First post is setup. Don't reply until after the next post.
Hammer
Command: Ithea (Strike Force)
Officers: Baleruk, Moore, Crystal, Misalea, Arrel, Stille, Origin
Forces:
Lathander's Adamantine Golem Squad
1 Battle Horror
98 Ysgardian warriors. They range from 2 to 5 hd, having levels in fighter and barbarian. Several have lycanthropy, blessed by Selune to be able to control it. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 100/100 (Devoted)
131 female students of the Graceful Blow. They range from 4 to 10 hd, having levels in sorcerer, fighter and swashbuckler. Alignment: Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, Neutral and Chaotic Neutral. Morale: 100/100 (Devoted)
40 pixies from Lifasa. They range from 3 to 6 hd, having levels in rogue, sorcerer, ranger and scout. Alignment: Neutral Good. Morale: 70/100 (Good)
205 air elementals of small, medium and large size. They range from 3 to 10 hd, having levels in fighter and aerial avenger. Alignment: Neutral. Morale: 82/100 (Fanatic)
500 Ysgardian Regulars of medium size. They range from 3 to 12 hd, having levels in fighter, paladin of freedom, ranger and barbarian. Alignment: Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral. Morale: 95/100 (Fanatic)
50 Sylican regulars of medium size. They range from 3 to 12 hd, having levels in many different classes. Alignment: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good. Morale: 70/100 (Fair)
20 knights of the wise convent. They range from 6 to 12 hd, having levels in fighter, rogue and knight of the wise convent. Alignment: Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good. Morale: 77/100 (Good).
28 air elementals of shinear. They range from 3 to 10 hd, having levels in dragon shaman. Alignment: Neutral, Neutral Good. Morale: 80/100 (Good)
50 elven detachment of the confederation of liberators. They range from 5 to 12 hd, having levels in many different classes. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 77/100 (Good)
100 triune courre. They range from 3 to 5 hd, having levels in cleric, healer and favored soul. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 87/100 (Fanatic)
84 pixies of the purple pixie brigade. They range from 5 to 10 hd, having levels in rogue, fighter and scout Alignment: Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral, Neutral. Morale: 70/100 (Good)
50 freed eidolons of rimefire. They range from 12 to 13 hd, having levels in sorcerer and frost mage. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 60/100 (Fair)
30 ladies of the butterfly kinship. They range from 7 to 10 hd, having levels in druid. Alignment: Neutral Good, Neutral, Chaotic Neutral. Morale: 74/100 (Good)
100 lantern archons. They range from 3 to 4 hd, having levels in scout. Alignment: Lawful Good. Morale: 60/100 (Fair)
210 lillend. They range from 8 to 14 hd and have levels in bard. Alignment: Chaotic Good. Morale: 70/100 (Fair)
Quick question, Ithea. What officers are you keeping around you and which ones are dealing with the troops? I assume you're keeping at least one near you for obvious reasons.
Let's keep Moore with me, since he's more of a buffer than combat guy. Plus that way you don't have to worry about potential second thread for him.
Fantastic.
The strike force strides in immediately. The very front of the spherical area here is calm. Celestials patrol about, flying amid open air, walking where earth is and swimming when needed. Fire is extinguished and paths are made. The zone of control extends perhaps half a mile, your forces getting cheers as you go in.
"Everyone be careful, and warn others if someone gets past! Try to minimize that, but don't worry too heavily either! Jaela and her group can handle a few incursions that get past us!" Ithea says. "Good luck, be safe, win your fights!"
Can we assume we had time for Heroes' Feast lunch? And if so, would Baleruk be able to fit at our cafeteria?
I assumed yes for myself anyway. You can handle the other officers feasting or not, and Moore can do himself~
[17:21] <Merc> roll d8+10 heroes feast Ithea
[17:21] <Rei-chan> Merc rolled : d8+10 heroes feast Ithea --> [ 1d8=8 ]{18}
[17:21] <Merc> yay
Yes and Baleruk can manage to get food, sure.
The strike force leads on. The first choice is ahead, at the edge of the celestial's zone of control. A large rock face of stone blocks the way directly ahead, extending up and down for several hundred feet in both directions.
"Sir," A lillend approaches Ithea, "Inspire us - should we go around this mountain or attempt to obliterate it?"
Do I feel like I can use anarch abilities to split a path open?
You're not sure. One way to find out.
Ithea adopts a pensive look briefly as she attempts to control and split open a path forward through the rock with her mind, hoping they're close enough for it to work.
Someone roll a wisdom check for Ithea, please!
Roll d20+8+8 Wisdom check + Anarch bonus (assuming bonus applies)
[14:28] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+8+8 Anarchy Roll
[14:28] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+8+8 Anarchy Roll --> [ 1d20=9 ]{25}
It's...sort of chaotic here? It's possible but harder. Ithea works her mind as much as it can - until the rock ahead of them cracks loudly and breaks in two, the mountain falling away and revealing empty space within - save for one thing that floats there. A single building of black obsidian, an oversized hut.
Moore opens his mouth and then shuts it again, only to open it again once more.
"Does that normally happen?" He asks.
"The hut? Probably not. The mountain splitting? That was Afina being right about my anarch abilities being of use here. Harder than Limbo, but still doable. Not sure how well that trick will work in combat," Ithea answers Moore first before turning to the lilend. "Through it seems like it'll work this time."
As Ithea and Moore talk, the hut begins to fly forward, right for the strike team.
Orders, Ithea?
"Everyone, prepare for combat! Moore, keep an eye on Jaela's team so we don't get too distracted by whatever's in that hut!"
Any further details that could be gleaned via a Spot check towards the hut?
Moore does as he's asked! "Oh, we really should've come up with some sort of easy-to-understand signal for this sort of thing..."
"I'll trust you to summarize when necessary," Ithea replies at that.
