024.6 Afina and the Sleepless One

[Corwin]

[20:06] <Koaway> That night Afina rests. Her sleep is rather rudely interrupted by Elena's voice calling, "Afina! Afina, wake up!" It's from the hall, echoing out. "Wake up, Afina!"
[20:08] <Afina> Being the paranoid sleeper that she is, Afina shoots up fully dressed and grabs her sword, even if she is sadly hatless as she flies down from on top of the closet, her bed unused. "What is it?" she asks, opening the door.
[20:10] <Koaway> Elena is there, "We have visitors." Her voice is breathless, "It's a band of adventurers and they have someone they claim is from Lifasa."
[20:13] <Afina> "Lead me to them, then," Afina nods, sheathing her sword. "And tell Adrian as well?" As far as she knows Jaela, Willim, and Ithea are away right now, leaving her effectively in charge.
[20:14] <Koaway> "He's already there," Elena says, "They're in Elrisa's tower."
[20:14] <Afina> "Thank you," Afina responds, taking the nearest portal to the courtyard before heading towards the tower.
[20:22] <Koaway> The garden floor of Elrisa's tower is packed! Students of the Graceful Blow are there, as well as Misalea and Adrian. Most are clad in night clothes. Lying in reverie is a man, an elf. His face is frozen in a look of horror, stone still. Yet his body shivers, shudders, shakes. Adrian kneels next to him, checking his pulse. To the other side are four - each clad in royal blue mantle. They
[20:22] <Koaway> are elves, but elves that are nearly eight feet tall and built like rocks. Three look masculine, while one has more feminine features. One of the masculine ones comes forward, offering his hand out to Afina. "I am Tathaleros, Throne Anointed."
[20:24] <Afina> "Afina," the pixie puts her tiny hand into the elf's oversized one briefly, lacking any relevant sobriquets to add to her name. "I heard you brought one of our brothers from Lifasa?" she asks with a look to the twitching elf.
[20:29] <Koaway> "Rennar is his name," Tathaleros speaks up, grip delicately holding Afina's for that moment. "He came to our world through unknown means. Our wise sages speak of portals, mystical devices that can part reality itself. As we have seen far too well since then. He ranted of cataclysm, of things known as 'devils'. Our wise men researched, and found them to be a name for the monsters of Fires
[20:29] <Koaway> of Regret...I believe you know those as the lower planes?"
[20:32] <Koaway> "He's alive," Adrian speaks up, "A coma or magical sleep would be my guess, except for his face. What happened to him?
[20:32] <Koaway> "
[20:33] <Afina> "They seem to have many names," Afina agrees. "I was ignorant as well until their portals disgorged them onto my home. If he reached yours from Lifasa, that might mean devils are not far behind," she cautions. "Someone go and get the Jarl? Healing should help restore him."
[20:36] <Koaway> One of the members of the Graceful Blow goes to do just that. "Our wise ones had the same concern," His broad, blocky andyet somehow elvenly graceful face grows grim, "Though all the auguries were favorable to peace. As the Anointed of the Throne, it fell on me and my bloodbonded to solve this mystery. Using magic we were able to calm Rennar and have him speak. Of the nightmares he spoke,
[20:36] <Koaway> I have no doubt of his truth." His large frame shudders as if struck by death itself, "Of things worse than any monster I have ever crossed swords with. He ranted of the devils, of the devil known as 'Abigor' and then the 'Sleepless Ones' who haunt his dreams. That night, after speaking of them, he fell into this sleep. A sleep our wise ones fear may be eternal without intervention."
[20:40] <Afina> "He is possessed?" Afina asks, looking at the smaller elf and using one of her rarely used racial talents, one massively boosted by Elysium for some reason. In other words she detects evil.
[20:44] <Koaway> Afina detects overwhelming evil. "It may be so," Tathaleros continues, "Our wise ones and auguries directed us to find passage to a hiddend oor amid all others, always passed and never seen. In the great Lost Capital we found it, a passage to an endless stair. We took Rennar with us and have traveled this realms beyond, these planes. As we searched for things about Rennar, we heard of
[20:44] <Koaway> others from Lifasa and this magnificent fortress."
