanishes!
[18:39] <Kotono> The town of Linton is a quiet place. The ground is soft and every so slightly dusty-sandy. Sun comes down in intensely warm beams, no moderating sea here to soothe the wrath of Lathander's icon. About you a few people come and go - it's really just a little farming settlement with a few main buildings.
[18:41] * Alicia nods in satisfaction that her teleport went off correctly before looking around. "I doubt anyone here has actually seen a vrock, but they might have heard rumours from travellers - lets ask around?"
[18:42] <Kotono> As Pollyanna looks about, "Hopefully they've heard of the guard here, it'll make things easier," she says.
[18:43] <Kotono> OOC - Are you guys planning on just GIing here
[18:43] <Kotono> ?
[18:44] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, pretty much
[18:45] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make relevant rolls then, people?
[18:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 26."12 [1d20=11]
[18:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Antenora chooses to aid Aliciahere
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Antenora chooses to aid Aliciahere and gets 9."12 [1d20=3]
[18:48] <Demedais> roll 1d20+6 Helping Alicia since seriously my mod sucks
[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+6 Helping Alicia since seriously my mod sucks and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
[18:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 Marie if we're doing the aid another thing
[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 Marie if we're doing the aid another thing and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
[18:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Ditto with Pollyanna
[18:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Ditto with Pollyanna and gets 18."12 [1d20=17]
[18:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 same with Eudard GI is scace for you guys
[18:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 same with Eudard GI is scace for you guys and gets 22."12 [1d20=19]
[18:50] <Kotono> As the party asks around, Antenora gets side tracked. The last Demedais happens tos ee of her, she's listening to a farmhand talk about these riveting ways to plant seed. Meanwhile, the rest of the party talks and chats around. The mayor of the town, a middle aged woman with a missing arm, is eventually talked to. "Welcome," she offers a bow, "The real Crimson Guard from the frontlines of Balmuria and the last war. You're asking about those rum
[18:51] <Kotono> You're asking about those rumors from the south and the bird-men?"
[18:51] <Alicia> "So you have heard of them?" Alicia pounces on that, since bird-men is an accurate enough description of a vrock.
[18:53] <Kotono> "Please, if you can tell us anything about them, we'd be very grateful," Pollyanna says respectfully, even as her eyes drift towards the woman's arm should be and isn't.
[18:54] <Kotono> "Yeah, there's a settlement several days south from ehre, right on the edge of the badlands," she explains, "Durst isn't much of a place unless you want hard, unforgiving living, but some travelers head there anyway. The last few have mentioned things about bird-men being whispered about in town."
[18:55] * Demedais nods slightly to this. "This sounds like our best lead. Is there a name for the settlement?"
[18:57] <Alicia> "Durst," Alicia tells Demedais before offering her hand to the mayor - the matching one to her remaining limb. "Thank you, this is helpful - we'll head for Durst now and see if we can get a lead from there."
[18:58] <Kotono> The hand is shaken, "Good luck." As the hand is shaken, Eudard smiles to her, "Thank you for this."
[18:59] * Demedais nods and bows. "Thank you, ma'am."
[18:59] <Kotono> Eudard gets odd looks from the woman, focusing on his unnatural back additions. "It's the Crimson Guard..." she murmurs, "It's my duty to my country."
[19:01] <Alicia> "And your country thanks you," Alicia smiles gratefully. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll make ready to depart." Heading outside, Alicia instructs Marie to fly high into the sky until she can see the village a few days South of this one, while sending Pollyanna to go and rescue Antenora from her current conversation.
[19:03] <Kotono> Flying up, Marie can see much of the terrain. It gets quite dot-like as she risesup, but she can glimpse a village at the edge of what looks like an endless desert meeting an dendless wasteland to the west/southwest.
[19:05] <Alicia> Once Marie returns, Alicia has everyone link hands again while she focuses on her familiar's image of the village. "This should save us a few days," she grins before teleporting to Durst.
[19:05] <Alicia> roll 1d100 viewed once
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 viewed once and gets 50."12 [1d100=50]
[19:11] <Kotono> Woosh! It's hot here - really hot, the sun pounding down. It's constrasted almost immediately with a faint, chilly wind from the west. The ground here is sand and cracked soil. Several houses are here and there, as well as af ew sickly looking fields. The people here are in those fields, working hard away at the plants that barely seem to be alive at all.
[19:12] <Alicia> "Phew. What a difference a few miles make," Alicia marvels at the change in climate as she takes a look around. "At least the wind helps."
[19:16] * Demedais nods. "A bit disconcerting, but the wasteland always was. Any preferred mode of operation from here?"
[19:16] <Kotono> Antenora looks about, "At least this village is intact. I was worried we might come and find a charred ruin."
[19:17] <Alicia> "Looks like everyone is out in the fields, so lets see if we can distract them a bit from their work with a few questions?" Alicia suggests, pointing to the fields before she starts walking over to them.
[19:17] <Alicia> "Helm's probably had some of his goons keeping the vrocks busy until we got here or something," Marie nods sagely in response to Antenora.
[19:18] * Demedais raises a slight eyebrow at this, but nods to Alicia as he follows.
[19:20] <Kotono> "Goons?" Pollyanna bristles there, "Don't you think a more respectful word shoudl be used?"
[19:20] <Kotono> Eudard stays quiet for the moment, taking in the small village.
[19:20] <Kotono> "As long as it's not about seed," Antenora mutters in tones of utter resigned boredom.
[19:21] <Alicia> "It's all in good fun," Marie replies breezily. "Seriously though, if you ever met an Arcadian Avenger... brrr!" she mock shivers before giggling.
[19:22] <Kotono> "Arcandian Avenger," Pollyanna asks, "What are they?"
[19:22] <Kotono> OOC - Roll GI checks if you're going to as well?
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 17."12 [1d20=2]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 lets have Marie roll seperately rather than aiding
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 lets have Marie roll seperately rather than aiding and gets 30."12 [1d20=20]
[19:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Antenora aids the leadrin since Alicia's likely talking about wheat trading again.
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Antenora aids the leadrin since Alicia's likely talking about wheat trading again. and gets 16."12 [1d20=10]
[19:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Eudard since why not?
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 Eudard since why not? and gets 10."12 [1d20=7]
[19:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 Polly
[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 Polly and gets 3."12 [1d20=2]
[19:25] <Alicia> "Imagine an angel crossed with a golem," Marie suggests to her fellow archer. "They're nice, just... they're really not very personable. At all. And they don't really like eladrin. At all." She titters weakly in conclusion.
