045.5 Tepen's soul

[Corwin]

[20:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+21
[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+21 and gets 36." [1d20=15]
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Blazing. Blazing heat assails each of you as the dimensions peel apart, nine layers of reality torn asunder like the castaways of an onion. There is a terrible sensation of heat, of pain, of misery. It relentlessly chews on every inch of your bodies, as if to devour you whole. You stand beneath empty-branched trees, clouds of racing green soaring in the skies above. Ahead of you is a rich lawn,
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> at odds with the devasation around. A manor's grounds, impeccably kept. Marble fountains, hedge mazes, small gardens and cobblestone pathways go about around the manor. The manor itself is tall - several stories, classically styled with an appealing purple color painted to it.
[20:36] <Jaela> What use does a devil have for any of this? It must be the first thought Jaela has at these disjointed surroundings, but it passes just as quickly as it comes. They are here to kill a devil, not wonder about his gardening habits. Being invisible, however, she lets someone else lead until the time to strike is upon them.
[20:36] <Afina> "We need to get inside and through the secret passage under the main stair," Afina whispers, casting detect magic as she stealthily approaches the edge of the lawn, looking for any defences or wardings.
[20:36] * Jaela mirrors Afina's casting to serve as the pyro pixie's backup.
[20:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Spellcraft, Afina.
[20:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It sits as a mocking trophy. It will not stand," Makaril murmurs, gazing ahead in the meanwhile.
[20:39] <Jaela> roll 1d20+30 likewise
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+30 likewise and gets 37." [1d20=7]
[20:39] * Muirfinn looks around as Chok shuffles nervously at his side. He grimaces as he looks at the devastation around them. "...so much work to be done after we reclaim it all. "
[20:39] <Afina> roll 1d20+36
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 and gets 53." [1d20=17]
[20:44] <Jaela> "Unhallowed magic and alarms," Jaela reports quietly. "That's what I see. I'm not confident about tampering with them successfully without alerting our target. How about you, Afina?"
[20:46] <Muirfinn> Ooc: I see anything interesting with true seeing?
[20:46] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: What's the range on true seeing, Muirfinn?
[20:47] <Muirfinn> Ooc: 120 ft
[20:48] <Afina> "It could be done, but it'd be a complex matter requiring more magic than I have available right now and a lot of skill. Do any of you have a lot of powerful dispels available? I could walk you through it," Afina offers.
[20:48] <Muirfinn> "I have one prepared."
[20:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I can," Makaril speaks up, "It will destroy the magic here, but it will not be subtle."
[20:49] <Jaela> "Hallow and Dispel Evil. Then, I could spare perhaps a dozen," Jaela muses. "I do have an antimagic field to call on. How about it?"
[20:52] <Afina> "An antimagic field wouldn't work... alright, Jaela, I'll have to walk you through this." Fluttering over to the sound of her voice, Afina points where she hopes the angel can see. "Can you make out that glassy web covering the grounds? There's a tendril near here," she gestures appropriately as best she can for an invisible person who she's not sure can see what she sees. "That's the spell that
[20:52] <Afina> triggers an alarm if any other magic is altered. It needs to be removed first otherwise we're just broadcasting our arrival. Think you can do it?"
[20:53] <Jaela> "Nothing to do but give it a try," Jaela affirms. "If this does fail, what do we do? Have Makaril collapse the web and strike, or retreat at once?"
[20:54] <Afina> "It'll flee and leave us to wear ourselves down on his defences for nothing," Afina shakes her head. "There's no point continuing if we alert it too soon."
[20:56] <Jaela> "Alright," Jaela agrees, focusing. She can see the web just fine, so it's decyphering it properly that's the issue here. And with Afina's help, she should be able to stop worrying about the bigger picture and attack each segment on its own. That much she could deal with!
[20:56] <Jaela> roll 1d20+25 dispel
[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+25 dispel and gets 35." [1d20=10]
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Greater dispel magic or something else?
[20:56] <Jaela> OOC: Yes, with my dispelling item
[20:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Calling on the magic of the Weave, Jaela shatters that alerting enchantment, rendering it asunder! Afina can see it fade away, broken.
[20:57] <Jaela> "Success. Did I hit the right one?"
