069: The king of nothing and the queen of rage

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> "Thank you," Istradi grudgingly grants Rosemund as the young priestess goes about reversing the mercenary's multitudinous injuries. "The denizens of this place just get nastier all the time!" Rosemund observes in the wake of the fight against the Queen's vampiric attendants. "Does anybody else need patching up?"
<Steph> "There's also less of them all the time!" adds Stephanie, trying to cheer herself up.
<Julia> "I am well," Julia says, renewing her false life to make her more well.
<Julia> roll 1d10+10
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d10+10 and gets 15."12 [1d10=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 6#2d8+3 chugging potions first!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 6#2d8+3 chugging potions first! and gets 75."12 [6#2d8+3 = 13, 12, 11, 13, 12, 14]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+19 Rosey helps!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+19 Rosey helps! and gets 31."12 [3d10=3, 4, 5]
<Franceska> "As the one who visited the rest of this place," Franceska asks Stephanie, "is there anyone else that deserves to die?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+7 R
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+7 R and gets 16."12 [1d10=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+7 I
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+7 I and gets 12."12 [1d10=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+7 M
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+7 M and gets 12."12 [1d10=5]
<Steph> "I've seen as much as you," Stephanie replies, picking her ear clean with the tip of her dagger. "What do we have left to check out, even?"
<Franceska> "Whatever is above ground?"
<Julia> "We have this new crystal, it might lead to a hidden level," Julia points out.
<El-Cideon> There is still a grand door looming across from the one that the party entered this room through.
<Steph> "Let's check out what's in there, then," suggests Stephanie. "There's nothing else above ground that I saw. Just those guards... guarding the bailiff. But she seemed alright."
<Julia> "Go open that door," Julia instructs her intelligent undead minions, wanting them to bear the brunt of whatever's on the other side.
<El-Cideon> Marina exhausts her final first-level spell for the day summoning up some extra protection; Rosemund and Alice follow suit before Julia's grunts push open the elaborately decorated doors into the hall beyond--
<El-Cideon> Before you stretches a throneroom of cavernous dimensions--yet most of its volume is dedicated to that which lends the bottommost abyss of Whitsunhold its characteristic name. The sharp tang of blood is on the air when you inhale, and evident absolutely anywhere you should set your gaze. A veritable sea of crimson stretches away to either side of you, of indeterminate depth, its surface cold and still as glass. Great columns carved as of twisted flesh and bone reach up to the cavern ceiling, rivulets of blood occasionally running down their surface. There is an invigorating chill to the air itself in this room.
<El-Cideon> The path crossing this horrific expanse is of pale pink sandstone, thirty feet wide and stretching a hundred and fifty feet towards a warped, raised throne carved crudely from obsidian. It broadens midway along its length to circumvent a stepped, diamond-shaped pool. Some ways beyond the throne, inset in the looming cavern wall is a doorway, the room beyond veiled from sight by a silk curtain.
<El-Cideon> The Queen herself is not immediately in evidence, but several of her retainers are. Most obviously, and ominously, is a giant knight mounted atop a nightmare of fearsome proportion. This beast of Hades stands nearly a dozen feet tall, and its rider nearly that. The knight himself is layered head to toe in heavy armor scorched and blackened from countless battles. Twin pinpricks of dying suns flicker dimly within his helmet visor. He holds a shield in one hand and a lance upright in the other, and so imposing is the scale of this weapon that it could be the bole of a mighty oak tree uprooted and placed whole in his hand. It requires little imagination to believe that it could have killed Halja in a single charge.
<El-Cideon> Also, on the other side of the pool stands a pair of armed skeletons. One stands patiently holding the Queen's radiant crown; the other waits carrying a revealing black evening gown.
<El-Cideon> The knight takes obvious note of your intrusion, but has no time to address you before his patron makes her appearance--rising abruptly from beneath the surface of the pool to stand between the two skeletons is the Queen, naked and streaming with blood. Her hair is unbound, a wild mass of matted ebony waves. Auranelle wastes no time before straightening the worst of the tangles with a simple cantrip. She acknowledges your presence with a disdainfully brief glance before addressing her hulking bodyguard:
<El-Cideon> "Sir Blevins, where are my attendants?" she asks the knight in a piqued tone.
<El-Cideon> "I know not, Your Majesty," the knight responds. His voice is a low rumble shorn of passion and intonation. "One presumes them slain by our intruders."
<El-Cideon> The Queen sniffs irritably. "Well, am I to lick myself clean, then?" She stretches out her arms and gives them a long, appraising glance. "I admit the prospect is not without its appeal, but I do despair of its practicability." She takes her crown from one skeleton and gently places it atop her head.
<El-Cideon> Still dripping with blood, still naked, Auranelle at last deigns to formally acknowledge her uninvited guests with haughty air and raised chin. "You should be so good as to introduce yourselves," she insists with jarringly regal bearing, adding with a sardonic twist to her mouth, "I would know what to call you all once raised in my service."
<Steph> Stephanie taps herself with her wand again, in preparation for impending battle.
<Steph> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25."12 [1d20=11]
<Julia> "Julia Astin, your majesty," Julia answers safely behind her small army of minions, though the dragon still looms behind her. It's only polite to trade names before a big battle after all.
<Franceska> "Franceska Durant, Majesty," she follows suit. Looking the queen over curiously, she asks, "Might I ask if you trade places with the other Queen Auranelle on some sort of a mutually-agreed timesharing basis, or if it is a neverceasing tug of war?"
<El-Cideon> Istradi opts not to introduce herself to someone she plainly expects to murder shortly; Alice of course cannot; and the angel the Queen already knows. Rosemund walks some ways in and bows stiffly to her erstwhile liege-lord. "Rosemund Whitefall," she says, deciding after an uncomfortable moment that in her present condition the Queen hardly deserves the usual honorific.
<El-Cideon> Auranelle narrows her gaze on Franceska. "I should have thought you more assassins from the surface kingdom, and yet here you come only to babble nonsense at me?"
<Franceska> "Oh, that would be a dreadful misunderstanding! We are hardly assassins or here on behalf of the palace!"
<Julia> "We actually don't like them," Julia confesses. "Not that I mean to imply any particular fondness for yourself either, your majesty."
<Steph> "How rude, Julia! I have no shame in coming out and outright stating my fondness for her majesty!"
<El-Cideon> The Queen delicately raises one skeptical eyebrow. "No doubt my ravenous attendants merely bowed and scraped and watched as all this fresh warm blood walked right by them," she says acidly to Franceska. To Stephanie, she inclines her chin in approval.
<Franceska> "They mostly died in horrible ways, yet nowhere near as horrible as those they visited on others," Franceska responds. "And after they died, we had the chance to peruse their records, which detail the tortures they visited upon you to create a split personality. Very nicely handled, by the way, how you turned it all around and killed them for the affront."
<Julia> "Yes, I suppose I can respect that..." Julia mutters grudgingly.
