223.2 Alicia's Spiritual Retreat

[Corwin]

[20:47] <Kotono> -------------
[20:47] <Kotono> Antenora, Alicia and Marie gather inside of Alicia's house. Battle gear is worn as noon comes and creeps closer. "So what's the plan," Antenora asks, "So we have it down right. Also, do we have a contingency if things go against us?"
[20:57] <Alicia> "Based on the fact that none of the reinforcements teleported to us last time, I'm assuming the Halls have anti-teleport wards, so we're going to have to sneak in," Alicia begins. "I'll disguise myself with that scroll Elle gave me, and the ring of eternal celerity should keep any devils with true seeing from seeing through it - Marie will have to hide in my backpack while we're going in."
06[20:57] * Alicia then hands Antenora a set of creepy black robes liberated from one of the Sharran cultists. "These'll hide your armour while hopefully still fitting in - I took the liberty of cutting in holes for your wings already."
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs the robes and grimaces, "Ah, cultist. Just the thing to smell like in Hell." She puts them on, the heavy robes covering her armor and body.  Oh yes, Alicia. Do you still have that ring? I think I'd like it and it would be useful here in any event."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Oh, I thought I gave it to you yesterday..." Alicia searches her person for a moment before handing it to Antenora. "Anyway, I'll teleport us nearby and then we walk in like any normal devils would. There are admittedly several options we could take at this point;"
[21:07] <Alicia> "For one, I may have advanced to the point where I could dispel the bindings on the prisoners directly. It's not something I care to count on, though. Another possibility is simply coercing another devil to release them for us - even guards are likely to have overheard a few command words at the very least. It's somewhat risky, though."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Our best bet is to do what Beth and I did by finding the commands ourselves. When we near the secret door, Marie will drink the invisibility potion and proceed straight to the records room, where she can peruse the lists there - they're locked but she should be able to phase through the boxes to read what's inside."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Once she has a good number of them, she comes back out to rejoin us, giving us each a code for one of the more powerful sounding prisoners. We proceed to unbind them - then I'll throw up the Wall of Iron to cut off reinforcements, and Antenora and I eliminate all the devils on our side while Marie starts releasing all the prisoners she can."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Finally, I blast an escape route in the ceiling through which the prisoners can escape - with help from us as necessary if they can't fly."
[21:07] <Alicia> "The contingency is effectively that last part, if we're in danger of being overwhelmed I'll cut us a path out and we'll fly through it ourselves before plane-shifting back to the Prime."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Sounds reasonable enough." Antenora goes over it, "I have no illusions that this will be an easy battle..." Looking down quietly, "This'll be my first time going back to Hell, too. So, no failure will be tolerated. We have to succeed at this, or at least get away safely. We can't be defeated in that museum. Staying frozen for eternity would be the best thing we could hope for then."
06[21:12] * Alicia nods grimly. "If we get into any sort of trouble, retreat is preferable to any grand heroic gesture. We can always try again, provided we get away. Still, considering the types of devils present the last time, we should be capable of defeating any foes that appear to challenge us there, unless another Duke stops by."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I hope that whomever is running it's defenses is as lax as the previous one is, or circumstances make his defenses weak," Antenora says, then smiling a little, "Ready, Marie?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "No pressure," Marie grins back as Alicia hands her the plane shift ring.
[21:14] <Alicia> "Since Antenora and I will have our hands full fighting, its best if you hold onto this," she explains, also handing Antenora a small clay flask containing water from Evergold, a match for one she likewise has on her.
05[21:18] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:18] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:22] <Kotono> Taken and put under her robes, "I'll be paying as much attention with my mind as I can, so we aren't ambushed by anything unseen or hidden."
[21:25] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll cast my spells and then we'll go," Alicia speaks up, proceeding to use her magic to shield herself, empower everyone's weapons, and ward them against cold. "Also better get that silversheen on your spear, too," she tells Antenora, applying the liquid metal to Hell Striker.
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora rubs the silversheen into the tip of her spear as Alicia finishes casting her spells.
[21:28] <Alicia> Finally, Alicia takes out the scroll of disguise self. "No laughing," she cautions the other two before she reads from it, an illusion of a hunchbacked and scary looking Bearded Devil superimposing itself over her form.
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora cracks a smile. "You make a disturbingly ugly Bearded Devil."
[21:30] <Alicia> Marie politely covers her mouth and looks away while Alicia shows a fierce grimace of razor-sharp teeth. "No one should question it, at least," she replies in as guttural a voice as she can manage, hefting Hell Striker which currently looks like a jagged cold-iron halberd.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Now, get in my backpack and then plane shift us to Tantlin, Marie," she instructs her familiar, casting Voice of the Archon and taking Antenora's hand.