[20:45] <Afina> "It's likely all that's magnificent about Lifasa, now," Afina notes, fresh of hearing about diabolic 'anti-partisan' duties there. Floating over Rennar, she invokes a magic circle against evil around him to try and stymie the possessing influence.
[20:51] <Koaway> Nothing happens. Tathaleros turns to the other tall elves, talking in unknown words with them. He nods to them after, "Bellatrax has attempted the same magic. Whatever causing this is rooted deep."
[20:54] <Koaway> Adrian rises, "I'm going to see about getting Elder Magi Tepen, too. He might know what this is, and if not, we can plumb the library for it. Anyone else who might know, Afina?"
[20:56] <Afina> "Annalise might but she isn't here," Afina shakes her head. "The Jarl is an excellent healer. He's our best chance anyway." Going back to the tall elves, "You are welcome to stay while we attempt to heal Rennar but if you are tired or hungry we freely offer our hospitality," she informs them, officially making them guests and under her protection. The least she can do for bringing a
[20:56] <Afina> Lifasan here, really.
[20:58] <Koaway> "Thank you," Tathaleros bows deeply, and after a moment the other three follow suit. "Food and someone knowledgeable of these planes, as they are called, would be more than sufficient."
[21:02] <Afina> "Elena," Afina calls on the unseen but everpresent majordomo of Aurora.
[21:14] <Koaway> "Yes?" Elena appears, getting a startled jump from the elves.
[21:16] <Afina> "It's alright, she's friendly," Afina reassures them. "Can you take our guests to the mess hall, Elena, and ask Kascha to meet them there? She has a very profound knowledge of the realms beyond and should be able to answer any questions."
[21:17] <Koaway> "On it," Elena says, escorting the four away. Once gone Adrian looks up, "Any ideas, Afina?"
[21:20] <Afina> "A heal spell would cure madness, if he's possessed then a dispel evil might work. If we found out the possessing devil's name I could bind it as well," Afina offers, surprising herself after she'd been about to shoot Adrian down for even asking an assassin about making someone better.
[21:21] <Koaway> roll 1d20+16
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Koaway rolls 1d20+16 and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[21:22] <Koaway> "I was thinking of those," Adrian admits as he stands, "The Sleepless Ones reminds me of something. I can't put my finger on it, but I've heard of them before."
[21:25] <Afina> "I'll go and ask Hanna, she's probably the most knowledgable about devils here. In the meantime why don't you move him to the hospital? The beds there are supposed to grant restful sleep - Medi's magic shouldn't be underestimated," Afina suggests.
[21:43] <Koaway> "Alright," Adrian agrees, as Afina goes off to find Hanna. The planetar barbarian is found in the training hall, several firre and elven warriors being put through the paces.  After a bit she breaks away from them, coming over to Afina. "Yes?"
[21:45] <Afina> "Have you ever heard of Sleepless Ones in relation to devils?" Afina asks Jaela's mother without preamble.
[21:50] <Koaway> roll 1d20+24
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Koaway rolls 1d20+24 and gets 35." [1d20=11]
[21:52] <Koaway> "I have," She answers, "I've never met one, but I've heard of them. They're servants of the Archduke of Inspiration and Dreams. They're supposedly like erinyes, but able to haunt dreams and have powers related to that."
[21:54] <Afina> "We have one possessing a Lifasan elf that just arrived," Afina elaborates. "A magic circle didn't drive it out, though. Do you know any way to exorcise them?" At least if they get Rellam to the infirmary then the devil won't be able to teleport away with any intelligence gained on Aurora.
[21:59] <Koaway> "You have to enter the dream and kill them," Hanna answers, "It takes specialized magic. If you can rustle up the spell wish or the prayer miracle, those sould be able to replicate it."
[22:01] <Afina> "Looks like Tepen is our only chance. He's already been asked for, shame as it is to wake him. Want to come along?"
[22:05] <Koaway> "To kill a devil? I'm in," Hanna says, hefting her axe. "Too bad Jaela isn't here. She'll be upset she missed the chance."