[20:59] <Afina> "Yes, good job!" Afina whispers approvingly. "Next target the smokey looking purple dweomer that lines the paths," she poins helpfully, "That one will cause us to become lost and send us thr wrong way no matter where we try to go."
[20:59] <Jaela> "Nasty," Jaela mutters, focusing once more!
[20:59] <Jaela> roll 1d20+25
[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+25 and gets 38." [1d20=13]
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With more magic channeled, the second target shatters into mist! It is gone, another ward crumbled away to dispelling!
[21:06] <Afina> "Good so far. The summoning traps are too spread out but can be avoided, and I'll leave it to you to decide if the law and evil empowering traps need to go just yet, but the only one we really need is the alarm. Do you see the spiralling red veins twisting throughout the aura? Take them down and we have a reasonably clear shot."
[21:09] * Jaela grimaces. "Let me see if I get the alarms out of the way, first. I'll be cutting it pretty close as it is, in case he has more of the same inside."
[21:09] <Jaela> roll 4#1d20+25
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 4#1d20+25 and gets 148." [4#1d20+25 = 44, 31, 40, 33]
[21:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With a tremendous burst of magic and power, Jaela is able to destroy each of the alarms in turn - just barely on a few of them, but they're broken.
[21:12] <Afina> "Alright," Afina grins tightly. "Without the alarms to trigger other defences we should be able to avoid the other traps easily so long as we're careful and quiet. Ready?"
[21:12] * Jaela takes a few moments to regain her breath. "Right. I think we can go. Lead on, I'll be right behind you."
[21:12] * Muirfinn nods. "Lets go.
[21:12] <Muirfinn> "
[21:14] <Afina> Not turning herself invisible so others can follow her, Afina begins to cut a careful path across the grounds, steering well clear of remaining defences and keeping herself under cover and out of sight from the mansion as much as she can while making her way closer to its doors.

[21:15] <Afina> roll 1d20+41 hide
[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+41 hide and gets 59." [1d20=18]
[21:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: The rest of you following? If so roll hide too.
[21:15] <Muirfinn> Ooc: casting camouflage, shared
[21:19] <Jaela> roll 1d20+5+4+20+15+10 (GH, invisible, DI, camouflage)
[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+5+4+20+15+10 (GH, invisible, DI, camouflage) and gets 68." [1d20=14]
[21:19] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+43 (+10 camouflage)
[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+43 (+10 camouflage) and gets 62." [1d20=19]
[21:20] <Yuthirin> roll 1d20+16 Muirfinn
[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Yuthirin rolls 1d20+16 Muirfinn and gets 25." [1d20=9]
[21:21] <Yuthirin> roll 1d20+39 Chok
[21:21] * Hatbot --> "Yuthirin rolls 1d20+39 Chok and gets 46." [1d20=7]

[21:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the party makes it across the grounds - without incident or sign of an alarm being raised. You reach the doors safely!
[21:23] <Afina> Now Afina looks to see what magical defences guard the manor itself from assault...
[21:23] <Afina> roll 1d20+36 spellcraft
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+36 spellcraft and gets 43." [1d20=7]
[21:23] <Muirfinn> Ooc: looking around with true seeing again.
[21:23] <Jaela> roll 1d20+30 likewise!
[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+30 likewise! and gets 50." [1d20=20]
[21:24] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+39 spot
[21:24] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+39 spot and gets 48." [1d20=9]
[21:28] <Afina> "The manor is heavily fortified with magic," Afina whispers "Once the door opens, rush for the stairway, just use walls and the like to block off the golems lining the hall. Makaril, we'll need you to take out the anchor maintaining all of this magic underground when we confront the pit fiend."
[21:29] <Jaela> "Without that we don't have a chance," Jaela quietly agrees. "And I can put up walls of stone. I should be able to handle a few of them as needed."
[21:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Understood," Makaril nods solemnly, "Perhaps magical summons would be best to tie up the golems as well?"
[21:30] <Muirfinn> "I can summon elementals as needed." Muirfinn says, pulling a staff from his back.
[21:31] <Jaela> "Do it now, then. The inside is warded against dimensional travel, as far as I can tell."
[21:32] <Muirfinn> It's a matter of only a short few moments for Muirfinn to summon a series of six elder earth elementals!
