221.4 The Search for Alicia

[Corwin]

[20:36] <Kotono> -----(Planar Ko)--
[20:37] <Kotono> Giltaral gathers the group to hold hands, "Now...LEt the Golden Lady show us the path to profit and success!" His words echo int he party's mind as they are traveled between the planes! Platforms in the void...stairs connecting, probing into the hazy black sky that is close andfar away all at the same time. The air here is neither cool nor warm, simply air. It smells like nothing, scentless.
06[20:39] * Demedais looks around with interest. "This is bizarre. At least it looks relatively tame... Marie, can you sense her?" he asks, looking up and down the stairs to see if he spots any movement.
[20:40] <Kotono> Antenora looks about here and there, "Alicia," she tries calling, before starting to survey the stairs. OOC - Spot check if you like, Deme.
[20:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 34." [1d20=9]
[20:40] <Kotono> Gilartal wears quite new and undamaged chainmail, clinking under his robes. He casts his eyes about, but mostly stays quiet for the moment.
01[20:40] <Seira> "Nice place," Seira admires. "Let's try and see if we can find out where the portal to Abyss is? It's as good a place to start as any."
[20:41] <Alicia> "No," Marie shakes her head sadly. "I'm just worried how she found out the portal led there... she didn't sound herself in those replies we got quoted."
[20:42] <Kotono> "I know," Antenora says quietly, "I'm worried the chaos of the Abyss has hurt her. We need to try and find her as fast as possible."
06[20:42] * Demedais shakes his head after a few moments, dazed. "This place is immense... Does it lead everywhere?" After a moment, he nods to Marie. "Let's start looking. Hopefully, by having a person in mind, we can navigate this place faster... maybe." Demedais shrugs. "I don't know anything about this place..."
[20:43] <Alicia> "The astral plane sort of works that way. Here..." Marie looks thoughtful...
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes
06[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes and gets 37." [1d20=20]
[20:46] <Kotono> "It does," Antenora says to Demedais, "It's an infinite staircase in effect. Look at that," Pointing to one stair, upside down and twisting side to side, "There's no order to it."
[20:46] <Alicia> "No, not really," she shakes her head before carefully fluttering over to sit on Antenora's head. "Don't try to fly or teleport, by the way, you could end up anywhere if you do. Um... if we run into Lilends they could lead us to a particular doorway, but finding a person here would be a lot harder."
01[20:47] <Seira> "Let's try going down," Seira suggests. "As much as we can, anyway. I just visualize the Abyss being there, and we might come across someone soon enough."
[20:47] <Demedais> "Lilends?" Demedais muses. "Well, let's begin looking. Down's as good as anywhere."
[20:47] <Kotono> "Right," Antenora goes for a downward stair along with Seira, the party going down. Thus they beginto descend!
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 4d12
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d12 and gets 31." [4d12=9, 4, 6, 12]
[20:48] <Alicia> "They're kinda like harpies with snake-tails instead of legs," Marie informs Demedais. "They're really nice, I'm sure they'd help us."
[20:49] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 4." [1d100=4]
[20:52] <Kotono> Seven hours of this have passed...climing and walking and going! OOC - Fort saves, all.
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+ Antenora
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+ Antenora and gets Error: Check syntax." [1d20=3]
[20:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Gil
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Gil and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[20:53] <Demedais> roll 1d20+18 kay
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+18 kay and gets 26." [1d20=8]
01[20:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+12
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26." [1d20=14]
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+11
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[20:56] <Kotono> IT's tiring but the party is going on well enough. But the stairs continue to stretch on. Gilartal rubs his back and sighs, "I do wish that this had been anything but stairs," he says.
[20:57] <Alicia> "At least we have each other for company, Alicia doesn't even have that. Maybe we could sing while we walk to pass the time better?" Marie suggests brightly. "It might even attract some Lillends!"
[20:57] <Demedais> "What are Lillends?" Demedais asks Marie directly at this point.
[20:58] <Kotono> "Lucky us," Antenora glances at Marie.
01[20:58] <Seira> "Let's not sing. It might prove fatal for some of us."
06[20:59] * Seira shivers, switching cloaks and wrapping herself in the familiar flaming-red one, taking comfort in the grinning, tastefully-drawn burning skull.
[20:59] <Alicia> "Harpies with snake tails?" Marie repeats. "They're chaotic good outsiders, like eladrin."
[21:02] <Kotono> "We can perhaps simply bribe them if need be," Gil considers, "Expediency may be w orth good coin here."
[21:02] <Demedais> "Ah." Demedais nods, before a shrug and a nod to Gil. "Assuming whatever here is interested in monetary and not other forms of wealth, yes."
[21:03] <Alicia> "They'd prefer a good song or story to any material wealth," Marie sounds quite sure of herself.
01[21:04] <Seira> "If they're bad, we'll fight them. If they're smart, we'll bribe or befriend them! And good, helpful travelers? I'm sure befriending will be on the agenda as well." Seira shrugs. "So how about a good story to pass the time, then? Maybe one of your home?"
[21:08] <Alicia> Marie regales everyone with the exciting tale of a Baernaloth who led a great army of Yugoloths to raze Elysium in ancient times, who was defeated in a fierce battle with Talsid the Lion, and who has been held bound in a secret citadel in Elysium to this day.
[21:09] <Kotono> As the tale passes and a little more time goes...OOC - Deme, make a spot check.
[21:11] <Demedais> roll 1d20+25
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+25 and gets 42." [1d20=17]
06[21:13] * Demedais looks up, craning his head for a moment, before pointing to a spot in the sky. "Is that one of those Lillends?" he asks Marie quickly.
[21:14] <Alicia> Marie looks up in the same direction to look!
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: What's your spot mod, pixie-din?
[21:16] <Alicia> OOC: +6
[21:18] <Kotono> Marie stares, but she can't make anything out!
01[21:18] <Seira> "What's the best way to lure them over, if it's them?"
[21:19] <Demedais> "Should I yell to catch its attention?" Demedais asks.
[21:20] <Alicia> "Does it look like this?" Marie asks, conjuring up an illusion of a woman who looks a lot like Pollyanna except with a long snake's tail instead of legs, and a set of rainbow-coloured feathery wings. She's also twice Pollyanna's size.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Something to get it's attention," Antenora begins, raising an eyebrow at Marie.
01[21:21] <Seira> "How loudly can you sing?"
[21:21] <Demedais> "Yes." Demedais replies, before going back up about five steps and bellowing "MADAME LILLEND!" to the rather large extent of his lungs.
[21:22] <Alicia> Marie dismisses the illusion and resumes looking up. She can't really match that sort of volume.
[21:22] <Kotono> Antenora looks at Demedais long, before just shrugging and shouting, "LILLEND! WE NEED YOUR HELP! AN INNOCENT COURRE ELADRIN NEEDS YOUR HELP!"
[21:22] <Kotono> Gilartal stops walking, though he doesn't yell.
[21:22] <Alicia> "That didn't even rhyme," Marie pouts from atop Antenora's head.
[21:22] <Demedais> And just in case, he repeats the bellow in Celestial.
[21:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 24." [1d20=11]
[21:23] <Kotono> "Here's hoping she heard it anyway," Antenora says.
[21:24] <Kotono> Demedais can see the creature stop and slow down, peering in your direction. It holds a harp in it's hands, and after several moments, beginst o fly your way. The party can begin to see the lillend approach!
06[21:24] * Demedais waves to the lillend, before settling down a bit to wait for it.
[21:26] <Kotono> It approcahes, strumming it's harm a few times. The notes are a pleasant break from the footstep noise of walking. In common, "Travelers, do you need aid?" she asks. "Whatever for?"
01[21:27] <Seira> "To help a friend who got sent here against her will. She's all alone, and we can't just let that pass."
[21:27] <Demedais> "My apologies, but we are attempting to find a friend, who appears to be lost in this plane." Demedais replies in Common. "Is there any assistance you could provide us in trying to find her, or at least the door she seems to have come to here from?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "It would depend on the door she came from," THe answer is musical, her voice singing, "Where did she come from?"
[21:32] <Alicia> "... the Abyss..." Marie replies, before blurting out, "She didn't mean to go there in the first place, though! And she might be hurt!"