[22:08] <Afina> "I'm sure she's having fun wherever she is," Afina remarks, leading Hanna to the hospital. "I'd rather take it alive for interrogation, but I suppose that's impossible without a corporeal body?"
[22:16] <Koaway> "As far as I know, yes." At that answer the two head along. At the hospital you find Elder Magi Tepen and Adrian. Rennar rests in capsule, deeply aslumber. The look of terror is gone from his face, replaced by restful sleep.
[22:19] <Afina> "Hello, Tepen," Afina greets the elder magi. "Has Adrian told you what's happening?"
[22:27] <Koaway> "Yes," He nods, smothering a yawn in his hand after. "The sleep capsule has soothed his nightmares, but I doubt it has defeated the source of them.
[22:27] <Koaway> "
[22:28] <Afina> "We need specialised magic or a wish spell to go into the dream and kill the devil there," Afina relays what Hanna told her. "Unless you can just wish it out? I don't know if that would work?" she looks questioningly between Hanna and Tepen.
[22:34] <Koaway> Tepen shakes his head, "I suspect not, but I can try if you wish."
[22:37] <Afina> While she considers it, Afina shakes her head. "No, there's no sense risking your help. Just put Hanna, Adrian, and I into the dream?" Then she asks Hanna, "Will it just be like fighting a normal devil in the dream, or will it be different?"
[22:43] <Koaway> "We find it, we kill it," Hanna says, "What form it takes, that I'm not sure about."
[22:46] <Afina> That's not very helpful to Afina. Probably it'll be like fighting an anarch in Limbo, she supposes, looking to see if Adrian's okay with entering the dream and then waiting on Tepen working his magic.
[22:47] <Koaway> Adrian nods, Gaelach drawn. "Beyond ready."
[22:48] <Koaway> "Gather around Rennar," Elder Magi Tepen instructs, "Close your eyes and prepare yourselves."
[22:49] <Afina> "Get some extra help in here after we're gone, in case the devil comes out and attacks you before we kill it," Afina suggests to Tepen before setting herself to wait.

[Corwin]

[20:12] <Ko-zzz> To this Afina's world is consumed! Elder Magi Tepen chants, "Weave, hear my wish!" The rest of the words are lost in a blur of dazed sleepiness, a deep langour coming over Afina! She barely has a chance to realize it, before the comforting darkness of slumber takes her. (More)
[20:13] <Ko-zzz> How long it is, Afina can't say. There is perfect unawareness, then perfect awareness. A powerful sense of rest and serenity fills Afina, gently telling her to go to sleep, to rest, to heal. She stands in a village, the noon sun shining and a warm summer breeze blowing. Besides her stand Adrian and Hanna, blinking once as they look around.
[20:15] <Kotono> "...I was expecting worse," Adrian utters, casting his gaze about.
[20:18] <Afina> "The bed," Afina notes, "It prevents nightmares. The devil's power should be much neutered, now... if we can find it."
[20:21] <Kotono> Hanna takes to the air, "Split up and try and find it? If its power is lessened, splitting up shouldn't be any serious disadvantage."
[20:22] <Afina> "Alright," Afina goes with that, again detecting evil to help her hunt the fiend down as she starts fluttering around the village.
[20:22] <Kotono> Adrian starts exploring rooms, as...
[20:22] <Kotono> OOC: Spot check, Afina?
[20:23] <Afina> roll 1d20+24
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[20:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 Adrian
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 Adrian and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 Huh, all 24s.
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 Huh, all 24s. and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[20:25] <Kotono> As you search about you don't detect any evil - but the sky flickers above. For a moment it tints hellfire red, before returning to serenity. A moment later, a scream of pure frusturation echos from one of the houses, Adrian nearby and heading towards it.
[20:26] <Afina> Hearing that scream Afina about turns and zips after Adrian!
[20:32] <Kotono> Hanna follows, the three racing in! A large living room is here, a woman seated on the couch. Her skin is porcelin white, wings of fire flapping on her back. Her green hair is long and rich, woven around her chest and stomach like a shawl. From her hips down her unclad body is indistinct. She looks as the party hurries and busts in, "You!" she howls, "You're behind this! You're ruining my work! Stop it!"
