Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

Mmmm. Hmmm? Jaela wakes up from a deep, dreamless sleep. She's taken a day or two to get herself together, and this morning she feels great. No aches, no pains, no immediate problems. Her day looms before her - even if it involves getting Mirima and Ellese.

Which one do you want to get first, Jaela?

Once again, her day begins by visiting Mirima at the Graceful Blow tower!

Jaela heads out. She passes Baleruk in the courtyard. He's coiled around the obsidian building he claimed, licking, biting, chewing and molding it. Some of the obsidian has drained of color, becoming a snowy white. It's a slow, blotchy change, like the room has a strange rash. He doesn't even notice or seem to care about those watching him, wholly absorbed in his work.

Dragons are weird. Jaela gives him a wave all the same, but doesn't stop to bother Baleruk since he's so busy with his task.

No response to the wave, Jaela heading to the tower. You find Adrian standing just outside, sitting and looking ahead. He's watching Water, right now a blur of yellow and green fish swimming by. The light of Aurora spills out into Water, illuminating everything around the fortress brightly. "Hey," Adrian greets, tearing his eyes away. "It's damned nice when you aren't soaking wet and breathing in water. To look at, I mean."

"It's nice to swim in, too," Jaela responds, speaking from experience. "Give it a try! The spells hold out for days!"

"I don't need them," Adrian says, "I figured out how to breathe in Water or any water heavy plane ages ago." He smirks just a little bit, "I just like looking more than breathing in the water."

She snorts. "Right, you like to watch. Fair enough. Is Mirima in?"

"Yeah, but give her a little bit of time," Adrian says, "She had a bad night. Food poisoning, half of the tower was up with it. I finally dragged some healers in, but that many cases took a lot of doing to fix and some time. A few of the girls caught some fish, and apparently didn't realize not all the fish on Water are safe to eat, or may go bad quickly."

"I... can see that happening," Jaela admits, shaking her head. "Wow. Brought down by the fish." She joins Adrian in staring outside Aurora's barrier for bit. "In that case, let her know I stopped by and will come back later today?"

"It was inevitable," Adrian grins, "I got to practice my cantrips a lot out of it, so it wasn't all bad." Staring out at the fish is restful and calming, worries about sickness fading. "I will."

"He will," Mirima calls out from the tower itself, "Jaela!"

"Morning!" Jaela calls back. "Good to some, will get better before long for others?"

"Give me a half hour," Mirima peeks out. Her face is a little pale, hair drawn back in a rough ponytail. Bad food is a curse against both the Elf Father and common decency."

"Will do! Keep on fighting the good fight!"

Mirima smiles and ducks back inside. "So," Adrian comments once she's gone, "What did I miss?"

"The new guy broke Astral and we had to go fight Pale Night and the Adversary to fix it," Jaela says succinctly. "Celestia likes us more now, and so do the gith."

Adrian glances over at you, dark hair falling over his eyes. This makes him scowl a bit and brush it aside, "I need a haircut," he mutters, then says, "How'd that happen? You don't just break a plane."

"The devils helped. Apparently their fancy spell didn't like an open gateway into Limbo and its wild magic. As for why Astral, that's what usually happens with such things. Grab a bag of holding and a portable hole and I'll show you!"

"No thanks," Adrian says right away, "You know...Lixer wanted to loose in Vacuum, didn't he? We walked headlong in a suicide trap, and from what I hear, those specters of his got sent all across Vacuum."

Jaela shrugs. "I bet he thinks that, but it's not really true. It was a legitimate, important fortress of his. And now he doesn't have it anymore. If his goal was to send the ghosts all over he would've blown it up ages ago. I guess you could say he made the best of a bad situation, chose the lesser of two evils, that sort of thing. But it's still a win for us. He lost loyal troops, an important outpost... two badass Nessians. We suffered no losses and gave him a black eye. And all that despite the fucker trying to kill us with that trap! So fuck Lixer, no one would believe his bragging."

Adrian chuckles and looks back to the expanse of Water outside of Aurora. "Yeah, fuck him." Agreeable silence follows for a time. The courtyard seems so much more peaceful. It's different than Air's energetic currents, demanding you go out and fly. It's not the same as Ysgard, with the great mountains and fjords stirring the blood to battle. Water seems somehow tranquil, an entire kingdom at peace with itself and content to move in an endless dance of water.