[21:32] <Muirfinn> "Sufficient, or more?"
[21:32] <Jaela> "Let's go."
[21:39] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the door is opened! Ahead is a manor hall - stairs about 100ft ahead or so, the side walls having archways and doors. The stairs go up into the ceiling, a slow, stately ascent. Facing the door in four lines are figures - men and women, devils and other t hings. Each one is a human sized carved statue, on the ready!
[21:40] <Muirfinn> With a simple command in Terran, the elementals move to break things!
[21:41] <Afina> Hasting her group and the elementals, Afina zips in and goes straight for the main stairwell, looping around it to find the secret door underneath!
[21:41] <Muirfinn> Leav
[21:41] <Muirfinn> Ooc: strike.
[21:42] <Muirfinn> Leaving the elementals to do their duty, Muirfinn and Chok head after Afina!
[21:42] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the party races on past the elementals and golems, who fall to fighting! With them distracted and walled in, it's a swift, straight shot to behind the stairs! Knowing what to look for makes it easy - Afina is able to find the ninth brick, which ever so slightly stands out from the others. Behind you the sounds of battle can be heard!
[21:43] <Jaela> Once the elementals have moved, Jaela follows Afina and Muirfinn while preparing to drop down a wall of stone before any of the defenders that don't take the bait to cut off their advance!
[21:43] * Afina pushes in that ninth brick!
[21:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With that brick pushed in, the wall slides aside! A stairway going down is revealed, into pitch darkness!
[21:45] <Muirfinn> Onward!
[21:46] <Afina> Afina zips downwards at full speed!
[21:47] * Jaela follows!
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The party races down the stairs - they go straight down into a cellar! HEre is pitch darkness, only the light of your magics and darkvision allowing you to see. It comes down, right into what look sto be a laboratory. As you do...OOC: Okay, list what mind-affecting protecting spells you all have up.
[21:48] <Jaela> OOC: Makaril, myself and Afina have Sublime Revelry on
[21:48] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Makaril 11+CL to beat.
[21:48] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Makaril 11+CL to beat. and gets 34." [1d20=14]
[21:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Jaela 11+CL to beat.
[21:49] <Muirfinn> Ooc: none! :D
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Jaela 11+CL to beat. and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[21:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Afina 11+CL to beat.
[21:49] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+20 Sublime Revelry Afina 11+CL to beat. and gets 33." [1d20=13]
[21:49] <Jaela> OOC: CL is 20
[21:50] <Jaela> A Holy Aura comes up around everyone as they enter the laboratory!
[21:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> As you race down, magic crumbles away from Makaril and Afina! Ahead in this laboratory are row after row of what look to be black crystals. Farther than the eye can see - and approaching, 30ft away? A figure in a hooded black robe - female, from the curve of the body. Black wings come from her back as she approaches, "Mast-" she begins, voice lyrical and pleasing. "AH!"
[21:51] <Jaela> roll 1d20+18 SLA CL
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+18 SLA CL and gets 19." [1d20=1]
[21:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The holy aura fizzles on casting, nothing happening.
[21:51] <Afina> "Die!" Afina yells tinnily flying to attack!
[21:51] * Jaela clucks her tongue but does little aside from moving to assist Afina!
[21:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Init then.

[21:51] <Jaela> roll 1d20+15
[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Jaela rolls 1d20+15 and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[21:52] <Muirfinn> "Get 'er." Muirfinn says, and Chok lunges!
[21:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+13 (+5 nerveskitter) robed female
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+13 (+5 nerveskitter) robed female and gets 32." [1d20=19]
[21:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+13 Makaril
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+13 Makaril and gets 23." [1d20=10]
[21:52] <Afina> roll 1d20+26
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 1d20+26 and gets 42." [1d20=16]
[21:52] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+12 m
[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+12 m and gets 25." [1d20=13]
[21:52] * Infinite_Ko_Loop changes topic to 'Afina(42)>Robed Female(32)>Jaela(27)>Muirfinn(25)>Makaril(23)'
[21:53] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+5 c
[21:53] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+5 c and gets 19." [1d20=14]
[21:53] * Infinite_Ko_Loop changes topic to 'Afina(42)>Robed Female(32)>Jaela(27)>Muirfinn(25)>Makaril(23)>Chokk(19)'

[21:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "AH!" The woman cries, "Wait, stop!" she goes stone still, "I'll surrender, oh mighty heroes!"