[21:31] <Kotono> Antenora squeezes Alicia's hand. "You'll scare all the lemures you see."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Remember to boss her around to stay in character!" Marie reminds Antenora as she clambers into the backpack hidden within Alicia's 'hump' and after receiving assent from the others she focuses on the ring currently worn more like a bangle around her dainty wrist, warping them to that most hated plane of Baator...
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 191." [5d100=66, 11, 10, 10, 94]
[21:38] <Kotono> Wooooosh! So cold. There is no heat here. Only a cold that feels piercing even with her magical protections. Alicia's cheek aches. She can feel the touch of Agares on her cheek again as she appears, the foul caress making her face feel like dead, rotting flesh. The bleak, purple sky sheds barely any light, a deep shadow over everything.  You stand on loose circles of ice, most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surfac
[21:38] <Kotono> most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surface, most dipping ominously down and far too close to letting water spill over; the oily black waters just below toxic to mind and identity. (More)
[21:39] <Kotono> Over this barely together, loose conglomeration of 'land' are several thicker pieces of ice, making jutting, minature mountains perhaps twenty to thirty feet into the air. They are slightly hidden, a chill, dry, flayind wind blowing off of them. On one a hundred or so feet away, an ice devil lies at the top, it's tail coiled down the 'mountain'.
06[21:41] * Alicia doesn't intend to stick around, teleporting the trio to just off the far side of the bridge leading to the Halls - the same place where she first met Agares, at that.
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d10 damage
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d10 damage and gets 4." [1d10=4]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 mishap
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 mishap and gets 88." [1d20=8]
[21:46] <Kotono> Ugh! Alicia can feel a sense of domination, chains binding to her! The teleport wracks her body, appearing on a long bridge of ice! Buildings of ice are all around you. About twenty feet away are two vile creatures - a pair of ice devils walking this way! They stop at the apperance, mandibles chittering! "A mere Bearded Devil dares into this quarter! You presume far too much, foolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC
[21:46] <Kotono> oolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC - Let's roll initaitive here?
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M should it matter
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M should it matter and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 1
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 1 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 2
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 2 and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 15." [1d20=10]
03[21:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Ice Devil 1>Antenora>Ice Devil 2=Alicia>Marie'
[21:50] <Kotono> "Shit!" Antenora curses under her breath, as the first ice devil extends it's hand out! As whirls of cold and wind gush from it, "Impudent barbazu, and those who would dare with him, suffer!"
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 CL
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC - Ref saves.
[21:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 13d6
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13d6 and gets 45." [13d6=1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1]
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Doesn't penetrate your resist after successful saves.
[21:52] <Kotono> The cold whips around Alicia and Antenora! Both of them dodge to the sides of the bridge, missing the worst of the freezing cone! 'Attack or hold?' Antenora asks swiftly. OOC: Antenora's up.
[21:52] <Alicia> "Don't waste time, we're getting out of here," Alicia replies in clipped infernal.
[21:53] <Kotono> Antenora hurries over to Alicia then! OOC - Alicia and Devil 2 are up.
[21:54] <Alicia> Satisfying as it would be to slay these fiends, Alicia has more important matters and so doesn't waste time in retrying the teleport!
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d100 c'mon
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 c'mon and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:55] <Alicia> OOC: similar area again
[21:56] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia vanishes just as another cone of cold appears! this time you appear on a broken bridge, at the edges of it. This part of Tantlin lies in a cold ruin! Spikes of Baatorian Greensteel jut out of the surviving bridge, several lemures impaled on them. They struggle weakly and in vain, half coated in ice!  Antenora grutns and looks around, "What? Is thijs it or...Is something interfereing with teleport?"
06[21:57] * Alicia looks around in some distress. "It might be," she admits. "I felt something terrible on the first one... I'll try again and if it fails I think we're going to have to call this off."
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 45." [1d100=45]
[21:59] <Kotono> This time you appear on the right bridge! More fortune is on your side, no one is immediately within view. The bridge where you met Agares is...quiet.
06[22:00] * Alicia sighs in relief. "This is it," she mutters, still in Infernal. "It's just ahead, this way," is added as she starts to cross the bridge.
[22:01] <Kotono> MAtching Alicia's vile words with her own, "Nothing nearby. Let's go." With that, the two begin to walk!