01[21:33] <Seira> "She didn't sound quite alright when she said she managed to get here from the Abyss," Seira adds. "Can you help?"
[21:33] <Kotono> The lillent's singing becomes stormy, harsh! "The Abyss?" Like a discordant note she looks on you, "Is she a demon or a demon worshipper?"
[21:34] <Alicia> "No!" Marie sounds offended. "She's a paladin of Mystra! A really good one, too!"
01[21:35] <Seira> "She was sealing a portal to an evil, vile place in the temple of Shar we attacked when there was backlash!" Seira exclaims. "Don't call her those things!"
[21:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[21:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[21:36] <Demedais> "No." Demedais replies calmly after Marie and Seira's outbursts. "She is a paladin, and was aiming to destroy a portal to the realm of Shadow. Her blow apparently went awry, and from what we got via Message, she was sent either here or the Abyss and wound up here."
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: One of you can make a diplo check. Your choice on who of those who lined.
[21:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 28." [1d20=4]
01[21:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 aid
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 aid and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[21:38] <Demedais> roll 1d20+17 if support doesn't work, disregard
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+17 if support doesn't work, disregard and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+ makes it anyway
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+ makes it anyway and gets Error: Check syntax." [1d20=9]
[21:40] <Kotono> Listening well and at last focusing on Marie, "I can help you with a trade." STrumming her harp, "These depths are so silent. Is there not a song or music that you have that can lighten them?"
[21:41] <Alicia> "I know a few songs, but Antenora here has the best singing voice of all of us," Marie replies slyly, patting the erinyes on the head.
01[21:41] <Seira> "Yes, many would pay to hear her sing," Seira agrees.
06[21:41] * Demedais blinks at Marie and Seira, confused at this, before glancing to Antenora.
[21:43] <Kotono> Antenora looks to all of them, turning as red as hellfire. "Um..." Before she quickly draws in a breath. "Very well then, I'll try."
06[21:44] * Demedais nods, tapping Antenora on the shoulder with a smile. "I'm sure you'll do fine." OOC: Eagle's Splendor.
[21:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (Thanks Deme)
06[21:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 (Thanks Deme) and gets 11." [1d20=2]
[21:47] <Kotono> Antenora sings! It can be said that Hell has many a thing it perverts and yet presents as desirable. However, domination of a good singing voice wasn't one of Antenora's gifts, apparently. It's....not very good. She sings in Celestial, a song about angels at battle. However, her high notes are too high and her low notes hit more of a sultry, sexy deep voice instead of a real singing tune. The lillend's face turns from interested to bored, holdi
[21:47] <Kotono> real singing tune. The lillend's face turns from interested to bored, holding up a hand halfway. "That's enough."
[21:49] <Kotono> Looking to Marie first of all, then the others, "Sorry," Antenora says in a little voice, "Can anyone else try?"
01[21:49] <Seira> "You're a bit out of practice," Seira agrees. "I'm Seira. What was your name?"
06[21:49] * Demedais glares at Marie and Seira both, a bit annoyed, before turning to Antenora. "It's okay. Don't worry about it."
[21:50] <Alicia> Marie has the good grace to look embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she whispers to Antenora. "You do have a nice voice... it must just be nerves."
[21:51] <Kotono> "Song of the Stars," She replies to Seira, "Can you sing, dragon-ling?"
01[21:52] <Seira> "How about you play something, and I'll try to improvise? If I can keep up, that's worth the trade. If not, I'll do something else. I'm not really one to give up at the first hurdle."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Heh, why not?" Smiling a little at that and nodding, she begins to play a soft, introspective tune! OOC - Performcheck, +2 bonus. You nicely played on her chaotic nature there.
01[21:53] <Seira> OOC: Just as planned? With taking 10, that's 21
[21:55] <Kotono> Seira sings! She makes it up as she goes along...but wow. Seira realy can sing! She's talented at it, not great, not a bard, but quite a competent songbird! The two make beautiful music together, the lillend smiling and then grinning as it goes on! When the song winds down, "Oh, you aren't bad at all. You'r ethe first singing dragon I've met besides that dragon bard."
06[21:57] * Demedais idly makes a soft comment to Antenora in the back after Seira finishes, "I'm glad it didn't come down to me, I'm okay some days but most of the time it's a frog trapped under a warm rock croaking."
06[21:57] * Seira grins back with genuine happiness. "I don't do it nowadays, but we used to sing a lot, me and Elfy!"
[21:57] <Kotono> Antenora cracks a brief smile at that, "Then we'd have to hope Marie's on key today."
[21:58] <Kotono> "Good. Very well then. What is the name of your friend? Her full name."
[21:58] <Demedais> "Her ever being on key would take more miracles than any group of outsiders would ever manage."
01[21:59] <Seira> "Alicia Reynes, a knight of Mystra," Seira responds.
[21:59] <Alicia> "Hey, back in Dweomerheart I was renowned for my great performing skills," Marie whispers indignantly.
06[21:59] * Demedais nods to Seira's comment, pointedly not responding to Marie.
[22:00] <Kotono> "I do wonder what kind of performances." Antenora observes tartly, smiling back to Marie.
[22:00] <Kotono> "Very well...Alicia Reynes..." There is long murmuring as she seems to cast a spell. Then..."This way. Follow me," she declares, starting to head down. "It will take time, but I will find her."
[22:01] <Alicia> "All kinds of things. Versatility is my watchword!" Marie insists.
[22:01] <Kotono> "If you can't be good at one thing, you may as well be bad at all of them?" Antenora bats righ tback.
01[22:01] <Seira> "I love vesatility as well!" Seira agrees, before following the Song. "Great! I wouldn't want to keep her waiting. It's horrible, getting stuck all alone on a hostile plane."
06[22:02] * Demedais nods. "Thank you, Song of the Stars." he says, following.
[22:07] <Kotono> After about an hour of walking, Song of the Stars stops. "Something's ahppened. Your friend has left the Endless Stairway," she says.
06[22:08] * Demedais stops and stares at Song of the Stars for a very, very long moment.
[22:08] <Alicia> "So she found a way home then?" Marie asks hopefully.
[22:08] <Demedais> "What."
01[22:08] <Seira> "Is there a way of finding out her destination?" Seira asks far more realistically.
[22:09] <Demedais> "We... let us very urgently hope that she did, Marie." Demedais grimaces. "Either that or she picked a door at random."
[22:09] <Alicia> "She wouldn't do that," Marie shakes her head, "Alicia hates randomness."
01[22:10] <Seira> "She didn't sound quite right, remember?"
[22:10] <Alicia> "She might've picked a wrong door out of ignorance, mind you..." the eladrin then concedes.
[22:10] <Kotono> "That's possible. The Abyss might have her thinking that randomness is good now, too." Antenora sighs very long, "Dammit."
[22:11] <Demedais> "It's possible something began attempting to pursue her, too." Demedais grunts. "I... we thank you, Song of the Stars, for what you've done for us; our apologies that your effort seems to have resulted in no end."
[22:12] <Alicia> "The Abyss really isn't a good example of how great chaos is," Marie mutters. "I think she could use a better inspiration for coming around to that."
[22:13] <Kotono> "Limbo?" Antenora jabs as she looks to Demedais and Seira, "Now what? Return home and try another sending to find outwhere she is?"
[22:13] <Demedais> "That'd probably be best." Demedais says, somewhat annoyed.
[22:14] <Kotono> "I can't, my power only extends to this existance here," Song of Stars answers Seira.
06[22:14] * Seira sighs. "Back to Sendings, then. Any chance you have one to spare, or a scroll, Gilartal?"
03[22:15] * Haruka is now known as Sierra_Comatose
[22:16] <Kotono> "I brought a scroll since I know how popular it is," Smiling thinly, "Shall I?"
01[22:16] <Seira> "Is it an arcane one?"
[22:16] <Kotono> "Divine. Why would I have an arcane one?" Gilartal challenges. "I can cast it, unless your friend here wants to."
01[22:18] <Seira> "To sell it, of course!" Seira responds with a smirk. "And yes. Alicia might not be in the right frame of mind, unless she did manage to find the way home. Then, having someone closer to Alicia speak to her might be of great help. Just hearing a friend's voice when you're so--" Seira shakes her head. "We'll reimburse you, naturally."