[21:55] <Jaela> "Where is the Master?" Jaela asks, looking about for the anchor that they have to destroy.
[21:55] * Muirfinn raises an eyebrow. "Chok. Heel."
[21:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Master Kalabaros has been summoned mere minutes ago, by a superior," The woman replies, "On an urgent matter, though I know nothing more. It is not my place to ask questions, but to serve."
[21:56] <Jaela> "Where is the focal point for the defenses of this place?"
[21:56] <Afina> Afina grimaces at everyone *talking* to the devil. "If we can't kill him we can destroy his work. And those who have learned from him."
[21:57] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The soulstone," The woman replies, "Deeper within, past the nine-fold barriers."
[21:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+31 Makaril will, if no one else.
[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+31 Makaril will, if no one else. and gets 49." [1d20=18]
[21:58] <Jaela> If they missed Kalabaros, they might as well take a prisoner to learn more about him. "What about the stolen souls? Where does he keep those?"
[21:58] <Muirfinn> roll 1d20+17 sense motive
[21:58] <Afina> "And why tell us? Why surrender? Even if we kill you you'll just go back to hell," Afina challenges, unsure what her game is.
[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Muirfinn rolls 1d20+17 sense motive and gets 34." [1d20=17]
[21:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Gesturing to the crystals, "With these crystals resides a soul, one for one. Do you seek one in particular?" She answers, "If I die, I am demoted. I do not wish to be demoted. You made it this far without the alarms going off and unscathed - to fight you would be suicide."
[22:00] <Jaela> "What are you?" Jaela asks. "You don't feel like a devil."
[22:01] <Afina> "Fine... Makaril, go and destroy that anchor. Destroying the crystals should free the souls, shouldn't it?" Afina asks, grumbling at the lack of murder.
[22:02] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It will not," The woman speaks, "The crystals are ensorcelled to send the souls straight to Hell if they are broken. They must be extracted." After a beat, "I know the extraction spell." AFter a moment, "I am one who chose to walk in the shadows of darkness, of my own will." Meanwhile Makaril nods, flying ahead swiftly.
[22:03] <Jaela> "Work with us, don't betray us, and I will honor your surrender and guarantee your life with my own," Jaela promises, taking out her bag of holding. "Any protections placed on them, or can I just pick the crystals up and bring them with me?"
[22:03] <Muirfinn> "Wait...you CHOSE to serve Hell?" Muirfinn looks dumbfounded.
[22:04] <Afina> "Jaela, Muirfinn, get as many as you can including Tepen and don't waste time in conversation," Afina tells those two, "I'll help Makaril in case the anchor is difficult."
[22:04] <Jaela> "Already on it," Jaela responds. "I can do both at the same time."
[22:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "They are not further protected," She agrees, "There are 99 crystals." Pausing for just a omment, "As there is glorious light, there must be impenetrable darkness. Without one, the other is meaningless." Meanwhile there is a massive KRACKBOOM from afar, shaking the entire manor, as silver and blue fire flashes in the air, burning away unseen patterns.
[22:05] * Muirfinn nods, looking up briefly and then grabbing at loads of crystals.
[22:05] * Jaela does indeed begin to collect the crystals into the bag of holding. She makes herself visible so that Muirfinn could help her with the collection.
[22:05] <Afina> "Lets hurry, Makaril," Afina grates out, sensing that time is their enemy.
[22:05] <Muirfinn> Ooc: arm loads
[22:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> A moment later there is a second burst - a massive explosion even louder than the first, the manor shaking like a branch in a hurricane! Cracks run up and down the floor and walls, screaming bursts of silver and blue fire following. Moments later Makaril returns at a soaring flight, fast and faster yet. "It is done," he says, Kalembar drawn and seeming to be more loathesomet, terrifying flame
[22:06] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> than steel.
[22:07] <Jaela> "Help us with the collection, or break the rest of his shit," Jaela tells Makaril, working as fast as she can.
[22:07] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Makaril helps with the crystal collection - soon enough, all 99 are stored away safely!