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[22:03] <Kotono> You pass by a dozen sights that will haunt Alicia in her darkest dreams. A ice devil tormenting a Bearded Devil, ripping it's beard out one hair at a time, taking with it chunks of bloody flesh for each effort. A Hellcat feasts on a still writhing lemure, devouring it as it's mindless self fights futilely. A dozen Bearded Devils are frozen into the shape of a giant cross, where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters be
[22:03] <Kotono> where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters below it is, 'The Fate of those who defy Lord Levistus! Torment for 9,999 years for the crime of lesser treason against one's Lord.' (More)
[22:05] <Kotono> But at last...at last mercy is on you. You begin to approach the cave entrance to the Halls of the Vanquished. Like last time, two bearded devils stand guard. At one hundred feet away, Antenora stops. "Problem. There's something invisible a bit above them. Outsiders, two of them, above average intelligence."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Unless they give us trouble, ignore them," Alicia suggests, her thick bristly beard somewhat obscuring her lips as she whispers, continuing to march along as only a surly barbazu can, 'halberd' held in both hands as if anticipating violence at any moment.
[22:09] <Kotono> Antenora follows, walking along with them. She doesn't even deign to glance at the two barbazu guards as they enter! Nothing unusual as you approach, though ANtenora takes a moment, 'Ahead and inside, three superhuman intelligences. Might be ice devils, they're like the intellect fromt he last two.'
[22:11] <Alicia> 'We'll see in a moment,' Alicia replies, more comfortable talking telepathically where no one can overhear. 'Last time there was only once ice devil here, so unless they're visitors like us it could be they've spent a lot of effort on increasing security.'
[22:11] <Alicia> She idly wonders just where these resources have been diverted from - it could prove useful to take advantage of a weakness elsewhere, if she were to find it.
[22:13] <Kotono> Inside the foyer, three ice devils stand before the door leading to the Grand Hall. Each has the diabolical spears they prefer, the one in the center chattering as the two enter. "On who's authority do the two of you enter the Halls of the Vanquished on?"
[22:15] <Alicia> The erinyes should be the one to speak, and she knows more fiendish names. 'This is new. Make something up, some random devil of influence on a layer far from here,' she suggests to Antenora.
[22:20] <Kotono> Standing up straight and speaking in deep, imperious tones, "The authority of Mitanu of Maladomini!"
[22:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[22:23] <Kotono> The lead gelugon curtly nods and steps aside. "Enjoy the new exhibit ahead," it says, mandibles clattering together again.
[22:24] <Kotono> Antenora advances on with nary a look to them after, and looking to Alicia, "Stop slacking!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "New exhibit?" Alicia queries in her most scratchy and guttural voice, before suddenly recoiling in fear at Antenora's command. "Hsss! Yes, mistress!" she hunches herself inwards obsequeiously before scurrying ahead to lead the way for the erinyes.
[22:27] <Kotono> Stopping to glare at Alicia, "Do that again and I'll have you become an exhibit for piteous, pathetic wastes of diabolical flesh!" But as you advance on, something else could get your attention. IN the center of the grand hall something new has been added(Besides repaired floors, really.). In the center of the room is a pedestool, much like the ones that hold various trophies here.  Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several di
[22:28] <Kotono>  Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several directions. It's body is spread eagled as far as it will go, just starting to gruseomly rip apart. It's frozen in this state, a look of soul killing agony on it's alien face! Below it, on a plaque that burns with crimson fire, it reads 'Azanu. See well the price of failure and learn!'
[22:30] <Alicia> 'Former curator,' Alicia supplies for Antenora's benefit. 'My blades tasted his flesh but he retreated... perhaps it would have been better for him if he had not,' she muses. Rather than lingering, she makes a show of bowing and scraping to Antenora before leading her to the hall of captured demons.
[22:31] <Kotono> Antenora looks the statue over, "Fitting," she says. As she does, one of the western doors open. A classical harvester devil walks side by side with a man in plain, dented full plate armor. His face is cold, uncaring. "...why this is such a superior place.  Practicing against the captives is safe, easy and effective." The harvester devil says, as Antenora goes for the eastern door with Alicia.
06[22:33] * Alicia ignores the falxugon and his dupe as she leads Antenora through the exhibits.
[22:39] <Kotono> You pass into the exhibit hall! There are several ice devils here, scattered apart and keeping a general eye on things. A pair of erinyes are examining a chaos beasts, sneering. Ahead are various slaad and chaos beasts, the hall turning north after.
[22:41] <Alicia> 'Definitely been a big increase in security - before it was nothing but barbazu and erinyes,' Alicia tells Antenora as she leads the erinyes around the corner, heading towards the secret door Beth found.
[22:45] <Kotono> The Erinyes are fortunately distracted and don'te ven glance at the two. Turning the corner, you come to the demons. More ice devils are here. Including a pair at the secret door. It's not a secret door anymore at all. It's been changed into a real, obvious door, the two ice devils keeping a vigilant guard.
