The eternal battles forward

[Ebiris]

"We'll see how they go. Certainly Violet and her abilities are too de-stabilising to be left in circulation so I'd have to be offered something spectacular to even consider it. What I'm expecting is a derisory offer of someone she's currently holding and torturing and then a lot of complaining about how she'll have to torture that person even harder now because I'm so unreasonable and so the real villain is actually me," Alicia predicts glumly.

[Anastasia]

"That, or she'll try to seduce you," Latha agrees, "It is her primary talent, is it not?"

[Ebiris]

"With Vlaakith in the room? Hardly romantic is it?" Alicia asks with a little scoff. "I doubt she will anyway, there's too much bad blood at this point."

[Anastasia]

With a curl of her lips, "A lich watching would make it kinkier for Malcanthet," Latha says, faintly amused. "In all seriousness, be careful and call us if you need us."

[Ebiris]

"Syala and Antenora are coming as well, it'll be fine," Alicia reassures, bidding Latha good night and flying off.

[Anastasia]

It is time. The three of you go forth and...

Okay, any spells in place, preparations or the like for this meeting? Basically the routine chance to get it set up before we roll.

[Ebiris]

Marie will offer CL 36 epic mage armour to everyone who wants it (+22 AC)

Alicia will offer CL 39 extended mind blank and CL 39 extended nondetection to everyone who wants it.

Other than that usual buffs anyone wants or can handle themselves with alter reality.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 759+20/759
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 38), foresight (CL 36), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 39), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), divine insight (CL 36), vision of the omniscient eye (CL 36)
Defences: AC 75, CMD 95, spell resistance 51, 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 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills/saves, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +2 insight AC/ref, +9 shield AC, +10 insight perception
Perceptions: Arcane sight, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +95
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/8/8/8/7/7/7/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/16

[Anastasia]

Sounds good, this is ideally a non combat mission. Ideally.

Shir'kandor is a slab of land that floats in the Astral Plane. It several acres big, forested land surrounding a large country manor. Peaceful enough, as if taken from some countryside in the Prime. Perhaps it even was long ago, but you know not.

"It's pleasant inside, the Gith Queen spares little expense," Antenora observes, as she leads you onwards. "This way."

Syala is right with her as she says, "It reminds me of the house Lyris and Marianne own on the outskirts of Balmuria."

"Hm? You've been there?" Antenora asks curiously as you fly on.

"I looked once or twice," Is Syala's answer, "It's far too big for just the two of them."

A shimmer amid your many duties. Nial Cobb fights on. He calls on your name and others as he powers his arcane blade, facing off against a fellow warrior. Nearby Hanna watches over them, as you can feel Nial's anger, burning with the fury of fiends, mixing with his desire to triumph. Hatred is felt on the outer depths of his mind, like tiny black tendrils that sprout from his anger.

"I'll show them, Queen of the Battlefield," he whispers, "I deserve a place here."

[Ebiris]

Alicia sends Nial a gentle note of chastisement, a reminder of battles fought and blood shed with the ones he trains with. He has nothing to prove here.

"Well, Marianne does have her tastes. I hope she doesn't make Lyris do all the cleaning," she says aloud to Syala.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d100=80]

Nial's mind clears - but the moment his foe attacks the rage comes back. It is a quick, bitter battle that ends with a heavy mace blow to his head. Nial collapses, guard down from his anger.

"Break," Hanna calls and flies forth, a gentle touch of healing to Nial's head. "The win's yours, Elmore. Go clean yourself up and go get your lunch at the cafeteria." she says, as she checks on yours.

Nial opens his eyes and growls low a moment, before a firm finger to his lips from Hanna shuts him up. "You let your guard when you're angry," she chastises. "You have the anger but none of the power of a rage warrior. A mercy weapon being used is why you aren't explaining yourself to your Saint Alicia right now, in person."

This gets Nial to let out another growl of anger before, "Yes ma'am."

"Good. Now go practice your forms and control, you'll get another match later today." Hanna agrees, helping him up. "The vampire spawn won't hold back their blows or use mercy weapons if you give them an opening like that."

Meanwhile you proceed in. The doors to this place open as Antenora approaches, and a single warrior opens it. He is in full armor and helmet, but sketches a short bow to the three of you. "Welcome. Queen Malcanthet has not yet arrived. Queen Vlaakith offers you a chance to rest and clean yourselves up, if you wish for one."

[Ebiris]

Alicia naturally gives the warrior a look over.

Spellcraft take 10 for 69 on any magic.

[19:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 CL on arcane sight
[19:31] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=2]

"Very well, show us to our accommodations while we wait," Alicia agrees, a mental thanks to Gwynharwyf for her own follower's good influence on Nial over there.

[Anastasia]

He has nondetection, death ward and Vlaakith's silent step active, as well as an item that grants a permanent magic circle against chaos. It's his breastplate, you believe.

> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 8 > [d100=8]

Syala smiles in the meantime, but chooses not to comment on what has pleased her so.

Your rooms are nearly a dozen palatial suites linked by a few common rooms. Everything is well carved rustic stone and wood paneling, rich without being overwhelming. What's overwhelming are the gold accents and gemstones used in the curtains to refract the light of the Astral to something more pleasing.

[Ebiris]

Alicia takes a seat and looks as if she's relaxing.

Of course she can hear everything within 5 miles, and sense everything with tremorsense and she's absolutely monitoring the entire estate for movement and conversation. "I like the curtains," she says aloud, her will making sure her true thoughts are only shared with Antenora and Syala.

Making us wait is such a trite power move. I guarantee if we show impatience and move to leave, Malcanthet will appear immediately.

[Anastasia]

There are various workers about, but no sign of the Queen. No sense of movement from her, no image. Nothing.

Antenora goes to the curtains and smiles almost brainlessly as she says, "Oh, aren't they sparkly and pretty?"

If she wishes to insult our intelligence, then let us live down to her expectations.

Syala cracks an open smile at that, "They're too showy for my tastes. I prefer gauzy, see through curtains that move in the breeze."

What else does Malcanthet have but pettiness and wounded pride? She can't defeat us, her plans have been crushed and she's botched this entire affair.

Antenora gently brushes her fingers against one of the curtain and giggles, airy. "Now I want curtains like this in Sylica. I might have to ask the Queen of the Gith about these."

She could have another plan - or, impossible as it seems, she could be genuinely delayed.

[Ebiris]

At least Sylica still has three goddesses in it, not to mention a surprising number of avatars hidden around to watch out for trouble. It would be just like Malcanthet to have something in mind to liberate Violet during these talks just to crow about it at their predictably unsuccessful conclusion.

She's made a lot of enemies lately, and she's down a good chunk of her radiant sister cadre. No doubt she is legitimately busier than usual but this still smacks of petty politicking.[/i]