[22:18] <Kotono> "Alright, I'll add it to your loan payback," he says, passing the scroll to Seira.
06[22:19] * Seira snorts. "I'm good for it, or I will be soon enough." Accepting the scroll, she offers it to Demedais. "First, encourage her. Tell her she's not alone. Then ask her where she is, if she can stay safe for a day, and to provide details for us. Works?"
06[22:20] * Demedais nods slightly, accepting the scroll from Seira once it's handed to him. A slight pause. "It's been a while since I've done this..." With that, he begins trying to cast the spell written up, nodding to Seira at her words.
[22:20] <Demedais> roll 1d20+6 here's hoping part 1
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+6 here's hoping part 1 and gets 22." [1d20=16]
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: roll a d100 for palanr failure chance.
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: Planar, even.
[22:21] <Demedais> roll 1d100
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 and gets 82." [1d100=82]
[22:21] <Kotono> OOC: Success. Say your sending in here and I'll port it to #evil.
[22:22] <Demedais> "We're coming, Alicia. Stay strong, you're not alone. Requesting current location, ability to stay there safe for a day, details. Will get there soon. Demedais."
[22:25] <Kotono> Demedais gets the reply after, Alicia telling of her position in Mount Celestia.
[22:25] <Demedais> "Base of Mount Celestia." Demedais exhales. "She's safe."
06[22:26] * Seira nods. "We'll return, then. If she is not back or has not been in contact until noon tomorrow, we'll try again."
[22:26] <Alicia> "From the Abyss to Mount Celestia? She sure gets around, doesn't she?" Marie observes.
[22:26] <Kotono> Antenora breaks into a relieved grin. "Oh...thank everything," she sighs in relief."
[22:27] <Kotono> "Naturally she needed a ordered influence after her trip to the Abyss," Antenora says lightly.
01[22:27] <Seira> "As long as it's not Mechanus, I suppose...."
[22:28] <Alicia> "Celestia isn't so bad," Marie allows. "Some of my best friends are lantern archons!"

[Corwin]

[19:36] <Kotono> ----(Ko)--
[19:36] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 285." [5d100=58, 25, 56, 47, 99]
[19:36] <Kotono> roll 1d98
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d98 and gets 90." [1d98=90]
[19:36] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 5." [1d9=5]
[19:38] <Kotono> So casting Plane Shift, the party returns to the Prime! They appear in darkness, plains and the night sky around them. It's quiet, dark, warm. Looks peaceful enough here, though you seem to be in the middle of nowhere.
06[19:39] * Demedais looks around. "Alright. Willing to take us back to Balmuria from here, Seira?"
[19:40] <Kotono> "Nowhere in particular?" Antenora asks, glancing about. "Nothing close."
01[19:40] <Seira> "I can try. I certainly know the destination, and the way plane shift works, we should be in range. Ready?"
[19:40] <Alicia> "At least we're not surrounded by hundreds of shocker lizards?" Marie offers brightly.
[19:41] <Demedais> "Indeed, Marie. Indeed." Demedais replies with a slight glance to the familiar, before nodding to Seira.
01[19:41] <Seira> roll 1d100 home
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 home and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[19:42] <Kotono> Home! The party arrives in the back of Seira's inn. As he stretches his back wearily, "If we need to go to Mount CElestia, it'll have tow ait until at least the late morning. I need to rest, pray and so forth." Gilartal says bluntly.
01[19:42] <Seira> "I doubt Alicia would need our help to get back at this point, but it's always nice to be prepared," Seira agrees. "Thanks again for your help today!"
[19:43] <Demedais> "Understood. Thank you for your time." Demedais says with a slight bow to Gilartal. "I would like to assist in the patrol in case Albert tries anything tonight, so waiting until then would work best."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Alicia can probably sweet-talk a friendly deva or someone into giving her a lift home before then, anyway," Marie opines with a confident nod.
06[19:43] * Demedais then nods to Seira and Marie's comments.
01[19:44] <Seira> "So. Antenora, Demedais, fancy taking on a nasty shadow dragon?"
[19:44] <Kotono> "When?" Antenora asks.
01[19:45] <Seira> "Pretty much now," Seira responds. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and all I've done today is walk for eight hours or so."
06[19:45] * Demedais considers this, looking up at the night sky.
06[19:47] * Demedais nods slightly. "If Alicia is safe... the odds of a strike after this point in the night is less likely, if they prepare to strike and retreat using the same spells. Thus dealing with the dragon now carries little risk and disarms one more road of attack Albert could use. I would support this line of logic, so long as Oberuth is notified that Alicia is safe and will either be retrieved or will be returning sometime later today or early tomorrow."
[19:48] <Kotono> "Could you do that, Marie?" Antenora looks to the pixie-eladrin. "While we go fight the dragon then?"
[19:49] <Alicia> "Sure," Marie nods as she takes off from Antenora's head. "I'll look after things here in case Albert or those shadows do show up, so you guys go on and do your thing!"
[19:49] <Demedais> "Alright. Thank you, Marie." Demedias says with a somewhat wry grin.
[19:50] <Kotono> "The dragon's strong," Antenora continues on from there, "It resisted my best shots without too much trouble, so we'll need to hit it hard. Further, it can drain energy."
01[19:51] <Seira> "I had an idea about that, and I think that if we come in strength and spread out, it would have a harder time of focusing on someone in particular."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Remember, discretion is the better part of valour!" Marie carols as she flutters off towards the garrison.
01[19:51] <Seira> "If I didn't remember that, we wouldn't be standing here, discussing another go at it!"
[19:52] <Kotono> "Good idea," Antenora says after a few more moments of thought. "We can always fall back as well if need be, it seems unable to escape the cavern below the temple."
06[19:53] * Demedais nods to this. "Draining energy and high defenses... We'll have to go cautiously, but I have some abilities that might put us on even footing with it. Worst come to worst, we test your ideas, Seira, and then return with a full group to finish it off. Hopefully it lacks much capability to heal its wounds down there.
[19:55] <Kotono> "We can hope," Antenora murmurs, "Are we ready then? I can't imagine Albert will leave it alone for long, with his power base damaged and siblings dying at a pleasantly agreeable clib."
[19:55] <Kotono> *clip
[19:55] <Demedais> "Indeed."
01[19:56] <Seira> Leading the way to Celebrimbor's room, Seira elaborates, "The idea is pretty simple. We treat it like a really large bull and spread out to strike at it. If the dragon focuses on one of us to the exclusion of everyone else, it will regret that. I have a few spells that might irritate it enough to come after me, too, and I'm the one who can get away from its clutches the easiest.
01[19:56] <Seira> As long as we remember that retreat is an option, this should work as a trial run."
[19:57] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods. "And it may focus on me, which I'm prepared for so long as I can cast a few spells right before engaging it."
[19:57] <Kotono> "If it goes well, we need not another run," Antenora says hopefully. Celebrimbor stays in a quiet room in Seira's inn, sitting on his bed currently, a book floating in the aira s he reads from him.
01[19:59] <Seira> "I'm thinking we should end that evil dragon's existence before Albert decides it's a good idea to free it in a burst of suicidal stupidity," Seira announces.
[19:59] <Kotono> "Prudent." Gesturing so that the book falls to the bed with softness, "How is Alicia?"
[20:00] <Demedais> "In Mount Celestia, after a few... apparent incidents." Demedais replies.
06[20:00] * Seira nods. "She managed to make it over to safe haven, and her last response sounded much better."
[20:01] <Kotono> "I see. Is she alive?" Looking at the two, "Your answer leaves in in doubt, considering her devotions."
01[20:01] <Seira> "Even mine?" Seira pouts. "She's alive, yes."
[20:01] <Demedais> "She is." Demedais replies hastily, rubbing his head.
[20:03] <Kotono> "At this juncture, I would not take anything for granted," With a slightly sardonic smile as he stands, "To Halla?"
01[20:04] <Seira> "To Halla."