[22:45] <Kotono> Besides the various ice devils, there's a cornugon, flanked by four fawning male erinyes. He examines a marilith frozen in place, rubbing it's chin. "Superb work," he growls and laughs.
06[22:48] * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[22:51] <Kotono> A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[22:54] <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...

[Corwin]

[20:35] <Kotono> * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[20:35] <Kotono> <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...
[20:40] <Kotono> Marie scoots inside! Inside is a well lit hallway, several identical doors. A distinct feeling of needles crawling over Marie's flesh is felt even now. No one looks to be about. It's utterly, dead quiet here. Not a scrap of noise.
[20:42] <Alicia> As Alicia channels a Fly spell into her sword and idly taps it into her palm to gain the benefit of the spell without noisily casting, Marie shimmies up to hide inside the ceiling and then works her way to the second door on the left which she handily bypasses in her incorporeal state.
[20:44] <Kotono> Inside is a large room of filing cabinets, each a single box with writing over it. The room is vast, dozens of these around. It's quiet and peaceable beyond that.
[20:45] <Kotono> Meanwhile Antenora makes a show of examining the nearest statue, 'Lots of ice devils. They're quite smarter than the cornugons, interestingly. Nothing else or nothing that stands out that we haven't seen, at least right now.'
[20:46] <Alicia> Marie spends a few seconds checking the room over for magic or evil auras, while Alicia starts to meander away from the demons and towards the celestials. 'You'd think gelugons wouldn't be relegated to simple guard duty - I've never seen so many in one place before,' she replies as she does a count of all the ones she's seen in the halls.
[20:47] <Kotono> There's been at least a dozen so far and more ahead in the celestial areas. Marie sees that there's strong magic all over the room she's in, including the cabinets.
[20:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[20:49] <Kotono> 'Whomever the new caretaker is, they're taking security seriously,' Antenora breathes, and then, 'Marie, how's it going?'
[20:49] <Alicia> 'Yikes, looks like they've upgraded the defences here. If I was corporeal I'd probably be fried to death and summoning in all sorts of guards right now,' Marie comments for Antenora's benefit as she starts to look over the cabinets for labels to see which ones relate to imprisoned mortals.
[20:50] <Kotono> There's a bunch with names of various mortals. About a fifth of them or so are these or could be these.
[20:50] <Kotono> 'Alicia, there's better traps. Marie says she'd be fried if she wasn't incorpreal,' Antenora sends to her.
[20:52] <Alicia> 'So where's all this coming from?' Alicia wonders as she eyes a familiar looking sword archon. 'There's no comparison at all with how it was last time - you'd think this was a front-line fortress or something...'
[20:53] <Alicia> Meanwhile Marie reads the name of the first mortal she finds and phases into the cabinet to see if she can find the command release code within.
[20:54] <Kotono> The cabinet is empty. Meanwhile, 'Well, Agares is gone and Azanu's a piece of art. Whomever the new caretaker is has enough clout to get plenty of gelugons and better security. Maybe Levistus is taking an interest? Maybe another Duke is?' Antenora pauses to consider as Alicia examines the frozen archon. 'If we have leisure, gathering some information could be productive.'
[20:56] <Alicia> 'Antenora?' Marie hopes the erinyes is listening in as she flits back out of the cabinet, quickly ducking into another random one to see what she can see.
[20:56] <Kotono> Empty again! Nothing at all is in there. No reply from Antenora at the moment.
[20:58] <Alicia> That's all Marie needs to write off this room. Phasing through the wall, she takes a peek in the room's neighbour - the first on the left after entering this hallway.
[20:59] <Alicia> 'Maybe. But I don't intend to stay any longer than necessary...' Alicia replies uneasily.
[20:59] <Kotono> The room looks like some sort of diabolical office, but it's empty. 'Marie, how's it going' Antenora asks after that. 'Alicia doesn't want to linger too long.'
[21:01] <Alicia> 'There's no one here, and the filing cabinets are all empty!' Marie replies, clear relief at hearing Antenora's lovely voice evident in her tone. 'The room next to it's an office I think but it's empty, too. I think these rooms are just decoys!'
[21:02] <Kotono> 'Oh HELLS.' Antenora thinks, 'Hold on.' Then to Alicia, 'Problem, the rooms in there are duds. Empty and trapped to the gills.'
[21:04] <Alicia> 'Clever... I bet they're not even warded against teleportation, too,' Alicia replies with grudging respect. Recalling the plan of the Halls she saw at the entrance and comparing it with its exterior dimensions, she tries to think of where another possible hidden room could be.
