095: My old friends, they don't know me now

[Sierra]

<@El-Cideon> After a brief jaunt home to retrieve Julia's minions and a shadowgirl for minding the ship during Carceri excursions, the group stops in at Azure once again to retrieve Jill to bring along for the visit to her one of her vanquished foes. Rosemund is at the helm of the ship, ready to transport it across planes based on Leah's description at a moment's notice. "You're certain that he's there, and that he's our only source of information?" Jill asks dubiously, before you depart. "Not that I should be surprised to find his proper place is in prison, alive or dead. But I don't imagine this ship will take you out as easily as you might get in."
<Franceska> "We think we can follow the Styx river out," Franceska tells her. "Should that fail, we'll find another way."
<Steph> "Yeah, every prison's got a warden to shank," replies Stephane, hands behind her bed.
<@El-Cideon> "I suppose if the nine hells couldn't keep you, not much else is likely to stand a chance," Jill concedes. She nods to Rosemund, who chants her usual spell of teleportation and shifts the ship instantly across worlds--
<Julia> "Carceri can't be escaped by conventional means, but the Styx flows across all the lower planes. I'm mostly certain the latter trumps the former," Julia says.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | '
<@El-Cideon> You emerge beneath skies the color of old, dried blood. Sickly gray clouds scud across the sky in the distance, shedding sulfurous-looking rain across empty grassland. Immediately below the ship, cradled in an outthrust of rock, is a modest settlement. A small valley given over mostly to scraggly, patchy cultivation rears up to a cave at its topmost end. A small, ramshackle hut sits nearby. There is no living thing immediately in evidence; a warm, desultory wind picks at clothing and then gives up to a dead heat.
<Franceska> "This is not immediately terrible," Franceska notes, eyeing the sky.
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund rubs her forehead in mild discomfort, but after looking around concedes, "There are probably worse places to spend eternity. We may have visited some of them!"
<Julia> "Unpleasant rain seems to be the common thread between the lower plains," Julia says, pulling her hood up.
<@El-Cideon> She brings the ship down to ground level. "This looks like the place Auntie described," she says. "I wonder if anyone is home?"
<Steph> "Well, everyone hates the bloody rain," replies Stephanie, twirling about. Somewhere, she'd dug up a fancy dress, all silk and frills. "Let's go see!"
<Julia> "Maendar, Friday? Kill anyone who interferes with the boat and isn't us," Julia orders her reasonably sized undead before looking up at the bigger one. "Scarlet, follow me."
<Franceska> "Is she still greedy, while like this?" Franceska asks Julia curiously, sticking around her for a change.
<Julia> "Not moreso than any other undead," Julia says. "Though since she can't use her human form anymore her expressions may be lost in the gulf between species."
<Franceska> "It must gall her far more than being killed in a flash," Franceska muses.
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund steps down onto the ground and walks up between garden plots. Mostly they're vegetable patches, generally recognizable but faintly twisted or stunted by the foul nature of the plane itself. Those black tomatoes aren't going to win any prizes at the Amaranth fair.
<Steph> "I'm sure she has other things on her mind, like the rest of her existence as a devil slug," replies Stephanie, snorting. "But hey, Julia, be sure to find her when she's matured enough to converse. Go mock her with her body!"
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund strides up to the hut and raps gently on a door of crudely hewn wooden slats. There is no response.
<Julia> "I suppose I could. I wonder what that Opalneswynthax is up to now?" Julia muses.
* Franceska joins Rosemund in knocking upon the door, and after waiting a few moments opens it.
<@El-Cideon> Jill looks over the hut with an appraising eye. "This could be any sharecropper's shack back home," she observes. "It must gall him not to be able to live in style anymore. Always a great one for the finer things in life, our Simon."
<Steph> "Well, maybe he learned something from death."
<@El-Cideon> Franceska finds that the door is not locked or secured in any way. There is little inside that a person could consider worth securing at all. There's a simple straw pallet in one corner, some bundled firewood, dried meat and picked vegetables stored in a crude cupboard, and a presently empty firepit with a battered bronze pot in the center of the room. That's it.
<Steph> "Is he in?"
<@El-Cideon> "Doesn't look it," Jill says with a glance and a frown.
<Julia> "Maybe he's out hunting or just enjoying a walk, maybe?"
<Franceska> "Enjoying. Yes. Can anyone tell how long it's been empty?"
<Julia> "Food's all preserved, so can't really tell from that..."
<@El-Cideon> Jill toes through the ashes of the fireplace. "I'd guess someone cooked something recently."
<Steph> "I'll have a fly around," Stephanie calls, zipping into the air and looking about the landscape.
<Franceska> "I remember when I needed to do that," Franceska muses, sounding happy at having someone else take over.
<@El-Cideon> Stephanie can see a figure sitting just outside the cave further upslope. He's big, red, and brawny, too much of any of those things to be your man, but also the only living being within sight.
<Steph> Stephanie swoops back to the group, and waves them forward. "I can't see our man, but there's a huge guy up here!"
<Franceska> "Let's introduce ourselves, then!"
<Julia> "Maybe he ate him?" Julia wonders, going to climb aboard Scarlet.
<@El-Cideon> On closer inspection, the man is a giant in the most literal sense: easily twice as tall as even the more imposing humans, his ratty hair and beard are both flame-red and his eyes smolder dimly like coals. There's a faint red tint to his skin as well. He wears ancient and very well-used armor and a simple copper circlet adorns his head. He is presently busy sharpening a primitive but nonetheless very large and very deadly axe. He looks up with an expression suffused with apathy. "What do you want?" he grunts without pausing in his work.
<Julia> "We're looking for the man that lives in that hut," Julia says, pointing down at it.
