Alicia returns to Sylica. All seems at peace for now as...
Quick question, how are you going to plan? Just by yourself or with someone? This will mostly be setting something up, so just baseline details are fine. I don't need a plan.
Strength of Light's in charge of it on the realm level so we'll go over things with him, toss in Marchalu as well since she's in charge of our intelligence and hasn't had any screentime all game.
Add Latha and Antenora for node participation.
Getting everyone set up is easy.
Strength of Light has brought in several wooden boards engraved with drawings, magically flexible and controllable. He sets them up to be seen, all while Antenora and Latha take a seat. Marchalu has just fluttered and bows to all of you, as...
'The time is now,' Oberuth sends to you. 'We're going to face the end of the ruins at last.'
She's surprised at getting that message from Oberuth but it makes her smile. 'Finish what I couldn't, then.'
"I just got word from Oberuth, it sounds like he's about to try and conclude things with Daa-vid. I've long recused myself from that matter so I can only wish him luck - if things go poorly a greater god could ascend in the next few hours and the ramifications will have to be dealt with. If they go well, Seira will be empowered and Shar weakened, which will help all of us," she says to those lucky enough to be present right now. Not just Seira and Shar since she has options to empower, censure, and banish other deities too. But Alicia will not be among them, nor any of the dragon deities or elemental lords besides Kossuth, or Talona, Tempus, Mask, Silvanus, Empress Sulia, Eldath, and the Hidden Lord. Everyone else is up for grabs though.
"Are the rewards that great?" Strength of Light asks, his attention turned to you.
Marchalu lands on the backrest of a seat, "What can be done if they win?" is asks, to the point, "You make it sound marvelous, and the victory of the God-King terrible."
Antenora blows out a breath, "Unfinished business. In another life, maybe we would have been the ones to stand before him."
"We've gained far more," Latha says quietly.
"Still though, our part in it was stolen from us through no fault of our own," Alicia says. "It's done and I wouldn't change what I did in the past. As for the consequences? Daa-vid is currently suspended at his weakest, an opportunity for Oberuth and those with him to slay him for all time... or not, if they choose. They must pass judgement, and could allow him to live. Were that to happen Daa-vid would ascend to become a full deity on the level of Lathander or Shar. He would no longer be the out of context terror that he was with the Fairest Star, but his power would be such that all would have to pay attention and his actions would shake Creation," Alicia explains first the ramifications for Daa-vid himself.
"As for the rewards beyond that? The ones who successfully pass judgement will be given the opportunity to censure, banish, or augment any of the deities taking part in the contest. Three to censure - which will reduce their power, by how much I'm uncertain, but a weak deity could be returned to becoming a mortal. Three to banish, forbidding them utterly from that prime, unable to influence it or even grant spells to worshippers in any way. And three to augment, increasing their power to the same degree as those censured lost out."
She goes and takes a seat. "Almost all the deities are involved and so at risk of censure and banishment - but also able to be rewarded. I can tell you who has recused themselves though and thus can't be influenced. Myself, all the dragon gods," she doesn't mention Io, they can just think she means Bahamut and Tiamat, "All the elemental lords save for Kossuth. Tempus, Mask, Talona, Silvanus, Eldath, Empress Sulia, Mask, and the Hidden Lord. Much will be decided today, far beyond even the war with the efreet. Which makes this pause all the more timely."
Antenora focuses - and you see the familiar halls before you, projected out. Oberuth, Marianne and Lyris stride forward, ready for battle.
You recognize those halls, places you fought so long ago. Memories of a time when you were far less than you were now, when you were but a mortal woman. "Who will Oberuth choose if he is triumphant?" Marchalu asks, "And...is there any way or reason he would let Daa-vid live?"
"From everything we heard of during our own build up to this? There's no reason to let Daa-vid live, the man was a hateful blight on the world and far beyond. Unless there's a startling revelation to come, I find it unlikely," Alicia says, summoning Jessica and Syala and Marie so they can all watch.
"Lets put aside talk of war on Fire and all watch this instead. It's more important. I don't know who Oberuth will choose, Seira to be augmented is obvious, Shar to be banished and censured both. Beyond that... I don't know. The other two, Marianne and Lyris? They have a say in it as well. I'm not sure about the new deities like Antenora or Amaryl and whether they're eligible or not, either."
Jesscia is there in a moment, "You called, sister?"
Syala's there, "About time! I'm glad they're going to finally end this - so long as they don't lose."
Marchalu settles in, "The games of the gods, and I have a seat to watch." A smile spreads on Marchalu's face at this.
Thus they head inward, further and further.
Until at last they come before the paths to the portals. Here Ajan waits, looming and silent. "It is time," he says, as if that say sit all. "Are you prepared?"
"As I'll ever be," Oberuth agrees, "Never thought I'd be the one, but history cares nothing for what men think."
"From the past to now," Marianne says, "There's a symmetry here, one I'll see through to the end. Yes, I am ready."
Lyris nods slightly to that, "I've been ready for this. Let's put this to bed."
Marie turns herself tiny for old time's sake and hovers up to perch on Alicia's head. "A great many eyes are likely on this right now, some more nervous than others," Alicia says with a smile over at Marchalu. "Even we don't have the luxury of being disinterested, as the ramifications will affect our own planning."
Antenora is besides Alicia in a blink, head almost against hers. "Don't forget you have more than one head to perch on, you libertine."
"Many eyes, I just got a message from Sharess," Syala says, "I think everyone's turning to watch."
Finally.
Oh Alicia, do you feel it? I hope they triumph!
Marie reaches over to pat Antenora's head. "I know, I just felt like being nostalgic. I helped in those ruins too - do you remember when I killed that giant skeleton colossus thing?"
"It was very impressive Marie," Alicia says indulgently, nodding to Syala after. "I just heard from Mystra. Kascha too."
My only regret is that I can't be there myself. But it must mean more for you to bring this chapter to a close.
She sends that to her patron. And to Kascha?
We're all watching here, and giving them our hopes.
A final door appears before them all, Ajan moving out of the way. "Go ahead," he says, "Beyond this lies the path to Kangap and Goldan."