[19:26] <Kotono> "I'll have to meet a few," Antenora says lightly as they walk about, talking and chatting! One of the farmhands is a lean man with an arm in a slung. "The bird-men?" he asks, "I'm part of the town patrol and we saw one."
[19:27] <Alicia> "Did it give you that?" Alicia looks to the sling he wears. If that's all he got from a vrock then he got off terribly lightly, though...
[19:27] * Demedais glances at the wound, before looking to the man to listen to his story.
[19:32] <Kotono> "I got it from falling on a rock as we ran. A few nights back we were on patrol ou tof the city." He stops, putting the bag he was carrying down. "We saw it  in the distance. We fired some arrows at it and it screeched at us. Froze us solid, so we, uh, ran when we got a hold of ourselves. I tripped as we ran, but fortunately it didn't pursue. It looked like a mix of a bird and a human and all ugly."
[19:33] <Alicia> "That's a vrock alright," Alicia nods. "You were lucky to be able to flee - here, let me do something for that," she offers, gently reaching out for his arm so she can heal it. "Where did you encounter it, specifically?" she asks as she channels positive energy into his wounded flesh and bone.
[19:33] <Alicia> OOC: lay on hands as much as needed, max of 17
[19:35] <Kotono> OOC: 4 points.
[19:35] <Kotono> "Southeast of the city, about an hour out," He answers. "Aaah!" He looks at his arm, "Thank you!"
[19:37] <Alicia> "Think nothing of it," Alicia smiles as she withdraws her hand. "We'll probably head that way, then, but before we do do you know if anyone else has heard of or encountered any of the bird-men?"
[19:37] * Demedais nods to this, before tacking on his own question. "Did it seem to be heading in any particular direction before you fired at it?"
[19:38] <Kotono> "A fair bit of the patrol. I can point you to them. It was heading northwest in our direction, since we were heading southeast. It was more or less heading in the direction of Durst."
[19:39] <Alicia> "Hopefully we'll find them before they actually reach Durst or any other towns. Everyone ready to head off?" Alicia looks to the assembled group.
[19:44] <Kotono> Antenora nods, "Ready to go hunt vrocks," she agrees.
[19:44] * Demedais nods. "Ready as usual."
[19:46] <Alicia> And so the brave adventurers head to the Southeast in search of demons!
[19:46] <Kotono> OOC - You guys are going to head out of town and...travel to dark? Travel through the night? Set camp? Search and return to town to rest?
[19:47] <Alicia> OOC: we'll travel during the day and camp at night
[19:47] <Kotono> OOC: Formation and watch schedules?
[19:48] <Alicia> Deme takes the lead, Anty takes the rear (we'll be close together anyway)? Marie can watch indefinitely and we have 3 people that only need 2 hours of sleep, so Deme, Anty, and Eudard can take turns watching while me and Polly sleep throughout.
[19:52] <Demedais> OOC: Sounds good.
[19:58] <Kotono> A half day passes and then camp is made. The ground is harsh here, the night losing much of it's daytime warmth to the cold westerly winds that drift from the waste. That evening as Demedais and Antenora and Eudard stand guard, with Marie fluttering about and the other two women resting..."You've fought vrocks before?" Eudard breaks the quiet around the camp.
[19:59] <Alicia> "There were a bunch of them at that slimy fortress on the astral plane," Marie nods. "I didn't really focus too much on them myself since there were lots of bigger demons around to worry about, though."
[20:00] <Demedais> "I have." Demedais nods. "Their screech is qute surprising, but alone they are not a great threat. I have not fought a set that worked as a group, however."
[20:00] <Kotono> "Same. Demons are usually uncontrolled unless a stronger demon forces them into line," Antenora looks out over the plains. "If this is so and they're using rudimentary tactics, it will be a hard battle."
[20:01] <Alicia> "Esthan said it was just vrocks, but I'm not sure how much we can trust that," Marie opines thoughtfully.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Plus, even if it is just vrocks, they could be stronger than a basic vrock, or they could have found reinforcements," Antenora nods agreeably, "In other words, we have a serious battle ahead of us."
[20:02] * Demedais nods to this, staying quiet otherwise.
[20:03] <Kotono> "We will triumph," Eudard says quietly, "In the name of Helm and all that is good, we will triumph."
[20:04] <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 32."12 [1d20=7]
[20:07] <Alicia> "Mystra is surely watching over us," Marie bobs her head up and down with a bright smile. "So lets not disappoint her!"
[20:11] <Kotono> Night passes by. Antenora rests as then does Eudard and Demedais last. Dawn rises without incident, the party proceeding. After a few hours, they find the ground also becoming somewhat rocky as they travel eastwards. Ever so slightly creeping towards the Galkass Mountains, they find sevearl small and large rocks littering the semi-wasted ground. As they go, "It's quite awhile to the mountains, though I believe they widen as you go southward?" P
[20:11] <Kotono> As they go, "It's quite awhile to the mountains, though I believe they widen as you go southward?" Pollyanna says quietly. "They're thinnest at the end near Balmuria. If I recall we're still quite awhiles away, though I wasn't aware there's stone deposits this far west of them."
[20:12] <Demedais> "Surprising, yes." Demedais replies. "Keep a level eye out. We don't know where our opposition will be coming from."
[20:13] <Alicia> "I'd be worried about overshooting them, to be honest," Alicia muses. "There's a lot of empty ground out here."
[20:15] <Demedais> "Indeed." Demedais replies, following his own advice as he looks out over the terrain.
[20:20] <Kotono> "I'll be less worried once we find them," Pollyanna speaks up as she looks about. OOC - All of you can make spot checks if you like, if you're looking over the terrain.
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
[20:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 11."12 [1d20=5]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 Antenora why not?
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 Antenora why not? and gets 24."12 [1d20=6]
[20:22] <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 40."12 [1d20=15]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Polly now has spot envy on Demedais
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Polly now has spot envy on Demedais and gets 13."12 [1d20=2]
[20:27] * Demedais stops the group, turning toward the boulder so noted and drawing his sword. With a slight nod to Alicia, "One's behind that rock. Should we let it follow us and see if it attracts its friends, or flush it out now and try to find the others?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "I say we play dumb," Alicia suggests. "If we can get them all at once so much the better. Keep moving so it doesn't suspect we've spotted it?"
[20:29] * Demedais nods to this and turns around, continuing to walk in the direction previously chosen, sparing glances back to make sure the bait follows.