<@El-Cideon> "Mister Simon ain't expecting visitors," he says, raising his axe to give it a careful inspection, as though wondering what he might test it on.
<Steph> "Do we need an appointment?"
<@El-Cideon> He looks over your group in detail, seeming to take in the overall high level of cleanliness and plainly expensive clothing and equipment for the first time. "You lot," he assumes slowly, "ain't inmates."
<Franceska> "No. So you can see we took extra effort to visit Mister Simon."
<@El-Cideon> "Hear him tell it," the giant goes on, "most folk would do that ain't the kind he wants to meet anymore. What's your business here?"
<Franceska> "Ah, but if he sees us we could tell him who else is looking for him, and that way he would be better prepared for them?"
<@El-Cideon> He drums his fingers on the shaft of his axe, thinking a moment. "How'd you girls get in here?" he asks with a searching tone.
<Franceska> "Magic."
<Julia> "A plane shift spell?" Julia hazards.
<Steph> "Magic!"
<@El-Cideon> "So you wouldn't happen to have yourselves a way back out?" he asks, somewhere between incredulous and desperate.
<Franceska> "Now we appear to be in a position to bargain."
<@El-Cideon> "I'd suggest that most residents of Carceri are likely imprisoned here for sound reasons," Jill feels it necessary to point out. "And we shouldn't lightly consider freeing them."
<Julia> "I'm sure good people get imprisoned by bad people all the time."
<Franceska> "It depends on how helpful our new friend is to our cause, I would say."
<@El-Cideon> This exchange earns an odd look from the giant. "Doesn't sound to me like you all agree about this." To Julia in particular he asks, "And which sort would you guess you're dealing with, girlie?"
<Julia> "Well, you haven't tried to kill us and eat our skins, so that's a point in your favour?" Julia surmises. "But it could be you're just too afraid of us, which would make you smart but not necessarily good?"
<Franceska> "I like dealing with intelligent people. Now then, can you help us locate Mister Simon? If you further provide us with leverage to have our questions answered with a minimum of fuss, I will get you out of Carceri."
<@El-Cideon> He laughs, briefly and without much humor, then leans upon his axe to haul himself to a standing position. He doesn't look old, physically, but he appears as though he feels it nonetheless. "Well, at least one of you's got something decent to say," he concedes, though it's not exactly clear which of you he's referring to. "What do you want him for, then?"
<Franceska> "You're not going to say something ridiculous like how you're him, reincarnated?"
<@El-Cideon> He looks at Franceska as though frankly considering her an idiot. "That sort of thing happen a lot where you come from? I don't know, maybe you'd notice, we're not exactly the same size."
<Franceska> "Magic." She shrugs. "We require information about one of Mister Simon's erstwhile foes. We believe he is in possession of it."
<@El-Cideon> "So you figure you'll ask your questions and leave?" he asks. "No trouble for anyone?"
<Franceska> "If he tells me what I need to know, I have no further use for him or desire to stay here longer than strictly necessary."
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "I've got no quarrel with a farmer."
<@El-Cideon> "Might be a farmer's got something to say to you, then." He turns and strides into the cave. "Let's amble." A few simple torches line the walls of a gently descending passageway within. The bare stone tunnel is otherwise not adorned or decorated in any way.
<Franceska> Thinking that it's not ominous at all, Franceska follows him into the cave.
<Julia> Climbing off Scarlet now, Julia follows with the undead red dragon on her heels.
<@El-Cideon> The tunnel shortly opens out into a high-ceilinged cavern; a break in the cavern roof allows a ray of Carceri's shoddy natural light to break in and illuminate a man sitting crosslegged in the center of the room, within the bounds of a circle carved roughly into the floor. He appears human, though one could be forgiven for wondering whether he'd truly been resurrected after all. His skin is red and raw all over, looking almost scraped to muscle in some areas, and as he wears nothing more than a simple loincloth there may perhaps be more of it than desired on display. His hair is gray, unkempt and bedraggled. When he turns to look at you, his eyes are gray and still. "We got some guests," the giant says uncertainly as he leads you in, sounding as though he's waiting for some show of approval here. "Didn't seem like they'd be too much of a bother." The ravaged man looks you over, pausing especially on Jill. "I don't imagine they will be," he says smoothly. "You can leave us." The giant trods back upward. There's a faint smell of incense swirling about the cavern as you're left alone.
<Steph> "Well, it's still a step up from hell. How ya doing, mister?"
<@El-Cideon> "I should expect our circumstances speak for themselves." He climbs to his feet, adding, "I couldn't call them inappropriate." He addresses Jill directly: "You brought new friends this time, Miss Cook."
<@El-Cideon> "They brought me," she clarifies.
<Franceska> "I'm curious as to how you managed to get yourself resurrected, but in such a gloomy place."
<@El-Cideon> "I arranged in advance for the priests of St. Cuthbert to revive me," he answers simply, "after I was murdered. Alas, more of them gave their own lives to prevent that eventuality than was really necessary."
<Franceska> "How does that actually lead to you being here?"
<Steph> Stephanie scowls. Those worthless fucks!
<@El-Cideon> "You knew we would kill you?" Jill asks. Simon answers, "I considered there was a high probability. I thought it simpler to make preparations and allow you to go on your way thinking the job done." He shrugs, sounding more interested in answering Franceska's question. "I suppose there's no direct relation. I had myself exiled some time later. It's really the best place for me, wouldn't you agree? I can hardly be any bother to civilization here."
* Franceska nods slowly. "If I were filled with any zeal to kill you, then after spending half an hour here would do a lot to change my mind."
<Steph> "It's a good time to ask why you bothered siding with the devils in the first place." Stephanie peers at him. "I've always been curious as to why people do it when it's such an obviously terrible move. Never understood."
