036.3 Afina and Zaaman Rul's quest

[Corwin]

[21:05] <Kotono> Afina heads out. As she passes towards the forges to get some work done, "Afina." Lady Skye's voice is heard. She flies up to Afina.
[21:07] <Afina> "Ah, hello Skye," Afina stops and turns to her fellow fairy but not fellow commoner, nodding her head in a gesture of token respect... the distinction between them is rather blurred with Afina's wartime role, after all.
[21:09] <Kotono> The same nod is back. "Ah yes. I have heard you funded Grenalous and his latest creation?"
[21:14] <Afina> "Yes," Afina nods, "The fey-nip is pleasant, and I wanted to show more support for him after convincing him to come here. I haven't tried the fey-unison yet, but it sounds very nice."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Yes." Coughing into her hand, and withdrawing a pair of green vials from her pocket, "I had desired to test it myself, and by chance came to obtain two of them. Would you care to join me?"
[21:17] <Afina> "Mmm... yes, lets," Afina smiles, glad for the opportunity, and perhaps a chance to get to know Skye better. "We should go out into Ysgard for it, since I think it works better in more natural environments, which Aurora is anything but."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Yes, let us," Skye smiles a bit as well. The flight out into Ysgard is without incident, the deep, rocky mountains and plunging fjords ahead of you.
[21:22] <Afina> "Did you feel Lifasa when we arrived before the Burning Aeropolis?" Afina asks as they fly around, descending towards one of the stark fjords near Aurora, "I've never been as close to nature as most fey, but even then it was all I could think about the whole time I was there."
[21:27] <Kotono> "...yes." Lady Skye descends to the edge of the water, sitting there. Her voice is subdued, "The land was sobbing, screaming. I...must they violate everything about Lifasa? First our Queen and now the entire land? Then you and Crystal, for don't think I didn't hear about those devil's plans for you. Why do they hate our beatiful nature and world so much?"
[21:30] <Afina> "They were born to hate. They make the Unseelie seem relatively benign in comparison," Afina shakes her head as she settles next to Skye. "But so too have they taught hatred with every violation they inflict. What's that human phrase? They've sown the wind, now they shall reap the whirlwind."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Let there be truth to that," Lady Skye says, taking out the vials. She passes one to Afina, "Shall we? I've heard it is an amazing sense of serenity."
[21:34] <Afina> "Lets find out how this world feels," Afina agrees, opening her vial and pouring it into her mouth, though she almost has to chew with how sludgy it is...
[21:35] <Kotono> It smells of aloe. It has to be nearly choked down, but down it goes! Lady Skye does the same, leaning back and looking up at the sky. "I...mmm." She murmur ssomething, as a deep serenity takes over Afina. Pleasures fade - the feeling of the wind on her skin, the scent of the natural world. Pain fades - the constant reminders of Lifasa, the buried memories of nightmarish days. It's as if
[21:35] <Kotono> everything falls away from Afina, leaving marvelous, uncaring, serenity.
[21:39] * Afina soaks up the wondrous feeling of connectedness with nature... for such a violent plane, it's marvelously peaceful under the surface. Raising her hand into the air, she watches it sway slightly with the wind, enjoying the difference in perspective and feeling with how she sees the movement of clouds above... feels it, even. It's almost like she is the cloud...
[21:40] <Kotono> Afina's attention diffuses. She is the cloud. She is with the cloud, flying in the air! Her body dissolves into cloudy wisps, vision become a rainbow prism of colors that swirl about! She feels like she's flying! From faraway, you here Skye state in a calm voice, "Oh...this is what the stones are like."
[21:44] <Afina> Looking down, Afina sees the stones so very far below, Skye seeming more like an ant than a person amongst them. "Stones are too slow," she giggles lazily before her attention is suddenly captivated by the deep waters of the fjord itself. So mysterious, so vast, holding who knows how many secrets amidst its constantly shifting currents, so... "Blue..."
[21:45] <Kotono> Afina drifts down. She is the water. She feels it in her skin, soaking her, making her the water. She flows with the water, in every direction. Going down waterfalls, flowing down streams, standing still in chilly lakes. Yet...something is in the way. Unnatural things on her body, getting in the way of the water.
[21:46] <Afina> "What is this thing?" the fairy feels a mild sense of consternation, plucking off one of those unnatural things and looking at it inquisitively.
[21:49] <Kotono> Her clothes and gear, looks like. Unnatural things, not a part of nature at all. Not a part of the water like her...aaa...without them, Afina feels herself dissolving into the water. Flowing on, being carried about.
[21:51] <Afina> "Who needs such things, my cloak of water is best!" Afina sighs giddily as she drifts wherever the current of water will take her, as is natural and right.
[21:56] <Kotono> Flowing with thew ater, knowledge gleaned! Afina is the water and the water is Afina. It passes into a haze...Afina lies on a stony bank. Her wet, chilled and unclad body is indeed quite wet. She can't remember how she got here, only a great sense of serenity and being a part of the water itself! OOC: Benefit of a commune with nature spell, CL12. Feel free to note what benefits ou wanted
[21:56] <Kotono> from it.
[21:59] <Afina> OOC: General state of natural setting, Presence of powerful unnatural creatures, Presence of manufactured materials in the fjord
[22:01] <Kotono> The natural setting is perfect. It is always perfect and yet always changing. There is a powerful unnatural creature approximately 10 miles away, entombed in stone - some creature of order, anathema to this realm. There are manufactured materials approximately 2000ft away, upstream. Your equipment, you believe.
[22:02] <Afina> Moaning softly, Afina looks around to see where Skye is, uncaring of her own modesty.
[22:05] <Kotono> No sign of Skye right away. She isn't within sight.
[22:08] <Afina> Oh. Well, there's a good way for pixies to communicate at a distance, thankfully. Flying a bit higher into the air, she creates a permanent image up high forming a rotating screen of large red letters to contrast against the sky and mountains. 'WHERE ARE YOU SKYE' it says in sylvan.
[22:09] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes until you see it. A rather large creature of rock and stone - an earth elemental. It's broad stony face somehow has a look of amusement to it. In one hand he carries Afina's gear in his palm. In the other he holds Lady Skye, who looks terribly indignant. "There," she points at Afina, "Now let me go!"
[22:09] <Kotono> With its big, craggly face showing an actual grin, "Are you Afina?" It asks in slow, rumbling common.
[22:11] <Afina> Dismissing the illusion with a wave of her hand, Afina smiles at the pair. "When you said 'this is what stones are like' I assumed you meant actual rocks," she giggles before looking up at the elemental. "Yes, I am. I hope we didn't trouble you, we were trying a new way of communing with nature," she explains their predicament.
[22:13] <Kotono> "I can see that." The creature replies, "If you desire the embrace of the elements that directly, I would recommend magic instead of the ways you mortal creatures interbreed," he replies, as Lady Skye goes absolutely crimson, "What in the name of the Great Rocks put this idea into your heads?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "IT WAS NOT THAT!" Lady Skye declares, loud enough to echo in the mountains, "I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE EARTH, BUT NOT LIKE THAT!"
[22:15] <Kotono> "You weren't wearing clothes and rubbing against me. That is how fleshy creatures reproduce," The elemental replies, "Your companion is likewise unclad. Your intent is obvious." Putting Afina's gear down onto the rocky ground, "Are your kinds not known for doing this with lamost anything? I know several types of fleshy creatures are said to be so."
[22:17] <Afina> "We weren't really in our right minds while we were doing all that. I can promise any intentions were innocent, though," Afina promises, a bit embarrassed herself on Skye's behalf. Going over and starting to dress herself, she looks up, "Pixies are known for friendliness not promiscuity, surely?" she asks in some surprise, though.
[22:18] <Kotono> "You fleshy creatures all look the same to me," It replies, finally letting Skye go. She flies away, utterly crimson.
[22:21] <Afina> "Well, no harm done, I suppose," Afina allows, though for demonstration she casts elemental body, turning her into a stony granite version of herself with thin slate wings. "Speaking of stone, though, I felt the presence of something entombed in the stone that way," she points to where she felt the creature of order, her voice now lower pitched and slightly scratchy. "Do you know anything of it?"
[22:31] <Kotono> "Oh, you look much better now," The elemental asserts, "I don't know, no. I came from the other way - I'm just wandering."

[Corwin]

[19:50] * Afina nods. "Still, your honesty in returning all of my belongings deserves reward. My name is Afina Petalwisp, you may ask a boon of me if you would."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Yes." Pausing a moment, rumbling deep, "Could you explain how to tell you fleshies apart better?"
[19:55] <Afina> "Actually... yes, I heard about one of my friends finding the perfect book for that," Afina smiles at such a managable request. "We dwell in the fortress Aurora," she points to said construction utterly dominating the sky several miles away. "If you would come with me I would be happy to host you and read the book for your illumination."
[19:56] <Kotono> Looking to it, "I wondered what that was about," it rumbles, "I will come, then."
[19:58] * Afina nods and starts to slowly lead the way back to Aurora. "Coming, Skye?"
[19:58] <Kotono> "Of course," Skye huffs, still quite red-faced.
[19:59] <Afina> "So... did you enjoy it?" she asks softly once Skye catches up with her.
[20:01] <Kotono> Reddening, "...yes," she admits, "The end aside. I think I may partake again soon. The unity with the land was astonishing. You?"
[20:05] <Afina> "Yes. I'll make sure to put anything valuable in a safe place first next time, but it was amazing to feel so close to the land. For such a war torn place, Ysgard is amazingly serene at its core."
[20:06] <Kotono> "Nature prevails. Perhaps..." Lady Skye continues, "I may be able to procure more doses at little to no cost. Shall you like to be invited again?"
[20:08] <Afina> "Please," Afina smiles, "What's your secret to getting them, though?"
[20:09] <Kotono> "I've arrainged for a few of the pixies to help him in his work when he needs it." Skye replies, smiling a little bit, "These are his tokens of appreciation.
[20:10] <Kotono> "
[20:13] <Afina> "Ahh," Afina nods in understanding. "That's good, especially if we have any potential alchemists of our own to learn from him. He does ingenious work."
[20:15] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 47." [1d100=47]
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Good to skip alongnow, Afina?
[20:16] <Afina> OOC: yep
[20:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, what was your next plan?
[20:18] <Afina> OOC: Read the book about elf traps to my new elemental pal
[20:23] <Kotono> Getting the book from Jaela is without incident. The elemental and Afina settle in to read! As you get into it, "I don't understand," it confesses, "Why are dwarves worried about elves polluting them?"
[20:25] <Afina> "Well..." Afina thinks of how to say it, "Dwarves are a little bit tall and stocky, right? And elves are really tall and slim? So if the two combined it would be... like a human. It's like if fire elementals kept polluting earth elementals, you end up with magma elementals. It's the same thing, isn't it?"
[20:28] <Kotono> "Yes, but there's nothing wrong with that," The elemental replies, "Earth and Fire aren't those miserable bastards from Air." Its voice darkens heavily, becoming like the slamming-shut of a crypt door. "Besides, there will always be more Earth elementals, even if they make Magma elementals."
[20:31] <Afina> "And just imagine how bad it would be if air elementals could pollute earth elementals!" Afina gasps. "Goodness, and that's just what the dwarves have to deal with every day!"
[20:35] <Kotono> "That's absuuuurd." That word is rolled out, "No stone would dare live with air pollution in them, even if it could happen."
[20:37] <Afina> "Well the dwarves are weak willed in comparison," Afina waves that off. "Anyway, let me continue," she clears her throat and picks up where she left off.
[20:40] <Kotono> "There's another thing I don't understand," It speaks up after another few chapters, "Male and female fleshies dress up differently, I get that. Why would a male one dress like a female one?"
[20:43] <Afina> "There are a few reasons," Afina considers before listing them as she sees it, "There's simple comfort - someone might just prefer the feel of panties over long johns, or trousers over skirts. There's fashion - if you see a hat that looks absolutely adorable and want to adorn yourself with it whether or not it was made with your gender in mind. There's disguise - if you're hiding or sneaking
[20:43] <Afina> some place and don't want to be recognised, better to have a completely unexpected appearance. And there's wish fulfillment - some people just honestly wish they were something other than what they really are, and wearing the clothes of that desired type makes them feel closer to the ideal."
[20:48] <Kotono> "How strange," The elemental observes, as you read on. The rest of the book passes without incident. "So many little, fleshy bits," The elemental rumbles, "No solid definition, like stone."
[20:50] <Afina> "Not really," Afina agrees, closing the book and putting it on a shelf for now. "But underneath that flesh we all have skeletons which are much like stone themselves, so you can be assured of that similarity."
[20:57] <Kotono> "Mmmm." At last nodding to that, "I see."
[20:58] <Afina> "So there you go," Afina smiles. "I think I even learned a bit from that book. Anyway, I'll escort you back to Ysgard now so you can go back to what you were doing before."
[20:58] <Kotono> The elemental rises, "Thank you," It replies.
[20:59] <Afina> "The pleasure was mine," Afina returns, seeing him out gracefully before she goes to look for Hanna. Who knows when that power to forge stars will be important!
[21:03] <Kotono> Hanna is found in the baths, of all places. She's soaking deeply, up to her chin in steamy, bubbly, soapy water. Her wings are even submerged, as she occasionally makes little approving grunts and murmurs. With her is Canderella, in up to her waist nad a aways away, wings wrapped aroung her and providing modesty. She sighs happily. A fruity scent lingers in the air, quite sweet.
[21:07] <Afina> Oh well, she hardly wants to drag anyone away from their well earned relaxation, considering recent battles. But she can certainly join in! Discarding her own clothing, she joins the pair in the bath with a happy little sigh of her own as she submerges to her neck. "Mmmm, I just got back from taking a dip in a fjord outside, but I may as well  join you two. Grenalous certainly knows his
[21:07] <Afina> alchemy."
[21:08] <Kotono> The water is warm and smells oh so good. "Oh, you tried that?" Hanna asks, cracking one eye open. "How was it?"
[21:10] <Afina> "It was wonderful. At first I was the sky, floating free on the breeze like a cloud, and then I was the water, exploring the depths and the currents far below... it told me a lot about the area, too. I've never been as close to nature as other fey, so it was a delightful experience." Splashing happily and leaning back, "This water is good, too, though," she concedes.
[21:14] <Kotono> "It's something I picked up in Water," Canderella speaks up now, "I find it's good for resting and thinking in, especially while I try to puzzle out how celestials think."
[21:17] <Afina> "Oh?" Afina looks at the succubus now. "I remember the water that shaped itself according to thoughts when we were there. It was useful alright, but this is more pleasant, especially the smell."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Yes," Canderella says, "Still...I just don't understand it. They're promoting her for failing." After a brief reply to Afina, "Do you understand it, Afina? Hanna keeps going on about self sacrifice, but I just don't see why they'd reward failing."
[21:22] <Afina> "Are you thinking about Ebony?" Afina asks. "It depends, really. Did she fail? It's not like with most people were death means a complete end of one existence, it could be that by sacrificing her own life she helped achieve the goal of our mission. That's a success, isn't it? And since if you'd died you'd be unable to assist in any further actions on Lifasa even if you returned to us after
[21:22] <Afina> reforming in Talos's realm, whereas she could go to Lifasa after either being resurrected or becoming an outsider, it can even be looked at as a success in those terms."

