Destiny now lies in the hands of...

[Ebiris]

Alicia smiles mildly once the laughter dies down. "It's all a matter of comparison, surely death and danger come quicker in some parts than in others?"

[Anastasia]

Antenora cracks a smile herself and adds, "A matter of relativity, yes."

"Anywhere the World Serpent is not, he has been restless," Is the answer you get. "In turn the celestials who stay with him have been quicker to the blade and spell."

[Ebiris]

That doesn't help them that much unfortunately. "I see. Thank you," she nods before plunging through into the portal.

[Anastasia]

You feel as if you're swimming ahead a moment, surrounded in heat.

Then you're in a cavern - a massive cavern large enough to march an army through, slow and steady rills and dips ahead in an irregular pattern. It stretches long and far ahead, well over a mile before curving. Yet in that moment they emerge from the ground - chidlren of Jormugandr.  Three of them emerge, each scaled and winding, great serpents hundreds of feet long moving through the air and devouring the ground.

The first has dull red highlights all over its scales and four eyes, rather than two. It moves through the air with a grace and speed that belies even that of its siblings. "I am Partarnyx, the Child of Fire."

The second has the normal gray-brown of any Child of Jormugandr, but is broader, larger. It moves with a power that shatters the ground rather than merely removes it, and eddies of air currents buffet from it as it moves. "Olar, the Strong!"

The last has seven heads - six that surround the central seventh head. They all gaze at you in union and declare, "Know me as Septamar, the Seven-Fold Child."

Together the great serpents surround the three of you in this vast burrow-cavern. Antenora merely has her spear in hand and steps forward. "I am Antenora Reynes, Goddess of Redemption. Turn aside."

"Never!" Olar laughs, head coming closer to Antenora, a tongue as long as a human body flickering out, almost touching Antenora. "You're strong! Strong enough to be worth a fight! The divine are the best fights!"

"Father's power ensures that no death is permanent," Septamar agrees, "Only the rush of battle and the joy of combat allures us, for the threat of death and pain mean nothing here."

[Ebiris]

"Alicia Reynes, also known as the Queen of the Battlefield," Alicia introduces herself. "We'll do battle - but if two of you perish the survivor must act as our guide here. Will you accept these terms?"

[Anastasia]

"Hah!" Olar laughs again, "You want conditions? Fine!"

"We should," Syala looks to Partarnyx, "I've heard of you.  Strength of Light mentioned you."

"Does he still remember my flames?" The Child of Fire asks, eyeing Syala now.

"Well enough," Is her answer, "I'll see how overrated they are."

[Ebiris]

"The agreement's been made, so lets battle!" Alicia unlimbers her sword and brings it up into ready position across her body in a sharp motion.

She has supreme init.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 724+240/724
Active spells:  Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 35)
Defences: AC 88, CMD 91, spell resistance 50, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills/attack/saves, +9 shield AC, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/16/9/9/14/9/8/5/6/3/4/3/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/10/7/12

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+13 Antenora
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+12
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=4]
> OOC: Syala
> roll 1d20+6 Child of Fire
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+6 Olar
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+23 Septamar
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=18]

Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Septamar (41) > Child of Fire (24) > Olar (18) > Antenora (17) > Syala (16)

Open.

[spoiler]

Antenora
HP: 840/840
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 39/39 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 13/13 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 490/490 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL36)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 35 for base smite damage, 70 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 105 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+138+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.

Syala
HP: 700/700
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+18 (+18 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used: 1 10th level spell
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL36), Energy Immunity(Fire)(CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL35)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.

[Ebiris]

Alicia abruptly swells to titanic proportions to better battle these enormous serpents, her sword swinging out for Septamar first. Anyone with that many heads has to be up to no good!

[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d20=20]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d20=20]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d20=19]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d20=1]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+69 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 79 > [d20=10]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+69 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=12]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+64 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=20]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+64 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d20=20]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d20=1]
[18:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[18:33] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 77 > [d20=18]
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 crit check on nat 20 94
[18:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d20=1]
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 crit check on nat 20 94
[18:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=17]
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 crit check on 93
[18:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=13]
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 crit check on nat 20 84
[18:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=6]
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+74 crit check on nat 20 84
[18:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 79 > [d20=5]