<@El-Cideon> "It was in my nature to do so," he answers first. "Ah, but that sounds an excuse. My own personal weaknesses were simply ones that they possess skill in exploiting. I know naught of your pasts or goals--save of course Miss Cook--so I can only wonder, have you ever found yourself in a position of great respect and reverence? Where authority was nearly thrust upon you in recognition of your gifts? I may find it difficult to relate the sense of intoxication, if not."
<Franceska> Her mother can probably relate, which just makes Franceska frown. "You mentioned knowing Miss Cook's goals, so I shall cut straight to the reason for our arrival. We want to hear what you know of Galina Merowyn's goals and present whereabout."
<Julia> Julia shakes her head. Necromancers get a certain respect sure, but no reverence.
<Steph> Stephanie clucks her tongue. Not even her enemies respect her! Not once has anyone looked at her with dread, and it makes her feel sad.
<@El-Cideon> He seems frankly astonished at Franceska's question. "I've resided in Carceri for nearly two decades now. Whyever would I know anything about Galina Merowyn? If she ever heard that I'd escaped justice, I hardly think I'd be speaking to you now. I'd have expected Miss Cook to come here with the same intentions, but your questions suggest otherwise."
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund adds in, for clarification, "Phibous Liramar thought she was hiding in a lich's castle that you know how to find."
<Julia> "She's in Tetrarchus's castle we think, but we don't know where it is," Julia elaborates. "I think it moves around?"
<@El-Cideon> Comprehension dawns on Simon's savaged yet still elegant features. "But whatever is she doing with it?" he wonders.
<Franceska> "I really hoped you would know, but the location would suffice, I suppose."
<Julia> "She's got some set up that absorbs natural spellcasters to power some sort of apparatus. No doubt to use against the lower planes, but what exactly it'll do we don't exactly know," Julia says, though she doubts Simon knows much about Victoria Crane's activities on Air.
<@El-Cideon> "I've found it before," he admits to Franceska. "It bought me a reprieve from our former masters' ire, in fact. Very clever construction, Tetrarchus, but not perfect. I suppose that I could find it again if I thought I had reason to do so." He listens to Julia's explanation and then says carefully, "Do you think that you could explain to me why I should assist you in confounding her plans?"
<Franceska> "If you tell us how to find it, we'll leave you to your exile and tell you who else is gunning for you. Isn't it a fair exchange?"
<Steph> "She's a thief and a kidnapper, and not just of bad guys and the things bad guys have," Stephanie says. "She's compromised her ideals, which is what paladins are meant to be all about."
<Julia> "I suppose it depends on whether you're more receptive to threats or bribes?" Julia wonders aloud.
<@El-Cideon> "Are you certain?" he asks pointedly to Stephanie. "Have you considered whether striking a blow against the lower planes might be worth her efforts after all?" Promises of either threats or bribes don't appear to move him at all, but he does give Franceska a curious look.
<Franceska> "Fairly certain," she answers, even though the question was not addressed to her. "I've seen where that logic leads in Hell, and it's not a very good place. As for myself, the offer is a simple one. I believe it serves as an opening bid, so it is up to you to agree or make a counter-offer, Mister Simon."
<Steph> "If nothing else," replies Stephanie, peering at him. "I wanna know what she really plans to do. Maybe she's misguided. It happens to anyone. But I still think it's weird how all her friends ended up trapped someplace. That is, all the people who could've convinced her to think twice about things."
<Julia> "I'm one of the people she'd like to use up, so that's good enough for me," Julia says. "Also she stole that... mace?" she hazards uncertainly, looking at Rosemund hopefully.
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund nods, happy that someone got it right for once!
<Franceska> "At this point it is the principle of the thing, really."
<Steph> "It really is. I can safely say that if Rosemund gave up I'd go hunt a bigger dragon or something."
<@El-Cideon> "So you would consider her intentions irrelevant if her acts themselves are immoral?" he concludes after Franceska's statement.
<Julia> Julia does a little fist pump.
<Franceska> "I could quote cliches about good intentions leading to terrible places all day. Instead, I will agree with the addition that I don't believe the outcome will actually be good, either."
<@El-Cideon> "Whyever not?" he asks finally.
<Franceska> "Stephanie touched upon that. There is something off about the entire thing, and Miss Merowyn's own missives to any old friend who would try to stop her support this. If she is misguided, or being guided along, however can you trust that the outcome promised to her would materialize? Rather, it makes more sense that if you commit an atrocity to the point you believe heroes will gather to
<Franceska> stop you, the outcome would not suddenly be a good one."
<Julia> "Also it involves eating people like me," Julia adds, because that's important. To her at least.
<Steph> "There's nobody like you!"
<Julia> "True..." Julia admits. "People who use magic like me?"
<@El-Cideon> He looks at Jill, who simply nods in agreement with Franceska's position, and he seems to take this for reliable confirmation. "I don't imagine she would exclude her comrades in arms from this endeavor without recognizing on some level that their involvement would shame them," he concedes. "I must admit this is telling." Simon rifles through a pile of seeming debris in one corner of the cave and lays out an odd collection of incense burners and herbs. "So your intention is to confront her and...stop her through any means, I suppose, if her explanations do not satisfy?"
<Franceska> "Then, there is another common sense reason," Franceska muses. "If it were possible to gather many mages and sacrifice them to get a clear victory against one of the outer planes, wouldn't Hell had done it before? There is no reason to believe that this convoluted process can only strike at the lower planes, so the very concept is highly suspect." At Simon's question, she nods. "Exactly that.
<Franceska> If she was only doing what seemed right at the time, we can get her to reconsider. If she does not, then she will be stopped."
<Steph> "Of course, it's also possible she'll have some fantastic explanation for what she's doing, and the evidence to suggest it's what she thinks it is. But we'll never know without going, hmm?"