[Corwin]

[19:42] <Kotono> This lingers for several long minutes. Just peaceable companionship and rest, until, "Aaaah." The sound of another body slipping into the water, a voice that makes Afina start. "Mmmm, Aurora's baths are still quite pleasant, no?" Annalise says.
[19:45] <Afina> Turning to face the vampire, Afina looks somewhat put out as she quickly gets over her surprise, for really she had always half expected this. Thus she can quickly transition to pique! "That's it?" she asks. "You leave without a word of goodbye and reduce Jaela to a mess, and now you just slip back in like nothing happened?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "Yes." Annalise chuckles, "Y-" WHAM! Annalise is sent up a good dozen feet into the air, banging against the ceiling before landing and making a huge splash. Hanna shakes her first afterwards, "Afina, why don't you let me?" she says with utter sweetness, standing and cracking her knuckles, "You used, abused and broke my daughter's heart. You think you can walk back into here like nothing happened, abomination?"
[19:47] <Kotono> Canderella quickly scoots back, "Ooooh, fight," she purrs, "Just let me get well away."
[19:48] <Afina> "They both need this," Afina opines, going to join the succubus. "Unless either's about to die I'm quite happy to let it continue."
[19:50] <Kotono> Annalise picks herself up and shakes her hair dry, "Why, I'd almost say you'd missed me," Annalise smirks, crossing her arms. "Or is it that latent attraction that's angering you all over again, hm?" Leaning in close, "I just drive your daughter wild, and I just bet you feel the same way."
[19:50] <Kotono> "Just be ready to dodge," Canderella agrees, "I don't intend to test the theory of martyrdom, no matter how enlightening it might be."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Oh no," Hanna simply turns away, "Elena!" A moment later the ghost girl appears, "Do me a favor and find Sylvie, and have her come here? We have a bug that needs to be exterminated."
[19:53] * Afina nods sagely, letting the two have it out and privately supporting Hanna... until that part. "Belay that, Elena," she speaks up quickly, looking apologetically at the angel. "Beat her black and blue all you like, but I can't kill an ally... even an unreliable one," her expression flattens as she regards Annalise.
[19:57] <Kotono> Elena looks to Afina, "Okay," she replies, glancing about. "If I can add, isn't there a better place than to do this than th ebaths? You'd think you four were showing off."
[19:58] <Kotono> Hanna sends Afina a look of pure, unrestrained fury. It's just for a moment until she turns her attention back to Annalise, "Fine. I'll get her myself then. If you don't like it, try and stop me." she grinds out, stepping out of the tub.
[19:59] <Kotono> Annalise chuckles ever so warmly, "Good to see you too, Hanna. I see you're still as willing to sacrifice it all for a failed effort."
[20:00] <Afina> "We're just bystanders," Afina points at Canderella. "But I suspect Annalise knew Hanna was here and came so she could make a scene..." And seeing things aren't progressing very well, she's sadly forced into a more active role. "If it's a choice between you two, I choose Hanna. I'm sorry, Annalise, but if you want to remain here you better find some way of making amends and quickly," she
[20:00] <Afina> declares, fluttering above the baths now and dripping water. "You've already shown we can't rely on you."
[20:03] <Kotono> Canderella rise and shakes off as well, "Mmm, yes. How about you two lock each other in a room and see what happens? One of you dies or there's amazing love making, or both. Sometimes in the wrong order, too!" Sighing with a nostalgic murmur, "That was an incredible week."
[20:05] <Kotono> Annalise frowns, "Hmph," she murmurs, ignoring Canderella completely. "At least instruct her to stay and listen," she says, "I do rather hate trying to talk someone down while they try and kill me."
[20:07] <Afina> "Hanna, please give Annalise two minutes," Afina requests of the protective mother, considering that an exceedingly generous time. "We can get dressed while she explains herself. If you're still not satisfied, she leaves."
[20:11] <Kotono> Hanna glares holes into Afina, "...fine." she says at last. "Get out, both of you."
[20:14] <Afina> She really wanted to hear Annalise's excuse herself, but considering how much she's trod on Hanna so far she'll allow it. "We won't be far," she assures with an ominous look at both but more directed at the vampire as she flutters off to get changed and eavesdrop outside.
[20:18] <Kotono> Once outside Canderella gets dressed, watching the door to the bath. "I do wonder what Annalise could say to make it up to Hanna. I don't think she likes her at all."
[20:20] <Afina> "I'm not sure she can, unless Jaela gives a very strong vouching herself," Afina replies as her sensitive ears listen in on events within. "A shame, I'd grown fond of Annalise, but the way she left did her no favours, else I might have made more effort to calm Hanna."
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: Listen check.
[20:21] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 41." [1d20=12]
[20:22] <Kotono> "Oh, this will be good. Going to beg for your life, blood sucker," Hanna challenges. Her voice is laden with contempt, "Oh, don't answer. I'm going ot enjoy watching that pretty face of yours melt away under 21's light. No more games, no more honeyed words to continue your accursed existance. You die today, even if I have to die with you. You aren't getting your fangs into my daughter again."
[20:23] <Kotono> "Such fondness," Annalise chuckles, "I can give you several good reasons why you shouldn't, and why you should accept me."
[20:24] <Afina> "She's not even apologising," Afina tells Canderella softly, her expression of disapproval showing clearly.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Good for you. Go fuck yourself with each reason." Voice filled with cold contempt, "I'll face down the First himself if it means you die."The sound of flesh hitting flesh is heard, "No, you die today, vampire." In a sweet voice, "You know what else? I'm going to trap your soul and offer it up to Lady Gwynharwyf. No second chances, no afterlife for you.  Just a cold, barren prison like you
[20:25] <Kotono> deserve."
[20:27] <Kotono> "I'd almost think you cared," Annalise sounds downright pouty now, "I came back because I love your daughter. We simply had to eliminate the problems between us." Meanwhile Canderella shakes her head, "No way this ends well," she murmurs softly to Afina. Then Annalise again, "The incident was...unfortunate," she finally says, "But it did need to come to a head."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Unfortunate?" Hanna grins out, "You broke her heart! You manipulated her and dumped her like a barmaid after a night's romp! You profaned her body and stole her life blood!" Her voice rises, "I don't care if you worship the ground Jaela walks on!"

[Corwin]

[20:29] <Kotono> Meanwhile, the door to the dressing room opens, Jaela entering.
[20:29] <Jaela> "Hi."
[20:29] <Kotono> Canderella turns, "Bad time for a bath...or a good time, depending on how you look at it."
[20:29] <Jaela> "Inside?"
[20:29] * Afina mutely nods to Canderella as she listens. Jaela's arrival gives her a visible start though. "Annalise is back," she tells Jaela bluntly.
[20:30] <Afina> "You knew? Yes, she's with Hanna, she has... a few seconds more to convince her, but her case isn't good."
[20:31] <Jaela> "Yes, she abducted me," Jaela responds. "Why are they alone, anyway? Let's go see them." Without waiting for an answer, she heads for the baths proper.
[20:31] * Afina remains outside in deference to Hanna. She can hear well enough, anyway.
[20:33] <Kotono> Canderella shrugs and follows, "May as well." Thus the two enter! Within are Hanna and Annalise. The latter is laid out on the floor before the former, rubbing her jaw. Hanna stands over her, literally quaking with anger. Her eyes have gone pure white, the sounds of bones cracking in her hands, balled up into bleeding fists. She doesn't even seem to notice Jaela enter.
[20:33] <Jaela> "So you heard about how we met again?" Jaela asks, stopping just past the doorway.
[20:34] <Kotono> Slowly Hanna turns, "No," she says, incredibly slowly, "No I haven't. Jaela, what did Annalise do?"
[20:35] <Kotono> Annalise picks herself up, "Negotiations and resolutions," she says, "Merely clearing up a lingering problem in our relationship. Right Jaela?"
[20:37] <Jaela> "You abducted Mirima and me from Elysium and threatened to give our souls to Orcus after his gathered minions killed us if I didn't become yours," Jaela points out. "You know I'm a terrible liar. I honestly don't know how to reach you, but those pesky hope and optimism are still there."
[20:39] <Kotono> "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!" Hanna's scream is loud enough to hurt your ears, as she pounces on Annalise! In one drive she pins the vampire to the wall, fists slamming into her again and again! She screams and shakes the held woman, hitting her fast as she can!
[20:39] <Afina> "Two minutes are up," Afina states as she flutters into the room herself now.
[20:39] <Kotono> Annalise tries to say something, but several fists to her face are quite productive in stopping that.
[20:39] <Afina> "Elena? Sorry, but you can get Sylvie now," Afina then speaks up for their trusty majordomo, shaking her head but making no effort to get in the way of the violence.
[20:39] <Kotono> "I don't think she's listening now," Canderella says, "The obvious, but often it's productive to point out the obvious. It makes you think."
[20:40] <Afina> "I know I'm thinking," Afina adds with resignation.
[20:41] <Kotono> Elena blinks and appears, "Sorry, say that again? I was just teleporting over from talking with Ithea!"
[20:41] <Afina> "Sylvie. Now," Afina repeats. "Annalise is done."
[20:44] <Kotono> "R-right!" Elena quickly vanishes again! Finally, Annalise shifts. She takes the form of a rodent, falling out of Hanna's grasp. She dives into the water and reforms, rubbing her bloodied face. "Alright," she admits, "This is getting a bit out of hand now. How about we all calm down."
[20:45] <Afina> "You're a deserter and a traitor, now," Afina speaks up. "I thought you a friend, Annalise, but that's over."
[20:45] <Jaela> "Annalise," Jaela says. "Do you really not get why mom is upset? Not one bit?"
[20:47] <Kotono> Before Hanna cna reply, whirling towards Annalise, "Of course I do!" she snaps, "I wasn't going to offer you up to anyone!" Taking long breaths, "They were just illusions, masked beneath the other enchantments. There wasn't a single fiend or undead there. It was a bluff, damn it!"
[20:48] <Jaela> "I told you I wasn't scared of any of them," Jaela continues. "Who was the only person I worried about? Was what happened last time in your realm a bluff too?"
[20:48] * Afina considers it a very cruel bluff, but Jaela has it in hand.
[20:50] <Jaela> "You are happy that we resolved our differences?" Jaela continues, paraphrasing Annalise's earlier words. "Are you happy that I submitted only to save Mirima's soul? Not because I wanted to be with you? How can you be happy with that?"

[Corwin]

[20:52] <Kotono> Meanwhile Ithea enters, seeing the scene before her. "Jaela," she grinds out, ever so slowly, "You're so bullheaded that it required extreme measures to get through to you. Damn it!" Snarling again, "Fine. I need you! I need you, and I realized it after I left. I only barely avoided two abduction attempts on me by Orcus, another by a solar and then the devils got involved. I need you and I
[20:52] <Kotono> need you in a position where your damned mother or someone else can't talk you out of it! I'm still not strong enough to keep my old enemies at bay. I'll be lucky if they only return me to that holy sword paralysis."
[20:53] * Afina greets Ithea with a grateful nod, having more numbers can only help if they need to subdue Annalise. She's surely fed since she left and gotten those ninth circle spells she boasted of being on the cusp of before.
[20:53] <Jaela> "I told you that you could come back at any time. I told you that you would be among friends, whatever happened with us. Even today, I told you that we could all try to start over. But none of it was enough! Why, dammit?!"
[20:55] * Ithea gives Afina a nod as well, stopping besides her as she frowns and watches the words fly between Jaela and Annalise.
[20:55] <Kotono> Meanwhile Sylvie enters, looking about in confusion. She glances at Ithea, mouthing, 'What's going on?' to her. Meanwhile, "I want you, you idiot," Annalise drawls out, "Preferably in a way that weeds out all that damn divine foolishness you have in your head."
[20:56] <Afina> "Sylvie's on her way," Afina tells Ithea quietly. "If Annalise can't convince Jaela and Hanna... ah, Sylvie," she smiles at the blonde. "We may need 21, if you don't mind waiting to see how this resolves."
[20:56] <Kotono> "I have nothing better to do," Sylvie replies, as she gets a death glare from Annalise.
[20:57] * Jaela takes a deep breath. "I think it's past time you understand just what it is you've been looking down on all this time," she tells Annalise. "And if the Triune grants me this miracle, I will show it to you. I just need you to look."
[20:58] <Kotono> "Do I have a choice?" Annalise fires back.
[20:58] <Jaela> "Am I bluffing?"
[20:58] <Kotono> "Fine," Annalise snaps.
[21:02] <Jaela> Jaela comes down to one knee and draws the blessed symbol of her patron goddess. "My lady Angharradh," she says in prayer. "I was never able to show Annalise what I felt. Perhaps she spent too much time as she is to see it, or perhaps I was the one lacking. But with your help, it might be possible. Please grant me this miracle and let her experience real feelings, not the shade of them she has. Please let her truly understand how I feel about her, how my mother feels about me, the good and the bad. Everything."
[21:06] <Kotono> The scream that rips out from Annalise is loud enough to awaken the dead. Her hands go to her head, as she thrashes about! For several seconds this happens, Jaela's holy symbol glowing brighter and brighter yet! After about seven seconds it glows so bright as to blind everyone in the room, a final flash of light! Annalise's scream stops, as she lies face up on the ground.
[21:07] * Afina blinks her eyes a few times to get rid of the spots dancing in them and looks speculatively at the vampire.
[21:08] <Jaela> "Do you still think it's a waste?" Jaela asks quietly into the sudden silence. "Is this something you want me to get rid of? I've wanted you to feel the same way for as long as we knew each other."
[21:10] <Kotono> There's no immediate answer - Annalise just lies ther.e
[21:11] * Ithea casts detect magic, focusing her glance on Annalise's face, trying to figure out what they just saw and what effect it might have had on Annalise.
[21:11] * Jaela rises to her feet and comes over to Annalise to check up on her.
[21:11] * Afina is happy to remain in the peanut gallery for now.
[21:15] <Kotono> Annalise's face has mended by now, as you detect no unusual magic in her. "Urgh," she murmurs, sounding really rather dazed.
[21:18] * Jaela picks Annalise up. "The only way to compromise here is to put Annalise in the jail, is there?" she asks the others. "Even after everything, I want to try and save her. And the Triune is on my side." She channels a dimensional anchor into her left gauntlet, and then taps Annalise with it. "This way, there should be no objections?"
[21:18] <Kotono> Annalise mutters something else, but she sounds really rather dazed.
[21:23] <Afina> "No," Afina shakes her head. "If it really was a bluff... I can let things slide. But we're not good."
[21:24] <Jaela> "Please help me until I get there, then," Jaela requests, taking the lead.
[21:26] * Ithea isn't sure how much luck Jaela's going to have turning Annalise's mind with her in a cell, but she seems to be able to handle the situation on her own, and is willing to step aside on the issue.
[21:26] <Afina> "Sorry to get you down here for nothing, Sylvie," Afina apologises to the human first, and then to the angel, "And I'm sorry as well, Hanna. I did what I thought best." Then she flies alongside Jaela to offer whatever help is needed along the way.
[21:26] <Kotono> Sylvie shrugs, falling in. Meanwhile Hanna just stares, taking long, deep breathes now.

