237. Helm's Prophecies

[Corwin]

[18:58] <Kotono> --------------------------------------
[19:02] <Kotono> Beat. Every beat of Demedais' heart thumps in time to another pulse. Together they throb together, the veins in his fingers feeling so alive. Images, so many images. A sea of meaningless things, too much for a mind to comprehend. Yet amid it, Demedais feels a great sense of peace and clarity.  Each image has a meaning, a point. Long does he speak of them, words forgotten as they tumble forth from his mouth. How long does this go on? It is a qu
[19:02] <Kotono> they tumble forth from his mouth. How long does this go on? It is a question that has no answer to him. The only answer is when at last his hands fall down, away from Uatu. (More)
[19:04] <Kotono> Your eyes blink clear, vision restoring. You stand amid the sharp crystals of Uatu's realm. You are not tired; Demedais feels more awake than he ever has. His mind bulges with images. So many images of things, fleeting away as his hands fall. From mundane places to the extrodinary, from planar depths to the most simple farming patches in Balmuria.
02[19:11] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-206-185.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
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[19:13] <Kotono> > Beat. Every beat of Demedais' heart thumps in time to another pulse. Together they throb together, the veins in his fingers feeling so alive. Images, so many images. A sea of meaningless things, too much for a mind to comprehend. Yet amid it, Demedais feels a great sense of peace and clarity.  Each image has a meaning, a point. Long does he speak of them, words forgotten as they tumble forth from his mouth. How long does this go on? It is a
[19:13] <Kotono> > they tumble forth from his mouth. How long does this go on? It is a question that has no answer to him. The only answer is when at last his hands fall down, away from Uatu. (More)
[19:13] <Kotono> > Your eyes blink clear, vision restoring. You stand amid the sharp crystals of Uatu's realm. You are not tired; Demedais feels more awake than he ever has. His mind bulges with images. So many images of things, fleeting away as his hands fall. From mundane places to the extrodinary, from planar depths to the most simple farming patches in Balmuria.
03[19:13] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
06[19:15] * Demedais exhales softly, hands almost raising again to Uatu before dropping again in acknowledgement. Pausing a second, he looks around for anyone else or any other sign as his mind races.
[19:16] <Kotono> Kneeling behind Demedais are three armored men. Each sprinkles sand onto freshly written words, putting down ink quills.
06[19:18] * Demedais slowly turns to the men, wordless even now as he glances at the papers in confusion.
[19:20] <Kotono> As one, they speak, "It's done. The prophecies are spoken." Gently the books are closed, the armored men standing. "Welcome back to us. We have recorded your words, as instructed by the Almighty Helm."
[19:21] <Demedais> "...I see. So I was speaking, as well." Demedais says softly, before nodding. "Thank you."
[19:22] <Kotono> The third takes his book and presents it to Helm. "These are what you spoke of in the third prophecy. By Helm's dictates, I have recorded every word."
[19:26] <Kotono> *Demedais
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[19:32] <Kotono> <Demedais> "...I see. So I was speaking, as well." Demedais says softly, before nodding. "Thank you."
[19:32] <Kotono> > The third takes his book and presents it to Helm. "These are what you spoke of in the third prophecy. By Helm's dictates, I have recorded every word."
[19:32] <Kotono> > *Demedais
03[19:32] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
06[19:35] * Demedais takes up the book, gingerly. "And the other two are to be placed to Helm's service, then, I assume?"
[19:35] <Kotono> "Yes. This is for you and those bound in duty with you." The three men step back, "By Helm's word, the realm of the living awaits you once more. Return now."
[19:37] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais assents, glancing back over to Uatu in anticipation of those mists once again.
[19:40] <Kotono> As Demedais looks back, a whirl of mists consumes him. He looks not at Uatu, but to the altar of Helm in Balmuria. Before it, Pollyanna kneels in prayer. It is quiet now - the torches signify that it is night, the silence of the resting hours pervading everything.
[19:41] <Demedais> "Then that's that..." Demedais says, quietly, looking at the book.
[19:42] <Kotono> The book has the following engraved in fancy, looping goldleaf on it's leather cover: Let your wisdom speak true to your heart and soul of duty. In wisdom shall come answers and truth!
[19:43] <Demedais> "...Pollyanna. What time is- no, what day is it?"
[19:45] <Kotono> "...Demedais?" Pollyanna rises. She wears simple brown robes as she prays, standing up and staring. With a long, wavering smile, "Thank Helm...you're back!" She darts over to Demedais, wrapping her arms around him. "What do yo umean what day it is?"
[19:47] <Demedais> "I'm asking what day it is because it feels like it's been a long while." Demedais replies with a slight grin of his own. "But yes, I'm back."
[19:48] <Kotono> Looking up to him, "You've been gone quite some time, nearly a month...and you brought a book with you?"
06[19:49] * Demedais nods slightly, glancing to the book again. "I believe it to be a book of prophecy, sanctified by Helm."
[19:49] <Kotono> "Oh!" With a look down to it, Pollyanna detaches, "What's written in it then?"
[19:51] <Demedais> "I... don't remember." Demedais admits, a bit sheepishly. "I was going to start reading it tonight or tomorrow morning - probably later tonight."
[19:53] <Kotono> Nodding, "Do you need anyone for that? Anything I can do for you?" she asks, "The Guard knows you had to leave for awhile and they've been waiting for word on when you return."
[19:54] <Demedais> "I'll have word sent to them that I'm back, yes. And..." Demedais considers, before looking to Pollyanna again. "What time is it, then? Nearing midnight, or past it?"
[19:58] <Kotono> "About 2 AM." Blushing now as she looks away, "Ah...I've been praying a lot for you to come home when it's time."
[20:00] <Demedais> "...thank you, dear." Demedais murmurs softly. "Then... shall we?" OOC: Skip ahead to morning, then? >_>
[20:01] <Kotono> OOC: Sure. What are you going to do? Read it alone or read it with others or do something else or what?
[20:02] <Demedais> OOC: Demedais will probably look it over once himself after Pollyanna's gone to bed, then read it again with whoever of High Priest/Father Ceiar/Pollyanna/Alicia and associated PCs are around/willing.
[20:04] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:04] <Kotono> OOC: SR PM for your reading real quick.
[20:04] <Demedais> K
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: Sent. Goa head and look it over/poke me when you're good.
[20:14] <Demedais> OOC: Okay, read it.
03[20:18] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:20] <Kotono> The next morning, Father Ceiar, Demedais, Pollyanna and Alicia gather at the Temple of Helm. In a back room away from all the noise and bustle they sit. OOC: It's your stage Deme, so go for it. Also, if you guys are going to invite/ask anyone else along, say so and I'll add them.
[20:20] <Alicia> OOC: I'm good
06[20:22] * Alicia arrives, notably lacking her familiar ornate two-bladed on her back, instead having replaced it with a large sheathed falchion on her hip, opposite the other which bears her backup longsword. "Glad to see you again, Demedais," she gives him a smile as she takes a seat.
06[20:25] * Demedais exhales slightly, nodding to Alicia with a slight smile. "Good to be here. Okay, so I read this book of prophecies through once. True to form, it's cryptic; there's only a few things that I can begin to decipher off the top of my head, which is honestly why I'm asking for input."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Wisdom rarely comes in easy meanings," Father Ceiar steeples his hands together, "But it's a real, given prophecy. We must try and puzzle out as much meaning as Helm put into it."
[20:26] <Alicia> "I should've brought Marie - she loves puzzling these things out," Alicia smirks briefly. "Go on, then, I'll let you know if any of it means anything to me."
[20:27] <Kotono> "Maybe you should go get her," Pollyanna still wears robes, "I think Father Ceiar's right, the more knowledge gleamed from it the better."
06[20:28] * Demedais nods slightly. "I can go over some of the more obvious sections while you do that, Alicia, if you think it might be a good idea. Your choice in that."
[20:30] <Alicia> "I can just ask her later on," Alicia shakes her head. "No sense hanging about."
[20:31] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods. "'In each let an aspect of the truth be known.' is what is written on the first page... The second is relatively straightforward."
[20:32] <Demedais> "1.1: Let the words of the Eternal Helm / Reach from highest peak to lowest pit / Knowledge splitting the veil of black ignorance. 1.2: Three and seven are truth imbued numbers / For in three resides the secrets all / And in seven rests phases of revelation 1.3: Impurity of wasteful chaos rests in eight / Malice howling forever is the abode six / Nine is the honeyed serpent in chains"
[20:35] <Kotono> "Numbers?" Pollyanna listens, "That sounds familiar enough."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Numerology was never my strong suit," Alicia shakes her head. "I mean, I know the meaning behind some of them - Nine Layers of Baator, Seven Mounting Heavens... but I don't know if they have a particular meaning here."
[20:36] <Alicia> "I will observe that the portal to the elemental plane of Earth I recently repaired was made by the Black 6, supposedly an ancient cabal of wizards. I don't know if they're still extant, though."
[20:38] <Kotono> "What about eight then? Impurity of wasteful chaos?" Father Ceiar strokes his chin, "If nine is a symbol for Baator...hm. That sounds reasonably enough like it. Seven is revelation...Celestia? Arcadia is close to Celestia, as far as the planes go."
[20:38] <Demedais> "Yes. Nine layers of Hell, wasteful chaos I'd guess connects to demons, and-" Demedias stops, listening to Alicia. "Is that so? We may have to do more looking into that, then... Even if not, we need to know who we can at least trust in this."
06[20:39] * Demedais nods. "My only main question on this one was of the three mentioned..."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Well, what about six then? Malice howling forever? Does it mean those wizards or something else?" Pollyanna just shrugs. "Really not my strong suit, either."
[20:39] <Alicia> "They at least trafficked with devils - that's how I know of them, one of Antenora's old superiors was apparently summoned by them and she recognised the symbol in the portal," Alicia offers. "But she didn't get any details, and neither I nor Marie have ever heard of them."
[20:40] <Demedais> roll 1d20+15 numbers!
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+15 numbers! and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[20:41] <Kotono> "Well, malice howling speaks poorly for their motives," Father Ceiar shakes his head to that, "It speaks of...well, malice. We've seen malice neough.{"
[20:43] <Demedais> "Hm. Actually, six I recall correlating to the Abyss, which would make eight Limbo." Demedais comments after a moment. "The three still stumps me; I'll make a note of that."
[20:44] <Alicia> "The name is a somewhat intimidating one as well," Alicia nods. "If they still exist then they're likely going to cause problems, but given how rare and limited magic has been until recently, I'm not sure how a powerful arcane order like that could still exist... unless they've perhaps been restrained in the years since magic was more common? They might be undead, for example."
[20:44] <Kotono> "Liches?" Father Ceiar raises his eyebrow at that, "Undead priests or mages who sacrifice life to live forever?"
[20:45] <Alicia> "Something like that, yes," Alicia nods. "It's mere supposition at this stage, though, so I wouldn't go running with the idea."
06[20:46] * Demedais nods slightly. "Shall we continue on to the next section?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "Go on," Father Ceiar agrees.
[20:46] <Alicia> "Please," Alicia invites him to proceed.
[20:47] <Demedais> "2.1: The one who is not one's flesh / Meeting one who is not one's soul / A tear forms in the distant sky  2.2: The lake of tears rests in hallowed / Spaces of today and tomorrow and forever / Where continuation is always and never again   2.3 The bounty of the tear rises high / The question must be answered lest lowest / Fate does take it away forever again"
[20:47] <Kotono> "Hm...the same set as last time. Three lines in each set, seven words in each line, three sets. Three and seven," Father Ceiar continues, "Do all of them keep that pattern?"
[20:48] <Demedais> "Effectively, yes. One does not, but it's easily explained why." Demedais says with a slight nod. "There are also 21 sets - three and seven again."
[20:48] <Kotono> "No idea there," Pollaynna considers, "A lake of tears? Tears are salty, so maybe a salt lake?"
[20:50] <Alicia> "Or it might be more fanciful, a lake where a great battle and much death occured?" Alicia suggests. "But it talks of a tear in the distant sky, and the bounty of the tear, which sounds like it's an object... a jewel or something like that?"
[20:50] <Demedais> "That was the one idea I thought of, which lead me to think south of the desert. This being said... this seems to me to say that we have to figure out some way to save the area lest it be lost. The other option... is that it talks of the Fairest Star, falling into the bay."
[20:51] <Alicia> "I wonder what the question is, then? Without knowing that there's no way we can answer it," Alicia muses.
[20:52] <Kotono> "One who is not one's flesh, and one woh is not one's soul?" Pollyanna shrugs again, "Perhaps it means a body and a soul seperated, or a dead person?"
06[20:53] * Demedais nods. "This was one that I could not decipher. Whether it speaks of the undead angel in the forest, or of the waters... perhaps the question is what will be done with the Fairest Star? I don't know."
[20:54] <Alicia> "Yes, I'm getting the feeling this is going to be one of those prophecies that only makes sense with hindsight," Alicia sighs a little. "Too many of them are like that."
[20:54] <Kotono> "Neither do I." Ceiar just shrugs helplessly, mimicking Pollyanna. "It's a question we don't have the immediate wisdom to answer. Let's move on to the next?"
[20:55] <Kotono> As they talk, the door the room opens. Seira enters in. OOC: Go ahead and intro yourself, Seira?
01[20:56] <Seira> "You were back, I heard," Seira greets Demedais, nodding slightly.
[20:57] <Demedais> "I am, yes. We're discussing a book of prophecies I brought back... I'll catch you up when we decide to take a break." Demedais nods. "This third one is perhaps a bit more transparent, but..."
[20:57] <Demedais> "3.1: In reaches past the rising shine Lathander / Rages Earth's fury unknown to mortal man / Legend of ruination past the sky talons   3.2: People of dust forever knelt defy death / Earth's fury shall slay all who see / It's endless crusade of empty wrath reign   3.3 Only a miracle can change the reality / Fury unbound lest it eternal defy death / From it's shattered pride comes shield magnificent"
[20:58] <Demedais> "...all I can get from it this time is that there's something quite angry to the east, from the reference to Lathander."
01[20:58] <Seira> "Oh, that. I met it."
[20:58] <Kotono> "Really?" Pollyanna turns to Seira, "Explain this one, then!"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Well," Alicia blinks. "That certainly helps a lot. Do go on?"
[20:59] <Demedais> "So... uh, yes, please."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Yes. If you know all the answers to this one," Father Ceiar breaks into a smile, "It will provide insight to how the wisdom of this prophecy is set."
01[21:00] <Seira> "I haven't had time to hit the books, yet, because I had to hit something else, a lot, but there is an utterly enormous beast past the Amaryl mountain range. Its maw alone could bite on Kondrux, I'd say. The people living there call it the Destroyer. They themselves are the Forsaken, and it tries to eat them. I told them I'd save them after I researched the methods for slaying it in detail."
[21:01] <Kotono> "So past the eastern mountains...so the rising shine is the sun rising? Earth's fury...is that the Destroyer?" Pollyanna scratches her head, "Well, the sky talons? The Mountains or something else?"