<@El-Cideon> "I should be surprised if her schemes were not founded on a personal conviction of broader righteousness," Simon says. "Very surprised indeed." With simple flint and tinder he goes about lighting a series of exotic scents that soon waft around the cavern. "Of course," he adds, with a spark of firelight reflecting in his eyes, "pride is a persistent infiltrator, is it not?" He sits down again in the center of the circle. "This may take some moments. Tetrarchus constructed his castle from materials that would deflect all attempts at scrying, but the design is not perfect. Specifically, constructing an entire castle of material opaque to magic presents the careful observer with a very large object to *not* look for."
<Franceska> "You're looking for the shadow it leaves, then?"
<@El-Cideon> "A conspicuous emptiness, yes. With sufficiently broadened perceptions, it looms like an open wound in the flesh of a world. Of course, I do not immediately know which one, but I believe we may safely rule out the domains of fiends or angels. I shall allow my mind to wander through the less...decided planes." He closes his eyes and sits very still. "Please do not disturb me until I awaken on my own. I should not like to forget where I reside."
<Julia> Julia goes to sit on Scarlet's foot while she waits, since it'll probably take a while.
* Franceska catches Jill's eye, and then retreats a bit out of the way.
<@El-Cideon> "Yes?" Jill asks, presuming Franceska has something to say to her.
<Franceska> "I just wanted to confirm something," Franceska asks her quietly, to not disturb Simon. "You're fine with things staying as they are? I haven't seen his crimes firsthand, but exile here seems more than sufficient. Certainly better than being a slug in hell who cannot comprehend or suffer."
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "What do you think of this dress?" she asks, turning to Julia and spinning about with a cloppity-clop of her hooves. "Do you think it'll catch the eye?" she asks, with a toothy grin.
<@El-Cideon> "Whose eye, Stephanie?" Rosemund asks curiously. "Did you have someone special in mind?"
<@El-Cideon> "I can't be wholly confident of judging," Jill admits. "Is it acceptable to impose one's own sentence for one's own crimes?" She shrugs. "I am prepared to leave the verdict to the gods. He does not appear as though he is in any haste to leave and repeat his crimes."
<Steph> "I figured Carceri would be filled with lovable rogues!" replies Stephanie. "But it's really desolate, huh. Maybe we should see if there's a party scene? Is he gonna take a few days?"
<@El-Cideon> Simon sits quiet, motionless, and seemingly lifeless for most of the afternoon, save some distressing suggestion once in a while of frantic movement behind his eyelids. After some hours, a ghastly smile cracks his features and he murmurs, with some apparent satisfaction, "What a curious place to hide."
<Julia> "It looks very eye-catching," Julia confirms, keeping her voice low. "I'd have hoped he'd tell us if he would... but I doubt there's anything fun here... oh, there we go."
<@El-Cideon> He opens his eyes at last. "I have found it," he says, in a voice parched from an extended period of deprived meditation, "in an ocean of black ice. She is in Ocanthus, at the bottom of Acheron. The matter of the plane itself shreds all that ventures above the surface; you will find a lone turret jutting from the ice to provide access. All else appears safely locked below."
<Franceska> "How nasty."
<@El-Cideon> He stands up, unsteadily, slightly dizzy. "It is a strange place to make one's home."
<Franceska> "Can you reach it with just that?" Franceska asks Rosemund.
<Julia> "It certainly sounds secure."
<@El-Cideon> "I do not think there would be many other castles there?" Rosemund speculates. Jill and Simon both nod a confident No.
<Franceska> "Anything you'd like us to pass on to her?"
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund nods herself. "I think that it should be enough."
<@El-Cideon> "I am content to leave her in peace should she do the same for me," Simon says. "To best guarantee this, you needn't say anything at all."
<Steph> "Fair enough."
<Franceska> "Very sensible. Shall we be off, then? Oh, I almost forgot. Hell found out, from your records, that you managed to evade them and get reincarnated. There is one devil in particular very eager to find you."
<@El-Cideon> Simon's expression is rigid and severe. "Is that so?" he asks stiffly.
<Franceska> It's Stephanie's friend so she can talk about her.
<Steph> Stephanie blinks. "Oh, sure! She's an erinyes who really wants to climb the infernal social ladder, and sees you as her ticket up! But, ah, she's a bit of a doormat and kind of impressionable. You were like a bishop or something? You can probably play some mind games and talk her out of it."
<Julia> "She seems conditioned to be a good follower," Julia agrees.
<Franceska> "Very desperate for approval. But still, immortal and pettily mean."
<@El-Cideon> "Hierarchical games are not unfamiliar to me," Simon says flatly. "I shall instruct Alchmenozar to be alert for less cordial guests than yourself. Now, if you do not mind, I find myself in need of real rest after the days' mental exertions."
<Franceska> "Goodbye," Franceska is only too happy to say, her business here concluded, and turns to head back.
<Julia> "Of course. Thank you," Julia smiles and heads off, dragon in tow.
<@El-Cideon> Walking back up, Jill points out dully, "Acheron's only agenda is conflict. It's hardly concerned with whose or for what purpose."
<Franceska> "We've been there, it feels like," Franceska muses. "But I probably suppressed most of my memories of it."
<Steph> "Ysgard, but wrong?"
<Julia> "Or Pandemonium but with knives instead of wind?"
<Franceska> "We should really follow our plan for going into the lower planes there."
<@El-Cideon> Raised voices precede your arrival back on the surface. The giant is engaged in conversation with someone he sounds much less hospitable towards than yourselves. When you reach the entrance, you find him warning off a group of devils with axe in hand. From the rear of the group, an insectile devil looms quietly with an icy spear in his claws; the rest of the group is a collection of spiny humanoids...and one familiar erinyes. Shandria is dressed in light mail, and her routinely dour expression brightens a bit upon recognizing you. "Ah, I hope you didn't kill him! We were hoping to bring him back alive. A proper example should be made of men like him."