"Heard Simmer's hiding in the lava pool and refusing to come out, along with all the fire elementals." Adrian finally says.

Jaela snorts. "Yeah, heard the same thing. We've got so much gossiping going on." She runs a hand through her hair. "I'm not looking forward for heading out. It'd be one thing to go for a swim, and another for a plane shift away. Maybe if I used the planar bubble?"

"That might help," Adrian says, "You didn't think through that part of moving Aurora here, did you?"

"Everyone wanted Water, I didn't want to be the wet blanket," Jaela admits, grinning.

"Cute," Adrian groans, "Too cute."

As you talk, Mirima emerges. She looks normal, save for just at ouch of paleness in her cheeks. She strides on out, "Jaela." she approaches her.

"Hey there," Jaela greets her with another of her grins. "Caught you at a busy time today, huh? I figured that we spent enough time just recovering and wanted to invite you on a trip to a Prime with some friends."

"Great," Mirima pulls Jaela up and sweeps her into a hug, face to face with her. "Though having friends along will dampen parts of it." She licks her lips, "Ellese, if I recall rightly?"

"Yeah. Plus one or two more, depending on how they answer their invitations. It's nice to do things together as part of a group, right?" She winks, leaning over to whisper in Mirima's ear, "And we won't stay as a group twenty four-seven~"

"I like how you think," Mirima grins back, whispering to her. After a moment of closeness, "Who else are you inviting?"

"Antenora," Jaela tells her. "I figured she might like a visit, and it's been a while since we spoke. Balyss too. I'm sure you figured out where I want to spend the next few days."

"Antenora...?" There's a pause from Mirima, before she says, "Ooooh, the angel from Sylica? Is she here?"

"Much like me, she's wherever she wants to be with just a spell," Jaela says in amusement. "I just wanted to run the names by you before sending out the invitations."

"I have no objection," Mirima says, "She's a fearsome warrior and knows the city, no? What is there to object to?"

Jaela shrugs. "Maybe I'm just worried pointlessly because of Balyss and Sylvie. Want to invite Balyss while I catch up with Ellese?"

Using a Miracle, she Sends to Antenora, "It's been a while. I'm planning a trip to Balmuria incognito. Would you like to join me and my friends?"

The answer is thus, "Spiritual wound is a concern. Turns world to opal. Must consult with Alicia and Syala. Will send reply."

To be fair, that's one more reason Jaela wants to pay the city a visit before she pursues that sort of power herself. Though a deity can work through avatars, so maybe they can manage the same for a favored servant?

"She says she needs to check her schedule and she'll get back to us," Jaela voices. "Which is fine, since I need to wait for my magic to recover anyway. See you in the cafeteria for a snack in half an hour, Mirima? No fish, I promise!"

A half hour passes. Jaela gets breakfast in the cafeteria - a hearty meal of oatmeal, sausages, a bit of cheese and some sliced fruits. She can casually listen to all the chatter - upbeat on the whole, mostly discussing the last battle or ways to have fun now that the recent surge is over.

Mirima soon comes in, leaning in to kiss Jaela as she sits. She concentrates, pulling out a bowl of broth. She holds it up and sips from it, closing her eyes and breathing in the steam. Once done, "I didn't see Balyss personally, but Elena said she's drunk." She wiggles her nose, "Some sort of celebration with Ithea and Sylvie, they ended some personal argument. I didn't see any point of asking her when she's like that. I'd rather wait for that to pass and then use magic to sober her up."

"If they made up, we might as well give up on her," Jaela muses. "We'll just pick up Ellese after we eat and see about a Veil to hide me before plane shifting over. If Antenora doesn't have an answer by then, she could always just catch up."

"A veil? What should we look like?" Mirima considers thoughtfully, then eyes Jaela. "You'd make a stunning blonde."

"I'll give it a try. Humans, this time around? You could see if long black hair suits you."

Ellese is found in the library. She's deep in a book by herself, one wider and taller than she is. The writing in it looks to be a strange sort of cuneiform, ink pressed into the pages thickly. It's all wedges and angles, irregular shapes and the occasional drawing added to it.

She seems completely lost in it. Her eyes roam the pages, her attention wholly on it. Her posture is straight and strong, not a flinch or shudder to her.

Jaela pulls up a chair at her side, content to wait for Ellese to notice her.

