227.2 Demedais, Seira and the Ancient Temple of Helm

[Corwin]

[21:06] <Kotono> ----(You two here, Alicia in #evil.)--
[21:09] <Kotono> After some rest and finding out that Balmuria hasn't burned down in the interum while they were off defeating evil gnomes, Seira and Demedais meet at Seira's inn in the morning. OOC: Ball's in your two's court to 'port over there or whatever.
[21:12] <Demedais> "Right. I scry the temple, you use the vision of it as a basis to teleport there?" Demedais proposes.
01[21:13] <Seira> "Or you could use my ring to take us there."
[21:14] <Demedais> "... well, sure, if you want to get all technical about it."
06[21:14] * Demedais still accepts the ring with a grin.
01[21:15] <Seira> "It's better than scrying the inanimate," Seira responds with a grin of her own.
[21:17] <Demedais> "I'm still adjusting to being able to do this sort of thing; cut me some slack." Demedais shrugs, before clasping Seira on the shoulder and focusing on the first junction room, where Desert Cthulhu broke in at the stairs!
06[21:17] * Seira snorts.
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC: Make your d100 roll for it?
[21:18] <Demedais> roll 1d100
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: I'd call that seen casually, which is still a flub.
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 9." [1d10=9]
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 1." [1d10=1]
[21:19] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 1." [1d9=1]
01[21:21] <Seira> roll 1d10+10 I guess we'll need this after all
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10+10 I guess we'll need this after all and gets 14." [1d10=4]
[21:22] <Kotono> Woosh! AAAACK! You appear on the surface! Further, you appear in the middle of a fearsome sandstorm! Massive waves of sand are blowing all around you, the wind in danger of immediately knocking the two of you over!  You can barely see anything but the raging sandstorm alla round you!
06[21:23] * Demedais immediately throws up a wall of boiling water around themselves.
06[21:23] * Seira grabs Demedais and thinks of home, asking, "Ready to go back and try tomorrow?"
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Make a concentration check, Deme?
[21:24] <Demedais> "By the..." Demedais curses!
[21:24] <Demedais> roll 1d20+@3
06[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+@3 and gets Error: Numeric values only." [1d20=15]
[21:24] <Demedais> OOC: 38.
[21:25] <Kotono> Despite the maelstrom going around them, Demedais somehow manages to get the wall up, his concentration unbroken! Massive chunks of sand, like a steady stream of wet sand-mud, pass through it and land around them! The two are rapidly getting hit by flying wet sand, but it's still ar espite from the wind and the flaying, horrible sandstorm outside!
06[21:25] * Demedais also shields Seira from the wet sand-mud. "Let's go, yeah! Damnit..."
06[21:25] * Seira doesn't need further incentive!
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:26] <Kotono> Woosh! The party returns home to Seira's intact, albiet covered with dozens fo splatters of clingy wet sand! Seira's inn has been returned to in quick time.
[21:26] <Demedais> "Augh." Demedais curses again.
01[21:27] <Seira> "Demedais," Seira tells him quietly. "Try targetting the place you've spent the most time at. Since you said you're new at this, you might as well know that the greater the focus, the better your chances of getting there."
[21:28] <Demedais> "I fought the desert squid from hell there!" Demedais curses. "The spell distinguishes that much?"
01[21:29] <Seira> "You know how the gestures help you focus your spells? It's a bit like that."
[21:30] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais says after a minute. "There's only one more room more familiar, but it's pretty disjointed from the rest. Still."
01[21:30] <Seira> "I have the spell of Dimensional Door, so even if it's cut off, give me the direction from there and we'll proceed."
[21:31] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais nods at this.
[21:31] <Kotono> Thus, the next day comes. The two meet again in Seira's Inn without incident. Again they are ready to go, waiting to hopefully reach the temple successfully.
[21:31] <Demedais> After a day passes, Demedais tries again, hopefully with less idiocy!
[21:31] <Demedais> roll 1d100
06[21:31] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d100 and gets 71." [1d100=71]
[21:35] <Kotono> Woosh! The two blinka nd vanish, appearing just where Demedais wishes them to be!
01[21:36] <Seira> "Where to, now?"
[21:38] <Demedais> "Oh, good." Demedais muses. "Two places. One's an armory - I'd like to have that place looked over at least, though I will likely return multiple items back here once we're done. There are, however, apparently items of potent chaos as well, which I'd like to try and purify if I can..." A pause. "Once we deal with that, the library is the other destination. I need to ask Guardian where that is, though."
[21:39] <Demedais> "Oh, and a side note? All the doors are trapped, apparently flagged to only allow followers of Helm through. You're with me, so it should be okay... but let me open doors, just in case."
01[21:40] <Seira> "Helm and I are on decent terms! But sure, it's your secret ancient temple and all."
06[21:40] * Seira ponders a bit. "Purify Chaos, though? That's weird."
[21:40] <Demedais> "'Straighten out' has more syllables.
[21:41] <Demedais> This being said, he leads Seira to the armory!
01[21:41] <Seira> "And how would you fight devils?" Seira asks curiously, following.
[21:43] <Demedais> "Ideally? Hit them until they shut up. I don't have as many tools in my metaphorical toolbox as you and Alicia do." Demedais replies.
06[21:44] * Seira is amused by the answer, content to make the rest of the short trip in silence.
[21:44] <Demedais> OOC: Deme first checks the middle two doors (Weapons and Armor), looking through for magic that might be useful for the temple.
06[21:49] * Seira will boost her skills with Heroism before assisting Demedais, naturally.
[21:59] <Kotono> The first door gone in is weapons. Inside is a fairly large room with mounted weapons ofa ll types about, as well as a few steel storage chests. While some are rusted, some look to be in decent shape still. Many bear the symbols of Helm over them.
06[22:00] * Demedais looks around for magic, not terribly surprised at the degredation.
06[22:00] * Seira follows Demedais's lead!
[22:02] <Kotono> There are three magical weapons that are still intact: A greatsword with the eye of helm at it's hilt, a morning star made of mithral, and a double sword with tapering blades and perfect symmetry.
01[22:03] <Seira> "If you're going to identify them, I would suggest starting with the morning star," Seira muses. "Want to gather them up and move on?"
06[22:03] * Demedais nods and picks those three up, putting them in his bag before nodding to Seira.
06[22:08] * Demedais then heads to the armor storage.