<Franceska> "Speak of the devil!"
<@El-Cideon> Shandria bows. "I brought friends. We don't want any trouble." She glances back at the collection of barbed devils. "Well, I don't need any trouble, if it can be avoided."
<Julia> "Shandria! You're looking much more martial than when we last saw you," Julia says approvingly. It makes her look much less pathetic.
<Franceska> "She is far more competent than the first glance suggested," Franceska muses to Stephanie. "Are you going to keep her?"
<@El-Cideon> She stands up straight and proud. "It's advance wages, so to speak." She visibly restrains herself from making an obvious look back for her boss's approval. The ice devil remains silently observing.
<Steph> "Nnnngh! Why did this have to happen where I can see it?" hisses Stephanie in a whisper, turning to Franceska. "Now I have to do something about it! This is bullshit!" She turns back to Shandria with a pause. "So, uh, hey, Shandria! Sorry about the job from before but you really didn't wanna be there, right?" she says, in a sunny voice. "Can we go talk... say, over there?" she adds, with a
<Steph> conspirational wink.
<Franceska> "Are you coming with us or choosing to stay here?" Franceska asks the red giant while Stephanie does her shameful flirting.
<Julia> Julia has a look over to make sure Maendar and Friday are still guarding the ship. Being demon and angel they're likely targets for bullying from devils.
<@El-Cideon> This time she does glance back to her superior, who continues to watch impassively. She takes silence for approval and steps up to Stephanie. "I will have so many favors to give you for this!" she gushes quietly. "He's really down there, right? All the spells said so."
<@El-Cideon> The ship appears unmolested so far.
<@El-Cideon> The giant looks down at Franceska. "They're here to take Simon away. Nobody strolls into my neighborhood and walks off with a friend."
* Franceska nods in understanding and then glances over at Rosemund, tilting her head slightly.
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund quietly rests her hand on the pommel of her weapon.
<Julia> "Down here friends are all you've got?" Julia guesses, somewhat pleased by the giant's outlook.
<@El-Cideon> "Too right," he confirms.
<Steph> "I can't let you throw your life away like this!" exclaims Stephanie, gripping Shandria by her shoulders. "I know you want to advance, and that's really important to you. But if you go down there, you'll be killed! He's really strong, and he has too many allies!"
<@El-Cideon> OOC: bluff?
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+18 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{38}
<@El-Cideon> Shandria looks at Stephanie with wide eyes. "What? Oh...we should come back with reinforcements, right? I guess he could have a whole cult down there if he's been hiding out and scheming for decades now." She turns to glance back at her boss. "But, he won't be happy about this at all, he called in a favor from a 'loth to get us out of here and we'll have to make whole other plans if we need to leave and come back with an army. It could go really badly for me if he's mad when we get back home, he owns whole factories--couldn't you help us out? I promise it'll be worth your while in the end!"
<Steph> "Uh, basically, you'll be in trouble 'cos your boss will get mad at you? Sure, I can help with that! You'll need a new job too, right?"
<@El-Cideon> "I might need a new BODY," she hisses quietly, "that is assuming he doesn't give me a worse one and make me wait a thousand years to get this one back."
<Steph> "Nah, he won't be in a position to do that," replies Stephanie, shoving Shandria out the way and leaning towards the larger devil. "We'll talk about your new role in a tick, 'kay?"
<@El-Cideon> "What are you doing?" she exclaims in a mild panic. The gelugon peers down at Stephanie. "We have no quarrel," it emits in a sibilant voice with persistent buzzing overtones. "We will take our prize and be on our way. Cooperation may be rewarded."
<Steph> "Wow, if I go away, I might get a prize." Stephanie scowls, and tosses her knives end-over-end until they land in her palms. "You don't get to decide what happens to him. That's our job, baatezu."
<@El-Cideon> "Baator will have what Baator is owed," the insect demon intones. "You will stand aside or you will suffer. Make your choice."
<Steph> "Oh, you'll have what you deserve alright," replies Stephanie, looking ridiculous as she drops into a stance in her fluffy dress.
<@El-Cideon> OOC: that's init
<Julia> Julia straightens up by the giant while Scarlet lumbers out of the cave behind her.
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Julia --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{3}
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{18}
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{7}
<Julia> roll 1d20+1 Scarlet
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0Scarlet --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{6}
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Friday
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Friday --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{3}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosey
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 Maeandar
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+11 1,0Maeandar --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{16}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{12}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Jill
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Jill --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{18}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 Alice
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0Alice --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{12}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 gelugon
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0gelugon --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{24}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6 barbed devil gang
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0barbed devil gang --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{7}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20 giant
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20 1,0giant --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{14}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 Shandria
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0Shandria --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{20}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | gelugon (24) > Shandria (20) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = 4x barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> "Impudent mite," the ice devil buzzes, stepping forward to jab thrice at Stephanie with its spear, following this up with a bite and a jab of its tail. All the while, its supernatural aura washes over Stephanie to try and frighten her into submission!
<@El-Cideon> OOC: will, +4 bonus vs fear from Jill
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+24 spear
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+24 1,0spear --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{35}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19 spear
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 1,0spear --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{29}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 spear
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0spear --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{15}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 bite
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0bite --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{34}
<Steph> roll 1d20+23 mopm
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+23 1,0mopm --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{29}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 tail
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0tail --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{23}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: passed, AC?