Mirima stands behind Jaela, arms crossed. A good minute passes and then another, then another and several more yet. Ellese snaps her fingers, the page turning on its own at that. The momentary distraction seems to be enough, as she looks up. "Jaela?" she says aloud, going up to rub her eyes.

"I know what it's like to lose yourself in a good book," Jaela says. "How is it? Are you at a good pausing spot?"

"No point is a bad pausing point," Ellese rubs her temples ever so slowly, "This is the book of Zar-Red, a mad cloud giant wizard that came back from the deepest parts of Gehenna. He knew terrible and powerful magic after he came back, but it slowly destroyed him. To try and understand it is the effort of years."

"Everyone has their hobbies, wizards and immortals chief among them," Jaela muses, not even trying to understand. "We're here to invite you on that trip to Balmuria that I talked about before. How about it?"

"Yes," Ellese agrees right away, the book closing with another snap of her fingers. "When?"

"Half an hour, give or take. Plenty of time to freshen up and be ready by the gates," Jaela voices, briefly thinking it over. "I'll check with Tepen to see if he can manage to cast a Veil for Mirima and I. How about you? Interested in a fresh look for a few days?"

"Yes, how about..." From here preparations and such occur. Tepen indeed provides a veil for the three.

Go ahead and describe the changes, Jaela.

Jaela binds her hair into a thick braid and switches to her robes. That takes care of the most striking changes to her usual look, and the Veil completes the change by turning her into a blonde and giving her a pair of glasses that accentuate inquisitive blue eyes. She turns into a human, though the visible changes to her figure are kept minimal and other than the usual differences between the figures of the species round off her ears and help the robe conceal her inert wings.

Mirima goes for a human-fied version of herself, with long black hair and a full figure. She wears her normal gear, as does Ellese, who simply goes for an unremarkable, mousy brown hair and half elven features.

"You've been there, so let's go," Mirima gestures to the gate, then pauses, "Though, is there a way to do it without getting soaked?"

"Wish could manage it, and that suggests other spells. I thought of trying Planar Bubble, and it occurs to me Prismatic Sphere might do the trick as well. But I don't want to mess up the work of the guards, so let's try the bubble?" Jaela casts it upon herself, before extending her hands to Mirima and Ellese. "I'll aim for the nearby wooded area, and if it's too far to walk we'll supplement via teleport. But it might be nice to just walk for a couple hours through a peaceful Prime."

Since water is the natural conditions of Water, planar bubble will help. It wouldn't hedge out water elsewhere.

Doing so seems to hold, the spell stopping you from getting soaked as you head out.

Go ahead. Also, where was this wooded area you're aiming for?

"Don't you just love these little experiments with high level magic?" Jaela asks with a grin, before plane shifting them to the woods on the outskirts of Balmuria!

The woods in the direction of Pallanth, where once a legendary goblin lived~

> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kowork invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d100=49]

So you appear. It's sometime during the day, impossible to tell with trees covering the sky. It's not terrible either way, pleasant. Very woodsy and nothing of note is around.

Jaela drops the bubble spell and smiles at her companions before heading off in the direction of the city!

> roll 1d100+1
<Penuche> Kowork invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d100=15]

It's a fine day. Pleasant, not to warm and not too cold. A sea breeze rustles the air as you follow the path to Balmuria. At first a little dirt road out of the forest, Mirima quietly looking around. Ellese is slower about, stopping several times to study this or that. After the third time, she says, "It's nostalgic and the voices hate it."

"It's nice that we're already seeing results," Jaela says happily. "Ah, and as for our background do you two want to be adventurers or pilgrims? We'll keep our names, of course."

"Adventurers," Mirima says immediately, "Here to see the sights and feel the thrills of Balmuria. This is a human city?" she asks, "What does it have to recommend it?"

"An exceptionally high amount of talented, powerful people," Jaela responds. "Nevermind the first two deities ascended in long while, our own Crusade has a few officers from it. What are the odds? Besides, it's interesting for the arrangement to keep the outer planes away until recently, and for keeping the fiends out at present. We might use something along the same lines for Lifasa eventually, I figure, since by the time we kick Hell out we might not be the best thing for a Prime either."

"At what price comes victory?" Ellese murmurs, turning from her study of a little roadside spring. "To save a world and then be forced to stay apart from it?"