[22:18] <Kotono> Taking the three weapons, the two head to armor. Here they find two surviving, magical suits of armor. One is an ornate full plate, with a visored helmet and regal plume atop it. The other is a war-scarred set of chain mail. The links gleam, save for where weapon impacts dull the metal into a gray shade.
06[22:21] * Demedais examines these, too, before hefting them along as well. "Next for the chaotic stuff, I guess."
01[22:21] <Seira> "Fun times!"
[22:23] <Kotono> The two go to the stairway! It leads down several flights of stairs. At the end you come to a massive, unrusted door of iron. It's ten feet tall, looking about as solid as your average mountain.
01[22:24] <Seira> "So you think the traps won't target you?" Seira asks when it is within sight.
[22:25] <Demedais> "...most shouldn't." Demedais replies. "Can't hurt to have you check for traps on this, though? I hope."
01[22:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+25
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+25 and gets 27." [1d20=2]
01[22:25] <Seira> "At your service!" Seira announces, searching.
01[22:26] <Seira> "Seems clear! Which might also mean it's a really good trap."
[22:26] <Demedais> "Eh." Demedais shrugs. "If it is I'll take the punishment. Stand back." Once Seira's 30 feet away he opens the door!
06[22:26] * Seira has no problems with that.
[22:29] <Kotono> Demedais opens the door! Instead of a creak, a strange word is said! OOC: No effect on Demedais. Make a will save at -2, Seira?
01[22:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 24." [1d20=6]
[22:30] <Kotono> The word of power is a potent one, leaving Seira feeling dizzied! However, she's not much more than that, only a momentary disorientation.
[22:31] <Demedais> "Hm?" Demedais says, glancing back at Seira. "You alright?"
01[22:31] <Seira> "I'm fine!" Seira calls out, holding her head. "Ah, the world, it is spinning~"
[22:31] <Demedais> "...Right." Demedais comments, opening the door and looking for chaos and magic.
06[22:32] * Seira joins Demedais in the search once she gets her headache under control.
[22:32] <Kotono> In this room there are several heavy, metallic, leaden looking coffins lying on the ground. None of them radiate magic or chaos, and each has an obvious, big lock on them.
06[22:33] * Demedais eyes the coffins. "I'm pretty sure I read it correctly..."
03[22:34] * Sierra_DeadDeadDeadsky is now known as Sierra_StillAlive
01[22:34] <Seira> "Well. Want me to check the first for traps and all that?"
[22:35] <Demedais> "Sure." Demedais shrugs. "I don't have keys, so."
01[22:35] <Seira> OOC: 10 for 35 on the nearest one!
01[22:36] <Seira> "Yep, trapped," Seira announces. "Stay back and I'll see if I can do something about it?"
06[22:36] * Demedais shrugs and steps back, nodding.
01[22:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 35." [1d20=8]
01[22:37] <Seira> OOC: DD
[22:37] <Kotono> Seira fiddles with the device. She can't quite undo it, but she doesn't trip it by mistake.
01[22:37] <Seira> "I see how it is," she says bitterly, and tries again!
01[22:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 32." [1d20=5]
[22:38] <Kotono> Seira works! Her hand slightly slips!  A cube of lines and power bursts around her! OOC: Will save, Seira?
01[22:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: 10 damage.
[22:38] <Kotono> The spell leaves Seira rocked and staggered, but only minorly injured on the whole.
01[22:38] <Seira> "I'm okay!" Seira repeats, checking to see if the trap reset itself.
[22:39] <Kotono> The trap reset.
06[22:39] * Demedais returns back to a watching stance.
06[22:40] * Seira retreats to about forty feet from the coffin. "You can trigger that one without worry, Demedais. Want to try it?"
[22:41] <Demedais> "... uh." Demedais glances to Seira. "You do realize what I do to traps is probably about the same as what I do to devils? But... I can try, I... ... yeah, something tells me it'd not work at all, but it's worth a shot.
01[22:42] <Seira> "It's a spell that doesn't harm people like you, so unless the device is more complicated than I see, it should be fine!"
[22:42] <Demedais> "...right." Demedais shrugs, before trying to unlock the coffin!
[22:43] <Kotono> The lock is difficult looking and you lack an obvious key. Opening it will require brute strength or something else.
01[22:44] <Seira> "How about I try again and we see if anything happens to you?" Seira offers cheerfully.
[22:44] <Demedais> "Yeah, I don't know how to unlock anything like this." Demedais grimaces. "I can ask Guardian if there's a set of keys anywhere."
01[22:45] <Seira> "It's more fun this way!" Seira declares, going to attempt to disable the trap once more.
01[22:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 37." [1d20=10]
[22:45] <Demedais> "...right." Demedais says bemusedly.
[22:46] <Kotono> Seira still can't quite get it. She gets closer, but no success.
01[22:46] <Seira> When at first you don't succeed....
01[22:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 28." [1d20=1]
[22:47] <Kotono> Uh oh! Seira mis-steps! Another grid of energy appears around the two! OOC: Deme's not effected regardless of SR. Will, Seira?
01[22:47] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[22:48] <Kotono> OOC: Another 10 damage.
06[22:48] * Seira grunts. "This just became personal, you realize," she declares to the trap.
01[22:48] <Seira> roll 1d20+27
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+27 and gets 47." [1d20=20]
[22:48] <Kotono> Ouch! The energy passes through Demedais harmlessly ,but Seira's zapped again! This try, however, safely disarms the trap!
[22:48] <Demedais> "Having fun yet?"
06[22:48] * Seira checks it for traps once more, and then happily tries to navigate the lock. "Lots!"
[22:49] <Demedais> "Oh, good. I'd be dismayed if you weren't."
[22:49] <Kotono> Seira fiddles with the lock the first time. No success on that first effort, unable to spring it.
06[22:50] * Seira laughs, and tries a few more times.
01[22:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 23." [1d20=6]
01[22:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+17
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 and gets 30." [1d20=13]
[22:50] <Kotono> Click! Third try's a charm, the lock undone.
06[22:50] * Seira gestures at the coffin. "Go ahead!"
[22:51] <Demedais> "I do have to admire my spiritual ancestor's dedications to sealing these off, and almost feel bad letting these loose. Even if it is to make them usable by our group." Demedais shrugs, before lifting up the lid.
[22:52] <Kotono> Inside is a glaive. It somewhat resembles a hated weapon: The armament of a Bearded Devil. However, this one has eyes all up and down the haft, eyes of blood red and shit brown and snot yellow, eyes that constantly look about.
06[22:52] * Demedais then considers. "It also may be in our best interests to- ..."
