D2 001

[Corwin]

[19:58] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Better they remain in a stalemate at each other's throats, just as demons and devils are," Alicia nods resignedly.
[19:58] <Kotono> <Seira> "Well, it actually does matter, somewhat, if one wants to sear all life from our world and the other is content abusing fiends."
[19:58] <Kotono> > "His other games - the mortals he toyed with - were all distractions and ways to attack the Crimson Guard," Romiel continues to speak now, "He used the agents of Armanzas, the devil in charge of your world after the failed invasion, to further his own ends and set up eventually taking full power over the devils there."
[19:58] <Kotono> <Seira> "This might be a diversion, but you mentioned a devil in charge of our world?" Seira asks. "Let's pretend for a moment I know nothing about him. Can you humor me and fill us in?"
[19:58] <Kotono> > "He spoke of Armanzas only in passing. He consideres Armanzas as little more than a token to be used nad discarded when he gets in his way."
[19:58] <Kotono> * Seira hoped he would take the hint, but decides to give him one more nudge. "Maybe we would find information about this devil, gotten in such a way, more useful than you think, Romiel."
[19:58] <Kotono> > "There is little to tell. Armanzas mattered little to Esthan's scheme beyond a token. Little was said."
[19:58] <Kotono> <Seira> "Do you think you could find time to ask Esthan about him later, and pass word on?" Seira asks hopefully.
[19:58] <Kotono> <Alicia> "More pertinent to the immediate situation, did Esthan give any details on the repercussions he threatened us with for his defeat?" Alicia jumps in with her own question.
[19:58] <Kotono> <Seira> "Yes, I'm curious about that as well. Well, anxious, more like. Was it a bluff or not?"
[19:58] <Kotono> > "It will be done." Moving on from that, "Esthan spoke of no such contingencies. He was shocked he was ambushed and defeated so quickly. He could hardly believe it."
[19:58] <Kotono> <Seira> "Isn't it sad?" Seira mutters. "So no sleeper agents, no contingencies in case he disappeared, no retaliations?"
[19:58] <Kotono> <Alicia> "It was almost surprising, really," Alicia admits. "He seemed invincible when I first fought him."
[19:58] <Kotono> "His confidence got the better of him?" Latha finally lightens ever so slightly, smiling.
[19:59] <Kotono> "Or he simply didn't get them set up in time?" Antenora's expression darkens, "Either way, it's a blessing."
01[20:00] <Seira> "As an aside, when I'm visiting the Desert Fiefdoms back home," Seira voices, "I can tell its rulers that the devil infiltration problem they used to have has been eradicated in its entirety?"
[20:03] <Kotono> "To our knoweldge, yes," Romiel replies.
06[20:04] * Seira nods. "Works for me."
[20:04] <Kotono> "What of other matters?" Antenora goe son, "Was there any other helpful information?"
[20:07] <Kotono> "We know the location of where Agares hides now. Esthan spoke of the Hellspawn's defenses being morphic and teleporting, but Agares is static. The time draws nigh when this weakened fiend can be dispatched from the universe."
[20:08] <Alicia> "His importance is diminished, but since he bears a grudge it wouldn't do to leave him alone to plot," Alicia reflects.
[20:10] <Kotono> "When the time comes, we ask you to work with us in eliminating his threat. We will dispatch a force to Avernus to break through his defenses. You would do well as part of the spearhead," With a nod to Alicia then, "And as the source of his current malice, you will be a suitable weapon to draw him to his judgment, as well be all the Crimson Guard."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Bait, am I?" Alicia almost smirks. "Well, whatever works."
[20:11] <Kotono> "I'll be there. To have a chance to slay a former Duke of Hell is an honor." Antenora smiles like a predator cat, all teeth. "How many souls will finally see justice with his demise?"
[20:16] <Kotono> "Will you join them as well, Seira?" Romiel asks. "Your aid would benefit the battle when the time comes."
01[20:17] <Seira> "Oh wait. That wasn't a rhetorical question. You're actually wondering what my answer would be." Seira rolls her eyes. "Let's all take a wild guess."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Seira!" Latha gasps, "That is terribly disrespectful!"
01[20:19] <Seira> "Why is that?" Seira returns. "Romiel is the one who insulted me first by even asking the question."
[20:20] <Alicia> "Lets all calm down here," Alicia interjects, hoping to keep this from going further downhill. "We're all on the same side, after all. You can't blame him for asking when he doesn't really know us, Seira."
01[20:20] <Seira> "I suppose," Seira allows. "So I'm not a paladin, that doesn't mean one should question me doing the right thing."
[20:23] <Alicia> "He's not casting aspersions, Seira. We're not joined at the hip and we don't always fight in the same battles, so it's not an unfair question," Alicia soothes. "Isn't it better to ask than to presume for you?"
[20:23] <Kotono> Romiel smiles. "Your heart is true, at the least. Your social graces are not, perhaps. Dragon, I will not take offense to your words, but I warn you: Many others will, and others with the power to make you rue those words. You possess great power. With it must come great wisdom."
01[20:26] <Seira> "Alright," she responds. "So that's settled. And we would hopefully take care of Esthan's replacement on our world before long. Are there any other fiendish plots we can derail along the way?" She'd asked before, but she might as well do so again and change the topic.
[20:29] <Kotono> "That is the information he gave us. He indicated that Armanzas' works werein tattered between his work and the Crimson Guard."
01[20:30] <Seira> "We might learn more once we get him as well." Seira nods. "Out of curiousity, what's going to happen to Esthan?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "He will be imprisoned deep in Celestia. Let him never see the light of day again and instead reflect on his crimes for eternity." Romiel's voice raises now, "His soul is midnight black with malice and cruelty. Let it be explunged into the light."
06[20:31] * Alicia has no complaints with that outcome.
[20:33] <Kotono> "He can do no more harm." Antenora starts to really smile then, "Another nightmare down."
01[20:34] <Seira> "Likewise. I'm sure he's not the first to be incarcerated for his crimes."
[20:35] <Kotono> In motes of light appear a belt, several scrolls and a book. "There are yours by right of combat, and I fear you will need the might these will lend you in your coming trials and tribulations. Hell's wrath is terrible and eternal."
[20:38] <Alicia> "Not just ours, but we'll split it up as we can," Alicia nods. "That includes you, Latha," she smiles at the deva. "What are they all?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "A belt that increases all of your attributes, his spellbook - less the vile spells, which were destroyed - and several arcane and divine scrolls."
01[20:39] <Seira> "Speaking of that combat...." Seira pauses, considering the best way to phrase her request. "I've made an appeal to Waukeen, to see if she could return those taken before their time by Esthan's bodyguards. But with how busy deities are, even if you have reason to believe they like you... isn't there anything you can do? I would give a lot to see them restored to life."
[20:42] <Kotono> "I understand." Romiel's smile becomes gentle now, "It is not my choice to make, but I will ask my superiors to consider it. If it is to be, it shall be. If the departed souls wish to stay to whence they were taken, it is their choice." He pauses here, "This is a difficult thing for mortals to accept while the fires of life burn in them. Many are not granted this request because they accept death and what comes beyond."
[20:42] <Kotono>  request because they accept death and what comes beyond."
01[20:43] <Seira> "I understand--" Now, Seira adds to herself, "--that it is the soul's choice, yes. I only petition for the right for them to get such a choice."
[20:46] <Kotono> "I understand." A nod of his own, "You have drawn great ire from Hell. Do you feel that you can manage the assault on your own?"
06[20:47] * Seira trusts Alicia to know more about this.
[20:50] <Alicia> "Without knowing of Agares' resources and defences I couldn't say for sure," Alicia replies. "What do we know would oppose us?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "Rebel gelugons and other greater fiends." After a moment, "Latha. The world below is in need of help. Go with them and help the Crimson Guard as your next assignment. Crimson Guard, will you have her?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "That, too, was never in doubt," Seira says instantly. "If you'll accept this assingment, Latha, we would love to have you!"
06[20:53] * Alicia smiles at the deva as well. "Your company is always welcome."
[20:54] <Kotono> "Welcome." Antenora's face lights up with joy.
[20:54] <Kotono> "I understand, Exalted." Then to the party, "I accept. Let's return to the Prime Material Plane now?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "That's fine," Alicia agrees. "There are other matters we need to attend to down there, anyway. Thank you for helping us with Esthan, Romiel."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Be safe. When the time comes for Agares, we will be in contact. I twill not be for months yet, by your reckoning." Romiel says.
[20:56] <Alicia> "We'll be ready when the time comes," Alicia affirms.
06[20:56] * Seira nods, for her part.

[Corwin]

[21:07] <Alicia> "Hello, Dweomerkeeper," Alicia smiles, closing the door behind her before going to seat herself. "It's good to see you, again."
[21:14] <Kotono> "I hear great things about you," With a little teasing smile, "Are they true?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Oh, so word's already reached this far, has it?" Alicia just shakes her head as she stands up. "Well, I suppose it won't be such a surprise - let me dispel my disguise and you can see for yourself?" And with a word and a sweep of her hand, the transmutation is undone, restoring Alicia to her usual angelic glory.
[21:20] <Kotono> Taldeer looks Alicia over, "You have been blessed beyond compare," She whistles low, "I had not been familiar with that part of the transformation - I had thought 'wings of white' was poetic."
[21:23] <Alicia> "No, they're real," Alicia flexes them a moment before folding them up neatly behind her. "To be honest there are so many people with wings in Balmuria already that I don't even stand out, but it's better to disguise myself elsewhere." She looks down at the just vacated chair, "Have to make a few adjustments to my posture, but they're surprisingly easy to use."
[21:29] <Kotono> "You fit in with Antenora now." With that observation, "Perhaps I should see Balmuria soon. The news I continue to hear speaks of marvels, and Shankar's letters are always entertaining."
[21:30] <Alicia> "There's quite a lot of elves there, too," Alicia smiles as she sits down. "I'm sure you'd like it."
[21:32] <Kotono> "Elves, angels and winged creatures. Oh my." She looks down at her food and places it to the side of the table. "A living saint, right here. My, how you've grown in such a short time, Alicia."
[21:34] <Alicia> "I still think it's a bit odd for me to be a saint," Alicia shuffles uncomfortably. "I serve Mystra as best I can, but I'm as likely to swing a sword as cast a spell. I've actually started studying magical theory a lot more just so I can live up to expectations..."
[21:37] <Kotono> "Then live up to it. Mystra herself approves of your capabilities. Why doubt yourself then?" On that, "Do you doubt that you earned those wings?"
[21:40] <Alicia> "I'm fine with the wings, really," Alicia shakes her head. "This transformation simply makes me better suited to serve the Goddess. But that just makes me the same as any of her servants - being a Saint is a different responsibility, one I'm not fully comfortable with."
[21:44] <Kotono> "What parts of it bother you then?" Taldeer looks to Alicia's wings, "Go on."
[21:50] <Alicia> "It's the responsibility to be a leader of the faith," Alicia admits. "I try to set a good example as best I can, but we both know I'm not an exemplar of the church's teachings. A Saint of Mystra should be someone with a sublime understanding of magic, not some half knight half sorceress."
[21:51] <Kotono> "Maybe you're right, but it wasn't our choice to make." With a thoughtful look as she taps her lips, "Perhaps you'remeant to grow into it?"
[21:52] <Alicia> "Possibly," Alicia shrugs agreeably. "Anyway, that's part of why I'm here, to be honest - I had an idea to foster and develop magic, and I'll need your help."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Oh yes, to the point if yo uhave one. I wondered if this was purely social."
06[21:57] * Alicia nods. "It's to do with potions, actually. Even ten years ago when magic was a lot rarer, you could go into almost any church in the land and buy a healing potion or two. But now, even though magic has started growing greatly in strength, the kinds of potions that wizards and clerics can brew are exactly the same - there's more, to be sure, but the art hasn't really advanced."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm," To that Taldeer nods, "There's only so many spells that can be made into potions, like more restricted wands."
[22:08] <Alicia> "But it wasn't always that way - and probably still isn't, on other planes," Alicia explains as she opens up her portable hole and takes out several vials and jars, laying them onto the table. "This one," she indicates it first, "We actually took from a devil. It bestows regeneration much like a troll enjoys - while under its effects you simply cannot be killed." "Wounds may be fatal when the duration ends, but while the magic lasts your wou
[22:08] <Alicia> "This one here," she taps the third, "We found in a forest sealed off by ancient elves to contain a powerful artifact. It will permanently and irrevocably change your form into another of the same general category - not just a polymorph, but a real and binding change. A goblin could drink this and turn into an elf, then live for hundreds of years."
[22:08] <Alicia> "This one was found in the same gnomish lab I mentioned, has been suffused with wild magic, and could have any number of random strange effects once drunk. And lastly, here," she taps the last clay jar,
[22:08] <Alicia> "This is holy water, but of a potency unrivalled by anything the church could produce. It actually came from the bathwater of several goddesses, so probably can't be duplicated, but if it could just imagine the uses!"
[22:17] <Kotono> Taldeer examines the vials. She leans in close to the holy water, tapping the jar. She sniffs at the wild magic one and studies the reincarnation potion. "If any of those could be it would be a boon. You seek to pursue this?"
[22:20] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia nods, "I was thinking of establishing a college where spellcasters specialising in potion brewing can come together to share knowledge and study exotic concotions like these. If a concerted effort is made, maybe they could be - and not just these, but other potions using stronger magic as a base, there's no telling what could be discovered."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Mystra would be happy to see her art spread by that. Then, the big question: Why are you telling me this right now? You want our support?"
[22:26] <Alicia> "I've got no aptitude for crafting magic like that," Alicia admits, shaking her head. "I can provide funding and exotic potions for study when I find them, even transport to bring people from Balmuria who could aid in this, but I'm not qualified for teaching or research."
[22:29] <Kotono> "So...are you asking me to teach and run this?" Taldeer looks at Alicia long, "Such would be certainly within my purview as Dweomerkeeper."
[22:31] <Alicia> "I don't want to impose on you, Taldeer - although certainly I can think of few so qualified. But even if you don't have the time or inclination, you'd hopefully know someone in the church who did?" Alicia asks.
[22:31] <Kotono> "No, I'
[22:32] <Kotono> "No, I'll do it. How can I turn down a request by an angel of Mystra." Going to Alicia and gathering up the vials as she does, "Do you have any spare for a demonstration?"
[22:35] <Alicia> "The shape changing one is likely unique. The regeneration one is the second I've found, but I had to use the first to survive my battle with Agares," Alicia admits. "If you could avoid expending them until either more can be found or a way to duplicate them developed, I'd appreciate it."
[22:35] <Alicia> "As for the others..." she sets out two more pink lust potions, two more shifting wild potions, and two more clay jars of goddess bathwater. "I can also provide funding for any tools or infrastructure you'll need to set up - I took the liberty of bringing along some trade bars."

[Corwin]

[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> ------
03[20:10] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "I don't want to impose on you, Taldeer - although certainly I can think of few so qualified. But even if you don't have the time or inclination, you'd hopefully know someone in the church who did?" Alicia asks.
[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> > "No, I'
[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> > "No, I'll do it. How can I turn down a request by an angel of Mystra." Going to Alicia and gathering up the vials as she does, "Do you have any spare for a demonstration?"
[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "The shape changing one is likely unique. The regeneration one is the second I've found, but I had to use the first to survive my battle with Agares," Alicia admits. "If you could avoid expending them until either more can be found or a way to duplicate them developed, I'd appreciate it."
[20:10] <Kokokokokoko> <Alicia> "As for the others..." she sets out two more pink lust potions, two more shifting wild potions, and two more clay jars of goddess bathwater. "I can also provide funding for any tools or infrastructure you'll need to set up - I took the liberty of bringing along some trade bars."
[20:12] <Kokokokokoko> "Excellent. There is always a need for funding. Tithes are rising, but of course magic can be expensive." Taldeer's smile is kind, "How much do you have?"
[20:15] <Alicia> "I've brought twenty thousand gold pieces worth," Alicia replies with a smile of her own. "Going through that gnome laboratory and then defeating that pit fiend archmage brought in a lot of wealth - if more is needed I can hopefully arrange it, and if you need help locating exotic ingredients I'm likewise able to help. Since I'm not skilled at the actual brewing this is the least I can do."
[20:16] <Kokokokokoko> "That's more than enough seed money. Enough so that I can go afar to hire better talent," Thinking now as she examines the various bottles, "Yes, it should do entirely."
[20:18] <Alicia> "I'm glad," Alicia beams. "I have the bars with me in this wondrous nondimensional storage a friend of mine in Balmuria made," she shows off the portable hole which looks like a shimmering jet black handkerchief while folded up as it is. "Since they're heavy, is there anywhere you want me to put them?"
[20:18] <Kokokokokoko> "Just on the floor is fine. I'll call some acolytes to help with them," Gesturing to it, "A portable hole?
[20:18] <Kokokokokoko> "
[20:21] <Alicia> "It's an incredible device," Alicia enthuses as she unfolds it and reaches in to withdraw the gold, piling the bars up besides the table one by one. "I actually bought it originally to use in my plan to liberate souls from the Halls of the Vanquished in Stygia."
[20:21] <Alicia> "It worked as I'd hoped, but I hadn't prepared for all eventualities so the raid wasn't as successful as I'd like. That aside it does make carrying bulky objects around far more managable."
[20:23] <Kokokokokoko> As precious gold is stacked up, brick by brick, "It's the same principal as a bag of holding. It's extremely useful for anyone who does what you do. Far better than carrying a mere backpack and using your muscles to bear the burdens."
[20:30] <Alicia> "Even with that, there's no way I could fit all of this in a backpack even if I was strong enough to actually lift it," Alicia agrees, indicating the large stack of gold bars stamped with the seal of the United Baronies.
[20:38] <Kokokokokoko> "Wonderful. I'll begin immediately," Now rising, "Is there other business, Alicia?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "That's about all I had for you, to be honest," Alicia admits. "I was thinking of spending some time seeing how Kelara's recovered from that rebellion over the next few days, and my mother wants to show me off at some society function or another in three or four days she mentioned," the last is said with a faint grimace.
[20:42] <Kokokokokoko> Coming forward to clasp Alicia's shoulder, "Mystra will give you strength to endure the terrible boredom."
06[20:43] * Alicia laughs. "I'll keep that in mind, Dweomerkeeper, thank you."
[20:46] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Ready to skip alon ga bit now?
[20:47] <Alicia> OOC: yep
[20:52] <Kokokokokoko> Alicia returns home. She gets her measurements taken again without incident. You have a little time before dinner, with Jessica taking Alicia aside to privacy in Alicia's old room. "Sister," she asks, "You haven't told them yet about...you know? Your transformation?"
[20:57] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head, indeed back in her disguise to appear human. "Hasn't really been a good moment for it. Besides, I don't really want to distract them further - this is supposed to be about you and Roald, after all," she smiles gamely.
[20:58] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes, well..." Rubbing her arm and looking down, "I made a joke about you flying without thinking about it. It was obvious they didn't know, though they thought I meant with finger waggling. Still...you are giong to tell them, right? It seems wrong not to. What if Mystra comes to take you to Dweomerheart tomorrow?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "I've been flying for years," Alicia waves that off. "Anyway, does it really matter? I mean, it doesn't really change who I am, and I don't think there's any chance of me being confined to Dweomerheart in the near future unless I go and get myself killed... anyway," she shakes her head, focusing on the matter at hand,
[21:02] <Alicia> "I'll tell them, but I'll do it when it won't cause such a distraction. Marie's bad enough for that."
[21:03] <Kokokokokoko> That gets Jessica to really smile, "Yes, she lightens the mood so well. She even makes Mother smile."
06[21:05] * Alicia shrugs, "Well it's fine if you don't mind playing second fiddle to a fairy," she allows.
[21:06] <Kokokokokoko> "Hahahahhaa. Rose has been wanting to get her own Marie. She says it would give her so much status." Smiling now, "It's terrible of me, but I feel good in the fact that I'm certain she couldn't get one even if she tried."
Session Close: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009

Session Start: Mon Jul 13 21:06:28 2009
Session Ident: #dunes
02[21:06] * Disconnected
02[21:06] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[21:06] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[21:06] * Topic is '????>Reckgar>Neet'
03[21:06] * Set by Pirate_Ko on Sat Jul 11 16:43:07
03[21:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
06[21:08] * Alicia chuckles a little herself. "I'll feel sorry for her if Marie sends her off on a wild goose chase, but until then she could stand to learn a little humility."
[21:09] <Kokokokokoko> "Oh yes. A wild snape hunt." Snapping her fingers, "Isn't that the name of it? I read about it, it's a prank where you send a city dweller into the woods to search for an animal, but it doesn't exist."
[21:11] <Alicia> "That's the one," Alicia grins. "Of course, Rose probably has servants she'd send to do it for her... ah, well, nevermind her," she puts the matter aside. "How are mother and father taking to Roald? And vice versa?"
[21:11] <Kokokokokoko> "Father and Roald went off to talk. They seem to like each other, they were talking about growing grapes. Roald had asked me for a book about wine making before we came."
[21:13] <Alicia> "Good thinking," Alicia smiles approvingly. "It helps if they can find a common interest."
[21:18] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes, and it should make dinner go better." Taking a breath now, a hard one, "If we can make it through dinner, I think we'll be fine until the big event Mother's planning."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Yes, I suppose we shouldn't begrudge her, since it is nice to do something as a family together," Alicia allows. "I probably won't be around much between tomorrow and the event, since I want to see how life is in the villages since that rebellion ended. Think you and Roald can manage with just Marie and the family for company?"
[21:22] <Kokokokokoko> "Oh, certainly," Smiling warmly to that, "I think Rose got the idea I wasn't Beth anymore. She's been acting more human as the day's gone on."
[21:25] <Alicia> "She never actually met Beth, so all she'll have to go on would be what she's heard from Charles," Alicia reasons. "I'd hope she'll give you a fair shake when she sees that her preconceptions are unfounded."
[21:36] <Kokokokokoko> "Yes. We can prove it." Jessica breathes out, "I'm going to go get cleaned up for dinner now. Make sure Marie knows to be on good behavior?"
[21:37] <Alicia> "I'll remind her," Alicia chuckles, patting her sister on the arm as they go their seperate ways.
[21:38] <Kokokokokoko> OOC: Hop along again?
[21:39] <Alicia> OOC: yep
[21:45] <Kokokokokoko> Alicia has time to prepare for dinner. Jessica knocks and comes into Alicia's room when the time is here. She's changed into a formal, rich black gown. She wears jewelry, her hair done up into a bun. Black gloves up to her elbows, made of sleek silk. Make up touches up her face. "Are you ready?" she asks, cheeks tinted with artificial blush. "How do I look? Mother said I look smashing and regal."
[21:51] <Alicia> Fortunately Marie warned her of the expectations and Alicia was able to grab a purple velvet dress from out of her portable hole (it has something for every occassion!) and is dressed up nicely with a minimum of jewellery, her hair worn down and slightly teased.
[21:51] <Alicia> Even with her disguise her radiant celestial nature shines through enough to obviate the need for makeup, which saves her another annoying chore. "You look lovely," she approves, "Roald will be thrilled!"
[21:51] <Alicia> "He's a lucky guy!" Marie seconds, hovering by Alicia's shoulder and decked out in her neat little maid uniform with cute little frills and a prim white apron.
[21:52] <Kokokokokoko> "Thanks," Blushing warmly all over, no makeup trick this time, "Let's go, sister?" Offering her arm out, "Roald and Father are getting prepared."
06[21:54] * Alicia agreeably links arms with Jessica and heads out towards the dining room, Marie fluttering along behind them and playing the part of a good little fairy-maid.
[21:59] <Kokokokokoko> Down you go! The dining room is lit with bright candles, a glass chandalier hanging above. The long, old wood table sits with a white table cloth. Fine silver and porcelin plates are being arrainged by the servants. Father and Roald are already there, talking away. Mother sits as well, t hough your brother and his wife aren't to be seen.
[22:00] <Alicia> Marie looks a little bit disappointed that her performance may be for naught, looking to see if there are place settings for the youngest Reynes and his wife. Alicia pays it little mind, going to take an empty seat so long as there's room for Jessica and Roald to sit together.
[22:02] <Kokokokokoko> There is. "Oh, Alicia, B-Jessica." Beatrice smiles to them, "Sit. We'll begin as soon as Rose and Charles join us."
06[22:04] * Alicia nods to her mother, before addressing Arthur, "Hello, father, I never got to see you earlier in the day. How are things?" she asks, making small talk while Marie offers her help to the servants. If she can befriend them she'll surely get some good gossip about the family!
[22:15] <Kokokokokoko> The servants smile and accept Marie as she goes. "Oh, it's excellent. Dinner should begin shortly...and oh, you look nice, Alicia, Jessica." Beatrice looks both of them over, "Alicia, you look absolutely divine tonight."
[22:17] <Alicia> "Oh, this old thing?" Alicia blushes modestly as she smoothes out her dress. "You're looking well yourself, mother."
[22:21] <Kokokokokoko> "Why thank you," As Beatrice purrs along, Charles is lead along by Rose. Rose wears an opulet red dress, a long hem following. She wears strings and strings of pearls and diamonds. Charles just wears normal male finery. "Ah, excellent! Let's begin with the appetizers." As little things are served about, Marie helping deposite them, Rose watches her along. "She's so very well trained," she speaks aloud, "Alicia, you absoultely must tell m
[22:21] <Kokokokokoko> "She's so very well trained," she speaks aloud, "Alicia, you absoultely must tell me where to get one of her kind."
[22:25] <Alicia> "She actually just appeared on my doorstep one day," Alicia replies with perfect sincerity.
[22:26] <Alicia> "I'm actually from Dweomerheart, but my kind are more common in Arborea," Marie pipes up. "If you're a good person and you're lucky you might even turn into a cute fairy just like me!" she concludes with a grin.
[22:26] <Kokokokokoko> "Oh, was she an outcast or a poor fairy?" With a suddenly narrowed look at Marie, "You aren't of terr-Dweomerheart?" She blinks at that, "I've never heard of..." A longer pause and stop there, "Oh wait, that's the realm that the Mystrians talk about?"
[22:28] <Alicia> "That's right," Alicia nods seriously as Marie preens in midair. "Marielle is the honoured spirit of one of Mystra's devoted servants."
[22:29] <Kokokokokoko> "Spirit? Like a ghost?" With a curious look at Marie now, Rose bites down on her lip, "How curious indeed."
[22:29] <Kokokokokoko> "She's not of this world," Jessica speaks up, "You can't just go and buy a Marie. You have to earn one. Look at the life Alicia's lead. If you want one..."
03[22:29] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[22:30] <Alicia> "Ghosts are troubled spirits that can't leave their mortal lives behind when they die," Marie shakes her head. "I passed on quite peacefully, though, and got to have fun in the afterlife until I was given the job of helping Alicia with her work here."
[22:32] <Kotono> "Mph." With a long look, "I neve rput much stock in all the talk of clerics." As Rose goes to work on her food, Alicia' sfather clear shis throat, "Roald, why don't you tell us something about yourself to start things?"
06[22:34] * Alicia is content to relax and let the parents get to know their new son in law. Hopefully Marie will be less of a show-stealer now that Rose seems to have lost interest.

[Corwin]

[19:48] <Kotono> <Alicia> "She actually just appeared on my doorstep one day," Alicia replies with perfect sincerity.
[19:48] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I'm actually from Dweomerheart, but my kind are more common in Arborea," Marie pipes up. "If you're a good person and you're lucky you might even turn into a cute fairy just like me!" she concludes with a grin.
[19:48] <Kotono> > "Oh, was she an outcast or a poor fairy?" With a suddenly narrowed look at Marie, "You aren't of terr-Dweomerheart?" She blinks at that, "I've never heard of..." A longer pause and stop there, "Oh wait, that's the realm that the Mystrians talk about?"
[19:48] <Kotono> <Alicia> "That's right," Alicia nods seriously as Marie preens in midair. "Marielle is the honoured spirit of one of Mystra's devoted servants."
[19:48] <Kotono> > "Spirit? Like a ghost?" With a curious look at Marie now, Rose bites down on her lip, "How curious indeed."
[19:48] <Kotono> > "She's not of this world," Jessica speaks up, "You can't just go and buy a Marie. You have to earn one. Look at the life Alicia's lead. If you want one..."
[19:48] <Kotono> * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
[19:48] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Ghosts are troubled spirits that can't leave their mortal lives behind when they die," Marie shakes her head. "I passed on quite peacefully, though, and got to have fun in the afterlife until I was given the job of helping Alicia with her work here."
[19:49] <Kotono> > "Mph." With a long look, "I neve rput much stock in all the talk of clerics." As Rose goes to work on her food, Alicia' sfather clear shis throat, "Roald, why don't you tell us something about yourself to start things?"
[19:49] <Kotono> * Alicia is content to relax and let the parents get to know their new son in law. Hopefully Marie will be less of a show-stealer now that Rose seems to have lost interest.
[19:50] <Kotono> "Well, I help run my family bakery in Balmuria. We're becoming very successful and are looking to expand." He pauses to eat a moment, "There's a constant influx of travelers and immigrants these days, so we're always doing slammed busy business from dawn to closing."
[19:51] <Kotono> "You don't hear of bakers getting rich often," Alicia's mother considers, "Do you make good money?"
[19:52] <Kotono> "O-oh yes, we do," After taking a bite of food, "We have some special elven styled recipies as well. My dad was an adventurer, and further, with all the different travelers we have constant chances to pick up new ideas."
[19:53] <Kotono> "Good," Arthur sips a glass of wine, "As long as you can take good care of Jessica."
[19:54] <Kotono> "Of course. I've been saving up money for a good wedding, and also for a home our own. We're looking at Valandia as well and..." He takes a moment to drink some wine himself, "Money won't be a concern."
[19:54] <Alicia> "It's the best bakery in Balmuria, you can ask anyone in town," Alicia seconds. "So, have you two thought much about where you'll be going when you set up on your own?" she asks of her sister and her betrothed.
[19:55] <Kotono> "Well, there is Valandia," Jessica goes on, "Or maybe Victoria, or maybe we stay in Balmuria." She smiles a little bit and even blushes, "I don't want to go too far away, sis."
[19:56] <Alicia> "Well, wherever you go I can always visit easily enough," Alicia reassures. Personally she doesn't much like Valandia but isn't about to prejudice them. "So don't worry about that."
[19:58] <Kotono> Servants and Marie come, taking away the first course. Soup and salad is next. After a brief pause as people sample away, "It's so strange when you just show up from halfway across the world," Beatrice murmurs, "Why, I remember when you left to cross the desert years ago. Now it's barely a moment's work."
[19:58] <Kotono> "It makes visiting far easier," Alicia's brother drones on.
[19:59] <Kotono> "You're so lucky," Arthur chuckles, "When the weather gets ghastly here, you can just go someplace with far more tolerable conditions."
[20:05] <Alicia> "It took a long time to advance my magic to such a degree. When I first started such spells were things of legend, now they're becoming almost commonplace," Alicia smiles a little.
[20:05] <Alicia> "Admittedly I wasn't walking in a straight line the whole time, but it took me years to reach the other side of the desert the first time. Now I can go from the frozen mountains at the edge of the elven kingdoms to the realms on the other side of the jungle in a matter of moments."
[20:07] <Kotono> "It's quite the honor to have a witch in the family," Droning on, Alicia's brother eats his soup. "Why, the peasants believe that just saying the name of a witch can get you cursed."
[20:08] <Kotono> "Nonsense," Roald laughs to that, "There's mages enough in Balmuria and you can call them by name all you like. There's even angels in Balmuria and heavenly spirits. None of them are like that."
[20:09] <Kotono> "They aren't. Anything that would do that is something the Crimson Guard would fight." Smiling now, Jessica finishes her soup. "Dear, why don't you tell us some of the stories about Balmuria?"
[20:10] <Alicia> "I don't think anyone does really think that," Alicia expresses lightly, not wanting to rebuke her brother too harshly and spoil dinner. "It sounds more like the sort of silly stories spread to make the less fortunate seem foolish and pitiable."
[20:11] <Kotono> "Hmmm..." Putting down his salad fork to think, "How about the day when the Carnival came to down and a flying ship flew over Balmuria?"
[20:11] <Kotono> "Really? The peasants are sooo gullible," Rose laughs. "A flying ship? Truly?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Oh yes. It will filled with creatures called...um...Gith...something. Alicia, do you remember?" Roald looks to her, "The name escapes me."
06[20:14] * Alicia makes a mental note not to scold Marie too harshly if she chooses to play any tricks on Rose. "Yes, it was crewed by the Githyanki. They have the build of humans, but sallow greenish-yellow skin and pointed ears much like elves. Their reputation is not a kind one, so we were quite worried when they appeared."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Oh yes. While that was going on, a mystical Carnival came to town. Oh, the things I heard about there..." With a growing blush as he remembers, "Metal things called clockwork that lived. Griffons and hippogriff stables. Beings of fire that spoke in words of smoke and magma. Exotic foods from beyond our world."
[20:18] <Alicia> "The food was delicious," Alicia seconds. "Incredibly expensive, mind you. I had a celestial peach and it was one of the most sublime tastes I've experienced."
[20:19] <Kotono> "I went. It was....spectacular," A wide smile goes on Jessica's face, "It really was. You were so lucky to have that, Alicia. You could always get more, though." With a wistful sigh, "Later, Alicia tooks us all to Dweomerheart. Oh, what I saw there..." Her eyes close, "Even now, when I think of it, I want to go back so badly and never leave.'
[20:22] <Kotono> "Hmmmm..." Arthur works away on his salad, "That's...oh yes, it's called an Upper Plane? The Heavens themselves? Alicia." He looks to his daughter again, "Once again I have trouble believing your stories and deeds, but..."
[20:22] <Alicia> "Marie says we never even got to see the best places," Alicia shakes her head, smiling fondly. "Still, as appealing as the afterlife may be, it's not a place mortals should dwell. There's plenty of time for it once you've lived life to the fullest."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Well then, did you see your child and husband, then?" Charles goes on now, "Surely they were there? Oh, how is dying then? It seems to be so miserable."
[20:24] <Kotono> "Brother," A split second later, Jessica clears her through, "Nevermind that. Roald, you were talking about the Githyanki?"
06[20:24] * Alicia sets her utensils down with a clatter, piercing Charles with the mother of all glares. Her mouth starts to open, but she defers at Jessica's insistence, snapping it shut once more.
[20:25] <Kotono> "S...sorry," Arthur looks away, "I thought it was just happiness and light and...I'll shut up," he murmurs. "Sorry sister."
[20:26] <Kotono> Roald clears his throat deeply, "As I was saying..." As he begins to tell the tale of that day, Jessica leans to Alicia and pats her hand.
06[20:26] * Alicia takes a deep breath, smiling briefly to her sister to show that she's calm now.
[20:31] <Kotono> Soon the soup and salad is gone. The main course comes, vegetables and a whole roast pig. As this is divided up and the meal begins in earnest, "So," Jessica is all smiles now, "You all hav emet Antenora here before? Have you met any other of our friends?"
[20:32] <Alicia> "Seira stopped by the other day, after that business with Esthan," Alicia volunteers. "Business I'm pleased to say has been fully resolved."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Good. Yes, she should be returning soon, actually," considering that as she finishes a glass of wine, "Perhaps she will come and see you here." Beatrice get her glass freshened by Marie, "Oh yes, it would be such a lovely gala then."
[20:38] <Alicia> "If you like I could ask her?" Alicia offers, smiling briefly at her familiar as she dutifully plays maid.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Please." Beatrice smiles to Alicia.
[20:46] <Kotono> "This is very good," Roald speaks up as he eats, "The wine is superb, too."
[20:47] <Alicia> "I'll stop by Balmuria tomorrow and ask her," Alicia nods. "And yes, the cooks have outdone themselves," she agrees politely with Roald.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Oh yes." As the meal goes on, settling into pleasant chatter, desert comes. Rumcake and fruit. Beatrice is chatting with a lively air with everyone, while your fathe ris more restrained. Roald is laughign and smiling, Jessica as well. Charles is quiet, while Rose is a bit aloof, but chatting as well. "So Alicia," Arthur speaks to her, "Why don't you tell us a story now?"
[20:51] <Kotono> "Oh sister, tell her one of your better battle stories or adventures," Jessica works down another glass of wine, "They're always great."
[20:53] <Alicia> "Well, I suppose personal experience makes for a more vivid tale," Alicia agrees, thinking for a moment. "Oh, I know, I'll tell you about Neve," she smiles. "This is actually a story I've made sure to spread quite far, especially in Pallanth, but you'll all be getting the unabridged story."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Go on," Jessica encourages, getting aonther glass of wine and working on it. She giggles, "Oh, I remember this one."
[20:58] <Alicia> "It starts in the frozen mountains at the far North of Pallanth, thousands of miles to the East. There, across endless plains of frost-rimed tundra do great peaks of rock and ice stab into the sky, as if to claw the very face of Selune as she passes above," she begins with an appropriately dramatic flair.
[20:58] <Alicia> "In the tundra do hardy goblin tribes and solitary elf hunters eke out a barren existence, but the mountains themselves are fearful and void of life. The lonely wind that howls in the forgotten valleys between sheer cliffs screams of pain and death, bidding all who would approach to turn back while they yet have the chance..."
[21:00] <Kotono> The group listens, except for Alicia's father. He gets Marie' sattention, gesturing her to come on over. "Good start," Roald murmurs, "I heard of those mountains from Jessica."
[21:03] <Alicia> Marie dilligently flutters over towards Arthur, pausing near his head so he can whisper whatever he wants of her.
[21:03] <Alicia> "The death that stalks these titanic shards of broken rock is not mere dramatic fancy, however. It is very real - for a curse was lain upon these mountains, condemning any who would walk between them or climb above them to a lingering and painful death that would consume them without ever offering a foe to face," Alicia's voice becomes drawn, hushed as she lures her audience in.
[21:03] <Alicia> "But that was far from the worst of it..."
[21:06] <Kotono> Beatrice leans forward, "Oh yes, a good tale is just the thing...the curse of undeath?" Meanwhile Arthur offers Marie his glass, "You're from far realms above us? Try this? Surely our vintage can't compare to the Heavens, but hopefully it's still good."
[21:09] <Alicia> "Oooh, thanks!" Marie whispers. "Alicia doesn't keep much wine in the house, so I'd love to!" She then leans in to take a tiny coure-sized sip.
[21:09] <Alicia> "What is worse than death? You have it right mother, the curse of undeath; the subjugation of the spirit - a body that would fall into ruin in these shadowy lands would merely rise up again after a time, a nightmarish marionette of frozen dessicated flesh,
[21:09] <Alicia> their soul consigned to an eternity of anguish as their re-animated cadaver makes its lonely patrol of the last place they ever saw in life."
[21:09] <Alicia> "Alas, such a terrible realm could not be left alone as one would desire. For you see, the curse hungered!" She pauses for dramatic effect. "Starved of life to snuff out in the lifeless mountains at the far end of the world, it crept forward in search of new victims. Across the tundra it slithered, unseen but felt in the bones of all. Inch by inch. Day by day."
[21:14] <Kotono> As Rose gasps, "How terrifying! A snow covered death lik ea nightmare!" Beatrice gasps as well, "Oh, how terrible!"
[21:14] <Kotono> Marie finds the wine is a good vintage, strong too. "Help yourself. Alicia never had the taste...despite growing up with it," Arthur pats the tabletop.
[21:22] <Alicia> "I prefer mine a little bit sweeter, but it's good," Marie enthuses quietly, not wanting to distract Alicia. It's almost cute how she's trying so hard to build up suspense.
[21:22] <Alicia> "Indeed," Alicia nods sollemnly. "So it was that the matter came to the attention of the Crimson Guard. And so it was that Seira and myself braved cold that would freeze the tears to your eyes even as despair and death sapped at your will. Penetrating deep into the range, we saw evidence of its previous victims..."
[21:22] <Alicia> "A noble silver dragon, turned demented and maddened such that its mind could only perceive death as the be all and end all of existence, until it had to be put out of its misery lest it bring slaughter on the wing to elven villages of the arctic forest hundreds of miles away."
[21:22] <Alicia> "The tattered remnants of a warcamp once manned by a tribe of mighty frost giants, now only home to their raging spirits and corpses buried deep in the earth, condemned to struggle vainly at their bonds for all eternity as the vile animating force urges them to wander to its inscrutable whims, a sign of their comrade's brave but ultimately futile effort to end this ancient evil."
[21:22] <Alicia> "These things we saw, and a hundred other nameless shades and horrors, as we made our way to the heart of evil..."
02[21:32] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af28bec.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net batcave.dejatoons.net)
02[21:32] * NeremWorld (~AriD@pool-173-74-28-57.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) Quit (scifi-classics.dejatoons.net sebben.dejatoons.net)
03[21:33] * NeremWorld (~AriD@pool-173-74-28-57.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
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03[21:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[21:39] <Kotono> At this point everyone is growing enthralled, listening well to the dreadful story. "Go on," Jessica breathes out, "Keep telling us more." Rose has dropped her fork, listening intently. Only Charles seems somewhat not enthralled, looking down at his plate.
[21:49] <Alicia> "The source of the curse was a terrible weapon, sealed away in ancient times by its creators who surely lamented ever having a hand in bringing it into existence, but powerless to undo what they had wrought. With her greater arcane skill, Seira set to work on repairing the fraying wards,"
[21:49] <Alicia> "while I stood vigil through the dark days, Lathander's light unable to even penetrate the gloom this close to the source. But as we worked, occassionally defending ourselves from the bitter attacks of tormented shadows that roamed this charnel land, we found it seeping into ourselves."
[21:49] <Alicia> "With each day that passed, rashes and lesions would develop on our skin, terrifying testament to the slow corruption of our bodies as we were exposed to such raw death." She pauses again, collecting her breath. "Then, one day we were interrupted, not by the howling of insane spirits, or the clashing of desecrated bones, but by a song..."
[21:49] <Alicia> "It was a beautiful melody, yet one that made the heart ache with sadness." She bows her head, "The two of us were overcome by the sheer pain and loneliness that flowed forth in the wordless melody. As the source of it approached, we paid little heed to its stuttering gait, or the drawn and torn flesh we saw mostly concealed beneath the tattered fur cloak she wore."
[21:49] <Alicia> "She spoke to us of her loneliness and despair, and as our own emotions had been so deftly plucked by her song, we commiserated, sharing in the melancholy mood. Perhaps she would have bade us to relax and surrender to the inevitable, or perhaps she merely sought to lower our guard before attacking, we'll never know thanks to the fateful decision that was made."
[21:50] <Kotono> "What happened then? Tell us!" Jessica prompts, as the others nod quickly.
[21:50] <Kotono> Arthur chuckles and drinks his wine, "You always knew how to tell a goods tory, Alicia."
06[21:57] * Alicia gives her father a brief smile and goes on. "As the terrible aura of undeath slowly wore at our bodies, I had been frequently thinking of my recent visit to the Heroic Realms of Ysgard; a place where fallen warriors can battle for all eternity, the vivacious life inherent in the plane itself mending all wounds,
[21:57] <Alicia> "and even restoring to life those who are slain in the ever-present battles that take place there. So, despairing and desiring to be away to somewhere that might have a chance at lifting our sorry state, I used my magic to transport all three of us to that glorious place."
[21:57] <Alicia> She smiles and shakes her head, "Our undead companion was initially stricken as the vile necromantic energies that animated her were undone, but after her rotten and frozen corpse had crumbled to dust, a miracle occured - in a flurry of snowflakes and the fresh chill of a verdant mountain wind, her body was restored!"
[21:57] <Alicia> "Where the pallid zombie-like creature had fallen, she was now restored to life as a beautiful maiden. Still, her cold-blue skin and glacial-white hair proved testament to her inhuman nature as she collected herself, chest rising and falling with its first breaths in over a hundred years..."
[22:00] <Kotono> "How lovely," rose murmurs, "I can never remember a story that has a good outcome like that. The undead never get better."
06[22:02] * Alicia waggles a finger. "The story isn't done yet, sister in law," she smirks knowingly. "For, our fair frosty maiden was no innocent damsel in distress. As she regained her wits, it soon became clear that she was no less than a cold-hearted Queen of Winter's Wrath, a fey spirit who even in life desired naught more than to waylay unlucky travellers and freeze them to death in Auril's cold grip."
[22:05] <Kotono> Beatrice gasps at that, "Oh my, the Ice Queen?"
[22:10] <Alicia> "Indeed," Alicia nods. "Even a being of such power as she was overcome by the curse on those mountains. However, for all her power, she had placed herself into our debt as we had restored her to life. And so, I demanded of her a boon to balance the scales. Such matters are taken very seriously, even by such a capricious fey as she."
[22:10] <Alicia> "In exchange for her life, she would swear upon the frost that she holds so dear, that any who brave her mountains and can say her name would be offered succor and protection. Instead of bringing freezing death and pain, she would shelter and guide her would-be victims.
[22:10] <Alicia> She takes a deep breath as she reaches her conclusion. "And that is why the name of Neve the Ice Queen is now spoken of in this tale by bards from the deserts of the Fiefdoms to the tale-tellers of the goblin tribes, and all those inbetween."
[22:14] <Kotono> "Wonderful story," Jessica says, "It's true. Neve is spoken of all over thanks to the Crimson Guard.
[22:14] <Kotono> "
[22:14] <Kotono> "Oh my. I haven't heard that story yet, but it was a good one," Alicia's mother gushes, finishing her cake. "It's all true?"
[22:17] <Alicia> "Every bit of it," Alicia nods, smiling. "I rather enjoyed telling it, actually."
[22:17] <Alicia> "You should've become a bard!" Marie catcalls.
[22:17] <Kotono> Arthur claps, "Truly. You would be known as Alicia the Magnificent if you had been."
[22:18] <Kotono> Jessica giggles a tthat, "Oh, Marie would love that while Antenora would be agahst. Quite literally, Mother and Father. Would you beileve they argue over law and chaos and how important it is?"
[22:19] <Alicia> "It is!" Marie protests. "They're two of the fundamental underpinnings of existence!"
[22:19] <Kotono> "Law and Chaos? How strange," Rose sniffs, "Why argue over obtuse things? But no matter, that was a good story.'
[22:22] <Kotono> "Marie's right, and for them, it's very serious," Jessica drains the last of her wine, blushing merrily now. "Oh, the stories. They're just...so strange and funny sometimes. Sandcastles..." That sends Jessica into another fit of giggles.
[22:22] <Kotono> Roald even cracks a smile, "Dear, why don't I help you to bed? I think you've had plenty of wine for the evening."
[22:23] <Alicia> "It's funny, actually," Alicia reflects, "Because the rebellion in Kelara was fundamentally about that as well. David identified himself as an agent of chaos and change, hoping to tear down the stagnant order... of course, it can manifest on a smaller and more personal scale just as easily, like some people are creatures of habit while others are whimsical and hard to predict..."
[22:23] <Alicia> She then shrugs a little at Jessica's outburst. "You had to be there."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Sandcastles?" Now Alicia's father shakes his head, as Roald helps Jessica away, who stumbles a bit. "Sandcastles? I don't understand in the least."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Saaaandcastles," Jessica laughs as she goes off. "Ask them about it sometime!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "Antenora said that it's better to build a sandcastle with a plan, so you know exactly how it's going to turn out," Marie explains, her tone indicating what she thinks of *that*. "I pointed out how that just makes the endeavour futile, since you won't get surprised or learn anything new. She didn't get it at all..."
[22:25] <Alicia> "Goodnight, Jessica, Roald," Alicia waves off her sister and prospective brother in law as they depart.
[22:26] <Kotono> "Ah, I see." Finishing his own glass of wine, "A story for another night. I think I'm going to retire early as well. Beatrice?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "How strange...why plan a sandcastle," Beatrice murmurs, "I'm going to stay up awhile."
[22:28] <Alicia> "That's what I said!" Marie agrees as Alicia bids her father goodnight and stands up.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Charles, would you care to show me those paintings of yours again?" she asks nicely, wanting to get him alone without being blunt about it.
[22:29] <Kotono> "Oh, yes," Charles stands up, "This way, Alicia."
[22:30] <Alicia> While Marie hopefully keeps the other two ladies entertained, Alicia wanders off with her little brother. "Hard to believe she's Beth with how she acts, isn't it?" she begins conversationally as they start down the hallway.
[22:31] <Kotono> "Yes...it really is." Charles says after a heavy pause in the air, "...sorry, Alicia." He goes along, leading the way and with his back to Alicia. "I spoke poorly."
[22:35] <Alicia> "I forgive you," Alicia accepts the apology with grace. "That's part of why I wanted to talk to you, really - do we have a problem, Charles? When I first found Beth in Balmuria I handled things poorly, and you know he she was... by the time we settled things she lost her memory right after. I'd rather not see things deteriorate like that with my little brother, as well..."
[22:40] <Kotono> "...we're okay." Charles says at last, "..Rose resents you, but...it's her feelings, not mine."
[22:44] <Alicia> "I've never gotten much in the way of warm feelings from her," Alicia admits. "I can live with that. But you're family, and that means something..." Deciding a little physical demonstration couldn't hurt, she grabs Charles in a hug, "Sorry I took so long to come back," she murmurs as she holds him.
[22:46] <Kotono> The hug is held, "It's..." Charles is hesitant, "It's good to have you home." Holding her tighter, "I've heard some of the stories from the bards. It's really true...it really is. I can scarcely believe it...until I remember how you looked after it happened."
[22:48] <Alicia> "Trouble just seems to find me," Alicia agrees as they embrace. "You know not all stories end as happily as the one I just told in there."
[22:49] <Kotono> "Yes. I remember that." After another little pause, "Is Balmuria like they say?"
[22:52] <Alicia> "I don't know what they say, but the people are friendly, the weather is warm and mild, it's close to mountains and sea and forest... I'm happy there," she concludes with a smile as she parts, still holding his arms. "If you like I could even take you to visit sometime - it'd be a lot quicker than crossing the desert."
[22:53] <Kotono> "I may. Father's teaching me more and more about the business and taking me to do my own business and meet people. He's getting older, sister."
[22:55] <Alicia> "He is," Alicia takes a deep breath, looking around at the walls and ceiling around them. "And then all this will belong to you. You might even inherit a title if mother's efforts pay off. Think you can handle it?"
[22:55] <Kotono> "I can try." He says to that, "Knight General. You beat us all to it."
[23:02] <Alicia> "That I did," Alicia smiles crookedly. "Doesn't let me sit on the council and won't pass on to any heirs assuming I ever produce more, though. I suspect mother would prefer something more dynastic."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Heh." With a little smile to that, "One day. Let's go to those paintings now?"
[23:10] <Alicia> "Lets," Alicia agrees. It was only a pretense, but she can always spare time for art.
[23:13] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along? you wanted to check out Kelara outside of Kelara?
[23:15] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, I'll travel around the villages incognito to see how morale is over the next few days. And a brief teleport to Balmuria to invite Seira to the ball.
[23:15] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, how deep do you wanna ge tinto that? We can Rp it out fully, some, or you can just resolve it with gather info checks. Your preference.
[23:16] <Alicia> OOC: I'd like to RP seeing Jessie again, but gather info is fine for the rest