[22:54] <Merc> roll d20+51 spot
[22:54] <Penuche> Merc invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=2]
It's a great, big building of obsidian. It's rusting right at the strike force's front lines.
Any commands to issue here or just going to let your troops do their thing, Ithea?
They can do their own thing. If things look bad, I may be more hands on but if they seem ok, I'll leave em to their own devices.
Okay.
> roll 1d20+10 Baleruk
<Serith> Ko-Thehuntforkappamech roll for Serith < 23 > [d20=13]
"Forward!" Baleruk roars, pouncing on the building as if he were a tiger and the house a deer. He intercepts it and grapples it, spraying prismatic and elemental breath all over it. The adamantine golems follow, slamming into the held building on both sides. Mighty fists pound down walls, opening them up. From it gushes skeletons like pus from a boil, running out rapidly in all directions. These skeletons are strange - twisted things, hunks of disorganized and throbbing flesh growing in places, often not matching from patch to patch on the same skeleton.
But your troops are ready. Lantern archons fire as air elementals and students of the Graceful Blow meet the skeletons. "Now! Strike!" The Graceful Blow rips through the skeletons and dance away, almost entirely untouched. Above courre fly, rain down arrows and shout, "For Lifasa!" in cutesy voices, as Ysgardian warriors crash into them. It's not a long battle, the skeletons shattered with minimal wounded and losses. Inside the building, Ithea can see it is full of bones and metal - strange, alien shapes of steel and other metals.
Ball's in your court to how to go from here. Skirmish was largely a rout in your favor.
At a glance, does it look like it'd be worth spending a scroll of gate to recover the metals? Or money-loss venture?
You'd have to look in with someone with skill in Appraise. Speaking of...
Baleruk roars, the building still in his grip. "This treasure shall go to my hoard," the dragon bellows, clinging to it like it is a precious gemstone.
"Alright. You have a way to get it back, I hope?" Ithea asks.
"Yes, I DO HAVE SO!" Baleruk declares, going around and batting the building with his tail. Like a ball, it is hit and sent flying in the direction of Aurora.
> roll 1d100 to see how well he aimed, since it's essentially a luck check Kobot
<Kobot> Ko-Thehuntforkappamech rolled 1d100 to see how well he aimed, since it's essentially a luck check Kobot --> [ 1d100=75 ]{75}
"If Afina thinks they're under attack, they might destroy that, you know," Ithea points out drily before gesturing at the rest of the group to keep moving forward.
Past the rock, the group finds ahead is fields of fire. Roaring flames, as if Fire's wrath has spilled out here, blocking the way dead ahead. Crystal flies up as Ithea takes this in, nodding to both Moore and Ithea. "If we go up 250 feet or so, we hit water instead. It can be swum through. If we go around on the right 380 feet, we hit open space with floating obsidian buildings. 600 feet to the right looks to be free floating plains. If we go down 400 feet, there's more solid earth blocking the way."
Moore offers Crystal a wave and a smile.
"Would it be less of an issue to simply try and quell the fires and proceed forward?" Moore asks, glancing to Ithea. "I would imagine Jaela's forces won't want to go swimming if they can help it."
"Let's see if I can keep opening a path up. If not, we'll figure out which path to take, probably the floating planes will be easiest," Ithea says, as she concentrates on the roaring flames, trying to smother them or at least grow out some of the solid earth from below to create a vast tunnel for a group their size.
[22:05] <@Harley> roll d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch bonus
[22:05] <Kobot> Harley rolled d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch bonus --> [ 1d20=3 ]{19}
No good. IT's just not responding.
"Moore," Crystal nods back to him, "That, and also our more fragile soldiers are under great danger from the flames."
"Well, if there's no way to safely cross the flames, then I think I'd agree with Ithea's assessment, presuming that anyone who can't fly won't be in trouble. We already ran into that before..."
Anything stopping is from going through the floating plains or is everyone capable of traveling there (outside of unforseen obstacles)?
Nothing that you can see, beyond being the longest distance to travel.
"No good. Even though it might be the longest way, everyone should be able to travel through those floating plains. Lets head that way quickly."
The army swiftly heads through the plains, traveling over them. Sunshine comes from nowhere, shining down as you cross them quickly.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d100=12]
As you cross it, forward elements can see someone approaching. A trumpet archon, silver armor battered and in ruins. He has cuts all over his body, his left arm hanging uselessly, clearly broken. Both of his wings are burnt. There's no sign of his trumpet and he staggers in the air rather than moving normally.
Does anyone besides me have good healing spells for a situation like this? I don't know what Origin's got.
Crystal and Misalea have some healing, while Stille can drop heal spells for serious healing.
"I'll go." Moore says as he starts to fly towards the archon!
Moore flies over as the front scouts help him. Members of the Graceful Blow hold the archon up as he looks on, "Listen," he coughs, "It must be known..." Another cough, this one ragged, "The Adversary's forces roam in greater number ahead."
"Okay, we'll pass that on. Hold still, though." Moore says as he reaches out to heal the poor celestial!
Heal, 120 HP restored.
The archon's wounds heal immediately, knitting back to normal. He stands straight at that, "Thank you," he says, "You aren't Celestia's regulars. What banner do you serve?"
"We're with Aurora." Moore says. "Although I do have ties to Lord Erathaol. My name is Moore -- we're on our way deeper in. Maybe you should explain the situation to our commander, Ithea. That way we can decide how to proceed."
"We made it about 5 miles in. The daemons have a defensive line there, they control the chaos through several slaad anarchs they've taken control of," The trumpet archon explains. "A stray barbazu," The archon's face twists in distaste, "Indicated that his unit was repulsed and shattered by the line. There's evidence that demons and anyone in favor of the rift can go through."