[20:30] * Alicia doesn't look back so as to avoid tipping it off. Marie on the other hand looks right at the boulder, but as she's an incorporeal ball of light she could be looking any way without anyone knowing.
[20:32] <Kotono> Pollyanna speaks in a very low tone, "Did we pass it...or has it been following us?"
[20:33] <Demedais> "I'd guess the latter." Demedais replies just as softly, continuing his stride forward. "Let's not hesitate. Alicia, keep Marie above us and focused behind so she can track them, if you would.
[20:33] <Alicia> "Do as he says Marie," Alicia tells her familiar who would stick her tongue out if she currently had one but nonetheless obliges.
[20:34] <Kotono> Flying up, Marie gets a head of the situation! As the rest of the party walks along, she can spy the creature! It is a vrock shaded black, moving with inhuman agility from large rock to large rock. It's movement is deathly silent, keeping a very loose watch on the party.
[20:36] <Alicia> Not wanting to tip their pursuer off by casting any spells, Alicia settles for channelling an enervation spell into her sword as they walk along, seemingly oblivious...
[20:39] <Kotono> The party continues to walk! Ten minutes of this pass before they come to a stretch of a few hundred feet without any large rocks. At this point Marie can see the vrock linger back, waiting as the party gets two hundred feet away, then three hundred.
[20:39] <Alicia> "It's not following us anymore," Marie whispers.
[20:41] * Demedais grimaces. "Keep moving for now. Best to not give the game up yet."
[20:42] <Kotono> "It might know the terrain well enough to cut around or anticipate us," Antenora mouths. "Keep Marie on it."
[20:42] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais nods.
[20:42] <Alicia> "It'll probably resume once we reach more cover it can use," Alicia hazards.
[20:45] <Kotono> The party advances on! As they reach more big rocks, Marie meanwhile sees the vrock circling around. It moves more openly once the party is out of sight, flying just above the ground to zip along. It's circling the long way around, or so it looks to her.
[20:46] <Alicia> "Still on us, circling around," Marie reports. "Pretty fast when it wants to be."
[20:46] * Demedais nods slightly to this, continuing on while still looking around carefully for any additional vrocks.
[20:47] <Kotono> "Are we just going to let it follow us then," Eudard asks, his hand staying close to his sword's hilt. "Until it gets bored of it?"
[20:47] <Kotono> OOC - Spot, Deme?
[20:47] * Alicia looks for any cover the party could use while they're out of direct sight of the vrock. "I have an idea."
[20:47] <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 36."12 [1d20=11]
[20:48] <Kotono> There's plenty of boulders and the like the party could use. Demedais also doesn'ts ee anything of note around.
[20:48] <Kotono> Like say, other vrocks that he was looking for.
[20:50] <Alicia> "Marie, time to show off your new trick - put up an illusion of us settling down for lunch along with a big boulder we can hide inside," Alicia speaks quickly so they can set this up before the vrock gets back in sight. "Then when it settles in to spy on us camping, we jump it from hiding - try to take it alive for questioning."
[20:53] <Demedais> "Very well." Demedais nods.
[20:54] <Alicia> Marie readily obliges and quickly spins her illusion from ethereal light, setting up a scene of the group sitting down and starting to break out rations, along with a decently large boulder half-buried in the sand about fifteen feet from them. Alicia quickly ushers everyone inside said boulder so they won't be seen from the outside.

[Corwin]

[17:47] <ZombieDune> <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
[17:47] <ZombieDune> * Alicia looks for any cover the party could use while they're out of direct sight of the vrock. "I have an idea."
[17:47] <ZombieDune> * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 36." [1d20=11]
[17:47] <ZombieDune> > There's plenty of boulders and the like the party could use. Demedais also doesn'ts ee anything of note around.
[17:47] <ZombieDune> > Like say, other vrocks that he was looking for.
[17:47] <ZombieDune> <Alicia> "Marie, time to show off your new trick - put up an illusion of us settling down for lunch along with a big boulder we can hide inside," Alicia speaks quickly so they can set this up before the vrock gets back in sight. "Then when it settles in to spy on us camping, we jump it from hiding - try to take it alive for questioning."
[17:47] <ZombieDune> <Demedais> "Very well." Demedais nods.
[17:47] <ZombieDune> <Alicia> Marie readily obliges and quickly spins her illusion from ethereal light, setting up a scene of the group sitting down and starting to break out rations, along with a decently large boulder half-buried in the sand about fifteen feet from them. Alicia quickly ushers everyone inside said boulder so they won't be seen from the outside.
[17:48] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[17:48] <ZombieDune> Marie spins the illusion! The party looks to be at lunch now, setting up for it! "I remember when I could do that," Antenora murmurs under her breath.
[17:49] <Alicia> "You should give me some tips, some time!" Marie whispers back cheerily as illusory Pollyanna sits on illusory Demedais's lap and starts daintily hand-feeding him.
[17:50] <ZombieDune> Eudard eyes the illusion, "Come on, let's set up to ambush it," he says.
[17:50] <Alicia> "Lets wait for the vrock to get close then try to take it down before it can react?" Alicia suggests, keeping an eye out and tensing for action.
[17:51] * ZombieDune sets mode: +o Demedais
[17:52] * Demedais doesn't even spare a glance to the illusion, positioning himself to keep an eagle eye on the vrock as it approaches.
[17:54] <ZombieDune> "At least no one's on my lap," Antenora rolls her eyes, "Subtle, Marie, subtle." As they settle into wait, Demedais can see the vrock! It's coming from around the northern side nowm, very slowly approaching the camping party.
[17:56] <Alicia> "It's so it looks like we have our guard down," Marie insists quietly as the fake eladrin settles on the fake erinyes lap and is warmly received there.
[17:57] <Demedais> "He comes from the northern side." Demedais hisses, before pausing. "Does the illusion have sound?"
[17:58] <Alicia> "Sorry," Marie replies. "It's just a trick of the light."
[18:00] <ZombieDune> The vrock comes to within one hundred feet...
[18:00] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+24
[18:00] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27."12 [1d20=3]
[18:02] <ZombieDune> It doesn't come much closer. It peers ahead at the illusion, before Demedais can see it look about.
[18:03] <Demedais> "It figured out the illusion." Demedais hisses. "Doesn't seem to know we're here, though... A second option. We wait and let Marie track them back to their lair, or kill this one now and keep searching."
[18:05] <Alicia> "Or we incapacitate it and question it?" Alicia suggests.