Oberuth nods, blade and shield at the ready. He advances slowly onward.
Marianne smiles up at Ajan, "Seira hasn't forgotten you."
Lyris glances up at that, "You think she'd forget," she murmurs to Marianne. "Honestly."
Alicia smiles slightly at the way Lyris chides Marianne. They're connected but hardly the same princess and maid they were before their reincarnation.
"Remember all those stories about Kangap and Goldan? Now we'll get to actually see them," Marie says, shifting to sit side-on on Alicia's head with her feet resting on Antenora's.
"I think in this story that the tales will be true," Latha states, watching them go, ever so patient.
"I heard them from Antenora one time," Strength of Light says, "How old and powerful are they?"
"I couldn't say for sure, but they were already mature and powerful dragons during the war of the God King, famous enough for stories of them to endure even as the gnomes themselves receded from living memory," Alicia admits. "We'll see soon, though."
Another portal. Everything blurs a moment as the three step through.
Here is a vast hall carved out of the stone of the deep earth. Light comes from the walls, which are rough and unadorned. Great banners fall from the ceiling dozens of feet up to the floor, each bearing a single holy or unholy symbol of a deity.
Prepare, those who have come this far.
A voice that is not a voice speaks, Oberuth sharply looking about. Marianne merely readies her blade with a thin smile and Lyris checks her darts. For a moment all is calm.
Then they emerge - monsters. Enemies. From the small and the simple, goblins lead by a face familiar and yet only seen so long ago.
Malmuthian soldiers, great battalions at the ready, gryphons soaring above, all lead by a long forgotten Emperor.
Devils. Devils of sand and fury. They are lead by a forgotten pit fiend, thought sealed away for all time for his evils and for whom he truly bows to.
Fey and pixies, the spirits of the forest manifest. They laugh along with a voice unseen, the laughter of children heard in the distance and yet from nowhere at all.
Liches. A familiar cabal, absently only one of their members, cloaked in the darkness of the deepest magics mastered by the passing of ages.
Shocker lizards, staring and unrelenting and so many, spreading about the walls and the ceiling, all gazes on the three. They are lead by a blue dragon, a phantasm from a long ago battle.
Celestials brave and true, lining up. They prepare as one, lead by a green skinned planetar once met before the temples of Balmuria.
Shadows. So many shadows, gathering faster and faster yet. Amid them are familiar figures, a royal family as rotten as filth leading them all.
The dead. So many of the restless dead, rising from all about, like a plague joining every force. Amid them you can see what once called itself Death, leading them on.
More. So many more. Memories of the past, of glimpses of battles forgotten in the flow of time ever forward.
"What?" Oberuth says, "Do you seek to drown us in worthless filth?"
"Aaaaah," Lyris smiles tightly, "Another test?"
Marianne merely gestures, cold gathering around her, winds of snowflakes and ice razors coiling before her. "It matters not, we won't be stopped."
Then prove yourselves against the phantasms of the past. Your nation has seen much conflict and turmoil in its short lifetime.
There is a moment after that, until Oberuth raises his blade and lets out a battlecry, before rushing forward. From there chaos erupts, the battle joined.
"It really was meant for us," Alicia says a little sadly as she sees so many foes she once crossed blades with. "Does it mean anything to Marianne and Lyris, the faces of those they fight here? At least the Commander knows some of them."
"How do you think Seira feels?" Marie asks. "Those princes and princesses from Kesse are there."
Syala takes your hand and says, "It was," she agrees solemnly, while Latha merely adds, "What could have been."
Meanwhile...
It is a battle. They fight as one, disparate memories waging war together.
Oberuth charges into the lines and stands firm, surrounded by a sea of foes.
Marianne takes to the air, cold winds and blasts scything into her foes. She stays above the majority of them, as the forces of the air flock towards her, looking to entomb her with sheer numbers.
Lyris is a blur. She runs to the sides as her hand works. Darts fly freely, seemingly appearing in throats and stomachs without warning.
Squeezing Syala's hand Alicia smiles a little grimly at Marie's comment. "Yes, they were meant to take our place in serving judgement after killing us. They got to take part after a fashion anyway."
She watches the battle, as so many old foes get a second death at the hands of Commander Oberuth and a new generation of heroines. "I like Marianne's style, she's making good use of the elements at her command."
"Oberuth's style's improved," Strength of Light observes, "I've met boulders that are easier to break than he is."
"She was right," Latha mentions, "The Destroyer being the one to bring life and peace is a suitable atonement and symmetry to her life."
"Oberuth is the anchor for that team, he's far beyond the other two," Alicia agrees. "But still, Marianne and Lyris are every bit as strong as Seira and I back when we were challenging those ruins, fighting the Dark Six, freeing the children of Androlynne... they have this. And you're right," she nods to Latha, "I think they'll make the right decisions at the end of it all."
> roll 1d100
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 5 > [d100=5]
It is like scythe before wheat. Foe after foe falls before Oberuth, fading away once his blade is done with them. What few wounds touch him heal in moments, never even slowing him down. His expression is simply one of determination as he goes on, another, another and another falling. He reaches Ferdi and with a clash of blades he shoves past his guard, taking his head in one blow.
Marianne keeps flying about, striking and evading. She bears wounds but none serious, focusing on her foes and trying to avoid being pinned. At the rate they're going down, she looks to be just fine. When Death comes for her, this time he meets a rapier point of arcane fire, piercing through his empty eye and beyond.
Lyris meanwhile draws away some of them and keeps moving, thinning the pack amid all the chaos. The goblin hordes in particular pursue her, but this time she is faster, stronger. Yezrut himself falls, clutching at a pair of darts in his throat.
"It's more of a test of endurance than a serious threat, though they always have the luxury of stopping and resting here," Alicia says as they watch. "No surprises so far anyway..."
'In a way,' Antenora says, 'We've been breaking past our bounds for a long time.' Her voice is in your mind, 'Another example here: We were merely meant to judge, now we stand above that.'
"Not yet," Syala agrees quietly, "Marianne's wounded, but nothing severe."