01[22:52] <Seira> Is it EVIL?
[22:53] <Demedais> "... well." Demedais says. "I'm going to vote we deal with this as we're leaving, and -not- bother with the other coffins. Let's just do these one at a time - the rest should be safe enough here."
01[22:53] <Seira> "It is somewhat evil!" Seira pronounces. "Want Lagann to carry it so you don't have to touch it?"
[22:54] <Demedais> "Once we're ready to go, sure. Not sure either of us, uh, want to touch it." Demedais comments.
01[22:55] <Seira> "I do have Telekinesis prepared for just this reason, if you're afraid of the effect on Lagann," Seira tells him. "But yes, let's go see the library first?"
06[22:56] * Demedais nods, and leads Seira to the long hallway, walking through it before stopping about twenty feet before the door. "Wait here. Not sure how the defenses in here would react to you."
01[22:56] <Seira> "Want to ask before we leave?" Seira wonders out loud. "If we use this temple as a hub for our gate network, it would be a pain if the doors zapped me every damn time."
[22:57] <Demedais> "Might be wise, yes. Guardian at least would be able to tell, I'd guess?" Demedais nods before opening the door and looking in.

[Corwin]

[21:04] <Kotono> ----(Sinister Ko Glare)--
03[21:04] * tailunch is now known as Demedais
[21:04] <Kotono> <Seira> Is it EVIL?
[21:04] <Kotono> <Demedais> "... well." Demedais says. "I'm going to vote we deal with this as we're leaving, and -not- bother with the other coffins. Let's just do these one at a time - the rest should be safe enough here."
[21:04] <Kotono> <Seira> "It is somewhat evil!" Seira pronounces. "Want Lagann to carry it so you don't have to touch it?"
[21:04] <Kotono> <Demedais> "Once we're ready to go, sure. Not sure either of us, uh, want to touch it." Demedais comments.
[21:04] <Kotono> <Seira> "I do have Telekinesis prepared for just this reason, if you're afraid of the effect on Lagann," Seira tells him. "But yes, let's go see the library first?"
[21:04] <Kotono> * Demedais nods, and leads Seira to the long hallway, walking through it before stopping about twenty feet before the door. "Wait here. Not sure how the defenses in here would react to you."
[21:04] <Kotono> <Seira> "Want to ask before we leave?" Seira wonders out loud. "If we use this temple as a hub for our gate network, it would be a pain if the doors zapped me every damn time."
[21:04] <Kotono> <Demedais> "Might be wise, yes. Guardian at least would be able to tell, I'd guess?" Demedais nods before opening the door and looking in.
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Going to the large chamber where you killed desert cht-chan?
[21:05] <Demedais> OOC: Going in there, yes, since we just walked through the hallway leading there.
[21:08] <Kotono> Doing so, the two go to open the door! The remnants of the battle are mostly destroyed and gone - the hole in the floor has some repairs done to it. The metallic angel-figure stands in the circle, waiting impassively.
06[21:08] * Seira gives the angel a wave from behind Demedais.
[21:09] <Demedais> "Thank you for this." Demedais pauses as he looks at the patches. "This is Seira. Though not a direct worshipper of Helm, she has received a blessing from him once before, and wishes to assist in the restoration of this place." A pause as he looks to the eye-security system. "I take it the protections here do not disagree with this..."
[21:16] <Kotono> "She has not been assailed," He answers, "You may do what you wish."
[21:17] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais nods greatfully, before gesturing to one of the doors based on what he recalls from the past conversations. "Through there leads to the library, correct?"
06[21:17] * Seira grins. "If it's for Helm, helping is fine! He's okay."
[21:23] <Kotono> "It does. Go to the Wing of Eternal Worship," Guardian says, "Helm travel with you.
[21:23] <Kotono> "
[21:23] <Demedais> "And may he watch over you and this temple." Demedais nods respectfully, before leading Seira onward!
06[21:24] * Seira gives the guardian another wave, before following cheerfully, as if she hadn't been zapped twice already by annoying traps!
[21:27] <Kotono> Heading through another door safely, the two come to a long hall. There are doors about here, and a 4 way juncture at the middle. AT the far end is a stairway going both up and down.
[21:30] <Demedais> "...How many bets that I don't remember which way from here?" Demedais says after a moment, before looking into the first door on the left.
[21:31] <Kotono> This room has several bookshelves and prayer benches. It's filled with various books on wooden bookshelves. Most of them look aged and ancient.
01[21:31] <Seira> "I am actually quite ready to fight fearsome beasts Helm locked away for no reason in temple forgotten by time," Seira reports, examining the books.
[21:32] <Demedais> "Too late, Pollyanna already beat up Guardian once." Demedais notes idly, looking over the titles on the books quickly for anything related to the defenses of the temple or ancient lore.
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: What languages do you speak, Deme?
01[21:33] <Seira> OOC: For me: Common, Elven, Draconic, Sylvan, Orc, Celestial, Gnome, Dwarven, Abyssal, Infernal, Aquan, Ignan, Auran, Terran
[21:34] <Demedais> OOC: Common, Celestial, Gnome, Infernal, Draconic
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: Y eah, Seira can help cover anyway, so it's moot. Right.
[21:35] <Kotono> Here are books in various languages: Common, Elven, Dwarven, Orc, Sylvan and other mortal tongues are represented, as well as Celestial and Infernal. They are all titled things like 'The wisdom of law' or 'The Scriptures of the High Watcher'.
[21:36] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais plucks out of the the books titled 'The Scriptures of the High Watcher' in Common, before commenting, "Let's check another room."
01[21:36] <Seira> "I might cry if I'm forced to read these, so sure," Seira responds honestly.
[21:37] <Demedais> "Heh." Demedais then leaves and tries the next door down the hallway!
[21:39] <Kotono> The next door leads into a room. Here a statue of a man in armor resides, rotten, ancient pillows on the floor in front of it.
06[21:40] * Seira looks the room over for traps, and then for things of interest!
06[21:40] * Demedais frowns at this a bit. "One would think they'd label rooms. Let's leave this one alone." Demedais then tries the next one, intending to save the staircase for last!
06[21:41] * Demedais waits on Seira's usual check.
01[21:41] <Seira> OOC: I'll take 10 for 35 on each
06[21:42] * Demedais idly examines the statue to try and identify it, though he has his suspicions.
[21:42] <Kotono> There's no traps. As Seira gets close to the statue, it's lips move! It speaks in Common. "Listen well, all that come. Listen well to the wisdom of te Watcher, passed down from the House of the Triad to enlighten mortalkind."
