015: The floor is lava!

[Merc]

[19:54] <Luther> "Even though a rest back home would be lovely, I'll admit I'm curious about the dark portal," Luther notes thoughtfully, as he tries to make up his mind. "Hrm..."
[19:55] <Pavel> "Perhaps it will take us to the master of this place, SO I CAN SHOW HIM MY GREAT DISPLEASURE!"
[19:57] * Luther blinks. "You know, I'm even more tempted given that possibility."
[19:57] <Luther> "What of you, Kevamros?"
[19:58] <Kevamros> "I'm 100% expecting the way home to be a trap."
[19:59] * Pavel nods sagaciously. "The man has good instincts."
[20:00] <Kevamros> "So that knocks it down to two choices. Flip a coin?"
[20:01] <Luther> "I would think it knocks it down to just the one choice, the dark portal. Unless you wish to try and go through the audience? That could be an option, I suppose, and they -were- booing us needlessly."
[20:02] * Luther looks around for an easy way at the audience after thinking of that.
[20:02] <Kevamros> OOC: Oh, sorry, I read three there for some reason.
[20:02] <Pavel> OOC: Is the audience still present?
[20:03] <Kotono> The audience  has faded away, as noted before. It's dark all around you.
[20:03] <Luther> "Nope, that option seems to be gone too."
[20:03] <Pavel> "Hmm. I'd like to go in with a full repertoire of spells. Shall we take some time to recover?"
[20:04] <Kevamros> "Quite. I need some rest, as well. My ability to heal is quite limited."
[20:04] <Merc> "Well, we can take a rest before going through then. We did say we felt the way home was probably a trap at the moment."

[20:05] <Kotono> OOC: Going to rest then, y'all?
[20:05] <Luther> ooc: yes
[20:06] <Luther> ooc: Whomever is on watch duty watches the portals
[20:06] <Kotono> OOC: Doing anything or spending any spells before/while you do it, or just going to conk out?
[20:06] <Luther> ooc: if they start shrinking or whatever, we go through one
[20:06] <Pavel> OOC: I'm using Heward's Fortifying Bedroll first! Then Luther! Then Kev if he needs it!
[20:06] <Luther> ooc: I'm not spending any additional spells, though I'll switch a Lesser Restoration for a CLW if we rest enough.
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. More coming.
[20:09] <Kotono> roll 1d100+30
[20:09] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 61 > [d100=31]
[20:10] <Kotono> OOC: Rest passes uneventfully. Sort out healing and spelling.
[20:16] * Kevamros uses the wand to heal Luther!
[20:16] <Kevamros> roll 1d8+1 CLW/Luther
[20:16] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 7 > [d8=6]
[20:16] <Kevamros> roll 1d8+1 CLW/Luther
[20:16] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 3 > [d8=2]
[20:17] <Kevamros> roll 4d8+8 GMW/CCW
[20:17] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 30 > [d8=8,1,7,6]
[20:18] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, full HP. Any spell selection changes, Kev?
[20:18] <Kotono> OOC: Fantastic. Line coming.

[20:18] <Kotono> Rest. The portals remain when the party recovers, ready to go once more.
[20:18] <Kevamros> OOC: I swapped a Inflict Light Wounds for another Vision of Heaven.
[20:18] <Luther> "Well, time to go kill a slaad, I suppose. Ready, all?"
[20:18] <Kevamros> "Never."
[20:21] <Pavel> "NONSENSE! Let
[20:21] <Pavel> 's go."
[20:21] * Luther steps through the dark portal first
[20:21] * Kevamros follows.
[20:23] * Pavel also!
[20:23] <Kotono> The portal is dark. Your vision swims and whirls in it and then - gah! The three of you are each holding onto the last rung of a rope ladder, each on one 10ft apart. The ladders hang off the side of a massive galleon - that sails through the air! Far below are green fields and farmland, but yo'ure one slip away from plummeting tens of thousands of feet! The ladders are rocking back and forth as
[20:23] <Kotono> the ship sails through the clear air. OOC: Act y'all. Note that 1. Holding a grip is hard right now so doing something ASAP is good and 2. Spellcasting will be obviously tough here. Concentratoin checks plus a chance a spell with somatic components will cause you to fall.
[20:24] * Kevamros tires to climb up!
[20:25] * Luther also tries to climb up! With great care!
[20:25] * Pavel takes his time climbing, since he's small.
[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: Climb checks, y'all.
[20:26] <Pavel> roll 1d20-1 climb
[20:26] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=18]
[20:26] <Luther> roll d20-3 to fall to my doom
[20:26] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 2 > [d20=5]
[20:26] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+0+0
[20:26] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 10 > [d20=10]
[20:28] <Kotono> Pavel scurries right up to safety, over the railing of the ship. Kevamros is slower and careful about it, able to ascent. But Luther? Poor, helpless Luther? He fumbles his grip, rocking back and forth. As the others reach safety, Luther's grip goes, sending him plummeting down! OOC: You can react if you like, Luther, in case youhave anything relevant.
[20:30] * Luther pulls a bottle of wine and decides to drink it. Either someone will save him, probably at great sacrifice, as the pattern seems to go, or he'll die well drunk. Either way, fuck that slaad.
[20:31] <Kotono> As Luther falls, before the others can act? He winks and vanishes after falling a mere 30ft away, gone! OOC: It's worse than merely dying. It splits the party! Good luck with that. #evildunes, Merc.

[20:32] * Pavel has his hands raised to summon salvation when Luther vanishes.
[20:32] <Pavel> "...I CALL BULLSHIT!"
[20:32] <Kevamros> "Well... At least he's not dead... Yet?"
[20:33] * Pavel looks around. "Well, nothing for it now. Maybe we can turn this thing around. WHERE'S THE REIGNS ON THIS THING??"
[20:34] <Kevamros> "I believe ships have tillers or wheels..."
[20:34] <Kotono> Pavel turns arou-eeeeep! An absolute bear of a man is there, a giant scimitar in hand. He's dressed like a pirate, a duo of smaller pirates behind him. "Heya boys," he grins, missing teeth and the rest yellow-black. "We don't take kindly to stowaways here. Get 'em!"
[20:34] <Kotono> OOC: Init.
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 big pirate
[20:34] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 > [d20=6]
[20:34] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+1 Init
[20:34] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=19]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 normal pirate
[20:34] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 11 > [d20=9]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 normal pirate 2
[20:34] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d20=10]
[20:35] * Kotono changes topic to 'Kev(20)>NP2(12)>NP1(11)>Big Pirate(9)'
[20:35] <Pavel> roll 1d20+3
[20:35] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=19]
[20:37] * Kotono changes topic to 'Pavel(22)>Kev(20)>NP2(12)>NP1(11)>Big Pirate(9)'
[20:37] <Kotono> OOC: Open Pavel.
[20:37] <Pavel> "Good point. GET OFF MY SHIP." Pavel kindly encourages them, summoning fiendish unpleasantness.
[20:37] <Pavel> roll 1d3 fiendish apes
[20:37] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 2 > [d3=2]
[20:37] <Pavel> OOC: Concentration needed?
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC: No, he's flatfooted.
[20:38] <Pavel> Hawt
[20:38] <Pavel> OOC: tag
[20:40] * Pavel summons two apes, which appear on either side of the large man. They immediately begin to caress him seductively, though extremely roughly.
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+9
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+9
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+9
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+9
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=13]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=18]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=9]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=9]
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+4
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=15]
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d20+4
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 6 > [d20=2]
[20:40] <Pavel> OOC: Flanking bonus if it applies
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Everything but the six hits.
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d6+7
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d6+7
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d6+7
[20:40] <Pavel> roll 1d6+7
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 12 > [d6=5]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 9 > [d6=2]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 13 > [d6=6]
[20:40] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 12 > [d6=5]
[20:41] <Pavel> roll 1d6+4
[20:41] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 9 > [d6=5]
[20:42] * Kotono changes topic to 'Pavel(22)>Kev(20)>NP2(12)>NP1(11)'
[20:42] <Kotono> The big pirate is battered down, summoned apes beating him down. He cries out as he goes down, scimitar dropped as he's plummeled. OOC: Kev.
[20:43] * Pavel gestures to the other pirates. "You may surrender and live, if you like."
[20:44] * Kevamros calls upon the energy of his god and throws it forth to stop the large man-bear! OOC: Inhibit, will, SR, DC 17.
[20:44] <Pavel> OOC: Man-bear is dead
[20:44] <Kevamros> OOC: Damn it, I don't know why I thought he was just knocked down. Change target to NP 1
[20:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[20:45] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=16]
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: No joy, he just aced his bad save.
[20:45] <Kevamros> OOC: Of course, why wouldn't he?
[20:46] <Kotono> At this, the two normal pirates turn and run, screaming, "Monsters! Magic monsters" They run to nearby steps, hurrying down them. Around you is a typical ship's bridge, including a wheel. OOC: Withdrawl action, they're fleeing. Free act. Loot post.
[20:47] * Pavel chortles.
[20:48] <Kevamros> "Well, I'm sure they'll be back with the rest of the crew. Ambush for when they come back up, or do you want to just send your apes down after them?"
[20:49] * Pavel callously loots the oversized pirate, stripping him bare and taking everything. "Let's send the apes. See what happens." He turns to the apes and says in Infernal, "Go, kill anyone who attacks you." The apes scamper off, hooting as they leap belowdecks.
[20:50] <Kotono> He has some clothes and that's it. You can take them if you want, though. OOC: Loot post it if you do.
[20:50] <Pavel> Meanwhile, Pavel inspects the wheel with Detect Magic! OOC: I do.
[20:50] <Kotono> OOC: I'll deal with the pirates and apes on my end, since they're out of sight of the party. OOC: Magic, spellcraft.
[20:52] <Pavel> roll 1d20+18
[20:52] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=7]
[20:56] <Kotono> It's a magical flying ship. The magic is quite complex, but Pavel can tell the wheel controls the ship.
[20:58] <Pavel> OOC: Can I work it?
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: Sure, you can try.
[20:59] <Kevamros> "Think I should check below decks for anything interesting? With your apes causing chaos, I might be able to just stroll through."
[21:00] * Pavel siezes control of the wheel. "If you like. They won't last too long though, so if it's quiet, I'd stay up here. Or return."
[21:00] * Kevamros nods and heads down, keeping an ear out for suspicious silence.
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: #terror, Kev.