<El-Cideon> Auranelle's countenance twists into a vicious sneer. "That old story," she says dismissively. She lashes one accusing finger at Franceska, blood spraying off her hand through the air, and in a shout that echoes throughout the hall announces, "I will NOT hear that filth spoken in my very own hall!"
<Franceska> "It turns out that some of those who sold you out, back in the old country, are still alive," Franceska notes. "Why, they have even gained power in your absence! How would you like to get your revenge on them?"
<El-Cideon> "You speak as though you know me, yet I have not laid eyes upon you before," she continues in as contemptuous a tone. "Who are you to speak of me with such familiarity?" She spreads her arms in a gesture to encompass the whole of the great bloody hall. "THIS IS MY COUNTRY! And I have had my revenge upon its masters already."
<Steph> "But have you had revenge on CLANKTRON?"
<Franceska> Giving Stephanie a strange look, Franceska says, "You had the assassins tortured, haven't you? Surely you know who sent them, and why?"
<El-Cideon> She turns her eyes to Stephanie. "The machine's appetites served my purposes, whilst having nothing to offer for MY appetites. A useful and compliant tool."
<Steph> "That's remarkably forgiving of you!"
<El-Cideon> Back to Franceska, she nods. "Oh yes. Oh yes, I have done so. They spoke to me of their mission. They SANG. And this nation, this 'Solata' which send them to put an end to my eminence from petty mortal jealousy--they have yet to know my wrath, BUT THEY SHALL." The Queen's expression descends into a bestial, unchained mask of fury. "I shall visit upon them a torment of legendary proportion! Old women shall speak in hushed tones to their grandchildren of my rage for generations." The Queen's voice rebounds off the cavern walls with oppressive volume. "I will despoil their young. I will desecrate their holy places. And for this affront I WILL MAKE A MORTUARY OF THEIR CITIES."
<Franceska> "If you would like to start with the palace, we can come to a swift agreement."
<Julia> "I actually like cities... but I like mortuaries as well," Julia says as if this has suddenly become a moral quandary for her. May as well back up Franceska's crazy scheme!
<Steph> Stephanie looks momentarily alarmed. Of all the many possibilities of this encounter, unleashing a nigh-unstoppable vampire on Solata itself... there won't be putting that back in the can.
<El-Cideon> "Tread carefully, Your Majesty," the knight cautions her. "They could only have fought through your servants to reach us." For Rosemund's part, she seems to share the same obvious concern as Stephanie, but keeps quiet in case Franceska turns out to have some genius plan here that doesn't involve turning a homicidal vampire upon Solanth.
<El-Cideon> The Queen contains herself for a moment, all nerves and taut anger as she speaks more levelly. "You suggest that we share a mutual foe?" she asks Franceska.
<Franceska> "A few mages in the palace built this place for its former masters, and then sent assassins after you and killed Rosemund's aunt. Of course we share a mutual foe, that much is hardly in doubt. However, there is also the matter of your past, Majesty. We have, in fact, met before, yet you don't remember that. Is it so much outside the realm of possibility for you that another personality
<Franceska> coexists with your own? Can you account for all the time in the day? A vampire wouldn't sleep, I should think, and have excellent memory."
<El-Cideon> "YOU WILL NOT SPEAK OF SUCH THINGS IN MY HALL!" The Queen roars at Franceska in sudden apoplexy. "That this simpering dolt, this facile waif who taunts me by using MY OWN NAME in the surface kingdom--that she and I should share flesh, as accusation alone it makes me feel the need to scour myself in the bitterest acid, and if you speak this heresy again I WILL STRIP THE FLESH FROM YOUR BONES WITH MY TEETH."
<Julia> "I actually met her and she was quite nice and pleasant. Very regal, even," Julia feels obliged to say in defence of good-Auranelle.
<Steph> Stephanie blinks, wide-eyed. "We must be mistaken," she reasons. "Therefore, she must still be somewhere here."
<El-Cideon> The Queen draws herself up and levels an accusing stare at Julia. "You know the noble harlot?" she says with sudden coldness. "Are you in league with her?"
<Julia> "Harlot's a bit harsh, she didn't act with any impropriety, and remained fully clothed all the time I saw her," Julia says, giving a significant look at Auranelle's bits on display. "But I wouldn't say 'in league'. I just thought she was nice."
<El-Cideon> "You spoke with her?" The Queen sniffs disdainfully. "You should have taken the opportunity to end her."
<Franceska> "And speaking of ending a mutual enemy," Franceska voices, "would it be possible to discuss Solata? Is it too much to hope you have already dispatched your agents to it?"
<Julia> Saddened that her hint wasn't taken, Julia just nods morosely.
<El-Cideon> "Not as of yet," the Queen says. "And I must infer from you presence that I am somewhat shorter on servants than I once was. I should remedy this paucity." The Queen's grin shows more teeth than could be considered friendly, most significantly the enlarged vampiric canines. "If we are to work together, allow me first to help you transcend these mortal infirmities you labor under."
<Steph> "But then how will I sneak into people's houses? Vampires gotta be invited!"
<Franceska> "I can see why you would think that, Majesty, yet please kindly remember that we got here just fine and your servants that surpassed such mortal infirmities have not."
<Julia> "Apologies, but I already have my own trancesion in the works," Julia demurs.
* Franceska shudders.
* Steph shudders.
<El-Cideon> Auranelle ignores Stephanie's comment as spurious. "You would thank me in time," the Queen assures Franceska with a feral kind of hunger lurking behind her words. "All of my subordinates have."
<Franceska> "Is this about my wellbeing, Majesty, or about the best chances of success for your plan of revenge? I humbly suggest that what you see before you is the best possible team to tackle the traitors of Solata."
<El-Cideon> The Queen's enthusiasm for conversation fades as the potential for an easy conversion is apparently dismissed. "Then if you have a plan, speak it quick," she says with a dismissive wave. "My hungers beckon to me and my patience for conversation wanes."
<Franceska> "We have the magic to bring us over to the capital, and you hold the knowledge of just who the mage that dared to send the assassins is. By having you lead us and make use of our abilities, we make him and his minions pay as a start for a glorious revenge?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: unless you legitimately plan to help her murder Solata's high ministers, this would be the time to roll Bluff. Others involved in the conversation can aid if desired
<Franceska> roll 1d20+21 tempting, but I'm totally lying
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+21 tempting, but I'm totally lying and gets 28."12 [1d20=7]
<Julia> roll 1d20+22 I've sort of backed up this line
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+22 I've sort of backed up this line and gets 32."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+31 vs total of 30, unfortunately pretty much academic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+31 vs total of 30, unfortunately pretty much academic and gets 34."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> Auranelle's practiced eye for weakness appraises Franceska at length. At last she smiles in a decidedly adversarial manner. She is confidently calm when she speaks: "And once I am away from my seat of strength, from my servants, then you would smite me on behalf of this distant throne, yes? Or perhaps claim it for yourself? I know these ways. I know them well. To treachery I owe my crown, and through treachery I shall not be relieved of it. I think that the time has come for you to join me. It will be a blissful transformation, I promise you." The Queen raises her hands to the roof and intones: "Blood calls to blood! Servants, arise and claim your own!" As the Queen and her bodyguards ready themselves for battle, huge humanoid shapes cohere up from the lake of blood to loom over the approach to the Queen herself, great crimson fists at the ready for any trying to approach their terrible overlord.