01[20:06] <Seira> roll 1d20+19
06[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 and gets 26." [1d20=7]
[20:10] <Kotono> Donald is quickly mustered, the party returning to Halla on the wings of Greater Teleport! It is deep night when they appear atop the crater's lips, looking down. It's quietly serene here on a glance, though it's a little cold. It's also very very dark, mostly a problem for Demedais.
06[20:11] * Seira picks up a small rock, using faerie light on it before handing it to Demedais.
06[20:11] * Demedais grimaces. "Any objections if I provide some light?"
[20:11] <Demedais> "Or you could do it. Thanks." Demedais nods to Seira.
01[20:12] <Seira> "And it's very pretty," she comments, casting see invisibility and heroism.
[20:12] <Kotono> roll 1d10+10
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+10 and gets 15." [1d10=5]
01[20:12] <Seira> roll 1d10+10
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 and gets 14." [1d10=4]
[20:12] <Kotono> Celebrimbor casts various magics as well, weaving them around himself. As Antenora peers down, "There's something wrong deeper in the crater,"s he notes.
06[20:13] * Seira follows Antenora's gaze.
[20:13] <Demedais> "Tell me once we're within 120 feet of the entrance; I have a few short-term spells- ..." At this, Demedais attempts to peer down into the crater.
[20:14] <Kotono> Seira can see well enough, though Demedais has a much harder time of it thanks to the darkness. Only a bit of faerie light plus his incredible vision allow himt o see as well. But below, the edges of the crater seem...shadowy. Dark. Incorpreal.
[20:15] <Demedais> "... okay, that doesn't look like a good sign at all." Demedais comments.
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 36." [1d20=12]
[20:16] <Kotono> "Shadow-stuff again." Celebrimbor peers down, before he shakes his head slowly. "Such a dimensional disturbance may have longer lasting effects on this area."
01[20:16] <Seira> "Annoying," Seira mutters. "Think the protections snapped back after a day?"
[20:17] <Kotono> "It's possible but unlikely. This could just be from yesterday s well. The entire area was drenched in material and energy from the Plane of Shadow." Celebrimbormurmurs a few words and gestures, before starting to fly down.
01[20:17] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
06[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+21 and gets 24." [1d20=3]
[20:18] <Demedais> "...Possible, or something about the temple is spreading a plague." Demedais watches Celebrimbor fly down, before looking to Donald with a slight grin. "Guess I'm the only one without capability of flight here now, eh?"
01[20:18] <Seira> "If we can't just enter, I could try a short-ranged teleport to the room Albert was seemingly using to shadow walk into the temple," Seira suggests.
06[20:19] * Demedais nods slightly. "That'd work too."
06[20:21] * Seira intends to see Demedais head in first, before going in herself.
06[20:21] * Demedais waits for the rest of the group to descend most of the way before slipping the ring of feather fall on and leaping into the middle of the crater, using the slow descent to steer his fall.
[20:22] <Kotono> Thus the party goes down! As they fly or fall, they see that the way into the temple is clear besides some thin shadow-mist. Indeed, the falling Demedais passes through it without difficulty.
01[20:22] <Seira> "If taking out the dragon that bitch Shar left here won't help, we are filling this damned place with lava."
[20:23] <Demedais> "What about filling it with lava anyway?" Demedais comments. "Still, should make sure the dragon's dead and gone first."
01[20:24] <Seira> "It serves better as a monument," Seira responds, leading the way towards the lift. "In any case, the trip is about twenty minutes. I timed it before, so I'll let you know when it's safe to prepare if things go according to plan."
[20:24] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods.
[20:26] <Kotono> The party descends down without incident. It's a lot of stair descending again, though hardly a patch on the marathon in the Endless Stairway. They reach the lift without incident.
01[20:27] <Seira> "Here goes nothing," Seira announces, giving the lever a nudge once everyone has piled on. If things do go as planned, she intends to cast shield upon herself a minute before they should reach their destination.
06[20:27] * Demedais nods, using a rope to secure his grip with a wry grin and waiting until Seira begins casting to prepare his own spells.
06[20:29] * Seira taps both Donald and Demedais after her shield spell, blurring their outlines slightly. "For luck," she explains with a shrug, ready to cast her stronger invisibility spell just as the lift should reach its destination.
[20:34] <Kotono> Thus the party is prepared as they descend down! The elevator goes into the chasm! In the darkness of it, a pair of horrible eyes stare out from 50 feet away! There is a titanic, deafening roar! "YOU WILL NOT DEFY ME! THIS TIME YOU WILL PERISH!" OOC - Thsiis not a happy dragon. Let's roll initiative?
01[20:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 nerveskitter
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 nerveskitter and gets 25." [1d20=12]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 dragon
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 dragon and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 11." [1d20=6]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Celebrimbor
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Celebrimbor and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Donald
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Donald and gets 4." [1d20=2]
[20:36] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 kay
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 kay and gets 6." [1d20=5]
03[20:36] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>Dragon=Celebrimbor>Antenora>Demedais>Donald'
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC: You be up, Seira.
01[20:39] <Seira> "About that," Seira says steadily, drawing upon Waukeen's gift to move closer to the dragon as a fiery orb gathers in her hand, only to toss it at her enemy and move sharply off to the side, drawing the Resort.
01[20:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 touch
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 touch and gets 34." [1d20=15]
01[20:40] <Seira> roll 10d6+3d6+4d6
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d6+3d6+4d6 and gets 60." [10d6=3, 4, 2, 2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 6, 5][3d6=6, 1, 3][4d6=4, 1, 3, 2]
[20:42] <Kotono> Acting quickly and under the shield of invisibility, Seira fires an orb of pure force at the dragon, trailing fire! It hits it right in the gullet, a direct hit before it can even act! OOC - Dragon and Celebrimbor.
[20:44] <Kotono> Celebrimbor moves just as the dragon rears back to spew shadow all over the party! First a ball of acid bursts around the dragon and then a ball of fire!
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 CL 1
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 CL 1 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
[20:44] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14 CL 2
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 CL 2 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 ref 1
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 ref 2
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 ref 1 and gets 30." [1d20=17]
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 ref 2 and gets 20." [1d20=7]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 10d6
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 31." [10d6=3, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2, 1, 6, 1, 1]
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 31*1.5
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 31*1.5 and gets 46.5."
[20:47] <Kotono> As the breath spews out over everyone but Seira and Celebrimbor, the dragon is wracked by fireballs! The acidball only grazes it, but the mammoth fireball takes it right in the face! OO c- Forts aves, all but Seira/Celebrimbor.
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 Donald
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 Donald and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[20:48] <Demedais> roll 1d20+22 righty-o
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+22 righty-o and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20 Antenora let's see if it's academic
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Antenora let's see if it's academic and gets 20." [1d20=20]
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: Savers(Everyone but Donald) take 2 negative levels. Donald takes 5.
[20:51] <Kotono> As Antenora is staggered by the breath, she pounces right into action, charging!
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+29 (-2 negative levels, +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, +6 smite 2/3 left)
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+29 (-2 negative levels, +2 FS 7/8, +2 charge, +1 flying, +6 smite 2/3 left) and gets 37." [1d20=8]
[20:53] <Kotono> Antenora's charge is a good one, but it hits a field near the dragon! Raw force armor blossoms around it's body, deflecting the blow! OOC Demedais.
06[20:54] * Demedais grimaces and veers to the other side from Seira, trying to land a cut on the other side of the dragon with hasted feet!
[20:55] <Kotono> OOC - Dragon has reach on you, Deme.
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: You okay with aoovile?
[20:56] <Demedais> OOC: ...Worth a shot, I guess.
[20:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+32 bite
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+32 bite and gets 37." [1d20=5]
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC - AC?
[20:57] <Demedais> OOC: 35 since I hasted instead of used the Protection buff.
[20:57] <Kotono> roll 2d8+7 and 1 negative level, Deme.
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+7 and 1 negative level, Deme. and gets 18." [2d8=3, 8]
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: Attack.
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d100 oh yeah
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 oh yeah and gets 62." [1d100=62]
[20:58] <Kotono> OOC: Carry on.
[21:00] <Kotono> roll 1d4-1
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4-1 and gets 0." [1d4=1]
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC - Forgot to resolve it's breath.