'That's an arrogant way to put it, Antenora,' Alicia telepathically replies with a note of chastisement. 'We're witnessing a judgement on the Gods for their folly. That we stand among them now should be cause for humility now of all times.'
"I don't think they have much in the way of dedicated healing either. Might need some time with a wand of cure light wounds once they have some breathing room," she observes aloud.
Antenora merely nods her head at Alicia's chastisement, not arguing it.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=9 ]{9}
Fortunately, the fight's winding down. The foes are falling faster, the lines broken and the three standing alone, triumphant at last. Oberuth is unwounded, injuries healed. Marianne's bleeding from a few injuries and Lyris is limping, but it seems magic, speed and inhuman endurance have won the day.
"Who were they?" Lyris asks as she limps over, withdrawing a round black stone, about the size of a fist. As she holds her her wounds begin to heal, small bursts every several seconds.
"The past," Oberuth says, "Old enemies, from Emperor Ferdi to liches to worse. Just an echo of someone else's past." He's quiet here as the two heal, Marianne joining Lyris and using the stone. "It must have keyed to the others when they accomplished the first trials, and I'm close enough to those battles that perhaps I maintained it, rather than creating enemies more suited to our lives." He sheathes his blade a moment, adjusting his shield as he says, "Are you ready to go?"
"Not yet. Not all of us are immortal, invincible legends," Marianne turns her nose up, wounds still healing. "At least Seira and Alicia have the decency to call themselves divine. No human fights like you, Hellman."
Glancing back towards Marianne just a moment, "And you don't fight like any tarrasque I've heard of."
There's a moment of silence at that, before Marianne goes, "Hmph," and pointedly strides forward, "Rude."
With the faintest hint of a smile, Oberuth strides forward, Lyris rolling her eyes with her own amused look and following.
The banter amuses Alicia ans she smiles as well at the camaraderie shown. "So are the dragons next, I wonder?" she muses aloud after Seira's champions defeat all their challengers.
"At what point does a human cease being human?" Syala asks aloud, "I think that's the real question there. Do you think he's found an answer yet, Alicia?"
"To be human means different things to different people. It's as much a state of mind as a simple matter of having flesh and bones," Alicia says, not having thought of that question at all herself. "We talk of 'having humanity' or 'human decency', the powerful may worry that they've 'lost touch with their humanity'. The only answer that matters is the one he can live with."
"As long as he's found one," Latha agrees, "That is what matters."
Onward.
At the end of this hall stairs descend deeper down. Grand and wide stairs as wide as the hall, stretching down farther than can be seen. Oberuth doesn't even pause his pace, striding ahead. Occasionally he's simply several stairs ahead in between the blinks of an eye. Marianne floats along, keeping pace just above the ground. Lyris brings up the rear.
Down these stairs, the light ever so slowly fading and dim shadows overtaking everything. The only sound is the sounds of boots on ground and the slight jangle of armor.
In time they descend further down, down to the bottom. Here is a cliff before a seemingly endless chasm in the ground, stretching into darkness in every direction ahead and down.
"It can't be a dead end," Marianne says, flying closer.
Oberuth begins to reply but stops. It rises from the ground - a hunk of stone, another and then another. They form a path leading ahead, into the chasm.
Lyris takes in with a cool gaze, hopping on and following.
As they walk, more and more stones, forging a path ahead, deeper into this place.
Ahead the stones form a large stone square, inlaid with a circle showing a pair of dragons in flight around each other, curling and chasing.
"It was never going to be a dead end so long as Marianne can fly," Alicia observes.
Marchalu smiles at that, "It never would be," she agrees, as...
Oberuth, Marianne and Lyris reach the circle, and the moment a foot lands on it? The entire platform rings like a bell.
Gold.
Fire.
Gold and red can be seen in the distance, like two tendrils constantly snaking around each other. They flow rather than move, becoming larger and larger as they approach. Two great dragons, one of shining gold and the other of bright crimson. They stay in orbit of one another, Oberuth slowly readying himself. Marianne breathes out, "Gold and red, perfectly vulnerable to cold." Lyris merely draws a dart as they fly closer.
"The hour is at hand," Two voices speak as one as they draw close, only slowly separating. Both are vastly larger than the slab, taking up all the space ahead utterly. "Ahead awaits the God-King, heroes."
"Yet you are not the heroes we had grown to expect," The red dragon declares, flames leaking out with every word from its mouth, "And you are far greater than you should ever have been, human, and the two of you should have passed ages ago."
Oberuth steps forward at that, "It was necessary." He meets their gazes without fear, "We will finish this task and render judgment."
"Not as if they haven't had a few years to get used to expecting others," Alicia says. "But what will the last challenge be? A simple battle with the two wyrms?"
The two wyrms are silent after that, the two groups waiting. Tension builds, neither moving.
"You will have to get past us," Goldan declares, "There can be no other choice."
Oberuth readies his sword, darts prepared. Yet the dragons do no move.
"Prove to us that you are worthy to pass judgment," Goldan goes on, "You have come so far - yet we will not let you pass if you cannot do that."
Marianne's the one that speaks up, "I was once far more than I am now, and I apparently did terribly at it. I'm just another adventurer, another heroine in the city of Balmuria. A strong one, a powerful one, but still nothing that special in the grand measure of all things. I'm no wise sage or legendary angel that will speak words of profound meaning."
A moment as eyes turn to her.
"It's also why I'm the right person to judge, darling. The God King had power, then he gained too much and became a monster. Terrible things happened until he stopped. I understand too well his story, because I lived the same story."
A grand gestures, this time to Lyris. "Lyris as well, she lived it with me."
Another gesture to Oberuth. "A man who has gained more power than he ever wanted, all because he has to."
"Do you see now? We're his kin in spirit, we know what he's been through and why he would have made the mistakes he did. With all the power we've had and have, our ability to foster good and wreak mistakes grows. We've followed the same path as the God King, a path carefully set up both in life and now through these trials. It mirrors the mistake the divine made with the Fairest Star."
"No, they're not after a fight," Alicia shakes her head. "Wisdom, and that's what Marianne is showing. I'm glad, she really has come far."
"It's been ages," Goldan finally says, "Wondering if we would be forced to battle the champions who came this far."