[18:06] * Demedais cocks his head. "Implying we can get a reliable response from it, but that's one alternative."
[18:06] <ZombieDune> "It didn'ts eem to be able to detect Marie," Pollyanna glances out briefly as well. "If it can't find her, she could follow it without risk."
[18:07] <ZombieDune> Demedais sees the vrock starting to retreat backwards as the party talks, circling back around the way it came.
[18:07] <Alicia> "I could give it a shot," Marie offers. "Alicia can just teleport to wherever I am come night-time, after all."
[18:08] <Demedais> "It's beginning to retreat back the way it came..." Demedais curses, before nodding to Marie. "Very well. We'll try this, and if it seems to just be acting as sentinel we'll kill it and move on."
[18:09] <Alicia> "Okay," Marie nods. "Illusion will vanish by itself in a little bit. You guys be careful!" With that she flies up into the sky so she can track the vrock from above, trying to position herself so that the sun is behind her so that she'll be hard to spot.
[18:09] <Alicia> "Take care, Marie," Alicia wishes her familiar luck as she departs.
[18:13] <ZombieDune> OOC - Make a hide check? +10 circumstance bonus since you're danged hard to notice.
[18:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 and gets 45."12 [1d20=11]
[18:13] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+24
[18:13] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+24 and gets 38."12 [1d20=14]
[18:16] <ZombieDune> Marie thus follows along as the others wait! The vrock doesn't seem to see her as time passes...three hours of this. The vrock weaves southward some more, eventually coming to wha tlooks like another stretch of plains. However, it simply walks right down through the solid ground as if it were nothing.
[18:18] <Alicia> Marie flies down so she's forty feet above where the vrock vanished and then looks straight down for both magic and evil.
[18:20] <ZombieDune> With such easy evidence it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see throgh the illusion once magic is detected. There's a cave path leading sharply into the earth here, fairly wide. Looks pretty natural.
[18:21] <Alicia> Marie starts to follow, although she stays alert for any other magical auras that might indicate defences, as well as evil auras, since she doesn't want to get too close to any inhabitants. Erring on the side of caution, she does her best to avoid being seen just in case something happens to surprise her.
[18:23] <ZombieDune> Going inside, Marie goes about fourty feet down. It look sto be leading into a deeper cavern, but an evil aura - an overwhelming one - can be glimpsed ahead in the darkness. Another vrock stands on guard here, looking sublimely bored and restless. The stone walls bear many a talon and claw mark.
[18:24] <Alicia> Being incorporeal is nice, so Marie simply flies into the surface of the cave until she's past the guard and emerges back out behind a convenient rocky outcropping. She has a few hours before Alicia teleports everyone on top of her so she might as well do as much scouting as she can in that time.
[18:27] <ZombieDune> Marie comes down in a large natural cave. Here, amid dripping stalagmites and stalagtites she can see them. Four vrocks, a grotesque creature with four arms and a pair of bows and a single succubus all seem to be waiting. The succubus is passing the time by doing unspeakably degenerate things to one of the vrocks, while the bow-creature and the vrocks often exchange withering glances. Overseeing all of this is a horrible creature - a dread
[18:27] <ZombieDune> Overseeing all of this is a horrible creature - a dread Marilith, something Marie has seen firsthand.  On the floor around it a large map of the area has been carved out, littered with stragetic markings.
[18:28] <Alicia> Hah! Just a band of vrocks indeed! That wacky Esthan and his misinformation! They're probably all talking via telepathy so she can't even eavesdrop. Stupid demons. Is the black-skinned vrock here, at least?
[18:30] <ZombieDune> It is. It's one of the vrocks watching the succubus.
[18:31] <Alicia> Marie is open-minded, but watching demons get their jollies on each other really isn't her idea of fun. She looks around for any other passages while she's here, at least.
[18:31] <ZombieDune> It looks to be a dead end here - this cavern, while large, is about it.
[18:33] <Alicia> There's no need to tempt fate and risk discovery, and there's not really anything she can learn right now, so Marie sneaks back out and spends a few minutes scouring the area surrounding the concealed entrance for any lookouts before she camps out on the ground about four hundred feet away from it.
[18:33] <ZombieDune> OOC - Spot check, Marie?
[18:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 detect evil/magic should pick up the slack
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 detect evil/magic should pick up the slack and gets 13."12 [1d20=7]
[18:34] <ZombieDune> Marie doesn't find much of note and settles into wait. Meanwhile...
[18:35] <ZombieDune> The time passes, the party having a chance to prepare for the teleport...OOC - If you're going to set up any buffs or whatever, say so?
[18:36] <Alicia> OOC: Alicia and Marie have greater magic weapon on by default. It gets offered to everyone else if they want it. Alicia also benefits from shield/mirror image/enlarge person since she doesn't know if Marie's right in their midst or not.
[18:36] <Alicia> roll 1d4+4
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8."12 [1d4=4]
[18:38] <ZombieDune> OOC: Alicia and Eudard would take Alicia up on that.
[18:38] <ZombieDune> OOC: By Alicia I mean Antenora.
[18:39] <Demedais> OOC: Demedais will also accept.
[18:40] <ZombieDune> OOC: Okay. That it then?
[18:41] <Demedais> OOC: Just for the record, Shield Other on Eudard/Pollyanna, MC against Evil on self.
[18:41] <Alicia> roll 1d100 wherever Marie is is studied carefully
[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 wherever Marie is is studied carefully and gets 39."12 [1d100=39]
[18:44] <ZombieDune> OOC: Oh yes late, but Polly would take the weapon booster as well. Sorry, mistake in my sorting. That still good, Eb?
[18:44] <Alicia> OOC: that's cool
[18:44] <Demedais> OOC: Final addition: Deme uses Comprehend Languages on self.
[18:45] <Demedais> OOC: Strike that last addition.
[18:50] <ZombieDune> Woosh! The party appears outside of the demon hideaway without incident!
[18:52] <Alicia> "Hi guys!" Marie is as chipper as ever, while Alicia looks around in a rather nonplussed fashion.
[18:52] <Alicia> "Where are they?" she asks, having expected more fiends.
[18:53] <Alicia> "Down in a cave past an illusory floor," Marie reports. "There's five vrocks - one guarding the corridor and the other in the big cave with everyone else. One arrow demon, one marilith, and one succubus."
[18:54] <ZombieDune> "Really?" Antenora stretches out now, readying her spear, "Good. Enough to where we can hopefully overwhelm them before they can strike back hard."