[21:02] <Demedais> roll 1d20+12 (-3 Negative Level, +3 Smite, +1 Prayer, +1 Haste, -9 CE at this point I'm in this for the flanking assist with Seira or something)
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+12 (-3 Negative Level, +3 Smite, +1 Prayer, +1 Haste, -9 CE at this point I'm in this for the flanking assist with Seira or something) and gets 29." [1d20=17]
[21:03] <Kotono> Demedais charges and swings, but the dragon's scales are way too hard to be penetrated! Donald staggers to the sides, body reduced and his hands shaking! Nonetheless he quickly traces arcane lines of fire to fly at the dragon!
[21:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 CL
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 CL and gets 15." [1d20=11]
[21:04] <Kotono> But the fire fizzles againt the dragon's skin! OOC - Seira.
[21:04] <Kotono> As he is surrounded, defending well, "The oblivion will consume all of you! You will not triumph!" it calls, "The only thing waiting for you is nothingness!
[21:04] <Kotono> "
01[21:05] <Seira> "Celebrimbor, try dispelling the bastard!" Seira calls over the roar. "I'm going in!" And she is, but only after sending a fiery cone to engulf the dragon and Antenora both.
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: CL.
01[21:06] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[21:06] <Kotono> The fires crackle and vanish around the dragon, doing nothing! It roars back as Celebrimbor casts dispellation on it, continuing to circle around it, "Your magics are useless, dragon!"
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 18." [1d20=4]
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 31." [1d20=17]
[21:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[21:07] <Kotono> The armor of force shatters around the dragon at that spell, as it rears back and catches Demedais and Antenora in the breath again! OOC - Fort.
[21:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[21:08] <Kotono> The armor of force shatters around the dragon at that spell, as it rears back and catches Demedais and Antenora in the breath again! It splits into two, engulfing both of themin quick, seperate streams!
[21:09] <Kotono> OOC - I forgot the negative mods from the drain but it doesn't matter.
[21:09] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[21:09] <Kotono> OOC: Two more each.
[21:10] <Kotono> The two are racked by it, Antenora shaking in the blast! But both resist as best they can, even as the damage done is more severe! Antenora quickly amnages to fly back, before trying another desperate charge!
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28 (-4 NL, +2 charge, +2 FS, +1 flying, +7 smite excuse me, forgot flash)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 (-4 NL, +2 charge, +2 FS, +1 flying, +7 smite excuse me, forgot flash) and gets 33." [1d20=5]
[21:10] <Kotono> OOC +2 more flanking with Deme there.
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 1d4-1 recharge
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4-1 recharge and gets 0." [1d4=1]
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 2d8+22+1d6
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+22+1d6 and gets 42." [2d8=6, 8][1d6=6]
[21:11] <Kotono> This time she manages a blow, stabbing into the dragon's scales harshly! As he wings struggle to keep her alight, "Get it on the other end," sh ecalls to Demedais. OOC - Deme.
06[21:14] * Demedais nods to this, adjusting the newly-felt weight of his armor as he quickly lays four blows into the dragon, attempting to carve into its flesh with the blessing of law's power!
[21:15] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking, +6 Smite)
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking, +6 Smite) and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[21:15] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking)
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking) and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[21:15] <Demedais> roll 1d20+15 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking)
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+15 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking) and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[21:15] <Demedais> roll 1d20+10 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking)
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+10 (-5 negative level, +4 Law Devotion, +1 Haste, +1 Prayer, +2 Flanking) and gets 12." [1d20=2]
[21:16] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 crit check (rolling this since Antenora's roll hit it)
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 crit check (rolling this since Antenora's roll hit it) and gets 38." [1d20=12]
[21:19] <Demedais> roll 6d6+24
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 6d6+24 and gets 44." [6d6=1, 2, 6, 3, 3, 5]
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC - Hit and a crit, yeah.
[21:19] <Demedais> OOC: +1 smite damage! >_>
[21:20] <Kotono> Under that assault, Demedais carves up the flank of the dragon like steak! It's already been burnt and scorched and stabbed, which makes this beating all the harder! It's weakening considerably as Donald flanks it further, shooting off another scorching ray!
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 6." [1d20=2]
[21:20] <Kotono> But this one is for naught as well! OOC - Seir.a
06[21:21] * Seira smirks, channeling the arcane power of the Resort. It feels so good to be facing an evil dragon in melee when things are actually going their way!
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+27 (+1 fly, +2 heroism, +1 luck, +2 invis) smite
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 (+1 fly, +2 heroism, +1 luck, +2 invis) smite and gets 46." [1d20=19]
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+27 (+1 fly, +2 heroism, +1 luck, +2 invis) smite?
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 (+1 fly, +2 heroism, +1 luck, +2 invis) smite? and gets 33." [1d20=6]
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC - Well, you got it. Crit.
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 fun!
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 fun! and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC: Whiff.
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 9d8+33+4d6+6d8
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 9d8+33+4d6+6d8 and gets 104." [9d8=3, 4, 5, 3, 7, 2, 3, 2, 5][4d6=5, 4, 5, 2][6d8=6, 6, 1, 3, 2, 3]
[21:25] <Kotono> With a massive strike, Seira thrusts into the heart of the dark dragon! Blood gushes like a stream from the wound as it falls to the ground, "This...isn't...hahahahahahaaaa...the oblivion..." It's eyes close as it's body hits down hard! "Have mercy...Shar..."
06[21:25] * Seira throws her head back and laughs. "Mercy? From Shar?!"
06[21:26] * Demedais grins, wearily leaning on his sword. "Hmph. Any need for its heart, Seira?"
[21:26] <Kotono> After that, it's body goes still, wisps of shadow escaping it's mouth. OOC - Free act.
06[21:26] * Seira appears to sight, grinning. "That felt great!"
[21:27] <Kotono> "It's done," Celebrimbor bows his head a moment, "A pity a noble beast such a dragon served Shar."
[21:27] <Kotono> Antenora leans heavily on her spear, before staggering to Demedais and using him and his sword. "Those life drains are exhausting," she notes, "We need to get restorations as soon as possible."
01[21:27] <Seira> "Yeah well his loss," Seira says dismissively.
06[21:27] * Seira nods. "Let's go up? I don't think teleporting from here is a good idea."
06[21:28] * Seira does wonder whether even imprisoned dragons keep mementos, and takes a brief moment to check with detect magic.
[21:28] <Kotono> There's no magic in the cavern. No horde, either - just a dead, imprisoned dragon.
01[21:28] <Seira> "Right! Let's go!"
[21:29] <Demedais> "Alright. There were no more loose ends in this place?" Demedais asks.
[21:29] <Kotono> OOC: Are you guys just going to go up and teleport back?
01[21:30] <Seira> OOC: Hahaha, I was waiting to see whether Anty remembered the imprisoned cultists. Sounds like not~
[21:31] <Kotono> OOC: I was asking you guys if you had anything here but TPing back. Seriously, is ther eanything else you wanted to here, cultists aside since she was going to brin ghtat up?
01[21:31] <Seira> OOC: Nah, it's cool
[21:32] <Demedais> OOC: I can't think of anything since this is my first time in the temple!
01[21:33] <Seira> "Going to bring the prisoner along?" Seira asks.
[21:33] <Kotono> "We should," Antenora says as the party returns back up to the cathedral proper.
01[21:34] <Seira> "Any chance you can spare a flight spell for Demedais?" Seira asks Celebrimbor in the meantime. "I don't fancy teleporting from here, or him climbing out."
[21:34] <Kotono> Going to the trapped room, Celebrimbor shakes his head, "I only m emorized one. I rely on this otherwise," he taps his cloak, "He can borrow it on the worst."
01[21:35] <Seira> "The hole is wide enough," Seira muses. "Donald and myself might be enough to merely carry Demedais outside. Let's give this a try, first?"
[21:35] <Kotono> As they open the sealed door for the prisoner in the meanwhile, they find her still lying there. She's still unconcious, deeply asleep.
06[21:35] * Demedais shrugs and nods, making sure the armor has been re-sent to Balmuria.
[21:38] <Kotono> OOC: You used the calling property of your armor?
[21:38] <Demedais> OOC: Uh, yes? Hell. >_>
[21:39] <Demedais> OOC: Or at least I would have tried.