[21:01] <Alicia> "The mountains do scrape the sky, so it fits," Alicia agrees. "That would make the Forsaken these people of dust?"
06[21:02] * Seira tilts her head. "I guess it might be the legendary tarrasque after all? A miracle is involved in its legend as well." At Alicia's question, she winces. "Them being grey and really lifeless and apathetic due to being preyed upon for so many generations they forgot why it even happened or when could make them people of dust."
[21:03] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 arcana, tarrasque?
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 arcana, tarrasque? and gets 29." [1d20=15]
01[21:04] <Seira> "Waukeen told me there'd be a reward if I defeated it, so the shattered pride and magnificent shield bit is clear, too."
[21:05] <Kotono> "So it's very much thinking upside down," Father Ceiar smiles to this, "It's like a good riddle. The answer is never the most direct, it's about looking at it and figuring out the implied meaning."
[21:05] <Alicia> "Tarrasque... I've heard legends myself, but I never thought such a creature could be real... my word," Alicia's eyes widen.
01[21:06] <Seira> "It was really the only thing that came to mind as I saw it before me, trashing my beautiful wooden cabin. And once I heard its descriptions...."
[21:07] <Kotono> "How big was it?" Pollyanna asks quietly.
[21:07] <Alicia> "Did you battle it?"
01[21:08] <Seira> "It was nighttime, and I was sleepy and with others. I couldn't place them at risk in that state. But... like I said, it was large. If its maw isn't enough, imagine a walking mountain. The land was spotted with lakes. After exploring one, I realized they were caused by it. Some were originally hills."
[21:09] <Demedais> "...well."
[21:09] <Kotono> "By Helm's Duty...that's...that makes Kondrux a dwarf..." Father Ceiar grasps his holy symbol, "Unbelievable.:"
01[21:09] <Seira> "It defies common sense. That's how enormous it was."
06[21:10] * Seira grimaces. "The Forsaken would mount Crusades every generation to die against it in unbelievable numbers. One such battlesite, a graveyard, now, was miles long and had gained a strong necromantic aura from the amount of dead alone."
[21:11] <Alicia> "According to legend, its a beast capable of destroying entire worlds," Alicia offers. "It could be just as big a threat as Zetsubouko had she remained."
01[21:12] <Seira> "According to the lore of the Forsaken, it is their punishment for some ancient misstep, and it was surrounded by impassable ocean and mountains on all sides. From what I've seen, this is true enough. It is not a threat to us."
[21:13] <Alicia> "How can they live at all with such a beast on their doorsteps, though?" Alicia asks. "They must have ways of hiding from it, or distracting it, surely?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Those mountains are a barrier?" Pollyanna raises an eyebrow, "You make it sound like they're in place intentionally."
01[21:14] <Seira> "You'll need a bit of background, so I'll start from the beginning to quickly catch you up, alright?"
06[21:16] * Demedais nods slightly. "The more detail we can get on any one of these, the better off I think we are."
01[21:17] <Seira> "Like I said, they believe the Destroyer to be some sort of divine punishment for a sin committed by their ancestors, which could fit with siding with the gnomes much like the sea elves here did, although no records to confirm or deny this remain.
01[21:17] <Seira> As their people were massacred, the remnant were driven off the peninsula onto three islands, and then a saint of some sort saved them. He either erected a barrier to protect them, or had some means of keeping the beast at bay.
01[21:17] <Seira> They've learned that it is impervious to fire and has a frightening presence, while Waukeen has later confided to me that its hide is extremely diffuclt to penetrate with mortal weapons."
06[21:18] * Seira takes a moment, then, and summons an illusion of the beast, with a nearby forest for scale.
[21:19] <Kotono> The forest may as well be matchsticks compared to the overwhelming, gigantic beast that looms over it.
01[21:19] <Seira> "It is extremely fast for its apparent bulk," Seira warns.
[21:20] <Alicia> "Well... at least we then know it either can't swim or simply doesn't care to leave that landmass?" Alicia searches for an upside. "Our weapons might as well be needles to such a beast."
[21:20] <Kotono> "...I pray Helm doesn't expect us to face that!" Pollyanna gasps, "That's...would it even notice us or our weapons?"
01[21:20] <Seira> "It is somehow prevented from that," Seira comments. "Originally, it had the ability to chase the Forsaken to their refuge."
[21:22] <Kotono> "If the Crimson Guard is to fight that one day, you'll need more power than I can comprehend," Father Ceiar admits, "If that scale is right."
[21:22] <Alicia> "Well, we'll have to leave it alone until we have access to the greatest of mortal magic, otherwise we'd just be wasting our time," Alicia points out. "At least we know what this prophecy relates to, though. What's next?"
01[21:23] <Seira> "I had an idea I wanted to try, though I expect it to be to further my research and not put it down for good," Seira admits. "High magic may not be necessary if it bears out."
[21:24] <Alicia> "What's your idea?" Alicia asks curiously.
01[21:27] <Seira> "It is said to have an extremely tough outer shell, so I was curious whether it would be affected by interchangeable, extreme heat and cold much like inanimate objects are." Seira's face darkens. "But that's been placed on hold. Right now, I'm thinking nothing can stand up to orbs, and they have decent range.
01[21:27] <Seira> If we know just how fast it recovers, it would be helpful. The Forsaken said it was instant regeneration, but their highest magic circle is third due to their mass suicide rituals of battling the Destroyer."
06[21:28] * Demedais looks at the beast for a few moments, before rubbing his head. "Right. So the miracle mentioned would be literal, then..."
[21:29] <Alicia> "But even if we were to kill it, it would rise again without a true wish or miracle spell to keep it down," Alicia points out. "So it doesn't matter how much damage we can do without having that to seal the deal."
01[21:29] <Seira> "Or we could plane shift it, right? Somewhere it could keep on dying."
[21:30] <Alicia> "At least according to the legends," she amends. "And plane shifting it sounds highly irresponsible - right now its confined to an area where it's only a threat to the forsaken who deliberately seek it out. If you plane shift it it could end up on anyone's doorstep."
01[21:30] <Seira> "It's not something I'd do lightly, but it's certainly an option, if I can manage a reliable transportation."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Yes...but let's move along for now." Father Ceiar speaks up, "We should not lose sight there are many more prophecies awaiting us."
06[21:30] * Seira shrugs. "To be honest, I thought of beating it up and drowning it really far into the ocean."
[21:31] <Alicia> "Very well," Alicia relents. "Demedais?"
06[21:31] * Demedais nods slightly. "Frankly our best bet may be to request a caster capable of using it to aid us, but I digress." With that, he flips over to the next page...
[21:32] <Demedais> "4.1: When at farthest outreaches of the falling / Dominion of the old a stormy Umberlee / Abates her hate and shows the way   4.2: Malice of the dark six waits timeless / Those who forsook all but revelation dark / Tossed essence for a mantle of lies   4.3: Old ways pounce yet in hidden six / The gateway to the Mother's gifts again / Shall open to mortalkind with splendid mercy"
[21:33] <Alicia> "Sounds like something in the sea, obviously enough," Alicia begins to puzzle this one out. "Farthest reaches of the falling could mean the edge of the bay, where the fairest star fell? And we've got a clear reference to the Dark Six as well, so its more and more likely they do still exist in some form."
01[21:34] <Seira> "Maybe a reference to the portal? I'm pretty close to making it operational," Seira voices. "The location would be about right."
[21:35] <Alicia> "Its possible," Alicia nods. "There's a portal to the Elemental Plane of Earth in the mountains that I repaired, and it was apparently made by the Dark Six originally. The one in the bay to the Elemental Plane of Water might well have been made by them as well."
[21:35] <Kotono> "What are the mother's gifts, and what about mercy?" Pollyanna scowls, "If these are some malice filled mages, why mercy?"
01[21:35] <Seira> "Dark Six?" Seira asks for her part.
[21:35] <Demedais> "Possible, yeah." Demedais shrugs. "Mother might refer to the ocean? And... well, the mages might also be dead, thus mercy comes from their abandoned creations. I don't know, this is wild speculation on my part."
[21:35] <Alicia> "Clearly they're guarding over something nice," Alicia tells Pollyanna before explaining for Seira. "An ancient cabal of wizards. Their symbol is a sphere with six bands - it appeared in the portal for a moment as I stabilised it. Antenora says she knew a devil who once mentioned being summoned by them."
[21:37] <Alicia> "Also, we were attacked by a Black Rock Triskelion while I worked on the portal," Alicia explains. "At first I thought it sent by enemies of the earth elementals who had already come through, but it was actually summoned on this end - powerful magic, certainly. Perhaps it was summoned by this Dark Six as they didn't appreciate me interfering with their portal?"
02[21:37] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-221-15.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[21:38] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-221-15.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #dunes
03[21:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
03[21:38] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[21:40] <Kotono> "We should investigate this then. It seems like they could be an active force, and if they are, that makes them a priority. If they struck near those mountains, it means they could strike at Balmuria, too," Pollyanna points out. "Let alone becuase they're powerful magi."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia nods. "I've asked the elementals to investigate things on their end now that they can travel back and forth freely, and I'll check up on them in a few days to see if they've learned anything."
[21:41] <Demedais> "Especially if fixing the portals will cause their ire to become focused on Balmuria, yes." Demedais nods, before pausing. "I wonder... if there's water and earth, is there also air and fire portals located nearby?"
[21:43] <Alicia> "I wondered that as well," Alicia agrees. "There aren't any volcanoes in this area, are there? That would probably be the most likely place for a portal to the plane of fire. One for air would likely be somewhere high, perhaps at the top of a mountain."
01[21:43] <Seira> "That would logically follow," Seira agrees. "Would be pretty nice. Oh! I know where the fire one would be, if it exists."
01[21:43] <Seira> "It's not a volcano, but we do have quite a lot of lava underneath. I've been planning of taking a dip in it and seeing where it's coming from for a while, now."
[21:44] <Demedais> "...You have fun with that?" Demedais says after a moment of digesting that idea. "It might be there, yes."
[21:44] <Alicia> "That's a good idea," Alicia nods. "I always assumed Mihail merely transmuted or summoned it, but it could be something active that was already there."
[21:44] <Alicia> *conjured rather than summoned
01[21:45] <Seira> "Like how we nudged the portal to the plane of water open, he might've supplied that spark," Seira agrees. "Anyway, I would invite you, but it's bound to be embarrassing so I planned on only having Elle there in case something went wrong."
06[21:46] * Demedais nods slightly. "Right. Next one, then?"
[21:46] <Alicia> "I couldn't survive it, anyway," Alicia shakes her head. "Anyway, without any further leads on this one..."
01[21:47] <Seira> "I'll ask that Roc if he saw something that might indicate an air portal, while I'm at it."
06[21:47] * Demedais nods to Seira, before flipping the page again.
[21:47] <Demedais> "5.1: Lost child will pour lifeblood in darklight / Yet the gleaming will never sink below / The endless march of death's ascension high   5.2: Sterling mercy will not rise that night / Shattered gleaming will lie in mourning repose / Dirge eternal in the darklight that looms   5.3: Every end begets sparks fertile and new / Blessed be the lost child in darklight / One day all will begin once more"
[21:49] <Alicia> "Darklight?" Alicia frowns a little at that oddly contradictory term.
01[21:49] <Seira> "We killed all the Sharrans, didn't we? Twice over, in some case. Right?"
[21:49] <Alicia> OOC: any knowledge to figure out what it means or is it just flowery nonsense?
[21:49] <Kotono> "It doesn't make much sense...Sharrans again? I hope not," Pollyanna thinks, "It doesn't ring anyb ells for me."
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC: Nada.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Lost child...darklight...it sounds something like a cycle of death and birth." Father Ceiar considers it for a goodly time, "The lost child will die but all will begin once more."
[21:50] <Alicia> "It sounds like something circular, what with all beginning once more," Alicia drums her fingers on the table as she puzzles over this one. "The lost chilc pouring lifeblood could be the child being wounded, or the child could be the one doing the wounding."
[21:51] <Demedais> "Sharran worship was what I thought of when I was reading it, but... my honest guess? It's the current Queen or Princess or whichever from Kesse. 'Blessed be the lost child in darklight / One day all will begin once more" seems to imply a second chance or something akin to it, yes."
[21:51] <Demedais> "I suppose I'm putting a positive spin on it due to the line speaking of blessing that child, implying the merit of it."
01[21:52] <Seira> "I'm reasonably--" Seira pauses, hesitating, before shaking her head stubbornly. "As I was saying, I'm reasonably sure she can't be it. The queen is being watched very closely, and while she's not all better, she's moving in the right direction."
[21:53] <Demedais> "Mmm. Then I admit to being uncertain. Darklight seems like a Sharran reference; there's mentions of the moon and stars later so it's not referencing those instead.
[21:54] <Kotono> "If it's not her for the moment, and we're not sure if it is or isn't, then who? Who could be a lost child?" Father Ceiar bows his head, "It must be someone one of us knows of."
01[21:55] <Seira> "Could it be a prophecy about something that has already come to pass?" Seira inquires.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Not necessarily. If it was someone we knew then wouldn't the child be found? Since I don't know any that are currently missing, that means it must be one that has yet to be found," Alicia argues.
[21:55] <Kotono> "Why?" Leaning back as he drums his fingers along the table, "What good is an already solved prophecy?"
01[21:56] <Seira> "To alert us that it might happen again one day?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "...I have an idea, but..." Pollyanna looks down and away, "It doesn't really mesh with what the rest of you are saying. I can think of one very lost child...and I can see why Helm would speak of this one above all."
01[21:56] <Seira> "What, Demedais?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Oh no!" Blushing at that, "That wasn't who I meant at all!"
[21:56] <Demedais> "I... what are you thinking along the lines of, Seira?" Demedais muses, before glancing to Father Ceiar. "We don't know much of anything about the past, other than a lot of hearsay. It might be illumination toward a notable event?" At this, Demedais turns to Pollyanna. "Hm?"
[21:56] <Kotono> Waving her hands, "I don't mean Demedais is lost or anything like that!"
[21:57] <Alicia> "Well who are you talking about then?" Alicia asks Pollyanna.
[21:57] <Demedais> "I'm usually lost, but it's often the confused sort. Who were you thinking of, initially?"
[21:57] <Kotono> "Well...dark light...darkened light...lost...Torm, maybe?" Pollyanna continues to blush, looking away again.
[21:58] <Alicia> "Wait a minute..." Alicia begins in realisation, nodding as Pollyanna confirms it. "Wasn't Torm the youngest of the Triad?"
06[21:58] * Seira snorts. "What I was thinking might be possible is that it would refer to the events that took place in Kesse, but warn us it was a circle that might come around again," she tells Demedais. "Waukeen told me that they've been warring for the longest of time, and that the state of affairs keeps on repeating, bloodily, without resolution. It could be why this is on my mind."
[21:59] <Kotono> "Both ideas have considerable merit," Father Ceiar nods, "You're correct, I believe, Alicia. I can consult my books to confirm it."
[21:59] <Alicia> "Still, it's fairly obtuse. A reference to fury or hate or honour or something would help to solidify the connection. It just sounds more... maudlin, with the references to dirges and such," Alicia goes on. "I can see it, but its not as strong a connection as it could be."