"We can finally rest, because you have shown both might and wisdom," Kangap says, "You need not raise your blade against us. Destiny awaits you beyond this point. There no going back now, go forward and fulfill your task."
Oberuth inclines his head as Lyris huffs. "Thank you," Commander Oberuth says. "Should you have your freedom after this, you are welcome to visit Balmuria. Another disguised dragon will hardly make a difference."
"Another?" Lyris glances rather sharply at the Commander.
"Go forward now," The two intone as one, sinking down and away. Stone rises rapidly, forming a path. Ahead is a stone temple, pillared and elegantly carved. It's quite large, the path leading to a single door leading within.
"What other disguised dragon is living there?" Marie wonders from atop Alicia's head. "Now I want to go poke around..."
"Let sleeping dragons lie, Marie," Alicia asks. "Whoever it is, they must have their reasons and they haven't done any harm."
"I want to know now, too," Jessica admits, as Syala smiles rather contentedly.
"It Oberuth knows about it, then it's not a hostile one," Antenora reasons, "So at least it's not a pressing concern."
"Exactly," Alicia nods. "Dragons need their privacy too."
Onward.
At last the temple is entered. Within is one grand room, smooth and cave like. Here in the center a great metal sphere floats. The moment it is seen, the metal begins to retract, beams of intense light radiating out.
"This is it," Lyris says, darts in hand, already moving to the side.
"For everyone," Marianne breathes, "For once I can do what I should've done a lifetime ago."
Oberuth merely watches ahead, "You're the reason for everything," he murmurs, "You'd damn well better be worth it."
"Even now I don't get to look at Daa-vid in the flesh, but it's close enough," Alicia says. "Lets see this sorry chapter in Creation's history brought to a close."
The sphere retracts into itself, revealing light. So much light. The light of a star unbound, the light of a world unbound. The three cry out and avert their eyes until from it a voice declares, rough and deep, "At last..."
Oberuth shields his eyes with his arms and peers ahead as best he can. "God-King."
Lyris looks as the light begins to fade, Marianne as well.
Slowly you can see him - a figure clad in armor head to toe, features completely hidden save for a beard. He is short as you'd expect, armor made of fine gold and jewels. Impractical, showy armor - yet it bears the marks of battle, scarred and scuffed, yet not broken.
"Serve me," The God-King declares, "I will reward you beyond anything you can imagine. The treasures of nations shall be yours, the legions of the earth and sky shall serve you. I am here to correct what has gone wrong with this Creation, to impose my will onto it. To impose a new order, a better order." He floats there, no weapon in hand, arms at his sides. He slowly raises a hand, reaching out to them. "To sweep away the arrogant and entitled."
"...I've seen what you think of other races besides the gnomes," Oberuth's voice is cold, "You may have a point, but I've seen this too many times now. I'll not parley with a genocidal monster, no matter how honeyed his promises."
"Oh....Oh dearie..." Marianne smiles cold and sharp, like the winds of a blizzard. "You don't really think filthy humans will have any interest in you?"
Lyris merely shakes her head. "Not again. Not this time."
The answer is power - a pulse of it enough to be felt even as you watch, seeming to shake all heaven and earth. "Then my first stop will be Balmuria," he declares, "A graveyard is not my desired throne, but it will suffice."
"That doesn't look like someone on the verge of death..." Alicia says, feeling a moment's trepidation. Maybe they should've gotten Arondaaq after all...
"So here's where the real battle is?" Marie asks, leaning forward atop her head and biting her lip.
"If he's on the verge of death," Jessica's voice is soft, "Then I understand how he defeated Mystra."
"Have faith," Antenora says a loud, her hand finding Alicia's shoulder.
"All we can do is watch and hope. As no doubt a great many others are..." Alicia says, still a large part of her wishing it could be her confronting the gnome down there.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=13 ]{13}
And from there, chaos. A pulse of power shatters the temple instantly, debris exploding outward.
Oberuth ignores them, pierced a dozen times yet the stone falls out of his body, wounds gone before a single drop of blood is spilled.
Marianne surrounds herself in a shell of ice, curling up as she defends herself, untouched by the assault.
Lyris simply dodges, a shard of stone ripping into her side, blood falling as she hurls darts. They bounce off his armor harmlessly amid the storm of stone and shrapnel. She stays moving, leaping from chunk to chunk of stone as it collapses.
In a blink Oberuth is before him, sword coming - only for a spectral copy of the Second Resort to appear in the God-King's hand, a loud CLANG of a perfect parry.
Amid this Marianne escapes her shell and glides back, already chanting arcane words.
The debris begin to fall away and clear, only remnants of the temple intact, shards and ledges hanging in place in the aftermath.
Alicia is silent, watching intently and picturing her own responses and tactics if she were taking part in this battle, what she would do and how it might work.
Marie is more talkative though. "Lyris's darts aren't getting through, she'll need to find another way to contribute. Hope Marianne's got something flashy in store..."
"How hard is to destroy an entire building like that?" Marchalu asks, "With but a single spell?"
Meanwhile...
> roll 1d100
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d100=75]
For a moment the God-King and Oberuth are locked, blade to blade. As they struggle, "Your sword's better than your words," Oberuth growls out.
"I'll not play in this rigged game, human," The God-King retorts, before with a push the two separate. A split second later Marianne intones in creeping, chilling words of power, "Glacier, collapse!"
From above a great glacier appears. Marianne grunts as it overshadows the God-King, slamming down - only for a single word to be uttered. In that instant the glacier shatters into a thousand needles of sharp ice, flying towards Oberuth. They clang against his shield, bounce off his armor, assail his body hopelessly. The few that wound him heal swiftly, cuts and gashes gone in a blink of the eye.
Amid all this Lyris becomes one with the shadows, leaping ahead and behind, past the battle and behind them all.
At this Marianne begins to chant again, words of rumbling power. At the same time Oberuth flips his shield onto his back, one fluid motion that undoes straps and supports, slotting it in place. His free hand draws another blade - the Second Resort.