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[21:39] <Kotono> The armor vanishes without incident as normal.
[21:40] <Kotono> Meanwhile, Antenora knees to check on the prisoner. After af ew checks, "She's breathing, but cold as ice." she calls back, "As well as asleep.:"
01[21:41] <Seira> "Once we get back, you can get a cleric to take a look at her," Seira calls over. "Let's go?"
[21:42] <Kotono> Getting out of the crater takes time but goes without incident. Thereafter, Celebrimbor returns the party to Seira's backyard again! Once you're there, "Demedais and I should seek restoration," Antenora says, "The sooner the better. I can have her checked on as well."
06[21:42] * Demedais nods to this. "That would probably be wise."
06[21:42] * Seira nods. "She's your responsibility, with all that this implies."
06[21:43] * Seira pats Donald on the shoulder. "Fun fight, right? You should go with them, too."
[21:43] <Kotono> "Seira and I can handle any details with your Commander," As Donald quietly goes to join Demedias and Antenora. Celebrimbor speaks, before starting to walk away.
[21:43] <Kotono> "Yeah, I know," he says quietly, "That fight was horrible. I feel horrible now."
06[21:43] * Demedais nods. "Ditto. Let's get this fixed up..." he says with a note of exhaustion.
06[21:44] * Seira is quite cheerful, herself. "All that's left is the lava~"
[21:47] <Kotono> The report is mostly like the last - good news and a dragon dead, more to go. As that happens, all unknown to Alicia...she sits in her nightclothes, talking to Marie. From her room she can hear someone coming in. The clank of armor is heard as well.
[21:49] <Alicia> Marie wears a rather squicked out expression as she listens to Alicia relate events from Shendilvari, although both pause at the sound of someone entering. "Could be Antenora - lets find out how they did with that dragon?" the eladrin suggests, Alicia nodding and heading out into the hallway with her familiar.
[21:50] <Kotono> Exiting out, the two find Antenora in the living room. She's slowly putting someone down on the couch - it's dark in here but it doesn't seem to bother Antenora at all, of course. Thereafter, she goes to sit next to that person, peering down at her silently.
[21:51] <Alicia> "Antenora?" Alicia asks as Marie helpfully tosses up some illumination for the non-outsider to see by.
03[21:52] * Demedais is now known as tai-grum
[21:52] <Kotono> "Alicia!" Antenora looks up quickly, as you can see the shadow-woman from the temple here. "You're back and safe! Where were you?" The questions come rapidly, thereafter looking down. "Don't worry, she's asleep and I don't plan to keep her here long. From what Shankar said, she'll be asleep a long while."
[21:53] <Alicia> "What happened to her?" Alicia dodges Antenora's question for the moment, peering at the figure she recalls from Halla.
[21:54] <Kotono> "The shadows changed her as far as we can guess." Looking down, "I'm not sure she's been awake since she was infected." Then looking back up at Alicia, "What about you?"
06[21:56] * Alicia sighs. "There was an unexpected reaction when I tried to seal the gate - I was just telling Marie about it," she gestures to her unhappy looking familiar. "Sent me straight to the Abyss."
[21:57] <Kotono> Shivering at that, "I see..." Antenora stands up there, looking between the two, "Are you...alright?"
[22:00] <Alicia> "I'm alive and uninjured," Alicia manages gamely, though she wraps her arms tightly around herself in a manner that doesn't exactly hint at inner self confidence. "I almost lost my mind, though... and I picked up a new enemy who I think is probably on the same level as a duke of hell." She snorts, "The Queen of Succubi likes me, though."
[22:00] <Kotono> Antenora's face twists and turns death pale, "Malcanthet?!" She chokes, "That...that...thing?!" AS she does, there is a knock on Alicia's front door.
[22:01] <Alicia> "Yes, I arrived right on her- oh. Popular tonight," she chuckles, tightening her robe to ensure she's decent before going to answer the door.
[22:03] <Kotono> Going to open it, you find Seira is there, waiting.
06[22:04] * Seira smiles as soon as she sees Alicia, grabbing her in a hug! "I came as soon as I heard you made it back!" she gushes happily. "Welcome back!"
06[22:05] * Alicia returns the hug with a bit of trepidation, "It's good to be back," she replies earnestly. "Why don't you come in? Uh... Marie was saying you fought a dragon?"
01[22:06] <Seira> "Yes," Seira agrees, stepping inside. "It was a bad dragon. In fact, it was a bad Shar-following dragon that recruited Albert somehow from within the underground, warded temple."
[22:07] <Alicia> "I thought he built the temple?" Alicia asks in confusion, closing the door as they retire to her living room. "Well, it's dead now, at least? Were there any other problems at the temple after I was sent away?"
01[22:08] <Seira> "I think he was renovating it," Seira suggests. "And it's dead, and I pretty much combed the place and the only thing remaining is that sealed door with the shadows kept within. It can probably wait until we take Albert out, since I fortified it and grabbed the keys with me."
[22:09] <Alicia> "Has he caused any trouble here lately?" Alicia asks. No one mentioned it, so even if he did it can't have been anything major...
01[22:10] <Seira> "I'm sure I would've been told," Seira says honestly. "Unless he is going for subtlety, I doubt it. He's the only one left, right, and there must be the issue of succession to resolve. Albert probably doesn't have the time." She looks around the living room. "You know, I think this is the first time I'm visiting."
06[22:12] * Alicia searches her memory and comes up blank. "I think you're right." That also brings up the issue of proper manners for a hostess, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Hopefully not, it's way too late to make anything.
[22:13] <Alicia> Marie, as the one most likely to have to prepare said hospitality, also hopes not.
01[22:13] <Seira> "Umm." Seira considers. "Something to drink would be nice, I guess? I haven't really had any...." She pauses. "I think the last time was on another plane? Anything you have is fine!"
[22:15] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll just be a second. Antenora, Marie, do you two want anything?" Alicia asks, eliciting a surprised look from her familiar.
[22:15] <Alicia> "Ahh... not for me, thanks," Marie shakes her head.
[22:15] <Kotono> "I'm fine," Antenora says, lying back on the couch. "But let me get it," Getting up, "Alicia, sit down."
06[22:17] * Alicia blinks at Antenora's bouncy indecisiveness. "Alright..." she proceeds to sit down. "Sorry you had to go to all the trouble of looking for me on that staircase. I found some Mercane who sold me a scroll of dismissal I thought would get me home sooner, but it must have been defective."
01[22:19] <Seira> "Trouble?" Seira asks in surprise. "It's only... we had to go after you! Isn't that obvious? We would have followed you and had Marie teleport over with my ring after you disappeared from the staircase, too, if it were anywhere but a safe place." Seira looks embarrased. "To tell you the truth, I was a bit worried I made the wrong call in not doing that until I came over."
[22:20] <Kotono> Antenora comes back with water. After giving it to Seira, "We were worried. Your replies sounded...distraught."
06[22:21] * Seira drains it after a brief nod of thanks, her attention focused on Alicia.
[22:21] <Alicia> "Celestia was fine, I found a choir of Archons who were happy to send me home after I'd had a chance to rest," Alicia smiles a bit before her expression clouds over. "Malcanthet's realm wasn't kind to my mental well-being." She shudders, "If it weren't for Hell Striker, I'm not sure if I'd have made it out of there."
[22:22] <Kotono> Antenora goes to linger behind Alicia, then to her side. "What happened," she asks quietly.
01[22:22] <Seira> "Hell Striker is a really good friend, then!" Seira exclaims. "You have to treasure him."
06[22:25] * Alicia nods. "He helped me realise just how close I was to losing it," she agrees. Briefly she runs her hand through her hair as she considers, "That's the worst part - my own strengths were used against me. All the demons sent to kill me, I dispatched them with ease."
[22:25] <Alicia> "But each one I killed... it's like she got inside of me and..." she trails off, looking disgusted while her cheeks tinge crimson. "Apparently it was a sign of her favour, according to the very friendly succubus who helped me reach the staircase," she concludes without elaboration.
01[22:27] <Seira> "At... at least you found a friend there?" Seira stammers.