[22:00] <Demedais> "...That might work, yes. Though using 'child' did throw me off, but yes." Demedais also nods to Seira. "So... both interpretations are possible, and Waukeen has helped with the second interpretation.... mmm. Alright. For now, we've got our two ideas - we can hash them out more as things come to us?"
01[22:00] <Seira> "There could well be others. We should give it time."
06[22:00] * Alicia nods. "Moving on, then?"
06[22:00] * Seira nods herself.
[22:01] <Demedais> "5.1: Lost child will pour lifeblood in darklight / Yet the gleaming will never sink below / The endless march of death's ascension high   5.2: Sterling mercy will not rise that night / Shattered gleaming will lie in mourning repose / Dirge eternal in the darklight that looms   5.3: Every end begets sparks fertile and new / Blessed be the lost child in darklight / One day all will begin once more"
[22:01] <Demedais> OOC: Strike
06[22:01] * Demedais exhales. "And next is the other reason why Torm didn't directly spring to mind."
[22:01] <Demedais> "6.1: Fourfold fury roosts home to bring judgment / The Liar stricken down by true lies / The Truth dies in the last lie  6.2: Noxious fang feasts on the Liar's heart / In tears and sorrow do they smite / Say unto him: 'Woe eternal is yours!'   6.3: A crown of twisting emblems the reward / Fallen and yet rutting in filth bleak / A new throne of tears and lies"
[22:02] <Alicia> "Ah, yes," Alicia nods. "That does indeed ring more familiar. Would the Liar then be Zariel in this case?"
[22:03] <Demedais> "I... it's quite possible, yes? The only other Liar I can think of that this might be is Cyric, but..."
01[22:03] <Seira> "I never thought it was right, what happened," Seira mutters.
[22:04] <Demedais> "Hm?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "We've not had much activity from Cyric,"  Pollyanna pauses, "But perhaps so. If both of those talk about Torm, perhaps they're intertwined, too?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "It's known that Bel usurped Zariel's place, and unlike the other Lords of the Nine with more unique aspects, he's much like an overgrown Pit Fiend - devils which are known for their poisonous bite, as you'll recall Demedais?"
01[22:04] <Seira> "Just Torm issues. You know."
06[22:04] * Demedais nods.
[22:06] <Kotono> "Anything else on this one, or are we ready to hear th enext?" Father ceiar asks.
06[22:07] * Demedais muses for a moment. "I... can't think of anything directly. So yes."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Wait a moment..." Alicia thinks hard. "From the sounds of it, Zariel yet lives, being devoured by Bel? And 'the truth dies in the last lie'?"
01[22:08] <Seira> "If it means we should rescue Zariel before she's dead, I'm all for it."
[22:09] <Kotono> "If so...would we not need to confront Bel? To face a Lord of the Nine...aren't they the most powerful entities in Hell?" Pollyanna takes this time to shiver, holding herself. "The epitome of cosmic tyrants."
[22:09] <Alicia> "She was once a Lord of the Nine, so that could only cause more problems... on the other hand, it sounds like Torm's redemption rests in the hope of perhaps reconciling those two," Alicia explains. "It's tremendously risky, even leaving aside how difficult it would be to sneak her out from under Bel's watch."
01[22:10] <Seira> "It's difficult now. In a year, that might be a different matter," Seira points out.
[22:11] <Alicia> "Not something we can realistically contemplate with our current resources, though," Alicia concludes. "Moving on, again?"
[22:11] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais nods.
[22:11] <Demedais> "7.1: In the home of revelation the last / Vestige of the irrelevant yesteryear leaves light / Stateful memories stir the beginning of today   7.2: From three come the answer to seven / Understand well for in three all answers / Are known with the secret third truth   7.3: For the day comes where infinite cries / At last find the sword of justice / To strike back at defilement of soul"
[22:12] <Alicia> "Vestige of the irrelevant yesteryear could be Daa-vid?" Alicia suggests. "As for the rest, though, I'm uncertain."
[22:13] <Kotono> "Maybe, but this one might be important. Three and seven are mentioned again...and it's the seventh prophecy." Ceiar now closes his eyes, "If the numerology means anything here, we should consider it most deeply."
01[22:13] <Seira> "Not to sound arrogant, but can't the three refer to the core of the Guard? We're the ones charged with destroying Daa-vid once and for all."
[22:14] <Alicia> "You could be right, Seira," Alicia agrees. "We're often at the centre of events, and its not overly prideful to say so."
[22:14] <Demedais> "...to strike back at defilement of soul?"
[22:15] <Alicia> "Daa-vid used the power of the fairest star to change himself, make himself into a being more mighty than a god - that could be considered a defilement of his soul, his original nature. Alternatively, was he not known for twisting the souls and minds of others into following him?" Alicia throws out some ideas.
[22:16] <Kotono> "It could be," Pollyanna listens, "He did take after devils."
[22:16] <Alicia> "Although would that make the Sword of Justice Arondaaq?" Alicia adds, frowning. "Not a name I'd use..."
[22:17] <Demedais> "We'll get to the sword later." Demedais notes quietly.
[22:18] <Alicia> "Alright," Alicia nods. "If that's all we have on this, shall we proceed to the next?"
[22:19] <Demedais> "... Though, yes, this one seems to center around Balmuria. Let's move on."
06[22:19] * Seira listens attentively.
[22:20] <Demedais> "8.1: Tides of blood shall come as fated / Waves of woe shall come as fated / Shall a stone stay above or below  8.2: What is justice and what is mercy / What is right and what is wrong / What is the truth and what is lies  8.3: There are answers and no resolution / In this nature the worst of mundane / Battles with hope of a single stone"
[22:23] <Alicia> "Perhaps... battles over the Fairest Star?" Alicia suggests. "After defeating Daa-vid it may manifest once more, and many would kill for such power."
[22:23] <Kotono> "Why all the questions?" Pollyanna shrugs, "It's like it's asking us those three questions in the middle and says that the answers don't matter with no resolution?"
01[22:23] <Seira> "I'd think back to Kesse and its neighbors, again, if the stone wasn't important somehow."
[22:24] <Demedais> "The Fairest Star was my guess as well. Why the three middle questions... I confess uncertainty, but perhaps it is a way to say that we should know how to deal with the Fairest Star before we broach that issue."
01[22:25] <Seira> "Let's be frank for a moment. Is there any chance of war with our neighbors, Fairest Star or not? I'm having a hard time seeing it."
[22:26] <Kotono> ""I like the Kesse one more. From all you've said, Kesse is the worst of the mundane." When she says this, Pollyanna looks to Seira.
[22:26] <Demedais> "Perpahs." Demedais muses. "Maybe we should inquire with the people in Kesse about this stone, then...? Or... I don't know."
01[22:27] <Seira> "Waukeen sounded... if not depressed, then resigned, at least. She wasn't sure I could mediate." Seira winces. "It might not mean as much as I thought, but still, the situation can't be that good. I wasn't aware of them having any sort of jewel, gem or rock of significance, however. Might be a good thing to inquire about on my visit."
[22:27] <Alicia> "Above and below could refer to the outer realms, but Pollyanna makes a good point," Alicia agrees. "Although haven't the United Baronies had two wars with one of their neighbours in the space of a decade?"
[22:27] <Kotono> "Yes, but we've won them and the second one was decisive." Father Ceiar speaks up, "With our current resources and position, we could likely win again against Malmuth, if it came to blood."
01[22:28] <Seira> "Ah, yes. I'll be even more frank. We won the latter with help of another neighbor, and the one we fought against has been soundly defeated. Their government is favorable to us, now, and the same is true for the Fiefdoms as well."
[22:28] <Alicia> "Governments can change," Alicia points out. "Wasn't Ferdi's predecessor quite willing to leave the United Baronies well alone?"
01[22:29] <Seira> "He was assassinated by Ferdi. We won't let that happen again."
06[22:30] * Demedais remains quiet for a moment, before, "If there's a stone that is relevant in Kesse or the surrounding areas - metaphorical or literal - I'd be willing to believe that it relates to them. Since we don't know for sure, as of now, shall we continue?"
[22:30] <Alicia> "How?" Alicia asks. "Do we have bodyguards watching the Pasha and Empress at every moment? Perhaps they also stand ready to slip in a knife of their own if either shows signs of becoming less favourably inclined towards us?"
01[22:31] <Seira> "We're cooperating with them on internal threats, since regime changes would not be favorable to us. One can't be one hundred percent certain, and a lone lunatic might always get through, but organized opposition would find it difficult to succeed."
[22:33] <Kotono> "Still...yes, let's continue,"F ather Ceiar agrees, "If it's a question of politics and trust, we'll need to look into them before useful answers come?"
[22:34] <Alicia> "Yes, these are all what ifs. Lets move on," Alicia agrees.
[22:36] <Demedais> "9.1: The enemy to all that lives waits / Patient eternal for the blackness of night / Her name sowing fearful bravery in heart  9.2: Eight and six and nine and seven / Paired in twain once and then thrice / Suzurainty waits in the abode of song  9.3: One who carries the noble and profane / Shall cast the first stone of purity / So that once again the enmity endures"
[22:37] <Kotono> "Shar?" Pollyanna asks right away, "That sounds very direct about it."
[22:38] <Alicia> "Suzurainty?" Alicia repeats, trying to figure out what on earth that means.
[22:38] <Demedais> "The first part, yes. But... then there's the second part - note the seven added in. And then the third..."
[22:39] <Kotono> OOC: That should be Suzerainty, I forgot to save after fixing that typo.
[22:39] <Alicia> "Suzerainty?" Alicia repeats, trying to figure out what on earth that means.
[22:40] <Kotono> "Seira, you're the smart one," Pollyanna smiles nicely to her, "What in the world does that word mean?"
01[22:41] <Seira> "Let's say you're the Baronies, and you have a protectorate in Kesse? Then Lord Salman is the Suzerain, and he rules over a Suzerainty."
[22:41] <Kotono> "Oh, like a realm under your protection and rulership. Like the Barony of Valandia, sort of," Nodding to Seira, "So rulership over the abode of song?"
[22:42] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah. That'd make sense..." Demedais muses. "As much as any of 9.2. and 9.3 do."
01[22:43] <Seira> "Eight and six for evil, nine and seven for good?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "Nine's for Baator, so that can't be right," Father Ceiar shakes his head, "Not in that sense."
01[22:43] <Seira> "Maybe it's a one and three division, like later in the verse is implied?"
[22:43] <Alicia> There's no way he could be talking about her little restaurant with the singing and dancing... "What about carrying the noble and the profane? It sounds like an unlikely alliance is involved, somewhere."
01[22:44] <Seira> "Helm himself comes to mind, really."
01[22:44] <Seira> "We never did find out if there was truth in those claims of an understanding with devils, did we?"
[22:45] <Kotono> "Does it mean Helm is going to sing Shar to death?" Pollyanna blurts, before facepalming, "Sorry. What I mean is that if it so obviously invokes Shar and if it then invokes Helm..."
01[22:46] <Seira> "Helm could aid Shar's enemies so that Shar doesn't overtake all?" Seira ventures, shrugging.
[22:46] <Alicia> "Shar is known for singing more than Helm is," Alicia shakes her head. "But this sounds fairly pointless - I mean, the conclusion is that the emnity endures. It doesn't sound like anything gets resolved."
[22:47] <Demedais> "Helm doesn't really fit the second part, though, so..." Demedais shrugs slightly. "I'm uncertain. But song and Shar are somehow related, yes." At Pollyanna's comment, he just grins, but muses. "I'll look into this one further. It's one of the more obscure ones here."
[22:47] <Kotono> "We must be missing this one...let's come back to it," Father Ceiar says, "For all that part of it is obvious, it makes little sense. We must not grasp the proper keys for it."
01[22:47] <Seira> It could also be something simpler, like Neve, but that's not a topic Seira is in any mood to suggest at this time.
06[22:49] * Demedais nods and flips the page.
[22:49] <Demedais> "10.1 Sacrifice of ribbon of red seen once / Master of Destiny grasped twice in vain / Crying out in triumph or deep regret   10.2 None will know and all will see / Or all will know and none see / What lies of the unspoken trinity here   10.3 Yet Time is in the divine forge / Shaped and crafted yet for coming form / Waiting the hope and dreams of one"
[22:50] <Alicia> "I hate these ones that so blatantly contradict themselves. It reeks of covering your rear," Alicia sighs.
[22:51] <Kotono> "What's a ribbon of red seen once?" Father Ceiar asks. "That's what strikes me first. It's something - Alicia." Father Ceiar stops there, "This is holy prophecy. Is it not 'covering your rear!'
[22:51] <Kotono> "
06[22:51] * Seira laughs at Alicia's words, only laughing harder as Father Ceiar chides her.
[22:52] <Alicia> "I'm sorry, Father," Alicia ducks her head apologetically. "Please excuse me, it's just frustrating when a prophecy sets out to allow two entirely contradictory meanings."
[22:53] <Kotono> "It is to draw fourth our wisdom and strengthen us. In the puzzles we gain greater insight and our minds become wiser." His voice is sharp but not too sharp, calming as he finishes the sentence. "We will partake of this, both for knowledge and to grow greater with Helm's gifts."
[22:54] <Kotono> "Ahem. To the point," Pollyanna's voice is soft, "What is that ribbon of red?"
01[22:54] <Seira> "And because it doesn't seal our fate or something grave like that, as a direct, spelled-out prophecy would. That's just depressing."
06[22:54] * Demedais opens his mouth for a moment, seems to consider it, and then just glances back over to the book. "Sacrifice of ribbon of red... Life? Blood? Master of Destiny is capitalized, reads more like a name... Arondaaq?"
01[22:55] <Seira> "Could be, and the grasping it twice bit fits, if we assume we are to use it. What does it actually tell us, though?"
[22:56] <Alicia> "Could be," Alicia nods to Demedais. "I suppose its use would allow both triumph and regret. The unspoken trinity perhaps refers to us, and whichever one of us wields it. But what of 'all knowing and none seeing' or 'all seeing and none knowing'? Or the last three sentences? What do they mean?"
[22:56] <Kotono> "Ultimately, it seems to speak of either weal or woe, and that it will go one way or another. It also mentions Time as the divine forge, shaping 'coming form''."
[22:57] <Demedais> "...it's either speaking of the potential made by using it or the potential of another weapon to be made to surpass it, is my guess."
[22:57] <Demedais> "As for the first parts of the second set, your guess is as good as mine."
[22:57] <Kotono> "Something ot surpass it? Something tha twouldn't kill who used it?" Pollyanna perks up there, "That would be certainly improving it."
01[22:57] <Seira> "Or it could mean gods are about to interfere with our lives, forging our destiny and all. Just saying."
[22:58] <Alicia> "That would be nice," Alicia smiles at Pollyanna's suggestion.
06[22:59] * Demedais considers a bit further, before shrugging. "One more, then we break for a bit?"
[22:59] <Kotono> "Let's move on for now," Father Ceiar says, "And that may be wise, to take time to think and rest."