Mirima tosses her hair and declares, "Then we'll fix that when we save Lifasa, too. Our adventure will not end with us tearfully saying goodbye and leaving Lifasa in position for this to happen again."

Jaela shrugs. "Saving it is the important thing. I'm not even sure I want to go back permanently. Even if the Triune restored everything back the way it was, it's not like I could watch the Tree again without recalling what happened to it. And Hell'd still be there, plotting to take over other worlds. Someone's got to deal with them."

"In it for the long battle?" Mirima smirks then, "Good. I don't see how you can go back to a boring life after all of this. Let others have it and let warriors wage war." She throws an arm around Jaela's shoulders.

Ellese shakes her head, "No. The most important thing we can do is exactly that. If we do that, then we let the devils steal our lives and innocence. This time, we won't have a chance to get them back."

"I'm keeping an open mind for now! We'll see how everything works out once we win. And it's not like there's only one answer, is there?"

"We can find several," Ellese says, "I'm sure of it. Hell tries so hard to say there's only one order and one way things can go, but they fight so hard and just barely keep chaos in check. If that was true, they wouldn't need to fight the Blood War."

Amused at that conclusion, Jaela leads the way towards the city.

Thus you approach Balmuria. The road leading to it is cobblestones smoothed over into solid stone, an entire surface well maintained and even.  It's an extremely wide road, wide enough for 20 people to walk hand. It's full of wagons, horse-riding travelers (and the occasional odder thing, such as a human riding what looks to be a wingless griffon) and those on foot. The city itself is surrounded by a wall, the sun shining brightly down. A great arch leads into the city, guards manning the gates and checking people as they go in.

From here you can see the size and sprawl of the city, considerable. The buildings look new and well kept, no sign of crumbling or the wear down cities normally cache like treasure.

Jaela takes in the sights as any other traveler new to Balmuria, from the people to the buildings to the underlying magic and then back to the people, other travelers and locals alike.

As you approach -

Spellcraft.

10 for 45.

Oh, there's magic here. Magic powerful and hidden, sublime and overwhelming. It's thick in the air, powerful spellcraft woven over the city. Ellese stops and gasps, a hand to her mouth, "A mythal?" she asks. "A human city has the magic to make a mythal?"

Jaela simply imagines for a long moment the spells woven over the city, constantly in motion, always seeking to follow their purpose.

"Neat, isn't it?" she voices. "It's not Medi's handiwork, but it's beautiful in its own right."

Mirima whistles and crosses her arms, but stays out of the conversation.

"Neat is not the word," Ellese retorts, "Mythals are the work of the greatest wizards in history. They take centuries of study and effort to understand, let alone to create one. They are great art."

Maybe to an elf, they do. ""Did you have a chance to see another elsewhere?" Jaela asks Ellese curiously.

"Yes," Ellese said, rubbing her eyes and looking anew.

"Who made it?" Mirima asks, lingering by.

"Two very powerful mortal mages ascend," Jaela muses. "Or three, perhaps. Is it a last great mortal marvel, or a divine parting gift?" She shrugs. "I wasn't there. Hey, Ellese, think we could put one up, or we don't have the ability yet?"

Ellese pauses and considers, "Technically, Aurora isn't quite a mythal. It's entirely custom work and woven around a different principal. Having studied some of Medi's work, I hesitate to call it interior, it may well be superior to a mythal. As a mythal is put on a place and is immoble, Aurora makes the most sense for it, and I don't know how it would interact."

"I consider it superior to a Mythal for mostly those reasons," Jaela shares with Ellese. "I meant whether we could put one on Lifasa when we retake it. Maybe even extend the range beyond a single town."

"A world mythal? Impossible," Ellese says, "Except maybe to Mystra herself. Even making a city sized mythal is unspeakably difficult." She frowns and looks ahead, "...my voices don't like something in the city."

"I was thinking nationwide, not global." Jaela shakes her head. "No sense in forcing it on everyone. I figure we've got a shot at it, but we'll just have to see when it's time." She shrugs, givinv Ellese a curious look before switching ber gaze over to Mirima. "Think it's dangerous to you, or want to get in quickly? We could check with the local officers. And you, Mirima? Anything feels off?"

"I don't know. Even if they're telling the truth, I don't know," Ellese admits, frowning, "I don't really want to advertise the condition I'm in, though."

