Finding Calley

[Anastasia]

This is a fairly unusual edge case, one that I don't think either spell adequately covers. So understand that we're basically feeling out and odd interaction. It's worth noting that neither spell explicitly counters the other, so it comes down to DM judgment. Okay? Okay.

First of all, they're spells of an equal level (bard 6 of hindsight aside). So neither spell has an innate advantage based on that. They're both powerhouses at what they do.

Secondly, time stop offers a possible defense against divinations. To quote: 'You are undetectable while time stop lasts.'I'm of the opinion this isn't meant to be read broadly as much as a catch all to prevent certain things from detecting you while in a time stop. For example, if you passed a trap that magically scanned for people while in time stop, it wouldn't detect you during it. So no passing by something and suddenly the trap springs once time stop ends. This strikes me as a good clause for time stop but one that I don't feel should extend after the fact. I view it more as a transactional protection during the spell, rather than anything encompassing, which feels beyond the power of the spell.

Thirdly, hindsight simply shows you what happened instantaneously, without regards for time or perception. The speed of events isn't automatically germane to the spell's effectiveness. I'm not sure this is a reasonable conclusion to reach from this, but I do think it's a defensible one and one I'm willing to concede as possible.

Finally, I'm not sure either feels automatic to me. I don't have a strong gutshot to this, so I'm going to default to this. Time stop's already massively powerful, and do I want to extend its power with a broad reading of how it works? Not really. One aspect of DMing balance is reading extremely powerful spells and abilities narrowly (but fairly) while less powerful abilities are given more latitude and consideration. I tend to read time stop narrowly for that reason and am loathe to give it further abilities above and beyond what it already offers.

So I'm going to rule that hindsight wins here. HOWEVER, the jerks are under mind blank. Safe to imagine for this sort of prepared group, right? HOWEVER again, that doesn't stop the divination, but merely hides them from it. So give me a Perception check, Moore.

[Nephrite]

That is all completely fair and I do not have any objections to your interpretations. Take 10 for 69.

[Anastasia]

I think it was a situation where either interpretation was reasonable.

You see the battle - one sided, no images of the enemies. Warded. Guh. You begin to frown but you notice it. Blood splashes show, hunks of the worm torn away showing as well. At the end of the battle - that blurry moment shows little, but you notice something. A few new bloodstains, on the stairs going up.

[Nephrite]

"They went upstairs!" Moore calls out. "For now, finish that worm and we'll get Kaja back in one piece before we go after them."

[Anastasia]

Jetina nods, going over to heal Kaja, "They're really strong," she says, as Kaja pants for air, grimacing.

Xandra shakes her head, "Cresiel, you knew that fiend?" she says, going to slice down the worm in the meantime.

"Ebrek, the Vanquisher of Lagas," Cresiel goes to stand by the stairs, guarding them. "A former mortal who doomed much of a world to tyranny, not seen for eons once Asmodeus recruited him. We face formidable foes."

"Nasir is a Commander of the Order of the Burning Heart, the highest rank below ranks for emirs only, such as Knight Commander. Any Commander is skilled and powerful, as well as politically connected," Xandra offers, "I know not the woman, but she is sworn to the Fourth Hell."

[Nephrite]

"I'd rather not leave at this point, but they may have gone to collect more allies." Moore says with a huff. "Although they all seem arrogant enough that they may simply not think it's necessary."

[Anastasia]

"I say..." Kaja coughs as the spell completes, body regenerating, "We finish them now, or we'll have to face them again."

"I agree," Jetina says, "I think we can outlast them now that the worm's out of the picture."

[Nephrite]

Just to be clear, Kaja's face is also back to face-ness and not mulched faceness, correct?

Moore nods.

"All right, in that case, if they want to use magic to defend themselves, we'll just redo everything so we can fight them at our completely full strength." Moore says.

He's going to redo all the songs so there's no chance of them running out at a bad time, since by now we're at least near the end of their durations.

So this means a refresh of:

Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics

He is also going to use his Horn of Resilience -- this gives everyone who is a target of Inspire Greatness 100 temporary HP. Eat shit and die, you disfigured asshole.

On top of that, he's throwing in Inspirational Boost and his Belt to give everyone an extra +3 bonus on Inspire Courage from what it normally does.

Redo Haste on everyone...
He's also going to throw up Recitation for +2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.

Let's have Jetina toss in a Mass Freedom of Movement and Mass Death Ward.

Freedom of Movement is: Grants a +15 to CMD vs grapples I believe?
Death Ward: Immunity to energy drain and negative energy.