"There were stories of Afina levelling a devil fortress on Lifasa towards the end of their crusade," Alicia tells Marchalu as she watches. "Marie might do almost as well with her true meteor swarm, but it wouldn't just explode like that."
"It would be like stepping on a sandcastle rather than having it detonate from within," Marie agrees from atop Alicia's head. "Like Marianne's spell just now actually."
"You know I always worried there might be a trick with the Resorts, that they might turn against us in the final battle. Or that Daa-vid would have some way to influence or more easily attack anyone who'd used gnomish spellgems like Seira had," Alicia goes on as the battle continues and Oberuth switches to dual-wielding. "Right now though it's just power against power..."
"The Second Resort," The God-King pauses as everyone watches, his voice harsh.
Oberuth raises the blade in a salute to the armored gnome, vanishing and appearing, closing in once more.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 84 > [d100=84]
Marianne grows mightier, the ghostly image of a tarrasque momentarily imposed over her. She is taller now, standing straight and ready. As this happens and Oberuth closes in? The God-King sails back, a leap as he turns and darts to back - right at Lyris, her eyes widening as his armored glove touches her arm. A scream from Lyris as that arm becomes a writhing green snake, writing and sinking its fangs into Lyris's neck, her own arm in open rebellion against her.
"Lyris!" Marianne calls, flying forward rapidly, but Oberuth is faster. He's there, blades swinging - and this time the God-King dodges fast, the moment the Second Resort is seen. Bands of glittering gemstone appear with nary a word or gesture, flying towards Oberuth. Yet with a swing of both blades, most of the bands are shattered, and only one survives to latch onto his upper leg. It bands on tight, cutting and barely drawing blood, pushed out as the wound heals.
Alicia winces as one act effectively removes Lyris from the fight. She hopes she can come back from it but now it seems like it's purely down to Oberuth and Marianne. "I don't like how close this is getting..."
"It's too close," Antenora breathes, "I don't think he has an answer for Oberuth yet, but the other two are in trouble."
"Faith," Latha says in a single word, "We'll see this through until the end.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 63 > [d100=63]
Amid the ruins of the temple Oberuth appears again, pursuing the God-King. He pushes him back, Second Resort slashing at him, dodged again and again. Meanwhile Marianne reaches Lyris and gestures quickly, a twisting wrench as her arm returns to normal. Lyris slumps to her knees, being noisily sick before rising, shaking, but rising.
"You have the others?" The God King sneers at that, while Oberuth just smiles grimly.
"I don't need your tools to end you, monster," Oberuth says, "But I'll let you see them one more time, when it's buried in your gut."
With a clash the two meet again. Phantasm on reality, magic against solid. Two Second Resorts meet, a loud whine of stressing metal as the two collide. The God-King again parries, hand going up and shining with magic - only to stop, spellfire fading from his hand. His hand goes up to catch a thrown dart, Lyirs glaring defiance at him.
"We always knew it would never be easy. Hope Marianne didn't have to use a wish to fix Lyris there..." Marie says, watching intently.
Syala's hand is in yours, assuring as...
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 77 > [d100=77]
Intensification.
There's no words this time, but the God-King blinks back and away. Dozens of bursts of gemstone bright light erupt amid the heroes, the soft, crystalline TING of gemstones being struck also heard.
Oberuth charges, taking his srikes. Parts of him are turned to shattering crystal, only to regrow as he goes, hale and hearty flesh returning. As he charges in, the rest of the bursts clear. A gemstone colored shield of ice crumbles away, revealing Lyris and Marianne behind it, untouched. In that moment Marianne utters a roar of magic, suddenly moving blurringly fast. She's like a dart at the God-King, her rapier alight with arcane fire. She lunges, so fast that her strike makes contact with his armor, thrusting in. It's a grazing shoulder wound, a sudden and furious charge of tremendous speed. A moment later there's a tremendous crackle of collapsing magic, a dispel ripping through the God-King.
As in the background Lyris leaps from debris to debris, closing in and staying away from the others? Oberuth darts in and raises the Second Resort in a sublimely fast slash, coming down. This time the God-King doesn't try and dodge. He bulls forward, the weapon only grazing his side. He reaches out and touches Marianne's chest.
"Wha-" Marianne manages, a soft cry. The sound of breaking crystal.
Chunks of crystal slowly fall from Marianne's chest, her chest and heart now nothing but crumbling crystal. Marianne's eyes go wide at this, a few gasped words, the beginning of a counter.
It's then that steel spikes follow up from within the wound. She is impaled a dozen times from the inside out, spike tips jutting out from her body all over. All Marianne can do is softly exhale one last time before she slumps and falls, plummeting away, her rapier still trailing spellfire.
"Oh no!" Marie gasps, hands going to her mouth.
Alicia closes her eyes a moment, squeezing Syala's hand. With how she's spent her second chance, Marianne deserved better. Lyris and the others who's lives she's touched deserved better. She'll have to check with Demedais after this where she goes to, but presumably Seira will claim her if none other. But she might just be the first, as their odds have gotten a lot worse, tilting the scales against Oberuth and Lyris now.
Antenora bows her head, "Thank you, Marianne."
Syala's grip on your hand becomes crushing, enough to be painful. Her gaze is narrow now, not a word uttered.
"A hero's death," Strength of Light says, "She will be honored for it."
Meanwhile...
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d100=71]
A flash. Another dart? Lyris's gaze is deadly calm now as the God-King reaches up to snatch it - and the Third Resort stabs hard into his hand, through the palm and sticking out the other side. A grunt of pain from the God-King as Oberuth takes that moment, Second Resort coming for the God-King's arm.
Yet the gnome is too fast, dodging even in pain - and right into Oberuth's fist, denting his helmet's faceguard from fist and the hilt of Tears, his free hand going up to strike a blow. The bones in Oberuth's hand loudly break, but visibly begin to resume the proper position, healing away. This impact knocks the God-King back a step, head snapping back.
For that moment, for that one moment, Oberuth has the advantage. His foot comes up and he kicks the God-King back, boot connecting with armored stomach. The gnome is pushed back even further from that - until with a bright flash of light, Oberuth is momentarily blinded, a grunt of pain. The God-King dives back as Lyris shields her eyes - and passes by her. His hand lashes out, a sharp, large gemstone shoved into her ear, seemingly produced from nowhere.