"Can you get more specific?" Jaela asks, deciding to get going again and seeing whether a greater proximity to the city limits would change anything in Ellese's perception.

The party heads along the paved road, coming to the gates and that arch. Ellese frowns, "The voices really don't like that arch. They're trying everything to get me to run away. They're...afraid of it?" she says the last in a tone of quiet wonder, "What?"

"Maybe a protection from extraplanar meddling in one's mind is woven into the wardes upheld by the Mythal?" Jaela muses, trying for her best guess on Ellese's safety.

Okay with taking 10 on any relevant skills.

Jaela dimly recalls something when she studied this before. Balmuria's mythal keeps fiends out. Those that dare to come in are immolated in holy fires.

What do I think is likeliesf outcome for Ellese and is there anything to boost her chances?

Jaela isn't sure. It's an unusual case, her magic is so poisoned and polluted that it's hard to say. The fact that she can cast devil magic makes it foggy, you honestly don't know how the mythal will interpret her.

"I think this is a test of faith," Jaela says slowly. "Your life, your choice. The biggest differences from devils we have. I don't believe the Triune would set us up to fail, knowing my plans as I meditated in the temple. But the risk is real, so it is up to you as well it should be, Ellese."

"You know, both of you are being stupid," Mirima says, arms crossed as she walks along. "They're humans," she tosses her hair, "So they're only mostly savages. If you talk to them and explain the situation, we can handle this without gambling."

Jaela laughs. "I offered that very thing before. I guess this gives us a majority~"

She leads their little group in search of a local guard, shaking her head at Mirima's casual dismissal of faith inamusement. And she calls the humans barbarians!

It's not hard. There's a few guards outside of the gates and arch. You find one clad in light armor and carrying a spear, a helmet over his head. He gives Jaela a glance, "Yeah?"

"Good day!" Jaela greets him brightly. "Would it be possible to talk to an officer about a possible conflict with your Mythal? We figured to ask first before entering."

"Alright," The guard says after a moment, "Stay right there." He hurries off, going away.

It takes about 15 minutes for him to return. He brings with him another, a woman in full armor and helmet. She approaches quickly in spite of her armor, "I'm Captain Annalee of the Crimson Guard. What is this about the mythal?"

"Thank you for meeting us, Captain Annalee," Jaela greets her, before lowering her voice. "It's like this. My friend spent some time in devil captivity before being rescued, and to this day her magic remains corrupted. We were hoping that visiting Balmuria will help, but we're not sure if the Mythal was made with such cases in mind."

"It's unfortunate," Mirima murmurs, arms still crossed.

Ellese bows her head, "I'm trying to fix the situation, but I don't want to burst in flames over it. I just want my life back."

The Captain reaches out, deftly plucking a hair from from Ellese's head. She studiously ignores the elf's yelp of surprise and pain, marching right through the arch, then back up. She studies the hair, sniffs it and drops it. "You'll be fine," she says, 'Understand that unleashing any sort of tainted magic will get attention here. Understood?"

"Sounds good! Thanks for your time, Captain."

Grinning, Jaela waves Mirima and Ellese over as she heads inside.

Thus the three head in. Ahead of you are well kept streets, a great merchant quarter before you. Goods are bought and sold, new buildings all about. Humans hurry about - a few elves as well.

Mirima looks around slowly, quiet and studying everything. Ellese is a bit slower, focusing on the people more.

Go ahead and outline what you're going to do here, Jaela.

They can spend some time at the market getting the feel of the place, and then they will find an inn to stay i  for a couple days. Afterwards, it would be nice to follow the history of the city, visit a few bars, compare the local portal system with Aurora's and hear about the local human and elven cultures.

> roll 1d100
<Plushie_Ithea> Kotono roll for Plushie_Ithea < 77 > [d100=77]

Jaela wanders the city. It's busy is the first takeaway. The Commerce Quarter is full of buying and selling, the Old City full of weathered old buildings. You climb up a hill and as you do, you see an unusual building ahead. You aren't sure what it is from the sign - HIC SVNT DRACONES  - with an entrance like a dragon's maw. The entire building is shaped like a dragon's maw.

Ellese stops at this, studying, Mirima's a little more vocal about it, "Is that a dragon or a building?" she remarks.

"Let's find out!" Jaela cheerfully suggests, starting up the hill.