06[21:43] * Seira tilts her head. "Sure! I have a few minutes. Can you tell me the wisdom of the Watcher, please?"
06[21:43] * Demedais nods slightly, his guess confirmed as he glances to Seira in amusement.
[21:46] <Kotono> The next ten minutes are spent in listening to the statue speak. It's the wisdom of the faith of Helm, spoken well and true. It's a basic encapulation of the faith, with a few interesting points. It mentions on how the Watcher can return even those that have passed to this word. It also mentions Torm in a positive light.
06[21:47] * Seira questions the wisdom of Helm. Privately.
[21:47] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais says politely, before leading Seira out. "Older statue, I'd suspect."
06[21:48] * Seira nods, and takes out a bit of chalk, writing on the door 'Senile Statue' in Common. "I'll go mark the prayer room now, okay?"
06[21:49] * Demedais eyes Seira with some amusement, before gently erasing the Senile part. "With the words 'Prayer Room', sure."
06[21:50] * Seira frowns, but substitutes Senile for Really Old, before labeling the previous room.
06[21:50] * Demedais rubs head slightly. "Let's move on, then?"
01[21:51] <Seira> "I'm ready!" Seira announces, holding the chalk up like a weapon. "Come morning I'll label them magically!"
[21:51] <Demedais> "Don't worry about that too much. Chalk will do." Demedais comments wryly, before trying the next room!
01[21:53] <Seira> "I'm a perfectionist," Seira says brightly, peering into the room over Demedais's shoulder, tiptoeing.
[21:54] <Kotono> The next room is another prayer room. It's like the first room on a glance, even to the book titles.
06[21:55] * Seira spends a minute checking the books just to be sure.
[21:55] <Demedais> "Right." Demedais says, quickly checking into the next room on while Seira looks over the prayer room if she wants or not.
[21:57] <Kotono> The books are titled much the same. They all look like religious works. The next room is a smaller chapel, an alter to Helm still pristine after all these years. A helmet made of shiny silver sits atop it.
06[21:57] * Seira labels the room as 'Another Prayer Room' and catches up to Demedais.
06[21:59] * Demedais looks over the room quickly again. "As much as I'd like to linger and examine everything, I don't see much point when it's not our mission here."
06[22:00] * Seira shrugs. "Just being thorough, and it doesn't take more than a few minutes." She gestures at the helmet. "Since silver would have eroded by now, that would be magical?"
[22:02] <Demedais> "Probably." Demedais says, glancing toward it. "Not sure how I feel about removing it from here, though."
01[22:02] <Seira> "It's fine if you place it on your head?" Seira suggests rather bluntly. "If the guardian or Helm himself don't want you to, you'll know."
06[22:03] * Demedais glances to Seira with some bemusement, before glancing to the helmet again. "Look over the room while I think?"
06[22:04] * Seira marks it as 'Chapel' and does so, snickering to an image only she can see.
01[22:04] <Seira> OOC: Searches for 35, again?
[22:06] <Demedais> After a few moments, Demedais takes his own helm off and advances to the silver one, looking it over with one hand placed on its top.
06[22:06] * Seira points out the false back in the altar. "Probably where the good potions were kept," she mentions. "You could store them anew if you'd like."
06[22:08] * Demedais glances to Seira. "Give me a moment." After another second of silence, "Helm, I promise you that this temple will live yet again, as will this world - as your sword, I will carve out a new life for this plane."
06[22:09] * Seira keeps her silence, merely nodding at Demedais's pledge.
06[22:13] * Demedais nods slightly. "We leave the helmet here." With that, he circles around back and opens the false back at Seira's instruction.
[22:14] <Kotono> The false back has several empty bottles. IT's big enough to store several more if one wished.
06[22:15] * Demedais nods slightly, before pulling out a pencil and noting the presence of the false back with a slight mark. "Let's continue on."
01[22:15] <Seira> "Sure. See? I told you he'd let you know if he didn't want the helm to be used!" Seira says, skipping along.
[22:16] <Demedais> "Indeed." Demedais notes wryly, redonning his own helmet.
01[22:16] <Seira> "So it waits for an even greater hero? Did you just get snubbed?"
[22:17] <Demedais> "I believe it waits for another high priest of the temple." Demedais replies.
01[22:17] <Seira> "So it's a uniform," Seira deduces, nodding. "Helm's clergy can be so strange. We just use vestments and medallions and stuff."
[22:19] <Demedais> "I'm hoping that this enterprise we're planning between our temples helps dispel these, ah, strange feelings." Demedais notes. "Why, while in Victoria one of the followers of Helm in the temple there thought the Temple of Waukeen was entirely money-grubbing."
01[22:21] <Seira> "That's an important aspect of what we do," Seira admits, "but hardly all of our work. Plus the reason behind that behavior is also important. It is, after all, a fact that you need gold to accomplish anything worthwhile, so having it is no sin."
[22:22] <Demedais> "Hardly disagree with that, but I pointed out - just like you did - that the attitude towards it was more relevant than the action in most cases." Demedais replies. "It's somewhat like our case - we are a faith dedicated to protection, thus our notes of rank tend to be built into our armor."
06[22:24] * Demedais idly advances to the next room as they talk.
[22:24] <Kotono> Thus the two approach the stairs. The stairs continue up and down from here.
01[22:24] <Seira> "Figures." Seira nods. "You'll find us easy to work with for the most time. We're pretty comfortable with diversity. None of that 'worship me or die' nonsense, you know?"
06[22:25] * Demedais nods. "In many ways, the same for Helm. We protect. Just no knocking on the helmets, I did that too often as a teenager."
01[22:26] <Seira> "You'll have to do something about the statues, though," Seira says a bit more seriously, taking the lead and looking out for trapped areas. "Having impressionables listen to the virtues of Torm? Just no."
[22:27] <Demedais> "Agreed. Perhaps how they were made will also have to be looked into." Demedais seems a bit morose, but shrugs. "Let's try up first."
06[22:28] * Seira has no problem with that!
06[22:28] * Demedais nods and advances upward!
[22:30] <Kotono> Upwards! You head upstairs! The stairs lead into the center of a room - it looks like a large library. Above, lights shine down light: Crystalline deposits forming a dome above, white light coming down. It's patterned into the gauntlet and eye of Helm in the center. About, ancient books likes in repose, so many of them.