<El-Cideon> OOC: this is where init happens
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Julia and gets 4."12 [1d20=2]
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 axeman
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 axeman and gets 19."12 [1d20=13]
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 dragon
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 dragon and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 Alice
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1 me
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 Alice and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+1 me and gets 13."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Marina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Marina and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 Istradi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 Istradi and gets 18."12 [1d20=12]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6 A
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+6 A and gets 23."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Rosey and gets 7."12 [1d20=5]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+6 B
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+6 B and gets 10."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 angel boy
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 angel boy and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Auranelle
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Auranelle and gets 14."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 skellies
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 skellies and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Sir Blevins
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Sir Blevins and gets 20."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 horsey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6 horsey and gets 14."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 blood elementals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 blood elementals and gets 15."12 [1d20=11]
<Franceska> "Now I want to bring you back even more!"
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > Sir Blevins (20) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > blood elemental x2 (15) > Her Majesty the Queen = nightmare (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Lefty & Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab and angel boy are up
<El-Cideon> Tarrell glides to one side and grants Istradi protection against the deathly magic and effects that so recently brought her down!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab!
<Franceska> Ahab rushes the nightmare-mounted knight, eager to prevent him from charging anyone!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 5pa vs Nightmare
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 5pa vs Nightmare and gets 33."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Franceska> roll 2d4+13+10
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2d4+13+10 and gets 25."12 [2d4=1, 1]
<El-Cideon> The fiendish horse whinnies deeply in protest as it's slashed across the chest!
<El-Cideon> Marina casts her final boon for the day, speeding up her companions one last time--
<El-Cideon> OOC: last Haste is up~
<El-Cideon> --while Alice quietly summons up a wall of flashing blades carefully sculpted to shear through an elemental, the knight and his mount, and curving around to reach one of the Queen's bodyguards.
<El-Cideon> OOC: also Steph is up!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 elemental ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 elemental ref and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 horsey ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 horsey ref and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 lefty ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 lefty ref and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 vs knight's SR
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 vs knight's SR and gets 29."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Sir Blevins ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Sir Blevins ref and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 13d6 all but Blevins halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 13d6 all but Blevins halved and gets 46."12 [13d6=2, 3, 2, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5, 4, 5, 4, 6, 2]
<Steph> "Dammit, who..." mutters Stephanie, before her eyes seize upon the nightmare. A chance to shed blood that she can't pass up, Stephanie scoots towards the summoned fiend with a spring in her step, and lashes out twice henceforth!
<Steph> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+21 and gets 32."12 [1d20=11]
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: both hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+2d6+6d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+2d6+6d6+12 and gets 39."12 [1d6=3][2d6=4, 1][6d6=2, 6, 2, 2, 3, 4]
<Steph> roll 1d4+9+6d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+9+6d6 and gets 29."12 [1d4=3][6d6=5, 4, 5, 1, 1, 1]
<Steph> OOC: first hit is good, second hit is... silver.
<El-Cideon> "Your turn will come," the dead knight promises solemnly as his mount is badly shredded beneath him.
<El-Cideon> OOC: axeman's up, Blevins is holding for now
<Steph> "You'll get another first, dead man."
<Julia> "Go help put that horse down," Julia orders the axeman, who steps to it with unholy vigour!
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 charge -2pa
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 charge -2pa and gets 17."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: alas!
<El-Cideon> Istradi peels off to one side to tie down one of the blood elementals before it can attack!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 and gets 42."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+10+1d6 elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+10+1d6 elec and gets 15."12 [1d10=4][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> The maimed monstrosity swings twice at its assailant in protest, while its partner further up the hall sloshes out of the blade wall up onto land to lay into Stephanie from behind!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+17 vs Istradi
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+17 vs Istradi and gets 68."12 [2#1d20+17 = 31, 37]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+7
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+7 and gets 18."12 [2d10=3, 8]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+7 and gets 16."12 [2d10=5, 4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 vs Steph
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 vs Steph and gets 20."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> Istradi takes two shattering blows--but is fortuitously protected from the negative energy crackling through those great bloody fists!
<El-Cideon> The Queen gestures once and blinks out of sight. Meanwhile, the great knight acts at last. "Time we were airborne," he urges his mount. Heaving a puff of smoke to cloak its escape, the great horse lurches up into the air--
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort for those in melee with the horse (who can also try and nab an AoO before it leaves)
<Steph> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+21 and gets 23."12 [1d20=2]
<Steph> OOC: should be 23
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 5pa Ahab
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 5pa Ahab and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
<Franceska> roll 2d4+13+10
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2d4+13+10 and gets 27."12 [2d4=3, 1]
<Steph> rolll 1d6+2d6+6d6+12
<El-Cideon> OOC: so total of 25, Steph?
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+2d6+6d6+12 and gets 45."12 [1d6=6][2d6=6, 1][6d6=1, 4, 5, 1, 6, 3]
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 axeman
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 axeman and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
<Steph> OOC: Yes
<Steph> roll 1d20+10 also fort!
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 also fort! and gets 25."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> OOC: Actually it should be 26, I forgot about haste.
<Steph> OOC: score!
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 and aoo
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 and aoo and gets 24."12 [1d20=7]
<Julia> OOC: likewise, 25
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 ride vs attack roll to void Steph's attack
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+19 ride vs attack roll to void Steph's attack and gets 37."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab's the only hit that lands.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph passed the save at least!
<El-Cideon> Taking one scrape during its escape, the nightmare arcs up into the air, to shortly plummet down like a comet towards the angel at the back of the line--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+27 charrrrrge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+27 charrrrrge and gets 28."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> --but the knight's fearsome lance merely scrapes a deep furrow into the stone floor rather than striking home!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran!
<El-Cideon> OOC: and dragon!
<Julia> "Get him!" Julia yells at her dragon, who takes the opportunity to lumber forward and start biting and scratching and winging and tail slap big chunks out of the nightmare!
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 bite
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 bite and gets 23."12 [1d20=6]
* Franceska snaps her fingers as she queen disappears, and sends a spike through horse and rider both!
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+12 claws
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+12 claws and gets 32."12 [2#1d20+12 = 14, 18]
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+12 bites
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+12 bites and gets 39."12 [2#1d20+12 = 24, 15]
<Julia> OOC: that was wings
<Julia> roll 1d20+12 tail
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+12 tail and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first wing hits because charge, also tail
<Julia> roll 1d8+5+2d6+15
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d8+5+2d6+15 and gets 32."12 [1d8=5][2d6=3, 4]
<Franceska> roll 10d6 piercing ref DC21 half
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 10d6 piercing ref DC21 half and gets 35."12 [10d6=6, 1, 6, 1, 2, 3, 2, 5, 6, 3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 Blevins ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 Blevins ref and gets 26."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 horsey ref
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 horsey ref and gets 19."12 [1d20=8]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > blood elemental x2 (15) > Her Majesty the Queen = Sir Blevins (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Lefty & Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4)'
<El-Cideon> With a great, fiendish roar, the horse collapses onto the ground, a sack of smoking meat. Its rider evades the worst of Fran's spell, however, and lands on his feet in the wake of his mount's demise.