[Corwin]

[19:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: You were going to go catch up with Jessie?
[19:44] <Alicia> OOC: that'd be swell
[19:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Going to be altered?
[19:46] <Alicia> OOC: Non-angelic but otherwise looking like regular Alicia. Although I won't be wearing armour or have any visible weapons besides the staff of Idun.
[19:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> ---------
[19:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Heading back into Kelara's quiet reaches and to Whitewall. It's  arare sunny, chilly day in Kelara as she walks in. Alicia gets a few looks as she heads for the bed and breakfast, looking for Jessy. She finds her sitting at a table there, eating sandwiches and porridge for lunch.
06[19:58] * Alicia pokes her head in and after spotting her young friend she meanders over to her table. "Hello, Jessy," she offers a smile. "I was back in Kelara and thought I'd check in - you don't mind?"
[19:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> She double blinks at it, "Alicia. You did come back after dealing with that uprising, after all."
[20:02] <Alicia> "I meant what I said," Alicia returns, deciding to take a seat. "What I'm curious about now is whether it was worth my while to start with. Certainly, people in the city seem happier, but they weren't the ones dissatisified with the old order..." She clasps her hands and leans on the table towards the younger woman, "So, how are things around here?"
[20:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Jessy takes a long slug back from her drink. "Eh." She scratches at her arm, "There's a lot of talk and some action." She shrugs then, "You hear fancy, nices tuff from the city these days and there's been some concessions."
[20:04] <Alicia> "I suggested a few, myself," Alicia nods thoughtfully. "Anything that's made much difference?"
[20:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We've seen more patrols and more protection about. Not that it would be hard to have more." Jessy almost laughs there, "They've been talking about expanding and repairing the roads, too."
[20:12] <Alicia> "Hopefully the talk will turn into action...  what do you think personally, though?" Alicia asks, more interested in her individual perspective. "I mean, you were one of the ones fighting against the old order - how do you feel about the direction things are headed in, now?"
[20:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's the right first steps. Will it go past that? Hell if I know," she finishes off her drink, "Hell, Knight-General," In sweet, mocking tones, "You could go run and ask dear Lord Roth yourself, couldn't you? For all we know they're gonna change their minds halfway. Just 'cause they're doing the right thing now doesn't mean they'll do it forever."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Yes, and turnips could grow out of our bottoms tomorrow," Alicia returns dryly. "Lord Roth would surely just tell me everything's fine and ask that I leave policy to the Council. And I'm happy to do just that, so long as they govern properly."
[20:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hehheheheheeee." Laughing to that and raising her empty glass, "Cheers to that." She then looks into Alicia's eyes, "What do you think?"
[20:36] <Alicia> "Kelara's never been the nicest country in the world," Alicia replies bluntly. "Improving it really shouldn't take much. It's improving it meaningfully that's the trick... I have a few other ideas of my own that might help things along here and there, but I'm only one woman."
[20:36] <Alicia> She smirks lopsidedly, "I'll say this, though, what you've told me comes out better than the low expectations I'd set when I walked in the door."
[20:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Heh. Here's to that," she says, "Be it David or by another, let this realm improve?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "It would be nice if I could walk into a city in the Fiefdoms and not have them look at me with pity when I tell them where I'm from, yes," Alicia chuckles amusedly. "I'm in the area for a few more days, so I'll probably wander around the other villages and see how things are elsewhere... political drama aside, how are things in your life, Jessy?"
[20:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Well enough. There were those arguments you saw, but...they've mostly gotten over it." Jessy shrugs. "Mom's calming down. Life goes on, another winter's ahead. Hopefully a long, dull winter without bandits or trouble."
[20:46] <Alicia> "If nothing else, snow is better than rain?" Alicia offers, though her smile is marred briefly as she considers the Winterwight that remains to be dealt with...
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes...Alicia? Something wrong? You just looked like you had gas pains in your stomach." Jessy frowns.
[20:49] <Alicia> "Just mentioning winter reminded me of something else I have to deal with, out in the jungle," Alicia shakes her head. "Never a dull moment, I'm afraid."
[20:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The jungle?!" Jessy's eyes widen, "You're going off into that deathtrap?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "I've been there before," Alicia reassures. "There's a creature in there born of Auril's blood and Shar's hate, currently bound but who knows for how long? Some friends of mine with deeper connections to the land have had worrying dreams of a dire winter to come, which I think has a connection to that being."
[20:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+2
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+2 and gets 15." [1d20=13]
[20:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Brr. Good fortune to you then." After a pause, "Auril...Auril...Goddess of...Ice?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "That's her. It's an interesting story, actually - in the dawn of creation, when the world was yet young, Shar sought to dominate and absorb the newborn goddess of merciless cold."
[20:58] <Alicia> "Their battle was great, and of the blood spilled by the Frostmaiden from the Nightsister's attacks, undead monstrosities called Winterwights were born. One of those is the creature I speak of," Alicia explains happily enough.
[21:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's like a legend," Jessy  marvels. "A terrible creature born of those terrible beings."
[21:04] <Alicia> "What's interesting - and perhaps frightening - is that Mystra herself was born in a similar manner when Selune tore off a piece of herself and hurled it at Shar in a desperate attack - from where their mingled essences merged after coring through Shar in a terrible wound, the Goddess of Magic herself was born," Alicia goes on. "So the Winterwight is not a foe I look forward to facing."
[21:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Shivering over at that, "...Careful, Alicia. I remember a bard's tale about a hero who bit off more than they could chew."
[21:10] <Alicia> "It's a common enough tale... and reality," Alicia reflects. "Nonetheless, the damage if that thing got loose would be nothing short of catastrophic - someone has to do something."
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes. Well, if a harsh winter comes..." Jessy shivers again.
[21:13] <Alicia> "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Alicia looks a bit embarrassed. "My friends and I are very strong, though, and we've overcome formidable foes before. We even have a few tricks specifically built for hurting such beings, and I'm going to go looking for another before seeking battle."
[21:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Good luck," Jessy says, disbelief in her voice. "May the bards sing of your tales after."
02[21:16] * Harriet (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:18] <Alicia> "Thanks," Alicia inclines her head. "I'll make sure to stop by afterwards to let you know how things went so you're not left wondering, if you like?" she then offers.
[21:18] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes, I think I'd like that," Jessy says, "Let me know that you didn't die."
[21:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hop along then? Go ahead and roll gather info for the rest of your gathering needs.
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 (heroism) how's life in Kelara these days?
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 (heroism) how's life in Kelara these days? and gets 37." [1d20=19]
[21:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The general buzz Alicia gets is that things are slowly improving. The roads are being better kept, more soldiers are about, that manner of things. There's a lot of skepticism to go with it, though.
06[21:25] * Alicia is satisfied.
[21:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d100
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d100 and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[21:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> ---------------------------
[21:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A few days later, Alicia and Seira are at Alicia's parents home. They sit with Beatrice, having morning tea. "Today is the day," she begins, "We will be gathering at Lord Roth's home for this event. Make sure you have your outfits prepared for the evening, ladies? As highly esteemed and ranked dignitaries, anything less would be unsuitable."
[21:40] <Alicia> It would be rude to give Seira a commiserating look, so Alicia merely nods. "Of course, mother, we'll be presentable," she reassures.
01[21:41] <Seira> "Yes, that goes without saying," Seira agrees.
[21:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ah, excellent, excellent." She smiles to both women, "Be ready by the dinner hour? Our carraige will be here by then. Make sure all of you are presentable, even little Marie?"
[21:43] <Alicia> "Don't worry, Marie enjoys dressing up," Alicia smiles.
[21:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Skip along then now?
01[21:48] <Seira> OOC: Sure
[21:49] <Alicia> OOC: sure.
[21:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> That evening, the rest of the REynes family gathers, waiting on Alicia and Seira to make their entrances to join them by the front door...
06[21:59] * Alicia had taken Roald and Jessica aside a little earlier to cast Voice of the Archon on them both so they'll have an easier time with the upper classes, and now emerges herself along with her familiar. She's wearing the outfit her mother insisted on, a sharp looking formal burgandy tunic that comes down to her mid-thighs, her legs covered by clean white leggings.
[21:59] <Alicia> The Order of the Horizon and the Malmuth Campaign Victory Medal both adorn her chest, those two being the only medals she's actually received, surely disappointing poor Beatrice. While she looks poised and comfortable, the lack of a gap for her wings in the event of her disguise faltering is an ever-present concern.
[21:59] <Alicia> Marie seems more cheerful and exuberant, flouncing along behind Alicia in an elaborate multi-layered robe of crimson silk as she borrows Alicia's robes of the plainswalker, currently transformed into an elfin aasimar.
01[22:02] <Seira> Only the circlet adoring her head and the decorative elven sword at her hip remain to compliment Seira's rich emerald dress, the rest of her artifacts kept safely in storage for the duration. Her earrings ensure that her form is the elfin one she was born with, a far less confrontational one than anything with a draconic motif.
01[22:02] <Seira> If someone was expecting her to come in her dress uniform, a certain degree of disappointment may occur, but other then failing to meet such expectations, the form-fitting dress should positively affect initial reactions to her.
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl follows along, wearing a green gown much like Seira's. She wears minimal jewelry, her hair kept loose. Beatrice wears black finery, while Roald wears a nobleman's clothes and Jessica wears a soft blue gown and jewels. Clapping her hands, "You all look marvelous," Beatrice agrees, "Come then, our transportation has arrived."
06[22:07] * Alicia refrains from expressing any jealousy at not being able to wear a dress herself as she climbs into the carriage. Not like this ornamental uniform would even be easier to fight in... although hopefully that won't be called for. "Everyone looks lovely," she agrees pleasantly.
[22:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh yes," Amaryl begins to go forward, holding up the sidesof her dress with her hands. "So do you, Seira."
01[22:09] <Seira> "Likewise," Seira whispers, somehow ending up by her side. "I had no doubts!"
[22:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As Amaryl blushes, the party heads outside. Three carraiges are waiting outside. "Alicia, you, Marie, Seira and Amaryl take that one," she points to the middle one. White horses wait, each pulled carraige guilded and rich.
06[22:12] * Alicia has no real objection to this arrangement. "Very well," she agrees as she boards the correct carriage, sitting next to her familiar so that the two lovers can sit next to each other opposite.
06[22:12] * Seira gives Beatrice a smile and boards the carriage, offering a hand to Amaryl. "Your mother runs this like a military operation," she mentions to Alicia.
03[22:15] * Adahn (WinNT@user-5444e563.lns2-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
02[22:15] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5444e563.lns2-c11.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Adahn))
03[22:15] * Adahn is now known as Alicia
03[22:15] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[22:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl actually smiles at that, sitting next to Seira, a hand holding Seira's hand. "I had the same notion."
[22:16] <Alicia> "She takes these things very seriously," Alicia agrees. "All my life she's been working and plotting to have the Reynes family ascend to the nobility, and it looks like she's getting closer and closer. She won't want to leave anything to chance."
[22:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Well...if a dragon, an angel and a celestial pixie won't do it..." Amaryl murmurs, "I wonder what measures she would need then."
01[22:17] <Seira> "Let's toss an elven noble into the mix and see what happens?"
[22:18] <Alicia> "But we're all in disguise, anyway!" Marie giggles. "Maybe this way I'll find a handsome man to sweep me off my feet, at least?" she simpers theatrically.
01[22:19] <Seira> "Wouldn't that be a crime?" Seira asks, only half serious.
[22:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl blushes to that.
[22:20] <Alicia> Marie blinks in confusion. "It's illegal to sweep blushing maidens off their feet, here?"
01[22:21] <Seira> "It might get to that part if your transformation wears off at an unfortunate time?"
[22:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl sputters aloud. "S-s-Seira!"
[22:23] <Alicia> "Oh, there are ways around that," Marie replies in a sultry tone, a secretive smile adorning her lips. Until Alicia raps the back of her head with her knuckles, eliciting a grumble.
[22:23] <Alicia> "Nobody wants to know, Marie," Alicia reprimands in a long-suffering tone.
06[22:24] * Seira just laughs at that.
[22:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl blushes and laughs as well. "I think I'll have to third that."
[22:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The ride takes perhaps a half hour. Out the window, you can see that the carraiges are pulling up to a lovely mansion. Servants stand outside, waiting. Lights are on four all four stories of it, giving the vast, palatial building a warm glow.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Looks nice enough," Alicia opines as she glances out the window. "Hopefully the food'll be good," she adds, setting her sights low for the evening.
01[22:30] <Seira> "The food's bound to be good," Seira says, rolling her eyes in amusement. "Is it the company we should be afraid of? Anyone in particular?"
[22:32] <Alicia> "Doubtful," Alicia shakes her head. "At least, of the nobles on the council, I had little trouble with them after I dealt with that David character. There might be others I'm unfamiliar with... still, compared to the likes of Esthan certainly nothing to give us pause."
06[22:33] * Seira can't help but laugh again. "Now you're the one who sounds like she's preparing for a campaign, or a battle at the very least. It must run in the family."
[22:35] <Alicia> "You're the one who asked who to be afraid of," Alicia retorts, shrugging. "I don't really move much in these circles, so I doubt I'll know anyone here on a personal level."
01[22:35] <Seira> "It just struck me as amusing, comparing a confrontation with a noble to a fight with an archfiend."
[22:39] <Alicia> "Well, I was more referring to his personality that we had to endure for a considerable length of time before we actually fought him," Alicia explains. "He's the most obnoxious being I can think of off the top of my head."
01[22:40] <Seira> "True enough. He wasn't content with simply fighting us, he had to lecture us pointlessly at every opportunity."
[22:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hidin ga smile with her hand, sobering as it goes on. "Were either of you ever thinking about going along with him?"
01[22:42] <Seira> "I originally offered him a chance to gradually come over to our side if he stopped messing around with people's lives, and I was quite sincere about that," Seira mentions. "Does that count?"
06[22:42] * Alicia makes a face. "Not a chance. No matter how much he dressed it up, he wanted us to be his slaves in life, and then claim our souls at the end. There's absolutely nothing he could offer that would make the price worthwhile," she declares resolutely.
[22:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> At that, the door to the carraige is opened. A liviered servant bows as she stands aside. "This way, ma'ams."
[22:45] <Alicia> Marie scampers out first, Alicia following more sedately.
06[22:46] * Seira brings up the rear along with Amaryl, stepping outside gracefully.
[22:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The rest of the family is already halfway inside. A servant bows to you again, "Follow me, ma'ams," he repeats, leading them inside. However, he takes them away from the hallway the rest of your family goes down, towards a side room.
[22:49] <Alicia> "Why are we being taken away from everyone else?" Marie asks the obvious question.
[22:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ma'am's request. It won't be long, please follow me." He says.
01[22:51] <Seira> "We clearly can't ignore such logic," Seira whispers to Alicia in amusement.
[22:52] <Alicia> "She probably wants to show us off as we make some grand entrance," Alicia replies softly, resisting the urge to sigh. A little forewarning would have been nice.
[22:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You are lead to a rich if rather boring sitting room. The servant bows and steps out, "I will return shortly, ma'ams," he promises, before departing. Amaryl goes to sit, "Waiting a little time to be presented is no great thing. I've had to wait hours before."
01[22:54] <Seira> "Oh, you poor thing," Seira voices in sympathy.
[22:55] <Alicia> "She never did anything like this when I was young," Alicia shakes her head. "At the time I always thought Beth and I were neglected, but now I almost think we were lucky."
[22:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You never knew how good you had it?" Amaryl questions with her own wistful look.
01[22:57] <Seira> "Oh, getting neglected isn't as fun as it sounds. There's probably no perfect way to grow up out there."
[22:58] <Alicia> "It wasn't a bad childhood at all, really," Alicia smiles fondly. "Oh, I can remember being angry at this or depressed at that, but those feelings fade, while the good ones stay. Probably just nostalgia."
[22:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes. I find I remember the good times of my childhood more than the bad times." Amaryl starts to look upward, "I remember the happy days full of sunshine and light, not the rainy days studying boring things or being in trouble for this or that."
[23:01] <Alicia> "That's the best way to go through life, anyway," Marie smiles cheerily. "Focus on the good, and let the bad take care of itself."
01[23:01] <Seira> "We are in full agreement, Marie!"
[23:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You don't have a childhood to remember...then again, I suppose every day is like childhood to you, Marie," Amaryl smiles to her, full of brightness, "You're innocent like one...except when you see to be disturbingly perverted."
[23:03] <Alicia> Marie laughs. "I'm older than Seira even if you just count from when I was reborn!" she insists. "I sometimes like to wonder about what I was like, actually. But it's not that important, really - where you're going matters more than where you've been."
[23:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Look ahead, not behind. I agree." Amaryl herself looks to SEira. "Right?"
01[23:05] <Seira> "How old are you, again?" Seira asks Marie.
[23:07] <Alicia> "Twenty," Marie replies brightly. "That's only as far back as I remember, anyway."
[23:07] <Alicia> "I can't really picture you as some ancient and dignified elf sage," Alicia just shakes her head. "It sounds horrible, but I imagine you died young."
01[23:08] <Seira> "It really is true, then," Seira mutters, sounding slightly vexed. "Looking ahead works for me, sure," she tells Amaryl, raising her voice. "Attaining immortality and remaining beautiful and strong to enjoy it, all that good stuff."
[23:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "That is horrible if you imagine that she was some lively adventurer or person who met a bad end." With a long loko to Marie, "I hope you had a long, happy life and passed in your sleep. Or trance, if you were an elf."
[23:10] <Alicia> "I like to think my current happy existence is a reward for putting up with a lot in my life," Marie explains. "I was probably old and weary, dragged down by a lifetime of worries while my creaky body slowly shut down... then all of a sudden I'm a beautiful, young, and perky eladrin!" she throws out her arms for emphasis, bouncing on the spot.
[23:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "So you can enjoy an eternity of bliss and helping Alicia?" To that, Amaryl just laughs. "It does put you into a lot of danger though, doesn't it?"
01[23:12] <Seira> "But it's all good danger, doing worthy things!"
[23:13] <Alicia> "She's a harsh mistress, yes," Marie nods sollemnly as Alicia looks indignant. "Still, it's lots of fun being here, and I like to think that I'm making a difference," she nods her head to Seira at that.
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a warm laugh, "Oh, you so like making Alicia look distressed, don't you, Marie?"
[23:18] <Alicia> "One of the perks of the job," the eladrin agrees saucily. "She's a lot easier to get a rise out of than my last boss, too."
[23:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh, I imagine so. Dear Mystra must be far too wise for your tricks to work on. But Alicia now..." With a smile, "Perhaps you're here to make her wiser and more able to cope with your methods?"
[23:20] <Alicia> "You would never believe how meek and eager to please she was when she first showed up," Alicia interjects. "Clearly I was too soft on her to let things reach this state."
[23:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Really? Why, you could be stricter with her then?" Amaryl crosses her arms as she looks to Marie, "But she does seem happy."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Mystra told her to take good care of me," Marie remarks smugly. "She said I'm a spark of light who'll always illuminate the way, isn't that right Alicia?"
06[23:24] * Alicia sighs. "Yes. She did say that," she agrees. "I could've gotten a cat..." she grumbles under her breath.
01[23:26] <Seira> "Animal familiars can't defend themselves in need. It's a good thing you didn't get one."

[Corwin]

[19:38] <Kotono> > "So you can enjoy an eternity of bliss and helping Alicia?" To that, Amaryl just laughs. "It does put you into a lot of danger though, doesn't it?"
[19:38] <Kotono> <Seira> "But it's all good danger, doing worthy things!"
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "She's a harsh mistress, yes," Marie nods sollemnly as Alicia looks indignant. "Still, it's lots of fun being here, and I like to think that I'm making a difference," she nods her head to Seira at that.
[19:38] <Kotono> > With a warm laugh, "Oh, you so like making Alicia look distressed, don't you, Marie?"
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "One of the perks of the job," the eladrin agrees saucily. "She's a lot easier to get a rise out of than my last boss, too."
[19:38] <Kotono> > "Oh, I imagine so. Dear Mystra must be far too wise for your tricks to work on. But Alicia now..." With a smile, "Perhaps you're here to make her wiser and more able to cope with your methods?"
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "You would never believe how meek and eager to please she was when she first showed up," Alicia interjects. "Clearly I was too soft on her to let things reach this state."
[19:38] <Kotono> > "Really? Why, you could be stricter with her then?" Amaryl crosses her arms as she looks to Marie, "But she does seem happy."
[19:38] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Mystra told her to take good care of me," Marie remarks smugly. "She said I'm a spark of light who'll always illuminate the way, isn't that right Alicia?"
[19:38] <Kotono> * Alicia sighs. "Yes. She did say that," she agrees. "I could've gotten a cat..." she grumbles under her breath.
[19:38] <Kotono> <Seira> "Animal familiars can't defend themselves in need. It's a good thing you didn't get one."
[19:39] <Kotono> "A talking cat. How strange." Amaryl murmurs, "Sorry, Seira." Amaryl takes Seira's hand.
[19:39] <Alicia> "Ah, you're right," Alicia nods, shamefaced. "Sorry, that was insensitive of me."
[19:44] <Kotono> Another ten minutes or so pass without incident. The servant comes back them, bowing. "Honored guests, please come this way."
06[19:45] * Seira is eager for the chance to move on, nodding at the servant in return.
[19:45] <Alicia> "Lead on," Alicia gets up and follows after him.
[19:47] <Kotono> You are lead upstairs, to a heavy, paneled wood door. The servant stands in front of it, "Would Knight General and Colonel Seira please take the lead together?"
[19:48] <Alicia> Marie shrugs and goes to stand next to Amaryl as Alicia takes position before the door.
06[19:48] * Seira snorts, masking it as a cough she covers with a hand, stepping up to stand next to Alicia.
[19:49] <Kotono> The door is opened, "Follow me," The servant says. Coming out, you see...(More)
[19:56] <Kotono> A set of rich, polished stone stairs lead down a story to a ballroom. Wrapping, twisting drakes and lions form the hand rails. Below, dozens of finely dressed lords and ladies look up. A shining light foces on the party, as a loud, clarion-clear voice calls. "Presenting The Knight General Alicia Reynes of Kelara, Captain of the Crimson Guard; Lady Seira, Colonel of the Crimson Guard; Lady Amaryl Gaial of Pallanth; and Marie of Arborea!" With t
[19:56] <Kotono>  Lady Seira, Colonel of the Crimson Guard; Lady Amaryl Gaial of Pallanth; and Marie of Arborea!" With the eyes of the party on the women, a slow, steady tide of clapping rises up, submerging their ears in praise.
[19:58] <Alicia> Marie looks rather put out at having her plane of origin guessed wrongly. Also the lack of any fancy title.
[19:58] <Alicia> And if it's formal they should really call her Marielle.
01[19:59] <Seira> "This must be the first time I've been called a lady," Seira muses quietly, observing the other guests with calmness.
06[19:59] * Alicia accepts the situation with more aplomb than her familiar, merely smiling at the assembled guests as she smoothly descends the staircase.
[20:00] <Kotono> Amaryl follows down with slow steps, eyes half closed and a pleasant smile on her face.
[20:04] <Kotono> The guests are watching the group descend. Most wear rich finery and show the signs of wealth. A few are near the bottom of the stair, waiting. Of them, a man in a precise, impeccable white uniform waits below. He has gray-blonde hair, blending together like the sunlight bleeding out it's colors. He wears white gloves and has a jeweled saber on his belt. "Colonel, Knight-General, Lady Gaial," He greets each in turn, offering his hand out for S
[20:05] <Kotono> "Colonel, Knight-General, Lady Gaial," He greets each in turn, offering his hand out for Seira.
06[20:06] * Seira accepts it with a light nod. "A pleasure," she says, smiling.
[20:07] <Alicia> "Lord Roth," Alicia nods to the de-facto leader of the supposed council of equals. Marie looks around and debates just wandering off.
[20:09] <Kotono> "It's a pleasure as well," Shaking Seira's hand back, "Welcome to Kelara."
[20:10] <Kotono> The tips of Amaryl's lips twitch upward, "Thank you for greeting us, Lord Roth." In Elven after, "May your domain be ever growing and your bounties fruitful."
01[20:11] <Seira> "With such a generous invitation, how could we refuse?" Seira agrees.
[20:12] <Kotono> Then going to shake Amaryl's hand, "Thank you," Lord Roth replies in slightly slow Elven to Amaryl. "Lady Marie?" He looks to her then, "Only in this company could a fantastic creature be left for last."
[20:14] <Alicia> "I'm actually from Elysium," Marie comments offhandedly, trying to act cool. "It's an easy mistake, I suppose, since most eladrin do live in Arborea."
[20:14] <Kotono> "Of course. Now then, I'll not monopolize your time. But later, perhaps all of us can discuss other matters." Lord Roth steps away, "Enjoy the party."
[20:17] <Alicia> "Perhaps. Until then, Lord Roth," Alicia bids him goodbye, looking around briefly for the rest of her family.
01[20:18] <Seira> "I'm sure we will," Seira adds, deciding to get some drinks for she and Amaryl in the meantime.
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: Hop into #evil, Seira?
[20:21] <Kotono> Alicia sees her mother and father chatting with some other high status people she dimly remembers, with Roald and Jessica along with them.
[20:23] <Alicia> "Lets go keep Roald and Jessica company?" Alicia suggests, heading over to join them and being trailed by her familiar.
[20:25] <Kotono> Jessica murmurs something and breaks away from the rest as Alicia approaches. She has a wine glass in hand, "Oh, sister!" she carols, "Marie. It's going sooo well." With a lopsided smile, "Father and Roald are supporting each other and he's coming off as so noble and refined."
[20:26] <Alicia> "That's good to hear," Alicia smiles, Marie nodding as well. "How about yourself? Having a good time?"
[20:28] <Kotono> "Yes." Smiling now, "Once you grasp that's it's just a reason to dress fancy, get tipsy and gossip, it's so much fun! You just have to break the code on how to act."
[20:31] <Alicia> "There's not really much to it," Alicia agrees as Marie wanders off to grab a glass of wine herself and then return to join the sisterly duo. "Think you and Roald will try the dancefloor later on?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Now with a growing blush, "Once we have enough courage in our systems to do so. What of you, Alicia?"
[20:34] <Alicia> "If I get an offer," Alicia shrugs ambivalently before Marie sidles up and nudges her with her elbow.
[20:34] <Alicia> "I could dance with you," she offers slyly. "Think of the scandal!"
[20:34] <Alicia> "There's something deeply sad about dancing with your familiar," Alicia just sighs. "I'll respectfully decline, Marie."
[20:35] <Kotono> With a warm, shaking laugh, "That rather is. I could dance with you...it's a shame Antenora isn't here. The two of you could dance. Though I'm not sure if you'd be naturals with how agile you are, or if y8our lack of skills in dancing would catch up to you."
[20:37] <Alicia> "Remember that wedding party we attended in Arvandor?" Alicia smiles, recalling a far more entertaining get-together. "I'd say we're both pretty competent."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Oh yes!" Jessica's face lights up into a smile, "Ah, that was a good time. Oh! I shouldn't be away this long. Are you coming to join us, sister?"
[20:39] <Alicia> "I was coming over for that in the first place," Alicia replies easily, starting to head over to join the rest of the Reynes clan.
02[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[20:41] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
03[20:41] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[20:41] <Kotono> The current two guests are just wandering off. Beatrice looks Alicia over and nods solemnly, "Ah, you're here. Superb. Alicia, we're going to visit Lord Kelvan before he leaves, for I heard he intends to leave early. You'll help make a good impression."
[20:44] <Alicia> "I recall he didn't look so thrilled by some of my proposals when I addressed the council," Alicia muses quietly. "Still, he was respectful and polite. I'd be happy to talk to him."
[20:48] <Kotono> "Good." Beatrice leads the family along. Lord Kelvan is found sitting on a chair near a wall, resting his hands on the top of a gold tipped walking stick. His face is entirely flushed, occasionally matting his forehead with a handkerchief. A younger man in servant's clothes brings him a glass of water, which he drinks deeply from.
[20:48] <Kotono> "Ah, excuse us. Lord Kelvan." Beatrice curties to him, Arthur bowin ga moment later. "A moment of your time."
[20:50] <Alicia> While technically Alicia might be top of the heap in terms of noble rank, she's happy to defer to her mother in this arena since it's both simpler and makes Beatrice happier. So she stays quiet and lets Beatrice handle things, merely offering a polite bow of her own, since this damnable costume doesn't permit proper curtseys.
[20:51] <Kotono> "C-certainly." Wiping his face again, "Lady Beatrice...Knight General Reynes..." His breathing is rather heavy, "I beg your pardon, but I fear a fever is coming onto me." He starts to stand, "Lady Jessica and your fiancee. I apologize deeply, but I fear I lack the time for our normal respects. I will come calling another time." He stands, leaning on his cane.
[20:52] <Kotono> Arthur comes forward, "Lord, you look unwell. I can have your carraige prepared for you or...Alicia?" Arthur looks to her.
[20:53] <Alicia> "Of course, one's faith must always be considered first," Alicia agrees diplomatically. Then seeing the hint from her father, "If my lord would permit it, I could have you taken directly home without delay, or perhaps to a healer?"
[20:54] <Kotono> "Do it..." With a long, shaking breath, "A healer would be...a fine idea."
06[20:55] * Alicia offers him her arm, not wanting to teleport directly out from the ballroom. "If you'll come with me, Lord Kelvan?"
[20:57] <Kotono> Lord Kelvan goes with Alicia, stepping out into the hall. "Another of these fits..." He leans onto Alicia, "Take me to the Temple of Mystra...the healings help hold this fits at bay."
[21:00] <Alicia> "It's early yet, there should be plenty of clerics available to offer healing - and even if none have the proper magic, they can request it at evening prayer in a few hours," Alicia reassures, patting his arm as she slowly guides him to an adjacent hallway. "Just a moment and I'll teleport us."
[21:00] <Alicia> And with that she teleports the both of them to the hallway between the dormitory and the main hall of the temple in Kelara.
[21:00] <Alicia> roll 1d100 very familiar
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 very familiar and gets 78." [1d100=78]
[21:02] <Kotono> Woosh! The two appear without incident. Once there, acolytes help Lord Kelvan away. One bows to Alicia, "Revered Saint, it may be prudent that you talk with Dweomerkeeper Taldeer now."
[21:03] <Alicia> "Oh? Where is she?" Alicia asks, always having time for her head cleric. Curiousity at what this could entail even distracts her from the whole saint business.
[21:03] <Kotono> "She is preparing herself in her chambers. Please, proceed ot them."
06[21:04] * Alicia nods and heads over to see what's happening with the old elf.
[21:06] <Kotono> Taldeer is dressed in a purple gown, a maid doing her hair as she sits in a high backed chair. Taldeer smiles to Alicia, "Coming in from your parent's party? What's the occasion for it?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Lord Kelvan was unwell and my father wanted me to take care of him as a favour," Alicia explains. "He's being seen to by someone better at healing than I, now - I was told you wanted to speak with me, though?"
[21:10] <Kotono> "...ah, that would be why. Wait a few moments." The maid hurries and finishes Taldeer's hair, excusing herself out. Once she's out, "Lord Kelvan is seen by us every week or so for treatments for his condition. He makes considerable donations in exchange for our discretion."
[21:11] <Alicia> "What condition is it that can't be cured entirely?" Alicia asks, curious. Sounds like what Esthan did to Demedais' father...
[21:12] <Kotono> With a shrug, "Do you know of natural causes? The healers say it is that, that his heart is failing. His time is coming and there is only so much we can do."
[21:14] <Alicia> "Ahh, I was thinking more in terms of a disease," Alicia admits. "I suppose there's no cure for age."
[21:15] <Kotono> "He may last another week, perhaps a month, a year with Mystra's grace, but no more." Taldeer rises, going and putting on purple gemstone earrings. "In deference to his wishes, please keep this knowledge to yourself."
06[21:16] * Alicia nods. "I'm not one for idle gossip, I won't speak of it to anyone else," she promises readily.
[21:17] <Kotono> "Perhaps the rebellion was too hard a burden on his spirit, or perhaps his soul yearns ot be free of it' sfading cage. No matter. Are you returning to the ball?" Taldeer finishes with the earrings, "If you are going back, we can go together."
[21:18] <Alicia> "Certainly, I'd be happy to take you," Alicia smiles. "I didn't know you'd been invited."
[21:19] <Kotono> "I made a point to ensure I was." Taldeer looks right to Alicia, "It's partially for Jessica's sake."
[21:21] <Alicia> "Her and Roald at least seem to be having a grand old time. Although Marie's rather put out that the herald said she was from Arborea..." Alicia concludes amusedly, offering her arm. "Anyway, shall we?"
[21:22] <Kotono> "Ah yes. Take us away, Revered Saint." Taldeer takes that arm.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Please," Alicia rolls her eyes, "It wasn't that long ago you had me sweeping the floors here. You of all people can skip it with the 'saint' business," she goes on before teleporting them back to the waiting room she spent quarter of an hour waiting in before being admitted to the ball.
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[21:34] <Kotono> As you appear back into the room without incident, "Of course I can. I just can't get away with making a saint do the sweeping now."
[21:35] <Alicia> "I really don't think Mystra would smite you for it," Alicia laughs as she leads Taldeer to the ballroom.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Well, if you're that humble, you could go sweep the floors and I could make an excuse for you for the rest of the night?" With an even smile as she follows Alicia, "If your boredom reaches a feverish pitch."
[21:38] <Alicia> "I honestly wouldn't mind," Alicia admits. "But my mother likely wouldn't forgive me."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Yes. With how you disdain drink...these things must be so boring." Taldeer and Alicia reach the ballroom, entering in. This entrance is far less attention getting than the last, at least.
[21:41] <Alicia> "I'll probably have one or two to be sociable, but the taste just doesn't work for me in most cases," Alicia shrugs as they head down the stairs. "But yes, these things tend to be fairly dull for me."
[21:45] <Kotono> As they blend back into the ball, "I see Seira over there," Taldeer points to a corner, as she sits with Amaryl and another human. "Your parents are over there...mmmm. Any preference at all?"
[21:48] <Alicia> "Well, you can see my parents any day, so why don't we drop in on Seira and Amaryl?" Alicia suggests, lowering her voice, "Amaryl was the scion of House Gaial in Pallanth but she recently left to pursue an adventurer's life with Seira."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Ah yes." Walking along, "This should be interesting then." OOC: I'll move you to #eval.
[22:34] <Kotono> ---
[22:37] <Kotono> First off, this level of knowledge provides you the basic information about the Elemental Plane of Fire: You'll take fire damage each round there, so warding is needed. Visibilty is poor and the air is smoky, and non-native fliers have a hard time there. (Fly speed is halved, fly manuverability is reduced one category). There also isn't much in the way of food on the plane for non-natives, so that's a concern. (More)
[22:37] <Kotono> food on the plane for non-natives, so that's a concern. (More)
[22:41] <Kotono> Notable places of primal fire: The Undying Pyre, Kossuth's realm. Great, endless fires burn there of incredible intensity. The Firefall, a place where it is said a great fire-fall flows, giving birth to fire elementals. The City of Brass, the home of the efreeti. It is said that the palace of the Grand Sultan holds treasure beyond mortal reckoning, including vast heat, but none have ever penetrated and survived to tell the tale.
[22:41] <Kotono>  including vast heat, but none have ever penetrated and survived to tell the tale.
[22:42] <Alicia> That all we've got?
[22:43] <Kotono> Those are the three big ones that you know of, yes. Investigation of the natives could turn up more information or other leads as well. Antenora will also mention that the baatezu are on very good terms with the efreeti, and being immune to fire, they're known to stalk the plane as well.