[22:30] <Demedais> "Here we are." Demedais notes. "Start looking through?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "Right," Seira agrees, all business-like. "Help me check for magic while I sort and appraise everything? I'll make a catalogue in Common. Or Draconic, if you want it to be more private and less accessible."
[22:35] <Demedais> "Draconic works." Demedais nods, casting Detect Magic. "Being a temple to Helm, it's probably decently sorted already - use the chalk to mark bookshelves, and get anything related to the teleportation circle, the statues, or the defenses built here?"
01[22:37] <Seira> "Your wish is my command~"
[22:37] <Demedais> "So you are aiming to become half-genie?"
01[22:38] <Seira> "I never have~"
[22:38] <Demedais> "I see." Demedais comments dryly, getting to work.
[23:07] <Demedais> OOC: Providing support in Seira's actions, taking 10 so it's only +1 or so but hey.
[23:08] <Kotono> This is a long, time consuming task. You spend long hours at this: For with this many books, time and sorting, nothing comes quickly. There is still organization to it, which does help. By the end, you have the following:
[23:08] <Kotono> Two books on the teleportation circles.
[23:08] <Kotono> Three books on the statues.
[23:08] <Kotono> Two books on the defenses.
[23:08] <Kotono> Further, you find the following:
[23:08] <Kotono> A large section on theology. Its' dominated by Helm and the House of the Triad, but certain other faiths have represenations as well.
[23:08] <Kotono> Several treatises on threats beyond the world. There's one called 'Tyrants of the Pit', 'The Endless Screaming Abyss', 'Primal Chaos and those that bow to it', and other such tomes.
[23:08] <Kotono> Several books on military tactics. They emphasize using magic and strength at arms together.
[23:08] <Kotono> A large section on crafting arms and armor, including a few on magical craft.
[23:08] <Kotono> A vast section of battle and duty records. On a glance, most of the names don't mean anything to you.
[23:08] <Kotono> Several old maps, looking so ancient that they'll crumble apart if you touch them at all.
[23:08] <Kotono> Some books crumble away as you read or touch them, lost simply by the times catching up with them. Others endure better. There's only one magical book you find. Seira finds a little office tucked away, including a metal box covered with dim runes. Any magic to it seems to be lost, able to be opened easily. Inside sits a book that radiates magic.
01[23:10] <Seira> The ancient documents will be properly copied with Amanuensis so that their contents will be preserved!
01[23:11] <Seira> But past that, it's time for her to check the book itself for any magical traps on it, casting Detect Magic and Heroism once more, and if it is safe to open it!
06[23:13] * Demedais nods slightly to Seira, packing up the book on threats beyond the Material Plane, the books on tactics for his own interest, and the books on magical armor-crafting.
[23:13] <Kotono> Seira opens it! It doesn't immediately strike her dead on opening it. SHe can read it if she likes.
06[23:14] * Seira intends to study those runes later, but for now, the contents of the book interest her. Once she knows which school the magic upon the book is.
01[23:17] <Seira> Both of Seira's eyebrows disappear into her hairline. She glances at what passes for the book's title.
06[23:17] * Demedais heads over to Seira at her pausing. "What is it?"
[23:17] <Kotono> It doesn't have a title on the front cover. You could look into the book if you like to see if there's one.
01[23:18] <Seira> "Magic I can't identify. And I could identify the absolutely overwhelming magic cast by the gods." Frowning, Seira decides to read the book after all, starting at the beginning.
[23:18] <Kotono> OOC: What are your class levels, Seira?
[23:20] <Kotono> OOC: Make a will save, -10?
01[23:20] <Seira> roll 1d20+10
06[23:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[23:24] <Kotono> You don't understand this. You can't understand this. This book is not for you. This is not your book. This book defies your mind. IT is something beyond you. You are scared. No. You are terrified. This book is against you nad everything you've spent long night studying arcane tomes to learn. It fills you with feelings of inadequacy. You are not sufficient. You have been rejected. OOC: You are shaken until further notice and confused for 10 rou
[23:24] <Kotono> OOC: Gah, meant to be PMed to Seira.
01[23:25] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
06[23:27] * Seira mechanically points her hand at Demedais even as the book drops to the floor, fiery rays striking at the paladin!
01[23:27] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 26." [1d20=10]
[23:28] <Kotono> The rays of fire streak out, but fizzle against Demedais! OOC: Since you rolled to hit Deme, let's do intiative after Deme freaks/reacts?
06[23:29] * Demedais jumps back at the rays, before eyeing Seira. "Is this some sort of a bad joke?"
01[23:29] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[23:30] <Kotono> OOC: Initiative, you two. That can count as you roll next round, Seira.
01[23:30] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 I'm faster?
06[23:30] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 I'm faster? and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[23:31] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 probably
06[23:31] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 probably and gets 2." [1d20=1]
03[23:31] * Kotono changes topic to 'Seira>DEME MIKOCHAN!'
06[23:31] * Seira flees!
[23:32] <Kotono> Seira runs out of the office as fast as her draconic feet will take her! She runds back out into the library, leaving Demedais in the office alone! OOC: Deme?
[23:33] <Demedais> "...uh." Demedais pauses, glancing to the book. Putting it back in the drawer quickly, he then pursues Seira, haste on his boots!
[23:33] <Kotono> Demedais runs out into the hall! He get sout, finding Seira 30 feet ahead! She's running between a pair of bookshelves! OOC: Go Seira and roll?
01[23:33] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 5." [1d100=5]
06[23:34] * Seira freezes in her tracks, drawing her sword and stalking back into the office.
[23:34] <Kotono> Seira runs back to the office, hurrying along! OOC: Demedais?
06[23:35] * Demedais blinks, watching Seira pass him by. Running back to the office, he grabs Seira by the shoulder! "What's gotten into you, damnit?!"
[23:35] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, you're up. Roll.
01[23:35] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 7." [1d100=7]
[23:37] <Kotono> The office is fairly small. An ancient chair and desk are here, s well as the metal box. It's maybe 10 by 10 feet? Pretty plainb esides that.
01[23:38] <Seira> Grabbing the Resort with both hands, Seira brings it down on the metal box with all her strength!
01[23:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 SMITE
06[23:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 SMITE and gets 21." [1d20=3]
[23:38] <Kotono> OOC: You hit the metal box. Roll damage?
01[23:39] <Seira> roll 3d8+9+6d8
06[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+9+6d8 and gets 52." [3d8=3, 6, 7][6d8=3, 7, 3, 3, 5, 6]
[23:41] <Kotono> The metal box is ripped into, nearly blown apart by the concussive force of the smite! The book lies there, exposed! OOCL ?You still have the rest of yoru routine, Seira?
