Crushed Slavers

[Anastasia]

It reads as follows.

Seira, forgive me if I disregard the normal forms and titles for this letter and speak to the essence of matters. Our operations are a success, though not without losses. We have smashed several of our targets and caused damage to others; there are losses but we consider this phase of the operation a success. Operations to retrieve captured agents are proceeding as well as to recover the souls of slain agents.

However, our efforts are not free of complications. Several attacks on our own holdings launched once our attacks were underway, various reprisals against known holdings of Mount Celestia's as well assassinations (both successful and not). Many were not openly efreet operations, though circumstantial evidence and timing suggests various catspaws were used. I am not aware if you have suffered the same, though your smaller profile (for now!) and your base of strength being safe in Balmuria leads me to believe you would be less afflicted. Please let me know about any possible reprisals.

Depending on the official response from the efreet, future letters and coordination may come from one of the Authorities of Celestia or the Hebdomad.

May the light of Chronias protect and guide you.

Romiel.

[Corwin]

She had expected this, and made to increase security and vigilance. If the Hebdomad take over the operation, however, would it functionally change anything? Perhaps a sign of the conflict expanding, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. If someone is being hurt, better the champions trained for combat than innocents enslaved by the efreet and their allies.

Since Romiel is not expecting an immediate response, Seira will consider one after taking Donald up on his offer of hunting down Sharrans.

[Anastasia]

"So what did it say?" Donald asks, "Everything good?"

[Corwin]

"Mixed bag," Seira responds, putting the letter away. "Celestia's interests were hit, likely by efreet proxies. Things might be escalating."

[Anastasia]

"So how'd they hit us?" Donald ventures, "They know we're involved in this, and for that matter, did they attack Aurora?"

[Corwin]

"I would rather not go into this," Seira tells Donald. "We've raised awareness, alerted our allies and interests, and increased our own security. That is all we can do at this point, until it's time to act again or Celestia asks for help in busting out their agents. We can no more micromanage their affairs than we can Aurora's, although I've already dispatched Kascha and Lagann over to reinforce it, the latter on a more permanent basis. Do you have other suggestions for us to act upon, or can we bust the Sharrans?"

[Anastasia]

Donald just lets it go at that.

Okay, so you're getting Donald, Elle and Sanzha together. Am I forgetting anyone?

[Corwin]

I was thinking Amaryl as well, although we don't all have to go do the same thing. Let's gather the five of us together and get a brief on our target.

[Anastasia]

"We do have a target."

This is what Donald says once all of you are together. "There's murmurings of a Sharran shadow-base in Vacuum. We go in protected, we find it and we smash it. Now we have more means than usual to find it, since I dug up a lead on it." He's standing before all of you deep in your palace, going on. "A small band of hermits who are by and large crazed, but offer aid to travelers who pass by there. According to one of my sources who stumbled on them, they've mentioned seeing shadows and darkness lately. I don't know what Shar's doing there, but I think the message is clear. Go there, crush them all and obliterate them. Questions?"

[Corwin]

"Ehh, isn't that where Lixer had his creepy experiments?" Seira drawls, scrunching up her forehead. "Anyway, what's the threat level, you think?"

[Anastasia]

"One of many," Amaryl speaks up, "I think."

"Yeah, think so," Donald scratches his chin, "Yeah, he's sorta like you - all over the place, Seira. But yeah, I know what you're thinking of. Hard to say, but at worst we smite shadows and a Sharran base. We don't know enough about it to be sure, but divinations were blocked. Hardly a surprise."

[Corwin]

"Let's all go, then," Seira decides. "There's no dimensional barrier in existence capable of cutting me off from my avatar self, so we'll know if we need to return. And it would be best to respond to a request for aid if we're together, anyway."

[Anastasia]

In that case, any prep?

[Corwin]

Combat Loadout
All spells here are to be precast before leaving home [CL 32]. They are shared with all party members unless explicitly refused or are marked with *.

Overall: Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, Foresight, Ghost Touch (Armor, Shield and Weapons), Recitation (per round spell)
Defensive: Shield of Warding, Foresight, Superior Vigor (per round spell)
Perception Modes and Protections: True Seeing, *Sensual Blessing, Vision of the Omniscient Eye, Detect Scrying
Movement Modes and Protections: Freedom of Movement, Pass Without Trace, Greater Anticipate Teleport
Skill Checks: *Bibliotheca Arcana, Greater Heroism, Voice of the Dragon
Ability Checks: Good Hope
Immunities and Resistances: *Mind Blank, Nondetection, Mass Death Ward, Heroes's Feast, Energy Res 30 (all)
Esoteric Boosters: *Many Moments of Prescience, *Moment of Prescience, Fortunate Fate, Spell Turning, *Divert Teleport

Chain Dispell channeled into Dragon's Grace

One-Off Spells: Sign, Divine Insight, Improvisation

* Spells that are self-only and cannot be shared/cast on others in the party.