[Corwin]

[18:49] <Kotono> -------(Ko in Flames)--
[18:49] <Kotono> OOC: Fire res 30 on Alicia, GMW on Alicia and Antenora, Seira has her normal buffs.
03[18:50] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
01[18:50] <Seira> OOC: False Life and Greater Resistance
[18:51] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[18:55] <Kotono> Antenora, Seira and Alicia gather. Magic is wrapped around them just as the sun creeps towards it's noon zenith. Calling on the magic of her ring, Alicia allows them to step through the Planes themselves! The three appear standing on barely coherent lava-rock, flames dancing all around. The sky is dark and smoky, visibility poor. The air is thick with burning smoke, but breathe-able nonetheless. The smell of burning manifests everywhere. Above
[18:55] <Kotono> The air is thick with burning smoke, but breathe-able nonetheless. The smell of burning manifests everywhere. Above, as much as you can see, you can glimpse great roiling clouds of pure steam. Around you stand humanoids. They were perhaps once human, but they are composed of terrible, blazing fire and boiling rock. One wears a dancing orb of fire around it's neck. Behind them lies a vast ziggurat, layer after layer rising into and lost in the
[18:55] <Kotono> Behind them lies a vast ziggurat, layer after layer rising into and lost in the smoky sky. (More)
[18:56] <Kotono> The heat is felt even with your wardings. Sweat begins to leak from your bodies instantly, evaporating a split second later. In this inferno-heat, the one with the orb speaks in Ignan: "For what reason do mortal creatures come to the Undying Pyre?"
06[18:58] * Alicia swaps her plane shift ring for her freedom of movement one and addresses the elemental in its own language. "We come seeking a fire great enough to incinerate an aspect of dire winter, spawned of Auril's blood and Shar's rage," she answers.
01[18:58] <Seira> "And where else would one go to seek the fieriest fire of all?" Seira adds in the same language. Given their destination, she sees no reason to keep her disguise.
[19:01] <Kotono> The being of flame raises it's arms to the sky, a flashing pillar of heat immolating him like a strike of flaming fury from the heavens!"Angels and a dragon of fire. Oh, Father of All the Fires, grant me thy wisdom!"
[19:02] <Kotono> The others begin to chant in Ignan, "Eternal, let the fire burn eternal for all time! Let the fire burn away all that is weak!"
[19:03] <Alicia> Guidance from the natives sponsored by Kossuth would not go amiss, so Alicia is content to respectfully wait on their ceremony. Certainly, the three of them are anything but weak, so that should count for something with these people.
06[19:04] * Seira can't help but wonder if a fire so fiery it can burn her exists.
[19:04] <Kotono> From within the flaming pillar that consumes him, "You who come from the mundane world and wear the guises of eternity, you must travel! Travel and travel until you see the Incarnation of the Father of Fire reaching from ground into the infinity of forever! Thy path will be tested in the fires! Travel the way of flame now, wait not a moment more! Hesitation is weakness! Go!" (More)
[19:04] <Kotono> His finger juts out of the pillar of fire, pointing to behind you and the smoky horizon there.
01[19:06] <Seira> "Thanks!" There's nothing more to be said, and these beings appreciate curtness as much as she, so Seira follows the instructions.
06[19:06] * Alicia won't argue with a divine edict when she hears it (unless it's from a deity she hates). "I understand. Glory to the Firelord," she responds in Ignan before turning and switching to common. "Lets go," she says as she advances on the path, explaining the situation for Antenora's benefit as they depart.
[19:08] <Kotono> Antenora follows, holding her spear close. "They're organized. I approve."
[19:10] <Alicia> "It's almost as if we were expected," Alicia half smiles. "But then, when you trespass on a God's domain that probably isn't unusual."
[19:11] <Kotono> OOC: How long do your spells las tin duration, guys? #evildunes.
[19:24] <Kotono> Thus you travel in the flaming expanses of the Undying Pyre. After four grueling hours of travel, the horizon is the same. Endless flame and smoke, hard to see past about 100 to 120 feet or so. A small bit of path can be ahead, thirty feet long, stopping and starting in the middle of nothing. In the center, a great roaring sheet of transparent fire burns, bisecting the path. Around it, mephits of fire frolic, throwing globs of fire at each oth
[19:24] <Kotono> bisecting the path. Around it, mephits of fire frolic, throwing globs of fire at each other.
01[19:26] <Seira> "Incarnation of the Father of Fire?" Seira asks, peering ahead at the pillar of flames.
[19:26] <Kotono> "This quickly?" Antenora banters back, "It would be pleasant if it was such a short trip."
[19:26] <Alicia> "It doesn't look to be stretching into the infinity of forever, and we haven't been tested yet," Alicia reflects as she approaches the sheet of fire.
01[19:27] <Seira> "Maybe it's the son of the incarnation of the father of fire?" Seira suggests with a shrug, intending to proceed ahead regardless of the flames.
[19:28] <Kotono> As the party approaches, the mephits stop the play. They gather all around the sheet of fire and the path on both sides. One of them points at the party, "Lookie here, some flammables!"
[19:29] <Alicia> "Do we look like we're burning?" Alicia responds tartly. "Unless your claws are a lot sharper than they look, you'll have a hard time wounding us."
[19:31] <Kotono> One of the mephits leers, "A mouthy angel and her quiet pals! Come on, show us your strength! Survive passing through our gauntlet, little flammables!"
01[19:32] <Seira> "I don't like taunting the weak," Seira returns, calmly walking ahead.
[19:34] <Kotono> The mephits watch as the party comes closer and closer, the sheet of fire radiating an intense heat!
[19:35] <Alicia> "Do as you like. If you manage to hurt us, we'll even show you our strength," Alicia gives the leering mephit a promising smile as she follows Seira, intending to go through the fire. It'll probably go through her resistance a bit, but she can heal that up easily enough and it'll send a clear message to the mephits that she won't be cowed by threats of burning.
[19:37] <Kotono> Thus Alicia passes through the fire, followed by Seira and Antenora! The flames strike down, incinerating all that pass through it!
[19:37] <Kotono> roll 15d6 Fire res/immunity applies
06[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 Fire res/immunity applies and gets 53." [15d6=4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 5, 3, 5, 5, 3, 5, 2, 4, 5, 1]
[19:38] <Kotono> Seira and Antenora pass through the fire harmlessly! Alicia is singed, her magic only able to stop some of the burning! Once through, the mephits back off. "Strong..."
[19:38] <Alicia> As she emerges Alicia pauses and turns to face the mephits, her skin raw and burnt and her feathers blackened. Yet she only smiles, passing a hand over her features as the wounds and burns all vanish away into nothingness, leaving her as pristine as before.
[19:38] <Alicia> OOC: 20hp lay on hands
06[19:39] * Seira ignores the fodders and proceeds ahead, as Kossuth's servants bid them.
[19:39] <Kotono> "That wasn't so bad, not as bad as that trial in the ruins," Antenora follows Seira, "Did you ever hear the story of that, when Demedais went into the lava?"
01[19:40] <Seira> "I was there, so that's a yes."
[19:40] <Alicia> Having made her point, Alicia continues on after Seira. "I heard he forgot to take his clothes off and they all got incinerated."
01[19:41] <Seira> "That's not actually true. I advised him to take off all that wouldn't be helpful, so only his stamina-boosting clothes got destroyed. That's likely the only reason he survived, since they remained functional long enough to protect him."
[19:44] <Alicia> "I remember I fell in the lava when I was in Ysgard. Even though I was warded it was still agonising," Alicia grumbles. "Good thing I was able to climb out, if I'd sank in there all my belongings would've been immolated even if I got resurrected."
[19:45] <Kotono> "Ah, being immolated in lava or losing legs. Ysgard is such fun," Antenora's gaze is ahead as she walks.
[19:47] <Alicia> "We should go and thank Strength of Light sometime now that Esthan has been defeated," Alicia's mood perks up as she trudges on through the burning ash.
[19:47] <Kotono> "We should." Antenora smiles fondly at that, "For all the troubles, he did really help us."
[19:54] <Kotono> Another two hours pass. As you travel towards the horizon...the ground quakes! Rising up from the ground, 80 feet away, is a roaring flame in the shape of a man. It is large, a billowing red robe clads it's body. You feel an utter terror fill you, mixing with absolute awe of the being within your sight. It's words are like crackles of fire, "Prey. You shall satiate my hunger."
[19:55] <Alicia> "This might be more problematic than the mephits..." Alicia murmurs, preparing a spell to ward off the instinctive terror this creature inspires.
[19:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 planes for what is it, too
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 planes for what is it, too and gets 39." [1d20=17]
06[19:56] * Seira can't think for a better time to cast a defensive spell, likewise taking this next opponent seriously.
[19:56] <Kotono> OOC: If you guys are casting we'll go into initiative, since it's going to sit there and let you cast with impunity.
[19:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 that's why I said preparing
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 that's why I said preparing and gets 13." [1d20=5]
01[19:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+6 ditto, and after it called us pray there was not much chance of dialogue
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 ditto, and after it called us pray there was not much chance of dialogue and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 10." [1d20=5]
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 God-Blooded
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 God-Blooded and gets 17." [1d20=8]
03[19:58] * Kotono changes topic to 'God-Blooded>Alicia>Seira>Antenora'
[20:00] <Kotono> From the hand of this being, a bolt of pure fire erupts out towards Antenora!
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 ranged touch
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 ranged touch  and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 8d6 penetrates fire immunity owwies
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 8d6 penetrates fire immunity owwies and gets 26." [8d6=5, 6, 3, 4, 1, 1, 2, 4]
[20:03] <Kotono> The flames immolate Antenora! A startled cry of pain comes as her wings are scorched and her face is turned lobster red! "Shit!" Cursing in Infernal, "It burned me? Hellfire?" But a split-moment later, four flaming spheres come from the creature's other hand! Like little meteories, they burst all around the party! OOC: CL in case Antenora gets luck first.
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Four reflex saves, all.
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 4#1d20+17
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4#1d20+17 and gets 106." [4#1d20+17 = 25, 30, 26, 25]
01[20:03] <Seira> roll 4#1d20+24
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4#1d20+24 and gets 133." [4#1d20+24 = 29, 33, 33, 38]
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 4#1d20+17
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4#1d20+17 and gets 104." [4#1d20+17 = 32, 26, 27, 19]
[20:04] <Kotono> OOC: Strike, used Alicia's mod. Antenora's is better on ref I think, let me do the math.
[20:04] <Alicia> OOC: +7 on each
[20:04] <Kotono> roll 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply and gets 21." [6d6=3, 6, 5, 1, 1, 5]
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply and gets 22." [6d6=5, 4, 5, 3, 1, 4]
[20:05] <Kotono> roll 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply and gets 21." [6d6=5, 1, 5, 3, 1, 6]
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 Seira nulls all of these with evasion, Alicia and antenora take half, resistance/immunity does not apply and gets 18." [6d6=3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4]
[20:05] <Kotono> Seira deftly dances out of the way, as Alicia and Antenora follow! While not as quick as Seira, they are able to avoid the worst of the flaming, super-hot catastrophe! OOC: Alicia.
01[20:07] <Seira> roll 1d10
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10 and gets 7." [1d10=7]
[20:07] <Alicia> Ironically Alicia bets this thing could probably maul the Winterwight. But it's unlikely they'll secure its cooperation, so hopefully besting it will prove to Kossuth that they deserve some aid. "It carries the blood of Kossuth himself!" Alicia calls, wincing at the burns and casting her spell. "Mother of all Magic, gird our spirits to triumph over this test!"
[20:07] <Alicia> That done she flies 10 feet up and 30 forward, spreading out a bit to hopefully avoid making them all targets again.
[20:07] <Alicia> OOC: +10 to saves vs fear for all within 60 feet
[20:08] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Seira.
06[20:12] * Seira circles to the right as identical images spring all around her. Once she had moved enough to place her within sixty feet of the incarnation of Kossuth, Seira decides to test how much he enjoys shivering in cold!
01[20:12] <Seira> OOC: Greater MI as swift, Cone of Cold as standard. What do I roll?
01[20:12] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[20:13] <Kotono> OOC: SR check.
01[20:13] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 35." [1d20=19]
01[20:13] <Seira> roll 15d6 freeze dc26
06[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 15d6 freeze dc26 and gets 59." [15d6=4, 5, 4, 4, 2, 5, 5, 4, 5, 3, 3, 4, 5, 4, 2]
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 38." [1d20=15]
[20:15] <Kotono> The freezing cone of cold engulfts the robed creature, leaving lines of frost that chill it's body! Yet it's heat burns on, it's body shaking in pain and rage! Antenora hurries ahead, coming to within 20 feet of it...but as she does...
[20:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35
06[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 and gets 50." [1d20=15]
[20:17] <Kotono> Antenora continues to advance, holy fury mending her wounds! OOC: 9/10, +10 HP Antenora. Baddie's up.
[20:19] <Kotono> The ground quakes! From the ground...
[20:19] <Kotono> roll 1d4
06[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[20:20] <Kotono> Four of them emerge, giants cast of fire, with flaming greatswords in hand! They speak in roaring flames, appearing around Antenora, surrounding her! "For the glory of the eternal flames!"
03[20:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'God-Blooded=Fire Giants>Alicia>Seira>Antenora'
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[20:20] <Alicia> OOC: if they're summons they can make will saves or gtfo
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 26." [1d20=9]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 1
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 1 and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 2
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 2 and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 3
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 3 and gets 10." [1d20=1]
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 5
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 5 and gets 25." [1d20=16]
03[20:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'God-Blooded=Fire Giant>Alicia>Seira>Antenora'
[20:21] <Kotono> But a moment later, all but one vanishes! It strikes Antenora, none theless!
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (No flanking now)
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (No flanking now) and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[20:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 27." [1d20=17]
[20:22] <Kotono> Antenora weaves and dodges, flying slightly away from the cleaving blade of fire! As she does, the robed creature steps 30 feet back, gliding on the burning surface, as a ball of fire erupts around Seira! OOC: Ref.
01[20:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[20:22] <Kotono> Seira eludes the ball of fire, weaving out and around flames with ridicious agility! OOC: Alicia.
06[20:24] * Alicia flies fifteen feet closer and fifteen feet up before casting another spell as she comes into range. "Be weakened!" she snaps as the ray of crackling red-tinted negative energy surges out!
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 ranged touch
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 ranged touch and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels +5 negative energy damage
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels +5 negative energy damage and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[20:25] <Kotono> The beam of crackling black energy makes the flaming creature wither slightly, impacted and weakened! OOC:Seira.
06[20:28] * Seira draws her sword as she pursues the creature, calling upon Waukeen's guidance to come within thirty feet of it, where she strikes with her most powerful icy spell!
01[20:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 impromptu SA, empowered orb of cold
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 impromptu SA, empowered orb of cold and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[20:29] <Kotono> OOC: Ranged touch?
01[20:29] <Seira> OOC: Ranged touch, except he's flat-footed
[20:29] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:29] <Seira> OOC: Can he be SAd?
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d6 cold
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d6 cold and gets 78." [15d6=5, 6, 6, 3, 1, 3, 1, 1, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 1, 4]
[20:30] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[20:30] <Kotono> roll 78*1.5
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 78*1.5 and gets 117."
01[20:30] <Seira> roll 5d6 more
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5d6 more and gets 12." [5d6=1, 1, 4, 4, 2]
01[20:30] <Seira> OOC: Fort DC24 or some 1 round effect, he so passes except on a 1
[20:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[20:31] <Kotono> The orb hits the leg of the flaming creature, making it freeze solid! It drags behind it like a burden, entirely iced over! OOC: Antenora's up.
01[20:31] <Seira> "Still hungry for more?" Seira taunts the creature.
[20:32] <Kotono> Antenora focuses on the roadblock ahead of her, healing her wounds in the meantime! OOC: 8/10 FS, +10 HP.
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 (+2 GMW, +1 fly, -4 PA)
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 (+2 GMW, +1 fly, -4 PA) and gets 29." [1d20=5]
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 31." [1d20=17]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 3d8+72
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+72 and gets 79." [3d8=1, 2, 4]
[20:34] <Kotono> The giant is maimed badly, Antenora turning it into a spear cushion as she shreds it's innards, stabbing int it over and over! OOC: Giant and the big flame are up.
[20:35] <Kotono> The giant strikes back at Antenora first of all, swinging without hesitation or fear!
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22." [1d20=2]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 29." [1d20=19]
[20:36] <Kotono> Yet not a blow lands, as the being of fire shakes! From it's body, a great wave of fire comes out, engulfing everything in and endless horror of eternal flame! OOC: Reflex saves all.
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 giant
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 giant and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[20:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 Antenora
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 Antenora and gets 27." [1d20=3]
01[20:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[20:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 31." [1d20=14]
[20:37] <Kotono> roll 22d6
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 22d6 and gets 75." [22d6=4, 6, 6, 5, 2, 4, 5, 6, 2, 1, 1, 3, 5, 1, 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 1, 6, 1]
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Seira nulls, other two take half.
03[20:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'God-Blooded>Alicia>Seira>Antenora'
[20:38] <Kotono> Afterwards, all that is left is burning flamea ll around. The ground is altered, turne dinto waves of magma barely held together by rock. Smirking in the center, the creature looks ahead...then double takes as he sees the heroes still standing! OOC: Alicia.
[20:39] <Kotono> The giant is gone, immolted.
[20:39] <Kotono> *immolated.
[20:39] <Alicia> "You'll have to do better than that!" Alicia challenges as she crafts together another enervation spell and sends it crackling out at her prey!
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 19." [1d20=3]
[20:40] <Kotono> This time, the spell crackles and fizzles against the flaming creature! Grasping out, it's hand shatters the main thrust of the ray, tossing it aside like specks of dark energy! OOC: Anything else, alicia?
[20:40] <Alicia> That done she flies thirty feet straight up.
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Seira.
01[20:43] <Seira> Stoneskin is summoned about Seira's form, as it is really the time for it to appear. She contemplates charging recklessly into melee, but reconsiders, as it's been a while since she had as much fun casting, and opts for a Ray of Dizziness! Without waiting for the results, Seira continues flanking the creature to cut off its escape, and be able to help Antenora when she finally gets through to him.
01[20:44] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: To hit roll.
01[20:44] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 glee
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 glee and gets 32." [1d20=17]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:44] <Seira> OOC: He's effectively slowed
[20:46] <Kotono> The being is slowed down, hit by the ray! AS it is, Antenora charges, a clear path! She screams as she does, "In the name of Mystra, be humbled by us!"
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 (+1 fly, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +8 smite, +2 FS 7/10, -10 PA)
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 (+1 fly, +2 GMW, +2 charge, +8 smite, +2 FS 7/10, -10 PA) and gets 39." [1d20=9]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 2d8+1d6+2d6+92
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+1d6+2d6+92 and gets 110." [2d8=3, 1][1d6=6][2d6=2, 6]
[20:51] <Kotono> Antenora impales the creature in the hip, ripping down! It's frozen leg is shattered by Antenora's withdrawl, broken apart into shards of ice! OOC: Alicia.
[20:53] <Alicia> With battle now joined in earnest, Alicia flies after Antenora to join the melee, ripping down across the God-Blooded's shoulder and chest with Hell Striker!
[20:53] <Kotono> OOC: Strike, sorry, Antenora just went. It's up instead.
[20:53] <Alicia> OOC: nevermind that then
[20:56] <Kotono> Shaking all over, the creature extends it's hand out again! A flaming bolt goes for Antenora first!
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 touch
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 touch and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 12d6 owwies Antenora
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 12d6 owwies Antenora and gets 40." [12d6=4, 2, 3, 6, 3, 3, 1, 6, 1, 6, 3, 2]
[20:57] <Kotono> It then points at Alicia, flaming meteorites bursting around her, four of them! OOC: Four ref saves.
[20:58] <Alicia> roll 4#1d20+17
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4#1d20+17 and gets 101." [4#1d20+17 = 22, 27, 27, 25]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 6d6 full on this one
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 full on this one and gets 20." [6d6=1, 6, 2, 5, 5, 1]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 6d6 halve
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 6d6 halve
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 halve and gets 29." [6d6=4, 3, 6, 5, 6, 5]
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 halve and gets 15." [6d6=2, 3, 5, 1, 3, 1]
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 6d6 halve
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 halve and gets 24." [6d6=1, 6, 5, 2, 4, 6]
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora's wings are charred, featers falling away! Alicia is horrifically burned, aching all over with second and third degree chars! OOC: Alicia.
[21:00] <Alicia> "Dammit, should've done this from the start," Alicia curses, snapping out the command word to her boots as time suddenly stops!
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Okay Alicia, you're up.
[21:01] <Alicia> The first thing she does is turn herself invisible and fly over to flank the creature with Antenora. Next she heals herself, intending to attack as soon as time restarts...
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 18d4+18 healz
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d4+18 healz and gets 59." [18d4=1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 2, 2]
[21:01] <Kotono> OOC: Done?
[21:02] <Alicia> And when it does, the invisible Alicia slices into the god-blooded with a vengeance, despite the shakes she has from the rapid speeding up!
[21:02] <Alicia> OOC: now I full attack
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike and gets 38." [1d20=4]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike and gets 48." [1d20=14]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike smite
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike smite and gets 51." [1d20=19]
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike smite crit check
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 flanking, flying, shaken, divine might, 6th, 5th, 2 2nd level arcane strike smite crit check and gets 41." [1d20=9]
[21:03] <Alicia> OOC: does he have the evil subtype?
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Three hits and a crit. Yes.
[21:04] <Alicia> roll 5d8+119+8d6+4d6+52d4
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8+119+8d6+4d6+52d4 and gets 324." [5d8=1, 8, 8, 4, 7][8d6=3, 1, 6, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1][4d6=3, 4, 6, ]
[21:04] <Alicia> OOC: oh, +2 invis and he's flat footed, duh
[21:05] <Kotono> Caught between a rock and a hard place, the flaming creature's body is torn apart! It turns into a great burst of fire, screaming, "You are stronger...how...!?" Before vanishing away, leaving behind a pile of soot! OOC: Free act.
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: unless he's dead then who cares
06[21:05] * Alicia relinquishes her invisibility spell abruptly, going to heal Antenora. "Stronger, perhaps, but it gave a good fight."
[21:05] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 26." [3d8=1, 5, 5]
01[21:06] <Seira> "Well, this was fun," Seira muses, giving the Resort an idle twirl before she sheathes it smoothly. "Let's go once you're all back to full strength?"
[21:06] <Kotono> "What was that," Antenora leans against Alicia, "And you didn't even get touched."
01[21:07] <Seira> "Must be my devillish luck!"
[21:08] <Kotono> Groaning at that, Antenora proceeds to touch herself and Alicia "That was terrible. But on subject, it blew through our defenses like it was nothing." OOC: 16 HP lay on hand, 8 ot each.
[21:09] <Alicia> "A god-blooded," Alicia repeats, healing Antenora some more. "It lacks any true divinity, but it is descended from Kossuth. It's no surprise that such flames would bypass normal protections."
[21:09] <Alicia> roll 9d4+9 for Anty
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 9d4+9 for Anty and gets 35." [9d4=4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 4, 2]
06[21:09] * Seira decides to help out, coming near the two.
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 3d8+15 Anty
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 Anty and gets 29." [3d8=4, 6, 4]
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 2d8+10 Al-chan
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 Al-chan and gets 24." [2d8=8, 6]
[21:10] <Kotono> "It must have been another trial," Antenora perks up as her burns mend, "I wonder if I should focus on my agility more. Far better than being burnt alive like we were."
01[21:11] <Seira> "It's pretty unlikely many would be able to burn you, in all fairness," Seira points out.
[21:11] <Alicia> "I learned a valuable lesson about holding back, I'll say that," Alicia replies, nodding in thanks for the healing she's given. "Anyway, shall we continue? The Firelord would disapprove if we tarried overlong."
06[21:12] * Seira is good to go, and leads the way onwards, her doubles winking out.
06[21:18] * Alicia casts heroism on herself as they go, since she can keep it up for some time.
[21:18] <Kotono> Another few hours pass, three in total. Ahead, something catches your eye. A tower of gleaming, melty copper rises ahead. It's surrounded by a fence of formed smoke.
06[21:19] * Alicia looks up as they approach, in case the tower stretches into infinity. "Shall we go around or through?" she wonders.
01[21:20] <Seira> "We were told to go straight ahead and not fear the challenge, right?" Seira asks in return.
06[21:20] * Seira fully intends to cast Heroism once they are within minutes of the tower.
[21:23] <Kotono> "Seira has a good point," Antenora says as she strides towards the tower. Seira casts heroism on thew all. On reaching the fence, you see a latch of smoke can open part of it up, if one wishes to proceed in towards the tower proper.
06[21:24] * Seira follows through with Dragonskin, and opens the latch to proceed into the tower.
[21:26] <Kotono> The latch is opened! The entrance to the tower is about 60 feet away, a barred metal door.
[21:27] <Alicia> Seira's the one with skills at opening doors, so Alicia is happy enough to follow along and defer to her expertise.
06[21:28] * Seira makes a show of checking the area for traps, while waiting on Antenora's response.
[21:28] <Kotono> OOC: Rol lif you're actually checking.
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+28
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+28 and gets 45." [1d20=17]
06[21:29] * Alicia then pauses, her eyes glowing blue as she looks around herself.
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: arcane sight
[21:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 spellcraft
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 spellcraft and gets 26." [1d20=16]
06[21:31] * Alicia draws Hell Striker as she advances thirty feet in past the gate, looking around for any additional auras. Since Seira's acting clueless she might as well play along and not focus too much on the one she's already spotted.
01[21:32] <Seira> "Seems clear," Seira says with a shrug, proceeding onwards. As soon as the bearded devil does anything, she's fully prepared to call upon her magic.
[21:32] <Kotono> As the party gets within thirty feet...OOC: PM, Seira.
06[21:33] * Seira continues towards the entrance to the tower, as she waits on hostile actions from the devil before reacting.
[21:34] <Kotono> Seira gets to the door! As she does...
06[21:36] * Seira contemplates revealing her knowledge, but decides to proceeds onwards in a clueless fashion.
06[21:36] * Alicia really wants to address the devil at this point, but figures Seira surely has a plan. Just be nice if she knew what it was.
06[21:37] * Seira ensures they are alone, before saying, "Our host left, looks like."
[21:37] <Alicia> Oh, too late. "It's probably gone to warn someone... this look like diabolical architecture to you, Antenora?" Alicia asks, assuming they've stumbled across a devil base. But if Kossuth put this on their path he surely means for them to test their strength here, and won't care if the devils prove to week to be worthy of His hospitality.
01[21:38] <Seira> "Likely," Seira agrees. "But they don't know we can see them, and it wasn't actually threatening. It was to our advantage to let him go."
[21:39] <Kotono> Antenora looks it over, "No tin particular." She concludes, "It just looks like a copper tower to me."
01[21:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 architecture!
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 architecture! and gets 34." [1d20=15]
01[21:42] <Seira> "Forged with magic, the works," Seira says, looking around for ways to proceed.
[21:43] <Alicia> "Well, shall we head inside?" Alicia asks, gesturing to the door.
[21:43] <Kotono> There is the barred metal door ahead if one wishes to proceed inside.
06[21:44] * Seira opens it, heading onwards.
[21:47] <Kotono> Uplifting the bar, Seira opens the door! Ahead is a room centered around a rising stair. It's mostly plain, save for a pair of bearded devils blocking the way up the stairs. They're 80 feet away, looking at the party.
[21:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 spellcraft
06[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 spellcraft and gets 11." [1d20=1]
01[21:48] <Seira> "Hi," Seira greets them plainly, pausing in her steps. "What is this place?"
06[21:48] * Alicia opens her mouth then closes it. What the hell, Seira's approach probably works.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Mistress is coming," One of the bearded devils barks. "Wait."
06[21:50] * Seira shrugs, stepping ten feet inside the room. "Alright, we can do that."
[21:51] <Alicia> "So is this an outpost for devils or have you been bound by a local?" Alicia asks. Her money's on the latter. She's just not used to seeing Barbazu on any official hellish business these days.
[21:52] <Kotono> "Mistress is coming," The bearded devil repeats. "Wait for her."
06[21:54] * Alicia decides there's no harm in obliging.
[21:56] <Kotono> In a flash, she is there. She stands within thirty feet of the party, offering a hand out. She is made of sleek red scales, very feminine in apperance. She resembles a pit fiend, delicate wings wrapping around to preserve her modesty. Her voice is nothing but beauty, "Ah, guests. Heavenly ones no less! I am Nayliel, Mistress of this tower. What is your business?"
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 recognise her form/name?
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 recognise her form/name? and gets 33." [1d20=11]
01[21:57] <Seira> "Kossuth sent us ahead, and the tower was ahead. Kossuth is pretty straight forward, so we clearly needed to come here," Seira informs her. "So, Nayliel, what's this tower all about?"
[21:57] <Alicia> (planes)
[21:57] <Alicia> OOC: +2 for heroism, actually
[21:59] <Kotono> "This is a tower about..." She bats her eyelids at Seira, "About burning to death in agony and torment. The furances below are marvelous! If Kossuth sent you here, he must want you to burn!"
01[22:00] <Seira> "Well, he must want one of us to burn, in that case," Seira reasons. "Are you sure this is what it has to come down to?"
[22:01] <Alicia> "Well, clearly it's a case of strength, Mistress Nayliel" Alicia replies as she steps forward. "Kossuth has perhaps tired of granting you hospitality and wishes to see if you are strong enough to deserve it? We shall be the instruments of his discernment in this case."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Who am I to question Kossuth's will?" Smiling now, "Kossuth wants all to burn. Ah, you want to fight?" With a long look at Alicia, "I offer my hand and hospitality out and you strike back with venom. I would think you would have respected a kind greeting."
[22:04] <Alicia> "You did say that you presumed he wished us to burn," Alicia replies easily, lazily twirling Hell Striker around at her side as it trails flames in an arc from its dual-blades. "However, never let it be said that Alicia Reynes does not respect good manners. There, we are now introduced, is that not better?"
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 32." [1d20=4]
[22:05] <Kotono> "I've heard of you..." She looks to Antenora and then Seira, "You're the dragon Seira, and you? Antenora. I'm charmed to have such illustrious guests. If you insist on a battle..." She stretches her arms back. "
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
06[22:05] * Seira waves back as her name is called. "Nice to make your acquaintance."
[22:06] <Kotono> "I've heard of you..." She looks to Antenora and then Seira, "You're the dragon Seira, and you? Antenora. I'm charmed to have such illustrious guests. If you insist on a battle..." She stretches her arms back. "You do know I won't just let you come at me here and now. Levels of traps, lesser demons under my command, countless dangers. My my, you might even die."
01[22:08] <Seira> "Well, if you're too afraid to burn in the here and now as Kossuth so clearly wants you to, then that makes you a coward, and your death all but certain," Seira is happy to point out.
[22:08] <Alicia> "There's a pit in Kesse half a mile deep that stands testament to how we deal with such inconveniences," Alicia smiles with her own venom. "I wouldn't put much faith in walls and fodder were I you, Mistress Nayliel."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Before that, let's at least sit down and talk," Smoothly offering a hand out again, "I know your friend there will probably rant about 'Baatezu trickery', but really, do we have to go straight to bloodshed? When did the celestials become intolerant killers?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "It's true." Antenora holds up her glowing spear, "You know what's going to happen here. If you don't want to fight, abandon this tower and get out of our way."
01[22:12] <Seira> "We can talk," Seira admits. "What do you want to talk about?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "You misrepresent us so terribly, I am wounded," Alicia rests a hand over her chest. "Antenora here understands Baatezu trickery better than any, yet I can still call her my friend. However, my tolerance has limits, as I'm sure you can well understand. And you test those limits by encouraging a very ugly side of what the flame can represent."

[Corwin]