01[23:41] <Seira> OOC: I moved 10 ft to hit it, so I'll attack it next round?
[23:41] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Deme?
01[23:42] <Seira> "THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK!"
[23:43] <Demedais> "Goddamnit...! Seira, calm yourself!" Seeing no other option, and quickly focusing himself, Demedais quickly attempts to restrain Seira! OOC: Grapple, she gets AoO but Protection Devotion goes up.
01[23:43] <Seira> OOC: Not taking AoOs against those not attacking me
[23:43] <Kotono> OOC: You can AoO if you want, Seira.
01[23:44] <Seira> OOC: No, I really can't
[23:44] <Kotono> OOC: ...eh, fair enough there since you're confused and fixiated. Grapple you two?
01[23:44] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[23:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[23:45] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19
06[23:45] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 and gets 37." [1d20=18]
[23:46] <Kotono> Demedais grabs Seira in a full nelson, restraining her back! OOC: You're grappling her now. Seira, you're up, roll?
01[23:46] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 51." [1d100=51]
01[23:46] <Seira> Crying out incoherently, Seira tries to wriggle away!
01[23:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 escape artist
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 escape artist and gets 20." [1d20=1]
[23:49] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 no
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 no and gets 20." [1d20=1]
01[23:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 escape artist x2!
06[23:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 escape artist x2! and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[23:50] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 no x2?
06[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 no x2? and gets 26." [1d20=7]
[23:50] <Kotono> OOC: Same mods, to rolloff.
06[23:50] * Seira escapes! And runs away!
[23:51] <Kotono> Seira slips out of the grapple and flees 30 feet out of the office and into the shelves again! OOC: Deme.
[23:51] <Demedais> "Goddamnit, Seira, this stopped being funny thirty seconds ago!" Demedais hollers, quickly catching up to her with hasted boots and attempting to grapple her again!
[23:51] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 grapple check?
06[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 grapple check? and gets 35." [1d20=16]
01[23:52] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 spellruin
06[23:52] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 spellruin and gets 36." [1d20=18]
06[23:52] * Seira swings her sword in panic at the approaching Demedais!
[23:53] <Demedais> OOC: AC 43, attack fails, go ahead and try to resist grapple, I dare you?
[23:55] <Demedais> roll 1d20+20 melee attack check? (+1 Haste)
06[23:55] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+20 melee attack check? (+1 Haste) and gets 25." [1d20=5]
01[23:55] <Seira> OOC: Hits, I can't resist the grapple
[23:56] <Kotono> Catching Seira as she runs out, Demedais is able to wrap around her waist and hold her fast again! OOC: SEira?
01[23:56] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[23:56] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 73." [1d100=73]
01[23:57] <Seira> Snarling, Seira tries to call for the strongest orb she can conjure!
01[23:58] <Seira> roll 1d20+5 concentration
06[23:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 concentration and gets 17." [1d20=12]
Session Time: Wed Apr 08 00:00:00 2009
[00:02] <Kotono> Alicia tries to summon magic, but her concentration breaks and the spell fizzles! OOC: Deme?
[00:02] <Kotono> *Seira
[00:04] <Demedais> "Seira! Calm. DOWN!" Demedais all but bellows into her ear, before sighing. "Damnit, damnit, damnit..." With this, he tries to pin Seira and keep her from acting!
[00:04] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 opposed grapple check to pin
06[00:04] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 opposed grapple check to pin and gets 33." [1d20=14]
[00:05] <Kotono> OOC: Seira?
01[00:05] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 I will never forgive you
06[00:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 I will never forgive you and gets 16." [1d20=2]
[00:05] <Demedais> "Once you've calmed down, nod your head for yes." Demedais growls.
01[00:06] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 24." [1d100=24]
06[00:06] * Seira weeps brokenly, pinned down and helpless.
06[00:08] * Demedais growls. "Damnit, Seira, compose yourself!"
[00:08] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 maintain pin.
06[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 maintain pin. and gets 28." [1d20=9]
01[00:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+14
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
01[00:09] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[00:09] <Kotono> Demedais maintains the pin, keeping Seira kept down and safe! OOC: Seira, you're up again.
06[00:12] * Seira struggles mightily!
01[00:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 escape
06[00:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 escape and gets 37." [1d20=18]
[00:13] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 maintain grapple? can you even escape while immobilized in a pin?
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 maintain grapple? can you even escape while immobilized in a pin? and gets 33." [1d20=14]
01[00:13] <Seira> OOC: I escape the pin, now we're grappling, whee
01[00:13] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 21." [1d100=21]
01[00:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+19 more escape
06[00:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+19 more escape and gets 36." [1d20=17]
01[00:14] <Seira> OOC: -5 to this?
[00:15] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 maintain grapple
06[00:15] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 maintain grapple and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[00:15] <Kotono> Seira struggles mightly! Somehow she manages to escape out, wiggling away and freeing hersel ffrom Demedais! OOC: Deme?
06[00:15] * Seira bravely escapes Demedais's grasp!
[00:16] <Demedais> Which, of course, is an error Demedais tries valiantly to rectify, letting Seira attack him as he tries to restrain her again!
[00:16] <Kotono> OOC: AoOing, Seira? Can you?
01[00:16] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 maim
06[00:17] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 maim and gets 29." [1d20=11]
01[00:17] <Seira> OOC: This round, yes
[00:17] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+6 Law Devotion) melee touch attack
06[00:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+6 Law Devotion) melee touch attack and gets 27." [1d20=1]
06[00:17] * Seira shies away from Demedais's touch, curling in on herself and continuing to weep.
[00:18] <Kotono> Demedais reaches in, but somehow Seira evades him again, slipping out of his reach! OOC: Seira? Is this your last round?
01[00:18] <Seira> OOC: No, next one
[00:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, weeping this round. Deme?
[00:18] <Demedais> "Forthaloveuv..." Demedaisn slurs angrily, trying to restrain Seira again!
[00:18] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+6 Law Devotion) melee touch attack
06[00:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+6 Law Devotion) melee touch attack and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[00:19] <Kotono> OOC: Grapples?
01[00:19] <Seira> roll 1d20+14 of course
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+14 of course and gets 17." [1d20=3]
[00:19] <Demedais> roll 1d20+19 grapples!
06[00:19] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+19 grapples! and gets 30." [1d20=11]
01[00:20] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[00:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 14." [1d100=14]
[00:20] <Kotono> Demedais has Seira again, wrapped tight around her! OOC: Seira?