[20:33] * Afina almost twitches into a smile. "Really? You're acting indignant?" she can't help but ask, drawing her holy blade. "You should have stayed in Hell and never troubled Lifasa."
[20:38] <Kotono> Adrian's blade is drawn as well, "It's too bad for you, but it's all you deserve." Meanwhile Hanna just hefts her axe, a big grin, "Well then, too bad you can't throw all your horrors at us."
[20:38] <Kotono> At this the woman screams incoherently, "Just...DISAPPEAR! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT EYESORES!" With that a crackle of power erupts around her, as...OOC: Init.
[20:39] <Kotono> OOC: +3 init bonus due to Adrian's draconic aura.
[20:39] <Afina> roll 1d20+23
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+23 and gets 27." [1d20=4]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Hanna
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Hanna and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Adrian
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Adrian and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 Sleepless One
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 Sleepless One and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[20:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Sleepless One(28)>Afina(27)>Adrian(20)>HannaMiko(11)'
[20:40] <Kotono> "SUCCUMB TO MY NIGHTMARES!" She howls, as waves of dark sleepiness assail the trio! OOC: Will saves, all.Bonuses against sleepapply.
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Adrian
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Adrian and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 Hanna
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 Hanna and gets 32." [1d20=4]
[20:41] <Afina> roll 1d20+18
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[20:41] <Afina> OOC: +2 from Hanna's aura
[20:41] <Kotono> Waves of sleepiness buffet the party...and yet, the gentle, calming sensation to sleep, rest and heal dispels them as you resist! OOC: Afina, go.
[20:43] <Afina> "What's your name, anyway?" Afina asks as she zips towards the devil, stabbing her twice before flipping off and veering towards the window.
[20:43] <Afina> roll 1d20+36
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 and gets 54." [1d20=18]
[20:43] <Afina> roll 1d20+31
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 and gets 48." [1d20=17]
[20:43] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 and gets 64." [1d4=4][5d6=4, 5, 6, 3, 1][2d6=5, 2][2d6=5, 3][2d6=1, 6]
[20:43] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6
[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 and gets 54." [1d4=2][5d6=2, 1, 1, 1, 6][2d6=2, 5][2d6=3, 5][2d6=5, 2]
[20:44] <Kotono> "Alh-guh!" Stabbed twice as Afina rockets past her and towards the window, the woman can barely even form a word! She starts to speak again, but Adrian is grimly bearing down, Gaelach raised high!
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+2 charge, -8 PA)
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+2 charge, -8 PA) and gets 32." [1d20=7]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 2d6+37
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+37 and gets 48." [2d6=5, 6]
[20:45] <Kotono> The cleaving blow slices deep into the woman's shoulder, a spray of mist erupting out! Not a hint of blood as she tries to speak again, butHanna is already rushing, axe raised just the same as Adrian's!
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+3 rage, +2 charge, +6 smite evil, -15 PA)
[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+3 rage, +2 charge, +6 smite evil, -15 PA) and gets 45." [1d20=20]
[20:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (+3 rage, +2 charge, +6 smite evil, -15 PA) ow
[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (+3 rage, +2 charge, +6 smite evil, -15 PA) ow and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 9d6+99
[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 9d6+99  and gets 133." [9d6=5, 6, 3, 3, 6, 3, 1, 4, 3]
[20:50] <Kotono> The mystery of the devil's name is forever lost. For Hanna cleaves her apart head to groin, the two parts of the devil ripped apart! Mist spills everywhere as the devil is sundered, leaving behind only a foul, bloody scent in the air! OOC: Free act.
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC:Shit, I forgot the PA.
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: +90 more for 223.
[20:51] <Afina> "Do you think it would work if I tried to summon Alh-guh after this?" Afina asks the resident outsider in the trio, wondering if they'll be stuck here until Rennar awakens naturally.
[20:52] <Kotono> "I have no idea," Hanna admits, "I think it's name was Alh-something, and we killed it before it could reply. Alas." Chuckling as she goes from furious to calm in a moment, and going to shake her axe clear of mist, "If that's the end of it, let's just wait for us to come out."