<Steph> OOC: 34
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d6+13+1d6 cold also roll fort
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+13+1d6 1,0cold also roll fort --> 6,0[ 2d6=7 1d6=6 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d6+3
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+3 --> 6,0[ 2d6=12 ]4,0{15}
<Steph> roll 1d20+21
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+21 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{28}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: passed again
<Steph> OOC: the spear is magic yeah
<@El-Cideon> "Just surrender and it won't hurt at all!" Shandria promises hopefully, not actively joining in on what she plainly expects will be a one-sided slaughter.
<@El-Cideon> OOC: yes
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Steph and Jill
<Steph> "Listen to your subordinate!" exclaims Stephanie, promptly vanishing and stepping through the devil who dares oppose her.
<Steph> roll 1d20+29
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+29 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{42}
<Steph> roll 1d20+27
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+27 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{46}
<Steph> roll 1d20+24
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+24 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{38}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+22 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{26}
<Steph> roll 1d20+19
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+19 --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{20}
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+17 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{22}
<Steph> roll 1d20+27 crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+27 1,0crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{46}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: 2x hit + 1x crit
<Steph> roll 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6
<Steph> roll 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 2d6=9 2d6=7 6d6=18 ]4,0{50}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=3 2d6=9 2d6=12 6d6=25 ]4,0{61}
<Steph> roll 2d4+18+2d6+6d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 2d4+18+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 2d4=2 2d6=7 6d6=27 ]4,0{54}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: good-aligned weapons? Any elements in there?
<Steph> OOC: the first two hits are good/silver
<Steph> OOC: the crit is good/cold iron
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | Shandria (20) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = 4x barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> "That's not what I meant--" Shandria starts before her rebuke turns into a wail of horror. "No no NO! You're ruining everything! You monster!" As the greater devil falls into a pile of gristle on the dirt, Jill rushes forward to hack at one of its subordinates.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+29 smite?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+29 1,0smite? --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{48}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+29 crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+29 1,0crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{40}
* Franceska just starts laughing and can't stop.
<@El-Cideon> roll 4d6+32
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d6+32 --> 6,0[ 4d6=11 ]4,0{43}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Maeandar, if he wants to join in. The ship's about 60 ft off
<Julia> Meandar remains resolutely on guard!
<@El-Cideon> "Right neighborly of you," the giant grunts in approval of Stephanie as he lumbers forward to bring his giant axe down on top of the wounded devil.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+25
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+25 --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{31}
<@El-Cideon> roll 3d6+20 fire doesn't matter
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3d6+20 1,0fire doesn't matter --> 6,0[ 3d6=10 ]4,0{30}
<@El-Cideon> "Maybe we should have advertised what happened at Krae's mansion before we left," Rosemund guesses as she steps forward to hit at the same benighted foe. "Then maybe everyone would have just walked away today instead!"
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+20
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d8+9+2d6 hits flatfooted
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d8+9+2d6 1,0hits flatfooted --> 6,0[ 1d8=8 2d6=7 ]4,0{24}
<@El-Cideon> Alice hops off the ship and hurries halfway towards the melee!
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Fran and devil gang
<Franceska> This is really about sharpening her own magic than anything else, isn't it? Even Rosemund should be safe in this situation, so rather than be a spoilsport Franceska will just try that spell that had given Julia plenty of trouble in the past by singling out an unoccupied devil....
<Franceska> roll 1d20+15 SR
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0SR --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{16}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: :(
<Franceska> OOC: I'll use my swift to fortify myself against poisons and such
<@El-Cideon> The surrounded devil lashes at the smallest target handy, which happens to be Rosemund, while the remaining three fan out and each pick an opponent.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Rosey
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{38}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{38}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Rosey crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Rosey crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Rosey crit?
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Rosey crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{34}
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d8+6 hit
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d8+6 1,0hit --> 6,0[ 2d8=10 ]4,0{16}
<@El-Cideon> roll 4d8+12 crit
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 4d8+12 1,0crit --> 6,0[ 4d8=23 ]4,0{35}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22 grab attempt 1
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+22 1,0grab attempt 1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{42}
<@El-Cideon> roll 3d8+9 grabbed and impaled
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3d8+9 1,0grabbed and impaled --> 6,0[ 3d8=7 ]4,0{16}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Jill
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Jill --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{35}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Alch
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Alch --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{20}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 vs Alice
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0vs Alice --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{20}
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d8+6 vs Jill
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d8+6 1,0vs Jill --> 6,0[ 2d8=10 ]4,0{16}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+22 grab
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+22 1,0grab --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{28}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 also will vs fear for Rosey
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+17 1,0also will vs fear for Rosey --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{24}
<@El-Cideon> Most of the group escapes fairly unscathed, but Rosemund is dragged into an infernal hug and given a dreadful full-body laceration!
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Scarlet
<Franceska> "Rosemund!" Franceska cries out in dismay, shaking herself from her stupor.
<Julia> "Scarlet, kill," Julia orders, directing her dragon towards the huddle. Lumbering forward, Scarlet rears back to slam her tail hard into one of the ones hugging Rosemund!
<Julia> roll 1d20+25 tail slap
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+25 1,0tail slap --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{42}
<Julia> roll 2d6+18
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 2d6+18 --> 6,0[ 2d6=3 ]4,0{21}
<@El-Cideon> The devil grunts in obviously near-mortal pain, but stubbornly maintains hold on his prize!
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Julia and Friday
<Julia> Julia herself points at a different devil, holding up a defaced unholy symbol as she unmakes it.