06[00:21] * Seira becomes deathly still. "Where are you touching?" she asks Demedais quietly.
[00:21] <Demedais> "Restraining your arms because you're running around like a madwoman and attempting to kill me!" Demedais replies hotly.
06[00:23] * Seira twists around to put her face next to Demedais's, nose to nose. "What is this attempting business?" she asks him snidely. "Are you doubting my ability to kill you quickly and efficiently?"
[00:24] <Demedais> "Given you just tried for about a minute?" Demedais says, letting go for now as she seems actually coherent here. "If you used proper tactics as I know you can, you're right, it wouldn't be an issue. But flailing proved ineffective in the extreme."
06[00:26] * Seira sheathes her sword, suddenly sulking. "That book is an eyesore, Demedais. Just go and read it, it would probably tell you how great you are. After all, it already established who is the failure, here."
[00:27] <Demedais> "Now do I want to know why reading the book-... I see, another faith-based test." Demedais grunts, all the energy seeming to flow out of his body at this. "Right. I'll take the book, we'll deal with it later."
01[00:29] <Seira> "Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'm only good enough to sort out his stuff but when that's done Helm just shits on me and breaks my mind. Fuck that, enough fiends did it already." Seira storms out of the library.
[00:31] <Demedais> "..." Demedais grimaces, before looking up to the ceiling. "Laughing?" Despite this, he grabs the texts on the teleportation circles, statues and defenses, as well as the enchanted book, before following Seira out.
[00:32] <Kotono> OOC: You two done here or is there more?
[00:32] <Demedais> OOC: Aside from reading through the books we've retrieved, and heading back to grab the weapon of eyes for rectification or destruction, not really?
01[00:33] <Seira> OOC: Let's say I looked/will look at the working portal
[00:33] <Demedais> OOC: Oh, right. Check the portal on the way out.
[00:34] <Kotono> OOC: Looking at anything in particular on it, Seira?
01[00:34] <Seira> OOC: Studying it, whether it has defenses, what activates it, if it's one way, the works
01[00:35] <Seira> OOC: I could return with Analyze Portal and such later

[Corwin]

[21:48] <Kotono> ----(Ko)--
02[22:03] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@141.218.15.220) Quit (asdfgfdsa)
[22:25] <Kotono> Okay, so you're going to cast analyze portal on the temple portal that's supposed to go to Lake Bural, Seira?
01[22:25] <Seira> Let's do this thing
[22:26] <Kotono> Which property are you going to try first?
01[22:27] <Seira> Special circumstances -> one/two way -> a glimpse -> activation command
[22:27] <Kotono> Okay, each attempt makes you roll a DC 17 caster level check. Roll the first one?
01[22:28] <Seira> If I need to roll for unusual properties as well, I will after
01[22:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[22:28] <Kotono> No special circumstances.
[22:28] <Kotono> Roll for one/two way?
01[22:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[22:28] <Kotono> It's one way.
01[22:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
01[22:29] <Seira> I'll try again
01[22:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34." [1d20=19]
[22:31] <Kotono> You see a cracked, frozen wasteland. Broken ground is about. It looks like the wastelands do from your travels there.
01[22:32] <Seira> Is there any sign of another portal or anything to indicate a building of some kind?
[22:33] <Kotono> No, just wasteland.
01[22:34] <Seira> How unfortunate
01[22:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 20." [1d20=5]
[22:34] <Kotono> No activation/command word needed.
01[22:34] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 is it random?
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 is it random? and gets 34." [1d20=19]
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 is it variable?
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 is it variable? and gets 28." [1d20=13]
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 is it creature-only?
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 is it creature-only? and gets 18." [1d20=3]
01[22:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+15 is it malfunctioning?
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 is it malfunctioning? and gets 24." [1d20=9]
[22:37] <Kotono> It's not random. It's not variable. It's not creature only. It is malfunctioning; the other side of the portal is gone.

[Corwin]

[19:46] <HelicopterKo> Okay, you wanted to get the info on the books first?
[19:46] <Demedais> Yeah.
[19:47] <HelicopterKo> Okay. Any particular order you read them in?
[19:48] <Demedais> Since ideally I'm reading these in downtime, the optimal order: ...well, first I see I forgot a few books, I'll make sure I took them IC in a minute. But first the defenses, then the teleport circles.
[19:49] <HelicopterKo> Do you have any ranks in K:A, by the by?
[19:50] <Demedais> Yeah.
[19:50] <HelicopterKo> How many?
[19:50] <Demedais> 3!
[19:53] <HelicopterKo> Okay. There's a treatise ont he various defenses. It's fairly magical and complicated, though your training in arcana and religions help immensly. There was a general Forbiddence effect on the temple. This should have blocked teleportation and the like, as well as damaging intruders who do not ethically and morally align with the caster(Helm's alignment, most likely.). However, it's obvious the effect had faded by the current day. (More)
[19:53] <HelicopterKo> However, it's obvious the effect had faded by the current day. (More)
[19:56] <HelicopterKo> The treatise treats this as standard operation procedure for secure, large temples. Further, it discusses the surviving eyes of Helm and the like over doors. This is a unique spell developed by priests of Helm(And certain other Gods of the Triad) to further secure their temples against hostile attack. While the exact body of the spell isn't repeated here(It's not a magical work, but a scholarly one), it offers several clues to how one cou
[19:56] <HelicopterKo>  it offers several clues to how one could copy it. This would aid recreating this spell in both time spent and money expended. Beyond that, there's a lot of lawful based defenses against chaos. Order's Wrath and Dictum, for example.
[20:01] <HelicopterKo> The works on the teleport circles are more complex. One book is a work on portaltry and teleportation in general. Parts of this Deme is very familiar with: Teleport going off course and how useful Greater Teleport is in light of that.  It talks of Gates and Teleport Circles as well. It's a decent generalist work. Another gets into the nuts and bolts of it. The simpliest inner-plane portals are teleport circles to travel from one part of a
[20:01] <HelicopterKo> The simpliest inner-plane portals are teleport circles to travel from one part of a plane to another. Permanency is used to make them stable pathways. However, they require guarding and can be quite a liability. There's a section on defending portals, various keys, passwords and conditionals are addressed. This is called the greatest failing of Teleport Circle, not having those built in unlike other, more complex portals. This puts the on
[20:03] <HelicopterKo> not having those built in unlike other, more complex portals. This puts the onus of defense on others. Gates are inter-planar gateways and usually have more sophisticated defenses. There's a lot of danger with gates. The mortal realm isn't really meant to mix with the Realms Beyond. Even the Heavens, in infinite glory, change the world if exposed too long to the mundane. Portals to the Depths Below can be far worse. Left unchecked, a free
[20:04] <HelicopterKo> Portals to the Depths Below can be far worse. Left unchecked, a free open portal to these places can damn an entire world into eternal suffering. The elemental planes are somewhat(relatively) safer, though. The Positive and Negative energy planes are mentioned as being as dangerous as the Lower Planes, due to how they overfill and overflow anything with their very essence of life or death.