[21:06] <Kotono> The problem is that the Halls sink into a cave and close to the Styx. The dimensions are anyone's guess, since it's not like the front map out ther eincluded this secret or anything else like 'Hi, secret door here!'. It really could be anywhere.
[21:08] <Alicia> Well, last time there was a really obvious empty spot in the corner. 'Okay, tell Marie to first of all check above and below those rooms?' she asks the erinyes.
[21:09] <Kotono> 'Right,' Antenora says, 'Alicia wants you to check right above and below the rooms there,' she says, 'Watch out for the Styx, remember.'
[21:09] <Kotono> As you do, the cornugon gloating over the Marilith proceeds ahead, closer to Alicia and company. The male erinyes continues to fawn over him as he walks, "Move!" he bellows to Alicia and Antenora, "I wish to examine that exhibit now!"
[21:10] <Alicia> 'It's okay, corporeal water can't touch me like this no matter how nasty it is,' Marie tells Antenora as she ducks down through the floor below the office first of all.
06[21:11] * Alicia hisses and quickly scurries away from the cornugon with much bowing and scraping.
[21:14] <Kotono> Antenora does the same, "Sorry, sorry, sorry," she whimpers, scurrying away with Alicia as well!
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[21:14] <Kotono> The erinyes sneer and smirk at the two, as meanwhile Marie goes up and down! Up is cold, solid ice. Below is frozen eyes, and a little lower, the water of the Styx. No sign of anything.
[21:14] <Alicia> Marie reverses course and flies up!
[21:15] <Kotono> Up is cold, solid ice.
06[21:16] * Alicia moves back amongst the demons once the cornugon has passed, not wanting to get too far away from the passage so Marie can find them easily.
[21:16] <Alicia> Speaking of said eladrin, she descends back to the same level as the empty rooms and decides to check out the one on the right of the empty records room.
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Alicia
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Alicia and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Marie
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Marie and gets 26." [1d20=17]

[Corwin]

[20:36] <Kolunch> The room to the right has racks and racks of weapons. The weapons look fairly plain and uninteresting from a glance, though most looked to be styled with angelic, archonic or various good aligned motifs.
[20:38] <Alicia> This must be where Alicia found Hell Striker. Back into the hallway, Marie looks to see how many doors she hasn't checked out.
[20:38] <Kolunch> There's three more.
[20:39] <Alicia> Marie quickly scoots through each, just poking in briefly to see what's what and move on, unless she sees anything interesting.
[20:42] <Kolunch> It's offices, mundane, empty record storages and a curator's office shell. Nothing in it looks too interesting on a glance.
[20:42] <Kolunch> 'Marie?
[20:42] <Kolunch> OOC - Gah.
[20:43] <Kolunch> 'Marie?' Antenora sends as she does, 'How's it going back there? There's several ice devils, erinyes and a horned devil out here. Careful.'
[20:46] <Alicia> 'There's only one erinyes I want to see,' Marie jokes back in an effort to keep her spirits up. 'Aside from what looks like an armoury of trophy weapons, there's nothing here - the rooms have all been cleared out entirely. The whole thing reeks of a setup - I'm coming back, okay?'
[20:47] <Kolunch> 'Okay.' Then to Alicia, 'She's coming back.' Then to Marie again, 'Tell me when you're back in the backpack.'
[20:49] <Alicia> Phasing back through the walls, Marie makes ample use of cover to avoid moving through the line of sight of any erinyes (except the one in the black robes) as she zips towards the bearded devil lurking by the marilith, once more hiding within Alicia's backpack before she returns to a corporeal state. 'Back,' she announces as Alicia starts at the shifting weight on her back.
[20:53] <Kolunch> 'Right.' 'Alicia, she's back.' Antenora says, as she makes a show of looking about at the various figures.
[20:55] <Alicia> A mental sigh is clearly conveyed from the paladin. 'I'm afraid to say we're stuck, then. I can't count on dispelling these bindings, and the guards are too numerous and powerful for me to magically compel them into releasing anyone... without those release commands there's no way we can get anyone out of here.'
[20:56] <Kolunch> 'Are we going to call it off then?' Antenora asks. She sighs as well, '...dammit. If nothing else, I want to try and find out about this new curator. They're proving disgustingly competent.'
[20:58] <Alicia> 'Considering there's more greater fiends here than they had in the desert invasion force, it's really not hard,' Alicia replies bitterly. 'If nothing else we can take some comfort in the fact that such a large number of gelugons are stuck here instead of actually causing trouble for anyone else.'
[20:59] <Kolunch> 'Let's get out of here then?' Antenora says, 'Before someone gets lucky. We can talk out of the hall, somewhere quiet.'