[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 119 > [d6=1,6,1,6,1][d4=4,3,2,4,3,1][d6=5,2,5,1,2,1,4,1,3,6,4,3,4,3,5]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 118 > [d6=4,2,5,4,3][d4=1,1,1,2,3,2][d6=6,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,2,4,2,4,6,6,5]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 138 > [d6=5,6,3,6,1][d4=4,2,2,3,4,2][d6=3,4,5,4,3,6,6,6,6,1,6,3,3,5,1]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 129 > [d6=6,5,1,3,4][d4=2,2,4,3,1,3][d6=3,1,2,1,3,6,3,5,6,4,5,5,3,4,6]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 129 > [d6=4,4,2,3,4][d4=3,4,2,2,3,3][d6=5,4,4,1,6,3,4,6,2,5,4,4,2,5,2]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+76+2d6+6d4+30d6 last 30d6 is cold damage if 94/75 is a crit
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 225 > [d6=3,3,6,1,3,3,5,6][d4=4,3,1,4,2,3][d6=1,4,2,4,4,6,4,1,5,5,6,4,2,5,1,1,6,3,4,1,1,4,1,2,4,4,6,4,5,2]
[18:36] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage if it's not
[18:36] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 123 > [d6=1,6,4,3,4][d4=3,2,4,3,1,3][d6=4,1,3,6,6,4,2,3,4,4,2,1,4,6,1]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+76+2d6+6d4+30d6 last 30d6 is cold damage if 94/91 is a crit
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 241 > [d6=1,5,5,3,4,5,6,3][d4=1,4,2,3,3,4][d6=1,5,3,2,6,5,4,2,5,5,2,6,2,5,2,2,6,5,4,3,4,5,3,6,2,3,3,6,3,6]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage if it's not
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 122 > [d6=5,3,5,2,5][d4=1,4,4,2,1,3][d6=2,3,1,3,2,3,2,4,1,1,6,3,6,6,6]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+76+2d6+6d4+30d6 last 30d6 is cold damage if 93/87 is a crit
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 240 > [d6=2,4,6,1,6,6,4,4][d4=2,2,3,3,2,4][d6=1,2,6,5,3,5,5,6,4,6,3,5,6,5,6,2,3,3,1,6,1,1,4,3,6,3,3,5,5,1]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage if it's not
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 122 > [d6=5,4,5,3,4][d4=2,4,3,1,4,1][d6=1,4,2,5,2,4,3,4,5,2,2,1,3,6,4]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+76+2d6+6d4+30d6 last 30d6 is cold damage if 84/80 is a crit
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 253 > [d6=1,2,6,6,5,2,6,5][d4=4,2,4,3,4,3][d6=6,4,4,6,6,6,4,4,5,3,3,4,5,1,4,3,1,2,3,4,6,6,2,6,4,5,6,4,5,2]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage if it's not
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 128 > [d6=5,5,5,5,1][d4=1,3,4,4,1,2][d6=6,4,3,5,5,2,4,5,1,6,3,2,1,4,3]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+76+2d6+6d4+30d6 last 30d6 is cold damage if 84/80 is a crit
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 245 > [d6=2,6,6,1,4,1,5,6][d4=3,2,1,2,3,1][d6=3,1,4,3,5,2,4,5,4,2,5,5,4,3,3,4,6,6,3,6,2,5,6,6,5,6,5,1,6,6]
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+38+2d6+6d4+15d6 last 15d6 is cold damage if it's not
[18:37] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 134 > [d6=5,5,3,5,6][d4=3,3,3,4,3,1][d6=5,6,2,4,3,6,4,1,5,1,6,5,1,3,3]

[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted on normal hit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=3]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted on normal hit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted on normal hit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d4=2]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted on normal hit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted on normal hit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 negative levels inflicted if 94/75 was a crit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d4=1,3]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted if not
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=3]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 negative levels inflicted if 94/91 was a crit
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 7 > [d4=4,3]
[18:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted if not
[18:38] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 negative levels inflicted if 93/87 was a crit
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=1,2]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted if not
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 negative levels inflicted if 84/80 was a crit
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d4=2,2]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted if not
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=3]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 negative levels inflicted if 84/80 was a crit
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 5 > [d4=4,1]
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels inflicted if not
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d4=1]

[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 SR for the black ice touch
[18:39] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=16]

If SR fails then no cold damage (think they immune anyway) or negative levels.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 1004+240/1004
Active spells:  Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), greater heroism (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), extended ray deflection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 35)
Defences: AC 92, CMD 113, spell resistance 50, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49)
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale skills/attack/saves, +9 shield AC, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +36 str, -4 dex, +16 con, +14 natural armour AC, -8 size
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 3 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +82
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/16/9/9/14/9/8/5/6/3/4/3/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/21/10/7/10

[Anastasia]

Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Child of Fire (24) > Olar (18) > Antenora (17) > Syala (16)

In one strike Septamar meets blade with scales - and Bonds wins. It tears through him, his defenses mighty but not mighty enough. You rip him into half a dozen pieces with your blade, serpent blood and body hitting the ground all around you. As this happens...

Anything else this turn?

[Ebiris]

She has a swift left but won't use it, all done.

[Anastasia]

As Septamar goes down Olar grins, "Now this'll be a good fight!" he roars, as the Child of Fire rises up. It coils around all of you and bursts into flames, squeezing tight.

> roll 1d20+57 (+9/+9d4 arcane strike, +3 ???, +1 blinding speed)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 64 > [d20=7]

AC, Alicia? Hits all three of you. Antenora's hit due to flatfooted and Syala's safe.

[Ebiris]

AC 92.

[Anastasia]

> roll 4d8+27+17d6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d8=7,1,4,1][d6=6,4,3,3,4,6,2,6,4,2,1,4,2,2,2,4,5]

Antenora's DR is not beaten, at least.

The coils close and yet Alicia kicks them away from her, as Syala leaps up to avoid them. Antenora's a second too slow, squeezed by them and taken, as the Child of Jormugandr blows out poison breath over the both of you. Yet it does nothing to you at all.

It's an epic poison but it doesn't penetrate divine poison immunity. Olar.

In a bounding, springing attack Olar lunges forward, tongue flicking out as it charges Alicia, "Come and take it!" he cries, sounding overjoyed.

You can AoO, Alicia.

[spoiler]

Antenora
HP: 760/840
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 39/39 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 13/13 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 490/490 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL36)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 35 for base smite damage, 70 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 105 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+138+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.

Syala
HP: 700/700
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+18 (+18 armor), Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used: 1 10th level spell
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL36), Energy Immunity(Fire)(CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL35)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.

[Ebiris]

AoO is taken.

[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+76 blinding speed, 6th level arcane strike, channelled black ice touch
[19:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=14]
[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6+54+2d6+6d4+15d6
[19:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 138 > [d6=6,3,3,5,3][d4=1,4,3,3,2,2][d6=2,1,4,2,3,1,5,4,6,3,4,5,4,2,3]
[19:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 SR
[19:34] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=2]
[19:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 negative levels
[19:35] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d4=3]