"Then it sounds like that's going to be our next destination." Moore says with a nod. "If you need to return to Lord Domiel, the path should be clear. I'll go explain the situation."
"Thank you," The archon says again, "Past that is the halfway point - it's a twenty mile sphere in diameter, so breach that and you'll reach where the fiends have the strongest control. Chronias guide you," The trumpet archon smiles at Moore briefly, before flying off and away.
Moore waves him off as he returns to Ithea!
"He said that 'The Adversary's' forces are in greater numbers ahead. About 5 miles from here is a defensive line controlled by daemons that have some slaads under their control there." Moore explains." I think that should be our next destination, since they're doing what they can to ensure the rift widens. However, this is your operation, I just wanted to pass the details on."
Knowledge check to know who this adversary is, or should it be clear enough for the most part? I forget people's (or deities as is often the case) nicknames honestly.
"Slaads? Why would they....are they anarchs? That'll be tough, I've only ever fought one anarch slaad and I never even saw it, but it was capable of controlling everything around me. I was only ever able to surprise it on rare occassions with my own anarch abilities, mostly the first time I used them and a few rare times afterwards simply by note of not relying on them in his dungeon."
Ithea frowns and nods. "No, you're right, we'll want to deal with them, especially those slaads, I think. They can cause a lot of damage if they're not expected."
K:P, Ithea.
"I mean, in theory, if we liberate them, we might be able to get them to help us. Or... maybe just go away." Moore offers.
K:P
[20:46] <Merc-zzz> roll d20+42
[20:46] <Serith> Merc-zzz roll for Serith < 57 > [d20=15]
Ithea recalls the Adversary is the new Oinoloth. He overthrow the previous one a decade or two ago and has mostly been consolidating his position. His true identity isn't known and he plays things fairly low-key. As the master of the Siege Malicious, he can create any disease he desires. Further, as the new Oinoloth, he is one of the ruling yugoloths and commands great swaths of followers.
"Perhaps. We'll see how they react when we show up. Either way, I don't want them causing trouble for Jaela's group," Ithea responds to Moore before she starts continuing forward.
Moore nods. He'll ask Crystal to go over and explain the situation to Jaela's group for the time being, so there's no confusion.
Crystal takes the command and goes to do exactly that. Meanwhile, the rest of the strike force continues on.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 52 > [d100=52]
You make it about two miles in now, well past the celestial zone of control. It's slow and tough going, having maneuver around hostile terrain and the like. Ithea's anarch abilities help sometimes, recouping some time lost. This time the group comes to a free floating ocean and Ithea's anarch powers are the answer, splitting it apart. But as you do, sharks come from it. Hugely oversized sharks, rotting and twisted, with fiendish features. They swim in the open air as fast as the water, a line of about four dozen coming at the strike group.
Your chance to give commands and the like, Ithea.
Ithea fires a chain lightning spell at them. "If you have ranged attacks, fire away! If you don't, get ready to intercept and batter them down as they get closer!" she yells behind her to the others.
Can I get the spell off, or init first?
You can, Astral quickening is a thing. Roll damage, no SR. I'm not going too dice heavy here since it's primarily an army action rather than a normal combat.
Moore doesn't have much to add at this unfortunately.
Noted.
Chain Lightning damage, [21:44] <Merc> roll 1.5*20d6
[21:44] <Serith> Merc roll for Serith < 99 > [d6=2,4,5,3,1,4,2,1,5,4,5,5,4,6,1,5,1,1,2,5]
Reflex save, DC 27 for half damage on main target, hits 26 additional targets.
Chain lightning rips through the sharks as your forces line up. Soldiers move to intercept and hold while fire support peppers the oversized predators. The golems take one side of them, weathering the attacks with barely a hit at all. Ysgardian warriors and lillend move to hold the line, trading blows as ranged attacks decimate the sharks. It is chaos, Ithea only getting pieces of it as she shouts orders and Moore prepares himself.
A Ysgardian warrior thrusting his blade into a shark's skull, only to lose most of his side at the same time, a bite for a stab that leaves both floating and dead. A lillend clubbing a shark back with a harp, followed by a blast of multicolored lights. A barrage of magic missiles striking one shark through the eyes, the wet pop of its rotting retinas somehow carrying over the battlefield din. Both Moore and Ithea can see the images, struggling against the line. Your lines are holding well despite a few losses, the sharks being ravaged far faster than they're ravaging. You'd estimate the sharks are down to about 50% strength.
Ithea and Moore, you can give orders and/or take actions here.
With the chaos that's going on, Ithea doesn't dare fire another chain lightning. Instead she also dives into the skirmish slashing away with her glaive while giving advice to those nearest her and occasionally shouting at others to watch an opening they have before a shark can get to them. Hopefully that way she can minimize losses.
Moore throws inspiration to his allies, bolstering their ability and prowess!
Inspire Courage, +12Notes for myself:
8 Nonlethal damage, -1 level 6 Cleric spell, -1 bardic music use.
The battle is joined once more. Ithea travels to the front lines, taking the sharks directly on.
> roll 1d20+35 vs Ithea's AC
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+35 vs Ithea's AC --> [ 1d20=3 ]{38}
Amid the chaos one comes at her, mouth opened wide enough to swallow her whole. But Ithea's too fast, Moore's bardsong uging her on. She dodges and severs the shark's side as the battle rages. Your lines are holding with a few more losses - you see a lillend swallowed whole, her blood floating in globs as it leaks from the shark's maw. But the ranged support is winning the day, finishing off wounded sharks that your lines met and held long enough to make them targets. With the size of the sharks, that makes them easy targets indeed, minimizing friendly fire.
Soon enough the last shark floats in the void, slain.
Free act.
"Good job everyone! Everyone that can heal, help out the injured! We'll pause for a little while before continuing on. If you think you're too injured to continue and think it better to turn back rather than continue, let the healers know so they do enough healing so you can get safely back!"