[18:55] <Alicia> "Can you get back in there easily?" Alicia gives her familiar a contemplative look, and after receiving a nod in return she asks how long it would take.
[18:56] <Alicia> "Less than a minute!" Marie assures her brightly.
[18:56] * Demedais blinks at this report, before nodding. "Alright. Plan of action, then?"
[18:57] <ZombieDune> "Marie as a distraction, funnel them out and smash them?" Antenora proposes. "We could use this as a bottleneck to hit them with overwhelming force as they emerge."
[18:58] <Alicia> "I was going to teleport in for a surprise attack, but I like Antenora's plan more," Alicia smiles at the erinyes. "Think you're up for it, Marie?"
[18:59] * Demedais grins, drawing his sword. "Let's do it, if you're capable of it, Marie."
[19:00] <Alicia> "Either Antenora has a lot of faith in me, or just wants me out of the picture..." the eladrin muses, before nodding. "Well I can be plenty distracting, anyway! Just let me get to work." Pointing out exactly where the entrance is, Marie then turns incorporeal and retraces her path back inside.
[19:01] <Alicia> Meanwhile Alicia casts Fly and positions herself twenty feet to the side and twenty feet up from the entrance.
[19:01] <Alicia> And another enervation goes into her sword to match the first.
[19:02] * Demedais positions himself to the other side of the entrance, ready to charge in, motioning Pollyanna to the entrance's top/back for sniping and nodding to Eudard to have him prepare where he chooses.
[19:03] <ZombieDune> Antenor apositions herself twenty feet up and away in the opposite direction of Alicia, spear ready. Pollyanna follows Demedais positioning advice, while Eudard joins Demedais with his shield ready., bow at the ready and at teh side of the illusiory plain entrance!
[19:03] <ZombieDune> OOC - Just heading back inside, Marie?
[19:03] <Alicia> OOC: stealthily!
[19:04] <Alicia> OOC: and making more use of hiding within the rock
[19:05] <ZombieDune> Marie slinks back inside! She peeks just out of the rock, looking down at the chasm! All of the demons, save one vrock who likely still guards the entrance, are clustered around the Marilith. She's gesturing at the carvings on the floor.
[19:08] <Alicia> Marie finds a good position just above where the cavern opens up and hides herself before reverting to corporeal form...
[19:10] <ZombieDune> Marie does so! The demons seem to be paying attention to the Marilith as it gestures with many of it's hands, sword clattering as they touch points. In Abyssal, "Tomorrow night we will smash the village come devils or angels or stupid mortals. The mortals there should prove little threat as long as you follow commands," She locks eyes with one of the vrocks, who looks back without fear.
[19:13] <Alicia> Drawing forth her last banishing arrow (sadly silver since they expected more devils than demons when purchasing the batch), Marie carefully takes aim and then fires at the unaware marilith, hoping she'll get lucky. As soon as she has fired, she flies down and retreats back up the tunnel to the surface.
[19:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23
[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 and gets 38."12 [1d20=15]
[19:13] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+1d4 not rolling electric damage, DC 22 will save or banished
[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+3+1d4 not rolling electric damage, DC 22 will save or banished and gets 10."12 [1d4=3][1d4=4]
[19:14] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+14 will
[19:14] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+14 will and gets 29."12 [1d20=15]
[19:16] <ZombieDune> The arrow hits the Marilith as Marie retreats back! The party, even as this happens, can hear a female scream of utter, incomprehensible fury echoing out from the cave!
[19:17] <Alicia> "Good job, Marie..." Alicia murmurs, tensing in anticipation for all the horrors of the Abyss to come boiling out of that cave.
[19:17] * Demedais has a large grin on his face. "Whatever she did..." he whispers.
[19:18] <ZombieDune> "It was good," Antenora chuckles as the party braces and prepares! (More)
[19:25] <ZombieDune> The roar is soon joined by others! You can hear a din like the entire Abyss is coming out of the cave, roaring rapidly! It's coming at you like a tidal wave! Thirty feet away, the party can see a pair of vrocks racing up the front, hurling themselves forward to reach outside in one heck of a hurry! B ehind three more vrocks are coming! OOC - Let's start initiative here for easy organization.
[19:25] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 woo.
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 woo. and gets 19."12 [1d20=18]
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 17."12 [1d20=10]
[19:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 15."12 [1d20=8]
[19:26] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 6."12 [1d20=1]
[19:26] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+7 Polly
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+7 Polly and gets 24."12 [1d20=17]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+6 Eudard
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+6 Eudard and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+5 vrock 1 front
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+5 vrock 1 front and gets 19."12 [1d20=14]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+5 vrock 2 front
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+5 vrock 2 front and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20 vrock 3 back
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20 vrock 3 back and gets 12."12 [1d20=12]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20 vrock 4 back
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20 vrock 4 back and gets 10."12 [1d20=10]
[19:27] <ZombieDune> OOC +5 to those two rolls for a total of 17 and 15.
[19:27] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+5 vrock 5
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+5 vrock 5 and gets 24."12 [1d20=19]
[19:28] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+2 succubus
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+2 succubus and gets 20."12 [1d20=18]
[19:28] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+4 Marilith
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+4 Marilith and gets 12."12 [1d20=8]
[19:28] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+6 arrow demon
[19:28] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+6 arrow demon and gets 21."12 [1d20=15]
[19:30] * ZombieDune changes topic to 'Pollyanna(24)>Vrock2(23)>Arrow Demon(21)>Succubus(20)>Demedais(19)=Vrock1>Marie(17)=Vrock3>Alicia(15)=Vrock4>Marilith(12)>Eudard(8)>Antenora(6)'
[19:31] <ZombieDune> Pollyanna holds a moment as the demons rush forth, the second vrock bursting out! As it does, Pollyanna quickly fires her prepared arrows at it from behind!
[19:32] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank)
[19:32] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank)
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank) and gets 25."12 [1d20=10]
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank) and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
[19:32] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+10 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank)
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+10 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank) and gets 21."12 [1d20=11]
[19:33] <ZombieDune> roll 3d8+12+6d6 (Not rolling fire damage, moot.)
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 3d8+12+6d6 (Not rolling fire damage, moot.) and gets 41."12 [3d8=2, 3, 4][6d6=2, 6, 3, 1, 6, 2]
[19:34] <ZombieDune> The vrock's back is riddled with arrows, burrowing into it's tough skin even as it goes headlong at Demedais!
[19:34] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+20 claw
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+20 claw and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[19:35] <ZombieDune> OOC - AC Deme?