<Franceska> "I hope this proves my words, where it comes to the question of living versus undead?" Franceska muses, smiling.
<El-Cideon> At a command, hissed in Abyssal from the Queen's position, her skeleton guards wheel around the side of the pool that isn't cut off by a barrier and hold position there to keep any from approaching their Queen.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Bligh
<Franceska> Bligh takes out his bow and shoots the elemental currently assaulting Istradi.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 acid and gets 33."12 [1d20=15]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18 acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 acid and gets 35."12 [1d20=17]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13 acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13 acid and gets 33."12 [1d20=20]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8 acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8 acid and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first three hit, not crittable though
<Franceska> roll 3#1d8+9+1d6
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 3#1d8+9+1d6 and gets 44."12 [3#1d8+9+1d6 = 15, 12, 17]
<El-Cideon> As the elemental is multiply skewered, Rosemund raises her mace in the air and calls upon the divine wrath of her glorious patron--she swells with superhuman strength, and her weapon shines with a sudden, piercing brilliance!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Rosey is now POWER ROSEY. Julia is up
<Julia> "You don't mind if I steal this, do you?" Julia asks, popping a black onyx in the nightmare's mouth and then working her magic to animate the grisly cadaver, it's pitch-black flesh sloughing off to reveal ivory bones beneath as it shambles to its hooves with soundless whinny.
<Julia> OOC: 15hd onyx
<El-Cideon> OOC: Round 2! Ahab and angel boy are up
* Julia changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > blood elemental x2 (15) > Her Majesty the Queen = Sir Blevins (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Lefty & Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> Tarrell swings twice at the armored menace which so recently tried to fatally impale him--
<Franceska> Ahab rejoins the fight, shooting that very same elemental his fellow captain had just scored so many hits upon!
<Franceska> roll 1d6
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d6 and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: cold!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+4 and gets 18."12 [1d20=14]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 and gets 28."12 [1d20=9]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14 and gets 17."12 [1d20=3]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 26/28 hit
<Franceska> roll 2#1d8+9+1d6+1d6 cold+acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 2#1d8+9+1d6+1d6 cold+acid and gets 47."12 [2#1d8+9+1d6+1d6 = 24, 23]
<El-Cideon> The elemental wilts badly under all this pressure, nearly losing its coherence! The angel's weapon, meanwhile, merely clangs helplessly off the knight's heavy armor.
<El-Cideon> OOC: S/A/M team up!
<El-Cideon> Alice follows Rosemund's lead and prays for divine strength to smite the party's foes, while Marina aims a bolt of acid at the less wounded of the elementals.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 ranged touch and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4 acid recurring
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4 acid recurring and gets 5."12 [2d4=1, 4]
<Steph> Stephanie seeks out a worthy foe. Not finding one, she turns invisible and sidles up to the undead bodyguards...
<El-Cideon> OOC: axeman!
<El-Cideon> OOC: 1x blood elemental is in melee. Otherwise he's gotta run to hit someone.
<Julia> Without commands, he simply deals with the nearest threat by turning and hacking into the elemental with all due prejudice!
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 -2pa
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 -2pa and gets 22."12 [1d20=7]
<Julia> roll 1d20+10 -2pa
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+10 -2pa and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: AC 23 :(
<El-Cideon> Istradi lays into the wounded elemental, trying to put it down for good before it can take any more swings at her--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 and gets 26."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 and gets 29."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 29."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 3#1d10+10+1d6 elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3#1d10+10+1d6 elec and gets 60."12 [3#1d10+10+1d6 = 26, 18, 16]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > blood elemental (15) > Her Majesty the Queen = Sir Blevins (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Lefty & Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> At last the monstrosity loses its form and disintegrates back into the sea that spawned it! Its counterpart, meanwhile, ignores the dead knight ineffectually hacking at it and wades down the hall to swing once at the sorceress shooting at it--
<El-Cideon> OOC: AoO for axey
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 -2pa
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 -2pa and gets 33."12 [1d20=18]
<Julia> roll 1d12+16 take that!
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d12+16 take that! and gets 17."12 [1d12=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 vs Marina
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 vs Marina and gets 31."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+7 -1 NL
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+7 -1 NL and gets 21."12 [2d10=9, 5]
<El-Cideon> Despite her many magical protections, Marina is rocked by this blow and suffers the debilitating effects of energy drain, her lifeforce siphoned away to feed her attacker!
<El-Cideon> Forsaking lance and shield, Sir Blevins instead draws a curious, twin-bladed sword. "I shall not go into the great night alone," he promises in a stony voice before becoming a literal whirlwind of destruction and lashing out at all within range of him twice!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+24 vs Tarrell/dragon/horsey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+24 vs Tarrell/dragon/horsey and gets 32."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+24 vs Tarrell/dragon/horsey mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+24 vs Tarrell/dragon/horsey mk 2 and gets 38."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+13 to any struck mk 1
<El-Cideon> roll 2d6+13 to any struck mk 2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+13 to any struck mk 1 and gets 18."12 [2d6=2, 3]
<Julia> OOC: horse/dragon both hit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d6+13 to any struck mk 2 and gets 20."12 [2d6=3, 4]
<El-Cideon> As the dread knight fiercely lacerates all in range, drawing a particularly anguished yell from the angel, a bolt of searing cold warps space from out of nowhere towards Franceska!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13+2 because invisible, ranged touch, no DEX
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13+2 because invisible, ranged touch, no DEX and gets 23."12 [1d20=8]
<Franceska> OOC: Hits
<El-Cideon> roll 16d6 cold
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 16d6 cold and gets 56."12 [16d6=6, 1, 5, 5, 3, 6, 3, 3, 5, 5, 2, 3, 2, 1, 5, 1]
<El-Cideon> Absolute zero cold ripples over Franceska as the essence of ice itself infiltrates her very being!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran and dragon up
<Julia> Seeing the horse has shed its fleshy bonds, the dragon welcomes it as a brother in arms and so moves to strike at its new comrade's former oppressor!
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 bite
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 bite and gets 26."12 [1d20=9]
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+12 claw
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+12 claw and gets 54."12 [2#1d20+12 = 25, 29]
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+12 wing
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+12 wing and gets 34."12 [2#1d20+12 = 14, 20]
<Julia> roll 1d20+12 tail
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+12 tail and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 1x claw hit
<Julia> roll 2d6+5
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d6+5 and gets 14."12 [2d6=5, 4]
<Franceska> "It won't help you in the end!" Franceska declares, forcing her shivering hands to clasp the hilt of her magical stave. And then, power flows through her once more!