[Corwin]

[21:33] <Kotono> Canderella is easy to find - she's still in the changing room of the bath. "Oh, Afina. Well, that was interesting," she calls.
[21:36] <Afina> "Very bracing," Afina agrees, looking somewhat worn down by all that's occured. "Before it all I was looking for Hanna for something, but I think it best to give her some space now after how I upset her. But since we haven't done anything exciting together since we met, do you want to join me in investigating something unusual I felt while communing with Ysgard?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "That does sound fun," Canderella says, "More entertaining than reflecting on what just happened."
[21:40] * Afina nods agreeably with that. "Love brings nothing good in the end. Come, lets go... we might find an enemy so if you need any equipment we'll grab that first."
[21:41] <Kotono> "I do rather agree. I strongly prefer fucking to making love, if one understands the distinction," Canderella agrees, "I'll meet you buy the gates in 10 minutes. I suppose I should get a weapon from the armories."
[21:44] * Afina nods understandingly. "I'll make you a proper weapon sometime if you like," she offers, splitting off to go wait by the gate.
[21:48] <Kotono> Canderella returns after ten minutes, a bastard sword belted to her side. "Ready," she announces.
[21:49] <Afina> "Do you even know how to use that or did you just pick the biggest sword you saw?" Afina asks dubiously.
[21:50] <Kotono> Giggling, "Afina, a succubus knows how to use a sword, no matter how big." With an amused look, "That's not even philosophic."
[21:52] <Afina> "Hmmm..." Afina doesn't look convinced but lets it drop. "Come on, it's an hour or two's flight," she adds, fluttering out and heading towards the entombed creature she sensed.
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[21:54] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 91." [1d100=91]
[21:54] <Kotono> OOC: What effects do you have up for defenses and obscurement, Afina?
[21:55] <Afina> OOC: right now I have endure elements and greater mage armour
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: Will save.
[21:59] <Afina> roll 1d20+26
[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+26 and gets 33." [1d20=7]
[21:59] <Kotono> Afina feels a deep shiver over her a moment as ou fly along, about halfway to your destination.
[22:00] <Afina> roll 1d20+31 lets spellcraft that?
[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 lets spellcraft that? and gets 40." [1d20=9]
[22:02] <Afina> "Hmm. Convenient timing - someone just tried to scry on me. Must be Melisa's replacement," Afina muses aloud, looking back towards Aurora. "I wonder if someone was watching for me to leave? I didn't sense any devils earlier, but it doesn't have to be one..."
[22:05] <Kotono> "Could be," Canderella hums, "Or a voyuer." Starting to smile at that, "One year I had a crystal ball that let me scry all over a kingdom. Oh, the things I saw..." Trailing off, "Not that I think that's why they're scrying you."
[22:06] <Afina> "I wouldn't give much of a good show for that, no," Afina snorts. "I think I should pick up some magic of my own to counter scryings, though. Something to think about, but I know I'm clear for a day now so lets keep on?"
[22:09] <Kotono> On you fly. Your destination is a craggy mountainside, heavy and rocky-gray. Nothing awry is immediately visible.
[22:10] <Afina> Flying on and closer, Afina gradually zeroes in on wherever she sensed the unnatural being, or at least as close as she can get to it with rock in the way.
[22:13] <Kotono> You come to the middle of the mountainside, settling into place. OOC: Spot.
[22:14] <Afina> Casting Greater Heroism on the closer approach, Afina looks around...
[22:15] <Afina> roll 1d20+33
[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+33 and gets 34." [1d20=1]
[22:16] <Kotono> It's not that subtle, at least. The rock around this is rougher and looks like it was melted, different in composition than the surrounding rock.
[22:17] <Afina> "Here it is," Afina lands on the melted rock, trying to recall how deep it felt from here when she experienced Ysgard earlier.
[22:17] <Kotono> It was reasonably deep in - it's not like just below the surface.
[22:21] <Afina> More than forty feet?
[22:23] <Kotono> Not quit ethat deep, no.
[22:24] <Afina> "It's fairly deep but I can dig it out. Keep sharp in case it turns out to be hostile?" Afina asks Canderella, casting shield herself before firing an innocuous green beam from her fingertips down at the melted earth, disintegrating a ten foot cube. And then another directly below...
[22:35] <Kotono> The pair of beams make matter vanish! The second one causes what lies beneath to crumble! The shattering of stone is heard, as one great, metallic arm pulls up! What lies within is a creature of clockwork, like an Inevitable. It's larger than the typical ones, pulling itself out of the mountain. It has a smooth, expressionless face, looking up at the pixie and succubus above.
[22:38] <Afina> "An Inevitable? Makes sense from what I felt," Afina concludes, looking at it. "I am Afina and this is Canderella, of the fortress Aurora. What is your... designation?" she settles on rather than name, given how they seem to communicate.
[22:51] <Kotono> "I am Victus XXXXI. It appears I am in your debt for freeing me. You may ask of me a boon, and if possible, I will grant it." The creature's voice is like smooth flowing oil, yet with a metallic clang to it in the back.
[22:54] <Afina> He actually speaks reasonably enough, so that makes things better. "How did you come to be trapped originally?" she asks curiously, already half certain what boon she's going to ask.
[22:57] <Kotono> "I was defeated by an eladrin who defied order," he replies, "I was left for dead, buried in magma. I survived, but was unable to escape of my own power."
[22:59] * Afina nods, her decision settled. "Then here is the boon I would ask in return for your freedom. Return to Mechanus continue your existence as you see fit. But any plans or actions carried by Hell into that plane that you gain knowledge of, you will act to undermine and weaken to the fullest extent of your means."
[23:05] <Kotono> "I shall do this to the best of my capacity," Victus XXXXI vows. "Thank you." Then the vast Inevitable vanishes, leaving the two women behind.
[23:06] <Afina> "Well, that was short but sweet," Afina turns to Canderella.
[23:08] <Kotono> "A win is a win is a win, unless you decide it is a loss," Canderella says, "But I think that's firmly a win, unless you wished to recruit his aid."
[23:10] <Afina> "Oh, it's certainly a win," Afina nods, starting to slowly flutter away from the mountaintop, "I just expected something more dramatic. I did half consider recruiting him, but our poor relations with Inevitables in the past went against it, and his hostile contact with eladrin counted it out completely, since they make up such a large portion of our forces."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Oh, the eladrin aren't so bad. Especially when they get drunk." Giggling into her hand, "Oh, eladrin make for great drunken antics."
[23:19] <Afina> "Of course," Afina agrees readily. "They're definitely the easiest outsiders to relate to. Another reason not to antagonise them... moreso, anyway, considering Hanna."
[23:22] <Kotono> "Oh yes, she's a lovely thing, isn't she?" Canderella replies, "Lovely and powerful, and quite understanding as long as you don't bite her daughter's neck."
[23:24] <Afina> "I need to stick around her, too, according to 27. At least the power to forge stars didn't come up on this little trip... well, hopefully things will have settled down before I leave Aurora next."
[23:27] <Kotono> "Oh, are you?" Canderella snaps her fingers, "Drat." With a sigh, "Ah well, such is chance and whimsy. That Tannin is rather fetching, perhaps I'll spend some time with him instead."
[23:28] <Afina> "Hmph," Afina looks up at Canderella amusedly. "Just so you know, if anything did happen I'd expect you to change your size rather than me changing mine."
[23:31] <Kotono> "Oh, is that a come on?" CAnderella smirks, "Or just friendly advice?"
[23:33] <Afina> "Just friendly advice to help you avoid disappointment in the future. I remember you telling me about that courre who had to change shape for her angel lover," Afina replies obligingly.
[23:35] <Kotono> "I'll keep that under advisement," Canderella flies on, "You're rather pretty. I could do far worse."
[23:36] <Afina> "You could," the fairy agrees, "But Tannin isn't terrible, so there's that."
[23:39] <Kotono> "Either way..." Stretching in air, "Let's go home."
[23:43] * Afina nods, continuing to fly in amiable silence with the succubus back to Aurora in the distance.

[Corwin]

[20:00] <Kotono> Drena is found in the Memorial Hall. He sits before it, seeming to be in meditation.
[20:03] * Afina takes a moment to pay her respect to all the new additions after the last battle before she approaches the elemental. "Drena?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "Yes?" He answers back, turning to Afina, "Do you require the aid of the winds?"
[20:06] <Afina> Nodding, "Kascha told me about how your mission to Zaaman Rul's realm went, that he desired either a powerful magic item to replace the Quilium Armour or a service to bolster his position in Fire. I'm considering my options and I'd like to hear your thoughts on what quests would likely suffice."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Most likely dangerous ones opposing the evils in Fire. The best known is Imix, Prince of Evil Fire Elementals. There's also the Sultan of the Efreet. Efreet..." Drena rumbles, a gushing, shaking sound, "Nothing but burning piles of contempt and empty heat. There's several more lesser lords and powerful entities, and almost all of them align with evil. Zaaman Rul has his back to the wall.
[20:09] <Kotono> In fact, he's been defeated once. According to the stories, only the intervention of a phoenix saved him, and he builds anew in Fire. So the task will likely be a difficult one, as evil is strong in fire and good is weak. Air is the opposite; it is disgusting to see those roles reversed."
[20:12] <Afina> "Air agreed with me quite a lot," Afina agrees with a slight smile, "Fire's brought nothing but irritation on my visits there. Were you told if I had to appear and be given a mission or if I had a free hand in striking at his enemies?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "We'll set something up with you. It's better if you don't just go in blind," Drena explains, "If you're going to make one strike, make it an effective one."
[20:14] <Afina> "Thinking about it, then, the quest is likely better. It offers practice for hellish targets, and it saves money that can be spent on Aurora. Can you arrange something suited to my skills?"
[20:16] <Kotono> "I shall leave on your command," Drena says, "I will return with word as soon as it is decided."
[20:18] <Afina> "Thank you, Drena, whenever is convenient for you will be fine. There's much to be done around Aurora right now, anyway," she demurs, fluttering off now to the lab. Time to see if she can put theory into practice where it comes to golems, now...
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: Anything else or milling time/practicing until Drena returns?
[20:21] <Afina> OOC: I'm gonna make a slaughterstone behemoth!
[20:24] <Kotono> As Afina works and works and works away, she eventually notes something. Tannin lingers just in the corner of your sight, reclining against a shadowed wall. He blends in well, though he doesn't make a serious effort to hide, either.
[20:28] * Afina works with consunmate speed and grace, as if she'd been doing this all her life rather than experimenting with her very first golem. It's an ambitious one, to be sure, dredged from a book of ancient dwarven designs she found in the library, and the elephant sized behemoth soon takes shape under various fabricate spells, looking like an enormous six-legged hunting cat with massive hammer-like arms extending above the joints of the first two pairs of legs. Before she begins putting life into her construction with the really hard magic, she takes a break and flutters over to Tannin. "What do you think?" she asks, guessing he's here for the novelty of seeing Aurora's first golem being built.
[20:31] <Kotono> "Impressive. If the size is any indicator, it'll give the devils some real Hell." Grinning a moment, face otherwise hidden as he shakes his head, "I'm amazed you work so fast, considering your size, if you want the truth."
[20:33] <Afina> "It's all magic and a careful hand. Dana talks about smithing like you have to have muscles on your muscles to pound the metal with a giant hammer, but delicacy has its place," Afina explains with a smile. "Not to mention I've cast so many haste spells over the centuries that the magic's completely suffused into my being."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Magic works better than muscles," Tannin agrees, "It's still a sight to see."
[20:41] <Afina> "It's an ancient dwarven design I found in the library. Quite different from the Medicant golems, but the look and purpose appealed. With enough funds we can have one of these allocated to each main army, leading the charge to trample hordes of devils and brutalise leaders with stunning blows from those great hammers..." Afina sighs wistfully. "It can even squeeze into tunnels it shouldn't fit in thanks to the magic of its construction, just like that Nessian we fought did."
[20:46] <Kotono> Raising an eyebrow, "You almost sound like you're in love with it," Tannin jests, chuckling, "Like it's your baby."
[20:49] * Afina doesn't take offence, merely humming, "It's a big baby. But no, it's mindless... for now, anyway. Still no reason I can't enjoy something destined to murder devils, though. And once I learn the magic to bring it intelligence I'll have as much responsibility for it as any parent."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Oh Chaos," Tannin drawls, laughing with his arms crossed. His head goes back, hood falling away, "You're going to have a battle nursery full of giant golem children that love mother Afina, aren't you?"
[20:55] <Afina> "Creator sounds better than mother in this case," the fairy crosses her own arms and thinks. "I might have my own children after all and they shouldn't feel in competition. But you see, by giving golems intelligence, I also give them the ability to say 'No'. The advantages are far too numerous not to, but it means they'll have to be treated at least as well as anyone else who fights for Lifasa."
[20:57] <Kotono> "It may not be a good idea then," Tannin points out, "Admirable, but sometimes things do go wrong. Chaos and free will do that."
[20:59] <Afina> "Of course. But powerful as this will be when complete, when that power is coupled to a mind capable of learning and adapting, its power will increase by orders of magnitude. That's something that I can't dismiss when our numbers are so few."
[21:01] <Kotono> "Your choice," Tannin says, looking back over the half completed golem. "Considered other types?"
[21:06] * Afina nods. "These ones are powerful but extremely expensive. I could make a larger number of weaker golems for the same cost to bulk out our army, and also I had an idea for an artifical dragon that I'll have to investigate more. Kascha and Baleruk can hopefully help me refine that one. There are other designs more suited to guarding rather than mobile operations that could supplement Medi's golems, too."
[21:15] <Kotono> Whistling low, "I'm impressed."
[21:19] <Afina> "I've been considering how to go about it and gathering designs for a while now before I pulled it all together. Anyway, I better get to the final magic parts, this is the new territor for me so I'll need to be focused, but you can keep watching," she allows, taking off now towards the statue again and gathering her costly reagants to conduct the final spells and rituals to bestow mobility upon the construct...

