Destiny now lies in the hands of...

[Anastasia]

As Syala is mended, "They're strong and fight together defensively," The Child of Fire says, "An entire knot of them, almost impossible to break."

[Ebiris]

"We'll have to try and push them apart then. Lets keep going," Alicia says, the group pressing on past Radodiel and deeper within.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 1074+240/1074
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), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), recitation (CL 35), opal protection (CL 35)
Defences: AC 99, CMD 124, 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, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +15 natural armour AC, -8 size, +8 saves vs poison, +3 luck attack/saves, +3 morale AC
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: 6/23/23/21/10/7/8

[Anastasia]

Do you have tremorsense right now?

[Ebiris]

Yes, 3 mile extent of my divine senses.

[Anastasia]

As you walk, you feel it ahead that turn as you approach it - something big is moving. Not just big but BIG. It's surfacing you believe.

[Ebiris]

"Something big up ahead, turning and surfacing our way," Alicia warns, slowing a bit. Four of the children conjoined, or is it the world serpent itself?

[Anastasia]

It's a rough cube, massive. So neither of them.

[Ebiris]

"It's shaped like a gigantic cube. Do you know what that is?" she asks Partanyx.

[Anastasia]

This draws a rather big smile, "They actually activated the Grandstone Fortress!" he says, "Oh, this will be something else to see!"

[Ebiris]

"Well. Aren't we lucky," Alicia says shortly. "What can we expect from that?"

[Anastasia]

"A mobile fortress," The Child of Fire says, "Someone must think you're really worth a good fight, they've been improving that for eons."

[Ebiris]

"Well there was that tower when we attacked Shar recently... come along and lets not dawdle then," Alicia advances towards the rumbling.

[Anastasia]

Around the corner and the way ahead is blocked. It is a massive fortress of stone and steel, a great cube that completely plugs the way ahead. It moves forward steadily, at the pace of a fast run. On this fortress are dozens and dozens of slits and murder holes, battlements with solar styled golems atop them, in formation and with bows ready. The gates are barred, blocked and crackle with ice.

The familiarity of it strikes you in a moment - it's much blockier, but it rather resembles Aurora, down to a shimmering sphere of force just beyond the battlements, blocking the way inside.

"Once again, the wisdom of imitation being the most sincere form of flattery is proven," Antenora notes, as the fortress is currently 350ft away from the party.

Despite this Syala smiles, "Oh, this is going to be fun," she says slowly, cracking her knuckles.

[Ebiris]

"To raze and sunder, or to invade and conquer..." Alicia shrinks herself down to human size. "Lets see if we can kick down the door?"

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 794+240/794
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), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), recitation (CL 35), opal protection (CL 35)
Defences: AC 96, CMD 100, 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, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +1 natural armour AC,+8 saves vs poison, +3 luck attack/saves, +3 morale AC
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: 6/23/23/21/10/7/8

[Anastasia]

Syala's smiles grows wider. "I knew I married you for a reason," she banters back.

Meanwhile, from the fortress it is heard. A great voice projected and echoing calls, "Champions of Sylica! I felt that to challenge you alone would hardly be worth your time, so I brought something to liven up the battle."