Moore, you have that song that makes healing more effective?
Yes.
"Moore, do you have that song some bards do for improving healing? If so, can you use it to help speed up our downtime?" she also asks of the pixie.
"Of course." Moore nods and flies over to help with that!
If it actually makes a difference, it's a +35 bonus.
Warriors heal up as best they can, restoring most. Arrel flies over, "Losses are light," he informs Ithea, "Our forces have not suffered meaningful losses." A glance at Moore, "Our healing is extending farther than estimated as well."
"Good. Do we know how Jaela's forces progressing? Any word of trouble on their end?" Ithea also asks. She hadn't paid attention to see if Crystal had made her way back yet.
Crystal has indeed returned. She approaches when looked at, "Everything's under control right now," she reports, "Jaela's forces have a chaos surge contained."
"Hrm...alright. Is there any need to adjust our progress, Crystal? Should we hurry or slow down at all to maintain pace with them? I do want to deal with this Adversary's forces, particularly his captured anarch slaads before they can become a dangerous distraction for them, and they're trying to stop anyone doing what their group is doing," Ithea asks the paladin pixie before glancing over the forces, checking to see if they're about good to continue.
From here, Jaela's group looks to have it together.
"I think not," Crystal remarks, "Our forces are in good order still." She looks over as well, "If needed, we can siphon reinforcements from Jaela's group."
Ithea raises an eyebrow. "We didn't really take that many losses. Or do you think the Adversary's forces might require a larger force?" she asks, willing to listen to Crystal's reasoning if she does feel it necessary.
"No," Crystal explains with a slight frown, "I mean as an option if we begin taking serious losses."
"Let's not worry about that just yet." Moore says. "If everything's in order we should press on, since Ithea's right -- the longer we wait, the worse this will be."
"Agreed," Ithea says before starting to move forward, using gestures to motion the rest of her forces along instead of calling out any commands. "Hopefully we'll avoid taking further losses, and if not, then at least hopefully minimize them like we did here."
"Agreed," Crystal says, looking to Ithea. "Then let us go."
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=31 ]{31}
The army advances another mile, to three miles in or so. Through fire and flames, water and earth, air and forest. As you go, you are currently heading through an open space of air. Above you is rocky earth, which begins to rumble. Ithea and Moore's sharp ears can easily pick up noises from the other side - voices calling out in Infernal.
Ithea tries to make out what's being said, even as she calls out in warning the others, "Infernal chatter above! Ready yourselves!"
[21:05] <@Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+54 listen
[21:05] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+54 listen --> [ 1d20=8 ]{62}
You can hear it, far away and a bit distorted. Battle commands. Cries of pain. Orders to rally. You can also hear something more mixed in. Abyssal, orders and commands as well. Threats are shouted, an ancient war once again fought. It's all somewhere above the stone above, which shields the army from it.
Ithea frowns. "Wait... Some abyssal as well. There may be a fight between devils and demons going on up there. We may not want to get involved, let the two forces just weaken each other, rather than turning it into a three-way battle. It risks us having to deal with an attack from behind later on though from whomever survives that..."
Ithea glances towards the officers with her to get their thoughts.
Crystal flutters over during the conversation and says, "Pragmatically, we let them fight or even..." she scowls mightily, "Relieve the devils. They're trying to stop the portal from what we know. Idealistically, we go and smash both groups." Here she shakes her head, "There is little valor in this, but I council that we simply move on. We must not be distracted and our victory is more important than a fiendish squabble."
"It's possible that the demons are a force from the group we're on the way to deal with." Moore suggests. "So we may in fact be able to attack them while they're weakened by whatever's going on up there. If they try to involve us then we'll get involved."
Ithea nods to both pixies, as that was her own thought on the matter. "Alright, let's move someone with good vision near the back of our group that is aware of the situation and knows we could have trouble come up from behind or above as well as an extra officer back there, and then keep moving."
Pausing as she lets them figure out who should move to the back, she adds, "As you head to the back, give out commands for people to try and reduce their noise while we move so we don't catch unwanted attention from above. Also, they are to stay ready for combat, as they could realize we're down here and try to drag us forcefully into a skirmish. If that happens, the officers in the back have priority command since I'll be at the front and may not be able to react quickly enough to handle the situation."
"We should also send a runner to Jaela's group," Crystal speaks up, "In case the demons flank us by a large amount."
Meanwhile, Ithea hears a voice in her head. It's Ebony's. 'Pale Night influence suspected by archons through omens. Be advised. Aurora is unattacked so far.'
As always when names come up: Pale Mother? Should I know this, or need a Knowledge check?
Ebony's post used Pale Night, not Pale Mother. Unless you mean something else?
Sure, yes, that.
I don't follow.
What is a Pale Night and do I need to roll knowledge for it. Because I don't follow Ebony's warning as is.
You have the K:P to know that Pale Night is the Pale Mother, yes. She's the demon princess of madness, hidden behind an ever-shifting veil. It is said her true form is too terrible to endure. She's notable in recent times for sponsoring Zquujaj, a renegade pit fiend that besieged Avernus and nearly triumphed.
Okay.
"Ebony just sent a message," Ithea informs the others, passing on the message given verbatim. "Do you mind being the runner to Jaela's group again, Crystal? Ebony's probably passed the message as well, but if not, you can pass it on."
"Very well," Crystal says, "But if I may, do we not have simple and less vital soldiers to do so? Passing a message on is hardly a command position," she observes, "I would dispatch a common soldier to do so."
Moore nods. "That makes sense. In that case, then, Crystal, would you mind assigning someone to it while you handle things from behind our group?"
"It will be done," Crystal says, fluttering back off.
Messages are exchanged and things move on. As they begin to move...