[Corwin]

[22:29] <Kotono> With gates and magic, the horde of tortles is brought over! They enter Aurora to quite the sight! The courtyard is full of people watching and cheering, all around one great stone golem! It is an elephant sized behemoth, ridden around by one tiny, familiar pixie: Afina. The tortles mill in, stopping to stare at the absolute spectacle, of a huge golem being riden by a pixie, watched by tortles,
[22:29] <Kotono> elementals, celestials, humans, elves and even a few phase spiders.
[22:30] <Muirfinn> "...this is new." Muirfinn says idly, looking up at Afina. He looks over at the nearest person. "What's going on here?"
[22:30] <Kotono> The nearest person is Tannin, walking up on as you stare, "Oh this? Afina's just testing out one of her babies," he says, "Impressive old thing, isn't it?"
[22:31] <Muirfinn> "Looks rather new, really." Muirfinn says lightly. He waves up at Afina cheerfully.
[22:32] <Afina> Spotting the new arrivals, Afina instructs her steed to veer towards them, perched gamely atop its vicious looking feline head that bows down as it stops nearby. "Witness Aurora's newest weapon against devil tyranny!" she proclaims loudly in her cutely high pitched voice, "The Slaughterstone Behemoth!"
[22:33] <Muirfinn> "I say, quite a fearsome visage! A creation of your own?" Muirfinn calls up.
[22:34] <Afina> "Yes, my first golem, and wildly successful at that," the fairy nods proudly, looking over the group from her high vantage. "And it looks like you've been busy, too. New recruits?"
[22:36] <Kotono> Said recruits look rather thunderstruck as Stille waves, "Indeed, General Afina Petalwisp. They're clearly surprised by your radiant magnificence on display, but they are here to help."
[22:36] <Muirfinn> "Indeed! Granted by the Mother Ocean herself! Divine assistance at its finest! I daresay that the future of our crusade looks brighter by the day!" Muirfinn crows. He turns to the newcomers, "Friends, this is Afina, one of the generals here on the Aurora, and a Lifasan native."
[22:38] <Afina> "Good news! Welcome to Aurora, friends who would fight for Lifasa! The same forges and laboratories that built this titan will also see to any weapons and armour you require!" Afina calls loudly to the new tortles. "Let me know if you need any help settling your group in, Muirfinn. I'll trust you to handle it otherwise."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Oh Afina!" Kascha calls, "Hold on! I got you and some other souvenirs!"
[22:40] <Kotono> The tortles watch, still quite captivated by the giant golem Afina rides.
[22:42] <Afina> "Oh, thank you, Kascha," Afina smiles at the ghaele, waiting to see what thoughtful gift she has.
[22:43] <Kotono> Reaching into her pocket, a pixie sized string of pearls is produced. "I wanted to give you a pearl necklace," she says, "It's so cute with the rest of your outfit!"
[22:47] <Afina> Snickering, Afina flutters down and accepts the jewellery, "Thank you, Kascha," she smiles and puts them around her neck. "They're very nice. In exchange you can have a ride around on the golem if you want!" she looks at said golem's ominous face, "Behemoth, obey Kascha's orders," she instructs it.
[22:49] <Kotono> "What's so funny?" Kascha quirks her head tothe side, voice nothing but confused sweetness. "Though that's nice of you! How fast can it go?"
[22:49] <Kotono> Meanwhil the tortles finally start to rouse themselves from this, taking everything in.
[22:51] <Muirfinn> "Shall I show you the place then?" Muirfinn offers to the newcomers.
[22:51] <Afina> "It's not that fast, but it feels like it with how it shakes the ground every step," Afina replies, "I'll tell you the joke later," she adds to spare the poor woman's blushes.
[22:55] <Kotono> You get a heap of nods from the tortles, as meanwhile Kascha nods and flies on up! "Ah, General Afina Petalwisp," Stille adds, "If I can have a moment of your time?"
[22:56] <Afina> "Certainly," Afina flutters over towards Stille, trusting Kascha not to crush anyone with the golem. "What's on your mind, Stille?"
[22:56] * Muirfinn leads them off then!
[23:04] <Kotono> "A matter of the heart, I'm afraid," he keeps his voice low as Kascha starts to go around and the tortles go off. "So I ask that you be completely forthright."
[23:05] <Afina> "I'm rarely anything but," Afina replies, hearing him out.
[23:07] <Kotono> "Do you, by chance, know any of Ithea's favorite things? Favorite food, favorite gemstone, favorite color? Things such as that." Stille asks. "I'd like ot surprise her with something nice."
[23:13] <Afina> "Hmph, given up on me already?" Afina asks as if affronted, before shrugging, "I don't really mind. I see her eating black pudding most days, so it's probably her favourite food... although she did have some kind of stew when we first found Aurora and its magic mess hall," she hums over that before going on, "Her favourite colour is silver, I think. I'm not sure her about gemstone, I think maybe topaz?"
[23:16] <Kotono> "Thank you," Stille smiles, before grinning, "Alas, you are a gemstone forever out of reach." Stille deeply sighs, "I can only marvel at you from afar, General Afina Petalwisp."
[23:19] <Afina> "I'll do the same for you, I'm sure," Afina returns, fluttering over amidst the general revelry of her soldiers as Kascha drives her golem around.

[Corwin]

[19:47] <Blondezilla> Soon enough Drena returns. The two meet inside Aurora, near Afina's forges. Without waiting for preamble, "I have found a task that advances our goals with Zaaman Rul and also spites the dogs of Baator," he announces.
[19:48] <Afina> "Excellent," Afina approves, "There should be little reason not to pursue it, then. What do you have for me, Drena?"
[19:51] <Blondezilla> "There is a powerful archdevil in Fire, and Zaaman Rul desires to capture and interrogate one of his elite servants," Drena explains, "The Archdevil Eblis is served by the Sundered Suns, powerful fallen solars that fell with their father. He will not be an easy opponent, for these fallen solars have grown greatly in the ways of evil since they fell."
[19:54] <Afina> "Killing would be far simpler than capturing in that case," Afina admits to herself, "But the same could be said for many of our dungeon's inhabitants. What do we know about this fallen solar?"
[19:57] <Blondezilla> "The one we have information on is known as Telmar," Drena says, "It is said he has been in isolation at a mystical location known as the Magmasoul, perfecting greater control over fire. If we can track down this location, we can abduct him and deliver him to Zaaman Rul."
[20:00] <Afina> "Start with him specifically, then," Afina lands on the ground now as she starts plotting, "What are his strengths and weaknesses? Physical as well as mental. Does he have any quirks or habits? Grudges against any other creatures?"
[20:09] <Blondezilla> "This is what I know," Drena says, "He hates celestials with a passion, particularly archons, as they were the ones who cast them out. He loathes mortals as well, believing them to be little more than walking mud-men with flickering candles of souls, worth little except to be cast away. He is like his father in the latter," Drena explains with a gustiness in his voice, flickering warmer,
[20:09] <Blondezilla> "He is trained in the arts of the Sundered Suns, including able being to light foes aflame with vile fires when he strikes. His defenses are his strongest point, followed by his melee and ranged combat ability. He is a crack shot with arrows of any type and a fearsome melee warrior. He is not gifted with magic - it is said that he lost almost all of his magic after his fall. Despite that,
[20:09] <Blondezilla> he does retain the ability to see through lies and illusions as any other solar." Going on, "He has spent time in the court of the Sultan of the Efreet and is warmly regarded there. He gets along less well with Imix - old lore suggests he barely survived a conflict with one of the courtiers of Imix. He has also been a liason to the Court of Ogremoch, though it did not last long before he
[20:09] <Blondezilla> was recalled. Unlike fire elementals, he carries no enmity towards water creatures. He saves his hate for mortals and celestials."
[20:13] <Afina> "Hmmm. Shame about seeing through illusions, that makes deception much harder," Afina thinks to herself. "His skill in battle, defensive and offensive, how would it compare to any of the devils we've battled?"
[20:14] <Blondezilla> "Solars are better than a typical pit fiend in battle," Drena says, "He's an accomplished veteran of many battles in Fire. He's not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, my skill at estimating opponents does not reach higher than that."
[20:16] <Afina> "Hmm. I'll tentatively put him between a pit fiend and a nessian, then," Afina considers. "Tricky but do-able if I'm careful. What of this Magmasoul, what do we know of it?"
[20:20] <Blondezilla> "It's said to be a legendary location where the 'soul of all magma' resides. Unfortunately, it's long been lost to common knowledge. Zaaman Rul himself is unclear on where it is and suspects Imix has had a hand in that. Part of this task will be finding it," Drena says, "It is said that any creature not of water or fire can supplicate themselves within the Magmasoul and be baptized in the
[20:20] <Blondezilla> flames, reborn as a creature of Fire. Those who are of fire are said to be able to obtain great wisdom there."
[20:22] <Afina> "Now we're a bit past tricky... So I will have to approach Imix to learn the location? Or do you think any other more reachable person or group in Fire would know as well?"
[20:26] <Blondezilla> Drena crosses his arms, "It depends. One speculation is only those of evil can learn the location." The elemental's body stirs, sending little gusts of wind all over like wild slashes into the air. "Another is that the information is simply deeply obscured and well hidden, requiring great expenditure to find. The problem is that Fire is dominated by evil. None of the courts are ones you
[20:26] <Blondezilla> would want to approach - unless you care to go cavort with efreet, fiends or the slaves of Imix? It may be best to seek a great knowledge source outside of Fire altogether."
[20:30] <Afina> "Hmm... this place is very old, is it not?" Afina asks, considering the matter. "In that case Medicant's library could hold the knowledge. In fact... I have another idea as well on that note. Come with me?" she asks, taking air and fluttering towards a portal, intending to visit Aurora's bookshop and purchase that travelogue of Fire she spied a few days ago...
[20:35] <Blondezilla> OOC: How are you planning to research in the library? Yourself or anyone helping you?
[20:35] <Afina> With the travelogues a waste of money, Afina is undeterred! "Well, lets try asking Sage Vul'lath? Between him and the library we might get lucky."
[20:37] <Blondezilla> Sage Vul'lath is found with Elder Magi Tepen and Sylvie. The three are deep in discussion, some of it reaching you. "...point is that there is a difference between what is right and what is good, if we accept the previous definitions for both," Tepen says, "Otherwise the entire philosophical construct collapses under its own weight."
[20:37] <Blondezilla> "I'm not so sure about that," Sylvie says, "I don't think a single hole like that is a fatal flaw in the logic, especially if you pre-suppose the logical forms from somewhere like Celestia," she says, tapping a page of the book.
[20:38] <Afina> "Hello, I'm sorry to interrupt," Afina greets the trio as she flutters up with Drena in tow, "But I need the help of one of our learned scholars to locate a sacred and well hidden site on the plane of fire."
[20:40] <Blondezilla> "Of course, that assumes that the definition of truth is also not in debate," Sage Vul'lath dryly observes, "I would know many that fervently disagree with this assump-" Here he pauses, looking towards Afina. "What location?"
[20:41] <Afina> "Magmasoul," she supplies promptly.
[20:44] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+23 academic lore
[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+23 academic lore and gets 35." [1d20=12]
[20:45] <Blondezilla> "I've heard of it," Sage Vul'lath says, "An old text spoke of it, claiming one must go there and prostrate themselves to be reborn as fire." Frowning a moment, "I believe it was in this library, though I didn't read further into it at the time, as I was working on another project."
[20:46] <Afina> "Ah, I'd hoped it would be there," Afina smiles. "Do you know which book it's in? I must go there and capture one of Eblis's Sundered Suns for Zaaman Rul in exchange for the armour of Quilium."
[20:48] <Blondezilla> "No, but I can find it," Sage Vul'lath says, rising. "Perhaps the discussion Tepen and Sylvie are in can entertain you while I do so."
[20:48] <Blondezilla> Elder Magi Tepen chuckles at this, raising a hand, "No need for that. Philosphy is always interesting, even if ever so seldom productive."
[20:49] <Blondezilla> "I believe the term is mental masturbation," Sylvie adds, getting a scandalized blush from the Elder Magi. Cracking a smile at that all over again, "It's true. I firmly believe it's nothing more than stroking your mental ego off and making it sound pretty."
[20:51] <Afina> "You three must be very comfortable with each other, in that case," Afina opines, taking the githyanki's seat except perched on the backrest with easy balance rather than on the cushion that would put her too far below the others.
[20:53] <Blondezilla> "I suppose we share the same interests," Elder Magi Tepen agrees, "As I was saying, I assert that what is right and what is good has subtle but important differences. Afina, do you have an opinion on that?"
[20:56] <Afina> "It's never good to kill someone, but sometimes it's the right thing to do," the fairy replies blandly, seeing it in her own familiar terms. "But isn't it subjective both ways?"
[20:57] <Blondezilla> "Subjective versus objective," Sylvie says, "You know, I can go and obtain something that is literally and demonstraitably good," Sylvie says, "Say I bring Morniel in here. By any definition, he is good. It's something that can be verified and quantified. Which means," Holding up a hand, "Planar philosphy gives me a throbbing headache."
[20:58] <Blondezilla> Elder Magi Tepen quirks a smile at that, "There's some truth to all of that," he says, "Really, I find planar philosphy to often mire down in minuate and definitions, even moreso than normal philosophy."
[21:00] <Afina> "He's nice," Afina can't dispute that. "But 'good' and 'right' aren't things you can hold in your hand. He may express good in his actions, but if I cut out his liver and put it next to a human's liver, one is no more righteous than the other. It's just flesh."
[21:03] <Blondezilla> "Is it?" Sylvie banters back, "Haven't you ever used components in your crafting? An angel's blood can be a powerful reagent or material component for magic, augmenting its power."
[21:06] <Afina> "So can a bear's heart or the leavings off a pixie's wings," Afina flutters her green hued wings demonstratively. "Whatever accumulated energies the angel's body may have become suffused with which can be transplanted into an artifact, the flesh is still no more 'good' than any other - it has no capacity for action. What's so 'good' about inert matter?"
[21:07] <Blondezilla> "That-" Sylvie begins, but Elder Magi Tepen clears his throat, "Vul'lath is coming back this way."
[21:08] <Afina> Fluttering up, Afina vacates the sage's chair so he can have it back.
[21:12] <Blondezilla> Vul'lath sits without comment, tapping an old, red leather tome that hep uts on the table. "Fortunately, I remembered where I put it," he says, "Now what is it you want to know about Magmasoul?"
[21:13] <Afina> "Primarily the location," Afina begins, "But it's layout and inhabitants would be useful to know as well."
[21:15] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+24
[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+24 and gets 30." [1d20=6]
[21:18] <Blondezilla> Licking his finger before turning several pages in, "Magmasoul is deep beneath the surface of Fire. You must-" he begins a moment, blink-clearing his eyes. "Sorcery," he mutters, "But not strong enough sorcery." Pausing to clear his throat, "You must head to the Mourning Flame Caves, and descend to the bottom, fending of all that would stop you. At the bottom lies the Keeper of Magma, who
[21:18] <Blondezilla> shall challenge you further. You must satisfy him to open the way to the Magmasoul. Once there, you will pass into the guidance of the Burnteyes - an order of wise men who burn out their eyes as an offering to the Magmasoul, to better see its wisdom without the distractions of the visual world."
[21:20] * Afina nods, taking all that in. "How deep do the caves go?" she asks first. "And do we have any more details on those who would stop me, Keeper included?"
[21:21] <Blondezilla> "It doesn't elaborate on how deep they are, but it suggests that it is not a trek to be made lightly," Sage Vul'lath replies after some reading. "The Keeper is unilluminated."
[21:22] <Afina> "Ah well, too much to hope for perfect intelligence. What does it say about Magmasoul itself?"
[21:23] <Blondezilla> "It is the source of all magma, and where creatures can embrace Fire," it says, "There is information on rituals to become part of Fire, and it speaks of deep meditations to learn the secrets of Fire."
[21:24] <Afina> "Any details on those meditations?" Afina asks, recalling how her magic allowed her to act as a creature of water before and it might do the same on fire.
[21:25] <Blondezilla> "Yes, detailed instructions." Sage Vul'lath says, "The full transformation takes approximately from four days to three weeks."
[21:25] <Blondezilla> "Oh," After a moment, "Do you mean the latter, about meditating about secrets?"
[21:28] <Afina> "Yes," Afina nods. "I can transform myself into an elemental quite thoroughly, so it could suffice. If not at least it gives an idea of how long the solar will be there for."
[21:29] <Blondezilla> "Mmm. It says there's no real set time. It usually takes years to get wisdom out, and some never find it," Sage Vul'lath reports after a few more pages of reading.
[21:30] <Afina> "Nevermind that, then," Afina readily gives the idea up. She has a Crusade to lead! "Alright, the last things I'll need will be transport to and from Fire. Someone here can plane shift me easily enough, but for the way back out I'll need a plane shift scroll. Can anyone scribe it for me?"
[21:34] <Blondezilla> "I can," Tepen says, "Will you be going alone?"
[21:36] <Afina> "Yes," Afina nods, seeing no need to bring anyone else for what's effectively an assassination, the survival of the target notwithstanding.
[21:38] <Blondezilla> "You can have the scroll ready in a few hours," Tepen says, "Where exactly will you be shifting to?"
[21:40] <Afina> "The entrance to the Mourning Flame Caves," Afina replies. "I'll come find you as Ysgard reaches dusk?"
[21:48] <Blondezilla> OOC: Okay, any other prep then?
[21:50] <Afina> OOC: Before I go I'll tell Tepen to have someone contact me daily by Sending to ensure I'm not dead or worse. Also given devil scrying attempts of late, I'll ask someone to cast mind blank on me before departure.
[21:54] <Blondezilla> With Mind Blank cast on her, Afina receives the scroll of plane shift from Tepen. "Good luck," he offers, "Are you certain you need nothing else or no further aid?"
[21:58] <Afina> "At worst I can and will flee," Afina shakes her head. "I'm fully capable otherwise." Stowing away the scroll, she spits out a spell that wreathes her body in flames, flames that rapidly eat away her flesh until naught but a flaming wraith in the general shape of a pixie remains. "I'll be back as soon as I've secured the solar, then someone can help me take him to Zaaman Rul."
[22:01] <Blondezilla> "You know," Elder Magi Tepen observes in a cool, collected voice, "It's going to be remarkably unpleasant to touch you for the plane shift when you're on fire."
[22:04] * Afina is nothing if not considerate towards the others of her Crusade, and the flames abruptly smoke away to reveal her flesh and blood self once more, now casting resist energy as a temporary measure until she's on the other side and can recast the elemental transformation. "Better?"
[22:07] <Blondezilla> "Much. I do prefer not to be terrifically burned when casting magic," With a hint of dry amusement, "Good luck."
[22:07] <Afina> "I know, you work hard enough as it is," Afina smiles back, waiting for him to cast his spell to send her on her way.
[22:13] <Blondezilla> With that, Afina is cast into the flames! The flames burn hot and hotter around her, crackling and sizzling! All around you are burning flames and sundered ground. Straight ahead is a massive, all consuming gap in the earth, a burning cave entrance. The air is thick and smoky here, painfully difficult and choking to breathe.
[22:16] <Afina> Promptly casting elemental body once more to become one with the flames herself, Afina promptly dives low to the fiery ground and begins proceeding towards the rent with the utmost concern for stealth, starting as she means to go on. Battling the inhabitants will only cost her resources and time that is better reserved for the solar, so if she can sneak through the caverns she'll be all the
[22:16] <Afina> better off for it.
[22:16] <Afina> roll 1d20+35 hide
[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+35 hide and gets 48." [1d20=13]
[22:19] <Blondezilla> Immediately ahead is a long tunnel down into the burning, flaming earth. This takes a little time go through, but is immediately without incident. At the end are stone arches going ahead and to the left and right. A burning metal plaque is set in the ground at the mid point between them.
[22:21] <Afina> Being more attuned to water and air, those are the only elemental languages she's capable of speaking or reading. But nonetheless she maneuvers to a vantage point that lets her read the plaque without exposing herself, just in case it's in a familiar tongue.
[22:22] <Blondezilla> OOC: What languages?
[22:25] <Afina> OOC: Languages: Common, Sylvan, Elven, Gnome, Auran, Aquan, Infernal
[22:31] <Blondezilla> The writing is not writing Afina can read.
[22:32] <Afina> As expected. She sneaks down the right path.
[22:38] <Blondezilla> The right path is a tight, tense, burningly hot walk ahead. As you go on...
[22:38] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[22:39] <Blondezilla> Ahead you see them - two human sized creatures of burning fire, perhaps elementals. They stand perfectly unmoving, staring ahead. Past them the passage continues.
[22:41] <Afina> Afina makes no move to interfere with them, creeping along through the flaming substance of fire to the side of the pair and past them...
[22:41] <Afina> roll 1d20+29 move silently
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 move silently and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[22:41] <Blondezilla> roll 1d20+20
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Blondezilla rolls 1d20+20 and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[22:42] <Blondezilla> The duo is snuck past without difficulty. Ahead of them the path continues on, widening out slightly. It takes a turn left and a slow slope down is ahead now. It plunges at a heavy angle. On foot it would be walkable but quite downhill, easy to pick up speed and easier to trip and roll down.
[22:45] <Afina> With her wings that's hardly an impediment, and since the constantly moving and crackling flames conceal both motion and sound quite well from her just as fiery body, she glides down at the side of the cave, keeping herself carefully hidden amidst the surrounding fires as she goes.