06[23:00] * Demedais nods, looking down at the next one. After a moment, he glances to Alicia, before reading it.
[23:00] <Demedais> "11.1 Jewel above rests in sea of amethyst / Radiant with opal and diamond alabaster light / Set besides it in relief and glory   11.2 In hand and breath glows eldritch promise / In eye sees paradise won in blood / In both rests fire tested adamantine hardness   11.3 A magic blade that shall never break / The goal is met in full glory / Praise be to the labors finished true"
[23:01] <Kotono> "Gemstones?" Pollyanna smiles, "Amethyst is a purple stone, diamond can be multicolored. I think opal can be, too."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Do we know anyone who uses an adamantine blade?" Alicia asks.
[23:03] <Kotono> "Didn't Kort's blade have that composition? That can't be right, though," Pollyanna just scowls.
[23:03] <Demedais> "We don't, but it just says the blade is magic, and will not break. This is why I brought up the potential for a better blade."
01[23:03] <Seira> "It could surprisingly easy fit Donald, though again, I'm not sure what exactly it's supposed to warn of."
[23:04] <Demedais> "Not a warning, I don't think. This is... guidance. A way to a better method than Arondaaq, I would wager."
01[23:04] <Seira> "I'll keep an eye out for seas of amethyst."
[23:05] <Kotono> "Then let's look at it from the top. Have you known anything made of those three gems that's important, or even some of them?" Pollyanna asks.
01[23:05] <Seira> "I think Demedais's sword requires those as components? Diamond, at least."
[23:06] <Demedais> "It required diamond, yes. But I'm hardly an arcane wizard - else I'd fit, for the most part. That and, well, frankly? Alicia, Seira, you two both fit better aside from that first part."
[23:07] <Alicia> "Well, I don't know of any weapons that could break Hell Striker, now," Alicia admits. "Even the Resorts would fall short against it. Fire tested could refer to how Kossuth changed it. But its certainly not adamantine," Alicia volunteers.
[23:07] <Kotono> "Well, diamond light makes me think of white. Maybe celestials?" With a little thought into it, "There are celestials in Balmuria."
06[23:08] * Seira draws the Resort with a shrug. "It won't break, either, and it's ever-so-pretty. But ultimately, I don't think this one matters as much. Is the next one a dire warning? Those are best."
[23:08] <Demedais> "Possible..." Demedais muses.
[23:09] <Kotono> "That makes me think of Antenora and Latha tne most, then Alicia," Pollyanna looks to Demedais, "If your sword can't be broken now, like adamantine..."
[23:09] <Alicia> "Hmm... remember that soul-sucking stone the devils used in the desert?" Alicia asks.
[23:10] <Demedais> "Somewhat, yeah. Why, Alicia?"
01[23:10] <Seira> "You're using it at your temple now, right? I remember it.
01[23:10] <Seira> "
[23:10] <Alicia> "I think the stones keyed for us where a white diamond for me, a white opal for Latha, and a grey diamond for Antenora. Perhaps those stones have specific reasonance with our natures, so it may hint at another connection?" she hazards.
[23:11] <Kotono> "Opal and diamond...that can't be a coincidence," Father Ceiar nods, "Three of you as well. Three again."
01[23:11] <Seira> "Didn't Antenora's nature change afterwards?" Seira asks dubiously. "And so did yours and even Latha's."
[23:11] <Demedais> "...That... yeah, I believe that's correct. And while it might have changed, yes, perhaps a visit to the outer planes to see if someone could explain that would be of use."
01[23:12] <Seira> "What about amethyst? Did it have it?"
[23:12] <Alicia> "Everyone changes, yes, but as it was keyed to our souls rather than our bodies it may be a more primal and unchanging thing," Alicia replies, thinking. "You were a star ruby, Seira. Demedais was mithral. And Donald was an agate... red and white striped."
[23:13] <Kotono> "WEll, how does a purple gem tie into it?" Pollyanna presses, "Do any of us know anything about purple gems, or a good metaphore for one?"
01[23:14] <Seira> "Alicia's the one to ask about metaphores for Mystra."
06[23:17] * Demedais muses quietly. "All in all, though, I would guess that yes, it refers to you and your companions, Alicia."
[23:18] <Alicia> "It could refer to Selune - a white jewel in the purple sky?" Alicia suggests. "But Mystra does favour amethysts... so that's probably more likely."
[23:19] <Kotono> "A goal met in full glory..." Pollyanna suddenly smiles, "Does that mean that you're going to succeed and ascend, Alicia? Perhaps Helm is telling of your ascension's success?"
[23:20] <Alicia> "Well, I am being groomed for some sort of position in Dweomerheart," Alicia blushes a little, gesturing to one of her wings. "I wouldn't want to presume, though..."
01[23:20] <Seira> "It mentions labors along the way. I'll go out on a limb and assume he means tasks, and not, well, the literal."
[23:21] <Alicia> "Labors finished could refer to dying, of course," Alicia observes. "Lets hope its not that, though."
[23:21] <Kotono> "Yes. But...that is enough for now. Let us meet again a little later to continue?" Father Ceiar proposes.
06[23:21] * Demedais nods, before closing the book. "This seems like a good place to pause and let us think on the ones thus far. Seira, I'll catch you up on the two you missed."
06[23:22] * Seira nods. "I'll need to catch you up, in turn."
[23:22] <Alicia> "I can go get Marie and Antenora to see if they can offer anything?" Alicia suggests as Seira volunteers to update Demedais on recent events.
06[23:22] * Demedais nods. "It'd be appreciated. Didn't think I'd take so long to have this thing written..."

[Corwin]

[19:45] <Kotono> ----(Ninja Kos)--
[19:47] <Kotono> The group gathers once more after having had some time to think things over. This time, Alicia brings along Antenora and Marie as everyone settles in. Breaking the ice, "So you're about halfway through this prophecy?" Antenora asks.
02[19:47] * Demedais (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-182-86.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
03[19:47] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-182-86.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #dunes
03[19:47] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Taishyr
03[19:48] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
03[19:48] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
06[19:49] * Alicia summarised the previous ones en route and now offers, "You can have a look at Demedais' book once we're done to check the exact wording just in case there's anything I didn't cover properly on the way over?"
[19:49] <Kotono> "I will," Antenora sits down and looks to Demedais.
[19:50] <Kotono> Father Ceiar briefly clears his throat, "Ahem. If we're ready to continue, Demedais?"
[19:51] <Demedais> "Alright." Demedais says, flipping open to the next one. After a moment, he frowns, but proceeds to read.
[19:51] <Demedais> "12.1  Noble hearts seek the infinite answer six / Darklight brightened with the fairy music summoned / Freeing the echos of tempered divine time  12.2  The kingdom comes in vivid greatness unbound / It shall mark beginning and end equal / A warm breeze and wonderful child's laughter  12.3  A crown of salt and roses woven / worn by the smiling child of life / Shall be more powerful than any blade"
[19:52] <Alicia> "Another reference to darklight and a child?" Alicia comments.
01[19:53] <Seira> "Sorry, I'm slow as I warm up. That's pretty much all I caught, either."
[19:53] <Kotono> "Music, too. Wasn't that mentioned before?" Pollyanna thinks, "A lot of this sounds familiar."
01[19:53] <Seira> "So if we solve a few of the previous riddles, this one becomes clearer?"
[19:54] <Kotono> "Yes. The tenth verses mentioned time in the divine forge, and it mentions tempered divine time there," Antenora's voice is distant, her eyes half closed.
[19:54] <Demedais> "Yes. The 'infinite answer six' is what throws me off - an abyssal reference?" Demedais muses, before glancing to the group. "Should I bring up the other one for cross-comparison?"
[19:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21
06[19:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 and gets 40." [1d20=19]
06[19:55] * Demedais muses, thinking.
[19:56] <Alicia> "Uhh, I have an idea," Marie raise her hand. "I've heard stories, that in the Abyss there's an entire generation of eladrin children who've been trapped and can't ever leave. Sometimes crusades go from Arborea to protect them."
[19:57] <Kotono> "Yes," Father Ceiar nods after some time of comtemplation, "There may be-hm?" With his eyes and weathered gaze settling on the little fairy eladrin, "An entire generation of them, trapped in the Abyss?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "How did that come to be?" Seira asks, appalled.
[19:58] <Demedais> "...Is that so?" Demedais blinks, turning to her. "...then that's likely to be what this refers to..."
[20:01] <Demedais> "...The only question I have is what 'the kingdom' might be."
[20:03] <Alicia> "I don't know all the details, but it happened a very long time ago," Marie explains. "The forces of Arborea attacked the Abyss, and for a time they held the ancient demons there in check. Eventually, though, they were driven back. But towards the end one of the battles one of the oldest Demon Lords tricked someone high up in the Court of Stars."
[20:03] <Alicia> "Because of it, thousands of the youngest eladrin of the time were permanently bound to one of the Abyss's layers. The demon planned to hunt and torture them for food, but a force of eladrin warriors fought their way to the layer to protect the children - and they've been fighting ever since."
[20:03] <Alicia> "I've actually heard rumours, before I got sent down here, that more eladrin have been going there lately than in times past."
[20:04] <Alicia> "Other celestials go as well, actually," she amends. "But it tends to be mostly residents of Arborea, anyway."
01[20:06] <Seira> "If we can't do anything about Bel and Zariel, rescuing a layer of trapped eladrin doesn't seem to be in the near future, either," Seira mutters.
[20:07] <Alicia> "People have been trying for millenia," Marie nods sadly. "They can't ever leave, though, so the best that can be done is to fight off the demons who would prey on them and make their existence as safe and happy as it can be in the Abyss."
[20:07] <Kotono> "If it's lasted this long, it's a solution that's eluded the powerful." Antenora's head is bowed, eyes closed entirely. "Helm is a being of pure law? Then why would he give us knowledge about the eladrin? If we have the potential to free them, and even if we do, why?"
01[20:08] <Seira> "It just means the situation needs a fresh approach, a new idea. But until we can back it up, it'd probably just be depressing to consider it too closely."
[20:08] <Demedais> "...it's not in his nature to let children be harmed, if he can help it." Demedais says softly. "And agreeing with Seira."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Helm values children greatly." Father Ceiar's nod back is crisp, "Any innocent children would be under his protection."
[20:09] <Alicia> "I like to think we're getting objective information about the future, not just that which suits a particular agenda," Alicia remarks. "For now it's beyond us, but who knows what else the future might bring?"
[20:09] <Kotono> "We could make a venture there? Even if we can't solve it's problems, perhaps we'll find more enlightenment with hands on experience?" Pollyanna smiles faintly, "Though if the Abyss is as terrible as the lore says..."
06[20:11] * Demedais nods slightly. "The Abyss will be a gamble to brave, but that fits with much of the rest of what we've seen."
[20:11] <Alicia> "Oh, it's terrible alright," Marie nods, glancing briefly at Alicia, "But that particular layer has been inhabited by good creatures for so long that it's not nearly as bad as anywhere else."
[20:12] <Kotono> "Let's come back to this one," With another clearing of his throat, "There's so much recurring symbolism in this verse that I thin it's important, but that proper illumination of it will come with more understanding of the overall texts."
06[20:12] * Demedais nods. "Alright, then. Everyone ready?"
[20:13] <Alicia> "By all means," Alicia agrees.
06[20:14] * Demedais nods, flips the page, and begins reading.
[20:14] <Demedais> "13.1 Heart frozen in baleful truth poisoned deep / Blade pointing down to the sixfold star / A warrior holds hope to his heart  13.2  The first is the test of immaterial / The second is the trial of material / The last is the ascension of duty  13.3  A pledge is the eternal steel bond / Works reach far in new relevation given / In His memory is all given sanctity"
[20:15] <Kotono> "Helm's nature is showing," Antenora murmurs, "Six again. A sixfold pentagram?"
[20:16] <Alicia> "Truth poisoned deep makes me think of Torm again," Alicia adds in for her own part. "What are these tests, though? And what is the pledge?"
01[20:17] <Seira> "I'm wondering what an ascension of duty might be."
[20:17] <Kotono> "If it's six and Torm, and if Torm's fallen into the Abyss, does all this tie into Torm?" Starting to idly play with a bit of her hair, still bowing her head down in thought, "That I could see Helm being much more direct about."
[20:18] <Demedais> "Is the warrior Eudard?" Demedais postulates, before glancing to Seira. "That, I don't know. It might be an indication of what he will have to commit to... And note that the blade is pointing down to the sixfold star. Weren't we told that he still holds hatred towards devils and demons?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "A test of the immaterial - the soul, the spirit. The material is the flesh, body, earth. The last is a rise of duty." Father Ceiar lists them off, "Perhaps a progression of sorts? Once the soul is sorted out, the body and then actions follow?"
[20:19] <Alicia> "But why devote two prophecies to him?" Alicia asks. "It seems a bit redundant... although you might be right about Eudard, Demedais."
[20:19] <Kotono> "Eudard's soul was certainly disturbed," Pollyanna murmurs, "He seems to have straightend that out...I like that. Maybe it means he'll do a lot to reform Torm's teachings and help his lost worshippers?"
01[20:19] <Seira> "Neither might be about Torm, specifically, but each about a separate follower of his needing our assistance," Seira muses. "That would work."
[20:19] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah.
[20:21] <Alicia> "The first one felt a lot more direct, although since it possibly dealt with Zariel you could say its referring to a follower, yes," Alicia nods, berating herself a bit for not doing more to follow up on the schism she tried to encourage within Torm's church. "But hasn't Eudard sworn himself to Helm? He seemed especially devout, the last I saw him."
[20:22] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah." Demedais muses. "And... Yes, he's devoted to Helm, but I think he still sees Torm as an issue he would like to resolve?" Irony, that.
01[20:23] <Seira> "I brought this up before," Seira reminds her. "Not everything said in prophecy has to refer to a future event, does it? Some of them might have already come to pass, as long as the prophecy itself is still of use to us."
06[20:23] * Seira considers. "Like those tests? If there are three of them, the subject of the prophecy might already have experienced one or two."
[20:23] <Alicia> "Maybe you should talk it over with Eudard the next time you see him?" Alicia suggests to Demedais.
06[20:24] * Demedais nods. "I intend to."
[20:26] <Alicia> "So, what's the next one?" Alicia then asks, since they've done all they can on this one.
06[20:26] * Demedais flips over to the next one and reads for a bit, before speaking it.
[20:26] <Demedais> "14.1  One folds into two and into one / The acting defiance of nature strives long / Mirror bright and mirror unyielding bright hue  14.2  What is one cannot two stand opposed / Challenge of the will versus eternal truth / The heritage and duel of all souls  14.3  On the soul of maiden moon shall / The time for one and two to / The endless battle within and answer all"
[20:27] <Alicia> "Sounds like it's leading up to an epic final showdown between Selune and Shar," Marie remarks. "Probably best if we're not around when that happens..."
[20:28] <Kotono> "If it's Shar, she was mentioned before, wasn't she? Which verse was that, Deme?" Shivering again, "Could you repeat it?"
06[20:29] * Demedais nods and flips back.