[20:44] <Kobrb> > "I've heard of you..." She looks to Antenora and then Seira, "You're the dragon Seira, and you? Antenora. I'm charmed to have such illustrious guests. If you insist on a battle..." She stretches her arms back. "
[20:44] <Kobrb> > OOC: Gah.
[20:44] <Kobrb> * Seira waves back as her name is called. "Nice to make your acquaintance."
[20:44] <Kobrb> > "I've heard of you..." She looks to Antenora and then Seira, "You're the dragon Seira, and you? Antenora. I'm charmed to have such illustrious guests. If you insist on a battle..." She stretches her arms back. "You do know I won't just let you come at me here and now. Levels of traps, lesser demons under my command, countless dangers. My my, you might even die."
[20:44] <Kobrb> <Seira> "Well, if you're too afraid to burn in the here and now as Kossuth so clearly wants you to, then that makes you a coward, and your death all but certain," Seira is happy to point out.
03[20:44] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:44] <Kobrb> <Alicia> "There's a pit in Kesse half a mile deep that stands testament to how we deal with such inconveniences," Alicia smiles with her own venom. "I wouldn't put much faith in walls and fodder were I you, Mistress Nayliel."
[20:44] <Kobrb> > "Before that, let's at least sit down and talk," Smoothly offering a hand out again, "I know your friend there will probably rant about 'Baatezu trickery', but really, do we have to go straight to bloodshed? When did the celestials become intolerant killers?"
[20:44] <Kobrb> > "It's true." Antenora holds up her glowing spear, "You know what's going to happen here. If you don't want to fight, abandon this tower and get out of our way."
[20:44] <Kobrb> <Seira> "We can talk," Seira admits. "What do you want to talk about?"
[20:44] <Kobrb> <Alicia> "You misrepresent us so terribly, I am wounded," Alicia rests a hand over her chest. "Antenora here understands Baatezu trickery better than any, yet I can still call her my friend. However, my tolerance has limits, as I'm sure you can well understand. And you test those limits by encouraging a very ugly side of what the flame can represent."
[20:47] <Kobrb> "Well, if you call down your attack angel with the spear, let's talk." With a snap of her fingers, the copper tower flows! From the floor, seats of steaming, bubbling copper form behind the party. One appears right under Nayliel, falling back to sit on it, sending bits of flowing hot copper splashing.
06[20:49] * Seira raises an eyebrow. "What's the point of disarming when you have mages on both sides?" she asks curiously.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Appearances must be kept, Seira," Alicia notes blandly, relaxing her stance a bit but still holding Hell Striker loosely by her side. "I'm curious, though, just what conversation Mistress Nayliel wishes to partake in after changing her mind about threatening us. I do hope it proves scintilating," she concludes sweetly.
[20:51] <Kobrb> Antenora lowers her spear ever so slightly. "I could just smite you with holy power, but...yes, protocol and all that."
06[20:52] * Seira shrugs, not having drawn her sword yet and seeing little need to change that.
[20:53] <Kobrb> "Why, I had no desire to fight you in the first place. Only that if Kossuth guided you here, he must naturally want you to burn." Throwing a leg up over the armrest of her seat as she leans to the side, "The purpose of this tower is to set things aflame."
[20:54] <Alicia> "This entire *plane* sets things aflame," Alicia counters. "What makes your tower so special?"
01[20:54] <Seira> "Better, more refined fire?" Seira suggests.
[20:56] <Kobrb> "Exactly. Oh, there is fire," Crackling flames dance between Nayliel's fingers, forming the letters for the infernal word of F-I-R-E. "Common fire. Just as there are betters and superiors, there are greater types of flame."
01[20:56] <Seira> "Is your fire so strong it burns you?" Seira asks curiously.
[20:57] <Kobrb> "Like Hellfire?" Antenora shifts slightly, her terse smile cold as ice, steamy ice.
[21:00] <Kobrb> "Oh, it can, it can." Leaning back now, wings flaring up and outward above her head, "Hellfire is so lovely. It burns anything alive."
[21:03] <Alicia> "So, what, is this some sort of Hellfire research facility?" Alicia asks, narrowing her eyes.
[21:04] <Kobrb> "It's a cooperative effort. Kossuth is the Lord of Fire, is he not?" With a sizzling smirk to Alicia, "It's a cooperative effort between Kossuth and the Lord of the Eighth."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Seems rather insecure, though, doesn't it?" Alicia hazards, looking around. "If just anyone can wander in here, it certainly doesn't seem like the Firelord is taking any responsibility for the integrity of your work. So why take the risk of leaving Baator's safe boundaries?"
[21:08] <Kobrb> "Apperances are deceiving." Her wings wrap around her body once more, "That's between Kossuth and Dread Mephisto. Now then...since you have come here, will you brave the furnaces below?"
01[21:10] <Seira> "What's in it for me, besides the inevitable burns to prove I could?"
[21:10] <Kobrb> "You said Kossuth send you here. Surely he wants you to burn and prove yourselves in the hottest fires there are. If you've made it here, mere normal fire is nothing to you."
01[21:12] <Seira> "That's one interpretation," Seira allows. "Another is that he wants us to pit our fire against your fiendfire." She glances at Alicia and Antenora. "What do you think?"
[21:12] <Kobrb> "You know what my vote is," Antenora raises her spear up, "Can we trust a single word she says?"
03[21:13] * Kobrb is now known as Kotono
[21:14] <Alicia> "Welcome to my web, said the spider to the fly..." Alicia mutters under her breath. "An interesting proposal," she goes on in a normal tone. "But it seems an awful lot like you saving yourself the bother of a fight by sweet-talking us into your convenient deathtrap. If nothing else, I have to to applaud your audacity, Mistress Nayliel."
01[21:15] <Seira> "A very good point," Seira agrees. "We can always do the former after trying the latter, but the other way around? Not so much."
[21:19] <Kotono> Standing up, Nayliel bows. "I live to please. Now then...?"
01[21:21] <Seira> "How about making a duel out of it?" Seira proposes. "Your fire versus Alicia's fire. See which works better? I know I'm pretty curious, myself."
[21:23] <Kotono> "Ah, you have fire?" Now looking to Alicia, "What sort of fire?"
[21:25] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Alicia pauses at that. "Well, my fire doesn't so much burn as it... annihilates," she smiles at Nayliel. "Certainly my sword is capable of scorching even a devil's flesh, but Mystra's spellfire puts it to shame." As she speaks she surreptitiously recharges a little, calling upon her innate arcane sight power and absorbing it back as spellfire energy.
01[21:26] <Seira> "So how about it?" Seira asks. "You win, your research advances. She wins... well, you wouldn't be participating if you weren't confident in yourself and your fire, would you?"
[21:28] <Kotono> "Doubt? Of course not. But what do you want if you somehow win?" Nayliel snaps her fingers again. From the stairs above, a Bearded Devil comes running down, prostrating itself before Nayliel.
01[21:29] <Seira> "Oh, I don't know... the fieriest fire you have would be nice."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Ah, certainly. I'll give you as much fire as you please if you win." Nayliel smirks.
[21:30] <Alicia> "We really don't want Hellfire, Seira," Alicia shakes her head, expression twisting in distaste as she continues quietly feeding off her own magic. "Still, there should be some sort of stake for both sides beyond mere curiousity, surely."
01[21:31] <Seira> "How about a copy of the research notes, then?" Seira proposes.
[21:32] <Kotono> "An intact, unaltered and unmanipulated version, if that's what's accepted," Antenora speaks up, "No technicalities abou tputting exploding runes or suggestions in it, or removing the key parts."
[21:34] <Alicia> "That would be acceptable for me," Alicia nods, the magical theory involved surely going to be useful for developing countermeasures to hellfire. "What would you like to claim if you were to win, Mistress Nayliel?" she then asks, continuing her slow and steady buildup of magic.
[21:35] <Kotono> With a lithe shrug of he rshoulders, "Why ,the three of you submit into going into my furnaces under my direction." With another snap of her fingers, a second Bearded Devil scurries down, planting it's face down into the hot copper floor next to it's kin.
01[21:36] <Seira> They'd only be doing that if Alicia can't take on the fiend, so Seira doesn't see much to lose and decides to say as much. "I wouldn't mind, if the exposure lasts a moment," she tells Alicia.
[21:36] <Alicia> "We will enter your furnaces, then," Alicia nods, carrying on with her magical conversion. "Although I make no promise as to how long we would remain there. It hardly seems an equivalent stake if we were to happily commit suicide while all you put up is some research notes."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Oh, I wouldn't expect such mighty angels to die with only a little hellfire," Smirking now, "The terms are acceptable." A third snap of her fingers. This time, a silent dogai descends, bowing on one knee before Nayliel. "My servant here is knowledgeable of fire. He will judge. The two Barbazu here will be the test subjects. As you are the guest, you may go first." One of the Bearded Devils stand and dutifully goes to the side, thirty feet awa
[21:39] <Kotono> you may go first." One of the Bearded Devils stand and dutifully goes to the side, thirty feet away.
[21:42] <Alicia> "I'm afraid I take issue with your choice of targets," Alicia shakes her head. Even if it's a devil she's not about to kill something merely to settle a bet. "Perhaps equivalent inanimate targets would allow for a truer and unbiased reflection of our respective capabilities?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "That servant there is nothing more than an object. It will suffice," With a disgusted snort, "It is merely a Barbazu. Hmph." With a curt gesture towards it, the Barbazu scurries away and back upstairs. "But since you are my guest...why not?" A rise of copper rises up, ten feet wide and ten feet up. It steams and solidifies quickly. "Let us see how well you burn that, then."
06[21:47] * Alicia nods thoughtfully and looks around a bit to gauge the dimensions of the tower, not wanting anyone to be caught in the blast...
[21:47] <Kotono> There's plenty of space. The rise is 30 feet away and there's a lot of spac ein here to move around.
[21:48] <Alicia> Is there enough space for a 130 feet diameter sphere to be hollowed out without endangering the structural stability of the tower?
[21:48] <Kotono> It looks like it, yes.
[21:50] <Alicia> "I would strongly suggest you move back over there," Alicia points to the far wall. "Antenora, could you perhaps warn anyone above or below us to likewise move to a safe distance?" She then gives Nayliel a friendly smile. "For all its power, it has a tendancy to rage out of control and I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt."
06[21:52] * Seira steps to a safe distance from the inevitable blast, comfortable enough to stand next to Nayliel and observe Alicia.
[22:00] <Kotono> Antenora does so as Nayliel blinks and appears near Seira.
[22:02] <Alicia> While she waits on everyone clearing to a safe distance, Alicia charges up a little more. Then, once everyone's safely away, she flaps her wings to take off and hover a few feet above the soon to be vapourised ground... then she explodes. A blinding torrent of roaring spellfire surges out in all directions from her, the pure white magical fire consuming all in its path!
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 26 reflex half if anyone's still in the way
05[22:03] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[22:03] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #dunes
03[22:03] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 26 reflex half if anyone's still in the way
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 26 reflex half if anyone's still in the way and gets 89." [18d8=8, 6, 4, 2, 5, 2, 2, 8, 4, 8, 3, 5, 8, 3, 7, 8, 4, 2]
[22:05] <Kotono> Alicia stands in a perfect hole. Below her terrible fires rage, leaping up to lick up and out! Above her emptiness can be seen. Nayliel claps as the copper flows, smoothly replacing what was lost. "Very good. Total destruction," she calls, "You didn't even leave dust behind, burned it right up."
06[22:05] * Seira claps politely as well.
06[22:07] * Alicia lightly lands back on the ground once it's reformed. "Thank you," she nods politely. At least Nayliel's being a good sport about things.
[22:07] <Kotono> The same tower reforms, "I prefer less mass destruction than you, but..." Nayliel snaps her fingers! A raging storm of superhot fire bursts around the newly reformed tower!
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 10*8
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10*8 and gets 80."
[22:08] <Kotono> The tower is gone, melted away perfectly into oblivion, roasted. It reforms a few moments later, just as it did on a larger scale with Alicia's burst.
06[22:09] * Seira claps this time as well, before she turns towards the nominated expert on fire.
[22:10] <Kotono> The dogai bows to Mistress Nayliel, "Mistress..." It hisses, "In my judgment..." It stops here, a momentary twisting on it's face. "Y-yours was not q-quite as hot as the angel's."
[22:11] <Alicia> "There's a lot to be said for control," Alicia concedes. "The damage I did to the tower is perhaps secondary so we won't count that, but it did seem that the block was undone more swiftly by my fire, though the totality was immolated in both cases," she goes on, being magnaminous in victory since Nayliel's done a good job of being polite herself.
[22:12] <Kotono> With a long sigh, "Leave us then." The dogai vanishes then and there, Nayliel's hands on her hips as she looks to the party. "It seems that the legends of your prowess are not idle chatter. Make yourselves at home down here while I prepare your prize, then."
[22:12] <Alicia> It's not particularly homely, but, "We'll make do," Alicia responds.
[22:13] <Kotono> In an instant, the devil is gone like a puff of cool wind in the summer.
[22:14] <Kotono> "Now I wonder..." Antenora's face creases deeply, "If she keeps her word in spirit, why?"
01[22:14] <Seira> "Why what? Why a devil would keep her word?"
[22:15] <Alicia> "I won't speculate too much since odds are anything we say in this tower will find its way to her ears," Alicia begins, "But perhaps she has more to lose by not bargaining fairly with us, given that we all stand in Kossuth's own desmense."
[22:15] <Kotono> "There's many ways she could have gone about this," Antenora's own wings arch back and forth a bit, "Exactly, Alicia."
01[22:18] <Seira> "Thirded. That was actually my thought as well."
[22:21] <Alicia> "Regardless of her reasons, she has been fair, and I see no reason at present not to honour that," Alicia goes on. "If nothing else it'll give her no reason to change her approach with her next visitors, whomever they may be."
[22:22] <Kotono> OOC: Up to skipping along a bit and wai   ng?
01[22:22] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[22:22] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:23] <Kotono> About an hour passes without incident. Nayliel reappears, a thick tome presented out to the party. "Here you are," she mutters this, looking away.
06[22:24] * Seira takes the tome and gives it a cursory look, on the off chance it is trapped.
01[22:24] <Seira> roll 1d20+28
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+28 and gets 39." [1d20=11]
01[22:26] <Seira> "Thanks! I'm sue it would be exciting reading."
01[22:26] <Seira> *sure
[22:26] <Alicia> "Thank you, Nayliel," Alicia smiles at the fiend. "You've been an uncommonly gracious host."
[22:28] <Kotono> "I am civilized, but I have matters to return to now," Nayliel vanishes once more. Behind you, the doo rout opens. Her voice sounds as she is gone, "You have proven to be stronger than me."
06[22:29] * Seira sees it as their chance to continue on the way towards Kossuth's fiery avatar.
[22:29] <Alicia> "Farewell, then," Alicia returns, offering her portable hole for Seira to put the book into as they depart.
[22:30] <Kotono> As you step back out into the shifting, eternal fires of the Elemental Plane of Fire, "How much longer do you want to go before we rest, Alicia?" Antenora ask.s
[22:30] <Alicia> "I can go a few more hours. How about you, Seira?" Alicia asks as they find their bearings on their route to continue past the tower.
01[22:32] <Seira> "I don't have that many spells protecting me, so I'm good to go for as long as we want to," Seira responds. "Through the night, if we have to. Not like we'll need the rest that badly."
[22:33] <Alicia> "I don't think there is a night, here," Alicia comments, briefly looking up and verifying the lack of a sun. "I have enough spells to ward myself longer. I suppose depending on how difficult the next test is will determine the necessity of resting."
[22:39] <Kotono> After four more hours of travel, sleepiness tugs at the party. The exertions of the day are beginning to be felt. However, ahead, you see osmething. A rive rof sorts, a stream of blazing red fire cutting through the terrain. This 'river' is deep and vast, farther than you can see across, at least from 200 feet away as you are now. Dominating the view is a 'ship' made of what looks to be black rock, slowly proceeding down it.
[22:39] <Kotono> 'ship' made of what looks to be black rock, slowly proceeding down it.
01[22:40] <Seira> "And now it's a ship crossing out path," Seira muses out loud. "Let's fly over to meet it?"
[22:41] <Alicia> "Shouldn't be any harm in it," Alicia agrees, taking to the wing and making sure she's over sixty feet above the river of flame so she'll have time to catch herself if something goes wrong with her wings.
[22:43] <Kotono> As you approach the ship, you see that it is manned by medium sized humanoids of red scale and flame. Standing on the deck, arms crossed, is a large creature with a scimitar.  It wears decadent jewelry, shining even from here.  A few of the flaming, scaled men look up at the three as they get closer.
[22:44] <Alicia> OOC: knowledge to ID them?
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: K:P.
[22:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[22:47] <Alicia> "An efreet... probably more trouble than it's worth," Alicia remarks quietly, flying slowly so as not to outpace the others who have more trouble with the thin air.
[22:50] <Kotono> "If we don't pick a fight, let's just go," Antenora agrees.
01[22:54] <Seira> "Some of them are bound to be decent," Seira reasons. "And if we didn't avoid a tower of devils, a shipful of efreet isn't going to divert us from the path."
[22:56] <Alicia> Well, they didn't know it was full of devils when they barged in the door. "Alright, lets say hello?" Alicia shrugs, starting to descend slowly and carefully.

[Corwin]

[20:25] <Ko-sleep> > As you approach the ship, you see that it is manned by medium sized humanoids of red scale and flame. Standing on the deck, arms crossed, is a large creature with a scimitar.  It wears decadent jewelry, shining even from here.  A few of the flaming, scaled men look up at the three as they get closer.
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> <Alicia> OOC: knowledge to ID them?
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> > OOC: K:P.
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> -> *Aliica* The men are azur, flame based outsiders. The jewelry wearing large guy is an efreeti. From his jewelry and position, he's probably a well regarded, rich or noble one.
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> <Alicia> "An efreet... probably more trouble than it's worth," Alicia remarks quietly, flying slowly so as not to outpace the others who have more trouble with the thin air.
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> > "If we don't pick a fight, let's just go," Antenora agrees.
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> <Seira> "Some of them are bound to be decent," Seira reasons. "And if we didn't avoid a tower of devils, a shipful of efreet isn't going to divert us from the path."
[20:25] <Ko-sleep> <Alicia> Well, they didn't know it was full of devils when they barged in the door. "Alright, lets say hello?" Alicia shrugs, starting to descend slowly and carefully.
[20:27] <Ko-sleep> As the party descends, reaching to about fourty feet down, smoke all around, "Ahoy! Declare yourselves!" The efreet calls, voice loud. "What do you want?" The azers below ready nets and bows.
06[20:28] * Seira decides to leave the response in Alicia, in case the efreet has some stupid reason to hate her.
[20:32] <Ko-sleep> "Well...?" Antenora looks between the two, voice kept low.
06[20:32] * Alicia doesn't really want anything from these people. On the other hand, probably no harm in asking for some directions? "We are travellers honouring the Firelord," she calls down truthfully. "I am Alicia, this is Seira, and Antenora. What of yourself? Where do you sail for?"
[20:34] <Ko-sleep> Bellowing back in Ignan, "I am Neraphit Et Sylkat, Captain of the Flame Spreader! My business is my own!"
01[20:35] <Seira> "So does that mean we can land on the deck for a few moments and speak face to face?" Seira calls down in the same language.
[20:35] <Alicia> Well, fine. Be that way. "As you would have it. Safe travels," Alicia responds easily, angling back up to gain altitude. "Lets just leave them be and continue on our way? If he doesn't want anything to do with us I've got no problem obliging."
06[20:36] * Alicia then pauses as Seira declares her interest, but hovers higher than her companions.
01[20:37] <Seira> "Give me a moment with this guy?" Seira requests Alicia and Antenora quietly. "It might well be a good chance to ask about this efreet that crossed me, and we don't have to stay for tea and scones afterwards."
[20:38] <Ko-sleep> Antenora settles in between the two as the efreet bellows back, "No. You can speak your mind from above. What do you want?"
01[20:39] <Seira> "I just wanted to know what the name Amir of the Flaming Heart refers to," Seira responds, her voice raised for the efreet's convenience. "Don't really have a reference except that it has to do with this plane."
[20:41] <Ko-sleep> Crossing his arms, "It sounds like an honored member of the Court of the Grand Sultan. Go visit the City of Brass if you want to find whomever that is."
01[20:41] <Seira> "Sure thing. Have fun sailing down the river of fire," Seira responds, and then feels quite ready to continue.
[20:43] <Ko-sleep> As Seira parts away, the ship going on, "Find out anything," Antenora asks. "That was quick."
[20:43] <Alicia> Satisfied that they're done here, Alicia beats her wings and propels herself onwards to cross the river on their journey. "Lets see if we can find a place to camp after we've crossed?" she suggests.
01[20:44] <Seira> "I found out that every djinn I've come across thus far was rude and pretentious," she says crossly, once they are far enough to avoid starting pointless battles with the efreet's ship. "And dragons are the ones with a bad reputation. That's just so unfair."
[20:45] <Alicia> "Djinn don't really have a good reputation," Alicia shakes her head as they fly. "Devils were only half the reason I wanted to avoid Brass, after all."
[20:46] <Ko-sleep> "Efreeti can be as callous and cruel as any devil," Antenora flies onward, "Between being resistant to fire and the compatability with the City of Brass, devils have a strong foothold in this realm."
01[20:47] <Seira> "Oh, I know. But it's so undeserved. The efreet are just ankle-biters."
[20:48] <Alicia> "Dragons make for more impressive antagonists in stories?" Alicia then suggests as a consolation.
01[20:48] <Seira> "Sure thing, let's go with that," Seira is happy to agree.
[20:48] <Ko-sleep> With a warm laugh, "Besides, if most people remember anything about efreeti, it's that they can grant wishes, not that they're cruel bastards.
[20:48] <Ko-sleep> "
[20:50] <Alicia> "Although in a lot of stories those two facts go hand in hand," Alicia chuckles herself. "The bards are fond of tales involving morbidly ironic wishes."
01[20:51] <Seira> "And of the two, who actually granted me a wish? A dragon. How's that for irony?"
[20:52] <Ko-sleep> OOC: Make spot or a search check, each of you?
[20:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 spot
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 spot and gets 27." [1d20=17]
01[20:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 search
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 search and gets 30." [1d20=7]
[20:53] <Ko-sleep> roll 1d20+21 Spot Antenora
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Ko-sleep rolls 1d20+21 Spot Antenora and gets 28." [1d20=7]
[20:54] <Ko-sleep> About fourty five minutes later, Seira spots something on the edge of your vision. Coming closer, you see that several 'waves' of solidified basalt and other igneous rock have surged up and cooled. While still warm, the stone is solid and provides some relative shelter.
06[20:55] * Seira guides everyone over to the sheltered area!
[20:56] <Alicia> "This should do nicely," Alicia agrees as she lands, using her decanter to pour some water in her mouth and gulping it down before it evaporates in the ever-present heat. "The heat I can deal with, but eating and drinking properly are really difficult around here."
[20:56] <Ko-sleep> Antenora goes to sit agaisnt the rock, "I can take most of the watch - I only need a nap. You two need more sleep and rest to rechage spells. It's hot, but it's a good hot. Seira, how do you like it?"
01[20:58] <Seira> "It's pleasantly warm," Seira responds, stretching out slowly. "Living here would be boring, but it would be the perfect place to visit for a brief vacation. Maybe with hot springs, or lava?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Go ahead and nap, sure," Alicia agrees, biting into her rapidly charring rations. "Then we can sleep once you've rested."
[21:04] <Ko-sleep> "Lava baths. How terribly decadent." Antenora goes to lie down, taking off her armor and stacking it neatly besides her before resting. OOC: So Antenora sleeps for her two, then you two get some rest?
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: Works for me
[21:05] <Ko-sleep> roll 1d100+5
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Ko-sleep rolls 1d100+5 and gets 10." [1d100=5]
03[21:05] * Ko-sleep is now known as Kotono
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: I'll use the rod of extend to cast resist energy before sleeping, Anty will wake me up after 5 hours and I'll recast it and go back to sleep, so when I wake up and refresh spells I'll be -1 2nd level slot but otherwise good to go
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:05] <Alicia> OOC: also spamming some spellfire healing before sleep
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
[21:06] <Alicia> roll 10d4+10 Alicia
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d4+10 Alicia and gets 37." [10d4=3, 4, 2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 4]
[21:06] <Alicia> roll 10d4+10 Anty
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d4+10 Anty and gets 32." [10d4=4, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3]
[21:07] <Kotono> Fortune smiles on the band of three. Sleep comes without incident, a restful night passing. The party rises refreshed in the morning, ready to proceed onward. OOC: Seira, reroll false life.
01[21:07] <Seira> roll 1d10
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
06[21:08] * Alicia has a quick breakfast of charred rations and boiling water and is good to go! "Everyone ready to continue onwards?"
01[21:09] <Seira> "Let's keep at it!"
06[21:10] * Alicia flies off of their rest spot and goes back onto yesterday's route, advancing ever onwards and ready to confront whatever challenges await them!
[21:14] <Kotono> Six hours of travel pass. Ahead, at the edges of your smoke tinted vision, you see a wavering image of a silver obelisk rising up, an isolated momument. You can see hazy images of creatures around it.
[21:15] <Alicia> "Doesn't look like it stretches to infinity, but it's the first notable landmark we've seen all day," Alicia remarks. "Lets give it a look?"
01[21:16] <Seira> "However could we ignore Kossuth's next invitation?" Seira agrees, heading towars the obelisk.
[21:18] <Kotono> As you get closer, you can see the obelisk is perhaps 50 feet tall. Red skinned dwarves are the only people you see, beards of sparks and smoke. Rings of dwarves surround the obelisk in three concentric rings. The outermost bow and meditate. The middle ring chants prayers and praise to Kossuth in Ignan. The inner ring holds hands around the obelisk. From the obelisk, fire crackles forth, immolating them. Each time they burn, they chant as one,
[21:18] <Kotono> From the obelisk, fire crackles forth, immolating them. Each time they burn, they chant as one, "Ever Hot Father, be praised with the hottest words!"
06[21:19] * Seira peers closely to see whether the fire is actually killing the dwarves.
[21:19] <Kotono> The fire leaves the dwarves blackened and seared, but it doesn't seem to do any serious harm.
[21:21] <Alicia> "We probably shouldn't interrupt, but lets at least show our respects?" Alicia suggests, bowing her head to the obelisk as they draw closer.
06[21:21] * Seira finds herself in agreement with Alicia, nodding.
[21:22] <Kotono> Antenora briefly bows her head as they pass. The dwarves seem to pay the party no mind, continuing without interruption.
06[21:24] * Alicia sedately passes by the obelisk, circling around the dwarves and only raising her head once they've passed it completely.
[21:27] <Kotono> Four more hours pass. As you walk...it is there. It is seen past the smoke, impossibly far away. Yet your eyes see it...no. Your spirits see it, seeing it in a way that the eyes can only project into your vision. An endless, huge column of flickering, flmaing red, rising high into the sky and so far away. Tears come to your eyes, tears at the beauty of what you see. OOC: Make will saves, all?
[21:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 33." [1d20=8]
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 45." [1d20=20]
01[21:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[21:28] <Kotono> Each of you feels awed. A raw awe surges in each of you as you view this maginificent vision. It stays in control, leaving you in command of you facilities, despite an urge to bow and pay homage.
06[21:29] * Seira resists the unnatural urge, but then bows and pays homage of her own will.
[21:31] <Kotono> "Mystra..." Antenora looks for a long while, at last lowering her gaze. "That-that was what they talked of?" She wipes her eyes, "It's beautiful."
[21:31] <Alicia> "We're close," Alicia breathes softly, bowing her head half just to avert her eyes from the divine glory before her. Its like that moment in the ruins when she first met her Goddess, before Mystra brought her clarity. "It can be nothing else," she tells Antenora.
01[21:31] <Seira> "This must be the fieriest fire of all," Seira says in awe.
[21:32] <Kotono> "It's so far away, but it's all I can do not to bow before it," Antenora's voice is hoarse and breathless. "What glory! We...we must be close, yes."
[21:34] <Alicia> "We can best honour the Firelord by showing our strength of will and continuing on," Alicia suggests, hoping she has the right of it.
[21:35] <Kotono> The first step forward is indescriably difficult. Your will has to brace yourself to advance. When one foot is put forward and another step follows, the endless smoke of the realm parts. Ahead, a ziggurat rises up, a few hundred feet away. Down it's sides molten magma and molten metals flow, forming moats of intense heat around the ziggurat. It is titantic and reaches high...but is nothing to the great pillar of heat that dominates all in the
[21:35] <Kotono>  high...but is nothing to the great pillar of heat that dominates all in the sky above.
01[21:36] <Seira> They wouldn't be sent all this way just to pointlessly die. It's a test, and nothing would turn Seira away from this manifestation of fiery divinity.
06[21:37] * Alicia casts shield and heroism in short order once she's found her momentum, the latter spell also being cast on Antenora. "I have the feeling we're not through our tests yet," she explains.
[21:38] <Kotono> As you come closer, spells cast and prepared, you see a bridge rising out of the moat of magma. It hisses and cools, bands of metal and stone solidifying instantly. It leads across, to a door leading into the lowest level of the ziggurat.
06[21:39] * Seira goes with heroism and dragonskin herself, opting for an extended shield and a ray of dizziness stored within a spell matrix. "Our way in, it seems?"
06[21:40] * Alicia doesn't expect Kossuth to bother with sneaky traps and the like, rather than more straightforward tests of strength and will. "We've come this far, we'll see this through," she nods resolutely, going to open the door.
06[21:41] * Seira decides to go with stoneskin as well, agreeing with Alicia and drawing her sword in preparation.
[21:44] <Kotono> As you cross the bridge, you see that the door leading inside is closed. But flames surge and dance around the door! They form into a being in armor, flame clad in half melting steel and adamantine. In Common, "Praise of Kossuth to you. Speak your purpose here, you stronger than the distant lineage of Kossuth."
01[21:45] <Seira> "And praise of Kossuth to you," Seira responds to the being. "He sent us here to be tested, to see if we are worthy of the gift of fiery fire able to melt down a creature born of Auril and Shar."
[21:50] <Kotono> "You seek to slay a Winterwight? Kossuth shall see your strength then. Climb this ziggurat and show Kossuth your might! Claim the top and his favor shall find you, mighty ones." The being of metal and fire steps aside, "Enter into the crucible of testing, under the gaze of the Father of Fire."
01[21:51] <Seira> "We would have it no other way!" Seira exclaims, stepping forward.
[21:51] <Alicia> "Praise Kossuth for granting us this opportunity," Alicia returns respectfully, nodding to the being as she passes across the bridge and into the ziggurat.
[21:52] <Kotono> "May we come with victory in our hands," Antenora follows. As you pass, "Retreat not!" The being of fire proclaims! "Higher and higher you go! There is no retreat for the brave and strong!" Ahead, the doors begin to open!
[21:53] <Alicia> "We will heed your words," Alicia takes a moment to cast sonic weapon on Hell Striker, swinging it into position as the doors open, striding onwards once they've done so.
[21:55] <Kotono> Inside, you find the ziggurat to be empty, the floor smooth stone as far as you can see. A sharp gong sound is heard as the door close behind you! Ahead, four creatures of living fire rise up from the ground! Each of them is huge, crackling and rippling with living fire! They are fourty feet away, advancing at the party with frightening speed! OOC: Init.
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
01[21:56] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 9." [1d20=3]
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 16." [1d20=11]
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 1
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 2
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 1 and gets 16." [1d20=5]
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 2 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 3
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 3 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[21:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 4
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 4 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
03[21:56] * Kotono changes topic to '2=4(20)>Alicia=Antenora=1(16)>4(12)>Seira(9)'
[21:57] <Kotono> Two of them lunge forward, slamming great big fists down at Antenora and Seira!
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Seira
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Seira and gets 38." [1d20=19]
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 Antenora
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 Antenora and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC AC flatfooted?
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: Geez, not that. But tell me if someone's attacking me, I have immediates
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 2d8+4 and make a reflex save
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+4 and make a reflex save and gets 8." [2d8=2, 2]
01[21:59] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 30." [1d20=4]
[22:00] <Kotono> Wham! The flaming fist doesn't even budge Seira, her stoneskin stopping the damage and her speed avoiding the flames that dance around her! Antenora's luckier, her opponent flat out missing her! OOC: Alicia and Antneora.
06[22:01] * Alicia decides to help out Antenora so she can charge something else, stepping up alongside her friend and slicing her blade up through the elemental, twisting it back and reversing course to eviscerate it entirely!
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 knowledge
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 knowledge and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2 pa divine might
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2 pa divine might and gets 30." [1d20=5]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2 pa divine might
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2 pa divine might and gets 42." [1d20=17]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2 pa divine might
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2 pa divine might and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2 pa divine might
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2 pa divine might and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -2 pa divine might
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -2 pa divine might and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -2 pa divine might
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -2 pa divine might and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[22:03] <Kotono> OOC: All hit but the 1.
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 5d8+115+5d6
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8+115+5d6 and gets 166." [5d8=6, 7, 2, 8, 7][5d6=6, 4, 5, 5, 1]
03[22:03] * Kotono changes topic to '2(20)>Alicia=Antenora=1(16)>4(12)>Seira(9)'
01[22:03] <Seira> roll 1d6
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[22:04] <Kotono> Striking quick, Alicia makes the fire elemental collapse into little shards of flaming fire! As it falls apart, Antenora zooms by, charging the 4th elemental before it can move!
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+2 charge +2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -12 PA)
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+2 charge +2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -12 PA) and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+2 charge +2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -12 PA)
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+2 charge +2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -12 PA) and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[22:06] <Alicia> OOC: hate to say it, but can't crit elementals
[22:06] <Kotono> OOC: Oh wow, I did forget in all the build up to that. Thanks. I was even thinking in prep that Seira couldn't SA them. Duuuur.
[22:06] <Kotono> roll 2d8+72
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+72 and gets 82." [2d8=5, 5]
[22:07] <Kotono> Antenora stabs right into it's stomach, ripping her spear in and out as fire dances around her! Meanwhile, the first starts to charge, but instead steps closer and double-slams Antenora!
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 31." [1d20=14]
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 32." [1d20=15]
[22:08] <Kotono> But Antenora avoids both, weaving around in the air, over and then under both slams! OOC: 4th elemental is up.
[22:08] <Kotono> The fourth elemental goes to slam Antenora as well, having her right in it's face!
[22:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[22:08] <Kotono> But again, Antenora blocks and dodges the blows, flying between the two and back around! OOC: Seira.
01[22:10] <Seira> "Lagann, let's go stab stuff to show our strength!" Seira calls out, giving her metallic buddy a chance to the elemental's back before she retaliates for the attack on her person!
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 42." [1d20=19]
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 25." [1d20=7]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 21." [1d20=4]
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: All of those hit.
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 2#3d8+9
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#3d8+9 and gets 44." [2#3d8+9 = 26, 18]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d6+1d4+4
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+1d4+4 and gets 11." [1d6=5][1d4=2]
01[22:11] <Seira> roll 4#2d6
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 4#2d6 and gets 24." [4#2d6 = 4, 5, 8, 7]
[22:13] <Kotono> Seira tears into the elemental, claw and blade ripping solid, deep wounds into it, tearing apart fire like flesh! OOC: It's up.
[22:13] <Kotono> The second elemental rears back and strikes twice at Seira! OOC: Using any immediates?
01[22:14] <Seira> OOC: I'll risk not doing it now
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 37." [1d20=20]
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 21." [1d20=4]
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 crit?
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 crit? and gets 23." [1d20=6]
01[22:14] <Seira> OOC: AC41
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 2d8+4 and a reflex save
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+4 and a reflex save and gets 14." [2d8=3, 7]
01[22:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+26
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 and gets 29." [1d20=3]
[22:15] <Kotono> Seira is smacked again, absorbing the worst of it and avoiding it's dancing flames, barely budged at all by a strike that could shatter stone! OOC: Alicia and Antneora.
06[22:16] * Alicia moves to engage the one attacked already by Antenora, tumbling through the air towards it and slashing out to hopefully put it down and free up Antenora for more charging fun.
[22:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 -13pa
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 -13pa and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[22:17] <Alicia> roll 1d8+39+1d6
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+39+1d6 and gets 51." [1d8=7][1d6=5]
[22:18] <Kotono> Alicia charges and tumbles in, striking a single terrible blow! The elemental preserves, enduring the impact just barely! As embers crackle off it, Antenora assaults it!
[22:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA)
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA) and gets 38." [1d20=18]
[22:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA)
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA) and gets 17." [1d20=2]
[22:18] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA)
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 flying, -10 PA) and gets 18." [1d20=8]
[22:18] <Kotono> roll 1d8+34
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+34 and gets 40." [1d8=6]
03[22:18] * Kotono changes topic to '2(20)>Alicia=Antenora=1(16)>Seira(9)'
[22:19] <Kotono> A second one goes down, beaten into sparks by Antenora and Seira! As it breaks apart, the 1st one slams once at Antenora and Alicia, trying to crush both with it's massive power!
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 25." [1d20=8]
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 Antenora
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 Antenora and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[22:19] <Kotono> But both are easily stopped, bulk avoided by speed! OOC: Seira.
06[22:21] * Seira silently continues her attack, mildly dismayed by the persistent elemental remaining in her path and actually managing to land a strike on her despite all of her precautions.
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 31." [1d20=8]
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 37." [1d20=19]
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 27." [1d20=10]
01[22:21] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 25." [1d20=8]
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: All hit.
01[22:22] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+3d8+9+1d6+2+1d4+2+8d6
06[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+3d8+9+1d6+2+1d4+2+8d6 and gets 82." [3d8=1, 4, 5][3d8=7, 4, 6][1d6=3][1d4=3][8d6=6, 3, 4, 3, 6, 1, 2, 2]
03[22:22] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia=Antenora=1(16)>Seira(9)'
[22:23] <Kotono> Now only one remains, Seira slicing apart her elemental, falling apart into flaming dust! OOC: You two are up.
06[22:24] * Alicia naturally does her best to kill it, dancing around its flaming bulk in a flurry of quick sword swipes!
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2pa and gets 37." [1d20=12]
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 -2pa and gets 40." [1d20=15]
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2pa and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -2pa and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -2pa and gets 32." [1d20=17]
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -2pa
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 -2pa and gets 18." [1d20=3]
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC: All hit but the 18.
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 5d8+75+5d6
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8+75+5d6 and gets 106." [5d8=4, 4, 2, 2, 5][5d6=3, 1, 4, 5, 1]
[22:24] <Kotono> As Alicia rips it's flank, Antenora assails it head on, stabbing into it's intact side!
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (-10 PA, blah blah blah)
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (-10 PA, blah blah blah) and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 17." [1d20=2]
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 2d8+68
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+68 and gets 70." [2d8=1, 1]
[22:25] <Kotono> With that double flurry, the battle ends! The last one crumbles apart! In the silence, an oozing stairway of molten stone rises up, ascending into smoky horizons unseen.
[22:26] <Kotono> Antenora flicks her spear clean of embers, "An easy enough trial. That was surely just a trivial opening test.
[22:26] <Kotono> "
01[22:26] <Seira> "Kossuth's way of saying hi. I like it!"
[22:27] <Alicia> "Almost certainly," Alicia agrees, heading towards the stairway.
[22:30] <Kotono> Thus you begin to ascend! You climb up! You find yourself in a narrow tower ascending up of sorts, windows outside seen. You can see the great pillar of flame rising endlessly, no sign of the ground below - jus tendless smouldering smoke and leaping fire. The crackle of flame is heard distantly, a constant chorus of burning. In the crackling, as you walk, "Many raged at the creation of the Winterwights. The Gods of Good rejected such a vile ab
[22:30] <Kotono> "Many raged at the creation of the Winterwights. The Gods of Good rejected such a vile abomination of unlife...the Gods of Healing were offended at it's dreadful Blightfire...and woe unto all, Lord Kossuth's anger blazed bright, for it's mockery of fire insulted His flaming majesty." A voice speaks in crackles of noise and language mixed together.
[22:32] <Alicia> If nothing else, Alicia is vastly reassured that they've come to the right place for help in slaying that monstrosity. "It is a creature that should not be," she agrees with the commentary as they continue upwards.
01[22:33] <Seira> "Give me awesome fire over creepy undead ice any day," Seira agrees.
[22:35] <Kotono> With another step, you find yourself standing in the ziggurat once more! This time, the floor seems...smaller. You cannot see any walls of boundaries to this vast space, but the feeling is there, as obvious as the heat in the air. But only for a moment! In an instant, you are surrounded on all sides! Four large bears, each burning with fire, are ten feet away from you, forming a box around you! Fourty feet straight up, an elf with blazing eyes
[22:35] <Kotono> are ten feet away from you, forming a box around you! Fourty feet straight up, an elf with blazing eyes and clad in fire instead of clothes appears!  He calls in Ignan, "Show me your strength!" OOC: The intent is very obvious. Init.
[22:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26." [1d20=18]
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 7." [1d20=2]
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[22:36] <Kotono> "It's getting a little more serious now," Antenora whips her spear around, "I can go for the airborne elf!"
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Bear 1
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Bear 2
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Bear 1 and gets 16." [1d20=10]
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Bear 2 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Bear 3
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Bear 3 and gets 16." [1d20=10]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Bear 4
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Bear 4 and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Elf
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 Elf and gets 12." [1d20=8]
[22:36] <Alicia> "Do it," Alicia nods. "Seira, lets team up on the bears till we know their strength?"
03[22:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Flaming Bear 1=Flaming Bear 3(16)>Flaming Bear 2(15)>Antenora(7)'
03[22:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Flaming Bear 1=Flaming Bear 3(16)>Flaming Bear 2(15)>Burning Elf(12)>Antenora(7)'
01[22:37] <Seira> "Bears over elves, sure thing," Seira likewise agrees.
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia and Bear 4 are up.
06[22:38] * Alicia goes to attack the fiesty looking bear, flying over to its opposite side so as to distract it from Seira's inevitable attack as she slices Hell Striker through its spine while passing overhead!
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 knowledge
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 knowledge and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Which bear?
[22:39] <Alicia> OOC: bear 4
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5 pa, flying
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5 pa, flying and gets 35." [1d20=9]
[22:40] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d8+23+1d6
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+23+1d6 and gets 32." [1d8=3][1d6=6]
[22:40] <Kotono> AS Alicia flies around and assails the burning bear, it whilrs around and slashes it's claws at her!
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 28." [1d20=1]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 44." [1d20=17]
[22:41] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[22:41] <Alicia> OOC: 35
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 2d6+13 and opposed grapple time
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+13 and opposed grapple time and gets 23." [2d6=6, 4]
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34 freedom of movement don't fail me now
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 freedom of movement don't fail me now and gets 43." [1d20=9]
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 36." [1d20=9]
[22:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 bite then
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 bite then and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[22:42] <Kotono> Alicia gets a claw rip into her side, a graze! She's nearly pulled in by the bear's titantic strenght, but twists away from a bearhug at the very last second! OOC: Seira.
06[22:43] * Seira follows Alicia's path, tumbling past the bear's enormous yet clumsy reach to sink the Resort in its knee!
01[22:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[22:43] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+5d6
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+5d6 and gets 32." [3d8=3, 2, 1][5d6=5, 4, 5, 2, 1]
[22:44] <Kotono> Seira slices the bear in the knee, drawing a rivulet of burning blood, but it's certainly not down! It roars in it's fury, claws swiped at Seira as she dances around! OOC: Is that it this round, Seira?
01[22:45] <Seira> OOC: Pretty much
[22:45] <Kotono> The first flaming bear goes for Antenora, too slow to avoid it's attacks before she becomes airborne!
[22:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw and gets 34." [1d20=7]
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 2d6+13 and opposed grapple time
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+13 and opposed grapple time and gets 23." [2d6=4, 6]
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Antenora grapple
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Antenora grapple and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 Bear grapple
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 Bear grapple and gets 35." [1d20=8]
[22:47] <Kotono> roll 2d6+13 more pain
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+13 more pain and gets 20." [2d6=5, 2]
[22:47] <Kotono> Antenora is clawed in the arm, crying out as she's pulled into a bearhug, squeezed tight by the titanic flaming bear! The other one lumbers forward, going to take a single swipe at Seira!
[22:47] <Kotono> OOC: Any action, Seira?
01[22:48] <Seira> OOC: I'll deflect! +4 to ac
[22:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw and gets 41." [1d20=14]
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
01[22:48] <Seira> OOC: I made the right call! My ac is 45 vs that attack.
[22:49] <Kotono> Ting! A field of deflective force springs up, bouncing the claw back a mere inch from Seira's unprotected throat! The second bear lumbers around, going to swipe at Alicia!
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
[22:49] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[22:49] <Alicia> OOC: 35
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 2d6+13 and grapplin' time
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+13 and grapplin' time and gets 21." [2d6=2, 6]
[22:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+34
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+34 and gets 44." [1d20=10]
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 31." [1d20=4]
[22:50] <Kotono> Alicia gets another rip into her delicate but tough flesh, but slips out of a bearhug a second before it binds her tight to the flaming, furry monster! OOC: Elf is up.
[22:51] <Kotono> From above, words are called, words of arcane magic forming! A drop of sticky molasses is tossed into the air, "Be held in the grasp of uncertain time!" The elf calls!
[22:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 CL check
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 CL check and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora's off the hook. Will for you two.
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 and gets 32." [1d20=5]
01[22:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 25." [1d20=1]
[22:52] <Kotono> OOC: Bad luck, SEira. You're slowed, as per: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/Slow.htm
[22:52] <Kotono> The magic clusters around Seira! Her movements slow down, as if she's stuck in a layer of sticky glue all around her! OOC: Antenora.
[22:55] <Alicia> "Just a moment, Antenora, I'll weaken it for you!" Alicia calls over from the melee she's embroiled in.
[22:56] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora holds then. OOC: Bear 4 and Alicia are up.
03[22:56] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
03[22:56] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[22:57] <Alicia> Channelling an enervation spell into Hell Striker, Alicia floats up just a bit to get a clear line on the bear before she hurls the blade forward with all her might, aiming to slice through its hindquarters and leave Antenora safe!
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 DC 17 concentration if they have reach, casting defensively
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 DC 17 concentration if they have reach, casting defensively and gets 33." [1d20=18]
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -10 pa divine might
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -10 pa divine might and gets 34." [1d20=12]
[22:57] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[22:58] <Alicia> roll 1d8+48+1d6
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+48+1d6 and gets 55." [1d8=2][1d6=5]
[22:58] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels and gets 4." [1d4=4]
01[22:59] <Seira> "I've got an idea as well," Seira calls out to Antenora, staring at the flying elf in dismay for a moment.
[22:59] <Kotono> With deft speed, Alicia hurtles Hell Striker through the flank of the bear! It leaves a deep, gashing and bleeding wound, one that glows a terrible gray! Meanwhile, the fourth bear roars and goes for Seira with it's claws!
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw 1
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw 1 and gets 30." [1d20=3]
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw 2 I'm aware you used your immediate already, so
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw 2 I'm aware you used your immediate already, so and gets 33." [1d20=6]
[22:59] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
01[22:59] <Seira> OOC: 40 due to slow
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 bite
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 bite and gets 39." [1d20=17]
01[23:00] <Seira> OOC: Anty holds on me since I asked, right?
[23:00] <Kotono> Moving in slow motion, Seira is still quick enough to parry away claws and dodge bites, even so slowed down! OOC: Sure. She's waiting on you, go.
06[23:01] * Seira steps out of the bear's reach and calls upon the spell of benign transposition to switch she and Antenora places!
01[23:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+8 (1 ignorance)
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+8 (1 ignorance) and gets 26." [1d20=18]
[23:03] <Kotono> In an instant, Antenora and Seira have switched positions! Now Seira's in a bear hug, while Antenora's free! OOC: Antenora's going to take her action now.
01[23:03] <Seira> "Go give that elf hell!"
03[23:03] * Kotono changes topic to 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1=Flaming Bear 3(16)>Flaming Bear 2(15)>Burning Elf(12)'
01[23:04] <Seira> Since she finds herself in a grapple, Seira calls upon terrible tentacles of arcane might to hold the bear at bay!
[23:04] <Kotono> As black tentacles writeh out of Seira's shoulders and body, Antenora defensively concentrates!
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 (+2 heroism)
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 (+2 heroism) and gets 33." [1d20=14]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 15d6
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 15d6 and gets 60." [15d6=2, 5, 2, 6, 5, 5, 3, 6, 2, 1, 5, 6, 3, 6, 3]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
03[23:05] * Kotono changes topic to 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1=Flaming Bear 3(16)>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[23:06] <Kotono> The flaming elf finds himself surrounded by a blade barrier! Bloody chunks come raining down, the elf torn apart by the whirling swords of force! OOC: Bear 1 is up, aka the Seira grappler.
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: What do the tentacles do here?
01[23:07] <Seira> OOC: +8 to grapple, really
[23:07] <Kotono> OOC: Opposedg rapple.
01[23:07] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 26." [1d20=3]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 (-4 enervation)
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 (-4 enervation) and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[23:07] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 owwies bearhug
06[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 owwies bearhug and gets 15." [2d8=1, 1]
[23:08] <Kotono> Seira is squeezed tight, as Antenora exhales in relief, "Support's down," she gasps, holy fury blanketing her! OOC: Bear 3 is up.
[23:08] <Kotono> The third bear goes for Antenora, picking up at the target it lost when Seira teleported!
[23:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[23:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 and it's grapplin' time
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 and it's grapplin' time and gets 22." [2d8=2, 7]
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Antenora
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Antenora and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 Bear
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 Bear and gets 34." [1d20=7]
[23:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw 2
06[23:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw 2 and gets 37." [1d20=10]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 and it's grapplin' time
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 and it's grapplin' time and gets 23." [2d8=7, 3]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 Bear
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 Bear and gets 44." [1d20=17]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Antenora this is probably moot
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Antenora this is probably moot and gets 26." [1d20=6]
[23:10] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 grappled
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 grappled and gets 24." [2d8=4, 7]
[23:11] <Kotono> Antenora is grappled again, a second hero held in a ursine prison of pressing pain! The second bear lumbers forward, going for Alicia, reaching up to claw her!
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 47." [1d20=20]
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 crit?
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 crit? and gets 33." [1d20=6]
[23:11] <Kotono> roll 1d100 fortification
06[23:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 fortification and gets 87." [1d100=87]
[23:11] <Kotono> OOC: Grapplin' time.
[23:11] <Alicia> OOC: AC 35
[23:12] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 claw damage
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 claw damage and gets 21." [2d8=4, 4]
[23:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 46." [1d20=19]
[23:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 forgot heroism on earlier rolls
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 forgot heroism on earlier rolls and gets 37." [1d20=1]
[23:12] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 hugged
06[23:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 hugged and gets 23." [2d8=5, 5]
[23:13] <Kotono> Alicia is pulled into a bear's grasp as well, hugged tight and painfully! OOC Bear 4 and Alicia are up. Go Alicia.
[23:16] <Alicia> Rather than try to escape the grapple she's found herself in, Alicia decides to try something else.
[23:16] <Alicia> Uttering the command word, she activates the decanter of endless water secured to her belt at its highest setting, causing a geyser-like jet of water to blast out with a vengeance, hissing and steaming wildly in the air but not stopping for anything as it sprays mostly on the bear grappling her but surely splashing around all over the place.
[23:18] <Alicia> OOC: actually, before I commit to that
[23:18] <Alicia> OOC: can I roll knowledge to see if it's a good idea?
[23:18] <Kotono> OOC: K:P.
[23:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[23:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[23:21] <Alicia> OOC: strike my action after all, I'll do something different when we resu,e
[23:21] <Alicia> resume*