[Corwin]

[19:42] <Kotono> OOC: Make a listen check?
[19:43] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 34." [1d20=5]
[19:46] <Kotono> As Afina flies down the corridor, she hears a heavy rumbling behind her.
[19:47] <Afina> Pausing, she looks back to see what's causing it!
[19:48] <Kotono> Surging behind and above her is a great wave of burning magma and chunky rock! It's coming down towards her, like a tidal wave!
[19:50] <Afina> Then she'll forgo stealth for just a moment to fly full speed the rest of the way down, not slowing until she's safely past anything that might drain the magma away. It won't burn her, but it could still crush her!
[19:51] <Kotono> OOC: How fast are you?
[19:53] <Afina> OOC: 90
[19:55] <Kotono> Woosh! Afina feels burning air against her as she races down, easily outpacing the torrent of magma and rock behind hre! The tunnel goes down a good two minutes even at this pace, before coming out to a gaping chasm. From the ceiling hang burning ropes, as if to be swung on across the chasm and to other side, where a gash in the wall leads further within. Not that this is a problem for Afina,
[19:55] <Kotono> for obvious reasons.
[19:57] <Afina> Fluttering along breezily, Afina enters the opening in the far wall and then resumes her prior stealthy entry, hugging close to the wall and keeping herself obscured from scrutiny as her infiltration continues.
[19:59] <Kotono> OOC: Refresh your hide/ms for reference.
[19:59] <Afina> roll 1d20+35 hide
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+35 hide and gets 42." [1d20=7]
[19:59] <Afina> roll 1d20+29 move silently
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 move silently and gets 32." [1d20=3]
[20:00] <Kotono> The next section has walls that are half melted in the heat. Ahead is a passage curving up straight ahead, another two to the right side sagging downward, and a narrow passage to the left, like a bored out hole with the sides slowly melting.
[20:03] <Afina> Taking advantage of her relative tininess, Afina takes the narrow left passage!
[20:06] <Kotono> The passage is just big enough for Afina and 20ft long. At the other side is a small, bored out cubbyhole. It's completely dark here, not that this bothers Afina, either. In here the heat lessens, the air only desert-noon hot and no more. In the center of the room sits an old, cracked crystal wedge. Besides it is a burlap backpack.
[20:07] <Afina> Oh well, failing progress she looks for loot. Detect magic is cast to see if any spells are about!
[20:07] <Kotono> There is indee dmagic about, from the crystal wedge. OOC: Spellcraft.
[20:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+31
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 and gets 47." [1d20=16]
[20:12] <Kotono> The crystal wedge was once a magical item that provides a mobile source of safety, like a portable avoid planar effects spell. The magic has long since bonded to this area and the wedge has grown fragile. While it functions, it's no longer portable. Within the backpack are several things. There's a compartment with lumps of gold - looks like hunks of gold coins half melted together, some
[20:12] <Kotono> parts of them retaining some shape and design. There's three glass vials full of rusty red liquid, capped airtight and still looking intact. There's a human sized green bandanna, undecorated and little more than scraps now. Beneath that is a ring, gold inlaid with purple gemstones.
[20:16] <Afina> While she's not particularly greedy in her own right, Aurora is a ravenous devourer of funds, so Afina grabs the ring and stows it in a flaming pocket, ignoring the coinage as too heavy for her current mission. Leaving the rest alone, she retreats back out and then descends down the passage on the right.
[20:19] <Kotono> The passages to the right inter-connect, going down 30ft with holey walls. At the bottom is a small opening, with a hole in the floor plunging down, a path on the other side continuing ahead, and writing on the left wall - carved out of it, looks like, rather crudely.
[20:20] <Afina> She takes a look at the writing on the off chance its not in Ignan...
[20:20] <Kotono> OOC: Languages?
[20:21] <Kotono> OOC: Also, I forgot to ask this back at the start - are you invisible or visible here as a rule?
[20:22] <Afina> OOC: visible but stealthy! Languages: Common, Sylvan, Elven, Gnome, Auran, Aquan, Infernal
[20:24] <Kotono> The writing is in Elven. It reads as follows, "Depth 325 kre. 725 ahn and rising. Hostiles level: Low. Beware the tendrils from the ground."
[20:25] <Afina> That's helpful. Mentally thanking the assuredly dead elf,  she peeks down the hole, intending to descend there unless she sees anything that would hinder such an attempt.
[20:27] <Kotono> OOC: Spot, +10 bonus.
[20:27] <Afina> roll 1d20+39
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+39 and gets 50." [1d20=11]
[20:29] <Kotono> The tunnel plunges down 60ft, to the end of Afina's darkvision. Interestingly, she can notice little sections of thew all - lines of brighter red, occasionally and subtly twitching.
[20:33] <Afina> Those must be the tendrils she was warned about. And duly warned she can bypass them quite easily, focusing her haste magic to move at unbelievable speed as she descends down the hole full tilt!
[20:33] <Afina> OOC: 6th level slot for 1 round t ime stop
[20:39] <Kotono> With time frozen, Afina darts down! The passage goes down 70ft, to a chamber below. The walls are still melty here, but a few old columns support the ceiling. There's a passage ahead of you, sloping down on goopy floors. There's a passage behind you, going straight and making a curve to the left.
[20:40] <Afina> Down is always the way! Skirting to the sides and using the columns for cover, she advances stealthily onwards!
[20:41] <Kotono> This passage goes down 20ft before it comes to a V intersection, sloping back up 20ft and rising into what looks to be another room. At the bottom is a 5ft wide pit of what looks to be mud like, half molten rock. Bubbles occasionally erupt out from it, stinking of sulphur and gas.
[20:45] <Afina> Seeing no enemies around, Afina lands at the lip of the pit, considering her options. Perhaps it empties out somewhere and she has to swim through? Or perhaps it's just a random feature of terrain with no bearing here. Well, she can move fast enough not to be stuck by the mud, so it's worth checking out, she supposes. Hasting herself, she dives into the mud and holds her breath, half flying
[20:45] <Afina> and half swimming through it as she tries to find where it ends...
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: Do you have any movement altering effects like FoM up?
[20:46] <Afina> OOC: comes up free with haste
[20:48] <Kotono> Down Afina goes! She swims down a good five rounds, the mud thickening at first, then thinning out. It takes on a current, pulling you ahead. Ahead is a river of the stuff, a surface to it above now and ahead, if one cares to breath through and get some air.
[20:49] <Afina> Afina does! She'll also be able to see where it empties out in case there's any alternate routes available from the surface.
[20:51] <Kotono> The air here is miserably thick with gas - elemental form does help, at least, allowing her to breathe. Ahead of you is a mud-rock river - far ahead you can see a bright red light, like an opening. It's quite faint ahead and will require some time to reach.
[20:53] <Afina> Lowering herself into the mud so her eyes are just barely above, Afina lets the current carry her along with some consideration for stealth rather than flying along openly. Every now and then she'll tilt her head back so her nose escapes and she can take a breath, but all told she's hid in less glamorous spots while waiting to get the drop on someone.
[20:54] <Kotono> OOC: Hide check, +8 bonus?
[20:56] <Afina> roll 1d20+43
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+43 and gets 54." [1d20=11]
[20:59] <Kotono> On Afina swims, on and on and on! A good 10 minutes of the current, the gap getting closer and closer until you at last reach the end! Ahead is a great opening, the mud-stone river emptying out into a vast chasm below. This chasm is vast, rivers of mud-stone, lava and even slow flowing magma all cascading down from dozens on dozens of gashes above and below you, all about on the walls. Far
[20:59] <Kotono> below is a vast sea of red, save for a single island. There's something there - but you're so far up and above it that you can't make it out from here.
[21:05] <Afina> Magma's a good sign. So is the Keeper of Magma down there? Schlupping herself out of the mud, she flutters over to where the chasm opens and allows herself to drop. Rather than immersing herself in the magma, which would probably crush her if she could, she crawls atop the partially liquid rock onwards to the island, trusting her flaming form to be inconspicious in the surrounding burning
[21:05] <Afina> earth while she gets closer and ascertains the situation.
[21:07] <Kotono> Down Afina goes! She goes down for a good ten minutes and then another twenty. The distance resolves slowly, a staggering amount of depth. But slowly what is above becomes visible. There is a basalt stone path leading from a seaside cave towards the island. The island itself is barren, save for a large, square building made of red blocks of stone, the color of fire. It blends well with the
[21:07] <Kotono> glow of the sea, requiring you to get quite close before you can make it out.
[21:09] <Afina> Wary of any hidden guardians, Afina keeps crawling along towards the island until she's certain there's no cover for anything to hide by. With that confirmed, she takes air and flutters towards the building, looking for a window or entrance she can unobtrusively peek through.
[21:10] <Kotono> There's no windows and only one entrance. It has a door of shimmering white flames, burning hot and bright. You can't see anything past it.
[21:12] <Afina> She's not about to turn back now, even if whatever's on the other side will get a clear look at her. She flies through the flames quickly, ready to react with all haste to whatever might be lying in wait!
[21:14] <Kotono> The flames do not burn her. Within in are squares on the ground - pooling towards the center, where a gap of pure fire awaits. Sitting on the floor besides it is a creature of fire - as large as a house! Its face is distinct - a look of boredom on it. It rises to its feet - head scraping against the roof. It's naught but whirling flame, "Heh, heh, heh. Finally." It speaks like the dying
[21:14] <Kotono> crackle of wood ablaze, "Someone who seeks Magmasoul. Finally some entertainment!"
[21:16] <Afina> "Finally?" Afina asks, her innately cute pixie voice crackling and hissing slightly with her fiery throat and mouth. "You haven't had any come recently?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Few come bearing the sigil of Prince Imix," The creature replies, "Fewer still dare to press on this far.""
[21:31] <Afina> Worried her mission has failed from the start, Afina is too professional to reveal her hand and ask the Keeper, so she does indeed press on. "Then what challenge will you present to prove my worthiness to enter Magmasoul?"
[21:32] <Kotono> "Your survival will do," Crackling his knuckles, a whispy thing tha tsounds like flames crackling, "The flames of Magmasoul can burn even fire!" A halo of flames surrounds the body of the elemental, "Withstand these flames and prove your worth, or burn into cinder! Prince Imix tolerates only the strong within Fire, and all the rest burn away to ash!" OOC: Init here.