A split second later a burst of pure sonic fury erupts around Lyris's head. A horrible curtain of blood, obscuring all...until it clears. Most of Lyris's left face is gone, blood pouring - but she's up, surviving eye glaring malevolently at the God-King.
"Hang in there Lyris!" Marie calls nervously.
"The Commander's regeneration is key now," Alicia says, but Lyris doesn't have that advantage, how she can even stay alive never mind coherent and fighting with a wound like that speaks volumes of her endurance and willpower. It'll have to be enough.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d100=18]
That survival seems to for one moment surprise the God-King. He doesn't react, he doesn't move - and Oberuth is behind him. The God-King whirls, a blur of metal and magic, a word uttered. There is a hellfire inferno that erupts, blocking vision as it immolates everything.
When your vision clears, the Second Resort and Tears are impaled through the God-King's chest, one besides another. The God-King blinks back, sagging, bleeding - but even with his heart pierced, he does not collapse. Oberuth is burnt horribly, blackened all over, yet healing before your eyes. He relentlessly comes forward, vanishing cleanly, a dozen steps at once. With a slow cry, the gnome reaches up, pulling the Second Resort out of his chest. Blood pours but he stands in defiance, blade in hand at last.
Slowly the God-King raises the Second Resort up - only to bring it down, to bat away darts. Somehow Lyris is faster, somehow she's moving, anticipating it perfectly. Lyris charges in with a gurgling, wild scream, coming right at him. She makes no move to dodge the counter thrust, impaled straight through the chest. Yet she doesn't stop. With one half of a grimace her hand darts out, grabbing the Third Resort. She pulls it out of the gnome's hand, and even as her lifeblood pours out, stabs it into the side of the God-King's armored head.
There is a moment as the God King's hand slips off the Second Resort, all before he stumbles back. He falls, Lyris on top of him and flopping to the side as Oberuth reaches there. He picks up the Second Resort and without hesitation, impales the God-King once, twice, thrice.
It's over.
Oberuth drops the blade and kneels by Lyris. She manages to whisper something, unheard, before Oberuth gently places her down to the ground.
"She just couldn't wait to join Marianne again, just like before..." Alicia says softly as the action culminates. "It's done. I hope it proves to be worth their sacrifice, mortals who died for the folly of the Gods while taking the second chance given after their own folly. There's a symmetry there, of sorts."
"Poor Oberuth. An old man outliving the young women he went into battle with," Marie says. "He won't be feeling good about any of this."
"I don't think anyone is, Marie," Alicia says, unable to help but wonder how it would have gone if she'd been there like she was supposed to have been.
"He is a warrior," Strength of Light says, "He'll find his way. War's in his blood, no matter how much he loves peace."
Antenora's own voice is barely a whisper, "What a curse, to be mortal and ageless. To bury all of your friends as an old man."
"It's done. It had to be done," Latha says, "Let us weep for those who suffered after, but see this last measure through." Her own voice is gentle and hopeful, "Fear not. We know they will be rewarded for this."
"Yes. Judgement on Daa-vid has been passed. Now comes judgement on the Gods," Alicia says after Latha's piece. "Let us see it through."
Oberuth rises and gets his blades back, sheathing them. In the silence the voice without a voice speaks.
It is done.
The body of the God-King is gone, leaving behind naught but one thing - a radiant point of light, which rises up and orbits Oberuth several times. In that light you can see all a world, unspoken and undetermined, a trillion possibilities in the blink of an eye.
Here Oberuth regards it, face tired as he blows out a breath. "You shouldn't have been meddled with. I've never wanted that sort of power. All I ever wanted was a world that made sense, not a world of magic where I'm a hero of legend. Not a world where everything was all about you and the fools who wouldn't let you be as you were meant to be."
A long moment.
"But there is one thing, since no one ever listens to what I want."
Oberuth reaches out to it, touches the Fairest Star. It is just for one moment before with a grunt he removes his hand and in a ragged, shaking voice he says, "...Go. Be born you damned thing."
In that instant the light becomes infinitely more and is then gone - save for one tiny fragment of it. One tiny fragment that lingers around Oberuth's hand, slowly rising up and dissolving into the air.
Lyris coughs, once and then twice. Her body is whole once more, breath drawn in and out.
Will that prime be born? Can it exist fully even after having so much of itself used to fuel Daa-vid's power?
Alicia tries to follow it with her own divine senses while watching what Antenora is showing them of events near Balmuria.
"Did that resurrect Marianne as well?" Marie asks, leaning towards Antenora.
You feel it - power surges into it as it vanishes even from your sight, something unknown instantly bolstering it, making it as it should be.
"I can't imagine he wouldn't," Jessica says, "Look, sister!"
Oberuth exhales one more time at that, a sigh of simple relief.
"Lyris?" Marianne calls from below, flying up, "Hellman?"
"I see," Alicia says, smiling at Jessica. "That new prime though, it's gone past where I can perceive it... thought I might have had a chance to get in on the ground floor," she chuckles ruefully.
"It probably needs a bit of time to sort itself out, if you can't track it I'm sure no one else can either," Marie comforts Alicia.
"We won," Oberuth says as Lyris manages to rise and hugs Marianne, sitting down and watching. He rests for a few moments as the two share quiet words.
"The Fairest Star wanted me to use it," he says, sounding simply tired more than anything else. "The God-King had changed its nature." Looking up, "Rejecting it was part of this judgment so it could be born, wasn't it?"
The Fairest Star will be born. Now you three shall stand in judgment and settle this affair.
"Three to censure, three to banish, three to augment." Marianne agrees.
Choose.
"The Arbiter never mentioned using the Fairest Star as a possibility to me, but then again I'd already made my feelings clear on how monstrous it was to start with," Alicia mentions to the others with her as they watch to see which gods will gain and which will lose now all is said and done.
"It may have been a surprise, or something due to Oberuth's nature?" Antenora suggests, "He may have been capable of using it when others weren't."
Meanwhile...