My avatar will provide Glorious Rally and Celestial Valor.

[Anastasia]

Spoiler block done, post in a few since this took a bit.

[spoiler]

Amaryl
HP: 505+64/505 (fast healing8 )
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+6 morale, +4 sacred) AC+10 (+6 morale, +6 sacred), Saves+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Skills+4/+9 Per/+14 Diplo (+4 morale), Checks+2 (+2 morale) weapons are holy
Resources: Emergency Skirmish 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Elemental Summon 3/3 Smiting 1/1 Dragonfire 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Glorious Rally (CL32), Celestial Valor (CL32), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL32), Ghost Touch Armor (CL32), Recitation (CL32), Superior Vigor (CL32), True Seeing (CL32), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL32), Detect Scrying (CL32), Freedom of Movement (CL32), Pass Without Trace (CL32), Greater Heroism (CL32), Voice of the Dragon (CL32), Good Hope (CL32), Nondetection (CL32), Mass Death Ward (CL32), Heroes Feast (CL32), Energy Resistancex5 (CL32), Fortunate Fate (CL32), Spell Turning (CL32)
Notes: Always goes first with supreme init, +4 bonus to attacks after the first miss in a round.

Donald
HP: 768/768
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+6 morale, +4 sacred) AC+10 (+6 morale, +6 sacred), Saves+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Skills+4/+9 Per/+14 Diplo (+4 morale), Checks+2 (+2 morale) weapons are holy
Resources: Quick Cast 6/6 Protection Devotion 1/1 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack (rnd) 1/1 Armor Haste 15/15 Breath Weapon Boost 3/3 Weapon Damage Dice Boost 3/3
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Glorious Rally (CL32), Celestial Valor (CL32), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL32), Ghost Touch Armor (CL32), Recitation (CL32), Superior Vigor (CL32), True Seeing (CL32), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL32), Detect Scrying (CL32), Freedom of Movement (CL32), Pass Without Trace (CL32), Greater Heroism (CL32), Voice of the Dragon (CL32), Good Hope (CL32), Nondetection (CL32), Mass Death Ward (CL32), Heroes Feast (CL32), Energy Resistancex5 (CL32), Fortunate Fate (CL32), Spell Turning (CL32)
Notes: Two quickened spells/round when under armor's haste, unkillable allows Con saves to not be reduced below 1 HP

Lady Sanzha
HP: 496/496 (fast healing 3)
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+6 morale, +4 sacred) AC+10 (+6 morale, +6 sacred), Saves+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Skills+4/+9 Per/+14 Diplo (+4 morale), Checks+2 (+2 morale) weapons are holy
Resources: Channel Water 14/14 Bardic Music 31/31 Water Devotion 1/1 Trident Elemental Damage 3/3
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Glorious Rally (CL32), Celestial Valor (CL32), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL32), Ghost Touch Armor (CL32), Recitation (CL32), Superior Vigor (CL32), True Seeing (CL32), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL32), Detect Scrying (CL32), Freedom of Movement (CL32), Pass Without Trace (CL32), Greater Heroism (CL32), Voice of the Dragon (CL32), Good Hope (CL32), Nondetection (CL32), Mass Death Ward (CL32), Heroes Feast (CL32), Energy Resistancex5 (CL32), Fortunate Fate (CL32), Spell Turning (CL32)
Notes:

Elle
HP: 532/532 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Damage+10 (+6 morale, +4 sacred) AC+10 (+6 morale, +6 sacred), Saves+13 (+6 morale, +4 sacred, +3 luck), Skills+4/+9 Per/+14 Diplo (+4 morale), Checks+2 (+2 morale) weapons are holy
Resources: Dragon Breath (DD) 1/1 Touch of Vitality 126/126 Mythical Cast Maximize 3/3
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Epic Mage Armor (CL31), Glorious Rally (CL32), Celestial Valor (CL32), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL32), Ghost Touch Armor (CL32), Recitation (CL32), Superior Vigor (CL32), True Seeing (CL32), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL32), Detect Scrying (CL32), Freedom of Movement (CL32), Pass Without Trace (CL32), Greater Heroism (CL32), Voice of the Dragon (CL32), Good Hope (CL32), Nondetection (CL32), Mass Death Ward (CL32), Heroes Feast (CL32), Energy Resistancex5 (CL32), Fortunate Fate (CL32), Spell Turning (CL32)
Notes: