Warming back up (Afina)

[Ebiris]

If Simmer needs flight Afina will use a limited wish to give her Overland Flight, speed 40 average manoeuvrability for 23 hours. This gives her 50% spell failure for the next hour.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+31 Simmer spot
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+6, aiding Afina Crystal
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+32 Hope
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 37 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 20 > [d100=20]

You wander for several hours, getting an idea of the terrain. The local terrain continues in the same manner. This isn't anything new - great cauldrons of lava frothing against stony shores, trees of ashen rock rising up towards the bonfire sky and the constant crack-hiss of flames. It continues like this with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, the local fauna is considerable. There are large lizards who bask on the stone islands and roll in the ash, orange-red and disinterested in the party. Sparrows of flame fly in the skies and nest in the stone trees. They sing sweet songs that resemble the bubbling of boiling water. The clouds weep a rain of embers that covers all in gray-white grit, which is blown away as winds pick up.

It is in this that you finally come on something interesting. Afina is flying when she spots a ripple far ahead. An odd waver in the air, a blue tint to it. It's a few hundred feet away, wavering to her keen eyes.

[Ebiris]

"Wait here, I think I see something," Afina tells her companions, flying low to make use of natural cover to occlude her approach as she casts detect magic and approaches within 60 feet of the ripple to give it a better look.


[18:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 hide note darkstalker feat
[18:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 46 > [d20=5]
[18:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 spellcraft
[18:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=10]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208/208, greater mage armour (CL 23) and moment of prescience (CL 23).
AC 60 (touch 46, flat footed 60), spell resistance 38, immunity to fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/9/9/8/9/8/8/7/6/7

[Anastasia]

Conditions: Fire dominant (3d10 fire damage a round), fire enhancement (fire spells and SLAs are maximized and enlarged as appropriate), water impeded (water spells are impeded, DC is 15 + spell level.

Crystal comes to a stop, a hand on Hope's neck stopping the fairy dragon. Simmer just hovers where she is, "Alright," she murmurs, settling in to wait.

Studying the ripple from a save spot behind a stone tree, Afina can tell it's a wide area invisibility spell. Simple but impressive in scope, far more area covered than a mere second circle spell. Further, it's specially enchanted to be effective against outsiders with the fire subtype or any elemental. These creatures can't see it with anything short of true seeing. However, Afina's sharp eyes were able to notice the subtle shifting of the spells wavering around each other. On such a large scale, the wavering is unusually large.

[Ebiris]

Could this be the slave ranch? She'd honestly expect it to be more out in the open given the dominant ethos on Fire, but then again she does know it only takes a few people with the right stuff to make some serious trouble for an entrenched evil. Flying back to Simmer and Crystal she relays her findings, "It's a wide scale invisibility field, tailored to block out Fire creatures in particular... thinking about it, didn't that devil outside of Gathgorian's fortress use something similar? Food for thought," she hums. "I'm going to try sneaking past it to see what's on the other side without bringing it down - it doesn't seem to be alarmed, but be ready to charge in if you hear a racket?"

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208/208, greater mage armour (CL 23) and moment of prescience (CL 23).
AC 60 (touch 46, flat footed 60), spell resistance 38, immunity to fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/9/9/8/9/8/8/7/6/7

[Anastasia]

Crystal nods, "Of course. I'll be ready the moment you need it, should your efforts go awry."

Simmer merely smiles and looks on, "Save a few for me, don't hog all the burning to yourself."

[Ebiris]

Calling on her rarely used invisiblity, Afina once more sneaks back towards the shimmering, and this time doesn't stop until she's gone past the area warded. Not too far, just enough to see what's on the other side.

[Anastasia]

On passing beyond the shimmering, Afina finds herself at the front gate of a massive, fenced ranch. It stretches quite a ways in all direction, the lava pools here giving way to cooled rock. It's much cooler here, akin to a hot day on the Prime Material. There are about a dozen fenced in areas, each one with a few hundred creatures wandering there. They wear rags and simply stumble about, glassy eyed and unresponsive. Each one has a pair of efreeti watching over them, usually leaning against the wood fence. The efreeti are armed with scimitars and wear chain mail, many with conical helmets to go with it.

Beyond all of that is a large farmhouse in the classical style. It's as if someone took a farmhouse from the Prime Material and put it here. There's also a red and white painted stable to the side.

[Ebiris]

And there it is! Afina holds back on the urge to go infiltrate that house, since she doesn't want to deprive Simmer and Crystal of their fun, so she flies back to her fellow fey. "It's the ranch alright," she says, appearing out of thin air before the two. "Thousands of slaves and maybe two dozen efreeti out in the open, and surely more inside the buildings I saw there." Nothing they can't handle of course, unless they happen to be legendary genies, which she doubts for those who spend their days watching over dispirited and either drugged or enchanted slaves. "The interior keeps the conditions of Fire away as well - the slaves don't look like locals, so be careful if you throw any dispels around," she warns. Though with that many getting them all out of here even with a gate is going to be tricky, they can call for further help from Aurora if needed. "Do either of you have any preparations to make before attacking? Do them now," she puts that into action herself, casting a few beneficial spells for the impending battle.