"I'll go first, Marianne and I already decided," Lyris parts from the hug, "Banish Shar. Censure Shar. Enhance Selune." After a moment, "Because Shar is horrible, Shar is horrible and a Selunite is one of my close friends."
Both Alicia and Seira can feel it, a cosmic wave trembling across Creation. A shift, an adjustment as the voice without a voice utters but one silent word.
Done.
At this Lyris smiles, "Fuck you, Shar."
Alicia smiles widely. "Good choices." For all that Eladi said this was a mere distraction, attacking Shar in this manner may well save Creation. Her power which had been waxing tremendously has now been stripped back. Defeating her is now more possible than ever.
Though she can't help but worry what Ao might do if Shar wasn't around to act as his executioner.
A cheer goes up from Latha at this, soon raised by Antenora and the rest. Amid this cheering...
"My turn," Marianne says, "First, I'd like to banish Loviatar - her entire faith is distasteful," Marianne says. "Censure Malar, I have no use for bestial violence, not like he represents. I did that in one lifetime." A moment, "Enhance Seira, she's the reason we've come this far."
A cosmic wave, powerful as the last, spreads.
"Neither ones I've had much contact or quarrel with, but fair choices," Alicia allows. "I wonder how much Seira's been bolstered by? We'll find out soon and it should tell us how much the censured ones are weakened as well."
"If those are equal, there's more blame than praise to go around here," Syala points out.
"The whole point is to judge the gods who were so reckless and wasteful with the Fairest Star, there's blame aplenty," Alicia returns. "But I was told that to be augmented and to be censured are the reverse of one another."
Oberuth's last. Staying where he is, "Can I request something else?"
No.
"Damn that overeager thing," Oberuth mutters, "Enhance Helm. He's stood with Balmuria the entire time. Banish Pale Night, I have no need of her madness in my world. Censure Asmodeus."
A third cosmic wave that spreads far and wide, rippling out.
It is done. Thus ends this judgment.
In that moment all is remade. Oberuth, Marianne and Lyris stand near the shore - an unremarkable shore, no signs of an entrance, no signs of ruins at all.
"Why didn't he banish Asmodeus as well?" Alicia asks. "Well, this will still impact Hell, but considering their interest in our world I can't help but feel banishing Asmodeus would have been the better decision there."
Also given the complicated nature of Pale Night she wonders if acting against her was for the best in the long term.
"Well, if Sylian's treated as working on behalf of Pale Night, that might give him a good night's sleep?" Marie ventures. "Shame he picked Helm instead of Mystra, but he never did like magic," she sighs in disappointment. "Even Waukeen lost out."
"Yes, we never got to judge as we were supposed to, and our sponsors never saw the benefit of it. But I think Waukeen is happy to have Seira as a friend among the Gods nonetheless," Alicia says.
"Mystra's happy to have you as well," Antenora adds, smiling as she sees Seira's avatar appear before them on the Prime.
"It could be petty, simple revenge as well," Syala points out, "It's still hardly a bad choice."
"Yes. But now... Shar wanes while the moon waxes. I think we ought to consider how we can take advantage of this," Alicia rises. "Marchalu, Strength of Light, lets table our discussion on Fire for now? We may be distracted elsewhere."
Agreement and...
Any immediate next move?
Lets go visit Mystra. She's surely planned for this day!
Sure. Who's coming? I assume full party for something like this.
Yeah lets go with Alicia, Marie, Syala, Anty, Latha, and Jessica.
As you would expect, Dweomerheart is radiant. You see it only a moment, your movements taking you deeper within, towards the center. Towards Mystra.
Mystra awaits in a shining silver room, where arcane fire can be seen whirling in midair, ltitle bursts of it that come to life and fade every few moments. Here great silver slabs are set into the wall, where on those spells are listed, a grand list of magic.
"At last, the past is settled," Mystra greets all of you.
"Settled and done, put to right," Antenora agrees.
"Though I couldn't be a part of it like I'd wanted, it's done and done well," Alicia responds as she approaches Mystra. "And Shar has just had a great big stopper placed on her ascent. I don't think she'll take it lying down, but it gives us a great opportunity to turn her stumble into a fall, doesn't it?"
The answering smile from Mystra is as sharp as your sword. "Selune's already preparing a new round of efforts," she says, "She's invigorated."
Syala comes forward as well, "Then who are we to fall behind? Alicia, we aren't going to fall behind in beating Shar and her servants up. I won't tolerate it."
"Tolerate it?" Latha steps up, "I won't let it happen as long as I shine down on Sylica."
"You'd better not," Jessica says, "Sister, I think none of us are that silly."
"We can't be left behind," Alicia agrees. "We're stretched thin, and can't contribute as much directly, but even so for Shar we're all willing to go all out."
"Besides, she's got even more reason to try and get Dragodan back now," Marie pipes up. "So we ought to send her trouble before it gets sent to us."
"I still would not like to face her avatar, not yet," Latha says, "Will we be able to withstand if she takes the full measure against us?"
"It wouldn't be pleasant," Alicia says, not wanting to completely dampen anyone's spirits in the face of Latha's question. None of them are idiots, they don't need her to tell her how it would likely go. "That's why we have to work together with our friends, so no one is left withstanding Shar's full measure on their own."
"Together," Antenora agrees, "As we've always meant to be."
"We can defeat her," Jessica says, "Even if it will cost us - and she's not one to use her avatars lightly." Her agreement is rather quiet, "I've always worried we'd come on her avatar in a position we can't retreat from."
"We've been lucky on that front, but it's a risk that's always been there, and she's got one less avatar right now anyway," Alicia says rather than get lost in defeatism, they all know Shar's strong belabouring it just saps morale.
"Still, this is a time of celebration," Mystra states, "Let us celebrate rather than linger in the challenges ahead."
Maybe Selune and Helm and Seira can celebrate, but it doesn't seem a good use of their own time. "If there's nothing immediately in the offing we need to prepare for upcoming attacks on Fire," she demurs. "That war isn't going to stand still regardless of what else happens."
To this Mystra smiles, "Your sense of duty is commendable," she agrees, "Go. One crusade at a time."
"Please do call on us if you think there's anything we can help with on the Shar side," she asks.