[20:59] <Alicia> 'If we can find an isolated guard somewhere...' Alicia considers thoughtfully as she starts to head back to the entry hall.
[21:00] <Kolunch> You pass into the entry hall! Here a pair of barbazu is examing Azanu with an intense scowls. No sign of the previous harvester devil and mortal. The way out is ahead.
06[21:02] * Alicia looks to see if the map from last time is still here, and if it's had any changes made.
[21:16] <Kolunch> The map from last time is here now. It's been updated to show the old secret rooms, labeled as offices, storage, ectera. Nothing else has been added.
[21:20] <Alicia> Nothing else for it, really. If Antenora still had her keen observational skills they might be able to try and find another secret door leading to the real offices, but as is they really have no chance. Still, perhaps they can get some information if nothing else... are those three gelugons still here?
[21:20] <Kolunch> Going back into the foyer, the two find the gelugons are still keeping watch.
06[21:25] * Alicia approaches the ice devils, keeping a somewhat respectful distance (ie they'd have to move to stab her) and throws a subservient look back to Antenora before addressing them in her best guttural hiss (though still with the exacting pronunciation that Infernal demands). "I heard once that exhibits can be fought. How does that work?"
[21:26] <Kolunch> Antenora scowls and nods to the barbazu. "I'm interested in this as well. My servant could use a sharpening."
[21:28] <Kolunch> "You need to petition the curator to approve it. Should it be approved, they will be temporarily thawed int he training halls. A letter from a devil with authority in Tantlin or a noble devil will reflect very well on your request."
[21:29] <Kolunch> The gelugon leans forward, chittering-snap-snap as it's mandibles come together. It eyes both of them, with a look of casual contempt for Alicia and leering at the robes erinyes.
06[21:30] * Alicia takes a half-step back from the gelugon, playing her part as a minor baatezu in the face of a greater one. "See old curator back there," she cocks her head towards the grisly exhibit in the front hall, "What can you tell us about the current one?"
[21:32] <Kolunch> "Curator Tenel came to power after the condemnation of Azanu for incompetence, laxity, embezzlement, chaotic sympathies, treason and failure of duty." With a laugh, "I hear that Azanu is awake unlike the others. He spends eternity being torn apart and watching other devils mock his failure every day!"
[21:33] <Kolunch> Another of them grins, a disquieting thing that sends chills down one's spine. "Curator Tenel is far more competent. Azanu's wastefulness let a mere mortal escape and infuried former Duke Agares."
[21:33] <Kolunch> *infuriated
[21:34] <Kolunch> The third laughs, a sound of unearthly, buggish things making noise. "Chaotic impulses! So wrapped up in his own corruption that he forgot the greater duties to Baator! Pathetic!"
[21:35] <Alicia> "Serves him right, then," Alicia bares her needle-like teeth in a rictus of a grin. "Although tales of the *former* duke's troubles have reached even other layers. Is Tenel an associate of that one?"
[21:39] <Kolunch> "Tenel is favored of Levistus. He is a true, greater gelugon," All three lower their eyes at this, a complete pause. "Curator Tenel has vowed to end the laxity and weaknesses of Azanu's pathetic regime!"
[21:42] <Kolunch> Antenora simply laughs. It's a haughty, horrible laugh. "Azanu and then Agares. How far did the incompetent corruption go?"
[21:44] <Alicia> She's still got it! "Would you tell this humble one where such an upstanding fiend might be found?" Alicia asks the Gelugon she first spoke to. If her respectful words aren't enough, there's also the kick of her suggestion spell to help things along.
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
05[21:44] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:44] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[21:44] <Kolunch> OOC: Make a diplo check?
[21:45] <Alicia> OOC: lets take 10 for 51?
[21:48] <Kolunch> "You can schedule an appointment with Curator Tenel. Submit the request to the Department of Inter-Devil Official Relations. Then again...that takes years." Looking keenly at the bearded devil, "You speak well for one of your caste."
[21:49] <Kolunch> "I've trained it well," Antenora smirks, "THIS bearded devil isn't allowed to be a complete, incompetent fool."
06[21:49] * Alicia briefly shoots a fearful look at Antenora. "Nothing less is expected," she agrees with some quick bowing and scraping.
[21:49] <Kolunch> "Don't you forget that," Antenora finishes.
[21:50] <Kolunch> roll 1d20+18
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kolunch rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:51] <Kolunch> "This process can be speeded up immensely if you are willing to make it worth our while," One of the gelugons says. "The Barbazu is outstanding. I could use a servant who doesn't trip over it's own feet."
[21:52] <Kolunch> "No point." Going to touch the Barbazu's head with a smirk, "My master is impressed with it as well. Surely a promotion is no later than a decade away."