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=60 ]{60}
You've made it a little further - not even a fourth of a mile. Stille's drifted over, talking to Ithea and Moore. "Fascinating, isn't it?" he remarks, "Distance and travel are usually relative in the Astral," he says, "But it seems more solid here. I wonder that if it continues, the Astral's timelessness will begin to relent as well?"
Meanwhile, there's a strong, sudden puff of astral wind.
K:P, y'all.
[14:26] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+35 K:P
[14:26] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+35 K:P --> [ 1d20=1 ]{36}
Uh oh. Moore can recall this is likely the first and only sign of a psychic storm. This can blow you well out of the sphere and into the open Astral, not to mention that it can have extremely hazardous effects on your mind. If one is coming, it's going to start in a matter of seconds, or maybe minutes if you're extraordinarily lucky.
[21:06] <Merc> roll d20+42 K:P for the storm, if it's higher result than Moore, is there a way to protect oneself (or in this case a large group) from it? Or do we just need to hope we get lucky and outfly it?
[21:06] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+42 K:P for the storm, if it's higher result than Moore, is there a way to protect oneself (or in this case a large group) from it? Or do we just need to hope we get lucky and outfly it? --> [ 1d20=12 ]{54}
Ithea thinks some sort of large mass could shield you. Out flying a psychic storm is essentially impossible. The more cover you have the better. Alternately, an extremely strong psychic force could counter it, but it would need to be loaded for bear.
"Incoming psychic storm! Anybody with psychic abilities, help fortify the area! Everybody else, hold onto each other and anything that can give you a strong foothold! I'm going to try to summon cover! Anyone with any useful spells...use them!" Ithea calls out, not having better ideas for how to deal with what's coming.
All that said, Ithea focuses on shaping the environment to try and provide the best shielding she can for everyone, if not for their minds, at least physically.
[21:23] <Merc-zzz> roll d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch bonus
[21:23] <Kobot> Merc-zzz rolled d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch bonus --> [ 1d20=8 ]{24}
[21:24] <Merc-zzz> roll d20+22+6 Knowledge: Architecture & Engineering to try and support action, with inspiration
[21:24] <Kobot> Merc-zzz rolled d20+22+6 Knowledge: Architecture & Engineering to try and support action, with inspiration --> [ 1d20=11 ]{39}
Moore's not really got anything to help with this.
The Lyre of Building would, but it's still on cooldown.
[22:48] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+12+9 K:A&E to aid
[22:48] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+12+9 K:A&E to aid --> [ 1d20=15 ]{36}
Throwing that in in case it helps.
Ithea draws on her anarch abilities, forming hunks of stone and steel to shield the strike force. It lashes out around them - but the cover holds for a moment, as you all feel Tryll's presence all around. It seems to weaken and crush the storm's power, making it blow futilely amid your defenses rather than sweeping all of you away into Astral.
Ithea keeps focusing her powers in case something happens and the storm takes a step for the worse, though it seems someone's helping out.
The storm rages for a time and then fades, leaving the army intact. Cheers go up afterwards, your forces safe and notably unmoved by the psychic storm.
"How do you do that, anyway?" Moore asks. He makes a gesture at the stones. "It doesn't look like it's just magic..."
"Dunno, its mostly a mix of imagination and need, mixed with a command? Hard to really explain, its just something I can do, like breathing."
"Huh... okay." Moore nods. "Must be a very special power, then."
Lemme know when y'all are ready to move on.
Im fine whenever, Moore can talk to her about it later.
You advance along - 3 and a half miles in now. Ahead all becomes a raging mass of stormclouds and lightning, thunder pounding like a drum. The clouds writhe and twist, shedding huge amounts of rain as they deflate and the break into new clouds, which repeat the pattern over and over again.
Would we know if this is something Control Weather could solve?
K:A.
14:37] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+35 K:A
[14:37] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+35 K:A --> [ 1d20=1 ]{36}
Possibly. Limbo's unpredictable, but you'd err on the side of yes. However, the 10 minute casting time and the 10 minutes it takes to have an effect should be noted.
Moore rubs his chin. "You want to try and just move the clouds out of the way with your power, Ithea?"
"I can certainly give it a shot. May be trickier since its already moving and somewhat unpredictable, but directing it away from us might be possible..." Ithea answers after musing briefly on it and nodding. Focusing on the storm, she tries to do just that.
Need someone to roll d20+8+8 for me
> roll d20+8+8
<Kobot> Kowork rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{17}
Sorry Ithea.
Ithea tries to altar the Astral around her, but nothing happens. The empty space around you shudders a few times, but nothing else happens.
Meanwhile, Canderella flies up from Jaela's group. "Oh, Ithea. Jaela sent me along since I'm an expert on storms and chaos."
"Welcome aboard. Any thoughts on how to handle it?"
"Many," Canderella says, brushing back a stray lock of hair. Meanwhile, you can see the soldiers keeping active and waiting, a few striking up a song. It sounds rather rough, involving a lot of rhyming, devils and violence.
"But," she continues, "I could go in and try to work my wiles on the storm. But if something's hostile in there, things could get sticky."
Moore's ears perk up. "While you do that, let me go fix something, I think I heard someone just try and use both 'Bel' and 'Hell' as a rhyme... If you need me, just call out!" He says.
Moore will fly over to the soldiers come up with a much better rhyme and much better song. This sort of thing is his specialty, after all.
Ithea chuckles and lets Moore handle the soldiers. "Stille, myself and Crystal can keep an eye out for you while you do so," she offers Canderella.
"Well then," Canderella says, "Time to make a mark."
Moore, are you just killing time or are you interested in talking to the soldiers here?
I'll make sure their morale is 100%. I'll talk to them!
I don't know that I trust bards with rousing motivational speeches (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0421.html). You better not suck!
"Anything we can help with or just watching your back sufficient?"