Now then, may as well go home and reconvene that meeting with Strength of Light and Marchalu.
Due to vacation, it's been a bit. Refresh me on your goals for that meeting?
Latha and Anty were sitting in too, plan was basically to figure out where Sylica can and should attack efreet holdings on Fire and handle potential counterattacks.
Getting everyone together again isn't hard as Strength of Light stands. "Before we begin, what of the dao?" he asks you. "Will they continue in the war?"
"Unknown for now, Seira's got a ceasefire with them for most of the next week, but whether that'll lead to them pulling back or not isn't certain. It's looking that way, though," Alicia answers. "We'll probably have to give up the Abyssal Lake as part of any deal."
"I believe it'll come down to if they can find terms they can live with," Antenora says, "Obvious, but with the personalities involved, it's more relevant than ever." Tapping a finger on the table, "Assume they'll be a problem for now, we can redistribute any forces freed up if they do quit the war."
"I greatly dislike giving away my own works," Latha speaks up, "If we are to, I wish that my works there be destroyed. I will not give the dao my handiwork."
"It's too big to fit through a gate, but it's not much trouble for me to plane shift so long as I enlarge myself first," Alicia reassures Latha. "Little use for it in Sylica but we can still keep it for a rainy day."
"Beyond that," Antenora goes on, "Do we have targets?"
Here Strength of Light clears his throat, "With Zaaman Rul's victory, while there are still interplanar problems and we're fortifying against those, the momentum is on our side. The efreet are largely taking a defensive stance at the moment, so it's a question of what targets we strike."
"Military targets, ones that'll hamper them in the long term if they seek to draw the war out," Alicia says, thinking that'll better cover gaps left by Seira. "Research facilities, forges and shipyards, training grounds, things like that."
Shipyards on Fire isn't as unlikely as it sounds, they make flying boats out of stone after all.
"A great deal of production is in the City of Brass or near it," Strength of Light says, "Which is their strongest point. Amdi those that are left, they have the Blackstone Galleys, where ships that float on hot air are created."
"Seira's talking about attacking the city but I'd rather poke at the edges before committing that far. What do we have on the Galleys?" Alicia asks, going with that option.
"It's a large production yard that's rather isolated. The manual defenses are minimal, save for one. Blue flames manifest there, far hotter than normal fire. Only natives of Fire are safe from it, not even magic will protect you." Strength of Light explains, "So ships are made there in peace, with enough forces to fend off the natives or Zaaman Rul."
"Will our own natures protect us, even if we are not natives of Fire?" Antenora asks, "Hell's fires forged this body, and I will not believe they are inferior to the flames of Fire."
"...you came from Caina," Latha says, rather archly. "Land of forever winter and the frozen heart of Mephisto."
A beat. Another beat. "Yes...well." Antenora has the good graces to flush. "I meant in a rhetorical manner."
Latha cracks a smile at that, "So far into your rhetoric that you forgot to check your own reality."
"Be that as it may," Alicia cuts in, "It's most likely the sort of fire that only creatures of fire - the kind that are correspondingly weak to cold, can handle. How pervasive are the flames?" she asks Strength of Light.
"Common," Strength of Light says, "They also arch high into the sky in an unpredictable way, making aerial assaults dangerous as well."
"But they can be dodged, that can be worked with," Alicia says. "So long as we can endure the flames and keep healing up the burns they cause it shouldn't pose too much a difficulty to wreck the facilities and capture the workers."
"We'll need to be prepared," Antenora says, "I should go. My divine succor will be highly useful throughout this venture."
Marchalu speaks up, "There's one other thing, ma'am. I have reports of a clutch of dragons or dragon like creatures, type unknown, that lair in the area. They seem immune to the fires as well."
"Red dragons would be," she says after giving Antenora a little nod. "No indication of them working with the efreet?"
"None that I can find, but information is scarce," Marchalu says, "Our source is a defector from a few millenia ago, and he's since unavailable - assassinated. It's an old story, but it's the most reliable we have.""
"So could've been a few wyrmlings that are now a great wyrm for all we know then?" Alicia asks. "It's fine, I know most of your resources are focused internally rather than on gathering information from outside. Whatever the case may be, we'll take care of it."
"Then," Antenora says, "Who will go and how will we do this, Alicia?"
"Us two and Syala should be more than sufficient for the job," Alicia decides. "We'll gate in nearby and openly assault the base. Dealing with that fire will be too much extra pressure to worry about trying anything clever."
"You're right," Antenora says after a few moments of thought, "Another could come up with a clever solution, but I believe that we are better served by direct action."
"We'll wait and see how things play out for the rest of the day then," Alicia says. "Unless there's a big change on Fire or events overtake us elsewhere, we'll launch the attack tomorrow."
General agreement at that and...
Okay, anything to do or just waiting for the day to pass?
Just have to wait now.
Quick check: What exact domains do you have?
Good, Law, Magic, War, Purification, Liberation
It's abrupt. You can feel it as you wait and prepare - a shift, some factor of the war changing in a way you can't ignore.
Alicia focuses on that feeling with her divine sense for such things to narrow down exactly what's changed!
A resonation, a shift - something has changed without any doubt. One has fallen and a new one has risen in his place.
There may well be a new Grand Sultan now.
Is it just efreet fighting over it or are devils involved?
How fine is the control over your portfolio sense? In particular, how many participants are needed to discern something? It should be in there, if not tell me and I'll check and point out the relevant section.
Demigods have a limited ability to sense events involving their portfolios. They automatically sense any event that involves one thousand or more people. The ability is limited to the present.
Thank you.
You believe you can feel devils, the scent of brimstone and fire.
Alicia gathers Syala and Antenora. "The Sultan has been deposed, I can feel it," she announces first off. "And devils were heavily involved."
Antenora's expression is steely, "Have preparations begun yet?" she asks, to the point, "If Hell's thrown in, this is only going to get worse."
"Who took the throne? Akil?" Syala asks, "We'll find out soon enough."
"I can't sense that, but yes I'm sure we will. Lets go visit the Cauldron and confer with Seira."
I'll move you over and set you both up.