<Julia> roll 1d20+18 SR destruction
<Rei-chan> 6,0Julia rolled :6,0 1d20+18 1,0SR destruction --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{35}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: SR passed
<Julia> OOC: DC 27 fort or dead
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 fort
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0fort --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{25}
<Julia> Meanwhile Friday remains on guard for attempts at boat-theft!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | Shandria (20) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = 3x barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> One of the devils crumbles to dust. Shandria watches in dismay, unmoving until one of the barbed devils barks at her: "Library rat get stabbing, or we tell everyone she afraid of mortals when we get home!" Shandria reluctantly trots over and stabs at Franceska, who was never that nice to her in the first place, albeit without much enthusiasm.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 longsword
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0longsword --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{21}
<Franceska> OOC: Will DC25 first
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{12}
* Franceska just glares at Shandria with all the hate brought on by Rosemund getting stabbed.
<@El-Cideon> But instead Shandria cries out in stark terror, dropping her weapon on the spot!
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | Shandria (20, FEARED) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = 3x barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Steph and Jill
<@El-Cideon> Jill swings over and over at Rosemund's attacker until it is, probably, dead.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+24+5 smite
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+24+5 1,0smite --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{46}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+19
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+19 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{34}
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+9 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{17}
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d6+8+16
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+8+16 --> 6,0[ 2d6=7 ]4,0{31}
<@El-Cideon> roll 2d6+8
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 2d6+8 --> 6,0[ 2d6=7 ]4,0{15}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | Shandria (20, FEARED) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = 2x barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund, with some effort, shrugs off the thorned corpse now surrounding her, shooting Jill a thankful glance.
<Steph> "How can you not be scared of us? Half of you are dead already!" exclaims Stephanie, as she rushes across to back up the giant!
<Steph> roll 1d20+29
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+29 --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{35}
<Steph> roll 1d20+27
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+27 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{45}
<Steph> roll 1d20+24
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+24 --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{32}
<Steph> roll 1d20+22
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+22 --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{37}
<Steph> roll 1d20+19
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+19 --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{29}
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d20+17 --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: all but the last hit
<Steph> roll 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6
<Steph> roll 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6
<Steph> roll 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=2 2d6=4 2d6=6 6d6=17 ]4,0{41}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=2 2d6=7 2d6=4 6d6=24 ]4,0{49}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+12+2d6+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 2d6=9 2d6=5 6d6=26 ]4,0{56}
<Steph> roll 1d4+9+2d6+6d6
<Steph> roll 1d4+9+2d6+6d6
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+9+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=4 2d6=3 6d6=14 ]4,0{30}
<Rei-chan> 6,0Steph rolled :6,0 1d4+9+2d6+6d6 --> 6,0[ 1d4=1 2d6=6 6d6=17 ]4,0{33}
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 on CHA-based checks for Good characters | Shandria (20, FEARED) > Steph = Jill (18) > Maeandar (16) > Alchmenozar (14) > Rosey = Alice (12) > Fran = barbed devil (7) > Scarlet (6) > Julia = Friday (3)'
<@El-Cideon> "It's that Infernal confidence," Jill guesses as another devil falls. "All they ever hear is how they're better than us. This is what happens."
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Maeandar
<Franceska> "You," Franceska vows, pointing at the cut-up corpse at Rosemund's feet. "I'll find your reincarnation and kill it slowly."
<Julia> Maeeandar remains on guard!
<@El-Cideon> "AND STAY OUT!" the giant roars as he thumps across the field to hit the remaining devil from behind.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+25+2
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+25+2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{43}
<@El-Cideon> roll 3d6+20
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3d6+20 --> 6,0[ 3d6=6 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund, somewhat shaken up, opts to try and zap the remaining devil from afar with holy light rather than racing after it.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 ranged touch
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+13 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{25}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+15 vs SR
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0vs SR --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{25}
<@El-Cideon> roll 5d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 5d8 --> 6,0[ 5d8=31 ]4,0{31}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 Alice
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+17 1,0Alice --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{21}
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 Alice
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+12 1,0Alice --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{23}
<@El-Cideon> Meanwhile, Alice swings twice with her silver sickle, but fails to penetrate the devil's bristly hide.
<@El-Cideon> OOC: Fran and remaining devil
* Franceska raises her hand, as a spike stabs into the lone devil from the ground. It should impale it, but she has other concerns, hurrying towards Rosemund.
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 ref
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0ref --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{34}
<Franceska> roll 10dd6 ref passed, alas
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 10dd6 1,0ref passed, alas --> 6,0[ 10d1=10 10d6=39 ]4,0{39}
<Franceska> roll 10d6 reroll if that's simpler
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 10d6 1,0reroll if that's simpler --> 6,0[ 10d6=45 ]4,0{45}
<@El-Cideon> OOC: it was, thanks. >.>
<@El-Cideon> The remaining devil curses blisteringly in Infernal and focuses to try and cast a spell--
<@El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16 concentration
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+16 1,0concentration --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{34}
<@El-Cideon> --and then vanishes from sight.
<@El-Cideon> OOC: free act
<Franceska> "Those nasty things," Franceska mutters, placing her hands on both sides of Rosemund's head and channeling all the healing power she has stored.
<Franceska> roll 4d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Franceska rolled :6,0 4d8 --> 6,0[ 4d8=26 ]4,0{26}
<@El-Cideon> Shandria is cringing in a defeated heap on the ground, clutching her head and trying very hard not to look at Franceska. All other combatants are slain or escaped. "Little shit," Alchmenozar swears after the departed devil. "I'd worry he'll be back with friends, but he'd have to get out of Carceri first."
<@El-Cideon> "I could do it myself, Franceska, but thank you very much," Rosemund says, acknowledging the gesture as meant.
<Franceska> "Well, you don't have to do it all on your own!"
<Steph> "I'm so sorry, Rosemund!" exclaims Stephanie, rushing over. "I'm always starting fights like this."
<Julia> "One more prisoner? Oh, does that mean the ones that we killed, they can't respawn back in Hell?" Julia wonders. Why on earth would any devil come here?