Casting Shield and Greater Heroism

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), and greater heroism (CL 23) .
AC 64 (touch 46, flat footed 64), spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/8/9/8/9/8/7/7/6/7

[Anastasia]

"Slavers," Crystal scowls, readying her sword. "Queen of Stars, aid me in turning vanquishing the nightmare ahead of us." She bows her head in prayer and says that in a calm, clear voice. Holy light expands around her and Hope like a nova, dimming the red flames around you with an explosion of light. "There will be justice today." It is almost painful to look at Crystal now, more angel of light than pixie.

Crystal casts barkskin herself and shares it with Hope through share spells. That's an effective +2 natural AC for her and +5 for Hope. She then follows up with righteous fury on herself and Hope for +4 sacred to Strength and 50 temp HP for both of them. Then she follows up with Inner Beauty for +4 sacred Dex and Cha for both of them.

Meanwhile, Simmer considers and then shakes her head. "I'll be fine." Still, she pauses to murmur a few words, a disc of force surrounding her.

Shield on Simmer for +4 AC.

Go ahead and let them on, Afina.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 36, Hit+37
Hope: 484+50/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma.

[Ebiris]

Leading her friends back towards the distortion, Afina brazenly flies above the ranch's outer pens with Hywelbane II drawn and at the ready, the tiny silver blade gleaming with holy potency that's all the same drowned out by the aura Crystal is generating. "Slavers and collaborators with the Pit, know that your actions have not gone unnoticed!" she calls out in a voice far too cutesy sounding for these kinds of declarations. "Your enterprise here is henceforth terminated, in Lifasa's name! Lay down your arms and surrender, you will receive no further warnings!"

Not that she expects for a moment that they'll surrender, but it's important to let them know who they're dealing with. She's fully prepared to start gutting genies at the first sign of resistance.

Casting a searing fires of purity just before crossing through

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), fires of purity (CL 23).
AC 64 (touch 46, flat footed 64), spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/8/9/8/9/8/7/6/6/7

[Anastasia]

Crystal follows, Hope growling low as she follows right behind Afina. Simmer takes up the rear, "One and only chance," she calls in Ignan, "Give me a reason to burn you alive."

The various slaves don't even react to it. They just stare about, seeing everything and nothing with those far away gazes. The various efreeti look up at this declaration, laughter erupting as they draw blades, taking to the air to rush to the party. "Women dare?" One jeers, while another leers with eyes like coal, "Little pixies playing at hero?"

Init here, zero chance of either side surprising the others. More info will be in the post that sums up initiative.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Simmer: 278/278 - Shield (+4 AC). 1 cantrip, 1st level and 1 7th level charge spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 44.
Crystal: 223+50/223 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22, Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. 1 2nd level ranger spell spent. 1 3rd level paladin spell spent, 1 5th level paladin spell spent. CHANGED STATS: AC 36, Hit+37, damage +2 more. +2 fort/will, +4 ref.
Hope: 484+50/484 - Energy Immunity (Fire), CL 22. Barkskin (+5 natural AC), CL 18th. Righteous Fury (+50 temp HP/+4 sacred Strength), CL 18th. Inner Beauty (+4 sacred Dexterity and Charisma), CL 18th. Buffs: +5 AC, +4 Strength/Dexterity/Charisma. CHANGED STATS: AC 58, Hit+39, damage+2, ref+2.

[Ebiris]

[21:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+26 init
[21:11] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 35 > [d20=9]

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+10 Simmer
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 11 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+13 Crystal
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 29 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+16 Hope
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+10 efreeti gang
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=20]

Initiative order is: Afina (35) > Efreeti Gang (30) > Crystal (29) > Hope (27) > Simmer (11)

Open Afina.

The efreeti are gathering - they're spread out right now, but they seem to be rallying approximately 50ft ahead and 10ft above the party. There's space in all directions to work with and no sign of noise from the farmhouse, which is 500ft or so away.

[Ebiris]

Unfortunately any wide area effect spells will endanger the slaves, so Afina can't really just lay waste to the efreeti as a collective. That just means she'll have to take a bit more of her time with things. Hasting herself and her allies as a matter of course, she answers their laughter with her blade, scything through two of the nearest ones before flying straight up and above their assembly point!


[21:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49 bounding assault assuming evil outsiders #1
[21:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 50 > [d20=1]
[21:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+49 bounding assault assuming evil outsiders #2
[21:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 67 > [d20=18]
[21:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: -5 on that last one
[21:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+22+22+2d6+2d6+5d6+2d6 fire/holy/bane/skirmish/swift
[21:23] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 91 > [d4=2][d6=4,2,6,6,2,2,5,5,4,4,5]

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina 208+20/208, greater mage armour (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23), shield (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), fires of purity (CL 23), haste (CL 23).
AC 65 (touch 47, flat footed 65), 50% miss chance (applies to attacks and single target spells), spell resistance 38, immunity to fear, fire, disease, and water
Spell charges remaining: 4/8/9/7/9/8/7/6/6/7