[20:29] <Demedais>  "9.1: The enemy to all that lives waits / Patient eternal for the blackness of night / Her name sowing fearful bravery in heart  9.2: Eight and six and nine and seven / Paired in twain once and then thrice / Suzurainty waits in the abode of song  9.3: One who carries the noble and profane / Shall cast the first stone of purity / So that once again the enmity endures"
[20:29] <Alicia> "I'm not so sure," Alicia puts in. "It sounds more like Selune's an observer or arbiter - nothing else in it rings of Shar. Perhaps it means there'll be a schism in Her church?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "It's...mm." Antenora looks to Marie, "Say Marie. That mentions song again...the abode of song. That sounds kind of elven or eladrin, does it bring anything to mind?"
[20:32] <Demedais> "Hm. 'Challenge of the will versus eternal truth'... That's what gets me. Willpower versus truth?"
[20:32] <Kotono> "It's too vague." Father Ceiar merely thinks, "Like that. What's the eternal truth?"
[20:34] <Alicia> Marie shakes her head. "Lots of people like song. Just saying 'abode of song' isn't very distinctive."
[20:36] <Kotono> "It sounds like a riddle that we can't quite get a foot into it's door." Sourly looking up, "I can't think of anything."
[20:36] <Alicia> "Lets move on, then?" Alicia suggests.
01[20:39] <Seira> "All I've got is too far-fetched to be useful," Seira agrees.
06[20:39] * Demedais nods slightly. "We can always come back to these, so."
[20:40] <Demedais> "15.1 In crust salted by malice and fury / Where globes of crag chant fouled express / Burning blossoms shield Wroth and Negation shaped  15.2  Joy! For light comes to forbidden depths / Excising foul wroth and purging black despair / Yet unto nine there is nine more  15.3  Flesh consumed and ground dust to dust / The dirge is sung by the silken / Snakes forged of darkest paragons heart red"
[20:41] <Kotono> "Nine. Baator." Antenora's voice is heavy like lead, "A crust salted by malice and fury, burning blossoms?"
[20:42] <Demedais> "Yet unto nine there is nine more." Demedais repeats, closing his eyes. "That, I -really- don't like."
[20:42] <Alicia> "Avernus is constantly beset by battle and sporadic firestorms, isn't it?" Alicia agrees. "And I've heard of reference to paragon devils."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Yes. I was thinking of Avernus." Antenora breaks a brief smile to Alicia. "It's also the top of Baator, much like it's upper layer, or crust."
01[20:43] <Seira> "How about Nessus?" Seira asks.
[20:43] <Kotono> "Paragon devils?" Antenora cocks her head to Ailcia, "Where'd you hear that?"
[20:43] <Alicia> "That would be the chewy but not very delicious filling?" Marie suggests.
[20:44] <Demedais> "'Salted by malice and fury'... Don't demons and devils fight continually on Avernus? Salted by their blood?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Armanzas suggested Esthan might be one," Alicia tells Antenora. "He didn't elaborate on what it means, specifically."
[20:45] <Kotono> "They do," Antenora nods along, "So yes, it's definintely Avernus. The Blood War goes on constantly on Avernus, ran by Bel, Lord of the First. It's also where our favorite outcast devils reside, like Agares."
[20:45] <Alicia> "Who might well be Negation shaped, given his connection with entropy," Alicia puts in.
[20:46] <Kotono> "So we have the first part down." Antenora's face is happy as she smiles at Alicia, eyes sparkling. "So light comes to the forbidden depths of Avernus?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "A paragon...what is that?...but let's get to it in due time, then," Pollyanna just goes along with it, "This is completely out of my experience."
[20:46] <Alicia> "So what's unto nine there is nine more, then?" Alicia asks, not quite as thrilled.
[20:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 does Marie know what a paragon devil is?
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 does Marie know what a paragon devil is? and gets 30." [1d20=9]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 Antenora will try, sure.
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 Antenora will try, sure. and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[20:47] <Demedais> "Yeah, it's worrisome. Especially the third part. Sounds like the advent of light doesn't exactly go well."
[20:49] <Kotono> "We need to find out what those paragons are," Antenora resolves, "Once we do, the rest of it may make more sense. If Armanzas mentioned them, it's surely out there to be learned."
[20:49] <Alicia> "I can check on the gnomish prism later on," Alicia suggests. "Anyway, perhaps the 'nine more' are designated successors or something like that?"
[20:50] <Demedais> "Perhaps. It wouldn't surprise me." Demedais muses.
01[20:50] <Seira> "It would surprise me if there was only one for every opening."
[20:51] <Kotono> "Baator is nothing if not full of betrayal," To this Antenora laughs without much humor, "Perhaps there's going to be another coup on Baator. Perhaps, if we're to free Zariel, we'll play into it or spark it?"
[20:51] <Kotono> *Avernus
[20:51] <Alicia> "Anyway, I think that's all we're going to get on this one for now. Next?" Alicia elects to move on.
[20:51] <Demedais> "Perhaps. And what Seira said." Demedais notes.
06[20:51] * Demedais nods slightly.
06[20:52] * Demedais flips to the next one, and reads it over before frowning and reading it again.
[20:52] <Demedais> "16.1 Sleeper's lost dream days lost beneath motion / Seen once and never again dreamed of / Paired with what was seen and pardoned  16.2  Taken and left behind in the quiet / Ages past and ages forward again now / Slept once more and dreamed of tomorrow  16.3  Dream endless and dream momentary violently collide / Slipping into tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow / Verdict elusive and coming at once now"
[20:52] <Kotono> "...." Antenora just shakes her head. "It's in some sort of code. That makes no sense at all."
[20:53] <Alicia> "I've got nothing," Marie shrugs.
[20:53] <Kotono> "All of it's in a code," Pollyanna agrees, "But it means nothing ot me, too. A dreamer?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "Yet more horrible monsters slumbering for ages just to awaken now?"
[20:53] <Kotono> "Any ideas, Demedais?" Father Ceiar looks to him, "Perhaps your wisdom holds an answer?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "It seems to place as much significance on the dreams as on the sleeping, though," Alicia notes. "But... I don't know what that means, though."
[20:54] <Demedais> "Verdict...? Paired with what was seen and pardoned...?" Demedais muses.
01[20:54] <Seira> "Only one I could even remotely see as dreaming endlessly would be Uatu," Seira says with a shrug.
[20:54] <Demedais> "Yeah. That came to me immediately, but parts of it seem off - why would he need pardon, or a verdict?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "And what's with this violent collision of momentary and endless dreams?" Marie asks.
01[20:55] <Seira> "Because he's apparently still learning? It didn't seem to be like he understood the concept of ethics, much less made a conscious choice there."
[20:56] <Demedais> "Seen once and never again dreamed of... Slept once more and dreamed of tomorrow... No, I'm approaching this wrong. Seen once and never again dreamed of, sleep's lost dream days are lost beneath motion...
06[20:58] * Demedais shakes his head. "I'll work on this one, it nags at me. I feel like I should have an idea of what it relates to."
[21:00] <Demedais> "Next, then?"
01[21:00] <Seira> "Go for it."
[21:00] <Alicia> "By all means."
[21:01] <Demedais> "17.1  Guide set in eye of tranquil serenity / The wish of one and two clarion / The reckoning a grand gateway of desire  17.2  Standing alone and bound in chains faithful / A whisper roars into the fundaments sacred / Triumphant at the core of the aubade  17.3  All shall be fated to pass through / Triumph standing for all time in judgment / Guide watching over all as her legacy"
[21:02] <Alicia> "A guide set in the eye of tranquil serenity sounds like Uatu," Alicia remarks. "I always feel serene there, and it's watched over by Helmites, who hold the eye as their symbol."
[21:03] <Kotono> "It's also surely sacred ground to Helm. Fundaments sacred is a fancy way of saying that," Father Ceiar thinks, "So all shall be fated to pass through Uatu?"
[21:03] <Alicia> "I think they know that last part, Alicia," Marie deadpans, glancing at the two resident Helmites and eliciting an embarrassed blush from her mistress.
01[21:03] <Seira> "Since it's 'her', Uatu goes through a gender change?" Seira asks with a snicker.
[21:03] <Demedais> "Yeah. And... the "her" is..." Demedais muses. "Interesting."
[21:03] <Alicia> "I didn't think Uatu had any particular gender, but if 'it' chooses to identify as 'she' then more power to her," Alicia shrugs, collecting herself.
[21:03] <Kotono> "...no. Didn't Shamal find Uatu?" Pollyanna's smile is gone, "Before she...died?"
[21:04] <Demedais> "...This is true, too. Perhaps the two are tied together in some way, now." Demedais also notes.
01[21:04] <Seira> "That's a stretch," Seira states with a scowl.
[21:05] <Alicia> Never having known Shamal, Alicia doesn't feel qualified to comment, and so holds her tongue.
[21:06] <Kotono> "Maybe it is, but..." Pollyanna just shrugs.
[21:07] <Demedais> "... Well. Next, then?" Demedais says into the quiet?
06[21:09] * Alicia nods. "Go on, then."
[21:10] <Demedais> "Three and seven are twenty-one, so we're nearly done..." Demedais muses, flipping the page.
[21:10] <Demedais> "18.1 What sits as the crown to risings / Shall bestride fertility with lucre beyond check / The castle built true stone by stone  18.2  Crown of risings meets river of coals / Swirling mistral races over emerald dotted expanse / Blessed by all four and by three  18.3  Dominion of the old gives dying birth / Hybrid vigor roars from green to white / A planted life for tomorrow's coming sunrise"
[21:12] <Alicia> "For some odd reason I'm compelled to think of the lonely green dragon in the jungle, but that can't be right," Alicia just shakes her head.
01[21:12] <Seira> "Something... from the north?" Seira ventures uncertainly.
[21:13] <Demedais> "Nature, perhaps the jungle; hybrid, death of the old to something new, and a castle built well..."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Lots of money...a castle...hm." With a helpless shrug, "What fits those?"
[21:14] <Demedais> "...maybe Waukeen?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "She does rule money." A short thought to that, "So if it means Waukeen, then what?" Antenora looks right to Seira.
01[21:18] <Seira> "Well, to be honest, I didn't get a Waukeen vibe from this one," Seira admits. "Gold would kind of be essential somewhere, there, I think. If we still look at it, I guess lucre and crowns might sort of fit. A river of lava, planted life for tomorrow and even letting the old die might be tied into my future ventures, but again, it's all pretty sketchy to me. What made you guys think of Waukeen?"
[21:18] <Alicia> "Lucre's the only thing that fits as far as I can tell," Alicia admits.
[21:19] <Kotono> "Likewise. A river of coals sounds like those lava rivers below Balmuria," Antenora points out. "That's all I can think of.:"
01[21:19] <Seira> "Even if it somehow foretold me doing what I plan on doing, which I don't really see myself, I'm not sure what exactly the prophecy would change or accomplish."
[21:19] <Demedais> "Lucre, castle, and crown seemed to point to prosperity to me. But that was my impulse."
[21:20] <Alicia> "Wait, what if it means the United Baronies?" Alicia suggests. "Born of the old Malmuth empire, the emerald dotted expanse could be the bay, the river of coals is the lava as Antenora said... it seems to fit more if we look at it that way. But what does it mean?"
[21:21] <Demedais> "...by the Triad and four portals to the Elemental Planes?"
01[21:21] <Seira> "Helm approves of Balmuria?" Seira asks with a shrug.
01[21:21] <Seira> "Good enough for me."
[21:22] <Demedais> "My only trip is 'from green to white'..."
[21:22] <Alicia> "It doesn't really seem to be warning us about anything, so what's the point of it?" Marie asks. "I mean, who ever comes out with a prophecy that says 'everything will be okay'?"
[21:23] <Kotono> "Maybe it's in the method to it?" Antenora considers, "I mean, swirling mistral? River of coals? Remember how you were thinking about those elemental portals, Alicia?"
01[21:23] <Seira> "If several of the prophecies are tied together, this one might supply clues for another," Seira suggests, but she sounds dubious, herself.
[21:23] <Alicia> "So the air one might be in the sky above the bay," Alicia nods to Antenora.
[21:24] <Demedais> "Perhaps the last part hints to the portal of air, yes." Demedais nods.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Okay, I think that's all we're getting for now. Shall we move on?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Yes," Father Ceiar says, "Almost there."
06[21:25] * Demedais nods.
[21:26] <Demedais> "19.1 The secret of nine returns to three / Names known and faces obscured deep dark / Misery spreads from every ruler's bleeding smile  19.2  To know three is to know nine / To know nine is to know fate / To know fate is to know hope  19.3  The blade is crafted of today's hope / The armor is made of heart's resolve / The girded sever apart three to nine"
[21:27] <Alicia> "Well, names known makes me think of Esthan's superior," Alicia muses.
[21:29] <Demedais> "There is that... Yet another line that makes me think of forging arms..."
[21:30] <Kotono> "Hm...Faces obscured by names known. That sounds like high ranking devils," Antneora says after some thought.
[21:31] <Demedais> "Yeah. It does... 'The secret of nine returns to three'? The power of the nine returns to three of them?"
01[21:31] <Seira> "Or those freakish fiends whose very name sets you on fire?" Seira suggests, glancing at Alicia.
06[21:31] * Alicia nods to Seira. "Such an easy to pronounce name, too. Its a wonder more people haven't died by accident."
01[21:32] <Seira> "We don't really know more about them, and they're pretty obscure. Could be a possibility."
06[21:33] * Demedais blinks at this, but then nods and scrawls down something on his parchment. "The final part seems to hint as to how to defeat them?"
[21:34] <Alicia> "Blades of hope and armour of resolve sound really nice, but how do they really work?" Marie asks.
06[21:35] * Demedais shrugs. "That, I don't know. We'd probably need to consult with others."
[21:37] <Kotono> "It returns to three..mmmm..." Antenora at last just waves her hand, "I want to think about this one, but later."
[21:37] <Alicia> "Well, lacking anything further, shall we go to the next?"
06[21:38] * Demedais nods.
[21:38] <Demedais> "20.1 Every night is the surface of eternity / Hidden in ignorance yet blessed by Her / Seeded into direst catastrophy and chosen ruin  20.2  When that day comes crown meets guide / Beyond the most blessed body waits truth / Blade to blood and blood to blade  20.3  All gives way for most important day / A ritual and a battle both rages / Settling the final question with an answer"
01[21:39] <Seira> "Crown and guide could be references to those mentioned earlier?" Seira wonders out loud.
[21:40] <Alicia> "If Crown is Balmuria from that earlier one, we need to figure out what Guide is," Alicia agrees. "And who is 'Her'?"
[21:40] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah. And 'Her'... with the references to night, eternity, ignorance and catastrophe, is it Shar again?"
01[21:41] <Seira> "My, that would make her so popular."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Far too much so," Pollyanna mutters.
[21:42] <Kotono> "Mmmm." After some thought, "We're almost done." Father Ceiar nods, "Let's hear the last one and then start putting the pieces of the various verses together?"
