Wrap up (Various)

[Ebiris]

"I think we're clear," Afina says once she's caught up. "Can you be healed while we're here, Jaela?" she asks, since those jagged stumps on her back do not look pleasant.

[Anastasia]

"I can do it," Mirajane says, "But I'll have to ask the Triune to support me and it'll leave me weak for a time after."

[Corwin]

"Let's find a spot to settle down, first," Jaela voices. "Also, we kinda need to decide what to do here. We could take the elemental down with attrition, or even by risking our lives and fighting it out, but is that what we're supposed to accomplish, Afina?"

[Ebiris]

"No, killing a primal elemental isn't a good thing under any normal circumstances," Afina says. "I never saw any ledges on the way down so we'll have to fly all the way back up to that ledge we started on. From there lets try just following the path after all? Maybe we'll find more wisdom that way - simply fighting guardians isn't why I'm here."

[Corwin]

"Sounds like a plan," Jaela agrees.

[Anastasia]

Your trip up takes about 45 minutes or so. The party returns to the platform and Hanna puts Jaela down - a bit of a shame, since she's really rather warm, unlike everything else here. She then stretches, "I think we might've had a chance if we'd gone all out, but the risk was too high. I don't think any of us would have survived if we fell into that water."

"A temporary setback and humiliation," Mirajane remarks, "Nothing more, fortunately."

"That's still something to avoid. Also, we aren't sure where exactly Afina will reform if she's killed now. Let's not risk that any of the elemental planes count for her." Hanna says, looking to her. "If you do find out, let me know."

[Corwin]

Since the intent was to use Miracle for regeneration as soon as we cleared the elemental, if Mirajane is shy I would've done it myself.

"What's so humiliating about it?" Jaela asks curiously. "We chose to retreat because fighting was meaningless. There's no shame in recognizing that."

[Ebiris]

"Fire seems to be my native plane as far as spells like planar bubble go," Afina answers. "And there's no shame in retreating from a superior foe. The elemental had surprise and the terrain advantage against us, while we're handicapping ourselves by forgoing equipment and in my case my strongest element."

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 215+2/215, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24), fortunate fate (CL 24), control temperature (CL 24)
AC 69, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
Spell charges: 6/7/9/6/8/6/3/8/7/8/4/0

Init: +24
Attack: ice sword +39 (1d4+10 +5d6 skirmish +2d6 swift +1d6 sudden strike)
Saves: Fort: +17 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +29, Will: +25

[Anastasia]

"I meant if we fell in the water and died," Mirajane says, "Since we'd reform in Arvandor or the Court of Stars."

Okay, assume Mirajane regenerated you already. I'll adjust her sheet.

[Corwin]

"Oh, right. I don't die anymore," Jaela muses. "I wonder how it'd go." She shakes her head. "Let's try the path of wisdom, now? And Mirajane, if you think something's dangerous you need to let us know earlier so we can actually act upon that knowledge, alright? We're not seers."

[Anastasia]

"I told you it was dangerous," Mirajane says, "But that wasn't being a seer, that was common sense. Most creatures who might make it here can fly. Why wouldn't they take the shortcut unless you were meant to or it was dangerous?"

[Corwin]

"I meant later, with your warning about the water," Jaela clarifies, starting to walk carefully down the path.

[Ebiris]

"I was expecting an optional challenge with a little something in reward for those willing to take a chance on forging their own path, not a shortcut right to the end," Afina admits, it just felt thematically appropriate. "But we're all alive and a little wiser for it, so lets see what's along the intended path," she says, following the trail around the U platform.

[Anastasia]

"I warned you when I knew," Mirajane says, "Mother, if I'd known earlier, I would have said something."

Hanna shakes her head, "Mistakes were made, but we're alive to learn from them."

[Corwin]

Jaela heads down the path, saying with a shrug, "Any fight you walk away from...."