[21:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 elemental?
[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 elemental? and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[21:33] <Afina> roll 1d20+23
[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[21:34] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(33)>Elemental(30)'
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: Open Afina.
[21:35] <Afina> Hasting herself as a matter of course, Afina flies to the far side of the structure, keeping herself prepared to defend his opener for the moment. "For how long?" she asks, debating if it's better just to kill him... then again she wouldn't know where to go afterwards.
[21:35] <Afina> OOC: total defence
[21:36] <Kotono> "Three spells," he answers, "Or until I fall." With that he begins to chant, the air around him rippling with flame! All about you storms of fire burst into being, looking to char you into oblivion!
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 SR (+4 greater spell penetration) SR?
[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 SR (+4 greater spell penetration) SR? and gets 38." [1d20=14]
[21:37] <Kotono> OOC: Reflex.
[21:38] <Afina> roll 1d20+36
[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 and gets 51." [1d20=15]
[21:39] <Kotono> But Afina is lightning fast, zipping between pockets of cooler air and avoiding all the wretched heat! OOC:Do note if you have evasion as usual.  OOC: Go Afina.
[21:40] <Afina> "In that case I'll wait," Afina replies moving back to her starting position, ever ready to dodge. She's got no desire to murder any uninvolved parties, and is confident in her ability to evade or endure whatever tricks he has.
[21:40] <Afina> OOC: total defence again
[21:41] <Kotono> "You avoided the opener," He observes, "Most do. The second, now?" Around you, blades of air form! Terrible blades of air, appearing adn slicing into Afina from all directions, blazing super-hot and exploding!"
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 AC? 1
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 AC? 1 and gets 51." [1d20=18]
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 AC? 2
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 AC? 3
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 AC? 2 and gets 52." [1d20=19]
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 AC? 3 and gets 42." [1d20=9]
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+33 AC? 4
[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+33 AC? 4 and gets 38." [1d20=5]
[21:41] <Afina> OOC: 53
[21:44] <Kotono> But Afina is too fast! She dodges each blade as they slam into each other, crumbling into great blasts of searing winds! The elemental laughs now, "I haven't got to cast this spell since that Fallen came through. Good." The aura of flame around the elemental grows wideR! OOC: Go Afina.
[21:46] <Afina> Smiling herself at that confirmation of her target's presence, Afina gracefully drifts back to the far side of the building, her defences keen and alert to see her through this last one!
[21:48] <Kotono> The words of power uttered shake the entire building! Abruptly the stones transform into a solid mass all around you, of pure liquid magma! Around Afina a sphere of it forms, before crashing in towards her all over!
[21:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24 SR
[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 SR and gets 41." [1d20=17]
[21:49] <Kotono> OOC: Fortitude save.
[21:49] <Afina> roll 1d20+19
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[21:51] <Kotono> The magma comes from everywhere, flowing into Afina! Through her mouth, nose, ears and every space it can find, it fills her body! Her body bulges as her body bursts aflame all over, blood vaporizing into plasma-fire in seconds! Yet with a supreme effort of pure grit she resists collapsing with it, instead focusing herself and her magic! With a great push back the magma is ejected, preventing
[21:51] <Kotono> her from being completely consumed by the fires! (More)
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 2d4 con damage and no other effect
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4 con damage and no other effect and gets 4." [2d4=2, 2]
[21:51] <Afina> OOC: 50% miss chance?
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[21:52] <Kotono> But somehow at that last minute, Afina evades despite her body being filled with magma! When it all clears the building is back as it was, "Hmph, you're good enough to pass." It says, "Now show me your sigil and I'll lower the flames." OOC: Free act.

[21:56] <Afina> "I have no sigil," Afina admits. "I came here with my own resources, with the support of none of Fire's powers. Is my ability to have made it this far not enough?" she asks simply and honestly, having no desire to force the issue, though she's resolutely prepared to do so if she must.
[21:58] <Kotono> "You seek to burn hot as your ambition and daring?" The elemental demands, "By edict of Imix, none without his sigil can pass. Yet, here, I determine who has a sigil or not. Perhaps we can negotiate."
[22:00] <Afina> "I took you for a reasonable being," Afina nods, subtly relaxing from her mental preparations to magically unmake him. "What terms do you favour?"
[22:36] <Kotono> "Do you know sorcery or magic?" It asks back.
[22:37] * Afina nods. "I have some talent for sorcery," she confirms, waiting to hear what he'd like. Though with her focused spell set she's unsure if this'll go anywhere.
[22:39] <Kotono> "I collect magic that has anything to do with fire. Give me knowledge of a new fire spell and I'll let you pass."
[22:44] <Afina> What luck, she just recently adapted a classic to better suit her unique capabilities! "Almost every spellcaster is familiar with the fireball spell, yes?" she begins, before casting her spell and launching a glowing red bead at the elemental which land before him and sits there innocuously. "This is a more powerful variant that also has a fuse like an explosive. It can trigger from instantly
[22:44] <Afina> to half a minute later, making it useful for setting up massive simultaneous blasts or laying impromptu traps."
[22:48] <Kotono> "Oh, Delayed Blast Fireball, or Imix's Waiting Wrath, or Backhanded Revenge?" Looking at Afina, "I know that spell well."
[22:59] <Afina> "Really?" Afina frowns, having never seen anyone use anything like it in all her centuries. "It's the only fire spell I really know, aside from transformations... There's a heatless spell that can melt even adamantine in seconds, but it's not truly fire..." She now wracks her brain trying to recall anyone she's seen wielding truly unique and outstanding fire magic she can tell him about..."
[22:59] <Afina> Time passes and her fireball explodes between them, ultimately bothering neither. "... I'm sorry, but everyone I've met or fought has used nothing but simple fire spells, some powerful such as a pit fiend's meteor swarm or a druid's fire storm, but none of them anywhere as unique and interesting as the spells you've wielded."

[Corwin]

[19:40] <Kotono> "Hmph. If your understanding of Fire is rudimentary, why do you seek the Magmasoul," The elemental enquires, flames playing around it, forever swirling and crackling.
[19:42] <Afina> Seeing few ways to proceed other than getting the elemental on her side, she admits, "It's not as much magmasoul I seek as it is someone presently within."
[19:43] <Kotono> "The Fallen?" The question crackles in a burst of pure fiery energy, the question as much challenge as query. Looming over the tiny, burning fairy, "You play a dangerous game. That one is no weakling."
[19:45] <Afina> "Interesting that you assume my intent is hostile... but perceptive," Afina allows. "Do not be fooled by my stature, though. I've faced greater than he and walked away."
[19:45] <Kotono> "A trade, then." The elemental asserts, "His bow coats any arrow fired in it with Faithrot, a potent poison. Bring it to me."
[19:48] <Afina> "Done," Afina nods. Certainly it would be valuable to sell for Aurora, but his sword will have to do. "My name is Afina Petalwisp," she adds, since it's proper to know the name of the other party if a bargain is to be struck.
[19:49] <Kotono> "Ba'blaz, Warden of the Fireye Lake." He returns the greeting, the flames in the center of the squares fading. "Below is the next step to finding Magmasoul."
[19:50] <Afina> "I will return after my business is completed," the fairy promises, descending into the opening thus revealed.
[19:54] <Kotono> Thus Afina plunges down! The heat becomes greater, licking at her...but she passes down safely. She finds that the walls are transparent glass. All around her is a barely restrained ocean of lava, the path down stretching farther than she can see, only a faint red glow providing any light, and yet not enough.
[19:56] <Afina> Down, down she goes, into the heart of Fire... there's nowhere to really hide here so she favours speed instead, racing to the bottom as far as it may be!
[19:58] <Kotono> Down Afina goes! After about twenty minutes of this, no end in sight yet? OOC: Spot check, Afina.
[19:59] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 43." [1d20=14]
[20:02] <Kotono> OOC: Does your blindsight/sense work through solid object like glass, Afina?
[20:03] <Afina> OOC: nope, needs line of effect
[20:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20+34 flatfooted AC?
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+34 flatfooted AC? and gets 42." [1d20=8]
[20:05] <Afina> OOC: 42, or 47 depending on whether my constant movement entitles me to skirmish bonus
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: I'd have to read how Skirmish is written, hold on.
[20:07] <Kotono> OOC: As written itw ould, it only mentions needing to move.
[20:08] <Kotono> Abruptly, Afina's descent is stopped! The glass tube to her left splits open, a great flaming maw coming over her! It's only Afina's desperate speed that lets her dive down past it, avoiding being swallowed whole! OOC: Init, you're 10ft below a hugeass mouth. Didn't get much of a look past that yet.

[20:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+23
[20:09] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 huge ass thing
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+23 and gets 42." [1d20=19]
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+1 huge ass thing and gets 21." [1d20=20]
[20:09] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(42)>Hugeass thing(21)'
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[20:11] <Afina> Reacting with uncanny speed, Afina turns back and raises her hand, firing a beam of strange green light as she plummets 120 feet downwards!
[20:11] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 ranged touch, DC 26 fort
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 ranged touch, DC 26 fort and gets 52." [1d20=20]
[20:11] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 crit confirmation
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 crit confirmation and gets 42." [1d20=10]
[20:12] <Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[20:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 However, it's big and has lots o' con+HD. You know how that goes.
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 However, it's big and has lots o' con+HD. You know how that goes. and gets 31." [1d20=9]
[20:13] <Kotono> OOC: Disintegrate, right?
[20:13] <Afina> roll 18d6+2 (would've been 80d6 if the save failed)
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 18d6+2 (would've been 80d6 if the save failed) and gets 63." [18d6=5, 4, 1, 2, 3, 2, 6, 3, 2, 1, 5, 3, 3, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5]
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: How's it get up to that? It's 5d6 on a save.
[20:14] <Afina> OOC: doubled for a crit, then +6d6 skirmish and 2d6 swift and 2 ysgard damage boost
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[20:15] <Kotono> Plummeting down and away, Afina fires! The beam hits the maw head on, some of its teeth crumbling away! The great thing - some sort of lizardlike creature, thrashes and pulls back! Magma doesn't pour through - instead it forms around the glass, repairing the hole. OOC: Free act.

[20:15] <Afina> Hoping that will deter further assault, Afina casts a shield spell and then continues descending as quickly as she may!
[20:22] <Kotono> Down another hour Afina goes. The sea of magma is serene around her. If anything it constantly flows, constantly burns. Yet finally...hm? OOC: Spot.
[20:22] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 42." [1d20=13]
[20:27] <Kotono> A glistening of light is seen below, rising up towards Afina!
[20:29] <Afina> There isn't exactly anywhere to hide, is there? Stopping in case it's a trick of the light appearing to rise based on her downwards motion, she recasts her shield spell and waits to get a better look once it gets closer to determine her response.
[20:31] <Kotono> Woosh! Stepping aside was the right move - for a gleaming metal arrow whizzes by where she was! As it does, you can see many more glints below!
[20:34] <Afina> Haha, it looks like the solar expected her! Does that mean Ba'blaz betrayed her? She'll wrest the answer out from the sun after she's sundered him. Waiting until the arrows are almost upon her, she dimension doors down to their source, blade at the ready!
[20:36] <Kotono> Afina teleports down! You fly just above the ground. Around you, arrows of metal appear out of thin air before firing up! On the ground is a complex engraved set of interlocking squares. Around you is a rather large, open cavern that goes on for quite a ways. At the far end looks to be the shores of a lake of lava.
[20:38] <Afina> Disappointedly, Afina sheathes her blade and flutters away from the manifesting arrows. Seeking appropriate cover amidst the flames, she then begins creeping towards the lake...

[20:38] <Afina> roll 1d20+35 hide
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+35 hide and gets 52." [1d20=17]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[20:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19." [1d20=10]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+24
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+24 and gets 39." [1d20=15]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 and gets 32." [1d20=7]
[20:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+30
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+30 and gets 47." [1d20=17]

[20:40] <Kotono> The trip to the lake is without incident - the air is thicker in gasses again as you approach. At the edge of the lake is a single skiff made of naught but burning stone. A massive, towering creature of red stands at the end, taking up half the ship. An efreet, clad only in flowing white pants, a scimitar hanging at his belt. If he's noticed Afina, he hasn't shown it.
[20:41] <Afina> Ignoring the efreet for the moment, Afina peers across the lake to see the opposite shore or any islands within or such landmarks.
[20:42] <Kotono> No islands - the lake of lava extends farther than Afina can see, until the horizon becomes a hazy glow.
[20:44] <Afina> Efreet are allies of devils, she'll be damned if she accepts help from one... even if he's so inclined. Taking off, she shoots over the lake of lava at high speed, intending to keep going straight ahead until she finds something!
[20:47] <Kotono> As you do so, you hear a surprised shout!
[20:48] <Afina> She keeps right on going, intending to get far away before any credible pursuit can be mustered, if indeed an efreet can hope to match her speed.
[20:50] <Kotono> Woosh! Thus Afina leaves the efreet behind! On and on Afina goes, flying over the lake. An hour of endless flight follows. At last there's something on the horizon - it looks to be an island, far away like a small lump on the surface of the lava sea.
[20:51] <Afina> Flying low to the lava, Afina keeps going full tilt until she gets much closer, then when it resolves into more detail she eschews speed for stealth, practically laying atop the lava and drifting towards the island...
[20:54] <Kotono> Getting closer, you can see the island is made of nothing but scorched black stone. Atop it sits one single, small house of stone.
[20:56] <Afina> Oh, she really hopes she doesn't have to sit through someone else casting spells at her before she can proceed. But nothing for it, she flies up to find the entrance and enter.
[20:57] <Kotono> The door opens! Within is nothing, save for a hole and a ladder going down.
[20:59] <Afina> That's not so bad at least. She hardly needs a ladder, of course... why wasn't there one at the last hole anyway? Peering down to ensure no unsightly obstacles, she dives in and starts flying downwards!
[21:01] <Kotono> The ladder is metal, going down. It goes down 20ft, quite large. At the bottom you come to a metal hatch, words engraved on it, words Afina doesn't understand.
[21:01] <Afina> Despite her ignorance, she knows how a hatch works and she opens it up!
[21:05] <Kotono> The hatch opens! A gust of hot air greets her, momentarily blinding her. Below is light - bright light. This opens up into a rather large room. Dozens of burning fire elementals sit before banks of levers, switches and pulleys, each one large as Hanna. The entire interior is metal, unmelted despite the massive heat within. Standing in the room, arms crossed, is another elemental. This one
[21:05] <Kotono> is is 12 feet tall, broad of body and shoulder. It wears a uniform of burning cloth - a military uniform, bedeckoned with medals. A saber rests at his hip. "Welcome aboard," he greets, "Welcome to the Wyrmship. Glory be to the Prince of Black Fires," This is repeated by all the other elementals, in sizzling, popping voices. The uniformed elemental has a rather more human voice, raspy and
[21:05] <Kotono> occasionally popping. "You seek the Magmasoul?"
[21:05] <Afina> "I do," Afina confirms, saying little more.
[21:12] <Kotono> The elemental strides forward, drawing its saber! It is made out of what looks to be brimstone, cutting a path of fire in the air as he slices it about, using it as he speaks, "What is a pixie doing here, even one cast aflame? What secrets gained you the sigil of Imix?"
[21:16] <Afina> "Is it not true that Magmasoul can rebirth a creature as one of true flame?" Afina asks, unflinching at his swordplay. "If you cannot guess my reasons I see no reason to confirm them. Will this vessel convey me to Magmasoul or not?"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Hmph." The saber is put away, "All ahead and down full!" he declares. There is a rumble as the elementals work the levels, switches and pulleys, as well as a sensation of going down, of dropping!
[21:21] <Afina> Nodding in satisfaction, Afina lands on the metal deck, folding her arms and patiently waiting...
[21:27] <Kotono> Down, down, down down down down! This goes on for a goodly ten minutes, the uniformed elemental looking to Afina again. "It will be some time. Would you care to retire to my ready room?"
[21:30] <Afina> "I am not some fidgety and impatient human," Afina replies serenely. "Time will pass as it may."
[21:37] <Kotono> OOC: What's the duration on elemental body?
[21:37] <Afina> OOC: 36 hours since I cast it after arriving on Fire
[21:42] <Kotono> "As you wish," Turning back, thus time passes. Hours of it pass. Somewhere between 5 and 6, Afina thinks, but the tedium makes it hard to tell. But eventually the lead elemental gestures, and a moment later the sense of falling stops. "Go out now," he says, "The Veinsway is ahead of you."
[21:43] * Afina nods. "Thank you," she bids, flying up to open the hatch and depart the Wyrmship.
[21:46] <Kotono> Woosh! The air is even hotter out here. Afina stands atop a great, vast ship in the shape of a dragon! It is carved of pure black onyx, shining and with rivulets of lava coming down it. You sit atop a lake of lava...and ahead of you are circular tunnels, twitching every few seconds. Rills of magma flow down the floors, but the paths are mostly clear otherwise. Dozens and dozens of tunnels,
[21:46] <Kotono> going in every which direction except up.
[21:47] <Afina> The veinsway, indeed... taking flight, Afina chooses a tunnel at random, presuming they all eventually end up at the same place.
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 81." [1d100=81]
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 52." [1d100=52]
[21:51] <Kotono> The tunnels are long and twisty - after about four or five Afina's sense of direction is muddied. The go 'round and 'round. Ahead of her is currently fourty feet of tunnel before a downward slope. OOC: What's the distance on your blindsense?
[21:51] <Afina> OOC: 30
[21:53] <Kotono> OOC: Listen check.
[21:53] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 46." [1d20=17]
[21:55] <Kotono> Afina can hear a faint sizzling sound coming from below.
[21:56] <Afina> Well perhaps that downward slope will lead to the origin? Continuing on, Afina keeps a lookout for anyone cooking... or being cooked.
[22:00] <Kotono> Advancing 10ft more, Afina sees it! A great red globue, of fire and ooze, taking up the entire veinsway ahead! It's advancing towards Afina, burning bright! OOC: Init.