<El-Cideon> OOC: L&R holding, Bligh is up
<El-Cideon> "Franceska!" Rosemund cries out in fright at the fearsome damage wrought by the Queen's spell. "Do you need help?"
<Franceska> "Put that knight down, first!"
<Franceska> Bligh, in the meantime, shoots at the remaining elemental!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18
<Franceska> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36."12 [1d20=18]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+13 and gets 21."12 [1d20=8]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 3x hit
<Franceska> roll 3#1d8+9+1d6 acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 3#1d8+9+1d6 acid and gets 52."12 [3#1d8+9+1d6 = 20, 15, 17]
<El-Cideon> As the elemental nears the fate of its late partner, Rosemund nods to Franceska and with a heroic yell charges to swing her shining mace once at the dead knight!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22+2 charge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22+2 charge and gets 34."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+10+2d6+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+10+2d6+10 and gets 31."12 [1d8=6][2d6=4, 1]
<El-Cideon> Sir Blevins levels an appraising look at Rosemund as he's rocked by this fearsome blow!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and horsey
<Julia> Leaving her horse to attack its former rider, Julia goes to help Marina deal with that pesky elemental problem.
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 vampiric touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 vampiric touch and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hits
<Julia> roll 6d6
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 6d6 and gets 23."12 [6d6=2, 3, 5, 3, 5, 5]
<El-Cideon> The elemental wilts badly under assault by techniques all too familiar to it!
<Julia> Giving the knight a cheeky bite, the horse then rears up and batters him with its hooves!
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+16 hooves
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+16 hooves and gets 57."12 [2#1d20+16 = 23, 34]
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 bite
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 bite and gets 14."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 1x hoof hits
<Julia> roll 2d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d6+12 and gets 21."12 [2d6=6, 3]
<El-Cideon> Though the knight's undead resilience wards him from the worst of this strike, it's still perhaps a blow to his pride to take a hit from his former companion!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab and angel boy
<Franceska> Ahab continues shooting his bow at the remaining elemental!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 and gets 37."12 [1d20=18]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29."12 [1d20=10]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<Franceska> roll 1d6
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d6 and gets 4."12 [1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: 3x hit
<Franceska> roll 3#1d8+10+1d6+1d6 cold+acid
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 3#1d8+10+1d6+1d6 cold+acid and gets 67."12 [3#1d8+10+1d6+1d6 = 25, 22, 20]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen = Sir Blevins (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Lefty & Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> A viscous pool of blood on stone is all that remains of the elemental menace now! Meanwhile, failing to srike with his weapons, Tarrell reaches out to try and channel his armored foe with debilitating positive energy instead--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 concentration first!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 concentration first! and gets 32."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 touch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 touch and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 vs SR that is amusingly his exact touch AC
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 vs SR that is amusingly his exact touch AC and gets 28."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+9 save is academic because--
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+9 save is academic because-- and gets 25."12 [3d8=8, 6, 2]
<El-Cideon> Sir Blevins merely chuckles darkly as the energy washes over him to no visible effect. "Do you think me unprepared for such feeble tricks?" he taunts.
<El-Cideon> OOC: S/A/M
<El-Cideon> Marina, freed up now thanks to some undead assistance, turns and pelts the most fearsome visible foe with more acid! Alice, meanwhile, raises her sickle and charges a skeleton--
<Steph> Stephanie pops into existence next to the undead guard, as does a fire elemental, whereupon she lashes out at the creature's weak points for minimal damage.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 touch vs Blevins
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 touch vs Blevins and gets 23."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 vs SR
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 vs SR and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: :(
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+22 and gets 24."12 [1d20=2]
<Steph> roll 1d20+23
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+23 and gets 28."12 [1d20=5]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+22 and gets 36."12 [1d20=14]
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+17 and gets 35."12 [1d20=18]
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+18 and gets 38."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+3d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+3d6+12 and gets 37."12 [1d6=4][1d6=6][3d6=6, 6, 3]
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+3d6+12
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+3d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+3d6+12 and gets 31."12 [1d6=1][1d6=2][3d6=6, 5, 5]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+3d6+12 and gets 33."12 [1d6=3][1d6=3][3d6=5, 5, 5]
<Steph> OOC: I assume it's totally dead. Can the other attacks hit the other skeleton?
<El-Cideon> OOC: yes
<Steph> roll 1d4+9+3d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+9+3d6 and gets 23."12 [1d4=1][3d6=2, 5, 6]
<Steph> roll 1d4+9+3d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+9+3d6 and gets 21."12 [1d4=4][3d6=1, 2, 5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+25 Alice whacking the remaining skellie
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+25 Alice whacking the remaining skellie and gets 37."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5+2d5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5+2d5 and gets 16."12 [1d6=4][2d5=4, 3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab = Tarrell (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen = Sir Blevins (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> One skeleton collapses into a heap of shattered bones, while the other is badly hammered by the twin assault!
<El-Cideon> OOC: axey is up
<Julia> Rushing to aid his two captains, the axeman charges that stuck up cavalry poser that he never really liked anyway!
<Julia> roll 1d20+18 charge
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+18 charge and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Julia> roll 1d12+12
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d12+12 and gets 22."12 [1d12=10]
<El-Cideon> Seeing the melee around the knight well and truly spoken for by this point, with no more room to cram in around the giant dragon, the giant horse, and various humanois by now picking at him, Istradi opts instead to charge the remaining skeleton.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23+2
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23+2 and gets 43."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+10+1d6 elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+10+1d6 elec and gets 18."12 [1d10=5][1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Queen and Blevins are up
<El-Cideon> "Assailed from all sides, yet fighting on bravely," the dead knight intones. "I have always known that I would go down in a blaze of glory." So saying, a blast of scorching, abyssal flame erupts into being to devour himself and all around him--
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref, everyone in melee with Blevins
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9 Tarrell
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 Tarrell and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 dragon
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 dragon and gets 19."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 Rosey and gets 19."12 [1d20=6]
<Julia> roll 1d20+9 horse
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+9 horse and gets 14."12 [1d20=5]
<Julia> roll 1d20+4 axeman
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+4 axeman and gets 11."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 15d6 half fire/half divine, dragon and Rosey halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 15d6 half fire/half divine, dragon and Rosey halved and gets 52."12 [15d6=5, 4, 1, 6, 2, 2, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 6, 5, 5, 5]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Righty (12) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> Amidst the firestorm collapse two lifeless bodies, one angelic and one far from it.
<El-Cideon> From across the pool, meanwhile, echoes the Queen's voice: "You stole my servants. I will have them back now!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 vs Ahab SR
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 vs Ahab SR and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 vs Bligh SR
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 vs Bligh SR and gets 36."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> OOC: will for both
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8 A
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8 A and gets 11."12 [1d20=3]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+8 B
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+8 B and gets 14."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> The commandeered captains both turn to salute their old--and new--mistress!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran and dragon
<Julia> "Traitors!" Julia calls as the dragon lumbers forward to execute sentence on said traitors by taking a bite out of Bligh!