[Corwin]

[19:41] <Kotono> ---
[19:42] <Kotono> > Alicia is pulled into a bear's grasp as well, hugged tight and painfully! OOC Bear 4 and Alicia are up. Go Alicia.
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> Rather than try to escape the grapple she's found herself in, Alicia decides to try something else.
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> Uttering the command word, she activates the decanter of endless water secured to her belt at its highest setting, causing a geyser-like jet of water to blast out with a vengeance, hissing and steaming wildly in the air but not stopping for anything as it sprays mostly on the bear grappling her but surely splashing around all over the place.
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: actually, before I commit to that
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: can I roll knowledge to see if it's a good idea?
[19:42] <Kotono> > OOC: K:P.
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
[19:42] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 26." [1d20=2]
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: strike my action after all, I'll do something different when we resu,e
[19:42] <Kotono> <Alicia> resume*
03[19:42] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[19:42] <Kotono> * Topic is 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1=Flaming Bear 3(16)>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[19:42] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, you're up.
[19:42] <Kotono> OOC: Bear 2 is grapping Alicia, which just went.
[19:43] <Kotono> OOC: Bear 1 is grappling Seira and has 4 negative levels.
[19:43] <Kotono> OOC: Bear 3 has Anty.
[19:44] <Alicia> Since all three of them are now in potentially terminal bearhugs, Alicia decides to pull out the stops. First of all she channels the boundless rage held within Hell Striker, giving her strength coupled with swiftness as she uses her bracers to quicken her movements, trying to extricate herself!
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36 raging, bracers, grapple check to escape bear
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 raging, bracers, grapple check to escape bear and gets 48." [1d20=12]
[19:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 counter grapple moot
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 counter grapple moot and gets 46." [1d20=19]
[19:44] <Kotono> OOC: Close! Anything else this turn, Alicia?
[19:45] <Alicia> OOC: now I full attack
[19:45] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:45] <Alicia> Having scrambled free of its fiery/furry embrace, she turns her attention onto the bear molesting Antenora, attempting to savage its vulnerable back as its occupied with the potential meal in its claws! Should it fall under her onslaught, her blades will soon find their way to the remaining bears around her!
[19:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 45." [1d20=13]
[19:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 43." [1d20=11]
[19:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 38." [1d20=11]
[19:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 31." [1d20=4]
[19:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[19:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers
06[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 -4pa raging, divine might, 6th and 5th level arcane strike, bracers and gets 26." [1d20=4]
[19:47] <Kotono> OOC: All hit. Roll damage one at a time.
[19:47] <Alicia> OOC: planned it, once bear 3 drops switch attacks to bear 4
[19:47] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 69." [1d8=4][1d6=4][11d4=2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 1, 4, 3]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 53." [1d8=5][1d6=2][11d4=1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 61." [1d8=8][1d6=2][11d4=3, 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 2, 1]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 61." [1d8=4][1d6=2][11d4=2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2, 1]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 63." [1d8=4][1d6=6][11d4=1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1, 3, 4, 2, 2, 1]
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 1d8+28+1d6+11d4
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+28+1d6+11d4 and gets 66." [1d8=6][1d6=4][11d4=2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2]
[19:48] <Kotono> roll 69+53+61
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 69+53+61 and gets 183."
03[19:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Flaming Bear 4=Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[19:49] <Kotono> Alicia descends into a fury, slashing and ripping all about her! The bear that held Antenora is shredded apart, unable to dodge! She then whips and rips into the one that held her, scoring deep wounds into it! OOC: SEira.
[19:49] <Kotono> Antenora staggers as she's freed, "T-thanks," she gasps, sucking down air. "This one isn't quite such a trivial matter!"
[19:50] <Alicia> "We underestimated them," Alicia returns grimly. "At least they can't fly."
[19:51] <Kotono> OOC: Wait, bear 4 is still up. Go ahead and go, Seira, I'll just have it hold and go after you.
06[19:51] * Seira casually stabs the bear she's pitting her strength against, mentally bidding Lagann to do the same to its unguarded back.
01[19:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 25." [1d20=8]
[19:51] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and control Lagann's attacks and stuff, Seira.
[19:51] <Kotono> OOC: Hit by the way.
01[19:51] <Seira> roll 3d8+9
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9 and gets 24." [3d8=7, 6, 2]
01[19:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
01[19:52] <Seira> OOC: Hits flat-footed bear?
[19:52] <Kotono> OOC: No luck on Lagann, it has some natural.
03[19:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Flaming Bear 4>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[19:53] <Kotono> Seira claws deep into the thrashing, grappling bear, stabbing and ripping with all she has! The Third Resort glows in the firelight form the bear's body, it's blood tossed out with a flick of her wrist! OOC: Bear 4 is up.
[19:53] <Kotono> The fourth bear lumbers forward, taking a clawswipe at Alicia!
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 40." [1d20=13]
[19:54] <Alicia> OOC: AC 33
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 and grapplin' time.
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 and grapplin' time. and gets 25." [2d8=7, 5]
[19:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 34." [1d20=7]
[19:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
06[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 42." [1d20=6]
[19:54] <Kotono> Alicia gets a clawing across her wings, but she whirls out in a spray of white feathers, avoiding being pinned to the bear! OOC: Antenora.
[19:55] <Kotono> As holy fury fills Antenora and mends her wounds, she takes a small step and uses her spear's reach to stab at the bear holding Seira! OOC: 8/10 FS, +10 HP.
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 (+5 bonuses, -8 PA)
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 (+5 bonuses, -8 PA) and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 34." [1d20=17]
[19:55] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
[19:56] <Kotono> roll 2d8+64
06[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+64 and gets 77." [2d8=6, 7]
[19:57] <Kotono> Antenora skewers the bear's side, opening holes! Criss-crossing wounds are on it's body, from spear and sword both! OOC: Bear 1 is up.
[19:57] <Kotono> The first bear, despite it's pain, tries to crush Seira in it's grasp! OOC: Grapplin' checks.
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 36." [1d20=13]
01[19:57] <Seira> roll 1d20+23
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[19:58] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 owwies
06[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 owwies and gets 23." [2d8=5, 5]
[19:58] <Kotono> Seira's flaming lashes can't hold the bear off as it continues to hug her, crushing bone and scale and flesh all in one hold! OOC: Bear 2 is up.
[19:59] <Kotono> The second bear, growling at it's escaped prey, claws at Alicia to bring her closer once more!
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw and gets 40." [1d20=13]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 and grapplin' time.
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 and grapplin' time. and gets 23." [2d8=2, 8]
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 41." [1d20=5]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 33." [1d20=6]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27 claw 2
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 claw 2 and gets 41." [1d20=14]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 2d8+13 and grapplin' time.
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+13 and grapplin' time. and gets 21." [2d8=5, 3]
[19:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 38." [1d20=2]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 35." [1d20=8]
[19:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 bitin' time
06[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 bitin' time and gets 24." [1d20=2]
[20:00] <Kotono> Alicia gets both her sides ripped open, blood pouring down her, sides at two more terrible wounds! HEr vision clouds briefly, but rage keeps her going, tinting it away into the red of fury! OOC: Alicia.
[20:02] <Alicia> Since the two bears have so helpfully come into reach in their efforts to devour her her, Alicia thanks them for their consideration by flicking her buzzing blades out in all directions, a cyclone of steel as she performs her brutal dance!
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 36." [1d20=5]
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 34." [1d20=3]
[20:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 36." [1d20=10]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 40." [1d20=14]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 -5pa divine might raging flying 5th level arcane strike and gets 33." [1d20=12]
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: All hit. Which bear are you targetting?
[20:03] <Alicia> OOC: starting on bear 4, will move to bear 3 once it dies, so rolling seperately
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Roll one at a time, yeah. Go for it.
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 54." [1d8=7][1d6=3][5d4=2, 4, 4, 1, 4]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 47." [1d8=8][1d6=2][5d4=2, 1, 2, 1, 2]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 45." [1d8=1][1d6=5][5d4=1, 2, 3, 1, 3]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 48." [1d8=3][1d6=5][5d4=3, 2, 3, 2, 1]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 46." [1d8=2][1d6=2][5d4=3, 4, 1, 1, 4]
[20:03] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6+5d4
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6+5d4 and gets 55." [1d8=7][1d6=5][5d4=3, 2, 3, 2, 4]
[20:03] <Kotono> roll 54+47+45
06[20:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 54+47+45 and gets 146."
03[20:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 1>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[20:04] <Kotono> Alicia manages to shred apart the third bear, tearing into the second one as well! She lands solid, deep wounds on it, but the ursine terror is still kicking! OOC Seira.
06[20:05] * Seira continues eroding her opponent's life one stab at a time!
01[20:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 23." [1d20=6]
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:05] <Seira> roll 3d8+9
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9 and gets 24." [3d8=3, 7, 5]
01[20:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 18." [1d20=11]
[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:06] <Seira> roll 1d6+1
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+1 and gets 2." [1d6=1]
03[20:06] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(26)>Seira(25)>Antenora>Flaming Bear 2(15)'
[20:07] <Kotono> The bear around Seira collapses, fatally wounded and falling, freeing her from it's grasp! At this, Antenora's boots glow as she flies back thirty feet, before charging at the last upright bear with utter abandon, all the while healing Alicia's wounds! OOC: 7/10 FS, +10 HP.
[20:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+7 bonuses, -12 PA)
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+7 bonuses, -12 PA) and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[20:07] <Kotono> roll 2d8+80
06[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+80 and gets 83." [2d8=1, 2]
[20:08] <Kotono> Lunging forward, Antenora skewers the bear in the throat! It stumbles back and falls into wisps of fire, slain! For amoment there is only painful, ragged breathing, then...in t he center of the room, stairs winding upward into the smoke above appear. OOC: Free act.
[20:09] <Kotono> Antenora descends down onto one knee, breathing in and holding her side, "Guh...I feel like I've been crushed between a rock and a mountain. How're you two doing?"
01[20:10] <Seira> "Flaming bears. I honestly never expected to be grappling them, at any point in my life." Seira shrugs, the fiery, arcane tentacles dissipating. "All in all, I feel fine."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Nothing I can't heal," Alicia responds, using stored spellfire to do just that.
[20:10] <Alicia> roll 18d4+18
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d4+18 and gets 70." [18d4=2, 4, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 2]
06[20:10] * Seira then slowly proceeds up the stairs.
[20:11] <Kotono> Antenora proceeds to touch herself, wounds mending a little further. OOC: +16 HP from lay on hands.
06[20:15] * Alicia heals Antenora some more as she follows Seira.
[20:15] <Alicia> roll 9d4+9
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 9d4+9 and gets 34." [9d4=2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2]
[20:15] <Kotono> As Antenora follows Seira, "If there's more trials coming, we'll need to be in the best condition we can be...ah, thanks, Alicia." Smiling briefly to her, "Perhaps the first trial was to lull us into overconfidence?"
01[20:16] <Seira> "Or to weed out the incompetent?"
[20:16] <Alicia> "Could've been," Alicia agrees, healing her friend some more
[20:16] <Alicia> OOC: 20hp lay on hands
[20:19] <Kotono> As the party ascends up, they find themselves walking up a smoky stair, windows outside seen. You can see the great pillar of fire rising endlessly, crackling flames all around. In this endless crackle, you hear, "Auril adopted many of the Winterwights as her own, making an elite bodyguard trained in dark arts of necromancy or taking up the arms of dark champions. In his fury at this grevious insult, Kossuth did assail Auril and her new honor
[20:19] <Kotono> In his fury at this grevious insult, Kossuth did assail Auril and her new honor guard. WIth pure, hot fire did he lay many of the Winterwights low." (More)
[20:23] <Kotono> As you walk, you appear at the top of the stairs. You stand in a fairly boxy room - there's about 120 feet of space in all directions before you come to hard red walls. Ahead of you, fourty feet ahead and massive, lies a foe you have battled before! It's scales are of obsidian floatin gon magma, it's breath sonic screetches of burning fire! A pyroclastic dragon bellows at you! In Draconic, "In the name of Kossuth, prove your strength to me!" O
[20:23] <Kotono> A pyroclastic dragon bellows at you! In Draconic, "In the name of Kossuth, prove your strength to me!" OOC: Init here.
[20:24] <Alicia> OOC: I'd have healed a bit more while walking up the stairs, didn't figure descriptive text would turn into monster so soon, can I do so now?
[20:24] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 25." [3d8=4, 4, 2]
[20:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 init
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 init and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[20:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 21." [1d20=16]
[20:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20 Pyroclastic DRAGON FUUUUCK
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Pyroclastic DRAGON FUUUUCK and gets 19." [1d20=19]
01[20:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 19." [1d20=13]
03[20:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(24)>Antenora(21)>Pyroclastic Dragon=Seira(19)'
[20:25] <Kotono> Taking a step back, "...Mystra, guide my blows..." Antenora murmurs low. OOC: Alicia, your'e up.
[20:26] <Alicia> "Spread out!" Alicia snaps quickly lest they all be assailed by fiery sonic pain, casting a spell to vanish herself from sight before she flies above and behind the dragon, poised to flank it for anyone attacking from the front!
[20:26] <Alicia> OOC: greater invis
01[20:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 let's try
06[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 let's try and gets 26." [1d20=10]
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Antenora's up.
[20:29] <Kotono> "Any idea of it's evil," Antenora asks tersely a moment, as she takes to the air.
[20:30] <Alicia> "Hell Striker?" Alicia murmurs to her sword at Antenora's question, not wanting to expend the focus to check herself.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Yes!" Alicia then yells back.
[20:31] <Kotono> At that, Antenora charges head long at the dragon, throwing everything she has at it!
[20:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+39 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 fly, +2 charge, +8 smite, +2 FS 9/10, +12 ignorance, -15 PA)
06[20:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+39 (+2 GMW, +2 heroism, +1 fly, +2 charge, +8 smite, +2 FS 9/10, +12 ignorance, -15 PA) and gets 51." [1d20=12]
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 2d8+1d6+96
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+1d6+96 and gets 107." [2d8=6, 4][1d6=1]
[20:34] <Kotono> Antenora darts forward, stabbing the dragon in the mouth and cheek, drawing a river of magma as a bleeding wound! OOC: Seira and Dragon are up. Go ahead and go, Seira?
06[20:36] * Seira throws her hand out towards the dragon, and a sickly violet ray spirals towards the beast, seeking out its throat! An orb of frost is right on its heels, icy blue and tingling with anticipation!
01[20:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 30." [1d20=14]
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: Success.
01[20:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 ranged touch
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 ranged touch and gets 25." [1d20=7]
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:37] <Seira> OOC: Ray of dizziness, slowed. I'll advance 10 ft before attacking to be within 30
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. How long does the ray last?
01[20:37] <Seira> OOC: 16 rounds, yeah
01[20:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 orb
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 orb and gets 35." [1d20=17]
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Got it.
03[20:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(24)>Antenora(21)>Pyroclastic Dragon(slowed)=Seira(19)'
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[20:38] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d6+5d8 cold+sa
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d6+5d8 cold+sa and gets 123." [15d6=1, 2, 3, 6, 6, 6, 3, 4, 6, 5, 5, 2, 4, 5, 4][5d8=3, 7, 7, 7, 6]
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC: Was that empowered?
01[20:38] <Seira> OOC: Yes
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 123*1.5 guess what it's weak to
06[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 123*1.5 guess what it's weak to and gets 184.5."
[20:40] <Kotono> The dragon's throat and chest are covered in a sheet of solid ice! As it screams out, it quickly snaps off a howling burst of breath at Antenora as Seira mauls it!
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 18*6
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 18*6 and gets 108."
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28." [1d20=4]
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 108/2 (Half is sonic and applies, save failed.
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 108/2 (Half is sonic and applies, save failed. and gets 54."
[20:41] <Kotono> roll 54-5
06[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 54-5 and gets 49."
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: 49 damage to Antenora.
[20:41] <Kotono> Antenora is buffered by a screaming burst of magma, knocked back but still in the air! The dragon starts to move slower, as if bound in it's freezing prison! OOC: Alicia.
[20:42] <Alicia> OOC: planes or arcana for knowledge?
[20:42] <Kotono> OOC: Planes.
[20:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[20:43] <Alicia> "Fall!" Alicia calls as she slices into the dragon's exposed flank, her deadly blades seeking out its spine to put it down for good!
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 55." [1d20=17]
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 45." [1d20=7]
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 53." [1d20=20]
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 47." [1d20=14]
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 39." [1d20=11]
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 critical strike, divine might, 6th and 4th level arcane strike, flanking, invis and gets 47." [1d20=19]
[20:44] <Alicia> OOC: 3 threats there thanks to critical strike
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: It's critable, roll any crit threats you got. All of those hit anyway, so just roll the threats.
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 crit check
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 crit check and gets 44." [1d20=6]
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 crit check
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 crit check and gets 41." [1d20=8]
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 crit check
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 crit check and gets 29." [1d20=1]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Two crits.
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 8d8+176+12d6+6d6+60d4+6d6 not rolling sonic but 6d6 is evil hating fire
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d8+176+12d6+6d6+60d4+6d6 not rolling sonic but 6d6 is evil hating fire and gets 438." [8d8=1, 3, 3, 7, 6, 8, 1, 3][12d6=3, 4, 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, 5, 3, 5, 5, 1][6d6=5, 6, 5, 3, 4, ][6d6=5, 3, 5, 4, 2, 6]
[20:47] <Kotono> The dragon, already frozen and hacked, cannot resist! It is torn apart as scales go flying, everything vanishing as it is obliterated! Stairs appear in the center of the room, as Antenora slows down and stops. "...That...was it?" she lowers the tip of her spear downward. "Well, I suppose it couldn't use it's flight and range here, but...that was it?"
[20:49] <Alicia> "There isn't much that could survive that kind of assault," Alicia remarks, channelling a mirror image spell into her blade and tapping Antenora gently to bestow it upon her before advancing up the stairs.
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d4+5
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+5 and gets 6." [1d4=1]
01[20:49] <Seira> "It chose poorly," Seira voices. "Should've just tried biting you to death and failing. At least there would've been more glory, then."
[20:51] <Kotono> Going for the stairs as several Antenoras spring into life, "Any guesses on what's next then?"
01[20:52] <Seira> "A flaming avatar of Kossuth. Like an angel, except more elemental, and all fire. I can put money on it!"
[20:53] <Alicia> "I'll say an exceptionally powerful salamander," Alicia puts in her suggestion as they ascend.
01[20:53] <Seira> "How about we bet on lunch? Winner gets to order from those who guessed wrong."
[20:53] <Kotono> "How about a river of magma, and that sounds good." Antenora chuckles warmly, "Assuming we aren't fried dinner for something here at the end of it."
01[20:54] <Seira> "Oh please. No one will eat our charred corpses, that's unhygienic."
[20:55] <Alicia> "It's better than eating them raw," Alicia observes morbidly.
06[20:55] * Seira laughs.
[20:57] <Kotono> "But don't you..." Antenora begins, but then you are in the smoky ascent up again, climbing. Out the windows you can see Kossuth's fire pillar, as in the crackle words come, "Those that survived Kossuth's wrath were transformed into Lavawights, swearing allegance to the Father of Fire. Thus did the enmity between Auril and Kossuth grow more bitter. To destroy the Winterwights and their mockery of fire was a blessed act in the name of Kossuth.
[20:57] <Kotono> To destroy the Winterwights and their mockery of fire was a blessed act in the name of Kossuth. You who seek his blessing, climb higher! The summit awaits those with the strength to seize it!"
06[20:58] * Seira certainly has the will to grasp that fiery fire!
[21:00] <Alicia> "Lavawights? I really hope we don't run into one of those..." Alicia frowns. Serving Kossuth is better than serving Auril, certainly, but she can't help but feel apprehensive about the existence of such creatures and how much they've transcended their original nature.
01[21:01] <Seira> "Hope we don't have to fight one to the death," Seira muses. "Feels kinda wrong to lower the numbers of the wights on Kossuth's side for our task."
[21:01] <Kotono> As you step forward, you come into a room. It's only about 60 feet wide and long. Here, a great roaring elemental of fire is in a loosely humanoid form. Blazing armor clads it's body, a hammer with dancing white fires in it's grasp. It is huge, as all powerful elementals tend to be. In front of it are a three squad of flaming creatures with metal blades, unfamiliar to the party. The hammer of the elemental is pointed at them, "Your strength is
[21:01] <Kotono>  unfamiliar to the party. The hammer of the elemental is pointed at them, "Your strength is magnificent, but it is not worthy of reaching the highest peaks! Lay low now and meet your failure!" OOC: Init.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 init
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 init and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 knowledge to id these dudes
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 knowledge to id these dudes and gets 44." [1d20=20]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[21:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 elemental
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 elemental and gets 29." [1d20=13]
01[21:04] <Seira> "You want more strength?" Seira calls over to the massive elemental. "Let's go! Nightstalker's Transformation!"
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 salamander 1
01[21:04] <Seira> roll 1d20+8 whee~
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 salamander 2
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 salamander 1 and gets 19." [1d20=18]
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 salamander 3
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 salamander 2 and gets 2." [1d20=1]
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 salamander 3 and gets 14." [1d20=13]
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+8 whee~ and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[21:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 ????
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 ???? and gets 9." [1d20=7]
03[21:05] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Salamander 3=Antenora(14)>???(9)>Salamander 2(2)'
[21:07] <Kotono> The huge elemental extends it's hands out! In it a vortex of fire forms, billowing out to consume all! "Father of fire, judge these ones who seek to show their strength!"
[21:07] <Kotono> OOC: First of all, make will, you t hree.
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 40." [1d20=15]
[21:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 and gets 39." [1d20=12]
01[21:08] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 32." [1d20=8]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 10d6 Seira and Antenora are immune to fire, so only Alicia needs to deal with this. Also, you get a ref save to halve it, Alicia.
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 Seira and Antenora are immune to fire, so only Alicia needs to deal with this. Also, you get a ref save to halve it, Alicia. and gets 29." [10d6=2, 3, 1, 1, 6, 3, 6, 1, 5, 1]
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 does resistance apply?
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 does resistance apply? and gets 37." [1d20=18]
[21:09] <Kotono> OOC: Yes, so no damage.
[21:09] <Kotono> The vortex leaves the party untouched, unburnt! OOC: Seira and Alicia.
06[21:10] * Seira directs Lagann towards the invisible creature completing the set of four, and charges right in as it is briefly distracted by her familiar's attack!
01[21:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+7 Lagann
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 Lagann and gets 23." [1d20=16]
01[21:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+26 (flanking, no actual charge)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 (flanking, no actual charge) and gets 33." [1d20=7]
[21:11] <Kotono> OOC: Both hit.
01[21:11] <Seira> roll 1d6+1
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+1 and gets 2." [1d6=1]
01[21:11] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+8d8
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+8d8 and gets 54." [3d8=2, 6, 1][8d8=2, 5, 8, 3, 3, 3, 5, 7]
[21:13] <Kotono> Seira charges forward, skewering the off balance salamander! It hisses as it's stabbed, cursing! "Damn your eyes!"
[21:13] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
[21:13] <Alicia> OOC: are all the salamanders (including the invisible one Seira clearly hit) arranged in a straight line?
01[21:13] <Seira> "Damn your invisible cheating!" Seira curses back.
[21:14] <Kotono> OOC: No. The invisible one's off to the sides a bit. Others can be.
06[21:15] * Alicia flies to the opposite side of the room as Seira, lining herself up on the three visible salamandars 20 feet away from the nearest one, and hurls Hell Striker downrange to scythe through each of the trio!
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike and gets 37." [1d20=17]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike and gets 37." [1d20=17]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike crit check
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike crit check and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike crit check
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 -13pa divine might critical strike crit check and gets 22." [1d20=2]
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Hits and two crits.
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 2d8+78+2d6+1d6+1d6
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+78+2d6+1d6+1d6 and gets 99." [2d8=2, 8][2d6=2, 2][1d6=3][1d6=4]
[21:16] <Alicia> roll 2d8+78+2d6+1d6+1d6
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+78+2d6+1d6+1d6 and gets 96." [2d8=2, 2][2d6=5, 5][1d6=2][1d6=2]
[21:17] <Alicia> roll 1d8+39+2d6+1d6+1d6
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+39+2d6+1d6+1d6 and gets 50." [1d8=2][2d6=1, 6][1d6=1][1d6=1]
[21:17] <Kotono> Alicia throws her blade out, cutting through the salamanders like ripe wheat! Each of them endures, but the first two are cut horribly bad, severed nearly apart! OOC: first salamander is up.
[21:18] <Alicia> OOC: sorry, +6 damage on each, calculated for -10 pa
[21:18] <Alicia> OOC: +12 on crits, I mean
[21:19] <Kotono> The first salamander darts to the other side, as a searing hot fireball bursts around Alicia! OOC: Ref.
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 10*6
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10*6 and gets 60."
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 60/2
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 60/2 and gets 30."
[21:20] <Kotono> OOC: 30 resistance by passing damage, Alicia. Searing'd.
[21:21] <Kotono> The fireball is devastatingly hot, leaving Alicia burnt despite her dodging and protections! OOC: Antenora and the third salamander are up. I'll resolve Antenora first.
[21:21] <Kotono> Antenora charges straight ahead, going for the second salamander before it moves!
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+9 bonuses, -14 PA)
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+9 bonuses, -14 PA) and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (+9 bonuses, -14 PA) ow
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (+9 bonuses, -14 PA) ow and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 4d8+2d6+1d6+232 this is just ow
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+2d6+1d6+232 this is just ow and gets 256." [4d8=5, 1, 6, 4][2d6=1, 2][1d6=5]
03[21:23] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Salamander 3=Antenora(14)>???(9)'
[21:23] <Kotono> The second salamander is skewered through the heart, vanishing before it's blood can even spill, leaving behind only a few hints of red mist! A split secon dlater, the third salamander darts to the other side, a fireball bursting, the edge catching Seira! OOC: ref.
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d20+33
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+33 and gets 42." [1d20=9]
[21:24] <Kotono> Seira easily avoids the fireball, leaping aside as the flames fail to even touch her! OOC: Fourth salamander i sup.
[21:24] <Kotono> The fourth salamander curses, raising it's crossbow! OOC: This is AoO bait if you like, Seira, it can't get away sinc eit's flanked.
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+26 smite!
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 smite! and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[21:25] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+8d8+6d8
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+8d8+6d8 and gets 87." [3d8=2, 4, 5][8d8=4, 7, 3, 2, 7, 4, 7, 4][6d8=5, 7, 1, 5, 5, 6]
03[21:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Salamander 3=Antenora(14)'
[21:25] <Kotono> The salamander is stricken down unseen, not even able to fire off it's crossbow as it's cut down! OOC: Huge elemental is up.
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d4+4
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+4 and gets 5." [1d4=1]
03[21:26] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(5 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Salamander 3=Antenora(14)'
[21:26] <Kotono> Suddenly, there are five of the huge elemental! As one, they charge towards Antenora!
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35 (-6 PA)
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 (-6 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=1]
[21:27] <Kotono> But despite the heavy hammering blow, it narrowly misses and makes a deep dent in the floor instead! OOC: Seira'n'Alicia power hour.
06[21:29] * Seira sees this as a great reason to finish off another salamander along with Lagann, trusting Alicia to kill the elemental along with Antenora.
01[21:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+7 Lagann vs Sal3
06[21:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 Lagann vs Sal3 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: No dice. Your attack, Seira?
06[21:30] * Seira borrows Waukeen's power to be there and join the attack fully!
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+26 me!
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+26 me! and gets 44." [1d20=18]
01[21:30] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+8d8
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+8d8 and gets 59." [3d8=6, 6, 2][8d8=1, 4, 7, 5, 7, 2, 2, 8]
01[21:30] <Seira> OOC: Still around?
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: No, it's very down.
03[21:30] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(5 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Antenora(14)'
06[21:31] * Seira then travels all the way over to the last remaining one!
[21:31] <Kotono> Seira moves about the field like a ghost, striking down the third salamander and coming close to the second in her speedy haste, Third Resort thrusting up and at the ready! OOC: Salamander 1 is up.
[21:31] <Alicia> OOC: hay!
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC: Dur, sorry. Go.
06[21:32] * Alicia flies over to position herself adjacent to the elemental and then attempts another whirling blade spell, hurling Hell Striker through the fiery images and genuine article alike before it slices into the salamandar and returns to her hand! Assuming she can cast properly...
[21:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 DC 17 casting defensively
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 DC 17 casting defensively and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -3pa divine might elemental
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -3pa divine might elemental and gets 48." [1d20=18]
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30 -3pa divine might salamander
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 -3pa divine might salamander and gets 31." [1d20=1]
[21:33] <Alicia> OOC: is elemental evil?
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: No.
[21:34] <Alicia> roll 1d8+35+1d6 elemental
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+35+1d6 elemental and gets 44." [1d8=8][1d6=1]
[21:34] <Kotono> Alicia's blade cuts into the elemental, destroying it's images! It doesn't do much damage, but it does leave a cut on it's shoulder! OOC: Salamander 1 is up.
03[21:34] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Antenora(14)'
[21:35] <Kotono> The first salamander staggers back, a fireball bursting around Seira! OOC: Ref.
01[21:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+33
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+33 and gets 41." [1d20=8]
[21:35] <Kotono> Seira darts aside again, the searing fireball not even coming close to her, dodged by a mile with a deft slide! OOC: Antenora.
[21:36] <Kotono> Antenora takes this chance, bracing and stabbing back at the elemental, as holy fury mends her wounds! OOC: 8/10 FS, +10 HP Antenora.
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (-4 PA)
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (-4 PA) and gets 32." [1d20=7]
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 crit check
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 crit check and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[21:37] <Kotono> roll 1d8+24
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+24 and gets 27." [1d8=3]
[21:37] <Kotono> Antenora lands a single blow into it, a weak graze that only draws a little injury at all! OOC: Elemental is up.
[21:38] <Kotono> The elemental has Antenora where it wants, images springing up around it again as it attacks!
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d4+4
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+4 and gets 6." [1d4=2]
03[21:38] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(6 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Antenora(14)'
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35 (-6 PA)
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 (-6 PA) and gets 47." [1d20=12]
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d7
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d7 and gets 2." [1d7=2]
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30 (-6 PA)
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 (-6 PA) and gets 47." [1d20=17]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 1." [1d6=1]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 (images negated because it hit the real one owwies)
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 (images negated because it hit the real one owwies) and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 4d6+72 DR applies.
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d6+72 DR applies. and gets 86." [4d6=5, 4, 1, 4]
[21:40] <Kotono> Antenora the sixth is gone, then the real Antenora gets a hammer blow to her head! The second one gets her in the face, leaving her front a mess of blood and bruising! She makes a garbled cry out, wobbling on her feet! OOC: Seira'n'Alicia.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Dammit!" Alicia curses as Antenora is maimed, casting a spell to hopefully protect her friend before she backs off. This thing's going to require a more measured approach...
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 DC 19 casting defensively
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 DC 19 casting defensively and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[21:42] <Alicia> OOC: greater invis on Anty, flying 30 feet up and 30 away from Elemental
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:42] <Kotono> Antenora vanishes from sight, shielded by Alicia's magic! OOC: Seira.
06[21:42] * Seira flies up slighlty as she maneuvers into position, eager and ready to stab the elemental repeatedly as she shows it her strength!
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 43." [1d20=16]
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 32." [1d20=10]
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 37." [1d20=16]
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: Two hits.
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+4d6
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+4d6 and gets 38." [3d8=2, 4, 7][4d6=6, 6, 3, 1]
01[21:43] <Seira> roll 1d4+2+4d6
06[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+2+4d6 and gets 18." [1d4=4][4d6=4, 3, 2, 3]
[21:44] <Kotono> Seira tears into the elemental, dealing another few hits and dealing a little more damage to it! It's taking the wounds well, far from downeD! OOC: Salamander 1 is up.
[21:44] <Kotono> This time, the salamander fires three burning rays off at Seira, falling back!
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 ranged touch AC?
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 ranged touch AC?
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 ranged touch AC?
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 ranged touch AC? and gets 31." [1d20=15]
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 ranged touch AC? and gets 33." [1d20=17]
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 ranged touch AC? and gets 34." [1d20=18]
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: Roll for images real quick, Seira?
01[21:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+7 Lagann tries to kill an image, too
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 Lagann tries to kill an image, too and gets 10." [1d20=3]
01[21:46] <Seira> roll 1d7
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d7 and gets 3." [1d7=3]
01[21:46] <Seira> roll 1d7
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d7 and gets 3." [1d7=3]
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 1d6
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6 and gets 2." [1d6=2]
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 1d5
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d5 and gets 4." [1d5=4]
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 1d4
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
03[21:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(2 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Antenora(14)'
[21:47] <Kotono> This time, the salamander fires three burning rays off at Seira, falling back as Seira cleaves and claws away images!
01[21:47] <Seira> OOC: Touch ac is 24
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 12d6 half damage from this, searing
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 12d6 half damage from this, searing and gets 38." [12d6=6, 4, 5, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 3, 5, 3]
[21:48] <Kotono> Seira finds the beams so hot that they burn even her, leaving minor wounds across her back! OOC: Antenora.
[21:48] <Kotono> Antenora falls back, healing her wounds as she positions and takes a moment...OOC: +10 HP 7/10, just positioning this round since she wants to save her boots. Elemental's up.
[21:50] <Kotono> The elemental turns to Seira now, close and visible! It rears it's hammer up...OOC: Are you using any of your immediates, it's about to unload on you.
01[21:50] <Seira> OOC: Can't. Let's go, elemental one.
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 (-8 PA)
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 (-8 PA) and gets 48." [1d20=15]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 43." [1d20=15]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 35." [1d20=12]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33." [1d20=15]
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
01[21:51] <Seira> OOC: 46
[21:52] <Kotono> roll 2d6+40
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+40 and gets 49." [2d6=5, 4]
[21:52] <Kotono> Wham! Seira gets hit hard, chest crushed! But with her stoneskin and pure will, she withstands the flaming, crushing, overwhelming blow! OOC: Seira'n'Alicia.
01[21:52] <Seira> Lagann retaliates!
01[21:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+7
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
06[21:53] * Seira does likewise!
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 46." [1d20=19]
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d3
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d3 and gets 3." [1d3=3]
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31." [1d20=9]
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d2
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: On him now, whiffed.
03[21:53] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(1 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Salamander 1(19)>Antenora(14)'
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 25." [1d20=4]
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[21:54] <Kotono> Seira cuts it down to one image, leaving it's defenses weak, but unable to land her own blow! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:55] * Seira opts to retreat for the time being, returning to menace the salamaner, Lagann being there to flank with her.
06[21:56] * Alicia drops down to ground level and channels an enervation spell into Hell Striker before flinging it once more to strike both the elemental and the salamandar!
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 elemental divine might
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 elemental divine might and gets 50." [1d20=17]
[21:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 salamandar
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 salamandar and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[21:56] <Kotono> OOC: Bot hit.
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6 elemental
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6 elemental and gets 39." [1d8=7][1d6=3]
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d4 negative levels
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 negative levels and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d8+29+1d6 salamandar
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+29+1d6 salamandar and gets 34." [1d8=4][1d6=1]
03[21:57] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(1 images)(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Antenora(14)'
[21:58] <Kotono> The salamander is cut down and gone, cleaved into oblivion! Only the elemental remains, dark energies creeping along it's body! However, they fizzle away and burst, flying off it and vanishing! OOC: Antenora.
[21:58] <Kotono> As energies heal Seira(6/10 FS, +10 HP Seira) Antenora charges unseen, going to spear the resiliant elemental warrior!
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 (+7 bonuses, -4 PA)
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 (+7 bonuses, -4 PA) and gets 39." [1d20=11]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 2d8+48
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+48 and gets 62." [2d8=6, 8]
[21:59] <Kotono> Antenora lands a wound in it's shoulder, managing to score some damage as she jerks her spear outwards! But it's still not relenting in the least, enduring it all! OOC: Elemental is up.
[22:00] <Kotono> Raising his arms to the sky, "Father of Flame, Empower ME!"
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: This triggers an AoO from Antenora since she's in range.
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 43." [1d20=15]
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d8+29
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+29 and gets 37." [1d8=8]
[22:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+32 concentration
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+32 concentration and gets 43." [1d20=11]
[22:01] <Kotono> But whatever was going to happen fizzles away, as Antenora spears him again in the throat! OOC: SEira'n'Alicia.
03[22:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Huge Elemental(29)>Seira=Alicia(20)>Antenora(14)'
01[22:01] <Seira> "Empower this!" Seira unashamedly calls out, returning to her rightful place to stab the elemental!
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+27 lifetheft
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 lifetheft and gets 47." [1d20=20]
01[22:01] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 spellruin
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 spellruin and gets 33." [1d20=11]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+21 alas
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 alas and gets 33." [1d20=12]
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 1d20+21 alas x2
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 alas x2 and gets 26." [1d20=5]
[22:02] <Kotono> OOC: One hit with lifetheft.
01[22:02] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+4d6
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+4d6 and gets 40." [3d8=2, 3, 5][4d6=4, 5, 6, 6]
[22:02] <Kotono> Seira darts forward, cutting in and stabbing the giant in the stomach, another wound that only makes it buckle a little! OOC: Alicia.
[22:03] <Alicia> "By the pact of flame I call upon my allies to aid us!" Alicia invokes her own blessing of Kossuth, summoning a squad of tiny fire elementals to surround the huge elemental and distract it to Seira's benefit!
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 1d4+1 small elementals
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+1 small elementals and gets 5." [1d4=4]
[22:03] <Alicia> roll 5#1d20+5 aid another AC for Seira
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5#1d20+5 aid another AC for Seira and gets 89." [5#1d20+5 = 22, 23, 17, 18, 9]
[22:03] <Alicia> OOC: +8 AC
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Antenora's up.
[22:04] <Kotono> Antenora flies back, healing herself again as she prepares for another charge! OOC: FS 5/10, +10 more HP Antenora. OOC: Elemental is up.
[22:05] <Kotono> It's concentration ruined, the elemental focuses on the one target in fron tof it: Seira!
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 (-8 PA)
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 (-8 PA) and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 41." [1d20=13]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 39." [1d20=16]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 crit bad luck
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 crit bad luck and gets 25." [1d20=7]
01[22:05] <Seira> OOC: Yep, it really was
[22:05] <Kotono> roll 2d6+40 wham
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6+40 wham and gets 49." [2d6=4, 5]
[22:06] <Kotono> Seira is slammed hard again as she withstands the storm of metal and fire! OOC: Seira'n'Antenora.
[22:06] <Alicia> OOC: ahem
[22:06] <Kotono> OOC: Er, Alicia.
01[22:07] <Seira> OOC: Go first, neglected one
[22:07] <Alicia> This time the elementals distract the big one for Alicia's benefit as she moves in to attack the beleagured foe!
[22:07] <Alicia> roll 5#1d20+5 aid another AC for me
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5#1d20+5 aid another AC for me and gets 54." [5#1d20+5 = 7, 13, 16, 6, 12]
[22:07] <Alicia> OOC: +6 ac
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+33 divine might flanking
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+33 divine might flanking and gets 35." [1d20=2]
[22:08] <Kotono> OOC: Bare hit.
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d8+26+1d6
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+26+1d6 and gets 36." [1d8=7][1d6=3]
[22:09] <Kotono> Alicia charges in, landing another blow, making the elemental wobble a little more! OOC: Seira.
06[22:10] * Seira doesn't miss a chance to make the elemental's life miserable, striking back again and again!
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 44." [1d20=17]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 28." [1d20=6]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 26." [1d20=5]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 32." [1d20=11]
01[22:10] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+4d6
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+4d6 and gets 36." [3d8=4, 7, 7][4d6=1, 4, 1, 3]
[22:11] <Kotono> Seira lands yet another blow! Ripping her blade into it, it seems to be as any other at first...but abruptly, it fgalls to it's knees! IN an instant it is gone! Above, the smoke parts. A rising column upwards is shown, no stairs, but a path shining with flaming light coming down from above. OOC: Free act.
[22:13] <Kotono> Antenora grimaces, holding her half healed face. "Cursed..." she mutters, "I think my nose was shattered. You two alright?"
[22:13] <Alicia> "Phew," Alicia exhales, relaxing. "He was a tough one, alright," she observes, taking out her wand and using it to hopefully restore Antenora's pristine looks before they ascend further.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 5." [1d8=4]
01[22:13] <Seira> "I foolishly decided to fight it in melee without magic," Seira returns, tilting her head. "I might have been hit in the head before we fought this guy."
[22:14] <Kotono> "We won." Antenora's face somewhat mends. "Let's recover and keep going at least? We have to be getting closer."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Onwards and upwards," Alicia agrees, using the last two charges of her wand on Seira and then discarding it.
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 2d8+2
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+2 and gets 13." [2d8=5, 6]
[22:15] <Alicia> That done she begins flying towards the radiant column.
[22:16] <Kotono> Antenora follows, becoming airborne behind Alicia.
01[22:16] <Seira> "Works for me," Seira agrees with a shrug, proceeding onwards. Once her transformation wears off, she cast the ray deflection spell upon herself, following it up with ab extended haste.
[22:16] <Kotono> The party flies up for about three minutes. You fly in a column of radiant smoke, rising higher and higher...then...(More)
[22:17] <Kotono> You stand in the open air. You stand on the top of a vast ziggurat, the top only wenty feet by twenty feet. Dead ahead is the pillar of flame. Your view of it from here is clear, the magnificence of it...OOC: Will, all.
[22:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 and gets 36." [1d20=9]
01[22:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 32." [1d20=8]
[22:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+27
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+27 and gets 30." [1d20=3]
[22:20] <Alicia> "Praise the Lord of Flames," Alicia breathes reverently, advancing to the pillar of fire and prostrating herself humbly before it.
01[22:20] <Seira> "Oh, Kossuth," Seira gasps, hand stretching out towards the pillar before she hurriedly jerks it away. "I thought I was worthy of the flame, but I am nothing in the face of your magnificence!"
[22:20] <Kotono> Antenora plants her face into the ground, silent as she bows.
[22:23] <Kotono> You feel It's presence in you, around you, all about. You cannot speak as you feel It like the heat of the Sun burning through all. Your bodies burst aflame, charring your flesh. In this rapturous hold of fire, It makes It's will known to you. He shall give you blessings and aid, for destroying a Winterwight is pleasing to His purposes.
[22:25] <Alicia> If she could speak, Alicia would earnestly thank Kossuth and swear to honour Him by defeating their vile foe. However she's having a hard enough time even thinking straight, far less speaking in this current situation... all she can do is hope Kossuth finds them worthy.
[22:28] <Kotono> Once the Winterwight is slain, you will take part of Kossuth's blessing to the fires below the gnomish ruins. There Kossuth will purify the heresy away now that it's purpose is done and make it His holy place. Once that is done, you will rise to the surface and watch the His power in the mortal realm and bear witness to it.
06[22:30] * Alicia wouldn't have a problem doing that even if her mind wasn't flooded with awe and making her instinctively agree with sycophantic eagerness!
06[22:44] * Seira is way overdue on setting the place properly back aflame, and would be quite eager to do so, especially if it were to please Kossuth!
[22:44] <Kotono> Seira can feel the His will overwhelming her, working with in her body!
06[22:47] * Seira silently pledges her strength to the spread of righteous fires wherever she goes!
[22:52] <Kotono> Alicia can feel His will overwhelming her, working around her!
02[22:56] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[22:56] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[22:56] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
06[22:57] * Alicia mentally thanks the Firelord for this boon, and hopes it will aid her in the battles ahead.
[22:59] <Kotono> Antenora is silent a few moments, "Thank you..." she murmurs. Then, a drop of fire falls from above! It is a small, fist sized chunk of flame, as if turned into stone and yet still burning, stone swaying like fire. It appears before the party. Kossuth again makes his will known to you. When the time is right, hold this. It will protect you from the terrible cold emaniating from the Winterwight. It will not stop all of it's cold, but prevent it
[22:59] <Kotono> terrible cold emaniating from the Winterwight. It will not stop all of it's cold, but prevent it's coming from starting a true, dire winter. When the deed is done, cast this flame into the pit of fires below the gnomish ruins.
01[23:02] <Seira> Kossuth's will shall be done, Seira swears!
[23:03] <Alicia> "Seira?" Alicia defers to the half-dragon to accept the final boon, since she is most in tune with fire of the three present.
06[23:04] * Seira reverently takes hold of the fiery, living flame.
[23:05] <Kotono> As it is held, you are gone. You now stand in a parched circle of fire, as if a great flame landed here. You stand in the streets of Balmuria, near the southern gate? It looks like it, and from the gawking you're getting, people are most assuredly staring.
06[23:07] * Alicia looks around somewhat embarrassedly at the commotion they're undoubtedly causing as her mind shifts gears and re-engages now that its no longer being blasted with deific presence. "Well... looks like we made quite an entrance."
[23:07] <Kotono> "Ah...yes, yes." Antenora looks about, "Let's...let's just go somewhere and rest up?
[23:07] <Kotono> "
01[23:08] <Seira> "Mmm," Seira says noncommittally, patting the fire she's holding.
[23:08] <Kotono> The fire is warm but not hot to her touch. It's solid, despite moving and swaying like real fire
[23:08] <Kotono> .
03[23:08] * Adahn (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
02[23:08] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (NickServ (GHOST command used by Adahn))
03[23:08] * Adahn is now known as Alicia
02[23:08] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Killed (batcave.dejatoons.net (Alicia(?) <- scifi-classics.dejatoons.net)))
03[23:08] * Alicia (WinNT@user-514c0476.l1.c5.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[23:08] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
06[23:09] * Seira tries placing it in a jar. A very pretty jar fit for the divine fire gracing it with its presence.
[23:09] <Kotono> As the party gets eyed, Seira puts the fire in a jar. The jar glows red hot, but it doesn't melt or anything.
[23:10] <Alicia> "It's alright," Alicia tries to reassure the gawkers, "We just got back from a trip to a fiery place, everything's fine."
01[23:11] <Seira> "Fire is... so awesome!" Seira exclaims suddenly.

