A Faraway Victory

[Ebiris]

"Might call for Jessica to do some scouting so we know what we're up against then," Alicia says. "Lets go find her?"

[Anastasia]

Jessica is found training. Before her is a mountain lake, clean and clear. Leaves and lillipads float on it, Jessica leaping from one to one, not disturbing the water at all. She moves like smoke and shadows, often little more than a blur.

[Ebiris]

Alicia watches a little, admiring the fluid economy of motion her sister presents with her nimble jumps and dashes. She knows Jessica's sharp enough to have noticed her arrival, so she doesn't disturb her focus and instead waits for Jessica to acknowledge her or come over to where she's standing at the lakeside.

[Anastasia]

Woosh! Jessica's final leap is straight up, breaking apart into shadow and smoke, flowing to your side and reforming. "Sister," she greets, wiping her brow clean of sweat, "This isn't you volunteering to watch the kids, is it?"

[Ebiris]

"I can take a hint," she says lightly. "In fact I have a favour to ask, but I can watch the children while you carry it out. Sharess has given us the lead on a proxy we can use for Zariel - one of Malcanthet's has set herself up with a fortress on Limbo. I need someone to scout it out before committing to an attack."

[Anastasia]

"What sort of threats? Any knowledge of it yet, sister?" Jessica asks right back.

[Ebiris]

Power stirs around Alicia for a moment as she exerts herself to learn about the radiant sister in charge of the operation, before she tells Jessica what Sharess shared to Syala.

Quick K:Planes check on Radiant Sister Jade.

Taking 10 for 93 using greater heroism/divine insight/guidance of the avatar.

[Anastasia]

Radiant Sister Jade is a powerful false cleric - an ability all Lilitu have. She specializes in manipulation magic, charming and sheer force when those fail. She's also an accomplished summoner and sneak fighter aside - watch out for fighting her when she can really lay into you or when you're unguarded.

She's vain, arrogant but more perceptive than the average Radiant Sister. She has plenty of ambition and tries to live up to all of it, even if it falls apart.

[Ebiris]

"We don't know much about the physical structure or magical defences, that's what you're going in to find out for us," Alicia says. "But we know she has a slaad cult, mutant githzerai, earth elementals, and a pair of black dragons for defenders. Jade herself is a powerful summoner and assassin - she fights a lot like you, and her senses are sharp as well so don't count on being able to slip by unnoticed if you get too close to her."

[Anastasia]

"Too bad," Jessica murmurs, "I'll be cautious, sister. Anything else?"

[Ebiris]

"I'm afraid not. It's freshly built so other than Sharess's remote observation you'll be our first real look at the place. Still, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if she had an anarch available so be careful of getting caught out by terrain manipulation."

[Anastasia]

A nod and Jessica is off.

At the same time, 'Well done, Alicia,' Mystra's voice is in your mind. 'Marielle is before me. She will make a graceful tulani, I think.'

[Ebiris]

Alicia smiles at the news from Mystra and replies back. 'I'm pleased you share my thoughts on her potential. Even skipping intermediate forms, she's earned that stature and will continue doing you proud.'

[Anastasia]

Quick OOC interlude: You mentioned a build for her. What exactly where you thinking here?

[Ebiris]

Just go straight tulani on one side - I presume we don't worry about level adjustment here and just apply outsider hd straight down the line like Cresiel or Syala do? Then I'm thinking warmage with force missile mage specialist and maybe argent savant PrCs for a focus on force direct damage like magic missile and sandalphon's spells.