<Julia> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 36."12 [1d20=19]
<Julia> roll 2d8+10
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2d8+10 and gets 21."12 [2d8=5, 6]
<Franceska> "Trust me, Highness. With servants like these that turn at each command, you are scraping the bottom of the barrel," Franceska says disdainfully, taking her wand out and finishing off the remaining skeleton Stephanie had been all over just then.
<Franceska> roll 1d20 umd not 1 please
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20 umd not 1 please and gets 12."12 [1d20=12]
<Franceska> roll 5d4+5
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 5d4+5 and gets 16."12 [5d4=3, 1, 2, 3, 2]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen (14) > Fran = dragon (13) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> The skeleton's undying will at last departs it!
<El-Cideon> To demonstrate his renewed loyalty, Knight Captain Bligh hefts his chain and swings again and again at the dragon assaulting him!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 26."12 [1d20=4]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 and gets 20."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31."12 [1d20=19]
<Julia> OOC: all hit
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 16."12 [2d4=2, 1]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 20."12 [2d4=4, 3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 17."12 [2d4=2, 2]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 19."12 [2d4=4, 2]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > axeman (19) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen (14) > Fran (13) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> Rosemund charges forward to swing at the traitorous undead. "Er, Julia, they were very helpful before but ah, can you not turn them off now?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22 not an actual charge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 not an actual charge and gets 26."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: but should've been :(
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and horsey
<Julia> "No! I'm surprisingly bad at actually killing undead," Julia laments, climbing onto the horse and healing it. "The only minion I can trust is the one I made," she mutters, urging it to fly up and away from dangerous melee.
<Julia> roll 4d8+13 inflict critical
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 4d8+13 inflict critical and gets 36."12 [4d8=6, 8, 7, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab is up!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 element!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 element! and gets 6."12 [1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: elec!
<El-Cideon> Ahab nocks a series of arrows and, with perhaps a perverse glee, attempts to shoot the flying mount out from under his former controller!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs horsey
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs horsey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 vs horsey and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 vs horsey and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 23."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21."12 [1d20=13]
<Julia> OOC: still all hit, it has no ac
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 23."12 [1d8=6][1d6=6][1d6=2]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 22."12 [1d8=2][1d6=5][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 24."12 [1d8=4][1d6=6][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 13."12 [1d8=2][1d6=1][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph/Alice/Marina
<El-Cideon> Alice gestures for a spell that has no immediately obvious effect, and then maneuvers around the pool to menace a spot that does not appear to anyone else's eyes to host anything in particular.
<Steph> "Where's the queen? Dammit! Marina, do something about that! I need to see!"
<Franceska> "When in doubt, follow Alice! You swords for brains!"
<El-Cideon> "Uh, I'll try!" Marina says uncertainly before gesturing for a spray of glittering diamond dust to cover the area just beyond Alice's current position--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20 will, undead not actually immune to blinding!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+20 will, undead not actually immune to blinding! and gets 27."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> The nude form of the Queen is faintly outlined by dust just beyond Alice, though the cloud seems to have no other unfortunate effects upon her.
<Steph> "There you are," hisses Stephanie, before pouncing at the queen and doing her level best to commit justified regicide.
<Franceska> "Just as an aside, you could have put on some clothes," Franceska mutters loudly enough to be overheard.
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+22 and gets 31."12 [1d20=9]
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+22 and gets 41."12 [1d20=19]
<Steph> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+23 and gets 33."12 [1d20=10]
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+17 and gets 28."12 [1d20=11]
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+18 and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all but 28 hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+3d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+3d6+12 and gets 26."12 [1d6=3][1d6=2][3d6=1, 5, 3]
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+3d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+3d6+12 and gets 30."12 [1d6=3][1d6=3][3d6=2, 4, 6]
<Steph> roll 1d4+10+3d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+10+3d6 and gets 24."12 [1d4=3][3d6=1, 4, 6]
<Steph> roll 1d4+10+3d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+10+3d6 and gets 25."12 [1d4=3][3d6=5, 6, 1]
<El-Cideon> A shriek from inside the dust cloud suggests that most of Stephanie's slashes struck home and powerfully! But there is no tell-tale *thump* of a corpse or vampiric mist cloud forming in conjunction with her attacks yet...
<El-Cideon> OOC: axey
<Julia> Still loyal to his current mistress, the unappreciated and unnamed axeman rushes the treacherous Bligh in hopes of one day receiving recognition for all his hard work and unswerving loyalty!
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 charge -4pa
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 charge -4pa and gets 31."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit!
<Julia> roll 1d12+20
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d12+20 and gets 31."12 [1d12=11]
<El-Cideon> Istradi charges in after him to follow up on that powerful attack!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23+2 charge!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23+2 charge! and gets 30."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+10+1d6 elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+10+1d6 elec and gets 18."12 [1d10=4][1d6=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: immune to elec, but still
<El-Cideon> The dread captain is looking much less steady on his feet than he once did!
<El-Cideon> From space occupied by the vague shape of the Queen, a cloud of dark energy rises and swallows her up--
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort, Steph
<Steph> roll 1d20+10 whoops
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 whoops and gets 26."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: pass!
<El-Cideon> Stephanie feels a momentary twinge of discomfort in her stomach, but perseveres against whatever effect was intended! Alice seems wholly unaffected. The shape of the Queen promptly reappears on the oppostie side of the pool, then extends a hand forward to flood her attackers with a discomfitting wave of vile power.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph is exhausted. No save.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran
<Franceska> "So here we are!" Franceska calls out, drawing her rapier and charging the undead queen. "We could have worked together but you threw it all away!"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11+8+2+1
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+11+8+2+1 and gets 24."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: alas!
<El-Cideon> But Franceska finds her strike deflected at the last second!
<El-Cideon> Bligh hefts his chain and quickly swings twice at his insubordinate assailant! And if the axe knight should fall from this, he'll follow up with a pair of slashes at Istradi.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 39."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 and gets 19."12 [1d20=2]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+12 and gets 26."12 [1d20=14]
<Julia> OOC: first hits axe knight, probably all that's needed
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
<El-Cideon> roll 2d4+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 19."12 [2d4=2, 4]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d4+13 and gets 18."12 [2d4=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: and Haste saves Istradi
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen (14) > Fran (13) > Bligh (10) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<Julia> The last strike is too much, the axe knight falling as the embrace of death finds him once more. "Did I do good, Mistress?" he asks in his dying seconds. "Did axeman... help?" And then he is gone.
<El-Cideon> As the heroic undead falls at last, Rosemund does her level best to try and avenge him! "Why am I sad about that?!" she wonders aloud as she strikes thrice with great vigor!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 39."12 [1d20=17]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 and gets 37."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+10+2d6+10
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+10+2d6+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+10+2d6+10 and gets 30."12 [1d8=4][2d6=2, 4]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+10+2d6+10 and gets 35."12 [1d8=5][2d6=6, 4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > Istradi (18) > Her Majesty the Queen (14) > Fran (13) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> At last the misshapen skull of the treacherous Captain Bligh is firmly staved in! Perhaps the axe knight can rest comfortably in oblivion now...