[22:07] <Afina> "Ah... that was fast. Well done," Afina blinks and nods, realising he must have gotten away from them. Then that first one must have been him... "Right, lets go, prisoner included."
[22:08] * Jaela does a quick sweep of the laboratory with her eye. "Muirfinn, summon something to rampage within and break the place up? I'm taking us all back."
[22:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "The magic is gone," Makaril sheathes his blade, "I can transport us from here, if we desire immediate escape."
[22:10] * Jaela stores the soul crystals away and takes the woman by the upper arm. "Don't suppose he kept anything important to him here that would mess him up if we got our hands on it?"
[22:11] <Afina> Afina elects to help Muirfinn out, summoning a bunch of fire elementals to wreak some havoc before they leave.
[22:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "No. Master Kalabaros is not so foolish," The woman replies, "His sorcery leaves no such weaknesses behind. It is why I chose to become his disciple."
[22:11] <Afina> roll 2d4 large elementals
[22:11] * Hatbot --> "Afina rolls 2d4 large elementals and gets 5." [2d4=2, 3]
[22:11] <Muirfinn> A moment, and then a whirling sentient storm appears, huge and angry! It releases a massive crack of thunder as lightning lances out of it, setting things on fire and smashing the walls into bits.
[22:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Fire and wind take to destruction, the laboratory immediately becoming shattered, shaking even further with elemental fury!
[22:11] <Jaela> "Oh well. Ready? I'm taking us back on three. One, two--" And the plane shifts them all to the Aurora's gates.
[22:12] <Jaela> *And she
[22:14] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> In that instant you return! You stand before the Aurora, your hostage looking up. "Hm. So Medicant has at last returned," she murmurs. "I mean, I had no chance against those who could enact such a miracle."
[22:15] <Jaela> "I'm sure you're honored." Jaela passes the bag of holding to Muirfinn. "I'll see her to a cell and regroup with the rest of you."
[22:15] <Afina> "You can ruminate in the dungeon," Afina snaps, gesturing for her to get a move on inside.
[22:15] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I believe I am still needed, or do you intend to leave those souls within the gems? It is quite unpleasant," she says, "Akin to mild torment, freezing without body and without limit."
[22:16] <Jaela> "You'll be needed," Jaela affirms. "But after we've studied them on our own first."
[22:16] <Muirfinn> Muirfinn takes the bag, heading off to gather what holy luminaries and Tepens he can. "We will of course release them."

[Corwin]

[22:20] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the party heads in. Once the prisoner is put away the crystals are unloaded in the laboratory. As you just start to work on them, another approaches. It is Tepen, "What is going on?" he asks, a wondrous, puzzled, enraptured look on his face. "What have you done?"
[22:21] <Muirfinn> "Raided Lifasa. Looks like we found your soul, my friend."
[22:21] <Afina> "We've got the rest of your soul somewhere in here," Afina tells him. "But we need to figure out how to safely let it out, the crystals are trapped to send their contents straight to hell if broken."
[22:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I can feel it," Tepen murmurs, a hand to his chest. "I can feel somethign calling to me."
[22:21] <Muirfinn> "Somewhere in here, anyway."
[22:21] <Jaela> "We have a prisoner that can tell us how to do this," Jaela voices, "but let's ensure we're doing it right. Is Blondie around?"
[22:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes," Tepen replies, "Elena," he calls, "Bring Sylvie here." Said girl appears for just a moment, before nodding and going away.
[22:23] <Jaela> "How much longer can you stay?" Jaela asks Makaril in the meantime.
[22:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "As long as it is needed to resolve this," Makaril replies, "With the death of that dragon, there is no need for haste."
[22:31] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Soon enough Sylvie enters, whistling to herself. She radiates good cheer, "You called?" she asks as she enters.
[22:31] <Jaela> "Nice. Just keep feeding us these low-priority targets? I think we saw how much of a mess that made for the devils back on Lifasa. We'll have to keep that raiding up."
[22:32] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Understood," Makaril replies, "To this victory - one of many that we need."
[22:32] * Jaela nods curtly as she waits for Sylvie to be brought into things.