"Watch my back," Canderella starts to fly forward, looking back as she does, "In case things go all wrong."
Meanwhile Moore goes to the soldiers. It turns out to be a few pixies and a few more lantern archons, valiantly singing along. They're trying if nothing else, and Moore can tell there's not much else.
"Okay, if we're going to have a motivational song, then let me give you some pointers..."
Moore will help them out with rhymes and the general art of motivation and inspiration and help them come up with a good 'Aurora Marching' song.
A handful of pixies and a few lantern archons quickly listen to Moore, attention on his words.
Make a perform (song) check here.
[12:43] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+37
[12:43] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{38}
Setting up a song is easy enough. It's far from his best effort - location and limited time see to that - but...
Feel free to elaborate on the song a bit if you want. I don't have a musical bone in my body so feel free here.
Aurora!
They march to seal a breach!
Aurora!
Goodness rises in each!
Aurora!
The devils have met their match!
Aurora!
The army will suffer not a scratch!
Aurora!
Devils and Daemons will see defeat!
Aurora!
The blades of justice will meet!
Aurora!
This will continue on for some time.
They all take up the new tune, spreading it about Aurora's forces. Seems to go over well enough, taking over for the other songs.
Moore nods, satisfied with this much better arrangement as he goes to check on how Ithea and Canderella are doing.
To be clear: Doing anything noteworthy or just waiting, Ithea?
Waiting, keeping an eye out, testing out her anarch powers in smaller capacity (she's leaving the storm mostly to Canderella, so it's more experimenting with her power if anything)
Make a Wisdom check with the anarch bonuses, Ithea.
[21:02] <Merc> roll d20+8+8
[21:02] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{29}
What precisely are you trying to accomplish?
Playing with the land mostly, making it look prettier I guess? I dunno, Ithea's just experimenting while Candy does her thing!
Moore will watch her do her thing and see if he can figure out what exactly "Her thing" is.
The land changes at Ithea's command. Rocks become grass, trees sprouting and fruiting, only to wither away moments later. It feels fairly easy, like she's able to control it well.
Meanwhile, there is suddenly a massive burst of thunder from within the cloud as...
> roll 1d20+33 craft storms check
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+33 craft storms check --> [ 1d20=2 ]{35}
Bursts of lighting lash out from the clouds, the rain gushing even more.
Speaking of, roll 1d100, Moore. There's an extremely small chance you could be a natural anarch, too.
Jaela's command?
[22:17] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[22:17] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=100 ]{100}
Huh. So that happened.
As Ithea shapes thing, Moore feels a strange tingle in the back of his head. An itch, almost.
Moore blinks and looks around. He scratches the back of his head reflexively. What the heck was that?
He can feel the tingle, his hands twitching from it. It's something that wants to be...used, somehow. He isn't sure how.
Well, the best way to try something is to do it, so... he copies the motions that Ithea's doing as best he can and tries focus whatever this is into something tangible.
He's basically just going to go on instinct and see if he can draw up the ground and form it into something like it was clay or some kind of mold. He doesn't really have anything in mind for the final product.
Make a Wis check with a +4 circumstance bonus.
[22:54] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+9 Wis
[22:54] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+9 Wis --> [ 1d20=17 ]{26}
As Ithea works, Moore feels the reality around him respond to him. It's like his mind and hands are on fire, forms appearing as they flit through his mind.
> roll 1d20+33 craft storms check
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+33 craft storms check --> [ 1d20=4 ]{37}
Then a massive BOOOOOOM from the clouds interrupts. CAnderella comes out, soaked to the bone and rather bedraggled. "Clouds should clear to a good anarch now," she says, wobbling in the air.
Ithea nods and decides to focus on clearing the storms now that she won't be messing with...whatever Canderella did.
[22:22] <Merc> roll d20+8+8
[22:22] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{19}
The storms are fairly feeble now and clear to your command, brushed aside. An open path further into the disturbed zone is now open.
"Thanks for the help, Canderella. You alright?"
"Had better," She groans, "Storm spirit or something, I don't know. Maybe an disembodied fiend of some sort. Didn't like the competition."
"Ah," Ithea says with a nod. "I know the feeling, probably like going up against a more experienced anarch for control of something. But with more lightning bolts and water. Do you want to stay with us while you recover? Or going to head back to regroup with Jaela now?"
"Just..." Canderella wobbles again in the air, "Gimme a soldier to lean on and help me on over."
Ithea provides the helping hand herself, reaching for the wobbling succubus, and giving her support. "Moore, Stille, Crystal, let everyone know we'll be moving out again soon."
Moore nods to Ithea and goes to pass the word on, finding a runner for Jaela's group.
Word is passes, Ithea going off to take Canderella back. Others spread word, Crystal soon coming back to Moore. "All's ready," she says, "We just wait on Ithea to return."
Moore nods. "Thank you, Crystal. Ah... also, I didn't have time to tell you before, but... I'm sorry." Moore says with a small frown. "I know you'd asked me about Afina, but... well. I don't think you can forge a sword out of a hammer, you know?" Moore says with a small smile. "Whomever she eventually decides to be interested in will have to be on her end, I think."
Ithea continues helping Canderella out until no help is further needed and then shall return to her forces.
I didn't think I was being waited on to post that, but okay, sure, there you go.
The party travels on. The fourth mile comes and goes, storms and a broken battlefield past. The latter is a grass field floating in the voice, full of broken weapons and armor, but no bodies. Coming close to 4 and a half miles, you proceed through a watery area that Ithea's powers clear. Ahead you see it - everything around is a bloated mass of obsidian buildings fused together, a wall stopping everything cold. It stretches farther than anyone can see in all directions.
"Should we make ourselves an opening?" Moore asks.