[21:54] <Kolunch> "Something useful then." The first one eyes, "Magic or worthwhile coin."
[21:54] <Kolunch> 'Alicia?' Antenora asks at this point.
06[21:55] * Alicia almost but not quite flinches away from Antenora's touch. 'Forget it, I was fishing to find out where he is so we can drop in unannounced, not get an appointment. We should go,' she responds.
[21:55] <Kolunch> "I'll consider it," Antenora says, then pulls Alicia along by the beard. "We're done here. Come, servant."
06[21:56] * Alicia hisses and follows along, having to move quite carefully to avoid having Antenora's hand noticably phase through her illusory beard and draw attention that way.
[21:58] <Kolunch> The two manage to stumble outside! Once outside, no ome immediately around, "Tenel, eh?" Antenora murmurs. "Now what?"
[22:00] <Alicia> "We have about an hour and a half before my disguise fades," Alicia replies, moving well up the road away from the hall and recasting voice of the archon once no devils are close by. "We could try asking around to get more information, but that depends on how similar hellish cities are to ones on the prime - do you even have things like taverns?"
[22:01] <Kolunch> "In forms, yes. There are places where devils gather. It depends on how fast we can find one," Looking about, seeing the streets quiet for the moment, "Catching up on the gossip would be to our benefit, both about Zquujaj and the going ons of the layer."
03[22:02] * Kolunch is now known as Kotono
[22:04] <Alicia> "I get the impression no one cares about Zquujaj anymore," Alicia muses. "Last time I was here there was a noticable tension - and you said things were going utterly chaotic the last time you were here. But now everything's under a tight lid - they wouldn't spare so many gelugons to guard a museum if a rogue pit fiend really was causing much trouble."
[22:04] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if we can find such a place and find out what's happening?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "I think the status quo returned," Antenora agrees as the two go to look about!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[22:09] <Kotono> It takes about fourty five minutes of wandering to find such a 'place'. It's a precisely carved and promptly neglected building of pure ice. Inside lesser devils congregate. Bearded devils, a few harvester devils, a steel devil, a pair of orthons.  They all drink a foul looking, black, tarry substance from tiny glasses. The 'bar' is a small circle of stone about five feet wall. Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket drippin
[22:09] <Kotono> Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket dripping with Styx-water just besides it."Close enough to a tavern," Antenora mutters.
06[22:12] * Alicia nods. "Lets see what the word is, then?" Alicia suggests, intending to simply listen in for a bit in case any topics of interest come up while they settle into the tavern. Such as it is.
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check? Antenora will assist you for +2 if possible.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 27." [1d20=10]
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[22:17] <Kotono> You find most of the patrons are in a strange state. They're simply dazed and blank, drinking tiny sips of the strage black drink. It leaves them glassy-eyed and inert. One bearded devil is not partaking and quite coherent. "What do you want," he asks, then "Superior one," he adds with a quick bow of it's head to Antenora.
[22:21] <Alicia> "There have been many changes in Tantlinn since we were last here," Alicia replies, voice low and guarded. "A duke has fallen, and the... interesting, museum of defeated foes is under new management. This has allowed certain arrangements to lapse, so we are attempting to discern the current state of things."
[22:21] <Alicia> That sounds suitably twisted and weasel-y, so shouldn't arouse any suspicion beyond typical baatezu plotting. Hopefully.
[22:22] <Kotono> Antenora nods, turning her attention away from Alicia to look around. The bearded devil eyes right back, "Came to the wrong place. Devils come here to forget."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Miserable wretches..." Alicia briefly surveys the other inhabitants. "They should return to being mindless lemures if that's all they care about."
[22:38] <Kotono> "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[22:41] <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[22:46] <Kotono> "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[22:51] <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."

[Corwin]

[20:14] <Kotono> > "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[20:14] <Kotono> > "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."
[20:16] <Kotono> "I have no doubt he will. To suggest anything else is disloyal," Evenly speaking as he looks about the brain-addled room of devils, "Curator Tenel will be a worthy curator."
[20:26] <Alicia> "Perhaps, perhaps not," Alicia muses ambivalently. "Once Tenel has actually overcome any real challenges we might be better informed as to his abilities. Certainly there are some who might feel he is draining away more resources than he truly needs to defend a set of frozen statues so deep within Baator."
[20:26] <Alicia> She then shrugs as if to say she's only musing, "Then again, perhaps he is aware of some greater threat that we are not privy to."
[20:29] <Kotono> "He is our superior," The bearded devils bows his head low. As that happens, Antneora does likewise. "What of Duke Agares? I hear his ineffective flailings lead to his disgrace."