So, to clarify:

In total:

Attack: +40
Weapon damage: +29
AC: +18 (4 sacred, 12 dodge), 2 luck)
Saving throws: +18 (4 sacred, 12 morale, 2 luck)

Everyone gets 100 Temporary HP

New spells (on everyone):

Freedom of Movement (+15 CMD to grapples)
Recitation (+2 luck attacks, saves, AC)
Death Ward (Immunity to negative energy and energy drain)

I think that does it, since everyone still has Fortunate Fate on them.

[Anastasia]

His face is restored, yes. Anything you want anyone else to toss on?

[Nephrite]

I think we're good, I don't see any of Jetina's other spells that will help much.

[Anastasia]

"Let's go finish this," Jetina says, "Before they escape and hurt anyone else."

[spoiler]

+6 str/con, +4 attack/damage, improved crit, +15 comfirmation.

Cresiel
HP: 700+100 (24 vile)/700 (fast healing 11, regeneration 17) 2 vile Charisma damage
Spells Active: Haste (CL30), Surge of Hope (CL30), Celestial Valor (CL31) Mass Energy Immunity (Fire) (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL31), Fortunate Fate (CL31), Divine Agility (CL31)
Bonuses: +18 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves vs charm/fear, +8 attack rolls, +3 fort saves, +12 morale to saves, +12 dodge to AC, fast healing 11, +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks on full attack, +1 ref, movement speed boost, +4 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, immunity to fear, +8 sacred vs negative emotion, +4 sacred attack rolls, armor class, saving throws, weapon damage rolls, immunity to fire, +10 enhancement agility.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Burst of Glory, Divine Agility,

Xandra
HP: 521+100/521 (fast healing 11)
Spells Active: Haste (CL30), Surge of Hope (CL30), Celestial Valor (CL31) Mass Energy Immunity (Fire) (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL31), Fortunate Fate (CL31), Jetina's Deathlessness (CL31)
Bonuses: +18 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves vs charm/fear, +8 attack rolls, +3 fort saves, +12 morale to saves, +12 dodge to AC, fast healing 11, +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks on full attack, +1 ref, movement speed boost, +4 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, immunity to fear, +8 sacred vs negative emotion, +4 sacred attack rolls, armor class, saving throws, weapon damage rolls, immunity to fire, immune to negative energy, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, poison, paralysis and stunning, half of damage is nonlethal damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Kaja
HP: 515+100/515 (fast healing 11), muted, minus left leg, unable to act due to pain.
Spells Active: Haste (CL30), Surge of Hope (CL30), Celestial Valor (CL31) Mass Energy Immunity (Fire) (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL31), Fortunate Fate (CL31), Jetina's Deathlessness (CL31)
Bonuses: +18 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves vs charm/fear, +8 attack rolls, +3 fort saves, +12 morale to saves, +12 dodge to AC, fast healing 11, +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks on full attack, +1 ref, movement speed boost, +4 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, immunity to fear, +8 sacred vs negative emotion, +4 sacred attack rolls, armor class, saving throws, weapon damage rolls, immunity to fire, immune to negative energy, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, poison, paralysis and stunning, half of damage is nonlethal damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 dervish dance

Jetina
HP: 478+100/478 (fast healing 11)
Spells Active: Haste (CL30), Surge of Hope (CL30), Celestial Valor (CL31) Mass Energy Immunity (Fire) (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL31), Fortunate Fate (CL31)
Bonuses: +18 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves vs charm/fear, +8 attack rolls, +3 fort saves, +12 morale to saves, +12 dodge to AC, fast healing 11, +1 attack rolls, +1 attacks on full attack, +1 ref, movement speed boost, +4 morale attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, ability checks, skill checks, immunity to fear, +8 sacred vs negative emotion, +4 sacred attack rolls, armor class, saving throws, weapon damage rolls, immunity to fire, immune to negative energy, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, poison, paralysis and stunning, half of damage is nonlethal damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

In total:

+6 str/con, +4 attack/damage, improved crit, +15 comfirmation.

Attack: +40
Weapon damage: +29
AC: +18 (4 sacred, 12 dodge), 2 luck)
Saving throws: +18 (4 sacred, 12 morale, 2 luck)

Everyone gets 100 Temporary HP

New spells (on everyone):

Freedom of Movement (+15 CMD to grapples)
Recitation (+2 luck attacks, saves, AC)
Death Ward (Immunity to negative energy and energy drain)

[Nephrite]

Moore nods and rushes up the stairs after the blood!

[Anastasia]

You go up the stairs - and find it blocked midway with solid stone, barring the way any further.

"Shall I," Cresiel asks, stepping forward, hammer at the ready.

[Nephrite]

"I've got this." Moore says, with a flick of his wrist.

Stone Shape, let's get this out of the way! ...Actually, does that even work? It should, shouldn't it...?

[Anastasia]

No reason why not. How are you altering the stone?