Crystal flutters over, "This does not appear to be the daemon defensive line mentioned," Crystal says, "But I would think a barrier like this would warrant notice."
Ithea concentrates on them, trying to unravel the mess and split apart the buildings, creating a road that they can traverse maybe.
[20:50] <@Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch
[20:50] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+8+8 wisdom+anarch --> [ 1d20=4 ]{20}
Seeing what Ithea is doing, Moore again tries to mimic her actions and see if he can help in some way.
[21:50] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+5 Moore's gonna try and help!
[21:50] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+5 Moore's gonna try and help! --> [ 1d20=6 ]{11}
Ithea manages to crack the buildings somewhat. It's enough to provide a narrow corridor - which, moments later, erupts out. Like a broken jar full of vermin, they rush out. Zombies, skeletons and other rotting undead. Hundreds of them pour out towards the strike force, heading dead on at them. Around you, reality begins to twist and writhe, elemental power simmering all around you. You can feel wetness, the burn of fire, gale winds and crushing earth, all trying to overwhelm your army.
Act. You have an army engagement as well as a personal problem as chaos looks to be attacking the army directly. Commands to deal with the former are good, as well as actions to try and tamp down the latter.
"Any clerics and holy folk, get to the front on the double!" Ithea calls out. "Stille and Crystal, lead the charge! Baleruk, just smash 'em however you want! Be creative! Arrel, Moore, Misalea, help with defenses! Make sure none of the undead head off to the side and assault on Jaela's group! Anybody that thinks they can help with the elemental madness going on, do so!"
Ithea concentrates on the chaotic elemental power, trying to aim it in a funnel, physically shaping one if she can, and directing it into the undead if possible!
[20:57] <@Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+8+8
[20:57] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{21}
Moore's going to hold off and see how well Ithea does and help her with that (or try to) if it doesn't go well.
[22:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+5+4 Moore's gonna try and help again!
[22:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+5+4 Moore's gonna try and help again! --> [ 1d20=1 ]{10}
Ithea tries to channel the chaos away. But it's hard going, barely able to stop it from overwhelming everyone. You hold your own, but not by much.
Meanwhile Baleruk roars and leads the charge. Your warriors take to the line, Stille and Balyss joining the battle. Chaos everywhere as commands are shouted and magic flows, your strike force trying to hold the line. But between the suddenness of it and all the chaos, it's hard going. The undead are pouring out all around, meeting your line and starting to go around it, to flank. Everything's stable at the moment, but if you don't do something about the chaos or the flanking, things might get bad. Really bad.
Chaos continues to erupt. As it happens, you hear a little lantern archon cry, "Reinforcements are coming from Jaela's group!" he shouts, flying all about, "They're trying to stabilize the chaos all around!"
"Well good luck to them! We'll hold the line!" Ithea shouts back as she continues to focus on controlling the elemental chaos and still hoping to gain the control to funnel it towards the undead, especially those trying to get to their flanks.
[13:23] <Sailor_Mercury> roll d20+8+8
[13:23] <Kobot> Sailor_Mercury rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{30}
Moore tries to help Ithea with the chaos, at least with regards to keeping it calm for her to work her experience on it. He's not even really sure he actually has any powers to control it, but it feels like the right thing to be doing.
[15:39] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+9
[15:39] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{16}
Support comes - magical blasts of energy, fireballs and more exotic yet. Jaela support? You think so but don't have time to look. Instead Ithea focuses on the chaos and has to resist a startle as she feels another force helping her. With its help, its easier to mold it and sent it flying. Rather than a force that threatens your army, it becomes a chaotic wildstorm that rips into them.
Between energy blasts and chaotic energy, the assault on your army is partially repelled. The adamantine golems form a wedge, the speartip that helps block and counter the undead. Balyss and the other healers let loose healing energy, mending your army and devastating the undead. Volleys of ice magic from the rimefire eidolons batter the enemy, joined by lantern archon light rays and pixie arrows.
Your flank is holding for now, the chaos enough to slow those who tried. However, more are gushing out all the time from the building, a seemingly endless wave to replace the fallen.
Flanking's less of a danger for the moment. Act. Your army's in the thick of it now.
"We need to do something about where they're coming from!" Moore calls out. "Then we can surround that point and have them hemmed in rather than us!"
Ithea nods to Moore.
"Whomever was helping with trying to control that elemental chaos, you're in charge of making sure it doesn't get worse, get rid of it or direct it at the undead if you think you can!" she calls out, not realizing yet that it was Moore doing so.
Taking a break from doing that herself, she instead uses a pair of chain lightning spells to try and whittle down the undead horde and give everybody else more room to breathe.
[20:18] <Merc> roll 3/2*20d6 Chain Lightning #1
[20:18] <Kobot> Merc rolled 3/2*20d6 Chain Lightning #1 --> [ 20d6=64 ]{64}
[20:18] <Merc> roll 3/2*20d6 Chain Lightning #2
[20:18] <Kobot> Merc rolled 3/2*20d6 Chain Lightning #2 --> [ 20d6=68 ]{68}
[20:18] <Merc> Suck it Kobot, I got around your restrictions!
[20:18] <Merc> roll d20+34 CL to beat SR if any #1
[20:18] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+34 CL to beat SR if any #1 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{43}
[20:18] <Merc> roll d20+34 CL to beat SR if any #2
[20:18] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+34 CL to beat SR if any #2 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{51}
Reflex save halves, each spell hits 26 secondary targets
Lightning gushes out into the Astral, ripping into the horde of undead. Skeletons blacken and char, zombies fry, shambling ghouls burst aflame. Stranger things yet continue to emerge, the tide not relenting. Dozens - no hundreds of undead are being crushed, only to replenish as fast as they go down. If this keeps up, numbers could easily become a problem.
Act, y'all.
"Ithea! We need to try and plug the hole with something! Let's try and just... make something!" Moore calls out.