<@El-Cideon> He shrugs, hugely. "Beats me what happens to 'em if they die here. But he's not magicking himself home, the one that lived."
<@El-Cideon> Rosemund shakes her head, going on to patch up the rest of her wounds. "It is alright. They were asking for it, being that rude!"
<@El-Cideon> roll 3d10+21 more heals
<Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 3d10+21 1,0more heals --> 6,0[ 3d10=16 ]4,0{37}
<Steph> "Uh, it was less the rudeness and more..." Stephanie winces. "Uh, never mind." She turns back to Shandria, walking over and crouching next to her. "So, yeah! Problems solved, right?"
<Franceska> "Not to mention being devils," Franceska feels obliged to note. "They are failure and idiocy codified, I swear! Now, I promise I will learn better spells to dispatch them. Really, there is no shame in focusing a bit...."
<Julia> "I quite like this unmaking one," Julia says cheerfully, brandishing her defaced unholy symbol.
<@El-Cideon> Shandria looks up at Stephanie. "You've wrecked everything! Why did you have to do that?! I can't get home by myself." She stands up, pushes away from Stephanie and looks all around her in a cold fury.
<Steph> "Um, yeah, about that..." Stephanie rubs her head. "Isn't hell a bit shit? Why would you want to go there?"
<Franceska> "I don't believe I can quite manage it," Franceska admits. "I'm really styled more for mocking my enemies with their impending failure as I summon terrible things to kill them, or take them apart myself. But Stephanie is such a killjoy I must take some risks to kill things quicker than usual or feel dissatisfied. You know how that feels?"
<@El-Cideon> "Where else am I going to go?" she asks nastily.
<Steph> "Well... everyone there will think you're dead, so you could go anywhere and nobody will ever find or look for you?" Stephanie rubs her head. "I don't get it, everyone there hates everyone else and they're all up themselves. It's not even pleasant if you're successful because the weather's bad and there's all those screams. You can do better than that!"
<Julia> "I do, yes. The old enervations and tentacles just don't cut it anymore," Julia agrees.
<Franceska> "I was thinking of maybe spreading out into these terrible spells that affect entire towns," Franceska muses uncertainly. "They wouldn't do much, but it would look very impressive. And probably work as well as killing the first strong-seeming person we come across, but without the violence."
<Julia> "You have to make sure everyone in the town deserves it, though."
<@El-Cideon> "Oh, I had a steady job, why did I ahve to go and be ambitious?" Shandria laments, mostly to herself. "It was dull and I had no prospects whatsoever, but there are so many worse things I could be. And I'll probably be most of them if anybody finds out I messed everything up this badly!" She sniffs haughtily at Stephanie. "I don't know what else you expect me to do. Let's have someone pull you out of your comfortable life and drop you somewhere else and see how you get along! What do you do then, huh?"
<Franceska> "Oh yes! I suppose a human town might be wiped out by an avalanche or earthquake, so I should be careful about that."
<@El-Cideon> "I think that you could do whatever you want?" Rosemund points out, as though this should be obvious.
<Steph> "Well, uh, I never really had a comfortable life so I guess I can't understand your trouble," replies Stephanie. "What do you even want out of life, though?"
<@El-Cideon> "You don't have any idea how much trouble it was just to work up as far as I did!" Shandria points out to Rosemund. She gives both Rosemund and Stephanie a disdainful glare. "You two act like anyone can just do anything she likes at any time. The world doesn't work that way! If you're not at the top of the ladder, you're just around to be used by whoever is. You're just nothing, and if you're not going to work at advancing your position than you might as well just give up. I had a chance to be somebody and you ruined it. I don't even know what to do anymore!"
<Franceska> "Oh, do shut up. It's always whining with you, and just the tune changes! If you can't turn this to your advantage you weren't cut out for it, so just find someone to take care of you and meekly do everything they say!"
<Julia> "I think you'd be good at that," Julia volunteers helpfully.
<@El-Cideon> "I'm going to hazard a suggestion here," Jill says. "Maybe whoever killed your boss might prove a better role model. That's not a concept too far outside your experience, I take it."
<Steph> Stephanie idly tosses one of her knives back into her belt. "What'd you did with the spear I gave you, anyway? That thing was real power, you didn't give it away, did you?"
<Franceska> "They can actually become rings," Franceska says, demonstrating with her own. "The good ones are, at least."
<Steph> "Oh? Huh, yeah." Stephanie frowns. "We'd better get going, anyway. Hey, bigguns, do you know how to find the River Styx?" she asks, calling at the giant.
<Franceska> "Come on, Rosemund," Franceska says, turning away. "Whatever this failure decides is no concern of ours."
<@El-Cideon> "*Give* it away?" she asks incredulously. "Er, no, I still have it. Look, I don't know--that ship of yours, could it, maybe, get out of Carceri?" she asks hopefully.
<@El-Cideon> "South a ways," Alchmenozar says. "Can't miss it, shines right through the center of the grasslands. Mind your way, the razor grass cuts like a, well." He shrugs. "You taking this infernal trash with you?" He goes about cleaning his axe with an air that suggests he has definite uses for it if she stays around.
<Julia> "I don't know, didn't you have an exit of your own prepared?" Julia asks Shandria.
<@El-Cideon> "She killed it," she says, pointing to Stephanie with a downcast expression.
<Steph> "Not sorry." Stephanie snorts. "Well, I guess you can come. Though I suggest you forget about trying to make it in Hell, at least until you've toughened up a bit and can just go in there and kill a devil above your weight to make a statement."
<@El-Cideon> With as much pride as she can muster, Shandria deigns to allow herself to accompany the party, at least for now.
<@El-Cideon> ~