[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Make a caster level check, Pavel.
[21:03] <Pavel> roll 1d20+8
[21:03] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=17]
[21:04] <Kotono> Got it! Pavel feels his magic synch to the ship, control coming to him easily. He can fly it!
[21:06] * Pavel directs the ship to dow downward, following after Luther!
[21:12] <Kotono> Down the ship goes - and in that instant, reality shifts once more. OOC: Pausing you a moment. Kev's just a bit behind you since synching took some time.
[21:17] <Kotono> The ship plunges down - and suddenly vanishes when it hits 30ft below, leaving just Keva nd Pavel - who plummet a second before likewise vanishing. OOC: Moving you two into #evil shortly.

[Merc]

#terrorofdunes

[21:11] <Kotono> Downstairs Kev goes. It's fairly ship-like and unremarkable here on first glance. A few pirates are down on the ground, battered. Further down the hall, you can see doors thrown open. You can hear the sounds of fighting and pained cries.
[21:16] * Kevamros idly heads towards where he thinks the captain's quarters would be.
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:16] <Myannbot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=48 ]{48}
[21:17] <Kotono> Fortune is not with him - he wanders a bit before suddenly the ship lurches down, then - OOC: Pausing yo ua moment, then into #evil. You'll see the prompt.

[Merc]

#evildunes

[20:33] <Kotono> Huh. So that's what dying is like, apparently. Just sort of vanishing and ending up in a rocky outcropping. It smells like brimstone and the sky is fire-red. Blasted plains with rocky outcroppings stretch as far as the eye can see.
[20:36] * Luther raises the bottle of wine and finishes it off before devils have a chance to show up and start poking him with spears, submerging him in lava, and whatever else the Slaad thinks hell is like. Because he's positive he didn't go splat, so clearly he's still alive for now!
[20:38] <Kotono> Ah, getting a buzz is nice. It doesn't do much else for getting you around or solving your situation, though.
[20:39] * Luther looks around for any signs of life, or at least a high point that he can actually safely get up to. Unlike most high points that seem to involve falling.
[20:40] <Kotono> OOC: Spot check.
[20:41] <Luther> roll d20+1 bask in the magnificence that is my new and improved wisdom
[20:41] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=18]
[20:45] <Kotono> As Luther looks around, he sees it ahead. It rises out of the stone - a dark, steep cathedral. It looms over you as it rises higher, peaks scraping at the red sky.
[20:46] <Luther> Well, as the only place to go, he starts heading there! Once he reaches it, he'll start exploring it from the outside, examining the place first and then deciding on a plan of action past that.
[20:51] <Kotono> The windows are tinted red and show devils of all types. Nice artistry. There's only one entrance - the grand entryway with massively oversized doors.
[20:56] * Luther casts eagle's splendor on himself, then summons a spectral hand. A minor precaution, but being alone, it seems wise. Hopefully he won't have to summon any minions to help him out as well, and he'll hold off on that for the moment. Minor precautions done, he attempts to open the massive doors.
[20:56] <Luther> roll d4 spectral hand HP
[20:56] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 4 > [d4=4]
[20:58] <Kotono> OOC: how much oomph can the hand move?
[21:00] <Luther> ooc: none, as far as I know. It's just me trying to open the doors. The spectral hand's just floating around me at the moment.
[21:04] <Kotono> The door is opened with a long, gentle screetch. Ahead is darkness, a church shrouded in shadows. There's barely enough light to see anything, all cast in shadows thicker than cobwebs. Pews, an altar, the whole classical look. What little light comes in fron the stained glass windows is a deep, ugly red.
[21:05] * Luther detects for magic as he examines the inside of the cathedral.
[21:12] <Luther> roll d20+16 spellcraft
[21:12] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=2]
[21:12] <Kotono> There's magic but he can't analyze it.
[21:12] <Luther> Can I at least detect where it's concentrated/coming from?
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: It's coming from everywhere. The cathedral is a magical hoted.
[21:15] <Kotono> OOC: Hotbed.
[21:17] <Luther> "Well isn't this just ominous?" Luther mutters. OOC: Can I try to determine the magic again, or is the failure all I can get?
[21:17] <Kotono> As Luther says that, there's a sudden loud CRASH as Pavel and Kevamros fall before him, head first down. That looks painful!
[21:17] <Kotono> roll 1d6 damage to both of them
[21:17] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 5 > [d6=5]