[20:54] <Afina> "Three of us was probably excessive," the fairy muses, alighting on the windowsill and closing her eyes, content to rest until the elf wakes up if that's what's required.
[20:54] <Kotono> Adrian goes to sit on the couch, putting his feet up on a nearby table. "The attack on Lifasa was excessive. This was just right."
[20:57] * Afina hums in agreement but offers no further comment.
[21:45] <Kotono> Sleep comes. It comes easily, fading away from dreams. Soon enough, reality returns. Afina finds herself lying on the floor near the pod where Rennar sleeps. Her body aches slightly, but otherwise she feels fine. As she stirs, Adrian sits up and rubs his head, Hanna simply rising straight up to her feet.
[21:46] <Afina> Sitting up, Afina flies up onto a nearby bed and sits down, intending to meditate and restore her spells for another day's activity. Three more devils to summon, after all! "Hopefully Rennar will wake soon," she remarks, settling in.
[21:47] <Kotono> Elder Magi Tepen is there, sitting heavily in a chair. "The devil's essence was seen physically leaving Rennar," he announces, "Well done. He should awaken in due time now."
[21:49] <Afina> "Hanna, could you heal Tepen?" Afina asks Jaela's mother. "He has a condition that drains his health for casting spells."
[21:52] <Kotono> Hanna does just that, healing the Elder Magi!
[22:03] <Kotono> In time, rest comes. Rennar sleeps through it all, past everyone recovering. His sleep looks peaceful. Adrian lingers, lying back on a cot with his arms behind his head. "Say Afina," he breaks the silence, "What did you think of those overgrown elves who brought him in to us?"
[22:05] <Afina> "They're innocent," Afina sums up her appraisal of them simply. "Like we were."
[22:07] <Kotono> "They seem like good sorts," Adrian replies at last, kicking one foot off the edge of the bed. "I wonder if they might be convinced to help us...but..." LIngering on that, "All this is new and wondrous for them, and they have their lives waiting for them at home. Should we take that innocence from them?"
[22:08] <Afina> "I'd rather not just conscript four explorers who risked themselves out here to help one of our own," Afina shakes her head. "Kascha is surely telling them all about the planes now. We can fill in more about our experiences and Rennar can thank them, then they can go home. Perhaps their stories will encourage others from their world to seek us freely."
[22:13] <Kotono> "Innocents shouldn't be disturbed," Hanna pipes up with her own opinion, "Mortals weren't ever really meant to explore the planes...but things always change. They've done more than enough for us out of the goodness of their hearts."
[22:19] <Kotono> "Mmm." Adrian doesn't really respond to that, instead opting to rest. It's not long until something happens. Namely, Rennar opens his eyes. His eyes are a pleasant, clear dark blue and dazed, far away.
[22:20] <Afina> "They have," Afina agrees, getting up. "And they should be rewarded for it." But before she can go and make them something nice, Rennar wakes up and takes her attention. She looks at the elf a moment until he fails to speak and so she does herself, "Good morning, Rennar."
[22:30] <Kotono> "I...I..." He begins, voice far away, "I'm awake. Oh, the nightmares I had! Every day they came for me and they wouldn't stop! But then..." His voice is full of soft wonder, "You three were there and...I woke up. I'm awake. I'm really awake!"
[22:32] <Afina> "Yes, you're in Aurora, now," Afina nods. "Tathaleros and his companions brought you here after you somehow ended up in their world from Lifasa."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Lifasa?" A faraway voice still, "You know about Lifasa?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "We do," Adrian nodsg ravely, sitting up. "We're from there. You're amid friends here."
[22:38] <Afina> "My name is Afina, from the Gloaming Forest," Afina supplies.
[22:40] <Kotono> "Adrian," Adrian inclines his head, "I got away from the Ascended Throne of Heaven in the last retreats."
[22:43] <Kotono> "Thank you," He bows his head in praise a moment, "I'm Rennar. I don't have anything to give you, but...thank you."
[22:46] <Afina> "We're all refugees here," Afina commiserates before pausing. "Well, Hanna isn't. But I meant everyone who escaped from Lifasa. Can you tell us your story? What is it like on Lifasa, now?"