[Corwin]

[19:41] <Kotono> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
05[19:41] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:41] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #dunes
03[19:42] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:43] <Kotono> That night, Alicia lies down her head to rest. Sleep comes quickly, her exhausted body slipping into it's promised rest. Yet...in her dreams, the burning comes again. Her blood boils, her flesh cooks, her soul simmers. It is a timeless dream and blessed nightmare revelation both, combined into a constant, eternal image of fire.  Arcane fire, spellfire, Hell-Striker's fire, the fire that comes from within her, it all burns within Alicia.  Behin
[19:44] <Kotono> the fire that comes from within her, it all burns within Alicia.  Behind every image she can see Kossuth, the endless pillar of fire that rises forever in infinite heat. (More)
[19:46] <Kotono> Alicia melts down. Her body flows like liquid. Under it, His will shapes her, like hammerblows on red-hot steel. Her toes, her legs, her torso, her arms, her chest, her head, her wings. At the last blow, Alicia's eyes open. She is perfectly aware, as if she never slept. Dawn's early light creeps in. Her bed is singed, several little burn marks all over it. Marie lies at the foot of the bed, dazed and twitching.
06[19:50] * Alicia sits up in her bed with a sense of eerie calm while Marie groans and slowly pulls herself together. Pivoting off the bed, she stands up lithely and rubs her arms, her hands moving further and exploring her body as if checking everything's still where it should be. "Aaooww... this is what I get for trying to wake you from your hot dreams..." Marie mutters groggily from behind her.
[19:54] <Kotono> Alicia's body seems to be about as she remembers it. The same perks and the same sags, really. She still feels a little...different, but it's more inside. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a red, fire-light glowing.
[19:56] <Alicia> "Something's changed," Alicia replies calmly, mind racing. "I feel different. Kossuth *altered* me..." she then trails off, turning to look at the glowing.
[19:56] <Alicia> "I feel a little different, too, now that you mention it," Marie remarks as she pulls herself together. "Nothing bad, I think... but how? Why?"
[19:57] <Kotono> Hell-Striker sits in the corner of Alicia's room. It's two blades have merged into one, turning the double-sword into a falchion. Crimson fire dances on the edge of it's blade.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Hell Striker?" Alicia steps over and picks up the blade carefully, having some familiarity with this style of weapon from her travels. "You, too? What happened?"
[19:59] <Kotono> The falchion feels deeply familiar in Alicia's hand, skills known and yet not known engraved within her knowledges. 'I am now this.' It answers.
[20:00] <Alicia> Taciturn as always. That's a relief, at least. "Do you... mind?" she asks after receiving no elaboration. She's really not sure, herself... like Marie says, it doesn't feel bad, but at the same time she can't escape a nagging feeling that this is somehow disloyal to Mystra...
[20:01] <Kotono> 'I am. That is all that matters.'
[20:07] <Alicia> "I see," Alicia sets the sword down. "I think I should pray on this," she decides, quickly throwing on some clothes. "Marie, I'm just going to the temple if anyone asks for me, okay?" With the clear indication that she doesn't want her familiar tagging along, she then hurriedly departs her home.
[20:08] <Kotono> Hurrying away, Alicia enters the temple. The doors are open to her to proceed in how she wishes.
06[20:10] * Alicia doesn't want to disturb morning services, so after exchanging pleasantries with anyone present she finds a quiet spot within sight of the altar and either sits or kneels, furniture permitting, and sends her prayers to her Goddess, seeking guidance on whether she should embrace or resist being tempered by the Firelord.
[20:18] <Kotono> Alicia loses herself in prayer. At first the normal distractions of reality nag at her, but with patience and grace they are subliminated, losing herself in her meditations. Time is lost as a feeling of peace comes over her. In her mind's vivid sight, she sees Antenora. She kneels, murmuring, "...though I never expected this or dreamed of it...thank you, Mystra. The changes Alicia has made to me...thank you."
[20:18] <Kotono> The changes Alicia has made to me...thank you."
[20:23] <Alicia> Well, that's certainly one way of looking at it. Mind set at ease, Alicia relaxes somewhat, content to take part in morning services before she goes home to put these changes through their paces.
[20:29] <Kotono> Alicia finds Antenora at the practice grounds, already working away. She takes a long look at Alicia's weapon, raising an eyebrow. "Alicia?"
[20:31] <Alicia> "It seems the changes wrought by the Firelord ran deeper than it first seemed," Alicia explains as she draws Hell Striker, holding the heavy blade comfortably enough. "For what reason I cannot tell, but I do not believe Mystra disapproves."
[20:32] <Kotono> "Mystra seems content to let others do parts of Her will and work," Antenora watches Alicia hold Hell-Striker, "What changed?"
[20:36] <Alicia> "Hell Striker has changed as you see - which means I'm going to have to change my fighting style, no doubt, and my magic has become stronger," Alicia outlines what she's felt so far. "As for my fighting skills? That's what I came here to test."
[20:38] <Kotono> Antenora starts to smile a little, "Shall we then?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "I'm not going to spar with a real enchanted blade," Alicia shakes her head, that being a rule they've always held fast on. "I'll see about picking up a blunted practice one later on, for now I was just going to run through some drills. You're welcome to join me with those, and it'll let us spot any glaring problems before I test myself against you."
[20:44] <Kotono> As they begin, going through the motions, "Assuming no problems," Antenora thrusts out with her spear, impaling a wooden dummy, "What our next move then? Consolidating for the winterwight?"
[20:48] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia replies, scything her sword through the air with a curving upwards slash, then stepping back to recover and following with a vertical downwards chop. Its rather unbalanced compared to what she's used to - less grace and more power, she thinks irritably.
[20:48] <Alicia> "There's an intelligent slime and that slaad/inevitable crossbreed I'd want to evacuate first, as well. I might go and do that later today, if you want to come along?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "I'm up for it," Antenora whirls the blunt tip of her spear butt back, as if warding off a blow. AS she hops back, "What are you going to do with them?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "For the slime I was considering either the tunnels where we first met Zetsubouko, or the elemental plane of ooze. I'll ask it when we get there," Alicia replies, whipping her flaming sword out in a wide horizontal arc that she's reasonably sure would gut a pit fiend if it connected. "The hybrid is more complicated."
[20:53] <Alicia> "The house is already starting to get crowded as is, and I'm not sure we can reach it the same way we have Hugo - although I had wondered if it would respond to telepathic communication, its probably something the gnomes already tried. Still, getting it out of that cell couldn't hurt, we'll see how things progress."
[20:56] <Kotono> Antenora starts to go, but slips. She recovers in an instant, retorting with a sharp thrust. "We can...mmm. If all else fails, Elysium?"
06[20:58] * Alicia flaps her wings and takes off, flying in a short zig-zag and slicing downwards on her turns as if attacking a line of invisible foes. "I don't want to just dump it somewhere like that, and given how the conflicts between law and chaos have paralyzed it I'm not sure an outer plane would be the best place, anyway."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Then what do we do with it?" Antenora stops her movement, leaning on her practice spear, "Do we just put it in a room somewhere and hope it sorts itself out one day?"
06[21:02] * Alicia stops as well. "Although I'm particularly loathe to see one as a role model, perhaps there is something to be learned from the Concordant Killers in this matter," she states finally.
[21:03] <Kotono> Now with a half snort of tiredness that ripples through her, "So, are we going to try to get a Concordant Killer to play parent to it?"
[21:05] <Alicia> "Hardly," Alicia shakes her head. "But they must have ways of coming to terms with their diametrically opposed heritages. If we could learn what, perhaps we could help the unfortunate gnomish experiment come to find a healthy balance of its own."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Maybe. So how do we go about finding this out?" Antenora goes an dputs her spear back, "My heart's not in practice today. Sorry, Alicia."
[21:10] <Alicia> "It's fine," Alicia allows, sliding Hell Striker into her baldric after its flames go out. "We can research Concordant Killers, and other such conflicted beings, to start with. This isn't something that'll have a quick and easy solution, Antenora."
[21:10] <Kotono> "I didn't say it would," Antenora starts to snap off. "What I said was...no, what I should be saying is that I'm feeling pissy today. Sorry." Antenora breathes in and out, "Sorry."
[21:12] <Alicia> "It's alright," Alicia soothes, cocking her head. "Anything you want to talk about?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "N...well, seeing you change like that. That's all." Antenora starts to head inside, "It's just disturbing my equilibrium. Never mind it."
[21:15] <Alicia> "Do I look that different?" Alicia asks in surprise as she follows Antenora. Certainly Hell Striker looks totally different, but aside from having her spellcasting prowess enhanced Alicia doesn't feel different at all. Well, she might be a little less observant, maybe...
[21:15] <Alicia> *feel that much different
[21:17] <Kotono> "It's just the change at all. And no, it doens't count when Mystra does it." Antenora goes inside, "Just let it lie then, Alicia? I'll see you in a little when we're ready to go?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "I'm still me," Alicia tries to reassure her friend. "Nothing important's changed."
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora turns and smiles to Alicia, before heading off. OOC: Skip along to your TPing times?
[21:26] <Alicia> "How come you never got all distraught when I got changed, huh?" Marie demands crossly as she randomly flies into the hall. "I still drop all my clothes when I turn incorporeal! And no one's done anything about it!"
[21:26] <Alicia> OOC: sure, no one cares about Marie, anyway
[21:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to oasis
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to oasis and gets 55." [1d100=55]
[21:28] <Alicia> roll 1d100 steel jungle
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 steel jungle and gets 8." [1d100=8]
[21:30] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia and company appear in the steel jungle. Besides various bones littered about, it's quiet enough here. Unnatural, but quiet.
[21:31] <Alicia> "Four oh eight?" Alicia calls out, looking around slowly before asking Antenora, "Do you sense anything nearby?"
[21:33] <Kotono> "I do, three things. Two of them are semi intelligent, the last is normally intelligent," She points to the jungle, "It's just within there."
[21:35] <Alicia> The semi intelligent things are probably those crazily moving disjointed things. Pulling down her blindfold to see any invisible blocks of slime, Alicia slowly walks in the direction indicated for the being of normal intelligence.
[21:36] <Kotono> As you do, the slime comes out of the jungle. It oozes ahead, and in you rmind, 'You have returned?' It asks of Alicia.
[21:37] <Alicia> 'I have,' Alicia acknowledges mentally. 'I trust you have been well since we last spoke?'
[21:37] <Kotono> 'I continue to feed. I am well.'
[21:38] <Kotono> Antenora takes some time to look about, but stays quiet otherwise.
[21:39] <Alicia> 'Have you never spoken to the creatures you dine on as you do with me?' Alicia asks, wondering if it's capable of cohabitating with anything peacefully.
[21:39] <Alicia> 'Or spoken with anything else that dwells here?'
[21:40] <Kotono> 'The prey sees me as an enemy. The others do not, but they are of only some intelligence.' It answers, 'They are unusual.'
[21:43] <Alicia> That sounds fair enough. 'This place may not be safe for you much longer, so I must take you elsewhere,' Alicia explains plainly. 'As it would be difficult for you to exist where I live, I had considered either taking you to a vast cavern system, or a realm filled with other beings similar to yourself. If you have any other suggestions or preferences, I would hear them.'
[21:44] <Kotono> 'I wish to see outside. That is all. Anythin goutside is acceptable. The others...are they intelligent as I?'
[21:47] <Alicia> 'I have never been to that realm, but some of those who dwell there are,' Alicia responds.
[21:47] <Alicia> 'It is effectively a vast plane of slime, much of it inert, but there are unintelligent but active slimes in great quantities, and a sizable population of sentients either adaptated to the environment or composed of it much like yourself. I cannot guarantee their attitudes, but you would share some commonality'
[21:49] <Kotono> 'This intrigues me. I am interested in that.'
[21:53] <Alicia> 'Very well, I can take you there, and remain for a short time to ensure it is to your satisfaction before we part ways,' Alicia nods. 'Wait just a moment?' She then turns to Antenora, "I've spoken with 408, and it wishes to see the Para-Elemental Plane of Ooze. I know its not the nicest place, but I feel obligated to go along and make sure its okay before leaving it - do you want to come along?"
[21:57] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 Antenora very much wants to make a check on this
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 Antenora very much wants to make a check on this and gets 31." [1d20=14]
[22:01] <Kotono> "Very well. At worst..." Antenora chuckles, "I can't leave you along there. Besides, you do have prestidigation still, don't you?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "It's the most basic spell there is," Alicia laughs a little herself, swapping her freedom of movement ring for the plane shift one, and casting resist energy to protect the both of them from acid. "Four oh eight? I don't know if you can control your natural defences, but try not to paralyse me when I touch you, please," she requests.
[22:06] <Kotono> 'I shall try,' It sends into Alicia's mind.
[22:09] <Alicia> 'That's all I can ask,' Alicia returns, guessing they'll have to wait an hour and a half before her ring recharges. Hopefully be safe that long, she thinks as she takes Antenora's hand and reaches out to the slime cube with the other, calling upon the magic of her ring to transport them all to the para-elemental plane of ooze,
[22:09] <Alicia> aiming for the side closest to the elemental plane of earth as most likely to at least provide some semblance of solid terrain.
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 5d100 if this even matters
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 if this even matters and gets 192." [5d100=13, 58, 88, 23, 10]
[22:19] <Kotono> Oh MYSTRA. The smell is terrible! It's like rotting earth and shit and piss congealed into one hellish miasma. Alicia's eyes cloud over at the stentch, staggering her! OOC: Make a fort save first tings first.
[22:19] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 Antenroa
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 Antenroa and gets 34." [1d20=6]
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 +4 vs poison
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 +4 vs poison and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[22:20] <Kotono> Alicia draws her focus inward, enduring the smell. You stand on an ooze covered rock perhaps twenty feet wide at the most. It floats in an endless ocean of brown, thick ooze. You're in a little sphere of air, ooze all above and below you. There's not much light, the ooze only quasi-transparent at best. Your skin and clothes feel slimy, dirty.
[22:21] <Kotono> Antenora gags, "Filth!" She hisses, placing a hand over her mouth and nose.
[22:21] <Kotono> Your friend starts to slide forward, it's voice in it Alicia's mind, 'Slime.' Itmurmurs, 'This is...!'
06[22:22] * Alicia resists the urge to retch with all of her will. "You don't know how lucky you are not to have a nose..." she says towards the cubic slime, feeling like she'll never smell anything good ever again.
[22:24] <Kotono> The ooze slips into the brown ooze, wading into it with a slicking, sucking noise. Droplets of ooze go flying as it does, splattering on your clothes and face. "Goddess Mystra, I'm going to take a bath after this. The legends of the Paraelemental Plane are not exaggerations!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "I wish I'd waited till closer to noon... I really didn't think it could be so bad," Alicia admits, slitting her eyes against the sickly haze she can feel congealing all over her. 'Do you like it?' she replies telepathically to 408.
[22:26] <Kotono> 'It is wonderful!' 408 replies, as Antenora rubs her hands over her breastplate, "We're going to learn a hard lesson here, aren't we?"
[22:28] <Alicia> 'I'm glad. We can't follow you into the ooze, but we'll remain on this rock for the next hour and a half. Come back if you need anything or change your mind?' she suggests telepathically. "At least we can say that we've been here? That has to take some sort of courage," she weakly consoles Antenora.
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Skip along a little bit as you wait and feel miserably dirty?
[22:29] <Alicia> OOC: by all means
[22:31] <Kotono> About 50 minutes have passed. You think, the entire thing is a miserable ordeal of waiting. Antenora's thrown up once, her color gone to a waxen sheen. Alicia's stomach protests but she keeps her breakfast down. The feeling of dirtiness intensifies. Alicia feels dirty all over, even in the quiet crevices under her arms, or between her breastplate edge and side, or in her socks. It's then that there is a lurch! The stone you stand on bobs downw
[22:31] <Kotono> or in her socks. It's then that there is a lurch! The stone you stand on bobs downward! A few little waves of slime spill over the edge before it bobs back upwards.
06[22:32] * Alicia wonders how Antenora can even throw up considering she never eats. Just what is in her vomit? Perhaps she's better off not knowing. "What was that?" she jerks in alarm, wings fanning out to help her balance before they flap and lift her off of the slick and unstable rock, deciding that hovering would be safer.
[22:33] <Kotono> Antenora does the same, the rock bobbing up and down again, this time deeper down, almost sinking. "Oh Mystra..." Antenora brandishes her spear as she looks down, "I don't sense an intelligence, at least."
[22:34] <Alicia> "It could easily be a mindless slime," Alicia considers, drawing Hell Striker. She refrains from igniting it, however, not sure her nostrils could take the inevitable result.
[22:35] <Kotono> "I was afraid you might think that," Antenora sighs again, "Terrible luck."
[22:38] <Alicia> "It could even just be a shift in the currents, or something like that?" Alicia suggests, looking for an upside. "At least we don't have much longer to wait, I think..."
[22:40] <Kotono> With a thick, stony SNAP!, the rock you ere standing on breaks in two! It sinks straight down, showing a wide, gaping, empty mouth of slime! It's as if the slime below it got hungry, a mouth full of earth, ooze and filth! The rock vanishes into the ooze, down it's 'throat', before smoothing out and vanishing.
[22:41] <Alicia> "Oh, come on!" Alicia exclaims in exasparation. "I think this plane actively hates us."
[22:43] <Kotono> "That is...unencouraging," Antenora considers her words for a little while before she speaks, drawing them out. "I'll keep a watch out for naything else. Hopefully your ring will be ready soon."
[22:45] <Alicia> "It's a little over half an hour," Alicia sighs, "I don't mind flying for long periods, but just hovering is a pain. If we weren't waiting on 408 possibly coming back I'd just teleport us somewhere else..."
[22:46] <Kotono> Antenora nods and braces to wait...OOC: Skip along?
[22:46] <Alicia> OOC: yeah
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d100+1
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+1 and gets 46." [1d100=45]
[22:46] <Kotono> The rest of the time is merciful - it passes without incident. No sign of 408, but your ring is ready to go once more.
[22:48] <Alicia> "Well, looks like someone's enjoying this place... what was that phrase Beth was fond of? 'As happy as a pig in shit'? Feels appropriate..." Alicia mutters. "Anyway, shall we? I'll try and aim for someplace nice so we can get cleaned up."
[22:48] <Kotono> "Yes!" Antenora takes both of Alicia's hands into her own, "I'm goin to scrub and scrub and scrub until I wear a cloth down to dust."
[22:50] <Alicia> Happy to leave this place far behind, Alicia aims for the lovely tropical island she took her friends to during her recent 'funny turn' while exploring the ruins. She'll probably miss but hopefully land at least someplace pleasant by the sea. "Likewise, believe me," she affirms as they go.
[22:50] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 323." [5d100=70, 47, 73, 85, 48]
[22:50] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 2." [1d9=2]
[22:51] <Kotono> It's warm and pleasant here. You stand on a sandy white beach, the sea lapping up against your feet. It's not much - more like a long sandbar with a few rocks that has managed to reach out to the sea, with a few hardy grasses growing atop it. Antenora looks around and promptly walks right into the ocean.
[22:54] <Alicia> While speedy immersion would be nice, she'll never get at all the nooks and crannies like this, so Alicia at least takes a moment to strip down, piling her soiled clothes and gear on the sand before she uses said sand to scrub herself thoroughly prior to taking a dip. "You'll want to exfoliate yourself, too," she calls over to the aquatic angel.

[Corwin]

[17:37] <Kotono> ----
[17:37] <Kotono> OOC: AFter removing the muck of the Ooze, were you two going to teleport back to the steel jungle?
[17:37] <Alicia> Yep
[17:38] <Kotono> Go ahead and roll it?
[17:38] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[17:40] <Kotono> Alicia and Antenora, freshly cleaned of the disgusting oozes of the Paraelemental Plane of Ooze, smell of salt water as they once again appear in the steel jungle. Nothing has changed since they left with 408.
[17:41] <Alicia> "Okay, our next stop will be to make sure the wards on the winterwight are still secure before we go get the last hybrid," Alicia summarises the plan. "Follow me and watch out for trolls or any slimy bezekira we missed?"
[17:43] <Kotono> Antenora rubs her arm against her breastplate several more times. "I will. Mystra willing, we won't see anything slimy today or ever."
[17:46] <Alicia> "Well, you'll see a lot, but hopefully they'll stay in their tubes," Alicia grimaces as she leads Antenora to the main entrance of the structure.
[17:48] <Kotono> As you climb down, Antenora rubs her arms. "I can still smell that filth when I breath through my nose." As you reach the bottom, "Nothing, by the way."
[17:49] <Alicia> "Washing didn't do enough," Alicia agrees. "I'll sweep us both with a sweet-smelling cantrip once we're done in the slime lab," she promises as they head down to the cavernous room of slimy crossbreeds.
[17:55] <Kotono> "Thanks," Antenora goes to clasp Alicia's shoulder. As you walk about the chambers of the slime labs, specimens kept in glass jars all over, "What happened here?" Antenora goes to one of the jars, looking up at a half slime, half flesh bezekira. "It looks as if Juiblex cursed a Hellcat more than anything else."
[17:56] <Alicia> "Effectively they combined hellcats with gelatinous cubes. Some are more cat-like as you can see, others are more cube-like like 408 - although none of the others like it have any intellect," Alicia explains, rapping her knuckles on the tube. "Is it even alive in there, can you tell?" There may be a ton of tubes, but if all their inhabitants are already dead it matters little, she supposes.
[17:59] <Kotono> "I don't sense anything," Antenora says, tapping the class after Alicia does. "I wonder what Dukes or Archdukes are ultimately behind the gnomish cooperations? Has that ever been brought to light to you?"
[18:01] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head, starting to head towards the door leading to the winterwight chamber. "We've never seen any gnomish lore relating to the upper echelons of Hell, although the relationship seemed to be an unequal one favouring the gnomes, from all accounts."
[18:03] <Kotono> "Perhaps so," As you reach the door, you find it was left as it was last time. "But I would wager my entire wealth that some greater devil send minions and pawns to suffer here for his own benefit."
[18:04] <Kotono> *sent
[18:06] <Alicia> "Possibly, but considering that they were able to fight a war against literally all of creation, I wouldn't discount their ability to bring even fiendish nobility to heel."
[18:06] <Alicia> "Binding the likes of Zquujaj or even this Winterwight seemed to pose little problem for them, after all," Alicia reasons as she casts antimagic field on herself to prevent the still active magical traps from firing as she opens the door.
[18:09] <Kotono> "True, but even if a devil was being raped and tormented for eternity, another would try to use it to some gain." Inside, the war between hot and cold continues. The fell creature contained within gusts out cold, each time spreading and being pushed back every second, a constant back and forth war.
[18:11] <Alicia> "Perhaps we'll find out, some day," Alicia demurs, closing the door after confirming that the spawn of Auril and Shar remains held in place, then walking away before she dismisses her antimagic field.
[18:13] <Kotono> "I hope so..." Antenora turns to Alicia, walking just behind her. "We're getting so strong. If we keep going, then someday we may be able to make a difference on a cosmic scale. If even one true devil lord of Hell can be stopped or destroyed..."
03[18:14] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@c-98-210-201-139.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
03[18:14] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
[18:19] <Alicia> "We both know they'd just promote another to replace the one we killed," Alicia observes ruefully as she heads back to the stairs. "Not saying it's futile, since we'd unravel a great many plots and schemes, but so long as evil exists in the cosmos, so too will its outer-planar representatives."
[18:30] <Kotono> "I know that all too well. We can't kill Hell, but we can do what we can do make real changes for the better." Antenora's own smile is a rueful one, "Seira now...I could see her saying she'd try to kill all the evil in the cosmos."
[18:35] <Alicia> "Such is the conceit of the young," Alicia chuckles, casting prestidigitation as they leave the lab and sweeping over both of them to bestow a rosy smelling perfume. "Given all she's survived and thrived through at her age, her boundless confidence even has some foundation."
[18:37] <Kotono> As you ascend back up, Antenora sniffs and smiles. "Better. I wonder sometimes, if realism aside, such boundless hope and confidence isn't a good thing. Sometimes I wonder if I'm too jaded for what I'm supposed to be now."
06[18:42] * Alicia shrugs. "Idealism shouldn't be confused with naivete. Wilfully thumbing your nose at all problems isn't that healthy, I think."
[18:43] <Kotono> Antenora considers that as you head to the Museum. You reach it without incident, Antenora following Alicia.
[18:45] <Alicia> As she starts towards the hybrid cells Alicia suddenly pauses. "I just remembered, we left someone else behind here," she grimaces unhappily, turning around to go into the diabolic dissections room.
[18:45] <Kotono> "Hm?" Antenora adjusts course with Alicia, "Who o rwhat?"
[18:46] <Alicia> "The gnomes found a way to make a devil immortal without using necromancy," Alicia explains. "And I don't mean that in the 'doesn't get old' sense," she adds, hunting around for the ranting decapitated hamatula head.
[18:48] <Kotono> Looking around, Alicia finds no sign of the hamatula head at all. Antenora looks as well, glancing. "What sort of un-life then?"
[18:49] <Alicia> "Well, Demedais chopped its head off," Alicia points to the strung up body... the body is still there, right? "And it didn't seem bothered at all." She aids her eyes by searching for evil auras as well.
[18:50] <Kotono> No sign of the body, either. No evil auras. "...strange, that..." Antenora says.
[18:51] <Alicia> "We left it behind here, but it seems to have gone..." Alicia frowns, looking for any trails of ichor or the like that might indicate it somehow managed to roll away or drag itself by its tongue or something similarly unsavoury.
[18:52] <Kotono> OOC: Make search or spot then, whichever?
[18:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+2 alas I now lack both
06[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+2 alas I now lack both and gets 9." [1d20=7]
[18:52] <Kotono> No signs of anything like that at all.
[18:52] <Kotono> "Strange and stranger," Antenora follos Alicia around, looking.
[18:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+
06[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+ and gets Error: Check syntax." [1d20=13]
[18:53] <Kotono> OOC: 34.
[18:53] <Kotono> "I don't see a thing," Antenora takes osme time to look about, "Do you?"
06[18:54] * Alicia shakes her head. "I've no idea where it could've gotten itself to, now," she admits defeat. "Well, if it lingers in these ruins then surely it can test its lack of mortality against Kossuth's purifying flames."
[18:56] <Kotono> "I'd wager on Kossuth." Antenora looks about a little more, "A  mystery to be sure."
[18:57] <Alicia> "Not much we can do, I suppose. It might have even teleported for all we know," Alicia shrugs, departing this room and now going to the hybrid cells.
[18:59] <Kotono> The two return to the hybrid cells. On reaching the law and chaos crossbreed, you find it pacing as it was before. Antenora stares at it, not saying a word as her eyes widen.
[19:01] <Alicia> "Can you get anything telepathically?" Alicia asks, looking between the hybridised law/chaos outsider and the turncoat evil/good outsider.
[19:01] <Kotono> "I'll try," Antenora says.
[19:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 43." [1d20=18]
[19:02] <Kotono> Antenora promptly falls to her knees, holding her head. "Guuuuuuuuh!" She springs back up, "Okay, bad idea. It was..."
[19:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6
06[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[19:03] <Kotono> "I lack the words." Antenora decides, "It was different."
[19:03] <Alicia> "Are you alright? Did it say anything?" Alicia asks her friend in concern, looking at the cyberfrog to see if its showing any reaction.
[19:04] <Kotono> "No...If it was words, I didn't understand it." Antenora frowns deeply, "There wasn't any meaning to it that I could understand."
[19:07] <Alicia> "I suppose it couldn't be that simple," Alicia sighs, looking to see if the hybrid is far enough back that it won't get showered with glass should she break the window. "Can you tell how smart it is, at least?"
[19:08] <Kotono> It's in the back part of the cell. "It's intelligent, about as intelligent as a quick human."
[19:09] <Alicia> "I wonder if any spells that influence mental abilities would affect it?" Alicia wonders, drawing Hell Striker and chopping it down through the glass in one powerful strike!
[19:10] <Alicia> roll 2d4+40 -13pa
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+40 -13pa and gets 42." [2d4=1, 1]
[19:11] <Kotono> The glass shatters, broken apart! Antenora holds her arm in front of her eyes, stopping the glass shards. "Not bad."
06[19:13] * Alicia puts her sword away and steps into the cell. "Hello?" she tries in gnomish. "Can you understand me?"
[19:14] <Kotono> The creature goes to Alicia and starts to pace around her. It says not a word, only a flesh-wet sliding of strange gears heard.
[19:15] <Alicia> Does it at least look at her? "We've come to take you out of here," she explains perhaps vainly.
[19:17] <Kotono> It doesn't quite look at Alicia face to face, but it looks at her body at various points.
[19:21] <Alicia> "Hmm... I actually have an idea," Alicia considers thoughtfully, back to Common. "If the deadlock in its brain can be broken, even if only briefly, perhaps that would be enough to stop it from turning in circles? There's a spell I can try if we visit Elle's shop."
[19:22] <Kotono> "Certainly. What spell?" Antenora asks.
[19:23] <Alicia> "Creatively enough, it's called Mechanus Mind," Alicic chuckles slightly. "It's primarily used as a defence against enchantments, but it does have a strong side-effect of making the subject more rational and ordered in mindset."
[19:24] <Kotono> "So, you'll make the law side stronger than the weak...er, chaotic side?"
[19:25] <Kotono> Antenora catches herself, smiling all the while., "Alicia, I completely approve. You're so lovely when you're thinking lawfully."
[19:27] <Alicia> "Exactly," Alicia smiles. "It'll only last a few moments, but in that time it should resolve the being's inner conflict, perhaps allowing it to retain that peace even when the spell ends." Switching to gnomish, she reaches for the creature's hand and explains,
[19:27] <Alicia> "I'm going to teleport you away from here. You'll be safe with us, I promise." Maybe something'll get through, and even if not she feels bad not saying anything.
[19:27] <Kotono> The creature takes it's face to Alicia's hand, staring at it, circling it's head around in erratic jags and then even lines.
06[19:29] * Alicia gently pulls it along a bit towards Antenora so she can take her friend's hand as well, before teleporting the free of them to the desert oasis. Assuming everyone's willing.
[19:29] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 46." [1d100=46]
[19:29] <Alicia> three of them*
[19:30] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear in the desert oasis. It's unusually noisy here - you can hear the sounds of laughter and water splashing, carrying.
06[19:31] * Alicia blinks. "I don't think anyone was here two hours ago..." she comments, looking over towards the water.
[19:33] <Kotono> A set of ragged, sandstained wagons sit besides the oasis waters. Several pack animals drink from it, as white wrapped men and women laugh in the water. "Strange..." Antenora murmurs, looking ahead.
[19:34] <Alicia> "We're really far off of the normal trade routes, too. Oh, well, none of our business," Alicia lets it drop, now teleporting the three of them to just outside of Elle's shop in Balmuria.
[19:34] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully?
06[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully? and gets 16." [1d100=16]
[19:37] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear just outside Elle's shop. Donald is standing out of it, hammering away a wooden sign into the ground. He's whistling a merry tune...except one can note he's using the Hammer of the Shard to do the pounding.
06[19:38] * Alicia stares, appalled. "Donald... why are you using the priceless artifact hammer as a carpentry tool?"
[19:39] <Kotono> "Oh hi, Alicia. Why not?" Shrugging as he works, "Seira has it on loan from the Guard, and it's not like it's going to break. Besides, Countess Stronger can say that her signs are so important that an artifact has to be used to plant them. Now that's worthy."
[19:40] <Kotono> Antenora stares at the Hammer, "Throw it into the Abyss, except when another devil comes calling for all I care. It's chaotic, it would probably appreciate being used unusually anyway."
[19:41] <Alicia> "But it could get stolen," Alicia points out. "That thing should be secured safely in the garrison until its needed for killing devils, not bandied around town as your daily tool." She sighs and glances briefly to her conflicted tagalong. "Nevermind, you might as well stick around with it. I might have a use for it in a moment myself if the spell doesn't work."
[19:43] <Kotono> Antenora starts to herd the halfbreed in as Donald waves. His features are delicate and fine, to the point of being elf-girl-like. His voice is musical as he laughs, "Sure thing, Alicia. I also think it's a fun tool, so why don't you two lighten up a bit?"
[19:45] <Alicia> "We just spent the better part of our morning on the para-elemental plane of ooze. See how cheery you can be after an ordeal like that," Alicia retorts tartly, briefly glancing at the sign to see what exactly it says before she follows Antenora into the shop.
[19:47] <Kotono> "In other words, be silent," Antenora goes inside. You can see it's Elle's new inventory list, as well as advertising seventh circle magic.
[19:47] <Alicia> Alicia is confident she'll reach that level soon, herself! Anyway, its only second circle magic she's interested in, so hopefully Alice or Elle can help...
[19:49] <Kotono> Going inside you find Countess Stronger talking with Commander Oberuth. "...that many? Well, I know that...oh, there's Alicia...and what in the name of Mystra's treasury is THAT?"
[19:50] <Kotono> Elle gawks, as the Commander just turns around, shakes his head and goes on. "Guard business, Alicia. Sorry, you'll need to wait a bit, this is going to take a few minutes."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Hello, Elle," Alicia waves. "This is the result of gnomish meddling where they shouldn't, the offspring of a Slaad and an Inevitable. No, I don't know how exactly this was accomplished, but here's the result, plain as day." Nodding to the Commander, "That's fine, sir."
[19:53] <Kotono> "How..." Cutoff by Alicia, words only half formed anyway, "Nevermind that. But yes, I can get you at least some of that. You'll need to talk to the temples for the rest. Protection from Energy is a wide and common spell."
[19:56] <Kotono> "Good. As much protection from lightning as you can muster and carry with teleport. Make it priority, the sooner we mount this expedition the better. As for the wands, we were thinking fireball will be well, as well as anything with superior anti army potential. There's a lot of them."
[19:57] <Kotono> Elle nods and goes to a scroll rack, "Yeah, I know. Don't remind me," Countess Stronger's words are distant now, "You'll have them. Here's a few now." Taking a few scrolls and handing them to Oberuth, "More will come."
[19:57] <Alicia> "Planning on culling the shocker lizards, sir?" Alicia can't help but ask. Surely she'd know if there was a war brewing?
[19:58] <Kotono> "Oh yes. They've been coming towards both Parsifal and the eastern regions of the Barony of Valandia with unusual numbers lately. If something's causing it, we'd rather stomp it out before it gets out of hand. Seira reported that there's a roc living in the mountains now and it likes hunting them, so it may be that they're being driven out of the mountains."
[20:00] <Alicia> "That's unfortunate. Those things can be murderous," Alicia frowns. "Well, you know I'm available to help if need be, sir."
[20:01] <Kotono> "I've gathered a force, though any additional help is welcome." With a nod there, "Can you and any allies you muster be ready by tomorrow morning?"
[20:02] <Alicia> "Certainly, sir," Alicia nods. "What scale of campaign are we looking at?" She doesn't want to leave the winterwight matter alone for too long, although it does partially depend on when Demedais returns.
[20:04] <Kotono> "It will depend on what we find. Xavier, Morund, Darill are being lead by Pollyanna and a few supporting elements to handle the Valandia side. I was going to use trained guardsmen, but you'd be far better."
[20:07] <Alicia> "Wouldn't hurt to bring them along for the experience. Depending on numbers I could even arrange rapid transport to Valandia," Alicia offers. "Anyway, I need to ask Elle about a spell, now." Putting the lizards aside, she turns to the redhead. "Do you have any capacity to cast a 2nd level spell for me, Elle? If not I'll need a scroll if you have one handy."
[20:12] <Kotono> "No, I'm full. What spell, if it's a common one I might have it memorized," Elle answers.
[20:14] <Alicia> "Doubtful," Alicia shakes her head. "I need to cast Mechanus Mind on our new friend here," she cocks her head towards the hybrid. "I'll buy a scroll if you have any available."
[20:16] <Kotono> "It's pretty obscure...let me check." Elle heads back. As she does, Commander Oberuth looks to Alicia. "You've had your own dealings with them? They've proven to have a penchant for interfering and getting in the way of the Guard."
[20:19] <Alicia> "I saw a lot of them right when I first joined and we went to find Kondrux's lair," Alicia replies. "There was another time more recently when a missed teleport put Lord Drake and I in the middle of a mountainside absolutely crawling with them. They really are an unreasonably hostile breed of vermin."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Yes. One of your predesessors in the Guard was slain by a pack of them, too." Oberuth growls a little to that, "You joined soon after she'd passed. You heard the stories about Shamal?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "You've all mentioned her from time to time," Alicia nods respectfully. "She sounded like a good woman."
[20:30] <Kotono> "She was one of the kindest souls I've ever met," Oberuth looks at the wall, away. "It was a stupid, stupid death. She deserved better."
[20:32] <Alicia> "Few deaths hold any great meaning," Alicia muses sadly. "At least you can be reassured that she's at peace with her Goddess, now?"
[20:38] <Kotono> Oberuth doesn't answer to that. Instead Elle comes back with a slightly dusty scroll. "Here. I had to dig for it, it's not a spell you get requested every day."
[20:40] <Alicia> "Never thought I'd find a use for it," Alicia agrees, digging into her portable hole and handing over several platinum coins to Elle in exchange for the scroll. Taking it, she approaches the hybrid and addresses it in gnomish, "I'm going to cast a spell that should give you some clarity, okay?" she explains.
[20:42] <Kotono> "Eh..." Elle shrugs, "This one's on me. Call it a donation to Mystra."
[20:42] <Kotono> The hybird stares at the scroll.
[20:43] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles at Elle, keeping her money. With the hybrid's attention on her, she reads from the scroll and then gently touches its arm to hopefully tip the scales in its perpetual mental stalemate.
[20:47] <Kotono> The creature goes still! In a moment, it's movements stop. In words of Common, "No...the answer is order. The answer has always been order." As it utters those words, there is a great tearing! The creature splits in twain! Standing before you is a man sized, gold an dsilver clockwork creature. "Yes. Order. That is it!" It says, voice full of triumph! "That's it!" Besides it is a small, child sized creature. It's skin is grey and it's body is t
[20:47] <Kotono> "That's it!" Besides it is a small, child sized creature. It's skin is grey and it's body is toad like. It groans and holds it's head.
[20:49] <Alicia> Well, that's unexpected... "Ah, are you alright? Both of you?" Alicia looks between the two creatures that stand where previously there was but one, speaking in common herself.
[20:50] <Kotono> "I'm free! This is my purpose! Order! At last!" It looks to Alicia, "Angel, I thank you. I am Enynex 19. I am and was meant to be an Inevitable, but my fate was tarried with and bound to a force of chaos."
[20:51] <Alicia> "You're welcome, Enynex 19," Alicia smiles faintly. "This isn't the outcome I expected, though... what about you?" she kneels down a little to address the small slaad.
[20:53] <Kotono> "What a marvelous experience!" It exclaims, "Though the fall out was not desired...my power is greatly weakened..." It looks up to Alicia, hopping a bit. "For today, call me Ambarandathythissssm. I was bound to that dead mined bit of law there instead of being born."
[20:54] <Kotono> Oberuth watches this, just shaking his head.
[20:55] <Alicia> "I hope you don't mind if I make do with Ambar," Alicia offers in a concillatory tone. "Now that you're both free, what will you do now? If you like I have a friend who could send you to Mechanus and Limbo, respectively."
[20:57] <Kotono> "Yes, I must return to Mechanus and receive proper classifications," Enynex 19 reports, "As soon as possible, if not sooner."
06[20:57] * Alicia nods. "What about you, Ambar?"
[20:58] <Kotono> "Hm?" Waving his hand at Alicia, and going to a set of magic armor on display, "I like this. I also like that. I could go to Limbo, too, and wander elseware later, or now."
[21:00] <Alicia> "Going to Limbo is probably best. You can surely recover better in the realm of primal chaos?" Alicia suggests. "If you'll both come with us, we'll find Latha and she should be able to send you both home."
[21:05] <Kotono> Latha is found with Hugo and Jessica. They're drawing letters and talking with Hugo, though Latha parts away. "I can do so," she says once asked, "Returning them would be best for both.
[21:05] <Kotono> "
[21:07] <Alicia> "They've been deprived of their heritage long enough," Alicia agrees. "Will both of you be okay on your own?" she then asks the odd couple to make sure before they're sent on their way.
[21:10] <Kotono> "I must return," the Inevitable repeats, while the slaad just shrugs. "Sure."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Good luck to both of you, then," Alicia smiles supportively as Latha has the go ahead to work her magic.
[21:11] <Kotono> OOC: Going with her or just letting her go?
[21:12] <Alicia> OOC: she's going herself? I thought she was just casting plane shift on them.
[21:14] <Alicia> OOC: if she insists on going herself I'll tag along so I can teleport her back to Balmuria once she's done, but it seems wasteful
[21:14] <Kotono> OOC: Oh, dur. I'm dumb.
[21:15] <Kotono> Once the two are gone, "Ah, Alicia," Jessica stands up now, "Hugo, say hello to Alicia!"
[21:15] <Kotono> "Hello, Alicia!" Hugo smiles to her, ear to ear grinning.
[21:17] <Alicia> "Hello, Hugo," Alicia replies brightly, going to sit by the child-like hybrid. "I'm sorry I haven't been around much these past few days. Everything's always so busy. Have you been a good boy for Jessica and Marie and Latha?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Good day!" Hugo nods and kisses Alicia's cheek. "Good day today!"
[21:18] <Kotono> "He's learning at a good pace," Latha says, "He's so very innocent. The Yugoloth within him must have been defeated by his better heritage."
06[21:20] * Alicia laughs and ruffles Hugo's hair. "It's a good day indeed," she agrees cheerily before responding to Latha. "I think it balances out. Human children can be just as innocent without needing any celestial influence."
[21:23] <Kotono> "So?" Latha looks to Antenora, "Were you born innocent?"
[21:26] <Kotono> "It's not the lack of celestial influence, it's the Yugoloth influence." Antenora answers it that way, "Lying is as  natura to a Yugoloth as breathing."
[21:26] <Alicia> "That's what I'm saying," Alicia interjects. "A young erinyes would have nothing to balance out her fiendish nature."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Yes, but look at the hybrid from today, or Concordant Killers. It's not like an opposing side goes away, but Hugo is as sweet as light." Antenora sits next to him, Hugo smiling and kissing her cheek.
[21:30] <Alicia> "I suppose the point has some merit," Alicia concedes. "While I'd expect an ordinary human child to be sweet and innocent, Hugo's upbringing really wouldn't lend itself to that under normal circumstances."
[21:32] <Kotono> "I like you," Hugo smiles to Alicia.
[21:32] <Kotono> "Yes. You would think his Yugoloth side would at least have some effect, but..." Latha shrugs. "It is a miracle as far as I am concerned."
[21:34] <Alicia> "I like you as well," Alicia smiles at Hugo. "Now, why don't you show me what you've been drawing today with Jessica and Latha?" she invites, picking up the sheaf of paper they've been clustering around.
[21:35] <Kotono> It's a childish image of a house with the sun shining down. Several winged women stand outside of it, with big paint drawn smiles on their faces.
[21:36] <Alicia> Awww, it's adorable! "It's really good, Hugo," she beams approvingly. "Can you tell me who each of the people are?"
[21:40] <Kotono> "Antenora, Latha, Jessica, Alicia!" He notes each, even Jessica having angel's wings.
06[21:46] * Alicia smiles approvingly, pleased at his cognizance. "What about Marie?" she puts the paper down once more. "Where is she?"
[21:47] <Kotono> "Haven't drawn her." Hugo takes the paper and supplies, getting to drawing a little thing on Alicia's head.
[21:49] <Alicia> "That's good, make sure she looks pretty or she'll pout," Alicia chuckles as he gets to work. It's amazing they can actually have real conversations with him, now. Clearly those gnomes were stifling him horribly.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Where is Marie? I haven't seen her since she yelled at me earlier," Antenora asks.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Alicia, you know?" Jessica asks.
[21:51] <Alicia> "She's within a mile, at least, since I can sense her," Alicia replies. "If I had to guess she's either getting into trouble with Dawnhope or loitering at the temple. Her mood isn't troubled, at least."
[21:52] <Kotono> "What did she get mad about," Jessica helps Hugo draw, guiding his hand with her own.
[21:53] <Kotono> "Oh, apparently I didn't have sympathy for the fact that she drops her clothes when she goes transparent now." With a smile, "I do admit I find it funny." Antenora pushes down her smile. "The reactions more than anything else."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Maybe." As she murmurs little words to Hugo, guiding him along, "She doesn't stay mad long."
[21:57] <Alicia> "She only really cares about making a fuss, even if she's not actually mad at all," Alicia laughs. "She's such a little drama queen."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Yes. She'd gladly get naked and sit on our heads if it made a fuss. She's just complaining to have fun. I don't really mind it at all," Antenora leans in to watch Hugo.  "See? Use straight, measured lines. Hugo, think aobut it before you make them. A good plan makes good art."
[22:01] <Kotono> "Yes. Antenora's right. Use the order to guide the art within you," Latha leans in on his other side, "Carefully now."
[22:01] <Kotono> Jessica laughs as Hugo starts drawing more erratically. "Fun to draw like this," he says.
[22:02] <Alicia> "That's fine, too," Alicia smiles. "It's more important to have fun with it than anything else. If you enjoy it, it shows in the picture."
[22:03] <Kotono> Antenora and Latha exchange a look, before both of them sigh softly.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Listen to Alicia," JEssica guides his hand in looping jags, "Just draw Marie like that! She'll like that anyway."
[22:04] <Alicia> "He's a child, you two," Alicia looks up to softly remonstrate Antenora and Latha. "Let him draw like one. You can mould him into a great artist when he's older."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Yes, yes," Antenora looks crossly at Alicia. "He's also an outsider. It's as relevant to him as drawing when he's a child."
[22:11] <Kotono> "It may be, but let it lie," Latha goes to stroke Hugo's head, "Draw as you will then."
[22:14] <Kotono> "You know," Softening as she looks at Alicia, "That's something you need to worry about too. Even if not yet and all the way, you're going to be composed of primal good. With your mindset, will perhaps primal law also be a part of you?"
[22:16] <Alicia> "I know you mean well, and its fine to set an example, but let him figure these things out in his own way?" Alicia suggests before shrugging. "Mystra doesn't place any strong emphasis on either law or chaos, but that hasn't stopped Marie from forming the way she has. I really don't know what'll happen there, Antenora."
[22:20] <Kotono> "Either way..." Antenora just smiles to Alicia. "Do you have any plans for the rest of the day now?"
[22:23] <Alicia> "My day is free from now on, and I hope it stays that way," Alicia replies with a smile of her own.
[22:24] <Kotono> "What about tomorrow? Do you want me to come with you to Parsifal?"
[22:25] <Alicia> "If you want to," Alicia replies. "Culling shocker lizards isn't going to be terribly exciting, I'm afraid."
[22:26] <Kotono> "It can't be worse than that ooze, and I went there for you. Compared to this, we'll be taking a vacation." Smiling now to Alicia, "Aaagh, now I want to go take another bath."
[22:27] <Alicia> "I told you you should have exfoliated," Alicia remonstrates lightly.
[22:28] <Kotono> "Oh, go exfoliate yourself," Antenora says lightly.
[22:28] <Kotono> Jessica snickers a little, "What does that word even MEAN?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "It means scrubbing your skin with something rough," Alicia explains patiently. "Gets rid of all the dead bits that pile up. It leaves your skin as soft and clean as can be."