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and horse
<Julia> "Land over there," Julia says to her horse, seeking cover behind the wall of blades from everyone else. But not before she fires off a greater dispel magic at the Queen!
<Julia> OOC: targetted dispel, how many checks?
<El-Cideon> OOC: She's only got two spells active on her
<Julia> roll 2#1d20+12 glitter then invis
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 2#1d20+12 glitter then invis and gets 58."12 [2#1d20+12 = 26, 32]
<El-Cideon> The Queen pops back into clear existence for all to see, all spells upon her negated! The bloodless wounds Stephanie had inflicted are quite ghastly to behold.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Ahab is up
<El-Cideon> Denied the ability to effectively continue his assault against Julia, the remaining traitor instead turns his bow turns his Queen's immediate assailant--Franceska!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 element!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 element! and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: elec!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26."12 [1d20=18]
<Franceska> OOC: Normal AC30 after charging
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 26."12 [1d8=6][1d6=5][1d6=6]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/elec and gets 17."12 [1d8=3][1d6=4][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: S/A/M team up!
<Steph> Infuriated at her quarry's escape, Stephanie teleports to the other side of the barrier and hovers next to Auranelle. "You- you- you figment!"
<El-Cideon> Marina targets the revealed Queen with a bolt of acid, while Alice maneuvers around it to physically menace the Queen once again--but alas, being a menace is all she immediately has time for!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 ranged touch
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 ranged touch and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> The bolt impacts harmlessly into the pool of acid, however!
<El-Cideon> "I've had enough of this shameless exhibitionist," Istradi grumbles, turning from the motionless remains of Bligh to try and stab the Queen before she can get out another spell.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 and gets 43."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+10+1d6 elec roll high!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+10+1d6 elec roll high! and gets 20."12 [1d10=7][1d6=3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Ahab (23) > Steph = Alice = Marina (22) > Istradi (18) > Fran (13) > Rosey (7) > Julia (4) = Skeleton Horse'
<El-Cideon> With a look of shock briefly registering on her bloodstained face, Queen Auranelle discorporates into a mobile mist.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran is up
<Steph> "I was so sure we would all die," notes Stephanie, peering at the mist. "Let's see where it goes!"
<El-Cideon> The cloud floats instinctively across the pool, maneuvering toward Stephanie and Julia's position towards the far door.
* Franceska stares at the cloud in dismay for a few moments, before healing herself up a bit.
<Franceska> roll 1d8+5
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d8+5 and gets 10."12 [1d8=5]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund charges the only remaining foe in the field--the treacherous Captain Ahab! "Why can we not fight foes willing to surrender after their leader is beaten?" she complains.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22+2 charge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+22+2 charge and gets 30."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+10+2d6+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+10+2d6+10 and gets 28."12 [1d8=1][2d6=2, 5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and horsey
<Julia> "I won't accept their surrender after that sort of treachery!" Julia says, casting hold undead on Ahab from behind her safe cover.
<Julia> OOC: DC 23 will or paralysed
<El-Cideon> OOC: SR first!
<Julia> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> But Ahab proves stubbornly resistent to Julia's spells this time! Drawing four arrows, he takes a step back and, without further distinct orders, fires repeatedly upon his immediate attacker--Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 27."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6 element first!
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 element first! and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: cold!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/cold
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+9+1d6+1d6 acid/cold and gets 18."12 [1d8=3][1d6=4][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: S/A/M
<Steph> Stephanie rushes into Ahab with a confused and angry strike. "You're misusing my gift!"
<Steph> roll 1d20+24
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+24 and gets 33."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+1d6+12+3d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+1d6+12+3d6 and gets 38."12 [1d6=6][1d6=5][3d6=5, 4, 6]
<El-Cideon> "I'm afraid I'm rather out of useful spells by this point," Marina admits sheepishly, while Alice follows Stephanie once again into the fray.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+25
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+25 and gets 40."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6+5+2d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6+5+2d6 and gets 15."12 [1d6=6][2d6=3, 1]
<El-Cideon> Istradi rushes in to finish off the last foe!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 and gets 29."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+10 no elec
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+10 no elec and gets 11."12 [1d10=1]
<El-Cideon> The traitor is crushed to the floor! Alice dispels her barrier of swords, and the hall is quiet at last.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
<Franceska> Gifts for undead, what was she thinking-- Franceska activates her rarely-used healing belt to treat her numerous wounds as she heads after the cloud the vampire queen had become.
<Franceska> roll 3#2d8
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 3#2d8 and gets 29."12 [3#2d8 = 9, 9, 11]
<Steph> Stephanie skips after the cloud, twirling her sword back into its sheathe.
<Julia> Julia flies over on her horse, wincing a little before dismounting and healing it. "Oww," she rubs her bottom, "He's a better flier than Battersby but not nearly as comfortable," she admits. "Sorry about my minions turning traitor everyone."
<Julia> roll 4d8+13 heals
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 4d8+13 heals and gets 32."12 [4d8=6, 5, 5, 3]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund immediately hurries over to dispel the negative energy plaguing Marina, and then heal up Fran's wounds!
<El-Cideon> "You will have to get him a saddle," Marina advises Julia.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+21 Fran
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+21 Fran and gets 39."12 [4d10=1, 4, 5, 8]
<Julia> "Yes, those vertebrae aren't comfortable to sit on at all. I think I'll call him Bedford."
<El-Cideon> roll 3d10+19 heals for Rosey herself
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d10+19 heals for Rosey herself and gets 34."12 [3d10=1, 10, 4]
<Franceska> "Thank you," Franceska tells Rosemund warmly. "Up to staking Queen Auranelle?"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d10+7 for M
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d10+7 for M and gets 17."12 [1d10=10]
<Julia> roll 4d8+13 one more on horse
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 4d8+13 one more on horse and gets 28."12 [4d8=1, 1, 6, 7]
<El-Cideon> "Yes, let us go," Rosemund says, walking towards the far curtain through which the cloud had disappeared. "What--what are we going to do with her? That will not exactly kill a vampire, yes?"
<Julia> "I could summon some evil spirits to drive her into a catatonic stupor from which she'll never emerge," Julia volunteers, walking after her. "Or we can stake her and melt her."
<Franceska> "How about staking her and bringing the body back with us? We have to prove to the king who the traitor is. I would prefer that over evil spirits."
<El-Cideon> "But she is two people!" Rosemund protests. "Could we not, I do not know, just kill the insane one?"
<El-Cideon> Parting the curtain, you find what might once have been a palatial bedroom, yet Whitsunhold's current overlord appears to have little use for creature comforts. Apart from an embarassing spill of riches overflowing from a vault left carelessly open in one corner, the only furnishing here is a fine ebony coffin, inlaid with gold and set upon a raised dais fringed with the finest plush red carpet.
<Steph> "Y, yes. But we've lost our angel. Maybe we can find his summoner and get her to back us up..." notes Stephanie, morosely. She glances at Rosemund. "Well, how do we do that, though?"