[22:28] <Kotono> Antenora's face turns paler, her lips nearly sucked into her mouth. "The chaos and evil was lying to you," she says, a little harshly nd very sharp.
[22:29] <Alicia> "I know that," Alicia practically snaps at Antenora, before grimacing and looking away guiltily. "Sorry... but it... it felt so good I almost stopped caring. I can still feel it even now... like an itch that I have to scratch." Seemingly without noticing, she starts rubbing her thighs together while talking.
01[22:31] <Seira> "I... I think it's more the evil. Not the chaos. The lying part, I mean," Seira starts babbling. "And you made it back! No more evil like that here!"
[22:31] <Kotono> Antenora looks away at the snapping, "Sorry," she says as well. Her eyes are cast down, though she puts a hand on Alicia's shoulder. "There's no evil here. Right Marie? Right Seira?"
[22:32] <Alicia> Marie nods energetically. "You're safe here," she affirms. "We wouldn't hurt you or take advantage of you like that."
06[22:33] * Seira gives the couch a pointed glare. "None that could take advantage of you!" she swears to Alicia.
[22:33] <Kotono> "She's only here temporarily. If she has problems, she'll go back to sleep harder," Antenora replies with a hint of cold iron in her voice, before she sighs. "Sorry."
06[22:35] * Seira pats Alicia's hand awkwardly. "Speaking of temporary... uh... I'm sure that is, too. You're stronger than any loser demons and their influence!"
06[22:35] * Alicia shrinks in on herself a little bit, but still nods. "It's something I can deal with. I know these feelings aren't real," she sighs heavily, "Spending some time in Celestia helped bring that into focus, but still... just knowing how close I came to throwing away everything I've ever believed in and fought for, for nothing more than... nice feelings!"
[22:35] <Alicia> Looking up to Seira seriously, "You can still count on me for when we go back to Kesse. I can hold myself together," she declares with a hint of desperation.
06[22:36] * Seira returns the look. "Wouldn't have dreamt of doing it without you."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Nice feelings..." Antenora considers the word with a snort, "It can enslave anyone as well as a soul pact. But you're stronger than that, and you're going to be with us, Alicia."
[22:37] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia manages a smile. "I think I'll take a break afterwards, but I can still get through this as long as I'm needed."
01[22:38] <Seira> "I've been thinking about one myself," Seira admits. "Umm. I was going to go on a trip with Amaryl since she wanted to try the adventuring life, but you're welcome to join us. I was planning on taking her far away from it all."
06[22:40] * Alicia shakes her head, squeezing Seira's patting hand. "You two should enjoy yourself together. I was thinking of something more quiet and less adventuresome for myself, anyway."
[22:41] <Kotono> "I can go with Alicia, then," Antenora says, "Both of you could use long rests after this and someone to make sure you're alright."
06[22:41] * Seira nods. "I'm always just a sending away."
06[22:41] * Alicia glances askance at Antenora before shrugging and nodding. "We have to deal with Kesse first, anyway. Since we've dealt with that temple and Armanda, we only have Albert left?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "That's right. The dragon seemed like it was a trapped source of corruption, but..." With a light shrug of her shoulders, "The temple has been cleared. I would like to learn more from Albert, but the priority is stopping him cold."
01[22:42] <Seira> "I might remain for a bit of cleanup," Seira admits. "Seeing that vile woman made me realize... I don't want the whole lot of them to try this again. I'll whip the leadership into shape, or just take over if that fails."
[22:44] <Alicia> "Well, we have at least someone who can tell others about exactly what Albert and his siblings were all about," Alicia gestures briefly at the shadow-afflicted woman on her couch.
[22:44] <Kotono> "The taint of Shar does have to be fully purified," Going to stand behind Alicia again, protectively around her, "Hopefully we've done more of it, but there could always be sleepers or contingencies."
[22:45] <Kotono> "If she ever wakes up," Antenora goes to check her again, "Shankar said it appears that she'll be asleep for the immediate future."
01[22:45] <Seira> "We do have the other prisoner," Seira adds.
[22:45] <Alicia> "What about the ones she said were hiding in the caves?" Alicia asks.
01[22:45] <Seira> "They refused my generous offer of surrender."
06[22:46] * Seira doesn't add anything to that.
06[22:46] * Alicia nods understandingly. "I'm sure Shar will reward them as they deserve."
06[22:47] * Seira snorts suddenly. "That dragon was crying out for Shar's mercy when he died!"
[22:47] <Kotono> "Until tomorrow night, or will we go back there earlier?"
[22:48] <Kotono> Antenora's lips turn up at that, "The creature was kind of pathetic. For all it's power, it was trapped in a cage and it's allies made no attempt to save it."
01[22:48] <Seira> "Allies of convenience, more like. I refuse to believe scum like that can truly understand what the word means."
[22:49] <Alicia> "It's allies probably didn't want it usurping their control," Alicia concludes. "Anyway, I'll have all my spells refreshed tomorrow so it only depends on when the rest of you can recover from battling that wyrm?"
01[22:49] <Seira> "By the evening, but I think we want to make a statement. Let's try teleporting the next day while there's light out. We'll find Albert, hopefully surrounded by his court, and execute him for all his crimes!"
[22:50] <Kotono> "It'll be a battle," Antenora considers, "I don't believe that he'll make it easy. If he's a strong sorcerer as well as a skilled martial artist and devotee of Shar..." Thinking, "We can't let that stop us, though."
01[22:51] <Seira> "I think Demedais is right in that he might strike at us come nightfall. In that case, it only makes sense to greet his forces here with all of ours, before retaliating."
[22:52] <Alicia> "Kesse is several hours behind us, so night-time here might still be day-time there," Alicia notes. "But I'm not scared of Albert," she shakes her head. "He can't possibly stand against all of us."
[22:53] <Kotono> "Yes. He reaped this whirlwind, it's time for him to harvest it." Antenora smiles just a little bit here, "He's finished."
01[22:53] <Seira> "We'll take him down, we'll take down those who continue to cling to him, and cow the others into reason," Seira declares. "And that would be the last time I ever visit that forsaken part of the world."
[22:55] <Kotono> "Yes. But...we all need to rest, it's late at night." Antenora says this now, "If we're to go before dusk tomrorow we all need sleep."
01[22:56] <Seira> "Alright. I'll come visit again," Seira promises, and gives Alicia another hug, whispering, "Take care."
[22:57] <Alicia> "My door's always open," Alicia replies as she returns the hug with a bit less reserve than earlier. "Really, it's been nice having you over. Good night, Seira."
[22:59] <Kotono> Once Seira leaves out the door, Antenora approaches Alicia, going to sit next to her. "Hey," she puts a small smile on her face. "We're all glad to have you back now.'
06[23:02] * Alicia cocks her head and regards the erinyes. "I know that look," she comments dourly. "You don't need to worry so much - I'm going to be fine. They're not going to get the best of me."
[23:03] <Kotono> "I know that." Antenora smiles a little more, "But I'm really worried, Alicia. I've never seen you like that before...except once. They really shook you. I know that you might not want to...but could you tell us about it? Let it out so it's not stewing up inside of you?"
[23:05] <Alicia> "I'll probably never get any peace unless I do?" Alicia concludes, rolling her head back against the rest of her chair. "Fine. So I landed in a beautiful hilly landscape of clear skies, verdant meadows, and crystal clear streams. You know, I actually thought I was in Bytopia or Arcadia?"
[23:06] <Alicia> "Bytopia has a mirror landscape in the sky," Marie points out needlessly, before looking abashed. "You know... for future reference."
[23:07] <Kotono> "Just talk, Alicia." Antenora takes one of Alicia's hands, glancing at Marie.
[23:09] <Alicia> "Uh, yeah. Let it all out," Marie seconds, going to sit on Alicia's lap.
[23:09] <Alicia> "So I walked to the nearest village, finding it filled with beautiful and affectionate people, who naturally were thrilled to see me. One invited me into his home to tend to the wounds I incurred when the portal exploded around me," Alicia goes on, paying less attention to the two outsiders as she related her tale.
[23:09] <Kotono> A squeeze of Alicia's hand, but Antneora otherwise listens.