[Corwin]

[18:10] <Kotono> ------
03[18:11] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5444b0cb.lns6-c10.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[18:11] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[18:14] <Kotono> Morning comes. Antenora and Alicia meet together, going to the garrison thereafter. There they meet up with Commander Oberuth in the courtyard. "At ease," he begins, "Alicia, to what capacity can you manage to magic soldiers over to Parsifal instantly?"
[18:17] <Alicia> Marie is also tagging along since electricity can't hurt her at all and she makes convenient bait. "Assuming I use all spells at my disposal and there are no mishaps? I could ferry thirty people there. Given the potential for said mishaps, though, it would be safer to say twenty to twenty five."
[18:17] <Alicia> More could be squeezed into the portable hole but she doesn't think the situation is quite urgent enough for that.
[18:18] <Kotono> "That should be enough." Curtly nodding, "Most of our force will be archers. It's better to kill the little pests before they can get close enough to shock you."
[18:20] <Alicia> "Agreed," Alicia nods. "Marie is entirely immune to electricity, so she could serve as bait to try and keep large clusters of them focused and away from our men."
[18:20] <Alicia> "Electricity feels kinda nice, really. Makes me all tingly!" Marie chimes in happily.
[18:23] <Kotono> "If we're needed as a vanguard to attack while the archers work, Alicia can stop lightning with her magic as well," Antenora eyes Marie.
[18:24] <Alicia> "We have lots of options, certainly," Alicia agrees. "Anyway, if it suits you, sir, I can take the first five to the garrison at Parsifal whenever they're ready."
[18:28] <Kotono> "They'll be mustering here within the half hour." A bit of time passes as you wait, several groups of soldiers forming. Oberuth barks at them to form groups of five, which they do so.
[18:31] <Alicia> "The first teleport will be the most likely to go awry since I've only seen the Parsifal garrison once," Alicia explains. "So I'll take Xavier, Morund, Darill, Pollyanna, and Antenora first. Everyone ready?"
[18:34] <Alicia> OOC: strike
06[18:36] * Alicia has Antenora join the roster and selects the group with her in it for the first trip. "The first teleport is most likely to go awry, since I've only seen the Parsifal garrison once, so don't get too complacent," she tells the four soldiers in the first group, gathering them together along with her familiar before they teleport to Parsifal.
[18:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
[18:36] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 seen once --> [ 1d100=73 ]{73}
[18:39] <Kotono> Woosh! You appear just where desired. The garrison yard is full of soldiers preparing, piles of supplies being readied, and quite busy. Your immediate apperance gets some gawkers right away, stopping their work.
[18:41] <Alicia> Formalities should be addressed, so Alicia gets the attention of one of the soldiers. "Captain Alicia Reynes, Crimson Guard. I need to speak to whomever's in charge, here."
[18:43] <Kotono> The soldiers salutes and takes Alicia into the garrison. In a quiet room, a craggy faced, gray haired man sits. "Captain," He slowly stands and nods, "Acting Captain Yeager." He favors his left leg, using a wood cane to support himself. "I'm handling logistics and administration in the backend here."
06[18:46] * Alicia gives him a salute. "I'm bringing in reinforcements from Balmuria to help deal with your shocker lizard problem. Just wanted to check in before I go and retrieve the rest of my squad," she explains. "If you could have any information on the scope of the infestation prepared for us once I'm finished ferrying them, I'd be appreciative."
[18:47] <Kotono> "I'll have a briefing ready, ma'am," He salutes her, "Anything else you require?"
[18:50] <Alicia> "Any archers you can spare to round out our numbers would help, but what I'd really like would be to have a few trackers who know the terrain and can help us find the trouble spots more easily. I'll leave it in your hands, Captain," Alicia requests before she heads back out and then teleports to Balmuria's garrison.
[18:50] <Alicia> roll 1d100 very familiar
[18:50] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 very familiar --> [ 1d100=24 ]{24}
[18:52] <Kotono> You appear back without incident, Oberuth waiting for you. "Any problems?"
[18:53] <Alicia> "None sir, just took a moment to report in with Captain Yeager at the garrison there," Alicia replies. "I'm ready for the next batch."
[18:55] <Kotono> "Go ahead and do your teleportations." OOC: Declare how many trips/who and start making your rolls?
[18:55] <Alicia> OOC: I'm assuming 4 more groups of 5 mooks, unless any other named NPCs are coming?
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d100 next group to Parsifal, studied carefully since Marie is there
[18:56] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 next group to Parsifal, studied carefully since Marie is there --> [ 1d100=27 ]{27}
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d100 back to Balmuria
[18:56] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 back to Balmuria --> [ 1d100=92 ]{92}
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d100 group 3 to parsifal
[18:56] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 group 3 to parsifal --> [ 1d100=97 ]{97}
[18:56] <Alicia> OOC: off target
[18:58] <Kotono> roll 1d10
[18:58] <Kotono> roll 1d10
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=2 ]{2}
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=4 ]{4}
[18:59] <Kotono> roll 1d9
[18:59] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d9 --> [ 1d9=1 ]{1}
[18:59] <Kotono> OOC: Oberuth's coming, but that's it, by the by
[18:59] <Kotono> .
[18:59] <Kotono> The third group blinks and vanishes with Alicia! However, they appear standing near a dusty road, no sign of Parsifal around at all.
[19:00] <Alicia> "Had to happen once. Not to worry, I half expected it," Alicia reassures the men, trying again to travel to Parsifal.
[19:00] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[19:00] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=58 ]{58}
[19:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 back to Balmuria
[19:01] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 back to Balmuria --> [ 1d100=80 ]{80}
[19:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 group 4 to Parsifal
[19:01] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 group 4 to Parsifal --> [ 1d100=94 ]{94}
[19:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 back to Balmuria
[19:01] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 back to Balmuria --> [ 1d100=18 ]{18}
[19:02] <Alicia> roll 1d100 group 5 which presumably includes the commander to Parsifal
[19:02] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 group 5 which presumably includes the commander to Parsifal --> [ 1d100=31 ]{31}
[19:03] <Kotono> The teleports all go without incident here. Your soldiers begin to muster and prepare, as Oberuth leads the way. You meet with Captain Yeager with Antenora and Oberuth and Marie. Captain Yeager salutes, "Sirs and ma'ams," he greets. "You wished for a status report?"
[19:03] <Kotono> "Yes. Go on," Oberuth goes to sit down, leaning forward now. "I've read reports but they're dated. How bad are the vermin spilling over now?"
06[19:04] * Alicia takes a seat herself and settles in to listen to the briefing.
[19:07] <Kotono> "There has been a steady flow of the bastards, usually in groups of four to fourty. We're averaging around three to five encounters a day from reports. Let's see, total estimates as of two days ago for exterminated lizards is one hundred and ninety seven confirmed dead. It's not like them at all, sirs. We see them on occasion and anyone who goes up into the Galkass Mountains tends to see them, but it's never been in this number."
[19:07] <Kotono> Galkass Mountains tends to see them, but it's never been in this number."
[19:10] <Kotono> "Yes, it does appear that something is provoking them out. We have some reason to suspect that a fantastic bird creature called a Roc is at least partly responsible, though I question of it's enough to make that number of them move." Oberuth cracks his knuckles, "Has there been any sightings of a bird like that?"
[19:12] <Alicia> "Honestly I'm surprised they haven't killed the Roc themselves," Alicia remarks. "The creatures are a rapacious vermin like no other."
[19:15] <Kotono> "We haven't...though yes, they're certainly pests and only getting worse." Captain Yeager nods, "We have seen a few larger specimens the last few days, but we haven't bagged any yet. No sign of a bird that we've seen."
[19:18] <Alicia> "I saw one like that once when I was in the mountains, it was as big as a horse," Alicia nods. "No doubt it possesses a far more powerful electric shock to go with its size."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Larger specimens? I've heard reports from the Crimson Guard about them on occasion. Both times that I recall they were seen underground." Rubbing his chin at that, "Alicia, I believe you saw-yes, exactly."
[19:21] <Alicia> "Has there been any pattern to their appearances? Times and locations where large groups are more likely to show up?" Alicia then asks her fellow captain.
[19:21] <Kotono> "Would that mean something's forcing them up? If the Roc was behind it, couldn't they just burrow away and ignore it?" Antenora shakes her head, "Maybe there's another factor at work here?"
[19:22] <Alicia> "Maybe they've eaten everything in the mountains and are coming down here for new food?" Marie suggests. "It sounds like they breed like rats and kill everything they encounter, so it makes sense that they'd depopulate any area they live in after a while."
[19:24] <Kotono> "It's been a steady stream. Let me check..." Captain Yeager goes to some papers, drawing a quill and making markings as he works. "No, no pattern that I see. It's semi erratic movements with day and night encounters."
[19:25] <Kotono> "Why now?" Commander Oberuth crosses his arms, "It's not like Parsifal sprung up overnight. Is it a side effect of everything else going on? Is it a long term effect of Kondrux's defeat? "
[19:28] <Alicia> "I doubt a single bird of prey, no matter how big, could cause an entrenched population of such tenacious lizards to be displaced," Alicia shakes her head. "Either Marie's right and they've ran out of food or living space, or else there's something else in those mountains which is taking their place and forcing them out."
[19:31] <Kotono> "Agreed. For now though, let's stem the tide of lizards coming out. Unless they're demonspawn in scales, they're finite. We can root out the underlying cause at our leisure after," Oberuth stands up now. "We'll begin operations within two hours, Captain."
06[19:31] * Alicia stands up as well, ready to support the operation in whichever way she can.
[19:46] <Kotono> As you walk out into the halls of the garrison, "The four of us can take point. While some of us can fight at range well, we have archers to do that and the lizards need something to aim at if they get close. If any manage to outflank us, the three of youc an fly quickly enough to support the rear?"
[19:48] <Alicia> "Best to have Marie far in advance to give us some early warning so I can cast protective spells before we engage the lizards," Alicia suggests a slight amendment.
[19:49] <Kotono> "That works," Oberuth looks to the little fairy, "Can you  handle that?"
[19:52] <Alicia> "Oh, sure. Unless Talos himself tries to smite me, I've got nothing to fear from electricity," Marie grins.
[19:52] <Kotono> "Don't jinx yourself," Antenora murmurs.
[19:56] <Alicia> "It has happened before," Alicia agrees. "But shocker lizards shouldn't be the same sort of problem."
[19:59] <Alicia> OOC: Oh, I'll cast Greater Magic Weapon on 4 quivers of arrows to be divided amongst the archers. So assuming there's 20 of them that'd be 10 +4 arrows each.
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Sure thing.
[20:05] <Kotono> Alicia takes the time to enchant communinal pools of arrows and then the group takes off! They are aided by a pair of local scout/soldiers, leading the way. As you head out of Parsifal, you see that the grounds outside the walls are littered with pikes and sharp sticks. On them, dozens of slain shocker lizards are on display.
06[20:06] * Alicia wrinkles her nose at the charnel display. "A pity lizards aren't clever enough to take the hint."
[20:12] <Kotono> "Yes." Oberuth leads the group along, "Let it raise the city's morale, and let it raise higher when we add our own." Thus, youa re lead along. You are joined  by a pair of soldier/scouts, who along with Marie take the scouting duties. You head out into the rocky outskirts, searching about...OOC: Marie, make a spot check.
[20:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 Marie still has spot!
[20:12] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+6 Marie still has spot! --> [ 1d20=4 ]{10}
[20:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{8}
[20:13] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{23}
[20:14] <Kotono> The two scouts, Baldo and Jymson, eye Marie as they go. As they meet up again briefly, "Anything so far?" Baldo asks, a weathered man with a slightly too big sword strapped to his back. Marie, for her part, hasn't noticed anything yet.
[20:15] <Alicia> OOC: oh, the scouts get resist energy (electricity) cast on them as well, which'll get refreshed as needed throughout the day
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: Sure. Also sec, go on.
[20:15] <Alicia> "Haven't seen any myself," Marie reports dutifully, flying twenty feet above the ground so she can see over a wider area.
[20:23] <Kotono> As they scout ahead, Jymson, a young man with a scar running down most of his bald head, points, "See that there," he points to the southeast, "That way, can you get a better look, Marie?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "Sure, I'll just be a sec," Marie replies, flying ahead to scout out the path.
[20:27] <Kotono> Ahead is trackless, rocky hill/mountainscape. As Marie flies ahead, it's not hard to see the electric blue crackles. Skittering along over the ground are four shocker lizards. They hurry along, keeping tightly together.
[20:27] <Alicia> "Shocker lizards! Four of them!" Marie calls back to the other scouts, swooping down to distract the beasts.
[20:29] <Kotono> "I'll run back," Jymson hurries away, as Marie swoops down at the lizards! OOC: Is Marie simply going to distract them and nothing else?
[20:30] <Alicia> OOC: yes, she'll be a good sport and act as if their shocks are hurting her but leave the shooting to our archer mooks who need the xp
[20:32] <Kotono> As Marie practices moaning as she's shocked and shot at, word reaches back to the party! Stopping before Commander Oberuth and Alicia, "Four of them, sir," Jymson reports, "Marie's holding there attention like planned."
[20:34] <Alicia> "Lets move up so the archers can shoot them and hold position in front in case they rush us?" Alicia suggests. Four hardly seems worth them drawing their blades.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Agreed. Four should fall to arrows easily." Oberuth leads the group along! You find Marie moaning and acting out her role well enough. Oberuth raises a hand, "Archers, ready!"
[20:35] <Alicia> Marie screams out as if she's being horribly murdered, but occassionally pauses to wink back at Alicia.
[20:37] <Kotono> "They're not catching on. Good." Oberuth murmurs, then, "Fire!"
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 25#1d20+9
[20:38] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 25#1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=12 ]{21}, [ 1d20=5 ]{14}, [ 1d20=9 ]{18}, [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=15 ]{24}, [ 1d20=19 ]{28}, [ 1d20=2 ]{11}, [ 1d20=1 ]{10}, [ 1d20=19 ]{28}, [ 1d20=9 ]{18}, [ 1d20=3 ]{12}, [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=20 ]{29}, [ 1d20=14 ]{23}, [ 1d20=7 ]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 11d8+66 will roll rest if needed
[20:38] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 11d8+66 will roll rest if needed --> [ 11d8=65 ]{131}
[20:39] <Kotono> Bad things tend to happen when something is the target of dozens of archers who can turn you into a pin cushion. These lizards find that out first hand. A withering burst of fire comes, aided by magic, turning the ground around Marie into a mess of skewered lizard and arrows!
[20:40] <Kotono> "Hold fire," Oberuth instructs, "That was more than sufficient for only four of them."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Good job, everyone!" Marie calls, floating over to rejoin the other scouts.
[20:42] <Kotono> "The magic arrows worked well," Antenora looks back to Alicia, "If we run into more of them, can you manage more castings?"
[20:43] <Alicia> "Oh, certainly," Alicia nods. "Two hundred should be enough, though, hopefully."
[20:43] <Kotono> "You two," Pointing at two archers, "Retreive the bodies and store them." Oberuth continues on, "We'll continue on shortly. There's still several hours to go before dusk and returning back to Parsifal."
03[20:46] * tai-noslp is now known as gonetoro
[20:46] <Alicia> "Maybe we can follow the tracks of those four to see where they came from?" Alicia suggests.
[20:59] <Kotono> "Let me try," Antenora approaches, going to study the trail in question.
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
[20:59] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{19}
[21:01] <Kotono> Antenora kneels by the ground, inspecting everything. "I...this way," Antenora points, "I think I have a trail, but it's not a good one."
[21:02] <Alicia> "It gives us something to work from. Sir?" Alicia checks with the Commander.
[21:02] <Kotono> "It'll do. Lead on," Oberuth gestures.
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 following trail
[21:06] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 following trail --> [ 1d20=11 ]{29}
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 hour 2, needs one every hour
[21:07] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 hour 2, needs one every hour --> [ 1d20=8 ]{26}
[21:08] <Kotono> Two hours of slow travel pass. Antenora leads the group upmountain, having to traverse a few cliffs and find walk arounds. But eventually you come to a rising cliff face. A 3 foot wide hole is in the side there, shaded over by a hanging cliff. "HEre," Antenora points.
[21:09] <Alicia> "Well, we could send Marie down in case there's a nest of them down there, otherwise all we can really do is move on," Alicia considers.
[21:11] <Kotono> "It's worth a try. If there is, we can do something to eliminate the nest," Oberuth nods, "Marie, do it."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Sure thing, Commander!" Marie snaps off what could perhaps loosely be called a salute before she flies into the hole!
[21:12] <Alicia> "Perhaps we should spread out in case she comes back with a horde of them on her tail?" Alicia suggests as her familiar investigates.
[21:12] <Kotono> "Good advice," Oberuth says, "Archers, spread back and out! Make a killzone around the hole in case targets emerge!"
[21:16] <Kotono> Meanwhile, Marie plumbs the depth of another deep hole! It goes down about twenty feet, before coming to a split, two more burrow paths plunging at different angles deeper into the earth.
06[21:16] * Alicia takes up a position halfway between the archers and the hole, content to wait while her familiar does her thing.
[21:16] <Alicia> Marie goes left!
[21:22] <Kotono> Marie heads down and left! It goes on a ways, to a little cubbyhole in the rock. Here bits of straw are about, as well as a few broken eggshells.
[21:23] <Alicia> Nothing very interesting, so she retreats back to the branch and then takes the right path.
[21:27] <Kotono> The right path goes down a ways. Two little forks can be glimpsed down midway, showing two more dens. Further down, it leads out. This leads into a wider cavern. Several patches of dirty and dead grass are about, eggs nestled in them. Only two shocker lizards can be seen about, but there are many eggs. Some are broken and some are intact.
[21:29] <Alicia> Marie flies around a bit in the bigger cave on the off chance she'll draw the attention of the lizards before she scoots back up the tunnel to the surface.
[21:32] <Kotono> The lizards hiss and shoot lightning at Marie...but it fails to hav eany effect at all.
[21:33] <Alicia> "Owww! Oh, the pain!" Marie wails theatrically, convulsing a little for effect as lightning cascades around her before she struggles mightly to escape back up the tunnel!
[21:33] <Kotono> The two lizards give chase! Thus, Marie leads them on a rousing trip back up! She gushes out of the tunnel, paired lizards following! A moment after, Oberuth's voice is heard, "Fire!"
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 10#1d20+9
[21:34] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 10#1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{25}, [ 1d20=16 ]{25}, [ 1d20=11 ]{20}, [ 1d20=1 ]{10}, [ 1d20=17 ]{26}, [ 1d20=9 ]{18}, [ 1d20=2 ]{11}, [ 1d20=12 ]{21}, [ 1d20=16 ]{25}, [ 1d20=5 ]{14}
[21:34] <Kotono> roll 10#1d20+9
[21:34] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 10#1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=16 ]{25}, [ 1d20=11 ]{20}, [ 1d20=9 ]{18}, [ 1d20=17 ]{26}, [ 1d20=13 ]{22}, [ 1d20=14 ]{23}, [ 1d20=14 ]{23}, [ 1d20=3 ]{12}
[21:34] <Kotono> The storm of arrows that comes turns the two lizards into some form of arrow cushion with extreme prejudice. They barely even have a chance to react.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Feels a bit like overkill..." Marie remarks as she looks down at the pincushioned lizards. "They were the only ones I found, besides a couple of eggs."
[21:36] <Kotono> "It was." Oberuth agrees, coming over to check over the damage. "May they enjoy it as they roast in the Abyss. Marie, were those eggs intact?"
[21:36] <Alicia> Marie doesn't think animals end up there, but chooses not to correct the Commander. "About half and half," she responds.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Bring out all the surviving eggs," Oberuth orders.
[21:39] <Alicia> Marie makes a face. "It'll take a long time for me, but okay..." she responds, dispiritedly flying back down the hole.
[21:47] <Kotono> It takes about a half hour for Marie to haul out the intact eggs, eight of them in total. Once it's done, "Gather those up," Oberuth instructs, "Make sure not to crack them." Soldiers do so, the eggs gathered up. Oberuth then peers up at the sky, "A few more hours...let's head back and start fresh tomorrow. We'll reach Parsifal again around dusk."
[21:47] <Alicia> "What are you planning to do with the eggs, sir?" Alicia can't help but ask.
[21:49] <Kotono> "We have Elle, the academy and myraid uses for the eggs. At worst, we smash them and make sure more lizards won't be born in there in a few weeks. A good extermination should ensure that there's no recurrance after it's done."
[21:50] <Alicia> "Wonder what they taste like?" Alicia muses curiously.
[21:50] <Kotono> "That's the best idea for dinner I've ever heard," Oberuth suddenly cracks a smile, "We'll find out tonight then."
[21:58] <Kotono> That evening, you find out the shocker lizard eggs taste kinda like runny fried chicken. It's not a bad meal all in all. That night you rest...Six AM comes too early. It's not because Alicia get sup early, it's because of how she's woken. In the barracks room she's been given with Antenora and Marie, "Captain!" A man's voice calls, "Orders of the Commander!"
[22:00] <Alicia> "Antenora, could you get that?" Alicia asks, getting out of bed and going behind a screen to get dressed. Really, it's not even dawn yet...
[22:01] <Kotono> Antenora does so, armor clad and all. A soldier blinks at her, "Ma'am. Commander Oberuth sends word that a massive swarm of lizards has been sighted outside of Parsifal, as if to lay seige to the city! Your presence is required outside immediately."
[22:02] <Alicia> "Damn, I won't need armour for this, anyway," Alicia says, just dropping it into her portable hole after pulling on her tunic, folding the hole up and grabbing Hell Striker as she emerges from behind the screen. "Lets go."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Thank you," Antenora says, "We'll be along. Excuse us." Closing the door and going ot the screen, "Heard that...oh, right, let's go then."
[22:05] <Kotono> You hurry along with Antenora and Marie! You reach the outer walls, climbing up them with the dawn. As dawn's light splashes over Parsifal, you meet Commander Oberuth there. The gates to the city are closed, wagons being moved inside and archers manning the walls. As you approach, "Past midnight, night patrols sent word back that a massive swarm of shocker lizards was encountered coming down the mountain, numbering in the hundreds. From report
[22:05] <Kotono> shocker lizards was encountered coming down the mountain, numbering in the hundreds. From reports, they're heading in the direction of Parsifal."
[22:06] <Alicia> "How long till they get here?" Alicia asks tersely.
[22:07] <Kotono> "An hour? Two? It's a guess. If they are going after the city, we're going to cut them down unto the last lizard." Oberuth peers out ahead, "Electric or not, they won't tolerate arrows, boiling pitch and magic."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Going after the city? Doesn't that speak of an intelligent motive?" Antenora speaks up there, "They're just mindless animals with electric charges."
[22:08] <Kotono> Shrugging, "Perhaps, or perhaps it's just in their way. No matter why they're coming to Parsifal, we'll deal with them."
[22:09] <Alicia> "Certainly we have lots of magic that can be used to devastate a wide area, although Antenora has a point. Once this is over we should scour the mountains to find what's behind this," Alicia nods. "For now I'll coordinate with the quartermaster to ensure a large supply of enchanted arrows to be distributed among the men."

[Corwin]