[22:57] <Kotono> "I was captured. Taken. There's...places. Places and caves that burn forever." His color starts to drain, "It burns you but you don't die. They do..." He tries to go on but stops, "They do...things. Burning. Beatings. They break use your body. What's worse is that the..t.hey can do it to your mind, too. They make you love them. They make you hate yourselves for not being one of them."
[22:57] <Kotono> Shudders overtake Rennar, "W-when your remorse hits the limit, you're...supposed to throw yourselves into the big fires, where you die. They laugh. They laugh since...they say another lemure was born."
[22:58] <Kotono> "Bastards," Adrian breathes out, just barely audible. A fist slams into the cot he lays on, "You made it out."
[22:59] * Afina suddenly hits on a rather good (to her) idea for helping Rennar get over this and exact a small measure of collective revenge. "Do you have the names of any of the devils that hurt you? The one that was in your head?"

[Corwin]

[22:28] <Kotono> "The worst part..." Going on, eyes faraway now and a shake to his hands, "Is..is t-that you envy the ones who came lemures. You're one of them now." Taking a breath that makes his entire body shudder like it was just stricken, "Baril. Baril, he's the one who was assigned to our group."
[22:31] <Afina> "Come with me, then," Afina flutters into the air. "The rest of you are welcome as well, of course," she allows, heading for a portal to take her to the summoning annex.
[22:32] <Kotono> Adrian and Hanna follow, the latter helping Rennar along. The summoning annex is reached without incident. Meanwhile Rennar looks stunned and stricken, taking all of Aurora in.
[22:33] <Afina> "This will take a few moments," Afina warns, landing before her still intact summoning circle and beginning the chant to summon and bind the unssupecting Baril here.
[22:33] <Afina> OOC: DC 26 will
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[22:35] <Kotono> Invoking on the names and rites, Afina calls for Baril...but nothing happens! Adrian watches in the meantime, arms crossed.
[22:36] * Afina purses her lips. "Either it resisted me, or it's in a shielded area, or it's dead, or it's too strong a devil for my spell. What sort of devil was it, Rennar?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "It...it had a mask. They were called Ex...cru..cions?" He works through the word slowly, "It was in that terrible language they speak."
[22:37] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[22:38] <Kotono> "Excruciarch," Adrian murmurs, "A pain devil. One of Hell's torturers."
[22:38] <Afina> "Are they above barbed devils?" Afina asks, ignorant of much regarding planar lore.
[22:40] <Kotono> "No," Adrian shakes his head, "They're a lower caste. Most of them are simple servants who take care of 'mundane' torments or work in the Dark Ministry in various branches. Apt torturers are eventually promoted. They're a little stronger than a barbazu, but nothing compared to a barbed devil."
[22:42] <Afina> "One of the first two, then. I'll try again, but if it fails he's probably beyond my reach one way or another," Afina nods and attempts her spell again...
[22:42] <Afina> OOC: same DC
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[22:45] <Kotono> This time, the sickeningly sweet smell of spilt, spoiled blood fills your noses. The air becomnes heavy with a sense of agonized misery, as the cries of tormented souls burst out from the circle! Within it, the creature stands. This humanoid creature wears a blood-stained leather apron over a suit of leather armor. A black spiked mask covers its face, obscuring all but its baleful red
[22:45] <Kotono> eyes. A narrow leather strap holds the mask in place. It is bald, with pale skin. It carries a two-handed flail covered with spikes and long, sharp blades. It cocks its head to the side, saying nothing. Yet as you stand before it, you can feel little scratches and cuts across your skin, as if being lashed with a scourge.
[22:46] <Kotono> Rennar shudders all over, Hanna holding him with one hand and her axe in the other. She glares balefully at the devil, "Today is the day you answer for all the pain you've given the innocent people of Lifasa!"
[22:48] <Afina> "Baril, you have been summoned to answer for your crimes against Lifasa," she makes the rote speech, drawing her blade.
[22:49] <Kotono> No response. Instead you feel pain, the sensations of razor blades cutting into your flesh. Adrian meanwhile draws his blade as well, "Do you need my assistance, Afina?"