06[23:12] * Alicia continues on, relaying events up until Mikelcea revealed his intentions in his 'rape-room', except she spoilers future events by revealing at this point that he was actually Radiant Sister Ebony.
[23:12] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes, does Marie know this bitch?
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes, does Marie know this bitch? and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[23:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Antenora as well
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora as well and gets 28." [1d20=12]
[23:14] <Kotono> Antenora's face slips into anger several times, and one time a near fury. Nonetheless smiles at Alicia most of the time, staying right there. "That's another one we have to stop one day," Antenora says quietly, but otherwise doesn't interrupt.
[23:16] <Alicia> "I've heard of her..." Marie mutters. "She's supposed to be a psycho even by tanar'ri standards."
[23:17] <Alicia> "Yes well, personally I'm glad she was so blunt, it gave me the impetus to finally respond properly and fight back before trying to find my own way out instead of relying on fiendish mercy," Alicia shrugs. "I didn't waste time fighting in case reinforcements arrived, I just got out of there and made my way to the Puzzling Hedge."
[23:18] <Kotono> "Small mercies," Antenora agrees, " Then what?"
06[23:22] * Alicia continues on, outlining her intention to manipulate G'renna into helping her reach the centre of the maze, and then Malcanthet's 'touch' as she killed the glabrezu and blackguard sent after her by Ebony.
[23:22] <Alicia> She doesn't belabour the details too much, only that G'renna appeared an entirely forthright and reliable ally throughout the whole experience, admitting her preference for Alicia to enter Malcanthet's servitude but never forcing the issue despite her overall seductive manner, and avoiding several opportunities to take advantage of Alicia's ignorance or weakness.
[23:22] <Alicia> Things do become a bit disjointed as she struggles with the memories of that mind-numbling pleasure Malcanthet provided her with on each successful kill, reaching their conclusion at the centre of the maze when she admits to all but losing her mind and demanding Ebony appear so she could feel that pleasure from slaying the Radiant Sister.
[23:22] <Alicia> Hell Striker talked some sense into her enough for her to realise it was a bad idea, though pride compelled her to stay until after a minute when Ebony still hadn't arrived. So at that point she left and entered the Endless Stairway.
[23:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 has Marie heard of G'renna?
06[23:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 has Marie heard of G'renna? and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[23:23] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 Antenora as well
06[23:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora as well and gets 25." [1d20=9]

[Corwin]

[20:36] <Kotono> > "Small mercies," Antenora agrees, " Then what?"
[20:36] <Kotono> * Alicia continues on, outlining her intention to manipulate G'renna into helping her reach the centre of the maze, and then Malcanthet's 'touch' as she killed the glabrezu and blackguard sent after her by Ebony.
[20:36] <Kotono> <Alicia> She doesn't belabour the details too much, only that G'renna appeared an entirely forthright and reliable ally throughout the whole experience, admitting her preference for Alicia to enter Malcanthet's servitude but never forcing the issue despite her overall seductive manner, and avoiding several opportunities to take advantage of Alicia's ignorance or weakness.
[20:36] <Kotono> <Alicia> Things do become a bit disjointed as she struggles with the memories of that mind-numbling pleasure Malcanthet provided her with on each successful kill, reaching their conclusion at the centre of the maze when she admits to all but losing her mind and demanding Ebony appear so she could feel that pleasure from slaying the Radiant Sister.
[20:36] <Kotono> <Alicia> Hell Striker talked some sense into her enough for her to realise it was a bad idea, though pride compelled her to stay until after a minute when Ebony still hadn't arrived. So at that point she left and entered the Endless Stairway.
[20:37] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 has Marie heard of G'renna?
[20:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 has Marie heard of G'renna? and gets 22." [1d20=5]
[20:37] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+16 Antenora as well
[20:37] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 Antenora as well and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[20:39] <Kotono> Antenora smiles at the end, "No matter what they did, they couldn't quite break you. They tried, but you managed to turn away from it. That's hard to do, very hard. It hit you with something that was so incredibly difficult to resist and with doing something you're so good at."
03[20:40] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
03[20:40] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Alicia Alicia
[20:40] <Alicia> "She's right," Marie seconds. "Even if you feel bad now, you already overcame the worst of it, so things can only get better!"
[20:42] <Alicia> "That's kind of both of you," Alicia nods to each. "But even so... part of me still wants to feel that again, even knowing it was a lie, even knowing it was forced on me by a demon. Words can't really do justice to how good it felt."
03[20:42] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[20:43] <Kotono> "It's something you'ven ot paid much attention do," A delicate cough follows here, "Alicia, it's something you're used to not feeling. I imagine that's why it hit you there."
06[20:45] * Alicia frowns a bit. "I'm not some pure and chaste maiden, Antenora," she replies peevishly. "Even if I haven't done it a while, I'm quite familiar with a woman's pleasure. It's nice, but that demon-spurred feeling was... transcendant, is the only word I can use."
[20:46] <Kotono> "Yes, but..." Antenora wavers a hand. "It's hard enough for someone satisfied to resist mere sexual pleasure. Something stronger and without being in practice? The point is that it hit you below the belt with it. From your descriptions, it was, ah, special. Very special feeling."
[20:49] <Alicia> "I suppose so..." Alicia concedes. "Is this where you tell me I need to get more of that kind of satisfaction so I won't be caught off guard next time?" she follows up challengingly.
[20:49] <Alicia> Marie blushes and looks away. "That's up to you..." she squeaks out.
[20:50] <Kotono> Antenora smirks, "No. I think you can live richly without it. It's makes it all the more admirable that you survived."
[20:51] <Kotono> After a moment, her smirk resettling down and Antenora's human mellowing, "It's also a lesson. The Abyss tried to pervert several good things into a miasma of corruption. In the Abyss, nothing is safe."
[20:55] <Alicia> "Oh, I won't argue that," Alicia replies emphatically. "It makes me wonder how anyone can possibly go there and hope to win any sort of victory."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Hope?" Looking Alicia squarely in the eyes there, "And you won a victory there."
[20:58] <Alicia> "At best I'd call it a draw," Alicia shakes her head. "It's not like either side gained anything from it." Picking up Marie and setting her on the armrest of her chair, she gets up, "Anyway, it's late and I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed, now."
03[21:00] * Sierra_Mikain_Mk2 (~Melanchth@pool-71-163-230-130.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[21:01] <Kotono> "Sleep well," Antenora stands up, going to embrace Alicia lightly. "I'm proud to know anyone that survived the Abyss. Even if they are still stinky from touching a succubus. I mean...ugh."
[21:03] <Alicia> "You think I smell now, you should've been around me right after I left," Alicia snorts after returning the hug. Choosing not to elaborate further, she heads up the stairs with a final, "Good night, you two."
[21:07] <Kotono> Once Alicia's gone, 'Was she feeling any better at the end,' Marie hears in her mind.
[21:10] <Alicia> 'She was,' Marie replies. 'It seemed to cheer her up. Also, good job distracting her by getting her annoyed at the implication she was a blushing virgin. You'll probably be paying for it later but I think it did her some good!'
[21:12] <Kotono> 'Heh, heh,' Antenora rubs the back of her head, like Donald. 'Just let's keep this in the 'family'? Especially the part about her and that succubus.' Her face darkening a little, 'I still remember our trip into the Storm of Talos. She's like a mother, a sister, a superior and a friend rolled into one. Calling her something so crude as...'
[21:15] <Alicia> 'Not bad for someone like a twentieth of your age,' Marie opines cheerily. 'Anyway, it's not like she actually had sex with the succubus or anything. But sure, I've got no reason to tell anyone about my master's private life.'
[21:15] <Kotono> 'Good.' Antenora smiles there, then in a normal voice, "Good night, Marie. Tell me how she does over the next few days?"
[21:16] <Alicia> "I'll keep you posted," Marie affirms, floating the living room. "Go get some sleep yourself, I'll watch over your shady new friend."
[21:17] <Kotono> "No. I'm going to take her to a cell. We don't have time to watch over her now." Going to pick her up, "They can watch her and make sure she's taken care of until she awakens, then we'll see if she's serious about changing."
[21:18] <Alicia> "Suit yourself. I'll be here anyway," Marie shrugs.