[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > That evening, you find out the shocker lizard eggs taste kinda like runny fried chicken. It's not a bad meal all in all. That night you rest...Six AM comes too early. It's not because Alicia get sup early, it's because of how she's woken. In the barracks room she's been given with Antenora and Marie, "Captain!" A man's voice calls, "Orders of the Commander!"
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> <Alicia> "Antenora, could you get that?" Alicia asks, getting out of bed and going behind a screen to get dressed. Really, it's not even dawn yet...
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > Antenora does so, armor clad and all. A soldier blinks at her, "Ma'am. Commander Oberuth sends word that a massive swarm of lizards has been sighted outside of Parsifal, as if to lay seige to the city! Your presence is required outside immediately."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> <Alicia> "Damn, I won't need armour for this, anyway," Alicia says, just dropping it into her portable hole after pulling on her tunic, folding the hole up and grabbing Hell Striker as she emerges from behind the screen. "Lets go."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > "Thank you," Antenora says, "We'll be along. Excuse us." Closing the door and going ot the screen, "Heard that...oh, right, let's go then."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > You hurry along with Antenora and Marie! You reach the outer walls, climbing up them with the dawn. As dawn's light splashes over Parsifal, you meet Commander Oberuth there. The gates to the city are closed, wagons being moved inside and archers manning the walls. As you approach, "Past midnight, night patrols sent word back that a massive swarm of shocker lizards was encountered coming down the mountain, numbering in the hundreds. From
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > shocker lizards was encountered coming down the mountain, numbering in the hundreds. From reports, they're heading in the direction of Parsifal."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> <Alicia> "How long till they get here?" Alicia asks tersely.
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > "An hour? Two? It's a guess. If they are going after the city, we're going to cut them down unto the last lizard." Oberuth peers out ahead, "Electric or not, they won't tolerate arrows, boiling pitch and magic."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > "Going after the city? Doesn't that speak of an intelligent motive?" Antenora speaks up there, "They're just mindless animals with electric charges."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> > Shrugging, "Perhaps, or perhaps it's just in their way. No matter why they're coming to Parsifal, we'll deal with them."
[18:20] <Kotono_Ibis> <Alicia> "Certainly we have lots of magic that can be used to devastate a wide area, although Antenora has a point. Once this is over we should scour the mountains to find what's behind this," Alicia nods. "For now I'll coordinate with the quartermaster to ensure a large supply of enchanted arrows to be distributed among the men."
[18:22] <Kotono_Ibis> "You do that. Antenora and Marie, fly out ahead and scout out the lizards and then return." Oberuth peers ahead into the early morning haze, a hand over his eyes, "Don't engage them - if someone or something is directing them at Parsifal, I'd like to give them a through smashing here and now."
[18:23] <Alicia> "Lets go, buddy!" Marie grins as she alights on Antenora's head.
[18:25] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora takes to the air, the two flying ahead. This takes about twenty minutes before yo ucan see something ahead. The ground turns electric blue and scaly green-gray. Like a tide, a vast wave slowly surges forward in the direction of Parsifal. Antenora and Marie are about 150 feet away right now and 50 above the ground.
[18:26] <Alicia> Marie suggests flying higher just in case such numbers allow them to generate exceptionally long-ranged electric shocks, ascendiing up to two hundred feet as she tries to get an estimate of how many lizards there are.
[18:30] <Kotono_Ibis> "Right," Antenora flies up quickly, wings flapping with a single white feather falling as she ascends. The tide continues to surge forward. Peering down from her lofty perch, "They're stronger in numbers...if there are this many, this is not going to be an easy battle."
[18:32] <Alicia> "We'll need to put on a good show to keep them focused on us rather than just swarming right past and up the walls," Marie agrees, trying to see if she can spot any of the horse-sized lizards she's heard about.
[18:32] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Make a spot check?
[18:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
05[18:32] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
05[18:32] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Kotono_Ibis invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[18:32] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #dunes
03[18:32] * Kotono_Ibis sets mode: +o Hatbot
[18:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[18:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[18:33] <Kotono_Ibis> Marie can see a few larger shocker lizards here and there, up to the size of a horse. There aren't too many, perhaps a half dozen sprinkled about the horde.
[18:34] <Alicia> "There's a couple of those big ones," Marie points them out, "But nothing too huge... lets head back so we can let Alicia know and make preparations?"
[18:36] <Kotono_Ibis> "Yes," With that, Antenora takes off and hurries back to Parsifal. They find Oberuth and Alicia waiting, the former having a longbow in hand. Archers line the walls, as well as soldiers readying pots of boiling pitch. The city gates are shut tight, the streets emptied save for soldiers. Pack-wagons have been taken, used to haul supplies to the walls, unloaded into piles at the base of the city walls. Once Antenora and Marie come closer, "
[18:36] <Kotono_Ibis> piles at the base of the city walls. Once Antenora and Marie come closer, "Report," Oberuth says shortly.
[18:38] <Kotono_Ibis> "They're coming. They were about twenty  minutes by air, which means roughly 45 minutes to an hour by ground," Antenora lands at the tip of the wall, perching there before lowering herself down. "It was like a wave of them, like you'd see with barbarian tactics or a horde of lemures. Marie also spotted several larger ones mixed in."
[18:38] <Alicia> Marie gives the Commander the approximate dimensions of the horde, since there's no way she can count that many, and also notes that there were maybe six of the bigger lizards but most were normal sized.
[18:40] <Kotono_Ibis> Nodding to them as they report, "Alright. Marie, you can manage some archery to help fortify the lines? Antenora, what about you?"
[18:40] <Alicia> "We need some way to keep them held up so the archers have time to shoot, otherwise they'll just climb right over the walls and then we'll be in a real mess," Alicia notes. "Some of us will need to engage them out of the city within archery range to try and delay them."
[18:41] <Kotono_Ibis> "I have magic. Alicia," Antenora looks to her, "I could do that or engaget hem more directly." Nodding to her words, "Alicia and I can fly, and Alicia can shield us from lightning. We're ideal for it."
[18:42] <Alicia> "I have a few spells that can delay them - and Antenora can keep her wall of blades ability in reserve just in case any do manage to break through and threaten the walls," Alicia nods, looking to see if there's any appropriate terrain features she could use to anchor a web perhaps 150-200 feet from the city walls on the path the lizards will approach by.
[18:43] <Kotono_Ibis> "Very well." Oberuth agrees to Alicia, as she looks about over. The ground is hilly and rocky, there's lots of little things that could work for it. A web is quite possible in this terrain.
[18:44] <Alicia> "Speaking of, I've already warded myself and the Commander, so here you go," Alicia reaches over to cast her spell on Antenora. "I say we make our stand a hundred feet from the walls, which gives us some room to work with but stays within easy shooting range for the archers."
[18:49] <Kotono_Ibis> "What's your plan," Antenora looks to her, "So we're big targets, the archers fire...is that it?"
[18:52] <Alicia> "Well, naturally we do our best to kill as many as we can by ourselves," Alicia replies, a bit embarrassed. "Given their climbing and burrowing abilities there's little point digging trenches or building walls even if we had the time. Using area effect spells like fireballs on the swarm as it approaches would be nice, but I'm a bit lacking in that department."
[18:54] <Kotono_Ibis> "A shame Seira's not here. She excels at it," Antenora agrees, "We'll do well enough. I can manage some...I don't like using holy light on simple vermin, but...I have no regrets if it's protect Parsifal."
[18:57] <Alicia> "Kossuth's gift would be more useful than Mystra's in this case, wall of blades excepted," Alicia recommends. "It's a pity Hell Striker's new ability doesn't fully mimic the spell it's based on, otherwise it would be very useful. Still, we'll make do."
[18:58] <Kotono_Ibis> "Do so," Oberuth agrees, "Then prepare for the swarm, the both of you." OOC: Ready to skip along a little bit now?
[18:58] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[18:59] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: So quickly detail what you'll do before then, then?
[19:00] <Alicia> OOC: I've already cast all the buffs and distributed the magic arrows, so now I'll just fly around with Anty outside the city until we catch sight of the swarm
[19:03] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+21
06[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+21 and gets 38." [1d20=17]
[19:03] <Kotono_Ibis> The sun continues to rise into the sky, Lathander's warm blessings caressing the stony ground and Parsifal. After around an hour, Antenora points ahead. "I'm starting to see something on the horizon," Pointing ahead as she stops in the air, "Sparks of electricity. I think they're coming now."
[19:05] <Alicia> "Lets get ready," Alicia looks over herself. "Once the swarm reaches us, use your flame strike on the middle of it while I trap the leading edge in a web, then we'll land to hold any that work around the web while the archers do their work?"
[19:06] <Kotono_Ibis> "Got it. Split them apart like the tides on shoals and let the spillover be shot to death. I can do that," Antenora hovers in place, "I'm ready."
06[19:08] * Alicia has the scroll of web in hand as she flies fifty above the ground, waiting for the lizards to reach them before she casts her spell.
[19:10] <Kotono_Ibis> Ahead, Alicia can see them! They are a tide of electricity and scales, a great wave of Shocker Lizards stretching far and deep! They begin to approach, coming closer and closer! At 100 feet away from the two women, 200 feet away from Parsifal's outer walls, "How close?" Antenora asks, "Before we strike?"
[19:13] <Alicia> "They're well in range for anyone with a bow, now!" Alicia replies, reading off her scroll before it crumbles in her hands, the magic springing to life to entrap the vanguard of the swarm in a forty feet wide nest of webbing!
[19:13] <Alicia> OOC: DC 13 reflex to just be entangled but not immobilised
[19:14] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: How wide is the webbing?
[19:14] <Alicia> OOC: 20ft radius
[19:15] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 12#1d20+5
06[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 12#1d20+5 and gets 198." [12#1d20+5 = 12, 18, 17, 9, 24, 24, 17, 18, 10, 23, 18, 8]
[19:18] <Kotono_Ibis> The webbing fires out, trapping the center of the wave dead on! Some resist, trying to move forward, while others are held fast! A moment later, a column of fire appears from above, striking down in the center of the horde!
[19:18] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 15d6
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 15d6 and gets 67." [15d6=3, 3, 5, 5, 6, 4, 5, 6, 5, 5, 6, 4, 4, 2, 4]
[19:21] <Kotono_Ibis> As a column of empty, burnt ground is cored out amid the lizards, the first wave of arrows comes! They slam down all over, a sea of them cascading down and around! Shocker Lizards are impaled by the dozen, a murderous spread of death taking it's toll on them! A few arrows bounce off Alicia's armor and toughened skin, one even hitting the back of her head and failing to even hurt in the least. The horde is slowed, it's center of progress s
[19:21] <Kotono_Ibis> The horde is slowed, it's center of progress stopped, a part of it's middle vaporized and it's sides splitting apart as it goes raound the webbing. OOC: Go ahead and go, Alcia.
[19:22] <Alicia> "Take the right, I'm on the left!" Alicia calls to Antenora, dropping down to the left and drawing Hell Striker before she hurls it forward to scythe through the procession of lizards starting to work their way around the web!
[19:23] <Alicia> OOC: whirling blade, 60ft line of death, is there a need to roll? If so, how many.
[19:23] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Say 14, and yeah, just use the # function real quick. You only miss 'em on a one.
[19:24] <Alicia> OOC: my minimum damage kills them, too
[19:24] <Alicia> roll 14#1d20+20 -5 pa
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 14#1d20+20 -5 pa and gets 414." [14#1d20+20 = 24, 21, 36, 33, 36, 32, 23, 36, 24, 27, 37, 23, 36, 26]
[19:25] <Kotono_Ibis> A row of lizards is butchered, only a single one escaping Alicia's dreadful wrath! As scales and lightning flies,
[19:25] <Kotono_Ibis> AOOC: GAaah.
[19:25] <Kotono_Ibis> A row of lizards is butchered, only a single one escaping Alicia's dreadful wrath! As scales and lightning flies, Antenora concentrates holy power, blasting a segment of the lizards are more arrows come!
[19:25] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 5d8
06[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 5d8 and gets 24." [5d8=8, 6, 5, 2, 3]
[19:26] <Kotono_Ibis> Between more arrows and holy power, the lizards reduced further! In this eruption, a great crackle of lightning comes from the survivors, right at Alicia! A few moments later, another bolt comes for Antenora! OOC: Make a ref save?
[19:26] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+24
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+24 and gets 29." [1d20=5]
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 23." [1d20=4]
[19:27] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 12d8 Alicia halve this
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 12d8 Alicia halve this and gets 70." [12d8=4, 6, 8, 6, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 5, 2, 7]
[19:27] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 12d8 Antenora halve this holy fuck at that damage
06[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 12d8 Antenora halve this holy fuck at that damage and gets 53." [12d8=2, 4, 8, 7, 5, 1, 3, 5, 8, 3, 1, 6]
[19:29] <Kotono_Ibis> Alicia steps back at that shock, felt even through her defenses and speed! Antneora is hit as well, dodging out of the way of the worst of it! The center is starting to break, lizards caught and arrowed and burnt! The sides are becoming ragged, worked over! As an arrow slams down right in front of Antenora, "It's working," she calls, "They're like Spinagons trying to charge an encampment of Arrow Demons! Completely helpless!"
[19:30] <Kotono_Ibis> "They're like Spinagons trying to charge an encampment of Arrow Demons! Completely helpless!"  OOC: Go ahead and go aagain, Alicia?
[19:31] <Alicia> Since they're starting to swarm her its tempting to lash out wildly at the ones scampering around her feet, but that won't kill the greatest numbers. Trusting the archers to pick off those around her, she shifts position slightly for a better line and then hurls her blade forward again to cut through their approaching ranks!
[19:31] <Alicia> OOC: any adjacent to me get AoOs
[19:31] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: I'll say three do.
[19:31] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20 needs 20s
[19:31] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20 needs 20s
[19:31] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20 needs 20s
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20 needs 20s and gets 6." [1d20=6]
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20 needs 20s and gets 11." [1d20=11]
06[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20 needs 20s and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[19:32] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Go ahead.
[19:32] <Alicia> OOC: how many for whirling blade?
[19:32] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Say 10 this time.
[19:32] <Alicia> roll 10#1d20+20 -5pa
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10#1d20+20 -5pa and gets 297." [10#1d20+20 = 34, 25, 26, 25, 36, 30, 35, 33, 32, 21]
[19:34] <Kotono_Ibis> Another horde of lizards is broken apart, severed by Alicia's whirling blade! A Holy smite follows, grabbing another cluster of lizards!
[19:34] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 5d8
06[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 5d8 and gets 18." [5d8=2, 1, 8, 5, 2]
[19:43] <Kotono_Ibis> As arrows rain down again, Alicia side stepping between two arrows a mere foot apart to dodge, she can see that the battle is going decisively in their favor! The lizards are breaking apart, less of a wave and more of straggling survivors! A bolt comes at Alicia nonetheless, as well as Antenora! OOC: Ref, both of you.
[19:43] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+24
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+24 and gets 35." [1d20=11]
[19:43] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 8d8 Antenora halve this
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 8d8 Antenora halve this and gets 30." [8d8=1, 1, 3, 7, 4, 7, 6, 1]
[19:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[19:43] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 8d8 Alicia halve this
06[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 8d8 Alicia halve this and gets 39." [8d8=2, 6, 7, 3, 7, 3, 8, 3]
[19:44] <Kotono_Ibis> Furious lightning crackles in a dance around the two warriors, yet neither is injured in the least! It's as if they're dancing with arrows flying and lightning crashing around them, dealing death to all that come close! Ahead, Alicia can see a large shocker lizard crawling along, coming right ather with several smaller ones on it's back! OOC: Go ahead and act, Alicia.
[19:47] <Alicia> Well, it's hardly a real test of her new sword, but at least she's managing well enough. Briefly confirming that no large groups have passed the invisible line held by her and Antenora, she once more swings Hell Striker forward, aiming for the large lizard and its passengers, and claiming the heads of any others unfortunate enough to be on the line.
[19:47] <Alicia> OOC: how many attacks?
[19:47] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: 6.
[19:48] <Alicia> roll 6#1d20+20 -5pa
06[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6#1d20+20 -5pa and gets 191." [6#1d20+20 = 26, 32, 25, 29, 40, 39]
[19:48] <Alicia> OOC: do I need to roll damage for the big one?
[19:48] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: roll damage once, yeah.
[19:48] <Alicia> OOC: which attack? (last two were crit threats)
[19:48] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Say the first for the sake of argument.
[19:49] <Alicia> roll 2d4+27
06[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+27 and gets 34." [2d4=4, 3]
[19:50] <Kotono_Ibis> A swath of lizards is cut away once more! The large one buckles but stays up! As Antenora unleashes more sacred light out...
[19:50] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 5d8
06[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 5d8 and gets 18." [5d8=4, 4, 1, 4, 5]
[19:50] <Kotono_Ibis> Arrows come flying! As the lizard is impaled and collapsing, it lets loose it's own oversized bolt at Alicia! OOC: ref.
[19:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 39." [1d20=20]
[19:51] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 6d8 halve this
06[19:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 6d8 halve this and gets 26." [6d8=2, 5, 5, 7, 4, 3]
[19:52] <Kotono_Ibis> But Alicia blocks the bolt with her forearm, lightning crackling down her arm before fizzling away harmlessly! The battlefield is slowing now - only a few scattered lizards remain, volleys of arrows finishing them off.  Without a doubt, the tide is broken.
[19:53] <Alicia> With no convenient large masses to cut into with her magic, Alicia is happy enough to let the archers do their thing. Twirling Hell Striker around despite its greater mass, she idly lops off the head of a staggering dazed lizard that clambered out of the web nearby, flicking the ichor off before she rests the blade over her shoulder.
[19:55] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora is slowing as well. As the last of the lizards are defeated, she flies over to her. A stray arrow whizzes between the two before Antenora speaks. "It worked well enough...nothing more than an alternative take on a stinking horde of lemures. It was the same sort of near mindless, suicidial charge."
[19:56] <Alicia> "You can't expect animals to use tactics," Alicia shrugs, content to stand and watch as the last dregs of the horde are shot to pieces. "But the fact that they targetted the city like this is troubling, nonetheless."
[19:57] <Kotono_Ibis> "I want to know the why now," Antenora gazes ahead over the battlefield, "What forced this to happen?
[19:57] <Kotono_Ibis> "
[19:58] <Alicia> "A pity we can't ask the lizards themselves," Alicia muses, glancing down at the corpse-strewn ground. "Perhaps if we followed the trail left by the horde and found their rallying point, a clue might be located?"
[20:00] <Kotono_Ibis> "Let's report back on that idea?" Antenora takes off and back towards the city, "Will you want to go immediately or rest the day first? You used much of your magic."
[20:03] <Alicia> "Most of it was simple spells. I still have all of my more powerful ones available," Alicia waves that aside, healing herself a little before she sheathes her sword and follows Antenora. Admittedly it is nice to have a sword that now fits in a sheath, and with it on her hip she doesn't need to turn to the side when going through doors, so there are always upsides.
[20:05] <Kotono_Ibis> You go back to cheers and the gates of the city being opened. A squadron of soldiers supported by archers is coming out, going to sweep out the battleground. Amid the cheers and triumph, "Well done!" Commander Oberuth has his bow resting on the ground. "You're not hurt, Alicia?"
[20:06] <Alicia> "Not at all, sir," Alicia gives him a smile as Marie flies over to join them. "To be honest I'm surprised it went that well. Given their numbers I worried we wouldn't be able to stem the tide, but it seems the walls weren't threatened at all."
[20:08] <Kotono_Ibis> "As terrifying as they are, they're no match for charging protected archers with range and support," Antenora puts her spear down and leans on it. "Most couldn't count on support that was virtually immune to stray arrows, though."
[20:12] <Kotono_Ibis> "Parsifal is safe for the moment," Oberuth rubs his chin, "There is still the question of what's causing this. Did any of this give you any ideas to what's behind it?"
[20:15] <Alicia> "Not really," Alicia shakes her head. "But they'll have left a clear trail. Perhaps if we follow it we might find some sort of clue?"
[20:20] <Kotono_Ibis> "It's worth trying," Oberuth says, "I'll be coming with you, I want to see this myself. Be ready to leave Parsifal within the half hour."
[20:21] <Alicia> "Yes sir," Alicia salutes, already good to go, herself.
[20:34] <Kotono_Ibis> Heading out of the city, Alicia, Antenora, Marie and Commander Oberuth go out. Antenora begins tracking the trail of many lizards...
[20:34] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway.
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway. and gets 38." [1d20=20]
[20:36] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 2
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 2 and gets 28." [1d20=10]
[20:36] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 3
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 3 and gets 21." [1d20=3]
[20:36] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 4
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+18 tracking, with all the mods it's easy anyway hour 4 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
[20:37] <Kotono_Ibis> You travel deep and high into the mountains for four hours. Antenora leads the way at a slow, steady clip. You twist about the mountains, often needing to fly up (And help lift the Commander) cliffs or walk around dangerous paths. But sometime around the noon highsun, you glimpse a tall cliff face. This cliff is dotted with holes from small sized to as large as a hallway cored out of the rock. Antenora stops here, "I think this is it."
[20:37] <Kotono_Ibis>  hallway cored out of the rock. Antenora stops here, "I think this is it."
[20:41] <Alicia> "Hmm... I'll fly up to get the lay of the land," Alicia considers. "Antenora, you're able to communicate with plants, right? Could you perhaps ask any around here if they've... I don't know if 'seen' is the right word, but noticed any creatures besides Shocker Lizards around here?"
[20:45] <Kotono_Ibis> "I'll try," Antenora agrees, going to look about.
[20:45] <Alicia> Marie hovers near Antenora, really curious to see how this works.
[20:48] <Kotono_Ibis> Alicia ascends up as Commander Oberuth keeps watch.  She sees that this is a ragged, jagged part of the mountains. Cliffs and cliffs, not much easy land. Another cliff is about twenty feet deeper in past the top of this cliff, more holes dotting it.
[20:48] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora kneels before some grasses and flowers growing between cracks in the rock. She touches the tip of the flower with her fingers, "Hello there....yes...Do you know the gray ones? There were many of them and they came from the holes there...yes...yes...No, not that..."
[20:49] <Alicia> Sigh. Once you've seen one cliff you've seen them all... circling around a bit to keep busy, Alicia maps out the surrounding mountains before she descends. Hopefully Antenora's had some luck.
[20:57] <Kotono_Ibis> "Anything different than them...no, no..." Antenora sighs, then to Marie, "It's like talking to a child." After that, she goes onto it, "From the holes. Did you...did you now? Hm. Like it was part of the cliff?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Oooh, sounds like something good!" Marie cheers as Alicia lands beside them.
[21:00] <Kotono_Ibis> "Okay. Thank you, flower." Antenora releases her fingers and stands. Speaking louder now, "It says it saw part of the cliff moving to make the bigger holes, but it had arms and legs like us."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Hmm... an earth elemental, perhaps?" Alicia wonders. "Did it say where it came from or went?"
[21:02] <Kotono_Ibis> "No. Plants aren't very good with details. Getting simple information is the most you can hope for," Antenora replies, "That was my thought as well. Perhaps the servant of another creature, or something freed in recent times as the seals are released?"
[21:03] <Kotono_Ibis> "An elemental? Magic." Oberuth grunts as he gestures upwards, "We'll have to find out and deal with it, before it can disturb things more. We don't know if there's anything worse than Shocker Lizards in there somewhere, and I don't want to have to defend Parsifal or Valandia against anything worse."
[21:03] <Alicia> "I can't see how an earth elemental would control shocker lizards, so probably a servant for whatever agent is ultimately responsible," Alicia supposes. "Well, barring any other leads, perhaps we could explore the caves that have been dug out?"
[21:05] <Kotono_Ibis> "Let's." Commander Oberuth points upwards, "That hole there is big enough for us ot proceed through without difficulty. Let's get moving."
[21:06] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll take point," Alicia flies up to the tunnel entrance and waits for the Commander to climb up, trusting his abilities.
[21:07] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+13
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+13 and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[21:08] <Kotono_Ibis> Climbing up goes without incident, the party leading the way. Oberuth follows just behind Alicia, Antenora taking up the rear. Thus you proceed in. As you do, shadows engulfing, "Light," Oberuth orders. "Alicia, you can cast that spell or do likewise?"
[21:09] <Alicia> "Certainly, sir," Alicia reaches into her boot and draws the Third Resort, since a dagger would be easier to handle in cramped tunnels than a big sword. A quick spell is cast and the blade gives off a healthy glow as they advance.
[21:11] <Kotono_Ibis> You walk along the tunnel for about a quarter of an hour, perhaps? It slopes downward a few times and upwards in retort, as if going under mountain's hidden hills. Coming ahead, you see a huge cavern. Great troughs of grass and soft dirt lie about, shattered eggshells all around. Holes all over dot the walls, leading into this room. A few broken and smashed Shocker Lizards lie about.
06[21:12] * Alicia pauses and looks at one of the lizard corpses. "It looks like it was bludgeoned to death..." she observes, crouching down to examine it. "That fits with an earth elemental, but why?"
[21:13] <Kotono_Ibis> Oberuth takes a step in, the steelty slither of his sword being drawn softly echoing about the cavern. "That's the mystery. If I knew why and it wasn't hostile, I'd nominate them for a medal." Oberuth starts to look about, "Fan out and look around. See if you can find anything."
[21:14] <Alicia> "Not if it's only killing a handful and driving the rest towards us," Alicia remarks, reaching over to cast Light on Obureth's sword before she walks deeper into the cavern, her eyes glowing blue just in case there's any magic to be found.
[21:15] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: No check needed at the moment, line coming.
[21:15] <Kotono_Ibis> Far away, Alicia can see the rear wall. This wall has no holes in it, but it glows with faint magic.
[21:16] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+21
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+21 and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[21:17] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 spellcraft
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=17]
[21:18] <Kotono_Ibis> Alicia can tell the magic is Abjuration.
06[21:19] * Alicia looks up at the ceiling and calls out in Terran. "Hello, up there. Can you understand me?"
[21:19] <Kotono_Ibis> Oberuth pauses as he advances on the rear wall, "The back wall radi-" He begins, looking up as well. Alicia can see something rocky scurry into the ceiling, passing through it and away like it was mere air and not solid stone.
06[21:21] * Alicia sheathes the Resort and instead draws Hell Striker, since there's room to swing it around here. "I suppose it didn't want to chat," she comments in Common.
[21:22] <Kotono_Ibis> "Damn," Antenora grunts, "That was probably a watcher. There goes any element of surprise." Antenora looks towards Alicia and the Commander, "The back wall is magic?"
[21:24] <Alicia> "Abjuration, specifically. Not a spell I can identify," Alicia nods. "I'm not quite sure what it does, really..." she looks over the wall to try and discern what area the magical aura extends over.
[21:24] <Kotono_Ibis> It extends over the majority of the back wall, only leaving some edges untouched.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Marie, come over here a second?" Alicia asks as her familiar comes over to alight on her outstretched palm. "Turn incorporeal and try to go through that wall." Nodding happily, Marie turns into a ball of light, her gear all falling onto Alicia's hand as she flies over to try and phase through the wall.
[21:26] <Kotono_Ibis> Marie is able to phase through the wall! It's about five feet thick. On the other side, she sees a passage way continuing onward. It's big enough to walk through three abreast.
[21:27] <Alicia> Marie looks around for magic as she checks both directions of the passage. Is it going parallel to the wall or away from it?
[21:27] <Kotono_Ibis> It's going straight ahead. There's no magic here.
[21:29] <Alicia> Do the dimensions of the passageway match the dimensions of the wall?
[21:31] <Kotono_Ibis> It's a bit smaller than the wall.
[21:31] <Alicia> A bit like a couple of feet or something bigger?
[21:31] <Kotono_Ibis> About 5-10 feet.
[21:32] <Alicia> Marie tries going through the walls of this passage on either side just to check she's not missing anything that's also being hidden by the abjuration.
[21:32] <Kotono_Ibis> It's nothing but soild stone.
[21:35] <Alicia> Marie returns and reports her findings! "Alright," Alicia nods. "Blasting a hole in the wall is probably more trouble than it's worth, but I can teleport us past it and we can explore from there. If its warded by a magic wall it must be important."
[21:36] <Kotono_Ibis> "Likely." Oberuth agrees to that without further comment.
[21:36] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora cracks a smile at all of this, "At least it's earth and not ooze."
[21:37] <Alicia> "Yuck. I hope we never have to go there again," Alicia grimaces as Marie flies back through the wall, Alicia gathering the other two next to it before she teleports a mere ten feet through the rock to join her familiar.
[21:37] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[21:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 68." [1d100=68]
[21:39] <Kotono_Ibis> Woosh! You appear without incident on the other side.
[21:39] <Kotono_Ibis> "Seconded," Antenora shudders and wipes at her arms.
[21:39] <Kotono_Ibis> Commander Oberuth starts walking ahead, taking point with his sword radiating light. "Earth elementals hit like giants, don't they? I'll take point then."
06[21:39] * Alicia then lets Marie revert and get changed under her wing for her modesty's sake. Once that's done, she sets off down the corridor. "Lets see where this leads, shall we?"
[21:42] <Alicia> "Until you get to the especially large ones, or unique ones like Oolu, elementals tend to be fairly weak," Alicia admits as she trails just behind and to the left of the Commander. "I suspect the elementals here aren't anything special, but whatever's controlling them..."
[21:43] <Kotono_Ibis> "If it's a mage, well, I can deal with that," Oberuth glances back, sword-light casting shadows over his face at this angle. "If we're lucky, this won't result in bloodshed."
[21:43] <Kotono_Ibis> "I do hope so," Antenora adds to that, "There's been enough already. But if evil's lurking in these mountains again..."
[21:44] <Alicia> "Maybe it's a vengeful druid trying to destroy civilisation with the power of the natural world?" Marie suggests brightly as they proceed through the tunnel.
[21:47] <Kotono_Ibis> "Such an optimist," Antenora drawls with a smile. Commander Oberuth grunts quietly and leads along without comment. You walk down this path for about ten minutes before you come to a sharp incline going down. It's passable, but steep. The ceiling slopes down here, enough to where crawling will be required for passage.
[21:50] <Alicia> "Times like this where wings are a disadvantage... Why protect such a difficult hallway?" Alicia wonders. "Marie, how about you go ahead and see if it widens out close enough for you to use your bracelet to teleport the rest of us through?"
[21:50] <Kotono_Ibis> "I suspect the answer is that whomever is behind this does not wish to be disturbed."
[21:50] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Gah.
[21:50] <Alicia> "Okay!" Marie nods, flying easily down the passage which is more than ample for her needs. So long as it doesn't twist to make her lose sight of the others, or is more than 110 feet, she should be able to manage it.
[21:51] <Kotono_Ibis> "I suspect the answer is that whomever is behind this does not wish to be disturbed." Antenora kneels down and peers ahead as Marie goes down. Marie finds that it goes seventy something feet before widening into a more gentle slope with the ceiling levelling off. It stretches further ahead.
[21:52] <Alicia> Getting down to the base, Marie first uses her bracelet to exchange places with Alicia. Then she flies down and trades with the Commander. After that she repeats her journey to trade with Antenora. And finally she descends to rejoin the group at the bottom.
[21:53] <Kotono_Ibis> As Marie flies back after depositing Alicia, the former has a moment or two by  herself. Or she would, if the floor did not disgorge a small being of rock
[21:53] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Gah.
[21:54] <Kotono_Ibis> As Marie flies back after depositing Alicia, the former has a moment or two by  herself. Or she would, if the floor did not disgorge a small being of rock! It is about the size of a shocker lizard, humanoid and lacking a real, defined head. In slow, drawling words as heavy as adamantine, "Turn back."
[21:55] <Alicia> OOC: do you mean the latter? This is down at the bottom, right?
[21:56] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: Yes and yes.
[21:56] <Alicia> "Why?" Alicia asks in the same language as Marie flies down to join her. "What lies ahead?"
[21:58] <Kotono_Ibis> "Until the ley point is found, we will not be disturbed. Leave our lands be."
[22:00] <Alicia> "Are you responsible for driving the shocker lizards to the human city further down the mountain?" Alicia asks firmly, since it sounds like the earth elementals might be in charge, after all.
[22:01] <Alicia> OOC: speaking of, knowledge to ID this guy?
[22:01] <Alicia> OOC: and can he cast anything?
[22:02] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: K:P and no.
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[22:05] <Kotono_Ibis> The elemental does not reply, sinking back into the stone instead and leaving Alicia and Marie behind.
[22:06] <Alicia> "Great..." Alicia exhales as Marie swaps places with the Commander. "An earth elemental just warned us off, sir," she tells Obureth. "It said they won't be disturbed until the Ley Point is found, and asked us to leave their lands be."
[22:07] <Kotono_Ibis> "Hmm." Peering ahead before looking to Alicia, "That's a polite threat. What's a Ley Point?"
[22:10] <Alicia> "It's a place where certain types of magic are enhanced," Alicia replies as Marie flies back down and trades with Antenora. "I found one in the mountains where I found the fragments of the Sword of the Sealed Gate that enhanced summoning and calling magic."
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 arcana, how DO you find a ley point, besides dumb luck?
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 arcana, how DO you find a ley point, besides dumb luck? and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[22:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+13 arcana, how DO you find a ley point, besides dumb luck? Lets ask Marie
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+13 arcana, how DO you find a ley point, besides dumb luck? Lets ask Marie and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[22:11] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora appears, listening and catching up. As she does...
[22:11] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+14
06[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+14 and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[22:17] <Kotono_Ibis> "That might mean a magic user is at the heart of this, a summoner." Oberuth scowls a little deeper, "What do you think, Alicia?"
[22:19] <Alicia> "This ley point could be different," Alicia notes as Marie flies back down. "But the earth elemental... the way it spoke, it wasn't acting like a minion. In any case, I think we should press on - the fact remains that they drove the shocker lizards to attack us, and for all their claims about these being 'their' lands, it seems obvious that they're invaders."
[22:23] <Kotono_Ibis> "Good, I think you're right." Oberuth gestures ahead with his sword, "We risk battle, but we risk more if we let sleeping problems lie."
[22:25] <Alicia> "Perhaps there's an elder elemental in charge that we can negotiate with, if we're lucky," Alicia nods as she continues down the passage.
[22:27] <Kotono_Ibis> You walk for perhaps a half hour, twisting passages sloping generally downwards but occasionally up, following the passage. As you head down a dim, unremarkable part...OOC: Make spot and listen checks?
[22:27] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+21 spot Antenora
06[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+21 spot Antenora and gets 22." [1d20=1]
[22:27] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+21 listen Antenora
06[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+21 listen Antenora and gets 33." [1d20=12]
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 2#1d20+6 Marie Spot/Listen
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2#1d20+6 Marie Spot/Listen and gets 34." [2#1d20+6 = 25, 9]
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 2#1d20+2 Alicia Spot/Listen
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2#1d20+2 Alicia Spot/Listen and gets 21." [2#1d20+2 = 17, 4]
[22:28] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+6 spot Oberuth
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+6 spot Oberuth and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[22:28] <Kotono_Ibis> roll 1d20+6 Listen
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono_Ibis rolls 1d20+6 Listen and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[22:29] <Kotono_Ibis> Antenora stops, "I hear something," she raises her voice, "It's distant, but it sounds like metal striking."
[22:29] <Alicia> "Looks like there's gold in the walls, too," Marie points out. "Are we in a mine, maybe?"
[22:30] <Kotono_Ibis> "Yes," Oberuth goes and taps the wall, "It could also be fool's gold or a couple of other things. Though if it's being mined, it's probably gold."
[22:31] <Kotono_Ibis> "Dwarves....I think Seira mentioned them a few times, but I had the impression they weren't this close, but..." Antenora looks to Alicia now, "Maybe they're trying to keep the gold to themselves?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "I don't know... I know dwarves live beneath these mountains, but I don't know exactly where - I thought they were a lot deeper than we are," Alicia hazards. "Lets keep going and find out?" Her eyes glow blue to check for magic as they advance.
[22:33] <Kotono_Ibis> As you take a few steps forward, it emerges from the ground once more! This one is like the last, only the size of a large, tall man. It bars your way ahead. "Turn back. These lands are not your own and you are not desired here."
[22:36] <Kotono_Ibis> "We come in the name of the Crimson Guard. Your actions may have lead to one of our nation's cities being attacked.  On that authority, we will not turn back without answers," Oberuth declares.
06[22:36] * Alicia has looked at maps of the country she now serves. Admittedly those maps don't take subterranean dwarven borders into account, but she thinks she has a case. "I think you'll find that these lands are under the domain of the United Baronies. We were almost certainly here first."
[22:38] <Kotono_Ibis> "It matters not. Our authority reigns here. The lizards were a pest, disposed of. Any damages they caused are...unfortunate."
[22:40] <Alicia> "Disposing and dumping on someone else's doorstep are two entirely different things," Alicia replies archly. "We may be able to coexist, but not without assurances."
[22:45] <Kotono_Ibis> Things of value can be provided."
[22:46] <Kotono_Ibis> The elemental says this, looking ahead with it's face that isn't a face at all.
[22:47] <Kotono_Ibis> "We have money enough. The issue is what you did." Now Oberuth crosses his arms, staring ahead at it, "Why don't you take us to your leader and we'll talk about this then?"
[22:47] <Alicia> If they're so quick to offer a bribe they must be working on something really valuable down here. "Who's in charge here? It would be best if we spoke to that person, so we can best establish how we can peacefully get along without any further misunderstandings?" she suggests in a more concillatory tone.
[22:50] <Kotono_Ibis> OOC: make diplo, Alicia?
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 and gets 42." [1d20=10]
[22:53] <Kotono_Ibis> The elemental is still for a time, then, "Wait." It fades back into the ground, gone.
[22:54] <Alicia> Assuming they're alone for the moment, Alicia asks the Commander in common, "How far do you want to push this, sir?"
[22:58] <Kotono_Ibis> "I'd prefer not to start a fight." After some thought, he speaks with clearness and resolve. "But if it looks like one is inevitable or desired, we'll do what we have to do. Tread lightly at first."
[23:00] <Alicia> "Understood, sir," Alicia nods primly.

[Corwin]

[21:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> If they're so quick to offer a bribe they must be working on something really valuable down here. "Who's in charge here? It would be best if we spoke to that person, so we can best establish how we can peacefully get along without any further misunderstandings?" she suggests in a more concillatory tone.
[21:24] <Kotono> > OOC: make diplo, Alicia?
[21:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+32
[21:24] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 and gets 42." [1d20=10]
[21:24] <Kotono> > The elemental is still for a time, then, "Wait." It fades back into the ground, gone.
[21:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> Assuming they're alone for the moment, Alicia asks the Commander in common, "How far do you want to push this, sir?"
[21:24] <Kotono> > "I'd prefer not to start a fight." After some thought, he speaks with clearness and resolve. "But if it looks like one is inevitable or desired, we'll do what we have to do. Tread lightly at first."
[21:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Understood, sir," Alicia nods primly.
[21:26] <Kotono> A little fragment of time passes, perhaps no more than twenty minutes. The elemental rises out of te floor, followed by another. This one is also man sized, but made of shining stones that seem to slowly move about, falling apart yet in constant collective, staying together motion. This is the one that speaks to you. "You will come to me."
[21:26] <Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[21:26] <Kotono> A little fragment of time passes, perhaps no more than twenty minutes. The elemental rises out of te floor, followed by another. This one is also man sized, but made of shining stones that seem to slowly move about, falling apart yet in constant collective, staying together motion. This is the one that speaks to you. "You will come with me."
[21:27] <Alicia> "Very well," Alicia nods, replying in the same language. "Lead us on." Marie helpfully alights on Antenora's head and offers her service in translating for her, since the Commander seems well able to keep up.
[21:28] <Kotono> The creatures silp into the earth! Left behind where the shining, moving one was is a sliding whirlpool of stone. As it's head slips into the ground, it's body already gone, "Follow."
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 sense motive this isn't a trap, right?
05[21:30] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:30] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #dunes
03[21:30] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[21:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 sense motive this isn't a trap, right?
06[21:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 sense motive this isn't a trap, right? and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[21:31] <Kotono> Oberuth kneels down at the edge of it, peering into the shifting stone. "Almost like quicksand...except stone doesn't work like this at all."
[21:32] <Alicia> "I'll go first. Marie will let you know if this goes horribly wrong," Alicia volunteers gamely, holding her breath as she steps into the whirlpool, tucking her wings in around herself.
[21:34] <Kotono> Alicia is sliding! She is in a skintight coffin of stone, sliding along like a greased pig down a chute! OOC: Make a dex check?
[21:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[21:35] <Kotono> Alicia slides for a time, before being on solid ground. Her vision swims, utterly consumed with dizziness and vertigo! Meanwhile, Antenora speaks up as Alicia vanishes, "...well, Marie?"
[21:36] <Alicia> As Alicia sits down heavily and holds her head, eyes closed to stop everything swimming so badly, Marie hesitates. "... well, she's not dead? I think the word is 'discombobulated'. Sounds like it's safe, but unpleasant!"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I'll go then," Oberuth steps forward, "If Alicia's state changes for the worse or something happens, find a way out and get help."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Understood, sir," Antenora nods slightly to this, "Marie can get out if nothing else."
[21:38] <Alicia> "We'll be right behind you!" Marie gives him a little wave. Meanwhile Alicia shuffles a bit to the side just in case anyone's right behind her, not wanting to have someone drop on her head.
[21:42] <Kotono> Alicia's senses clear as she gets her bearings. She's standing in a large cavern. A great cluster of stalagmites jut up from the floor around a great smooth stone. A huge being of earth sits there, the rudimentary features of facial features peering at Alicia. He speaks ever so slowly in Common, "What do you want, celestial?"
[21:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 20." [1d20=18]
[21:43] <Kotono> A moment later Commander Oberuth emerges from the floor! He wobbles a little bit, but ceases almost instantly. He peers about and ahead.
[21:43] <Kotono> Meanwhile, "Well?" Antenora asks, "Anything from her, Marie?"
06[21:43] * Alicia stands up, recovering her poise. "My name is Alicia Reynes, I represent the United Baronies," she begins. "We're here to determine what threat, if any, you pose to our lands."
[21:44] <Alicia> "She seems fine, now," Marie shrugs, clinging on tightly to Antenora's head. "Lets go down together!"
[21:45] <Kotono> "I am Commander Hellmen Oberuth, leading representative of the United Baronies in this matter. Captain Reynes is correct in what she said." Commander Oberuth's eyes look about briefly before focusing on the elemental. "One of our cities was nearly overwhelmed by displaced shocker lizards and the trail of them leads back to here."
[21:45] <Kotono> "Hmph," Antenora just steps into the whirlpool! OOC: Dex for antenora and Marie.
[21:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 5." [1d20=1]
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: +1 for antenora but 1ed anyway.
[21:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[21:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[21:47] <Kotono> "That was...unfortunate," The creature speaks so slowly it's like listening to rocks move at the pace of a glacier's crawl, each letter dragged out. "They were in our way. We did not desire a swarm of them."
[21:47] <Kotono> From the floor next to Commander Oberuth, Antenora and Marie appear. Marie float sin the air eaisly, even as Antenora falls forward onto her face, eyes crossed and color pale.
[21:49] <Alicia> Trusting the other two have things under control, Marie goes to fuss over poor Antenora until she's recovered. "We're relieved that your intent was not a malicious one," Alicia nods briefly. "That said, though, we would still like to ascertain the reason for your presence in our lands."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Even if it was an accident in good faith," Commander Oberuth goes on, his eyes briefly looking over to the unbalanced Antenora, "The questions posed remain. Yes, once again Captain Reynes is correct. Why are you here now?"
[21:51] <Kotono> Antenora groans, lying there for a few moments. Meanwhile, "An ancient dead portal came back to life. We found out of it and chose to pass through. The matters of the lands above the earth mean nothing to us."
[21:53] <Alicia> "Then what is your goal here?" Alicia asks. "One of your number mentioned seeking out a Ley Line?"
[22:02] <Kotono> "The portal's life did not last entirely...we must find a ley line and use it's power to rejuvenate it once more. The lizards were in our way and threatened our security." It leans forward, great hunks of earth and rock shadowing over Alicia and company.
[22:02] <Kotono> Antenora finally gets up, shaking but up. She stands behind Alicia.
06[22:04] * Alicia could probably offer her services to try and repair the portal, but she's not sure if that's the route the Commander wants to go down... "How do you know there is a ley line nearby?" she asks instead.
[22:07] <Kotono> "I can...sense them." Looming again over Alicia, "But only vaguely. Many portals coincide with them."
[22:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18." [1d20=6]
[22:09] <Kotono> "I see. When this portal is restored, are you going back to whence you came?" Oberuth peers into the face-like part of the elemental, "Or do you intend to stay?"
[22:09] <Alicia> This intrigues Alicia. Given her recent experience when Mystra let her experience the Weave in its entirety, she's developed a far greater interest in manifestations such as Ley Lines. Still, her own desires here might conflict with those of the United Baronies, so she waits a moment to see where the Commander is going with this.
[22:11] <Kotono> "A small colony. Our place is proper here, for there seems to be no manifestation suiting the earth. More of us came to establish here once we were told that the portal was alive once again."
[22:12] <Kotono> "As long as you do not repeat the same mistake with the lizards or engage in aggression, the Baronies wish you well," Oberuth says, "There are dwarves farther away in these mountains, and I cannot speak for how they will react."
[22:14] <Alicia> "Also, while we mostly dwell upon the surface, we do have mines descending into the mountain. We would insist that our miners would not be interfered with," Alicia adds pertinently.
[22:15] <Kotono> "This is...acceptable." The being of rock and earth rumbles, "Then we have no reason for hostility."
[22:15] <Kotono> "It appears that this is so," Commander Oberuth agrees, "However, give us all a moment, if you would."
[22:16] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia smiles, about to offer her services before the Commander speaks up. So she holds her tongue and steps back away from the elemental, looking at Obureth expectantly.
[22:16] <Kotono> "A moment is nothing." The elemental sits where he is, unmoving. Commander Oberuth nods to Alicia and Antenora, taking several steps backwards.
06[22:18] * Alicia follows after him, while Marie settles on her head.
[22:18] <Kotono> "Now then. They look harmless enough," In the softest whisper to Alicia, "And we have the locations we can have you teleport to if that changes. There's no immediate reason for hostility. It does beg several questions: Why did the portal activate? Who told them about it? How many of them are there? What does this colony entail? What will a working portal mean for us? Can we trust them?"
[22:22] <Kotono> "Earth elementals are simple creatures. Unless they're possessed by evil - and I didn't detect any -they're not likely to be actively aggressive." Antenora whispers back.
[22:24] <Alicia> "Likely the portal activated in the same way as the one to the Plane of Water in the bay did," Alicia surmises quietly, "And like that one it requires stabilisation. We can ask who told them about it. As for the colony? Elementals are simple beings, as the name implies."
[22:24] <Alicia> "I don't expect them to care about waging war or expanding voraciously, but I was a bit worried about misunderstandings with our miners, which is why I made that point clear about leaving them alone. As for a working portal?" she takes a deep breath, "It would actually be a tremendous boon, sir."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Planar gateways aren't mere doors for travelling by. The very essence of primal Earth will seep through into these mountains. The effect may be subtle and only felt over a long period, but I don't imagine we'll ever have to worry about our mines running dry if the portal can be stabilised."
[22:26] <Kotono> Closing his eyes to that, "I see then. Mgh." With his own wry smile, "I've been studying devilogy too much. I'm ready to see conspiracies and enemies behind random happenings now, when normal explanations suffice. I was wondering if we would see a cadre of earth devils or some other terror coming through."
[22:27] <Kotono> "I don't think Earth Devils exist," Antenora almost laughs to that, holding delicate, strong fingers over her lips. "With Esthan defeated and by all reports diabolica activity in disarray here, it'sprobably unrelated."
[22:29] <Alicia> "The earlier discovered portal to the plane of water provides some reassurance. I wonder if there might be ones to the other elemental planes in the vicinity of Balmuria as well?" Alicia hazards.
[22:29] <Alicia> "In any case, I'd actually like to offer my assistance to them. There may be another way to repair the portal even without a Ley Line, but I have an interest in Ley Lines anyway, so either way it could work out."
[22:29] <Kotono> "Yes. If it's also a boon if the portal is established..." Oberuth nods a little bit, "But we're also going to do our research into it, just in case."
[22:30] <Kotono> "You know, there's enough fire under Balmuria already..." Antenora considers at that, "Mihail was working on a shrine to Kossuth, wasn't it?"
[22:30] <Alicia> "That's what it turned out to be, yes," Alicia nods, face twisting a little as she recalls that whole sordid experience. Poor crazed man...
[22:32] <Kotono> "An interesting question, but one for later," Oberuth nods, "It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to help them, and also to keep an eye on them. Finding out where that ley point here is could also be useful. Alright. Go ahead and talk to him, Alicia." With another wry smile, "You're damned better at it than I."
[22:34] <Alicia> "You keep up well enough, sir," Alicia gives him a small smile before she returns to the elder elemental. "As it happens, I have some experience both with planar portals and with ley lines, so I may be able to offer you some assistance. If I might ask, though, who was it that pointed you towards the portal in the first place?"
[22:39] <Kotono> "A...mephit of stone and mud. The servant of another, passing a message onto us." After that, looking Alicia over, "You offer yourself to us?"
[22:43] <Alicia> "I am a servant of the Goddess of Magic," Alicia explains. "Ley Lines are an important part of the Weave she tends to, therefore I have an interest in them - I had no idea any were so close to my home. So, I would like a chance to study it if it can be found. And if it cannot, there may still be other ways to repair the portal - I have some experience with such matters."
[22:45] <Kotono> "You will be accepted then," The elemental decrees. "Your help will be appreciated."
[22:46] <Alicia> "You're welcome," Alicia smiles. "Would it be possible for me to see the portal itself, first of all?"