[22:51] <Afina> Gritting her teeth at that sensation, Afina gestures at the devil. "Cease your petty tricks, devil," she snaps, intending to put it its place.
[22:51] <Afina> OOC: DC 22 will hideous laughter
[22:52] <Afina> roll 1d20+15 SR if needed
[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+15 SR if needed and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[22:55] <Kotono> But nothing happens! Instead, the devil steps forward, pushing against the barrier! OOC: Caster level check.
[22:55] <Afina> roll 1d20+15
[22:55] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+15 and gets 32." [1d20=17]
[22:55] <Kotono> But with a burst of light, the masked devil is pushed back, the circle holding!
[22:57] <Afina> "Nevermind. Annalise will loosen his tongue later. For now I'll prepare him for a trip to the dungeon - if you do help then don't damage the circle," Afina warns Adrian before lunging in to batter the torturer with the flat of her blade!
[22:57] <Afina> roll 1d20+36
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 and gets 45." [1d20=9]
[22:57] <Afina> roll 1d20+31
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 and gets 47." [1d20=16]
[22:57] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 and gets 64." [1d4=4][5d6=1, 6, 6, 4, 5][2d6=1, 3][2d6=1, 6][2d6=6, 2]
[22:57] <Afina> roll 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6
[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+19+5d6+2d6+2d6+2d6 and gets 53." [1d4=2][5d6=1, 2, 5, 4, 2][2d6=5, 1][2d6=2, 3][2d6=3, 4]
[22:57] <Afina> OOC: -4 on attack rolls, sorry. Nonlethal
[23:00] <Kotono> With twin blows, the pain devil is unable to act fast enough! Two slams send him staggering and down, sprawled out! There is a moment of silence, before laughter. Rennar's laughter, a shaky, shuddering thing, "You...you knocked him down! You knocked him! You hurt him!"
[23:02] <Afina> A floating disc is invoked to lift him up in preparation for a trip to the dungeon. "That's right. Individual devils are feeble things, for all that millions of them were enough to overwhelm Lifasa. Summoned here they are defenceless, though."
[23:07] <Kotono> Slowly detangling himself from Hanna, Rennar approaches the felled devil. He looks down for several moments at him, before WHAM! Again and again his fists come down, pounding time and time again! His scream is nothing but noise and fury, punctuated by each slam of his fists into the hide of Baril.
[23:08] <Afina> She'll have to redo the circle but Afina doesn't particularly mind. She's quite happy to let Rennar tire himself and regain a measure of respect and agency by taking it out of his torturer.
[23:12] <Kotono> Somehow, Rennar doesn't stop. Hit after hit after hit...only broken up by one thing. Hanna's axe begins to glow with a warm light, one that makes the skin of the pain devil blister and crackle, and yet feels invigorating ot Afina. As if she could get up and fight all the legions of Hell at once. Slowly Rennar at last stops, turning to gaze at the axe.
[23:14] <Afina> "All done?" Afina asks as Rennar finishes. "There's no point actually killing it here, it'll just reform in hell anyway. We'll keep it in our dungeon until we find a way to properly kill it."
[23:16] <Kotono> Rennar doesn't reply - utterly fascinated by the axe instead. Hanna looks to the axe and then to him, "It's your choice," she replies, "It's a hard road, but you'll be in good company, Rennar."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Eh?" Adrian watches the entire thing with a look of growing puzzlement, brow furrowed up and a half frown on his face.
[23:17] <Afina> Afina nods in dawning understanding, floating over to Adrian. "She's taking him as an apprentice," she whispers.
[23:20] <Kotono> Rennar steps forward without a word, kneeling to the axe. He leans in and kisses the flat of it, as the light grows brighter yet! It flashes and fades, Hanna now speaking, "Lady Gwynharwyf gave Rennar a chance and a choice, a way to use his anger to better others still tormented by Hell. I do have an apprentice now, don't I?" Smiling as she offers Rennar a hand and helps him rise, "Thank
[23:20] <Kotono> you, Afina."
[23:23] <Afina> "You're in good hands, Rennar. Together we'll take back everything the devils stole from us," Afina nods resolutely, before dragging this diabolical waste of flesh off to the dungeon.