"Alright..."
Ithea concentrates and tries to rise a wall of stone to cover the undead's path.
[21:25] <Merc> roll d20+8+8
[21:25] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{18}
Roll as well, Moore.
[23:01] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+9
[23:01] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{17}
The clang of metal on bone echos amid divine calls. "Selune, shine your light down and rejuvenate!" is joined by the harsh smashing of a mace into a skeleton's ribs. Baleruk sweeps about, his five-fold breath simply eliminating a great swathe of the undead and leaving naught but dust and ash behind. This keeps the undead in check, another volley of spells from the advancing support elements of Jaela's army helping.
But at the same time, they are relentless. More pore in as the gash does not close. The chaos is unstoppable and choking, and what's worse, it begins to manifest around the army again. Choking water, crushing earth, burning fire and overwhelming wind. It's not all there yet, sensations rather than actual things, but starting to affect your strike group. What's even worse is that your powers can't move the chaos this time, resisting your commands and flowing free.
Act.
I'm doubtful this has anything to do with anything, but would the Portal Dissonance ACF help at all with this?
What class is that from?
Bard. It's in the Planar Handbook if that helps, I think page 27 or something.
Nope. This situation would qualify as a complete planar breach and then some, and those are noted as not being affected by that ability in any case.
OK. In that case I'll wait for Ithea to give us orders.
"Don't let the undead get around!" Ithea calls out to the officers. "Force them to come from one direction!"
"Moore, if you have any useful song for here, I think now's the time to start singing with all you've got! We need to start pushing back more, and I haven't been able to gain control of that elemental chaos or blocking them off as of yet!"
Ithea will continue to try and control the elemental chaos when it looks like it's starting to push into her army, and if it looks like she has some breathing room there, she'll try and block off the undead or limit their ability to swarm. She'll keep repeating similar instructions, I think, so you can just have her rolling anarch rolls while I'm feeling blah.
No bot right now, so when one shows up, someone roll d20+8+8 for Ithea and whenever it's her turn to act.
Would Healing Hymn increase the amount of damage healing spells do to the undead?
It does. It's keyed off Conjuration(Healing) spells, not healing effects only. I'm not sure if it'd trigger off Turn Undead though.
Bot's up, so rolling for my last post:
[20:19] <Merc> roll d20+8+8
[20:20] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{33}
Moore will sing a rousing song to bolster their forces healing!
Using Healing Hymn, it adds 26.
The officers fan out, starting to defend as Jaela's forces race on and join the battle. They curl up and meet them, rolling the undead back and preventing the flank. Healing seems even more potent as the forces meet, the undead withering apart by the dozens under the assault.
Your line's holding and starting to push them back, advancing towards the gap in the obsidian buildings. Right now the undead are being pushed back in good order, Ithea's chaos throwing the appearing elements at the undead rather than allowing her army to be massacred by them.
Act.
Moore will continue with Healing Hymn unless something presents a reason not to do so.
If I take a round to focus on the undead, does the elemental chaos go back to being...well, chaotic?
Yes, it seems to be chaotically set on being chaotic on your asses. At least that's your guess from what you've seen so far.
That's not very chaotic!
"Great, that song's doing wonders, Moore!" Ithea calls out. "Good job everyone, we're starting to make a dent into them! Keep at it!"
More anarchy anarch...
[21:06] <Merc> roll d20+8+8
[21:06] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{35}
Great torrents of flame join the call for Selune to turn the restless dead. Baleruk charges to the breech, teeth and claws ripping undead apart as they come out. Crystal rides hope into the lines, plowing through several demonic zombies like a knife through soft flesh. With reinforcements your line is holding well and pushing back. Elements ravage the surviving undead - if you push just a little harder, you may well be able to take the fight to them instead of stemming the tide.
Act.
"Push forward! I think I have the elements under control for the moment, but I don't know how long I can keep it up! Use the momentum you've got while I've got it!" Ithea calls out.
[21:12] <Merc> roll d20+8+8 And again
[21:12] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 And again --> [ 1d20=12 ]{28}
"We should be mindful we don't bottleneck our own forces as we advance!" Moore shouts to Ithea as he continues to keep up the healing songs.
Combined forces surge forward. Misalea dances amid the undead, leading the Graceful Blow in slicing them apart like blossoms on the breeze. A gale wind from Ithea follows, blasting aside a small cluster of moaning allips for Arrel to pass through. He darts into the gash Ithea created, leading the charge in.
A few soldiers start to follow him, the undead line collapsing. You could try and force your army all the way in or take other action - right now, the battlefield outside of the obsidian buildings is yours.
"Noted!" Ithea answers the pixie's warning.
"We want to keep moving forward though, and it shouldn't be a major risk if we keep this momentum though... Hopefully once we're through I can concentrate on the undead myself and less on the elements. If we seize control of the other side, we can provide safe passage for Jaela's forces!"
Raising her voice further, booming over the din of battle, she bellows, "Everyone hear that? Keep pushing, but focus on maintaing the line over pushing forward! We wasnt US pouring out of that corridor!"
[21:32] <Merc> roll d20+8+8 Push forward~
[21:32] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+8+8 Push forward~ --> [ 1d20=16 ]{32}
> roll 1d20+20
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{21}
The party rushes on, Jaela's forces fully joining you now. Walls of fire hold off more of the undead as you push, push and push. But ultimately it pays off - there's a tremendous shudder from within as you advance, no more undead seeming to come. The remainder is quickly dispatched, overwhelmed by sheer, competent numbers. Arrel flies out, calling, "The source has been stopped!"
Free act.
Since the armies are together right now and Jaela addressed Ithea over there, go ahead and reply in Jaela's thread for now.
Done. Are we merging over there then?
Yes. Thread locked. Move on over there, y'all.