[21:43] <Demedais> "..." Demedais pauses quietly, before closing the book. "Tell the truth, the last one is both surprising and entirely too predictable."
[21:43] <Alicia> "And they all lived happily ever after?" Marie suggests, smiling.
01[21:43] <Seira> "My vote's on the god-king!"
06[21:45] * Demedais shakes his head slightly. "Seira, you got it right earlier; in the end... it comes back to what we have to say when it's all said and done. Section 21 is unwritten, but for a place denoting where to write it in."
[21:45] <Kotono> "What is it?" Father Ceiar leans forward.
[21:47] <Alicia> "So we *can* write that they all lived happily ever after," Alicia concludes with a smile of her own.
[21:47] <Kotono> "Hmph." Antenora snorts, "An anti-climax."
[21:47] <Demedais> "An anti-climax of sorts, yes, but... "Settling the final question with an answer?" The answer is whatever will be written at the end. That's how I'm reading it, at least."
[21:48] <Alicia> "I prefer to write my own ending, anyway," Alicia tells Antenora cheerily, liking this prophecy best of all.
[21:48] <Kotono> "That's true. The point is that we're going to write our own conclusion to all of this?" Antenora returns that smile to Alicia, "That's the truth at the end of all of this?"
06[21:49] * Demedais mutters under his breath after a moment, sitting down and shaking his head before trying to collect his memories of what all he saw. "I suppose there's no way I'd remember seeing any of this, but of course..."
01[21:49] <Seira> "Don't try to hard. I said it, didn't I? Knowing too much is boring!"
[21:50] <Demedais> "Ah... yes."
[21:52] <Alicia> "I prefer to be trusted to figure things out and do the right thing than to have to try and decipher a half-written guidebook, so I'm fine with that," Alicia nods resolutely. "Anyway, on to other matters. Demedais, we've had some indications that the Winterwight in the jungle may be a long-term threat if left alone,"
[21:52] <Alicia> "so we've decided to deal with it permanently - Kossuth has granted us aid to stymie its most powerful abilities, so it should be within our abilities. Will you be able to take part in battling it? I'd like to go soon now that we're all back together again."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Now then..." Breathing out, "Now that they're all done, which ones are we certain on?" Father Ceiar asks.
01[21:53] <Seira> "I'm only absolutely certain of the one relating the land to the east," Seira tells the priest. "Soon could be tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned, if we can make it," she adds for Alicia.
[21:56] <Kotono> "We got a few of them well figured," Pollyanna considers, "Maybe you're right, Alicia, but there's still guidance here. I'd rather hav ean idea what's coming than going in blind."
06[21:56] * Demedais looks between Alicia and Father Ceiar, before first nodding to Alicia. "I'd want to prepare spells so that weapons can impact it directly, so perhaps tomorrow would be best?" Then, to Father Ceiar, "Hold on.... For the most part, 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 17 and 18 seem clearest for now.
[21:59] <Alicia> "They just makes you second guess yourself," Alicia reasons in reply to Pollyanna. "If we have to do something specific I'd rather be told clearly, or else left to figure things out on my own. Having an incomplete understanding just breeds hesitation as you're left trying to figure out how things fit with some prophecy instead of taking it on its own merits."
[22:00] <Kotono> "I suggest we deal with the winterwight, then return to this?" Antenora looks to everyone, "Once that burden is resolved, we can have some time to try and puzzle out any more pieces of this."
01[22:01] <Seira> "We might as well go over our plan for dealing with it, then."
[22:02] <Kotono> "What is the plan?" Now looking about to Demedais, "We've prepared one for it?"
[22:03] <Alicia> "We've got two advantages, not even counting Kossuth's blessing," Alicia points out. "For one, Antenora's rope can render it corporeal. That coupled with even something as simple as a tanglefoot bag could work very well to keep it tied down."
[22:03] <Alicia> "For another, incorporeal creatures can't manifest within an antimagic field, so that could be used to provide a defence for if anyone has to regroup, and Pollyanna can fire her bow out of it with impunity."
01[22:05] <Seira> "Kossuth would surely approve if I do my best to set it on fire, so that's what I'm going to try," Seira muses. "I'll try to build up my defense magically, too, in case it tries to get past the front line and attack Pollyanna."
[22:06] <Kotono> "I can shoot it. The Resort should work." Pollyanna nods.
06[22:06] * Demedais remains quiet for now, thinking a bit. "As for me, it seems best if I prepare what support I can."
[22:06] <Kotono> "I can rope it and I can also try charging it. It may be best to overwhelm it and have backup plans if that fails. We have s uperior numbers and can choose when to fight it."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Antenora has the most dangerous job, since she has to remain out in the open and keep it tied down with her rope," Alicia adds with an apologetic look to the former erinyes. "As for myself, I've figured out a good system with my new weapon, so I'd stay with Pollyanna inside the antimagic field and flit in and out to attack it hopefully without reprisal."
01[22:08] <Seira> "We could try summoning elementals ahead of time, to provide some buffer," Seira suggests. "Fire ones, since it'd be appropriate?"
[22:08] <Alicia> "Anything works, since they'd merely be distractions," Alicia agrees.
01[22:08] <Seira> "They can aid in defense as well, if need be."
[22:09] <Kotono> "We'll all need to be warded against cold." Antenor abegins, "Magical weapons and heroics would be preferred. The ability to strike incorpreal is vital, even if I tie it. It may not happen and if we're caught in the lurch without it, things could go very bad."
06[22:10] * Demedais nods. "I have a spell that can make a weapon able to hit incorporeal targets; I'll make sure to prepare it."
[22:10] <Alicia> "Demedais said he can handle that," Alicia reminds Antenora. "I can provide protection against cold and other enhancements to improve the power of our attacks."
01[22:10] <Seira> "Like I said, I'll try to avoid the melee altogether, myself. The right sort of magic should harm it just as well."

[Corwin]

[20:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to oasis
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to oasis and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[20:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 to steel jungle
06[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 to steel jungle and gets 12." [1d100=12]
06[20:16] * Kotono nods. We'll start when you all are ready.
03[20:18] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[20:18] <Kotono> ----
[20:19] <Kotono> Woosh! The party teleports back to the steel jungle, heading below. The jungles are silent now as you proceed downward. You head into the oozecat laboratory, coming to the closed door that shields the winterwight from the rest of the world. Ahead you, once you open that door, is your objective.
[20:20] <Alicia> Marie is naturally hanging back from everyone so as not to interfere with her antimagic field as Alicia's eyes glow blue and she examines the door to confirm the magical traps on it remain intact.
[20:20] <Alicia> roll 1d4+5 MI for Anty
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4+5 MI for Anty and gets 7." [1d4=2]
01[20:20] <Seira> roll 1d10
06[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d10 and gets 10." [1d10=10]
[20:20] <Kotono> The traps on it remain as they were left last time.
[20:20] <Kotono> Antenora is at the ready, almost bouncing up and down on the ground. She's quiet, waiting just behind Alicia.
06[20:21] * Demedais mutters something and begins raising his buff skills; Divine Power and Law Devotion, then Protection Devotion
[20:21] <Demedais> OOC: Strike
[20:21] <Kotono> Pollyanna draws her jeweled bow now, "Everyone ready?" she asks in a soft voice, "Let's not make any mistakes and let it have a chance to hurt any of us. If the fables about it's power are true..."
01[20:22] <Seira> roll 3d6
06[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d6 and gets 14." [3d6=6, 4, 4]
[20:22] <Alicia> "Agreed. Defence is our priority," Alicia nods. "Seira, do you have Kossuth's relic ready?"
06[20:23] * Demedais nods slightly. "Tell me when we're about to go in, so I may raise my short-term support up."
01[20:24] <Seira> "Got it here with me," Seira confirms belatedly. "Wouldn't leave home without it."
[20:25] <Kotono> "Then let's end this abomination?" Antenora whispers, looking ahead to the door. "Does everyone have the plan straight?"
01[20:25] <Seira> "So, same as last time, I'll open the door and Alicia negates the magical defenses?"
[20:26] <Alicia> "Pollyanna and I stick close to Marie and harry it, you entangle it with your rope to render it vulnerable, Demedais assaults it head on and Seira hits it with spells from range?" Alicia confirms the plan.
06[20:27] * Demedais shrugs. "I get up close, hopefully lock it down in melee as a target. Everyone else disable and pummel it."
01[20:27] <Seira> "Then we're ready, yes," Seira muses, casting an extended Haste upon them all before getting to work.
06[20:28] * Alicia channels a moonbow spell into her falchion, making its silvery highlights glow in stark relief for a moment before fading. "Marie, come up so you can suppress the magic on the doorway," she instructs her familiar, Marie flying up adjacent to the door.
[20:29] <Kotono> Seira opens the door! Ahead lies a room perhaps fifty feet long. It is covered with runes and magical wards, all written in red, crimson and still burning, seemingly living fire.  Against the back wall is a shimmering field of force. In the field, chained to the wall with ethereal bonds of silver and cold iron, is a wraith. This wraith is streaked with white and cold. Every second or two ice gushes out, pushing past the sphere! Yet the wards a
[20:29] <Kotono> Every second or two ice gushes out, pushing past the sphere! Yet the wards and magics past it burn hot, pushing the ice back! This repeats every second, as if holding off winter's direst advance.
06[20:30] * Seira sees is as a good time to call upon a shield of fire, preparing for the dispelling of the sphere of force.
[20:30] <Alicia> "Follow me," Marie tells Pollyanna, flying in and positioning herself midway in the room at the right hand side. Alicia enters the room herself in the middle so she can cast spells for the moment...
[20:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 spellcraft on the forcefield - will it need to be disintegrated or will dispel work?
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 spellcraft on the forcefield - will it need to be disintegrated or will dispel work? and gets 38." [1d20=17]
[20:31] <Kotono> Antenora steps into the room, rope in hands and spear on her back. She's ready to fly ahead, hovering just over the ground.
[20:32] <Alicia> "Everyone take positions, I'm ready to bring down the field," Alicia announces, raising a hand as she prepares to cast...
[20:33] <Demedais> "...though I confess that suddenly I wonder if letting Polly just snipe it from here isn't our best option, but..." Demedais moves into position, buffs set as he waits...
[20:33] <Kotono> "Mystra shield us and use us as your weapons..." Antenora preys, eyes narrowed as she peers at the bound winterwight.
[20:33] <Alicia> "It has a forcefield around it?" Marie suggests to Demedais.
06[20:33] * Seira surrounds herself with images, taking up a position sixty feet away.
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d4+5
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Room's 50 feet long, that'll put you out of the room. That okay, Seira?
01[20:34] <Seira> OOC: Make it forty feet away
[20:34] <Alicia> With everyone ready, Alicia incants her spell! "By Mystra's will, let the barrier be torn asunder so that Shar and Auril's progeny may meet its end this day!"
[20:34] <Kotono> OOC: Right.
[20:34] <Demedais> "...mmm. Right, brain forgot that was the one thing the arrows likely would not pierce." Demedais shrugs after a moment.
[20:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 greater dispel
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 greater dispel and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[20:35] <Alicia> If that does it, Alicia immediately moves into Marie's antimagic field.
[20:35] <Kotono> OOC: Let me line before you guys react again.
[20:36] <Kotono> CRACK! Calling on Mystra's will, Alicia shatters the globe of force! In an instant, the chains around it snap into shards of ice! The runes on the floor ice over, an immediate ice age all around you! A black, dead winter engulfs everything! Your vision is taken from you as you fall into an endless abyss of snow...until the world pulses with crimson fire. From Seira a point of intense, otherworldly flame softly warms the room! The dire winter i
[20:36] <Kotono>  From Seira a point of intense, otherworldly flame softly warms the room! The dire winter is pushed back, your vision restored! (More)
[20:39] <Kotono> It's face is a dead, ghoslty skull of ice. Black fire dances in it's eyes. It's hands are two foot long claws of black ice, like daggers each. It's mouth is a portal into winter's oblivion-heart, screaming! Faster than you can follow, the winterwight is pouncing at the party! OOC: Init here.
[20:39] <Demedais> roll 1d20+5 kay
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+5 kay and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
01[20:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+6
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Pollyanna
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Pollyanna and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Marie?
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 Marie
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 Marie and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[20:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 winterwight
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 winterwight and gets 20." [1d20=4]
03[20:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(25)>Seira(15)Demedais(8)'
03[20:41] * Kotono changes topic to 'Alicia(25)>Antenora=Winterwight(20)>Seira(15)>Pollyanna=Marie(14)Demedais(8)'
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: Go Alicia.
06[20:42] * Alicia flies up out of the antimagic field briefly and hurls Hell Striker down at the onrushing winterwight, her magic causing the flaming blade to arc in a vicious curve that slices through the Wight before returning to her hand as she promptly drops back into the safety of the antimagic field!
03[20:42] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[20:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 knowledge
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 knowledge and gets 32." [1d20=16]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+40 6th level arcane strike, divine might
06[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+40 6th level arcane strike, divine might and gets 57." [1d20=17]
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+40 6th level arcane strike, divine might crit check
06[20:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+40 6th level arcane strike, divine might crit check and gets 54." [1d20=14]
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: hit and a crit, you got it flatfooted.
[20:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 SR for moonbow
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 SR for moonbow and gets 37." [1d20=20]
[20:44] <Kotono> OOC: Congratulations, you rolled the only number that got it through.
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 4d4+58+2d6+1d6+1d8+7d4 weapon damage
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+58+2d6+1d6+1d8+7d4 weapon damage and gets 100." [4d4=4, 1, 4, 2][2d6=4, 5][1d6=1][1d8=3][7d4=2, 3, 4, 3, 1, 4, 1]
[20:45] <Alicia> roll 48d6 electricity moonbow damage
06[20:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 48d6 electricity moonbow damage  and gets 150."]
[20:47] <Kotono> Alicia charges in, swiping into it! Pure lighting dances in it's body, ripping into it's side! The blow would obliterate a mountain as Alicia falls back...yet thew interwight's body is only somewhat torn! A blast of ice comes from it's torn side, freezing the entire left wall solid! With a howling scream, it charges headlong at the closestperson: Demedais!
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 claw touch
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 claw touch and gets 40." [1d20=7]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 34." [1d20=6]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36." [1d20=18]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 claw 2 touch
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 claw 2 touch and gets 49." [1d20=16]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+28
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+28 and gets 39." [1d20=11]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 43." [1d20=20]
[20:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 crit?
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 crit? and gets 41." [1d20=18]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31." [1d20=13]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 extra claw from haste
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 extra claw from haste and gets 37." [1d20=4]
[20:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+31 skull butt
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+31 skull butt and gets 45." [1d20=14]
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC: AC?
[20:48] <Demedais> OOC: 35, thanks to Haste.
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d6 sonic damage I forgot
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d6 sonic damage I forgot and gets 5." [1d6=5]
[20:49] <Kotono> OOC: Five claws, a crit claw, a skull butt and it also rends.
[20:51] <Kotono> 21d8+63+2d6+9 and 8 vile and make a fort save, DR applies to the damage seven times(7 total hits.)