[22:35] <Jaela> Since no one seems to be jumping into the fray, Jaela retrieves one of the crystals and holds it up for Sylvie. "We raided that devil that steals and stores souls," she tells her. "Thing is, breaking the containers open sends the souls to Hell. We have his apprentice who said she'd let us know how to free them properly, so we'll need you to make sure she's on the level. And if you have any insights into this from that extraction you did on the dead shell, that's welcome too."
[22:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Let me study it," Sylvie replies, holding her hand out, "I can probably give you an answer fairly quick."
[22:36] * Jaela offers it all the way over. "Once you're done, we'll either go down into the dungeons or bring her over and free all these souls."
[22:37] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+42 (+10 previous study)
[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Infinite_Ko_Loop rolls 1d20+42 (+10 previous study) and gets 58." [1d20=16]
[22:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Sylvie takes perhaps twenty minutes poking, prodding and studying the crystal. She casts several spells as she works, attention absorbed in it. "So that's how," she murmurs, "Right. The bad news is that the spell's designed airtight. It needs a specific spell to unlock the soul safely. The good news? If my theory is correct, breaking the gem in an antimagic field will defeat the enchantment.
[22:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Magic can be inhibited by antimagic field - but souls cannot."
[22:39] <Jaela> "What happens if the wrong spell gets used, say? Same as breaking it?"
[22:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes," Sylvie nods, tapping a finger against the crystal, "It's incredibly complex spell work. Whomever did it has polished his magic for a long time. You don't get that sort of artistry in a few decades of spellcasting. It's as much art as it is magic."
[22:41] <Afina> "But none of it can get around antimagic," Afina nods approvingly. "We can just break them all in one go in that case."
[22:41] <Jaela> "Oh, those silly devil archmages," Jaela mutters, before turning towards Tepen. "Old Man, it's your call. Which way do you like?"
[22:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "A test on the anti-magic, and if it works, break them all," he replies, "We need to confirm the theory first."
[22:44] <Afina> "How will we know if it works?" Afina asks. "Can anyone see where the souls are going? The only way to know would be with risking your own soul, Tepen."
[22:45] * Jaela nods. She draws Val'Finnegan, and then steps back with a grin. "Guess that antimagic field will come handy after all," she says, casting it upon herself. "Blondie, can you see that stuff?"
[22:46] * Jaela wilts a bit, then, adding, "I guess we could just try a divination...."
[22:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "That would be wisest." Tepen nods, "Elena," he calls her, "Have Balyss and Vul'lath both cast divinations about this question," he commands, which the girl appears, nods and vanishes away.
[22:48] <Jaela> Given the duration on her spell, Jaela can comfortably wait for the results.
[22:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Soon enough Elena returns, "The divinations are good," she announces cheerfully, "Both of them say you should be good to proceed.
[22:49] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[22:49] <Jaela> That's good enough for Jaela, and she takes that experimental crystal and smashes it with Val'Finnegan, surrounded by a field that nullifies all magic!
[22:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Any crystal in particular?
[22:53] <Jaela> OOC: The one Sylvie was studying
[22:55] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The crystal shatters! From it comes a faint outline of white, of a face. A deep sigh is heard, full of relief, and a single word is carried on the wind as he fades, "Freeeee!"
[22:55] <Afina> "Looks good," Afina approves.
[22:55] * Jaela nods, glancing at Tepen once more. "Want another confirmation, or I should go break the rest of them?"
[22:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Do it," Tepen says, "Free them - they've bene suffering."
[22:56] <Jaela> Another curt nod, and Jaela destroys the remainder!
[22:58] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Crystal after crystal is shattered! About 2/3rds of the way, one in particular explodes out as it is broken! A torrent of light flows into Tepen, lifting him off the ground and drawing a deep gasp from him!
[22:58] <Jaela> Much as she wants to share in his delight, Jaela continues until her work is done. It is Tepen's wish, after all.
[22:58] <Afina> "How does it feel to be whole again?" Afina asks Tepen as he settles down.
[22:59] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Tepen lands in a crouch, "I feel righh. I mean, I feel stronger too. More." He speaks slowly, "Almost too full."
[23:01] * Jaela wonders if there are other people out there feeling stronger and whole once more, or if Tepen had the dubious honor of being the only one who escaped with his life.

[Corwin]

<LEVEL UP, Level 19>