[19:36] <Demedais> OOC: Is Eudard's aura up?
[19:36] <ZombieDune> OOC: Yes.
[19:37] <Demedais> OOC: Then 32+his aura.
[19:37] <ZombieDune> The vrock charges forward, claw meeting Demedais' royal armor! It's stopped from getting his skin, bouncing off the supra-toughened steel! Meanwhile, other demons perhaps advance...OOC - Deme, you're up.
[19:39] * Demedais grins. "Hullo, fiend! And... goodbye!" With a moment's pause, Demedais begins quickly dicing up the vrock! OOC: Boots +haste, Law Devotion +AB.
[19:40] <ZombieDune> OOC: Okay, roll away.
[19:40] <ZombieDune> OOC: AB?
[19:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE)
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE) and gets 30."12 [1d20=10]
[19:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE)
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE) and gets 26."12 [1d20=6]
[19:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE)
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE) and gets 20."12 [1d20=5]
[19:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+10 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE)
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+10 (+1 Haste +4 LD -4 PA -2 CE) and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
[19:40] <ZombieDune> OOC - Two hits.
[19:41] <Demedais> roll 4d6+36 Uh.
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 4d6+36 Uh. and gets 51."12 [4d6=6, 1, 2, 6]
[19:43] <ZombieDune> Demedais tears into the fiend head on, cutting away part of it's wing and hobbling it! Even as he does, the other one at front races forward, clawing out at him as well!
[19:43] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+20
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[19:43] <ZombieDune> But again, Demedais whirls and blocks it, the Fifth Resort coming forth to push the fiendish vulture away from his body as well! OOC - Marie and another vrock are up.
[19:44] <Alicia> Marie flies up above Alicia, close enough for her aura to protect her mistress, and then fires a barrage of magic missiles at the vrock Demedais just cut up!
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 16."12 [1d20=1]
[19:45] <ZombieDune> Marie fires...and the magic missiles fizzle out against it's form, doing nothing! Meanwhile a third vrock comes and flies out, unable to do much more than emerge five feet off the ground! OOC- Aliciea nd yet another vrock.
[19:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge devotion
[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 knowledge devotion and gets 30."12 [1d20=13]
[19:46] * Alicia is holding off for the marilith to arrive, wanting to take it down quickly...
[19:46] <Alicia> OOC: holding my action
[19:47] <ZombieDune> The fourth vrock flies out righ tnext to the third, screetching, "You want a fight, stupid humans," it demands in Abyssal, "We'll rip you apart inthe name of Seira the soul seller!" Meanwhile...
[19:48] <ZombieDune> roll 1d100
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d100 and gets 52."12 [1d100=52]
[19:48] <ZombieDune> Eudard stands besides Demedais, slashing at the one he wounded, "In the name of the True God, begone from this world, creatures of vile chaos!"
[19:50] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+19 (+2 weapon)
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+19 (+2 weapon) and gets 23."12 [1d20=4]
[19:50] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+16 (+2 weapon, +3 smite)
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+16 (+2 weapon, +3 smite) and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
[19:51] <ZombieDune> roll 2d8+23 and -2 con
[19:51] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 2d8+23 and -2 con and gets 39."12 [2d8=8, 8]
[19:52] <ZombieDune> The bird creature has more of it's blood spilled, it's body torn in the sides! Antenora meanwhile takes this chance to plummet down at the fourth vrock that has emerged, as if to smite it from existance instantly!
[19:53] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+20 (+2 charge, +2 FS 7/8, +6 smite, +2 weapon, -12 PA)
[19:53] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+20 (+2 charge, +2 FS 7/8, +6 smite, +2 weapon, -12 PA) and gets 37."12 [1d20=17]
[19:54] <ZombieDune> roll 2d8+1d6+2d6+78
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 2d8+1d6+2d6+78 and gets 89."12 [2d8=2, 2][1d6=2][2d6=3, 2]
[19:56] <ZombieDune> The vrock is ran through directly, it's stomach pieced! Antenora rips the spear out ven as the vile abomination survives, fighting on! Pollyanna meanwhile takes a slight step back for distance, before rattling off more arrows at the on Demedais!
[19:56] <Alicia> OOC: I'll act after Polly since snakewoman is a no-show
[19:56] <ZombieDune> OOC: Okay then, go.
[19:56] <ZombieDune> OOC: Er wait. Hur.
[19:56] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank)
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank) and gets 17."12 [1d20=2]
[19:56] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank)
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +1 point blank) and gets 16."12 [1d20=1]
[19:56] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+10
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16."12 [1d20=6]
[19:57] <ZombieDune> A hail of arrows comes, but none of them hit at all, whizzing by everyone! OOC - Alicia?
[19:57] * ZombieDune changes topic to 'Pollyanna(24)>Alicia>Vrock2(23)>Arrow Demon(21)>Succubus(20)>Demedais(19)=Vrock1>Marie(17)=Vrock3>Vrock4>Marilith(12)>Eudard(8)>Antenora(6)'
[19:57] <Alicia> OOC: how many vrocks can I hit in one go with a line of spellfire?
[19:58] <ZombieDune> OOC: The two flying could be gotten easily eough. You get get the two on Deme with some manuvering as well. You can't get three since the bottom ones are so close to Deme/Eudard.
[19:59] <ZombieDune> "Damn!" Pollyanna steps back further, "Tough as trolls!"
[19:59] * Alicia positions herself so she can blast a line of spellfire through the vrocks wounded by Antenora and the Demedais/Eudard double-team, wanting them out of the picture before they can retaliate further!
[20:00] <Alicia> roll 12d8 DC 24 reflex half
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 12d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 63."12 [12d8=2, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 7, 4, 7, 1, 3, 2]
[20:00] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+9
[20:00] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+9
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+9 and gets 16."12 [1d20=7]
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
[20:00] * ZombieDune changes topic to 'Pollyanna(24)>Alicia>Arrow Demon(21)>Succubus(20)>Demedais(19)=Vrock1>Marie(17)=Vrock3>Vrock4>Marilith(12)>Eudard(8)>Antenora(6)'
[20:01] <ZombieDune> Alicia's spellfire passes through both of them like a lance from the heavens! The one wounded by Demedais and company staggers and explodes into a cloud of feathers, while the other staggers from the hole in it's right arm-torso-left arm!  OOC - Arrow Demon is up.