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 21d8+63+2d6+9 and 8 vile and make a fort save, DR applies to the damage seven times(7 total hits.) and gets 161." [21d8=4, 1, 4, 1, 8, 6, 4, 7, 6, 7, 2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 4, 2][2d6=5, 4]
[20:52] <Demedais> roll 1d20+24 and I forgot Nightshield, not like it'd help here
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+24 and I forgot Nightshield, not like it'd help here and gets 28." [1d20=4]
[20:55] <Kotono> The beast tears into Demedais with an utter fury! Black fire roars over Demedais' body, burning him frozen! Agony unknown to him before dims his senses, as his very form is charred and frozen at once! OOC: -4 con, Deme. (More)
[20:56] <Kotono> From it's body, a great beam of pure frozen ice stabs forward at Alicia! It impacts into the antimagic field! For terrible moments the field wavers, the ice tickling Alicia's front, almost reaching her! But it is in vain, the magic repelled and fizzled away! OOC: Antenora's up.
[20:57] <Kotono> Flying forward, Antenora flings her rope out at the Winterwight!
[20:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch
06[20:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch and gets 29." [1d20=9]
[20:59] <Kotono> The rope flies at the Winterwight, but a black aura flares around it's body! The rope is thrown aside, hitting against the frozen wall! OOC: Seira.
[20:59] <Alicia> OOC: hey, I rolled 7d4 instead of 6d4 on my attack. So, uh, -1 damage since that's what the last d4 was
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:00] <Kotono> OOC: Also, I forgot the rend damage, Deme.
[21:00] <Kotono> 6d8+13 DR applies
06[21:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d8+13 DR applies and gets 34." [6d8=2, 8, 2, 2, 2, 5]
01[21:03] <Seira> "Lagann, support Demedais with FIRE!" Seira commands, and the sentient orb summons fiery elementals around the paladin, hovering protectively. For her part, Seira sends an orb of solidified force the winterwight's way, while mentally commanding it to pause in its tracks!
01[21:03] <Seira> roll 1d3
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d3 and gets 3." [1d3=3]
01[21:04] <Seira> OOC: 3 medium fire elementals are near Deme and boost his AC
[21:04] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, roll the aid another?
01[21:04] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 orb of force, touch
06[21:04] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 orb of force, touch and gets 26." [1d20=8]
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: Orb misses, will describe now unless you're using a swift as well.
01[21:05] <Seira> roll 3#1d20+6 aids
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3#1d20+6 aids and gets 49." [3#1d20+6 = 25, 13, 11]
01[21:05] <Seira> OOC: The swift was a Halt Undead
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: What's the save/DC on it?
01[21:06] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 SR
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: Yes, SR. CL check.
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 SR and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[21:07] <Kotono> Seira fires an orb of force while commanding it to stop! But even raw force freezes before the winterwight! It turns to a crystalline blue material, crumbling to dust in the air in front of it! OOC: Polly and Marie.
[21:07] <Kotono> Pollyanna readies her arrows, firing them one after another in a rapid volley! "Back, Demedais!"
[21:08] <Alicia> Marie flies up momentarily to get Pollyanna out of the anti-magic field, then immediately descends once the archer has fired.
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 rapid shot
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 rapid shot and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 rapid shot
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 rapid shot and gets 25." [1d20=4]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 31." [1d20=15]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29." [1d20=18]
01[21:08] <Seira> OOC: Haste
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: She's in the antimagic.
[21:08] <Alicia> OOC: see my line
01[21:08] <Seira> OOC: See Eb's line
[21:08] <Alicia> OOC: so her bracers and stuff apply, too
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: Oh. Right-o, also +2 to her rolls.
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23 haste
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 haste and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: +1 more for haste. Still only one hit, though.
[21:09] <Kotono> roll 3d6+14+1d6 sonic
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6+14+1d6 sonic and gets 29." [3d6=3, 4, 4][1d6=4]
[21:10] <Kotono> Pollyanna snaps off arrow after arrow of force! One of them passes through the winterwight's face, howling! Yet pure frost reforms it's skull, only a few cracks left after the wound closes! OOC: Deme.
06[21:16] * Demedais grimaces for a quick moment, before shaking his head against the cold through all his bones. "Just... just kill the damn thing! If it reaches anyone else...!" With that, he lets loose a furious salvo of defensive crosses against the Winterwight, finishing with a sweep intended to keep the undead's claws away as he concentrates himself!
[21:17] <Demedais> roll 1d20+21 (-18 CE)
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+21 (-18 CE) and gets 23." [1d20=2]
[21:17] <Demedais> roll 1d20+21 (-18 CE)
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+21 (-18 CE) and gets 34." [1d20=13]
[21:17] <Demedais> roll 1d20+16 (-18 CE)
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+16 (-18 CE) and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[21:17] <Demedais> roll 1d20+11 (-18 CE)
06[21:17] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+11 (-18 CE) and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[21:17] <Kotono> OOC: Isn't CE limited to your BAB?
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Well, improved, anyway.
[21:18] <Demedais> OOC: ...Right. -16, then; BAB is currently improved thanks to Divine Power. +2 to all hits.
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. No hits.
[21:18] <Demedais> roll 1d20+6 (-16 CE)
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+6 (-16 CE) and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[21:18] <Kotono> OOC: Check that. Crit confirm.
[21:18] <Demedais> roll 1d20+6 (-16 CE) since when can i crit the undead?
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+6 (-16 CE) since when can i crit the undead? and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Whoops. Damage. Normal hit.
[21:19] <Demedais> roll 2d6+17 whack to the claws
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d6+17 whack to the claws and gets 20." [2d6=1, 2]
[21:20] <Kotono> Demedais goes on the defensive, every breath leaking black ice from his mouth! He manages to breka on eof it's many dagger-like claws, ice spraying about as he engages the winterwight! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:21] * Alicia flies out of the antimagic field, this time engaging the winterwight in melee to take advantage of the distraction it suffers from so many foes around it, issuing forth a single mighty flaming slash at its neck before she whirls about in midair and falls back!
[21:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+43 divine might, raging, 6th and 4th and 3rd level arcane strike, flanking, flying
06[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+43 divine might, raging, 6th and 4th and 3rd level arcane strike, flanking, flying and gets 47." [1d20=4]
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[21:22] <Alicia> roll 2d4+29+2d6+1d6+1d6+13d4+1d8
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+29+2d6+1d6+1d6+13d4+1d8 and gets 90." [2d4=1, 3][2d6=4, 6][1d6=4][1d6=1][13d4=2, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 4, 3, 2, 4][1d8=7]
[21:23] <Kotono> Alicia manages to hit it again, dragging her sword through! She opens a gash on it's back, the icy spray turning the rear wall into a glacier! As this happens...OOC: Wight is up. Make a fort save, Deme.
[21:23] <Demedais> roll 1d20+24
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+24 and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[21:24] <Kotono> OOC: Lucky.
[21:26] <Kotono> Black fire continues to burn and freeze Demedais, but he withstands it for now! The winterwight howls like a frozen storm's whirlwinds! "You are dead..." It hisses, "As for the rest of you, watch as winter eternal comes to claim you!" With that, a transparent door appears ahead of the winterwight, the creature stepping through it and vanishing! As it does, Antenora is charging forward, looking to impale the elusive beast that threw off her rop
[21:26] <Kotono>  Antenora is charging forward, looking to impale the elusive beast that threw off her rope!
[21:28] <Kotono> roll 1d20+39 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 heroism, +2 GMW, +2 FS 9/10, +8 smite, +12 ignorance, -15 PA)
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+39 (+2 charge, +1 flying, +2 heroism, +2 GMW, +2 FS 9/10, +8 smite, +12 ignorance, -15 PA) and gets 40." [1d20=1]
01[21:28] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 spellcraft
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora is a second too slow! HEr spear passes through the where the wight was just a second ago! A few moments later, you hear a dreadful shattering behind you! OOC: Seira, you're up.
06[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 spellcraft and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[21:29] <Alicia> "It's out in the main lab!" Alicia cries, whirling about at the sound of the tinkling glass.
01[21:29] <Seira> "It's only a dimensional door, it can't be far!" Seira calls out, using Waukeen's gift to speed outside!
01[21:30] <Seira> OOC: I'll use the 30ft move to get out and then decide more
[21:31] <Kotono> As the party turns and Seira races outside, they see the lab outside is utterly frozen! Thick sheets of ice cover everything, only retreating around Seira as warmth continues to enaminate from her! The endless glass jars shatter with cold, frozen slime and creatures spraying about like knives of gooey winter! Howling on a terrible tornado of wind, "I will return this world to the oblivion of perfect winter! You will be the first onces to embra
[21:31] <Kotono> "I will return this world to the oblivion of perfect winter! You will be the first onces to embrace the destiny of all Creation!"
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 Marie has listen, unlike Alicia
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 Marie has listen, unlike Alicia and gets 21." [1d20=15]
06[21:34] * Demedais just tries to heal himself, being unable to do much else other than that and listen at this juncture.
[21:34] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 and gets 31." [1d20=5]
[21:34] <Demedais> roll 1d4 lesser restore
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d4 lesser restore and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: Seira's not done yet, but listen check noted.
01[21:34] <Seira> "Dry up and die in a fire, freak," Seira mutters, headed towards the stairs at full speed to cut off the monster's retreat, even as her elementals are directed to comb the area.
[21:34] <Alicia> "It's over that way!" Marie points, urging Alicia and Pollyanna to get moving after it and keeping her own pace close to theirs.
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: How far did you move, Marie?
[21:35] <Demedais> "It's about 120 feet from you, I think, Seira!"
[21:35] <Alicia> OOC: She won't move until Alicia and Polly do, and isn't it Seira's turn?
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: Point. Sorry.
06[21:36] * Seira changes her direction at that, heading into the storm with the Resort drawn!
[21:36] <Kotono> OOC: How far can you move with the rest of your move, Seira?
01[21:36] <Seira> OOC: 30ft originally, 60ft more traveled, my elementals are going to try and catch up.
01[21:36] <Seira> OOC: Oh! Haste. I'll move for 90ft and take a look.
[21:38] <Kotono> Seira approaches ahead, boots letting her pick through the difficult terrain as she hustles! She comes to thirty feet away from the winterwight! It floats in the air, spheres of ice and frozen glass hovering around it's body! Half formed heads of oozecats are frozen in silent agony in this orbit. As Seira approaches, the warmth of her artifact continues to shield and protect her away from the vile winter! Meanwhile, the elementals follow! OOC:
[21:38] <Kotono> protect her away from the vile winter! Meanwhile, the elementals follow! OOC: Polly'n'Marie.
[21:38] <Kotono> OOC: Seira, anything else?
06[21:38] * Seira lets go of the Resort, and Lagann needs no further invitation to try and stab the winterwight with it!
01[21:38] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
[21:38] <Alicia> "Come on, Pollyanna, lets go!" Marie starts flying forward in the direction she heard the wight, urging the archer girl to keep pace with her!
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 and gets 26." [1d20=4]
[21:39] <Kotono> The Resort flies at the winterwight! A block of gooey ice intercepts it, deflecting the Resort away! OOC: Polly'n'Marie now.
[21:40] <Alicia> OOC: see my line, Marie can move 60 feet and Polly can double move the same distance, or they can move 30 if that gets Polly close enough to take a shot
01[21:40] <Seira> "You know, that whole returning thing?" Seira asks. "When was it ever in the grasp of endless winter?"
[21:40] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[21:40] <Kotono> Pollyanna and Marie hurry ahead, picking through the frozen, shattered ground! Marie's teeth clatter and Pollyanna shivers, as they get close enough for Pollyanna to make a shot!
01[21:40] <Seira> OOC: Elementals have a speed of 50ft, they'll double move for 100
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 40." [1d20=19]
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 3d8+14+1d6 lucky
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+14+1d6 lucky and gets 24." [3d8=2, 3, 4][1d6=1]
[21:42] <Kotono> Pollyanna kneels and fires off a flawless shot! It goes through the chest of the winterwight, it's response to Seira pulsating and rippling! "Your words will be answered in your demise!" OOC: Deme.
[21:43] <Demedais> OOC: did my Lesser Restoration go off or not.
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: You're up now, Deme. You can cast it now if you like. We've still been in init, so no.
06[21:43] * Demedais casts Lesser Restoration and follows the group out slowly, moving 50 feet.
[21:43] <Demedais> OOC: roll again?
[21:44] <Kotono> OOC: No need.
[21:44] <Demedais> right.
[21:44] <Kotono> The black fire clings to Demedais, his Restoration doing nothing! The cold in his bones fails to relent at his magic as he continue son! OOC: Alicia.
06[21:45] * Alicia flies after Marie and Pollyanna, passing through the antimagic field to just get in range of the Winterwight and hurling her blade forward on wings of magic to hack into its chest, catching Hell Striker on its return flight and dropping back a few steps into the antimagic field!
[21:45] <Kotono> OOC: What's your fly speed, Alicia?
[21:45] <Alicia> OOC: 60
[21:45] <Kotono> OOC: It's over 120 ft away from you, remember.
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: It was 120ish away from Seira after she moved out of th eroom.
[21:46] <Alicia> OOC: ah, not in range for whirling blade, then, strike my line
[21:46] <Kotono> OOC: Right.
06[21:47] * Alicia casts a spell to vanish herself from sight, flying after her companions and reappearing as she lands next to the kneeling Pollyanna!
[21:47] <Alicia> OOC: greater invis go
[21:47] <Kotono> OOC: Winterwight.
[21:47] <Alicia> OOC: wait!
[21:47] <Alicia> OOC: fly speed 90 with haste!
[21:47] <Alicia> OOC: although... nah, that's actually not enough
[21:48] <Alicia> OOC: nevermind, carry on
[21:48] <Kotono> Around the winterwight, a terrible storm of sleet bursts around it, hiding it from sight! You can't see it at all! OOC: Antenora's up.
[21:49] <Kotono> Antenora stops to go grab her rope, then flies out and begins to catch up with the party! OOC: Seira.
01[21:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+16 can I see Alicia?
06[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 can I see Alicia? and gets 19." [1d20=3]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC: No dice.
01[21:51] <Seira> "Thirty feet ahead, ten to the right, use me as reference!" Seira announces, approaching to a distance of thirty feet before breathing golden fire upon the abomination, even as Lagann continues his relentless assault!
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Are you moving into the sleet storm or just in range for your breath to reach?
01[21:52] <Seira> OOC: Is there a sleet storm farther than 15 ft from it?
[21:52] <Kotono> OOC: It's outer radius is twenty feet ahead of where it is now.
01[21:52] <Seira> OOC: Okay, let's do it this way....
01[21:53] <Seira> Stopping at her maximum range of thirty feet, Seira breathes golden fire in a wide arc, casting a fireball for good measure, while Lagann attacks!
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 fire+holy
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 fire+holy and gets 54." [8d8=2, 5, 4, 3, 7, 8, 7, 5][2d8=7, 6]
01[21:53] <Seira> roll 1d20+17 fireball SR
06[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+17 fireball SR and gets 29." [1d20=12]
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 Lagann
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 Lagann and gets 23." [1d20=1]
01[21:54] <Seira> OOC: My save dc is surely pathetic, but half might go through?