[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4 globue
[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 globue and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[22:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(Something higher than that)>Globue(9)'
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[22:02] <Afina> Not wanting to waste time wtih a pointless fight, Afina merely dimension doors herself immediately behind the ooze before zipping further along the veinsway, confident it will never be able to catch up.
[22:04] <Kotono> To Afina's surprise, the spell fizzles out, nothing happening! OOC: Any other action or is that it for you?
[22:06] <Afina> Not wanting to be caught out, she retreats back to buy some space before counterattacking, flying back fifty feet along the tunnel!
[22:10] <Kotono> Now 70ft away, Afina can watch the globue advances 40ft, coming to within 30ft of Afina! OOC: Go Afina.
[22:12] <Afina> Conjuring up a ball of crackling electricity directly atop the ball, Afina flies back another twenty feet to keep a safe distance between them.
[22:12] <Afina> roll 15d6 DC 25 reflex half
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 15d6 DC 25 reflex half and gets 55." [15d6=2, 6, 5, 5, 3, 4, 6, 5, 1, 2, 2, 6, 2, 2, 4]
[22:12] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[22:13] <Kotono> The lightning hits the globue, causing it to break apart into flaming ooze! IT coats the walls and twitches, burning away! OOC: Free act.
[22:15] <Afina> Hmm. Wasn't up to much... sending the globe ahead of her, Afina progresses down the vein at a leisurely pace for the next minute and a half or so until it vanishes, then she continues at a more rapid clip.
[22:15] <Kotono> After barely half a minute of advancing, you see another globule, this one 50ft away and coming around a corner.
[22:17] <Afina> The ball lightning is there to meet it!
[22:17] <Afina> roll 15d6 DC 25 reflex half
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 15d6 DC 25 reflex half and gets 53." [15d6=6, 1, 4, 4, 6, 4, 3, 6, 1, 5, 2, 5, 4, 1, 1]
[22:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[22:21] <Kotono> Kerzap! The touch shatters another globue, reducing it to little more than wall decorations!
[22:21] <Afina> And on she goes in this manner!
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 25." [1d100=25]
[22:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+45
[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+45 and gets 59." [1d20=14]
[22:28] <Kotono> On you travel - for a goodly half hour. The occasional globue is easily enough dealt with or avoided, a sword slash cutting them apart. As you continue to wander, slowly coming down, 'Hm, hm, hm, hm,' A soundless voice is heard in Afina's head, mirth barely suppressed.
[22:31] <Afina> She's been spotted? There isn't even anywhere to hide in these twisting tunnels! Well, only devils seem to use telepathy, so a fallen solar is probably about the same thing. Invoking her native power to detect evil, she presses on hoping it might present some early warning if her eyes miss.
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: Are yo ulooking about or just going straight ahead?
[22:35] <Afina> OOC: Look about briefly and then continue onwards.
[22:37] <Kotono> OOC: CL check.
[22:38] <Afina> roll 1d20+18
[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+18 and gets 27." [1d20=9]
[22:40] <Kotono> Afina does not detect anything. Yet as she does look about, from behind her a voice speaks. "Don't think you can hide," it challenges, a rather amused voice. "The stink of your convictions is everywhere. There's no way a creature like you had the sigil of Imix." After that it appears - 30ft away. It looks like of the same material of the globues, but human sized. A sleek body, muscular and
[22:40] <Kotono> flowing. Banded gloves cover its hands, glowing with fiery runes. "If I'm wrong, prove it to me now and you'll live."
[22:42] <Afina> "No, I'll just kill you instead," Afina retorts, instantly moving to attack. He's not worth anything more and killing him will teach a lesson about not interfering where he's not wanted.

[22:43] <Afina> roll 1d20+23 init
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+23 init and gets 31." [1d20=8]
[22:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28." [1d20=11]
[22:43] * Kotono changes topic to 'Afina(31)>Fire creature(28)'
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[22:45] <Afina> Hasting herself as is her wont, Afina fires a disintegrating ray at her foe before she turns invisible and advances another hundred and twenty feet down the tunnel away from him.
[22:45] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 ranged touch
[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 ranged touch and gets 44." [1d20=12]
[22:45] <Afina> OOC: DC 26 fort
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[22:46] <Afina> OOC: crittable?
[22:46] <Kotono> OOC: No, but does it allow SR?
[22:46] <Afina> OOC: yes
[22:46] <Afina> roll 1d20+18 SR
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+18 SR and gets 23." [1d20=5]
[22:46] <Kotono> OOC: Roll and a hatebot comes right up.
[22:49] <Kotono> The beam strikes the elemental - but nothing happens at all! Afina retreats, while laughter follows! His should is loud as Afina goes 'round another corner, "I control everything here, fey," it declares, shouting, "Everything! The Veinsway is my kingdom, and you're nothing but trash to be incinerated!" Abruptly the magma rills flare up 20ft ahead of you, forming the fire creature once more!
[22:49] <Kotono> His gauntles glow intensely red, like forge heated fires! With a sadistic grin, "You can hide all you want, run as far as you can, but you're mine."
[22:49] <Kotono> OOC: Go Afina.
[22:51] <Afina> Shrugging, she turns visible once more and lunges at him with Hywelbane, stabbing him twice on a quick pass and continuing on another hundred feet. "You talk too much."
[22:51] <Afina> roll 1d20+37
[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+37 and gets 49." [1d20=12]
[22:51] <Afina> roll 1d20+32
[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 and gets 34." [1d20=2]
[22:51] <Afina> OOC: evil/outsider?
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC: Two hits, yes and no.
[22:52] <Afina> roll 1d4+17+2d6+2d6
[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+17+2d6+2d6 and gets 28." [1d4=1][2d6=6, 1][2d6=2, 1]
[22:52] <Afina> roll 1d4+17+2d6+2d6
[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d4+17+2d6+2d6 and gets 35." [1d4=4][2d6=4, 2][2d6=5, 3]
[22:54] <Kotono> Twin slashes rip into the elemental, but barely even scratch him! A moment later his gauntles glow redder, magma rising up from the ground to fill in the wounds! "Fine then, I'll get to the dedicated business of kill you," He says, gesturing with his gauntles, as they catch aflame! "Smother her!" Abruptly the beating walls contract, trying to crush her from all sides! OOC: Reflex save.
[22:54] <Afina> roll 1d20+36
[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 and gets 43." [1d20=7]
[22:54] <Afina> OOC: evasion
[22:58] <Kotono> With lightning speed Afina is able to retreat 10ft back, evading the huge crushing as they come together! Afina surely would have been reduced to a gooey paste if she was caught there, the impact shaking the walls! OOC: Go.
[23:01] <Afina> Finding this whole distraction a tiresome waste of her resources when she has a powerful outsider to murder, Afina considers his flashy glowing gloves as an obvious source of his power. Based on that, she dashes back towards him, now aiming for his hands to yank them both off while he grandstands!
[23:02] <Afina> roll 1d20+31 CMB moving 20 feet behind him after regardless
[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 CMB moving 20 feet behind him after regardless and gets 37." [1d20=6]
[23:03] <Kotono> Afina tries a drive by degloving...but she can't yank them free! Smirking, "Nice try," he says, pointing at her as a torrent of flame fires away at the pixie!
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+35 AC?
[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+35 AC? and gets 38." [1d20=3]
[23:03] <Afina> OOC: 48
[23:04] <Kotono> But Afina weaves out of the way of the fires, which melt through the tunnel wall behind her like hot oil through butter! OOC: Go.
[23:05] <Afina> "Enough," Afina states firmly, expending the resources now to speed herself up immensely and casting true strike before she zips up towards him and makes a more concerted go at it!
[23:05] <Afina> roll 1d20+49 CMB
[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+49 CMB and gets 59." [1d20=10]
[23:07] <Kotono> The gauntlets are yanked off! The creature can't even say a word as its body collapses, returning into magma! The gauntlets are insanely hot to hold, sizzling against her hand and yet not burning her. OOC: Free act.

[23:07] <Afina> Snorting at that unimpressive showing, she takes a look at the gauntlets to divine their mysteries...
[23:07] <Afina> roll 1d20+31 spellcraft
[23:07] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 spellcraft and gets 35." [1d20=4]
[23:11] <Kotono> The gauntlets are some manner of artifact - but their secrets elude Afina.
[23:12] <Afina> Well, she's not going to wear them! Securing them under her sword sheathe at her back, she continues on to seek a sundered sun!
[23:18] <Kotono> On you go. Another hour of searching - the globues are smashed occasionally, but otherwise it is serene. At last you come to something - a hole. This hole opens up into a chamber, dozens of other holes emptying into it.  At the bottom of it is a series of painted squares, in the center a square portal resides.
[23:19] <Afina> Floating down, she looks around for any other inhabitants first, then studies the squares to see if there's any pattern.
[23:21] <Kotono> OOC: K:A check here.
[23:21] <Afina> roll 1d20+29
[23:21] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+29 and gets 32." [1d20=3]
[23:24] <Kotono> The squares are a pattern, supporting the portal. While not essential, they ensure stability to it, like an anchor.
[23:24] <Afina> Satisfied enough with that, Afina descends through the portal!
[23:26] <Kotono> Afina attempts to push through the portal - but it's solid as rock to her! She can't pass through at all!
[23:27] <Afina> Well now, this presents a problem. Casting detect magic, she tries to see what's blocking her...
[23:27] <Afina> roll 1d20+31 spellcraft
[23:27] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+31 spellcraft and gets 34." [1d20=3]
[23:28] <Kotono> Afina is able to determine it easily enough - the gauntlets are completely resisting the portal.
[23:28] <Afina> Ah well, she doesn't really care about them. Flying back up, she drops the gauntlets at the entrance to the veinsway, then she goes back down and tries the portal again.
[23:35] <Kotono> Into the portal you go! You break apart into flames, cascading down! You burn alive, all for a second...and you stand. You stand in simple room, lavastone and nothing more, a door ahead. A split second later a gong is heard, followed by deep, crackling chanting. Ahead of you is a door, thrown open. Men of flame enter, chanting and filling the room from wall to wall, lining it. At the end
[23:35] <Kotono> another enters, this one standing before Afina. "Welcome to Magmasoul."
[23:36] <Afina> "Greetings," Afina bids them in her crackly flaming voice. "Are you the Burnteyes?"
[23:38] <Kotono> The flames of the face of all of them recede. No eyes, just burnt out sockets. "We are," They all chant, save for the one before you. After that he answers, "I shall finish the pact," he declares, "Give unto me the sigil of Imix, and pass into the flames of the Magmasoul."
[23:41] <Afina> Why does everyone keep asking about that damn sigil? Wouldn't the fact that she got past the Keeper, who asked for the same, confirm that she has it? Having absolutely nothing better to offer and on the precipice of brutally murdering every single one of them, she fishes out the purple ring she found earlier and presents it boldly just to see if fate decress that the order of Burnteyes will
[23:41] <Afina> live to see another day.
[23:47] <Kotono> The ring is taken. "The sigil is given," The ring is taken, as he steps aside, "Head within. All shall be revealed and given in the flames."
[23:49] <Afina> Making a slight noise of surprise, Afina flies through. A deal is a deal, especially for fey, so Ba'blaz will still be due his poison bow...
[23:53] <Kotono> Out you go! Outside of the room is flame - oh, flame! Flame all over. Afina burns and burns and burns, agony and estascy! OOC: Fort.
[23:54] <Afina> roll 1d20+19
[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[23:55] <Kotono> Afina is utterly overwhelmed! She loses herself for a time, lost in that gorgeous agony! When her eyes clear and coherency returns, she floats in fire. Fire all around her, fire is all. Yet this is paler fires - ahead you can feel hotter fires yet.
[23:56] <Afina> That was rather like a spicy fey nip, she thinks to herself. Magmasoul really isn't what she expected, but she continues onwards to the hotter fires, hoping to leave the field of flame and find actual magma, or just find a solar.
[00:01] <Kotono> On thinking about it, Afina feels pulled ahead. In mere seconds she sees him ahead. It is a towering figure of cracked white skin, weeping magma. His wings are broken and skeletal, constantly molting the last layer of feathers. A bow is in one hand, blade in the other. He wears armor of what looks to be boiling metal, constantly squirming and oozing. He is approximately 200ft away from you,
[00:01] <Kotono> and does not seem to have immediately noticed you.
[00:04] <Afina> Found him! Retreating back now farther so that any sounds would be obscured by the constant flames, her own hissing and crackling voice lending to merging in. Casting Shield and then Greater Heroism, she then starts stealthily gliding towards the solar so she can get close enough to attack...
[00:04] <Kotono> OOC: How close are you getting towards him?
[00:05] <Afina> OOC: 80 feet is sufficient for stealth purposes then I can rush in for a quick stab and 20 foot retreat
[00:05] <Kotono> OOC: How many spell effects are active on you?
[00:05] <Kotono> OOC: Also include CL.
[00:06] <Kotono> OOC: Also make hide/ms for reference here.
[00:06] <Afina> OOC: shield, endure elements, greater mage armour, (haste - only once I attack), Greater Heroism, Elemental Body. All at CL 18
[00:06] <Afina> roll 1d20+39 hide
[00:06] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+39 hide and gets 43." [1d20=4]
[00:07] <Afina> roll 1d20+33 move silently
[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+33 move silently and gets 41." [1d20=8]
[00:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 shield
[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 shield and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[00:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 endure elements
[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 endure elements and gets 35." [1d20=13]
[00:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 greater mage armor
[00:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 greater mage armor and gets 32." [1d20=10]
[00:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 greater heroism
[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 greater heroism and gets 38." [1d20=16]
[00:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 elemental body
[00:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 elemental body and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[00:09] <Kotono> At reaching 90ft away from him, Afina's magic silently cracks around her, fading away! In an instant reality returns, all of her spells shattered! IN that instant, the flames of Magmaheart scorch her terrifically! OOC: Fort save first to determine effect.
[00:09] <Afina> roll 1d20+19
[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+19 and gets 30." [1d20=11]
[00:09] <Kotono> roll 20d6 and moreow
[00:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 20d6 and moreow and gets 83." [20d6=5, 4, 6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 1, 6, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 1, 1, 1, 6, 4]
[00:10] <Afina> OOC: 7th level spell sacced to subtract 35 damage
[00:11] <Kotono> Flames engulf Afina, burning her body horrifically! The flames consume and engulf her, sizzling against her body! Amid the red tint of agony, Afina can see that at least Telmar has not reacted, somehow. OOC: Act. You're 90ft away from him and burning.
[00:14] <Afina> Even as hardened as she is, Afina can't not cry out at being burnt to death. Realising that death is imminent, with nowhere to safely retreat nor any ability to focus on her spells beyond haste with such pain wracking her body and melting her flesh, she has but one choice. Flying forward with all her speed, she plunges herself into the heart of Magmasoul, making the split second decision
[00:14] <Afina> that being reborn as a creature of fire cut off from the cycle is better than dying and becoming cut off from all hope of liberating Lifasa. Nevermind the possibility that she *won't* die here but instead be subjected to some sort of eternal torment by one of Fire's many Hell sympathisers.
[00:20] <Kotono> OOC: Make a fortitude save then?
[00:20] <Afina> roll 1d20+19
[00:20] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22." [1d20=3]
[00:24] <Kotono> Flames are all, and Afina is naught but flame. She burns away in that eternal furnace, not even hearing the call of surprise from the Fallen she races past. Her body crumbles to ash, soul set ablaze! She feels that burn first - the connection. The connection to everything, burning away to ash with her body. Everything about her burns, cast into the bonfire...until only her awareness is left.
[00:24] <Kotono> Burning in screaming agony, until but a single voice speaks. A voice without sound, without any inflection of what it is. A voice that asks but one thing, "Do you accept fire above all?"
[00:28] <Afina> How can she say that when her very reason for doing this is for Lifasa? She likes fire well enough as elements go, but she's never particularly exalted it, and as proved by her actions nothing in all of creation and beyond matters to her more than Lifasa. But if the two weren't in conflict, wouldn't it be possible? Fundamentally, does she have a choice? Certainly there are always choices,
[00:28] <Afina> she could simply choose to die here... but if that were her choice she would have made it before sundering her connection to the Cycle... "Yes," she answers, the words perhaps even literal ashes in her current existence.