[20:35] <Kotono> "He had several incompetencies. Word of his failed adventure into a region of the Prime Material Plane spread. A word supposedly weak and ripe for the picking, our forces defeated by a few weak celestials and mortals?"
[20:38] <Alicia> "For such a disgrace he should have been stricken down to lemure status, not allowed to skulk off into the wastes of Avernus," Alicia declares angrily.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Mph. Avernus..." The bearded devil strokes it's horrible beard, "Far better than he deserves. Perhaps Zquujaj defeated him before his retreat?"
[20:48] <Alicia> "I doubt that Agares could survive an encounter with one who battled Bel to a standstill," Alicia mutters before cocking her head, "Though that was the last I heard of Zquujaj. Has he fled into exile with the demons he shamefully consorted with?"
[20:49] <Kotono> With a long look, "Were you not aware of the victory celebrations called for after Bel masterfully forced Zquujaj to retreat? The 999,999 paean recited was a work of brilliance as it described his masterstroke agasint the chaos-spawn."
[20:49] <Kotono> *999,999 word paean
[20:51] <Alicia> "We have only recently returned from another campaign outside the Hells," Alicia replies, oh so glad she never had to listen to such a dirge.
[20:52] <Kotono> "We are rather...outside of the changes," Antenora sends a wayward look to the bearded devil. "We have been unfairly deprived of hearing of Bel's glories."
[20:54] <Kotono> "In a masterstroke, his strategy entombed the demonic hordes into nine vast canyons in Avernus, slaughtering them with a strike force of devils from the air. In the glorious carnage Bel and Zquujaj faced each other! The legendary Abyss-Bane clashed against the chaos-spawn and sent him packing to the Abyss! No chaos spawn can stand against the power of Bel!"
03[20:56] * tai-evilmaylurkandsodoi is now known as tai-offtomemorial
[20:58] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia's mouth forms a hideous rictus of a smile. "Let him rut with the tanar'ri. Anyway, it is time we reported to our superiors - thank you for the illuminating conversation."
[21:00] <Kotono> Standing as well, "Hmph," Muttering as he starts to eye one blank-eyed bearded devil, your 'friend' raises it's glaive. "Time for business now."
06[21:01] * Alicia tenses warily, wondering if this signals an impending attack. If they're expecting a normal barbazu and erinyes they're going to be bitterly disappointed, though...
[21:04] <Kotono> The bearded devils trots over to the other bearded devil. It doesn't even look up as the other one slams a scroll down. "Guilty of desertion," it pronounces, "The punishment is oblivion!" As the few coherent devils look on in a mix of surprise and terror, the barbazu decapiates the blank-eyed devil! It's one smooth, easy stroke, sending it's head flying into the air!
[21:05] <Kotono> Antenora grunts, 'Come,' she sends to Alicia, 'Just a deserter. Let's go while the going is good.'
[21:06] <Alicia> Oh. Well, good for him... Alicia doesn't particularly care about internal baatezu discipline, so she readily follows Antenora out. Actually, isn't Antenora a deserter as well? Good thing nobody recognises her.
[21:07] <Kotono> Heading out, Antenora sighs briefly in the frozen-cold streets. "Ready?" she asks. "Let's go home already."
06[21:08] * Alicia takes Antenora's hand in her own and whispers, "Take us home, Marie."
[21:08] <Alicia> A command that her familiar readily obeys!
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 197." [5d100=47, 27, 34, 58, 31]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 6." [1d9=6]
[21:09] <Kotono> Howling, chilly winds batter the party! The air is a little thin as you appear in the mountains - it looks like the Galkass Mountains. No sign of shocker lizards, just rocky peaks. You stand on a narrow mountain path, only about five feet wide at most.
[21:10] <Kotono> Antenora flies up a foot or so, breathing in deeply. "So much better. How did I ever not appreciate how suffocating Hell was?"
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie happily comes out of the backpack while Alicia dispels the disguise she wears. "It was *horrible!*" the eladrin exclaims. "Even the air hurt my skin, like I was flying through a cloud of needles!"
06[21:13] * Alicia sighs. "Just a pity the effort was wasted... we'll have to figure out a better plan if we're to free those souls. Anyway, lets go home," she proceeds to teleport the group back to her house.
[21:13] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 36." [1d100=36]
[21:13] <Kotono> "Everything has to be just so. Everything has to conform. Everything that doesn't is in error and will be destroyed." Stretching as Alicia teleports them back home...OOC - Anything else on your agenda right now, Alicia?
[21:14] <Alicia> OOC: not really, no
[21:23] <Kotono> ------(Sealant Ko)--