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d4 turns
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4 turns and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 ref
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 ref and gets 37." [1d20=17]
[21:55] <Kotono> Seir abreathes fire into the sleet storm! For a split second, it shows the way ahead! Blazing gold burns into the winterwight, battling his ice for the split second you see it! OOC: Anything else or was that it, Seira?
01[21:56] <Seira> OOC: That's it. Did coming closer with my mystic Kossuth fire drive some of the sleet storm away?
[22:00] <Kotono> OOC: You got a split second glance and that was it.
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Marie'n'Polly.
[22:01] <Alicia> Marie helps out Polly by flitting up a moment so she can shoot to full affect before descending to reassert the antimagic.
[22:02] <Kotono> Pollyanna aims and fires off a flurry of arrows at the spot in the storm the winterwight was glimpsed!
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 32." [1d20=8]
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 21." [1d20=3]
[22:02] <Kotono> OOC: +1
[22:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
[22:03] <Kotono> Pollyanna lets a ripping burst of arrows forth, but none land successfully this time! OOC: Deme.
06[22:04] * Demedais mutters and begins circling around, touching himself to try and heal despite the black fire. OOC: 28 HP, moving to circle around.
[22:04] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. Alicia.
06[22:05] * Alicia flies out of the antimagic field, vanishing as she does so and hurling her sword forward in the direction she briefly glimpsed the winterwight, catching it as it returns and retreating to the antimagic where she reappears!
[22:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+42 divine might, invis, 6th 4th 3rd level arcane strike
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+42 divine might, invis, 6th 4th 3rd level arcane strike and gets 47." [1d20=5]
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: d100.
[22:06] <Alicia> OOC: it's a line so wouldn't it be certain to hit?
[22:08] <Alicia> OOC: we've used this ruling before, but if concealment will be an issue then I'll do something different
[22:08] <Kotono> OOC: That's fine then, go ahead.
[22:08] <Alicia> roll 2d4+29+2d6+1d6+1d6+1d8+13d4
06[22:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d4+29+2d6+1d6+1d6+1d8+13d4 and gets 89." [2d4=3, 2][2d6=4, 3][1d6=4][1d6=6][1d8=4][13d4=2, 4, 4, 3, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 4, 2, 3, 3]
[22:09] <Kotono> Alicia fires into the sleet storm, blade cutting deep into the winterwight...perhaps? It returns, but there is no abatement of the winter! OOC: Winterwight is up, as is Antenora.
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: First, make another fort save, Deme?
[22:09] <Demedais> roll 1d20+24
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+24 and gets 38." [1d20=14]
[22:10] <Kotono> The black fire continues to roar around Demedais, it's icy touch devastating him...but again, he holds it off with all his will and might, keeping it's soul chilling energies at bay! OOC: 'wight and Antenora are up.
[22:11] <Demedais> OOC: -2 to the check, actually. forgot.
[22:11] <Kotono> OOC: Still passed.
[22:11] <Kotono> Antenora glares ahead, "It's...damn, it's gone!" Antenora calls, "Vanished again!" Meanwhile, she flies to Demedais and looks about, healing his wounds. OOC: +16 HP Deme. Seira's up.
01[22:14] <Seira> Since her elementals have caught up, Seira gestures at the sleet storm. "You two, circle around it and search!" To the third one, she commands, "Double back and make sure it didn't retrace its steps!" For her part, she has Lagann retrive his weapon and takes off in yet another direction, towards the stairs.
[22:15] <Kotono> As Seira sends them about and around, you see a gust of glacial air gush down the stairs, frosting them over into an icy trip up!
06[22:15] * Seira redoubles her efforts to go towards the stairs!
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: Can I run? That'd be 240ft.
[22:16] <Kotono> OOC: You can.
01[22:16] <Seira> OOC: 30ft more from Travel
[22:17] <Kotono> Seira runs to the stairs and climbs up them about halfway. The entire stairway is frozen over - no sign of the winterwight immediaty, but it could be on a higher level of the stair and just out in view from your angle. The ice continues above.
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC: Anything else or is that it, Seira?
06[22:18] * Seira decides to get up to a higher level as soon as she can, since Dimensional Door can easily travel far greater distances.
[22:19] <Alicia> "To the stairs, lets go Polly!" Marie encourages the archer, starting off in that direction and leaving Alicia behind.
[22:19] <Kotono> The two hurry ahead to the stairs, racing along on the icy ground! OOC: Deme.
06[22:23] * Demedais grunts. "Just go, Antenora. The thing needs to die and it's not like I can catch up with it. They need your mobility." Casting a spell to try and bolster himself, Demedais also moves fifty feet toward the stairs.
[22:23] <Demedais> OOC: Nightshield.
[22:24] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia.
[22:24] <Kotono> "Understood," Antenora nods briskly, "Don't fall too far behind, in case it teleports behind us all and tries a flanking attack."
06[22:24] * Alicia flies hard and fast towards the stairs and then up them, determined to find and kill the winterwight! She only appears in a brief flicker as she passes Marie, moving too quickly to be properly glimpsed.
[22:24] <Alicia> OOC: 360 feet move if I run
03[22:25] * Ko (~kokokoko@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
03[22:25] * Ko is now known as Anastasia
03[22:25] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[22:27] <Anastasia> OOC: Fully moving to try and find it, Alicia?
[22:27] <Demedais> "It's not like I'll help much if it does that in this state. Besides, it's trying to spread winter - we're just ants to it, as it seems."
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, pretty much. If Seira didn't catch it on her run I'm not going to do any better unless I run as well
[22:28] <Anastasia> Alicia flies up and looks about! She reaches near the top of the stair at the end of her move! The winterwight is just outside of the door to the steel jungle. All around it is ice, frozen over! OOC: Winterwight is up.
[22:29] <Anastasia> The winterwight is torn, it's icy body drifting in and out of definintion. Nonetheless, it makes a snap gesture at Alicia, a cone of cold engulfing her! OOC: Ref.
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 38." [1d20=19]
[22:30] <Anastasia> roll 15d6 halve this
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 15d6 halve this and gets 62." [15d6=6, 1, 6, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 6, 6, 3, 5, 6, 3]
02[22:30] * Kotono (~kokokoko@ip68-99-109-25.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:31] <Anastasia> A split second later, the beast charges at Alicia head-long, going to pounce on the mobile paladin!
[22:31] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+33 touch claw MIs, Alicia, and touch AC?
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+33 touch claw MIs, Alicia, and touch AC? and gets 41." [1d20=8]
[22:32] <Anastasia> OOC: Strike
[22:32] <Anastasia> .
[22:33] <Anastasia> OOC: Also, make fort while I figure this out, Deme.
[22:33] <Demedais> roll 1d20+24 (+2 nightshield
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+24 (+2 nightshield and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[22:33] <Anastasia> The blight-fire roars once more around Demedais before fading away! His body buckles and staggers in agony as the pains leave him! OOC: -4 more con, but the effect is over.
[22:35] <Anastasia> The winterwight gestures! All around it, a sleetstorm rages! Alicia can barely see anything! Seira finds her vision encased in a raining sleet as well, the entire stairwell now a natural disaster zone! OOC: Antenora.
[22:35] <Anastasia> Antenora flies into the stairway, stopping jus tinto it in the sleet storm! OOC: Seira.
01[22:37] <Seira> 'Let's work together,' Seira mentally tells Lagann, flying ahead carefully while holding onto the Resort.
01[22:37] <Seira> OOC: I'll move 60ft, then 30ft more, then 60ft more, as much as needed for Lagann to catch it
[22:38] <Anastasia> Seira flies upward, Lagann spotting the creature! OOC: You can still make a standard and Lagann can act.
01[22:39] <Seira> Smirking, Seira moves to within fifteen feet and breathes fire in the winterwight's direction, using the brief lull in the storm to try and slam an orb of force in its face, even as Lagann attacks on his own with the Resort!
01[22:39] <Seira> OOC: Travel, swift, standard, works?
[22:39] <Anastasia> OOC: Okay.
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 8d8+2d8 swift dragon breath
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8d8+2d8 swift dragon breath and gets 49." [8d8=7, 5, 6, 6, 5, 5, 1, 6][2d8=2, 6]
[22:40] <Anastasia> roll 1d20+20 ref
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 1d20+20 ref and gets 34." [1d20=14]
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 1d20+18 orb of force
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 orb of force and gets 23." [1d20=5]
01[22:40] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 man
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 man and gets 23." [1d20=1]
[22:42] <Anastasia> With that last desperate gush of breath, Seira immolates the winterwight! It's body bursts into flame, screaming out in a howl as it melts! The howling winds cease, a silence overtaking the hall! OOC: Free act.
06[22:42] * Seira gapes, her images needing no input from her to do likewise.
06[22:42] * Alicia slackens her posture a little bit, relaxing as it seems to be over. "You killed it, Seira," she starts to smile slowly.
01[22:43] <Seira> "Deader than a doorknob," Seira affirms, smiling herself. "Go team!"
[22:43] <Anastasia> Calling up, "You slayed it?" Antenora's voice lightens in relief, "Thank Mystra." She then turns around, going over to Demedais. "You going to be alright?"
06[22:44] * Alicia sheathes Hell Striker. "Lets regroup and then hold our end of the bargain towards Kossuth?" she suggests, starting down the stairs.
01[22:44] <Seira> "Get Demedais up to speed, then set things on fire," Seira amends, seeking to heal Demedais first.
01[22:44] <Seira> roll 3d8+15 CSW
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 CSW and gets 30." [3d8=4, 5, 6]
01[22:44] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 24." [2d8=7, 7]
[22:44] <Alicia> Demedais gets touched by lots of girls all of a sudden!
[22:44] <Alicia> roll 3d8+15
06[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d8+15 and gets 29." [3d8=8, 5, 1]
[22:46] <Anastasia> Pollyanna goes over to Demedais, touching him in a non healing way. "It didn't get away...let's finish this and go return to Balmuria?"
[22:47] <Alicia> "Are you going to be alright, Demedais?" Alicia asks gently. "I heard that nothing can heal the effect of its blightfire..."
06[22:48] * Seira retrieves Kossuth's fire, still held in a jar, and places it against Demedais's forehead.
01[22:49] <Seira> OOC: I'll drop MI and fire shield for convenience
06[22:50] * Demedais grunts, trying another lesser restoration.
[22:50] <Demedais> roll 1d4
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:51] <Anastasia> It doesn't have any effect on the weakness that fills Demedais' body.
06[22:51] * Demedais shrugs weakly. "Let's go."
01[22:52] <Seira> "Maybe it needs more direct fire," Seira muses. "Demedais, Kossuth won't forget those who did his work today! Don't worry!"
[22:52] <Demedais> "...Let's go."
[22:52] <Anastasia> Pollyanna goes to Deme's side, offering an arm, "Here." She slides up to him, "You look bad. Let's go, I'll help you if you need it, dear?"
[22:52] <Alicia> "We have an obligation to Kossuth, first. After that we'll see... there might be a way that just hasn't been found yet," Alicia tries to console him as they start heading towards the firepits.
[22:54] <Anastasia> The trip to the firepits is without incident. You find the entire compound is frozen over. Every bit you travel through has thick sheets of unmelting ice over it, even the cooled firepits here.
[22:56] <Alicia> "Cast the orb into the pit?" Alicia suggests, peering down. This will surely be quite a show, as Kossuth promised they would bear witness to.
06[22:57] * Seira reverently frees the living flame from its glassy confinement. "Go with Kossuth's blessings, and push back the cold!" she tells it, letting the flame drop into the largest pit.
[22:59] <Anastasia> The flame is cast into the pit! In an instant, a great gush of heat billows up! The ice melts away in a blink of the eye! The pits are now filled with boiling magma and steel, rising up!  Amid it, huge beings of pure fire appear, swallowed up by the hot fluid, crafting it into shapes as it gushes up towards you!
06[23:00] * Seira places her faith in Kossuth! Everything happened as he said it would!
[23:01] <Alicia> "It's safe," Alicia affirms, standing resolutely where she is. The Firelord would not betray them after all that has transpired, she is certain.
[23:01] <Anastasia> Antenora starst o react, "Strange...I don't..." She nods to Alicia.
06[23:02] * Demedais stays in place.
[23:03] <Anastasia> The flames roar up around you! The fire does not burn, but it carries you upwards!  You are lost in washes of fire, the heat tempering away your wounds, replacing it with fire forged and restored flesh! You find yourselves taken up by the fires, despoited outside safely. You stand outside the lake above the gnomish fortress. Giant T-Rexes are fleeing from it in a panic, while the lake boils as sheets of cooling, forming metal and stone rise
[23:03] <Anastasia>  Giant T-Rexes are fleeing from it in a panic, while the lake boils as sheets of cooling, forming metal and stone rise up! OOC: HP restored, stat loss negated.
06[23:04] * Alicia takes a half step back as she looks over the rising metal and stone, wondering what final form this holy site to Kossuth will take.
[23:06] <Anastasia> The lake evaporates away! A foundation of cooling stone rises up, overlapping onto the muddy shores. On this new foundation where the lake was, a vast ziggurat of stone rises up! It is immense, taking up the old lake and the lands around it. Level after level forms, being sof fire appearing and shaping it, crowning corners and edges with decorated steel.
01[23:07] <Seira> Yoshi got out just in time, Seira thinks with a wince. Good thing his treasure went with him, at that.
[23:07] <Anastasia> Pollyanna gapes, trying to speak, and does nothing but watch.
[23:08] <Anastasia> "My..." Antenora watches as well.
[23:08] <Alicia> "Kossuth doesn't do things by half," Alicia smiles faintly as she watches the massive stepped pyramid form where once an abyssal lake sat.
01[23:09] <Seira> "Just what this place needed, really."
[23:11] <Anastasia> The ziggurat reaches high into the sky, over even the jungle canopy. The top layer is crowned by bubbling magma, forming a fluid, melted rock flame that constantly shifts and burns. A voice booms from all about, speaking in words of fire that need no meaning to be understood, "The Cathedral of the Buried Inferno. Let those who worship me find the strength to come here!"
01[23:12] <Seira> "He even has my naming sense," Seira whispers in admiration.
[23:13] <Anastasia> "Beautiful..." Antenora stares out, "...but it's not really our place to be then, is it? It was the price Kossuth asked for, so let him have the land." Turning to Alicia, "Let's return home?"
01[23:13] <Seira> "Wasn't mine to keep or give away to begin with," Seira says with a shrug. "Can't think of a better landlord, though."
06[23:13] * Alicia hopes Serge can make his way here some day. "Indeed. A bargain fairly struck has been honoured," she agrees, gathering everyone around and teleporting back to Balmuria.
[23:13] <Alicia> roll 1d100 oasis first
[23:13] <Anastasia> "Infinitely superior to the gnomes," Pollyanna asserts.
06[23:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 oasis first and gets 52." [1d100=52]
[23:14] <Alicia> roll 1d100 Balmuria
06[23:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 Balmuria and gets 52." [1d100=52]