<Franceska> "A question for Ione, perhaps."
<Julia> "The stake might jostle loose. Rosemund could heal the stupor if we ever wanted her to talk and possibly murder people," Julia says, before shrugging at Rosemund's protest. "I have no idea. It would take a lot of therapy, at great risk since she could just eat or turn or dominate or freeze her therapist."
<Steph> She purses her lips. "And maybe we should still check out where that last orb goes." She retrives a sharpened piece of wood from her bag, and walks towards the coffin to open it.
<Franceska> "Do you still have a sending?"
<El-Cideon> "There was a big door on that top floor we never opened," Marina recalls.
<El-Cideon> Stephanie finds that the Queen is inside, hands crossed over her chest, regal crown and rings still upon her. She could be calmly sleeping.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nods. "Yes, just the one left for today."
<Steph> Stephanie sighs. "Her son is going to be so mad if we show up with his mother and a stake in her chest," she notes, before proceeding to apply wood to heart.
<Julia> Nobody ever wants to use the evil spirits...
<Franceska> "Ask Ione what she thinks? After coming up with a way to describe it in twenty five words?" Franceska winces.
<El-Cideon> "I will try," Rosemund says, quietly formulating a message to transmit across worlds.
<Steph> "Hey, what if we get one of those helms? The ones that make good people bad and bad people good?"
* Franceska shudders.
<El-Cideon> The body of the Queen jolts quietly in response to Stephanie's action, and seems to sag a little as if denied some motive force...but otherwise does not respond.
<Julia> "Then the domineering vampire side becomes nice and the sweet queenly side becomes bad?"
<Steph> "I was hoping we could just change the domineering side...
<El-Cideon> "Someone went to a considerable amount of work to make her as she is," Marina says with a frown. "I don't know that fixing her could be as easy as igniting a lamp."
<Steph> "But simple solutions are all we're good at."
<Franceska> "So we keep a few people here, just in case, and the rest of us see where the last gem leads? Plus maybe look into that remaining door?"
<Julia> "What it all boils down to is that she's a vampire. Making her good, unlikely as it is, won't stop the bloodthirst."
<Franceska> "We do have a chance at a wish," Franceska muses. "We could wish for her to become alive again. You can resurrect undead people, can't you?"
<Steph> "And there's no cure for that. Except killing her and ressurecting her. Maybe we should do that with those other vampires..."
<El-Cideon> Istradi simply loiters by the door, having no comment to add beyond her earlier advice of killing Auranelle and having done with it. Marina frowns. "Maybe it can be controlled by someone who doesn't, well, revel so much in what she is?"
<Julia> "And if alive, she will still have an evil, murderous, sadistic, somewhat perverse side that is an incredibly powerful sorceress... There's two big hurdles, neither of which we're equipped to solve."
<El-Cideon> Eventually, Rosemund opens her eyes to report: "Ione is interested in helping, but she is not comfortable with the Queen staying at her asylum. I do not know whether the asylum staff could keep her docile."
<Franceska> "So once again, how about we look around and make sure nothing is waiting to kill us? Or no easy solutions await?"
<El-Cideon> "Alright," Rosemund says with a resigned nod, making her way back through the rooms of carnage, giving the fallen a sad look as she passes by. "Where to?" she asks back at the platform.
<Franceska> "The last gem is a good start?"
<Julia> "See if we can plug it in," Julia nods.
<Steph> "We need, I don't know, magical manacles or something..."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund slots in the keystone dropped by the vampiric chancellor. Apart from all floors lighting up on the console, nothing immediately different seems to happen. Rosemund frowns.
<Julia> "Must just be an all access key... that's why the others were spread around, they weren't needed," Julia surmises.
<Franceska> "Where was that door?" Franceska asks Marina.
<El-Cideon> "I suppose," Rosemund allows, before pressing the button for 0: VIVARIUM as directed by Marina. There is indeed quite a large, secure-looking door down the hall, opposite from that which the party originally entered through.
<Steph> Stephanie walks towards it and tries to open it.
<El-Cideon> It is locked. Moreover, the moment Stephanie fiddles with the door mechanism, a burst of cold air spews forth from the locking mechanism towards her!
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref
<Steph> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+19 and gets 28."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 12d6 cold halved, evasion applies
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 12d6 cold halved, evasion applies and gets 38."12 [12d6=2, 4, 3, 6, 3, 3, 1, 2, 5, 4, 2, 3]
<Steph> "Oh, of course, right when my guard is down, ice explosions!" screams Stephanie, kicking the door angrily once her teeth stop chattering.
<Franceska> "You secretly enjoy it, don't you?"
<El-Cideon> "Er, perhaps we should try this?" Rosemund suggests, moving forward and slotting the stone into a depression. This time the door swings open smoothly at a touch, to reveal:
<El-Cideon> Beyond is a large atrium hosting one single thing: a boat. Of modest size by the standards of sailing ships, perhaps able to comfortably lodge a dozen or so sailors, but still a peculiar find for this location. "Terminus" is emblazoned upon the aft end of the ship, and a crucified skeleton appears to serve as its grim figurehead. Dry docked, and with its prow pointing away from the gate, the ship looks ready at a push to sail away to...nowhere. It's in a cave.
<El-Cideon> Beyond this ship, a lever is set into the wall next to an array of complicated gearwork.
<Julia> "That must be their method of transport when they went to kill Halja," Julia guesses.
<El-Cideon> "It's certainly a step up from floating through the void," Marina recalls with a shiver.
<Franceska> "And the only way we're getting all the slaves out of here in one go."
<Steph> Stephanie blows a layer of frost off her lips into Franceska before turning to look at the boat. "So. Who knows how to sail a boat in nothing?"
<Franceska> "How hard could it possibly be?"
<El-Cideon> "Maybe more than one trip," Marina estimates at a glance. "There were an awful lot of people out there."
<Steph> "I guess it can't be the hard. I mean, there's no water to get in the way."
<Franceska> "Some of those old people surely served as sailors once upon a time."
<Julia> "Maybe my former minions might have known," Julia laughs dryly.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund steps across a plank onto the ship. There is no proper steering wheel one might expect to find on a maritime vessel. In its place is a large crystal sphere set above a familiar circular depression.
<Steph> "Will it protect people on it from the plane's effects?"
<El-Cideon> "I think it would have to in order to bring them here safely?" Marina guesses. "They probably hauled in all their...chattal this way..."
<Franceska> "We can start small and sail off tomorrow, then study the effects properly before leaving too far."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund slots in the diamond sphere and there is a soft hum of magical fields activating all around you. The crystal sphere lights dimly.
<Steph> "Stuff is happening."
<El-Cideon> "That is probably smart," Marina agrees. "Although I suppose it does mean...sleeping here overnight."
<Franceska> "There are worse places. Sadly."
<El-Cideon> "I'll take your word for that," the sorceress says.
<Steph> "We've been camping in the abyss, you know."
<Julia> "Yes, there's no rain here," Julia nods brightly.
<El-Cideon> ~