[21:18] * Luther blinks. "Did you guys get tossed from the ship? Seemed like you'd made it up top."
[21:19] <Luther> "Good to see you again though, I suppose?"
[21:19] * Pavel bounces off of his noggin, rolling onto the ground. He blinks. "Wha-who-WHERE'S MY SHIP!?
[21:19] <Pavel> "
[21:19] <Kevamros> "We did. I was looking for the captain's cabin when I was... suddenly here. It's good that you're alive."
[21:20] <Luther> "Not sure where here is. Nothing but barren land outside and a red sky. Lots of magic in this cathedral, hadn't had a chance to decypher what kind when you two dropped in," Luther explains, catching up the other two on the current situation.
[21:21] * Pavel stands, face etched with RIGHTEOUS FURY."THIS IS POOR SPORTSMANSHIP! I TOOK THAT SHIP FAIRLY!"
[21:24] <Luther> "I'm sure we'll find a way to get it back before we get out of here, Pa..." Luther pauses and thinks about it momentarily before he has a lit lamp moment and he finishes with, "Pablo."
[21:25] * Pavel turns slowly to Luther. "...who is Pablo?"
[21:26] <Kotono> Light stretches ahead. You can see it - the altar has a scroll nailed to it. You can't read it from here, though.
[21:27] <Luther> "Err, Pavel. I meant Pavel."
[21:27] <Luther> "...it is Pavel, right?"
[21:28] * Pavel narrows his eyes at Luther. "Yes." He stalks off toward the altar, a flame igniting in his hand to provide light. OOC: Produce Flame SLA
[21:31] <Kotono> Lights are produced. Going closer, the party and read the scroll. It says, "Twice chosen Hell. Offer the remedy or drown in lava."
[21:33] <Luther> "A remedy might be not to give us climbing challenges? I think that'd be a lovely remedy. Somehow I don't think that's what the slaad is asking though."
[21:33] <Luther> "A puzzle then?"
[21:35] <Pavel> "A remedy for WHAT?!"
[21:35] <Luther> "Our lack of climbing gear."
[21:35] <Kevamros> OOC: Any Knowledges help here?
[21:36] <Kevamros> "Or climbing skill."
[21:36] <Luther> "Yes, that goes without saying."
[21:36] <Luther> "I'm a nobleman, what does the slaad expect out of me, really?"
[21:38] <Kevamros> "I'm mostly a scholar."
[21:42] <Pavel> "I'm mostly a scholar when I'm not also ON FIRE."
[21:43] <Kotono> OOC: None relevant, Kev.
[21:44] * Luther looks around the cathedral to see if anything's changed now that they've picked up the scroll.
[21:46] <Kevamros> "The remedy for choosing hell? Pick heaven instead?"
[21:47] <Kotono> Looking out, you can see that the ground outside is now lava. That can't be good.
[21:47] * Pavel picks up the scroll, searching all around.
[21:48] <Pavel> roll 1d20+18 search?
[21:48] <Serith> Pavel roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=2]
[21:49] <Luther> "Well, everything outside is lava. I suspect the lava will eventually end up in here and kill us, so if anybody has any ideas on the trick to this puzzle, that would be great."
[21:50] <Kevamros> "A way to stop lava? Water maybe? Turn it into stone?"
[21:51] <Luther> "Obsidian, actually. But no, not enough water for that, I imagine."
[21:51] * Luther tries to determine the magic inside of the cathedral again, focusing on how it might relate to the scroll's message
[21:51] <Luther> roll d20+16 spellcraft
[21:52] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=14]
[21:52] <Pavel> "Maybe it's not a remedy for the lava. Maybe it's a disease."