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+22
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+22 and gets 40."12 [1d20=18]
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+22
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+22 and gets 26."12 [1d20=4]
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+17
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+17
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+17 and gets 36."12 [1d20=19]
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+17 and gets 37."12 [1d20=20]
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+12
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+12
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22."12 [1d20=10]
[20:02] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+17 crit?
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+17 crit? and gets 26."12 [1d20=9]
[20:03] <ZombieDune> OOC - ACs, Alicia and Deme? Also sec.
[20:03] <Alicia> OOC: 32, image 15
[20:04] <Demedais> OOC: AC 34+4 from Eudard = 38.
[20:07] <ZombieDune> roll 2d6+8 Polly arrow 1
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 2d6+8 Polly arrow 1 and gets 17."12 [2d6=5, 4]
[20:08] <ZombieDune> roll 1d9 Alicia image arrow 2
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d9 Alicia image arrow 2 and gets 4."12 [1d9=4]
[20:08] <ZombieDune> roll 2d6+8 Marie arrow 4
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 2d6+8 Marie arrow 4 and gets 12."12 [2d6=3, 1]
[20:09] <ZombieDune> From behind the party, a storm of arrows come forth! The hail leaves one in Pollyanna and one in Marie! A storm of wood comes from about 120 feet away, glancing back showing the form of the arrow demoning firing like mad! OOC - Succubus is up.
[20:09] <ZombieDune> roll 1d100
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d100 and gets 84."12 [1d100=84]
[20:09] <ZombieDune> OOc - Deme, you're up.
[20:10] * Demedais aims to finish the current vrock off, before cleaving into the next one with all the might he has!
[20:10] <Demedais> OOC: Strike, idioTai
[20:11] * Demedais steps forward just a bit, aiming to completely ravage the other vrock that attacked him and give the rest of the squad breathing room to deal with the archer behind them!
[20:11] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) and gets 21."12 [1d20=1]
[20:11] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) and gets 27."12 [1d20=7]
[20:11] <Demedais> roll 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
[20:11] <Demedais> roll 1d20+10 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA)
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+10 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) and gets 20."12 [1d20=10]
[20:12] <ZombieDune> OOC - Crit confirm?
[20:12] <Demedais> roll 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) crit check
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+15 (+1 Haste +4 LD -6 PA) crit check and gets 26."12 [1d20=11]
[20:12] <ZombieDune> OOC - One hit and a c-c-c-rit.
[20:12] <Demedais> roll 6d6+66
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 6d6+66 and gets 93."12 [6d6=5, 2, 6, 5, 5, 4]
[20:14] * ZombieDune changes topic to 'Pollyanna(24)>Alicia>Arrow Demon(21)>Succubus(20)>Demedais>Marie(17)=Vrock3>Vrock4>Marilith(12)>Eudard(8)>Antenora(6)'
[20:14] <ZombieDune> Demedais decapitates the vrock with a savage 1-2! Even as it does, it's fading body assails Demedais with all it has! OOC - It acts and the same time and gets an action as you kill it, basically.
[20:14] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+18 claw
[20:14] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+18 claw
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+18 claw and gets 34."12 [1d20=16]
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+18 claw and gets 31."12 [1d20=13]
[20:14] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+16 bite
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+16 bite and gets 23."12 [1d20=7]
[20:15] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+16 talon
[20:15] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+16 talon
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+16 talon and gets 36."12 [1d20=20]
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+16 talon and gets 22."12 [1d20=6]
[20:15] <ZombieDune> roll 1d20+16 talon crit?
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d20+16 talon crit? and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
[20:15] <ZombieDune> roll 1d6+4
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "ZombieDune rolls 1d6+4 and gets 7."12 [1d6=3]
[20:16] <ZombieDune> Even as it dies it scratches lightly across Deme's knuckle, drawing a few droplets of blood! OOC -Marie.
[20:17] <Alicia> Marie doesn't really want to get shot up, so she turns incorporeal and flies after Alicia, contributing to the battle in a defensive role.
[20:19] * Ko-SupersJeepHatesMe (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[20:19] * Ko-SupersJeepHatesMe is now known as Kotono
[20:19] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[20:19] <Alicia> [20:16] <ZombieDune> Even as it dies it scratches lightly across Deme's knuckle, drawing a few droplets of blood! OOC -Marie.
[20:19] <Alicia> [20:17] <Alicia> Marie doesn't really want to get shot up, so she turns incorporeal and flies after Alicia, contributing to the battle in a defensive role.
[20:19] <Kotono> The third vrock, unwounded, whirls down towards Eudard, screetching like all the Abyssal fury!
[20:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 chaaaarge
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 chaaaarge and gets 30."12 [1d20=10]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 2d6+8
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+8 and gets 14."12 [2d6=5, 1]
[20:22] <Kotono> The claw gets him in the shoulder, a light wound tha tonly seems to faintly injure Eudard, while Demedais gets a bleeding cut on his own armored shoulder! The fourth vrock, staggered, slugs back at Antenora!
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31."12 [1d20=13]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 22."12 [1d20=4]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 21."12 [1d20=5]
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 36."12 [1d20=20]
[20:22] * ZombieDune (~dunefar@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 crit?
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 crit? and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
[20:23] <Kotono> roll 1d6+4
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9."12 [1d6=5]
[20:23] <Kotono> OOC - Wait, it did just crit. HUR.
[20:23] <Kotono> roll 1d6+4 more
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+4 more and gets 6."12 [1d6=2]
[20:25] <Kotono> Antenora is lightly wounded, pushed back as a cut across her breast is made! The din of battle rages around you,a s the Marilith appears! She appears twenty feet behind Demedais, armed to th teeth with swords! "You dare assault us, puny mortals?" OOC - Eudard is up.
[20:25] <Kotono> Eudard glances back a moment, all while turning towards it! He hangs back a moment, even as wild shield of energy forms around his body!  OOC - Entropic shield. Antenora is up.
[20:27] <Kotono> Antenora is locked in combat with the wounded vrock, counter attacking!
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, +2 FS 6/8, -4 PA)
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, +2 FS 6/8, -4 PA) and gets 32."12 [1d20=10]
[20:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, -4 PA)
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, -4 PA) and gets 32."12 [1d20=17]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, -4 PA)
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 (+2 weapon, +2 bane, -4 PA) and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
[20:28] <Kotono> roll 2d8+42+1d6+4d6
[20:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+42+1d6+4d6 and gets 73."12 [2d8=8, 7][1d6=6][4d6=2, 1, 5, 2]
[20:28] * Kotono changes topic to 'Pollyanna(24)>Alicia>Arrow Demon(21)>Succubus(20)>Demedais>Marie(17)=Vrock3>Marilith(12)>Eudard(8)>Antenora(6)'
[20:29] <Kotono> The fourth vrock is shattered into dust, turning into a howling black wind of feathers that fades into oblivion! OOC - Polly and Alicia. Go ahead and act, Alicia, I have to sec.