03[20:05] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af28c0b.tcl124.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[20:05] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
[20:07] <Demedais> Deme mentally translates this as "yeah, teleport circles aren't the best bet but they'll do as a temporary connection mechanism, worst comes to worst" and turns to the books on the statues, guessing it's a simple mechanism but wanting to confirm for sure.
03[20:08] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> The statues were first given by the Gods in ages past. They are meant to preach the basics of the faith, potentially in places where a person cannot easily stay or be. They are honored as gifts and spare ones are treasured and kept well. Further, many are developed and augumented to have offensive and defensive capacities as well. Making one and loading it with a basic message isn't too hard, Magic Mouth in the arcane can be a see dspell
[20:10] <HelicopterKo> Most are made of precious materials relevant to the God at hand, which does drive the price up a bit, though.
06[20:12] * Demedais nods slightly at this, before turning to the books on crafting magical arms and weapons, and the books on tactics. The books on threats are important, but also quite feasibly outdated.
[20:15] <HelicopterKo> The books on tactics are quite interesting and well read. It talks about forming formations of battle support wizards and sorcerers, using clerical magic to the most. It's pretty ind epth stuff. While it's not really relevatn to the current world, it may be very soon. Seira's magic school is producing a crop of mages, there's the growing influence of Mystra and far more priests around. The tactics are generally polished and well formed. (
[20:16] <HelicopterKo> The tactics are generally polished and well formed. (More)
[20:17] <HelicopterKo> The books on crafting are rather in depth. They're a bit out of Deme's range. They're really more up Elle's alley than Deme's. It's very much the nuts and bolts of creating magical items, knowing the right names to call, the right materials, that sort of matter.
06[20:18] * Demedais uses Amanuensis on the books of crafting and the books on tactics, intending to give the crafting set to Elle and the tactics to Oberuth as interesting reads.
06[20:19] * Demedais then turns to the books about the threats from outside.
[20:27] <HelicopterKo> The first is Tyrants of the Pit. This talks of the Nine Hells in a conflicting tone. The author clearly admires the iron law the Baatezu follow, yet is repelled by the enslaving evil they follow. Nonetheless, he chronicles several threats: Scax, Duke of Riches of Minaros. He can damn an entire family line for over a millenia with one pact promising incredible wealth. Dagon, Duke of the Deep. He embodies the cold darkness in the depths of
[20:27] <HelicopterKo> Dagon, Duke of the Deep. He embodies the cold darkness in the depths of the ocean who consumes souls, ripping them from still living bodies. (More)
[20:30] <HelicopterKo> The book's writing tries to stay scholary, yet the prose and style becomes shakier, more lurid as it goes on. It talks of the Arch-Devil of the Undead, spawned from the hand of the King of Hell, turning death into naother form of slavery. It speaks of the Adversary Sammael, a being claimed to have been once of Hell. It speaks of the Grim Fiend, the Paragon of the race of Pit Fiends. It is then the book ends - a few pages early, simply sto
[20:31] <HelicopterKo> It speaks of the Adversary Sammael, a being claimed to have been once of Hell. It speaks of the Grim Fiend, the Paragon of the race of Pit Fiends. It is then the book ends - a few pages early, simply stopping. (More
[20:31] <HelicopterKo> )
[20:40] <HelicopterKo> The Abyssal book is less a book and more of a splattered chunk of screaming insanity the the author has tried to frame into coherency. It talks first of Jubliex, lord of slime and disease. Rot and slime are his domain, a thousand creeping slimy dooms coming from it's hateful heart. There is Abbaddon, the Destroyer. A fallen angel who once stood guard over the Abyss, legend speaks that one day he will blow a horn that will end all of exist
[20:40] <HelicopterKo> legend speaks that one day he will blow a horn that will end all of existance.  The middle of the book is largely worthless, too many things trying to be parsed, fragment sof insanity put to a rational eye. Near the back there is a treatise. It talks of the absolute need for Order to oppose this uncontrolled, hateful chaos. It speaks of those of sturdy hearts to Helm to read this and take what they can, to further understand those that wo
[20:40] <HelicopterKo> to further understand those that would send everything to hateful, murderous anarchy. The last page is the sigil of Helm, with the words in Celestial, "Blessed be the Order and blessed be those that smite the chaos!"
06[20:49] * Demedais turns to the one on Primal Chaos.
[20:49] <HelicopterKo> OOC: Make an int check, Deme?
[20:50] <Demedais> roll 1d20+1 ahahah
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+1 ahahah and gets 13." [1d20=12]
[20:54] <HelicopterKo> There is a short warning at the beginning: Pure chaos is difficult for those of a lawful mindset to properly grasp. To understand the slaad is not easy. But it must be done, for they are a great antipode and threat to Order. Demedais thus reads on! They appear as giant toad-humanoids of various sorts. Each base slaad has a color that determines it's basic powers, though the vast majority of them have some variation. (More)
[20:54] <HelicopterKo> though the vast majority of them have some variation. (More)
[20:57] <HelicopterKo> Red, Blue, Green, Gray, Black, Death slaadi. These are the bulk of the basic slaad. The noble slaad are white or black slaadi, or even entirely unique creatures. They live in Limbo. Some slaadi reproduce by implating eggs into the skull of a living being, which has a newborn slaad born from eating their way inside out of the mortal. Others have a venom that can transform mortals into slaad.  Others spring from the wells of chaos itself.
[20:57] <HelicopterKo>  Others spring from the wells of chaos itself. (More)
[20:59] <HelicopterKo> Ssendam. Ygorl. Names that have no meaning but vast implications are next. Demedais begins to get a headache here. The unlinear writing, the subject changes, the difficulty of adapting this to sane knowledge lays a burden on him.
06[21:00] * Demedais mutters something and stores these books away, thankful for the new knowledge but not willing to try and fully fight through this.