[Corwin]

[00:31] <Kotono> Then there is nothing for Afina, nothing at all. Nothing except the ever present warmth, the ever present fire. Something that's burning against her back. Mmmm. Her eyes ache. Her wings throb. Something hard presses into her front.
[00:33] <Afina> Eyes? She has eyes? Well the sensible thing to do is to open them! Experimentally moving her wings, she studies whatever is pressing into her front.
[00:34] <Kotono> You are in a forest. A forst of burning trees, forever burning. The fire is beautiful, bringing a smile to your face. You are against a tree, a branch of burning wood pinning you into place, wrapped around your front. No clothes, though you don't feel the slightest bit cold. Your body is a ruddy red, just like the beautiful fires around you.
[00:37] <Afina> Allowing the smile to stick, she remains where she is for a moment taking in her surroundings with innocent curiousity before the desire to do more than just look overtakes her. Wriggling her way free of the pinning branch with supple ease, she flies a circuit all around the tree she was stuck to, before landing to better feel the ash between her toes.
[00:39] <Kotono> Ah, it's wonderful. It feels so good, so right. You feel like you're home - home sweet home. Everything is just right here, so warm and burning. As you savor this, "Hey, you're awake!" A voice calls, approaching. A woman, unclad. Her skin looks like burnt tree bark, body lithe and toned well. She carries what looks to be some sort of burning red grapes - an entire cluster of them. "You
[00:39] <Kotono> alright? You damn lucky you don't burn, since you startled me bad enough to lob some heat at you."
[00:41] <Afina> "Burn? Doesn't everything?" she asks, looking around guilelessly at the ceaselessly burning forest. Feeling an instinctive inferiority at having to look up so, she flutters her wings and flies at head level of the much bigger woman, "You look wonderful. What's your name?"
[00:42] <Kotono> "Simmer," she says, making an elaborate bow, "The pyrodryad. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're the first pyropixie I've ever seen! How'd you find me in the first damn place? You came shooting out of the ground like an arrow."
[00:44] <Afina> "I did?" she looks down below her to see where she must have come out, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I don't remember that. But here is nice, I can't think of anywhere better," she declares, flying a lazy loop around Simmer, finding motion coming naturally to her. Feeling a vague inclination to tell the pyrodryad her own name, a frown falls over her expressive face, "I want to tell you my
[00:44] <Afina> name... but I don't know what it is!"
[00:46] <Kotono> No holes or anything like that. "Oh, amnesia? Well hold on," Simmer says, "I can probably fix that back at my home. I have a whole heap of clerical scrolls I came on."
[00:47] <Afina> "Will the scrolls tell you my name?" the freshly dubbed pyropixie asks hopefully, landing atop Simmer's shoulder and perching herself with adroit ease that barely puts any weight upon the pyrodryad.
[00:49] <Kotono> "They'll help you remember. A Heal spell fixes almost anything," Simmer says with a chipper note in her voice, stretching as Afina perches. "The guy who owned them doesn't need them any more. He's what we call a burn victim," Whistling merrily, going along, "He burned so well. It made that entire mess worthwhile. If you ever have to kill someone," Waggling a finger, "Make sure to use fire.
[00:49] <Kotono> It's fascinating to watch."
[00:51] <Afina> "Okay," nodding and soaking that up like a sponge, she lets herself look around at the various sights from her current vantage. "I know spells too, I think. But, um... I don't think they're for making people better."
[00:52] <Kotono> It's a burning forest - so lovely and so beautiful. All the fires lull Afina as they walk along. "Oh, that's fine. That means you're a sorcerer, a wizard or something similar." As you walk along you come to a grove. It's cleared here, save for burning leaves. Several pile of leaves are about, as well as a single, large cabinet that is untouched by the flames.
[00:53] <Afina> "Why isn't that burning?" the apparent wizard or sorcerer points at the clear oddity of the untouched cabinet among their surroundings.
[00:54] <Kotono> "Make yourself comfortable on the leaves," Simmer says, going ot the cabinet, "Magic." she says, "It's useful to keep things that you don't want to burn in there." With a frown, "It's not right, but there are things that are better allowed to stay unburned up because they're valuable."
[00:55] <Afina> Humming over that, she nods after a second. "I think I know that kind of magic."
[00:58] <Kotono> "Good! You'll do fine here. Magic makes setting up a home worthwhile." Taking out a flame red scroll that doesn't burn even when removed and closing the closet - full of strange and many wondrous things, only glimpsed - "I've picked up some tricks to using this," she says, coming over. "Just don't freak out on me when you get your memories back. If you run off I'm going to be cross, because
[00:58] <Kotono> I want to talk to you."
[00:58] <Afina> "I won't," she dutifully promises, looking up trustingly.
[01:04] <Kotono> roll 1d20
[01:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[01:06] <Kotono> With that, Simmer unrolls the scroll and chants! It's strange, fuzzy words that make Afina's head - Afina! That's her name! Memories come crashing back, followed by a palpable sense of loss. The connection, the eternal connection is gone, severed, burnt to ash. In its place she feels fires, fires burning all over her and deep within her. Simmer tosses the scroll aside as it crumbles to a
[01:06] <Kotono> fine ash, "Well?" she asks, "So do you know why you were looking for me? I figured you were, since we're both pyro fey and there aren't many of us."
[01:11] <Afina> It's a subtle thing, but as her memories and personality return her previously open and innocent face shifts, expression becoming firmer, eyes narrower and harder. Her fists clench tightly at her sides as she registers all that she's lost, something that will reasoanate into eternity as her timeless path through the Cycle has been cut short. But even so, she stands by her snap decision as
[01:11] <Afina> being the only way to ensure she sees Lifasa free... "Afina," she says her name belatedly, hesitating a second and then abandoning Petalwisp. It no longer suits her. "I wasn't seeking you, I was in Magmasoul seeking to capture a Sundered Sun when my protections were dispelled. Burning to death, I chose rebirth as a creature of fire over continuing the Cycle and abandoning my world."
[01:14] <Kotono> "Ooooh." Simmer's mouth makes a little puckered up 'o' to match that, "Oh." Licking her lips and hesitating, "Oh. Yes. Yes, that's not too far removed from how I ended up like this. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time with a ley line burst. Burned my tree alive, but I survived." AFter a beat, "I can help you," she offers, "It's gone, isn't it?"
[01:17] <Afina> "I've lost more than almost anyone could ever comprehend," Afina nods, this being every bit as final and heartbreaking as letting Annalise turn her into a vampire would be, "But you can?" she smiles wanly at her fellow sundered fey. Not being one normally given to displays of emotional weakness, this is just personal and devastating enough that she can allow herself the indulgence with a
[01:17] <Afina> sympathetic soul nearby. "I could use a hug..."
[01:18] <Kotono> Simmer does just that, scooping the fey into her arms. "It gets better. I still miss it, but you've gained other things to..." she hesitates with this word, "They compensate, as much as anything can for it. Fire really is wonderful, and you'll come to appreciate it in everything you do."
[01:20] <Afina> Burrowing herself into Simmer's charred wooden body, she snorts weakly. "I can't even burn devils since they're immune, and wanting to kill them is what made me sacrifice myself."
[01:21] <Kotono> "Oh that?" Laughing, "Afina, I can burn even fire elementals if I want to. It's called Searing Spell. I'll teach you." She promises, "If it b urns them, it'll burn devils, too."
[01:22] <Afina> "Yes," her grip on Simmer tightens, "I want to learn it." The instinctive need to burn things makes her want to change the sort of spells she uses all around, nevermind that she has a perfectly good lightning spell that already works just fine on devils. It has to be fire! "I have to go back to Aurora, though. The Crusade needs me, and I need it."
[01:24] <Kotono> "What's an Aurora," Simmer asks, and cracking a smile, "Yeah, you have that look about you. Determined. Reminds me of a few of my old friends, after I got b urned and before I ended up here."
[01:27] <Afina> "All that's left of Lifasa," Afina replies, looking up Simmer's chest at her face, "My home. It was conquered by devils two years ago, but we've been gathering and building our strength. We just had our first real victory, too, sacking the Burning Aeropolis..." she wriggles somewhat unhappily, "Just the name makes me happy now, even though it was a horrible place infested with devils and
[01:27] <Afina> traitors."
[01:28] <Kotono> "I thought I had it bad having to live in a human city," Simmer makes a face, "Even a nice city like Balmuria. What the hell happened, pardon the pun?"
[01:30] <Afina> "Balmuria?" Afina perks up. "Do you know Sylvie and Balyss?" she asks curiously before answering. Given Balyss and Sylvie's reunion, she's half expecting sparks to fly already.
[01:33] <Kotono> Staring dumbly for a few moments, Simmer throws her head back and laughs. "Are you serious?" she says, "Okay, which one of them put you up to it! You guys, come on out! Josa finally sprung for a plane shift?" Calling out and looking around, before looking at Afina as no one comes, "...this isn't a prank, is it?" she says, "So how do you know those two? Blonde who hits things with her fists
[01:33] <Kotono> and a Selunite with..." She mkaes a gesture over her chest, expanding out.
[01:39] <Afina> "That's them," the pyropixie nods readily. "They joined the Crusade recently, as well as Balyss's brother! There really are a lot of coincidences like that... Balyss and Sylvie were really surprised when they saw each other again, too. Anyway, Lifasa?" she pauses, recalling all the grisly details, "It was our world... some called it a paradise or utopia of everlasting peace, I never really
[01:39] <Afina> saw that but it was home and it *mattered*. There was no warning for most of us, but apparently it was caused by only nine people conducting a ritual or something to allow the devils to invade, millions of them pouring from portals in every direction wherever you looked... we fought and killed endlessly to buy time for a ritual that would awaken the spirit of the world itself and let her
[01:39] <Afina> throw off the invaders, but... well, the oldest and wisest dryads of the forest were key to the ritual. When Abigor set foot on Lifasa, though, every single plant no matter where on the world shrivelled up and died in an instant. The ritual went awry and the portals went berserk, sucking everyone in my home forest through randomly across the planes. The others who escaped have similar stories,
[01:39] <Afina> mostly with more organised retreats, though... since then we've been trying to find one another, recruiting help wherever we can find it to defeat the devils and free our home."
[01:41] <Kotono> Simmer goes from surprise to nodding, "That's an absurd coincidence. I mean, if you have infinite planes-" she begins, but goes silent as Afina goes on. She listens, expression growing graver and graver by the moment. Her eyes widen hugely at the details of what Abigor did, staring slack jawed by the end.
[01:43] <Afina> Glad that Simmer appreciates the enormity of what's happened, Afina is silent to let that sink in a moment. "One of the traitors who made it all happen was a red dragon called Yian, the devils rewarded him with rulership over the Burning Aeropolis. He's currently a guest of our dungeons until we find an appropriate way to kill him."
[01:45] <Kotono> "Oh." Gasping that, "Uh." Staring a few moments, before smiling, "Well, I was just saying devils burned, and if Sylvie and Balyss are there..." she considers. "Hold on." Gently letting Afina go, "Most of the equipment you came with was melted slag, but one piece survived. A powerful piece, too, if the magic's any hint."
[01:46] <Afina> Fluttering in place while Simmer recovers whatever survived, Afina curiously reaches up to feel her hair, pulling a strand down to see if it's changed colour along with her skin.
[01:48] <Kotono> It's a dark red, the color of a campfire's inner glow. On occasion sparks run down it, like a cascade. Meanwhile Simmer goes to her closet and pulls out a familiar thing - Afina's hat. It's completely unburnt, "This was sitting in the middle of a pool of what I think was your equipment and clothing. What's it do - I only glanced but the magic's fierce."
[01:49] <Afina> That gets her to blink. "It wasn't magic last I saw it," she comments in surprise, fluttering over to take it and have a look, smiling fondly as her fingers caress the material. She and that hat have been through a lot, and now she can add sundering the Cycle to the list.
[01:49] <Kotono> OOC: Looking for magic or just looking?
[01:50] <Afina> roll 1d20+32 I think this will be my spellcraft when all is said and done
[01:50] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+32 I think this will be my spellcraft when all is said and done and gets 42." [1d20=10]
[01:54] <Afina> "That's a powerful hat," she nods, planting it on her head heedless of how strange it looks with her nudity otherwise. "I can't go back to Aurora right now, though, since I had a scroll of plane shift for that. I'll have to wait until someone contacts me with Sending."
[01:56] <Kotono> "You look silly with a hat and nothing else," Simmer chimes in, going to sit on a pile of leaves. "I'm not offending you, am I?" she asks, glancing down, "I mean, I know you probably know that dryads aren't always clothed, but that's on my Prime. I've picked up that Primes vary."
[01:59] <Afina> "Dryads back home never wore clothes either, except maybe garlands," Afina shakes her head. "Still, better to have just a hat than nothing at all," she declares, fluttering over to sit with Simmer. "This hat's survived more than most could dream about."
[01:59] <Kotono> "I bet," she gives it a look, "So how are Sylvie and Balyss doing? I get letters from Whimsical Sweets every so often, and last I heard Sylvie wasn't back. Balyss was doing good, though."
[02:04] <Afina> "I haven't had a chance to talk to Balyss much, she only arrived a few days ago," Afina admits. "I don't think she was happy about it either, but she said Selune insisted. "Sylvie... well, I don't know where yours and her past diverge, but she left Balmuria to challenge Jannath over the fate of her lover. By her own admission she became little more than a demon, destructive and hate-filled.
[02:04] <Afina> It was only finding an... artifact, you might call it, that was created to define the answer to good and evil that she really examined herself and calmed down. We were looking for the same artifact when we found her, and she came along more because she had nothing else to do, I think. I think she's having more fun, now. She was talking about mental masturbation when I saw her shortly before
[02:04] <Afina> I came to Fire."
[02:07] <Kotono> Sorrow changes to a blink-blink at the last, "That's...I don't think it works like that," she fumbles and says, "Still, she's alive, that counts for a lot."