[20:29] <Alicia> Finally the star of the show appears! Alicia goes to float down close enough for the non-flying marilith to hit her if it approaches (though certainly not in full attack range), and begins to glow with the radiance of the heavens. "I hope you're not just a freshly promoted succubus like the last marilith I fought!" she taunts, adding a crackling ray of negative energy fired right at her face to ensure she gets the thing's attention.
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 28."12 [1d20=8]
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 17."12 [1d20=2]
[20:34] <Kotono> The spell fizzles around it! The marilith looks up, even as Pollyanna fires a three set of arrows at the Marilith! "Is that it," it glances at Alicia, "Your light will fade adn die here to my brilliant plans!"
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34."12 [1d20=19]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13."12 [1d20=3]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4 and gets 12."12 [1d8=8]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d8+4
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+4 and gets 7."12 [1d8=3]
[20:37] <Kotono> The arrows hardly seem to bother the vile creature at all! Meanwhile, the arrow demon focuses it's fire quite narrowly now, half of it's arrows at Alicia and the other half at Demedais!
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 A
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 A and gets 41."12 [1d20=19]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 D
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 D and gets 28."12 [1d20=6]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 A
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 A and gets 30."12 [1d20=13]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 D
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 D and gets 37."12 [1d20=20]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 D crit?
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 D crit? and gets 29."12 [1d20=12]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 A
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 A and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 D
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 D and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d8 arrow 1 Alicia
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 arrow 1 Alicia and gets 4."12 [1d8=4]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d7 arrow 2
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d7 arrow 2 and gets 2."12 [1d7=2]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 2d6+8 Deme
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+8 Deme and gets 18."12 [2d6=5, 5]
[20:40] <Kotono> More arrows fly, cutting down images and grazing Demedais! OOC - No sign of lover-girl. Deme?
[20:44] * Demedais grimaces at the marilith/arrow demon combo, but focuses on the final vrock instead to try and finish the frontal threat!
[20:47] <Demedais> roll 1d20+17 (+1 Haste +4 LD +2 charge -11 PA)
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+17 (+1 Haste +4 LD +2 charge -11 PA) and gets 37."12 [1d20=20]
[20:47] <Demedais> roll 1d20+17 (+1 Haste +4 LD +2 charge -11 PA) crit check
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+17 (+1 Haste +4 LD +2 charge -11 PA) crit check and gets 18."12 [1d20=1]
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC - Normal hit. Comedy.
[20:48] <Demedais> roll 2d6+32
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+32 and gets 34."12 [2d6=1, 1]
[20:49] <Kotono> Demedais rushes, cutting into the vrock's side with a skillful, quick flick of his wrist! OOC - Marie.
[20:49] <Kotono> "We're winning," Eudard calls, "Surrender and accept your return to the Abyss!"
[20:49] <Demedais> "Focus on the remainder!" Demedais calls!
[20:50] <Alicia> Marie fires some magic missiles over at the arrow demon so it can no longer shoot at them with impunity, while still hovering above and behind Alicia to shelter her with her protective aura.
[20:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 25."12 [1d20=10]
[20:50] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 18."12 [5d4=4, 1, 3, 4, 1]
[20:51] <Kotono> The arrows hit as Eudard goes to help with the vrock as well!
[20:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 (+2 weapon)
[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 (+2 weapon) and gets 36."12 [1d20=17]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d8+7 and -1 con
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+7 and -1 con and gets 12."12 [1d8=5]
[20:52] <Kotono> It's a shallow wound on it, but it's a bleeder! The vrock screams as they tend to do, tearing into Demedais and Eudard in revenge!
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 claw Deme
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 claw Deme and gets 26."12 [1d20=8]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 claw Eudard
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 claw Eudard and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 bite Deme
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 bite Deme and gets 21."12 [1d20=5]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 bite talon Eudard
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 bite talon Eudard and gets 25."12 [1d20=9]
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 bite talon Eudard
[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 bite talon Eudard and gets 22."12 [1d20=6]
[20:53] <Kotono> But each and every attack is stopped, shield and armor and sword rendering it's primal power a failure! OOC - Marilith is up.
[20:54] <Kotono> An array and wall of blades appear around Alicia and Marie! They are of pure force, looking to chop the duo up! OOC - Ref saves you two.
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 A
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 A and gets 30."12 [1d20=15]
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11 M
[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 M and gets 15."12 [1d20=4]
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 15d6 halve this for Marie then, lucky her. Alicia takes no damage.
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 halve this for Marie then, lucky her. Alicia takes no damage. and gets 45."12 [15d6=1, 3, 1, 3, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 2, 4, 2, 3, 6, 2]
[20:57] <Kotono> The chopping, cutting blades are nothing for Alicia, flying back and avoiding the embrace of death! Marie isn't so plucky, dodging and weaving and still bloodied! OOC- Antenora's up, since Eudard somehow got bumped ahead in intiative by mistake.
[20:57] <Kotono> 'Arrow demon or the MArilith,' Antenora asks Alicia quickly in the vaults of her mind.
[20:58] <Alicia> 'Arrow demon. You do not want to get in melee with the marilith, trust me,' Alicia responds.
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora flies towards the arrow demon, coming quite close to it! Pollyanna meanwhile focuses, shooting at the vrock on Demedais!
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 20."12 [1d20=5]
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 22."12 [1d20=7]
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 29."12 [1d20=19]
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 2d8+8
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+8 and gets 17."12 [2d8=7, 2]
[20:59] <Kotono> The arrows have trouble breaking it's demonic form, only doing grazing damage! OOC - Alicia.
[21:01] * Alicia lands before the marilith, lining herself up along an axis with it and the arrow demon, thankfully beneath the flying Antenora. Gesturing forward, she issues forth a cacaphonous blast of spellfire that surges away through the marilith and arrow demon both!
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 24 reflex half
[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 24 reflex half and gets 86."12 [18d8=6, 7, 5, 4, 1, 8, 3, 5, 5, 4, 8, 6, 3, 6, 5, 2, 3, 5]
[21:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 ref
[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 ref and gets 16."12 [1d20=2]
[21:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 arrow demon
[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 arrow demon and gets 18."12 [1d20=5]