A neverending field

[Anastasia]

Sure, want to hit that IC or OOC?

[Corwin]

I'm okay with OOC!

[Anastasia]

He's point out you may be on the right track but he'd need time to really work with it.

[Corwin]

Okay then! I'd appreciate him working the problem, I'll provide suitable reimbursement for his time and effort.

Now then, Dis.

[Anastasia]

Okay, since we're mostly setting up for tomorrow no, what's the party and the prep? Go ahead and be in depth here for obvious reasons.

[Corwin]

The party is Amaryl, Xera and Zariel. We'll have our combat buffs, stealth buffs on top of them (mostly to boost stealth and disguise plus the obvious mind blank/nondetection) and Veil to change the way we look. I'd appreciate if everyone suggests their appearance for this. Also, if anyone has better spell requests, I can have my avatar precast those before we set out.

I'm fine with combat spell suggestions to memorize, too, if they have any for me.

[Anastasia]

Amaryl will go stock human, Xariel will go dwarf and Xera would like to be a nondescript tiefling.

I'll think over spell suggestions tonight.

[Corwin]

Seira will go as a bald human dude with a hooded cape. Names?

[Anastasia]

Amaryl will go with Marl. Xera would prefer not to lie about her name and will just avoid the question as possible. Zariel will go with Ragan.

[Corwin]

CL38 for all of these. Anything at 10min/lvl would last over 6 hours, and be refreshed on the 6hr mark. The 1hr/lvl spells would last quite over a day, and be refreshed as we rise to continue traveling in case this takes several days.
These are the spells I'll have on everyone (including myself) at all times:

Defensive: Foresight [10min/lvl], Visions of the Future [1hr/lvl], Dragonskin [10min/lvl]
Movement Modes and Protections: Freedom of Movement [10min/lvl], Pass Without Trace [1hr/lvl], Greater Anticipate Teleport [24hr]
Immunities and Resistances: Mind Blank [A, 24hr], Nondetection [1hr/lvl], Heroes's Feast [12hr]
Esoteric Boosters: Fortunate Fate [10min/lvl], Spell Turning [10min/lvl]

Stealth:
[Stealth] Spiderskin [standard, per 10min, +5 racial bonus on Stealth, saves against poison and to natural armor, creature touched, Transmutation]
[Stealth] Camouflage [standard, per 10min, +10 circumstance bonus on Stealth, personal, Transmutation]
[Stealth] Forestfold [standard, per hr, +10 competence bonus on Stealth, personal, Transmutation]

Disguise: Veil [standard, per hr, +10 untyped bonus to Disguise, one or more creatures, Illusion/Glamer]
I'll also go for the mundane disguises for all of us to beat DC 80 for this effect to guard against true seeing:
You can make disguise so real that they become the new truth for the disguised character. This functions as alter self, except that the effect is instantaneous. Once disguised, the creature's new base form is the disguise. A wish or miracle spell can undo this change, as can another permanent disguise.

One-Off Spells: Sign (+4), Divine Insight (1hr/level, +15 insight), Greater Improvisation (10min/level, CLx3 luck points)

This is only for myself:
Perception Modes and Protections: True Seeing [1min/lvl], Vision of the Omniscient Eye [1min/lvl], Detect Scrying [24hr], Greater Arcane Sight [1min/lvl]
Skill Checks: Bibliotheca Arcana [A, 24hr], Voice of the Dragon [10min/lvl]
Ability Checks: Good Hope [1min/lvl]
Esoteric Boosters: Many Moments of Prescience [A, 1hr/lvl], Moment of Prescience [A, 1hr/lvl]

There are 4 spells that are 1min/lvl cast on myself that would last 38 minutes, and would be refreshed every half hour that I'm awake.

[Anastasia]

That all seems good. Do you want anyone to add any particular spells to this? Including possibly people at the Cauldron if the spell lasts long enough.

[Corwin]

I can handle everything myself since I'm a bullshit epic goddess of magic and knowledge.

"The first question is how we'll get there," Seira voices, once their disguises have been perfected and layered with corresponding Veil that seeks to make them prettier and otherwise airbrush some of their minor flaws. "The easiest way would be to travel the Infinite Staircase, but we can go for a color pool or a direct transport if you think it's better."

Actually, can we plane shift directly to Dis rather than go to Avernus and travel across layers?

[Anastasia]

Confident, aren't you?

"In this case," Zariel begins, "It's best if we do this the proper way. The Infinite Stair or a color pool will do, then passage from Avernus to Dis. There's less chance we'll encounter problems of note that way, even if we may have to sweep aside vermin."

[Corwin]

In my knowledge and ability to cast spells, yes. I suppose there is higher level druid stuff that's utter bullshit but we lack druids anyway, and while Sanzha would have ridiculous buffs I can't match, that's not magic and they don't work best with stealth.

Anyway, you didn't really answer me. Can I plane shift directly to another layer but the first for a plane? And since there was a misunderstanding, can a color pool or the Infinite Stair only lead to the first layer of a plane? I assumed they were the exception to the plane shifting to the first layer thing, but perhaps I misremember how this stuff works. Thus, a request for clarification.

"The problem with that is our defense only protecting our natures on Dis. Given Lixer sensed my presence immediately when I showed up randomly on Avernus before, I can't see that working out well. Do you know of a way this could work, Zariel?"

[Anastasia]

It depends on the plane, so the answer is a 'sometimes'.

The Infinite Stair can come out into various places beyond a first layer, though color pools usually (but not always) stick to the first layer.

Zariel considers, "The better question is if Lixer will act if he senses us. Unfortunately no, you're right. In that case a proper door in the Infinite Stair would be simplest, but there's no doubt those are monitored."