You approach. As you do, the mouth opens wide, stone teeth parting to reveal an inn within. Ellese stares in surprise, while Mirima smiles, "Ah yes, a little something to get the blood moving."

"Well, I'm sold," Jaela muses, regardless of how terrible an idea this might be. "Mirima, mind going in ahead and signaling me if an actual dragon's running it?"

Mirima goes in and does that. She comes out a few minutes later, unbitten and not on fire. A good sign, clearly. "A dragon did build it," she supplies, "Seira built this in her mortal life. I took the liberty of paying for two suites," she says.

"She already likes us," Jaela agrees. "Let's get a drink!"

She holds the door open for Mirima and Ellese before heading in herself, asking them, "Anything you girls want to do next? I was thinking about watcbing the local militia practice, so my pick is clearly boring."

"Far too boring," You get in at the bar, three mugs of ale. Mirima only sips her and then says that, followed by, "Somewhere we can fight or do something to get the blood burning."

Ellese considers thoughtfully, "I've never been here, but you have, Jaela? What do you think?"

"I don't think I've actually visited, but I did hear about the city," Jaela muses. "We can't cut loose for training, so what's left... caverns under the city, could do it tomorrow if our larecomer shows up." She tugs on her braid. "The elven mission, maybe, once we're slightly buzzed? No better ways of meeting people!" Jaela concludes, settling at the bar and waving the barkeep over.

"Something," Mirima agrees, the barkeep coming over.

"I may have a suggestion," A new voice offers. Quiet and thoughtful, a woman with pale blonde hair and rugged, almost raw features sits down. She's wearing a worn breastplate and carries an old spear. "Watered wine," she orders as she sits down at the bar, next to Jaela.

"Go for it," Jaela agrees. "Ale for me! Unless the watered down drink was it?"

Drinks are given out, a familiar voice in your mind. 'I unfortunately don't have much time at the moment,' Antenora says, 'Being invested with the power of a proxy comes with duties, I have been given tasks to accomplish in Balmuria.'

At the same time, the woman takes her wine and sips it. "Yeah, there's some trouble to sort out. Someone's stirring up things out in the ocean."

'You don't need to tell me about duty,' Jaela thinks with a mental grin matching the one she displays outwards. "Trouble, huh? Someone needs a justified beatdown?"

Not missing a beat, she continues her previous thought with, 'You might need my help to lighten up and relax, though, sounds like. Gonna have time to meet everyone properly?'

'I have plenty of relaxation,' Antenora replies, unperturbed, 'But duty must come first. This should keep you busy while I deliver messages to the faithful and smite the wicked.'

"Trouble?" Mirima turns, her ale forgotten as she focuses on the newcomer. "Do tell. Something exciting?"

"Yeah, one thing," the woman sips a little more of her wine, "Heard through the grapevine it's a devil. You know they don't much like Balmuria. It's prancing down there like the ocean's full of hellfire. Figure he could use a galloping case of the deads. Something a few adventurers could go take care of, since the Crimson Guard's tied up."

"Tied up with what?"  Jaela asks curiously, drinking her ale. "The devil's on us, no worries."

"Classified," Antenora says, and in your mind, 'More fiends. They've been active lately.'

"The ocean?" Mirima rubs her chin, "Yes, that could be fun for all. A rousing underwater battle. I remember our last vacation and those waterfalls and tunnels."

Jaela snorts. "Yeah, that was pretty great. How about it, Ellese? I can handle the breathing part, so wanna go kill a devil?"

"Yes," Ellese agrees right away, smiling slightly and taking an experimental sip of her ale. She grimaces and puts it aside. "I think that would pass a fine day."

Stealing her ale, Jaela finishes it for Ellese in one large gulp. "No time like the present! Strange but somehow reliable looking woman, gonna be around here later? We'll be either at the inn or check out the elves, depending on state of cleanness."

"I'll find you," she says, standing as well. "Good hunting." With a slight nod she's gone.

After a beat, "So was that her?" Mirima says, "I doubt very much that was a random person giving us a perfectly time quest. The powers aren't so gauche as to be that obvious."

"In a sense and given who she works for it is literally what happened," Jaela says with another grin.

let's go kill the devil!

As you prepare, you hear Antenora's voice in your mind again. 'I forgot to mention, look for the underwater city of Risem.'

Whoops, forgot to mention the location she had, otherwise it was really vague. My fault. Anyway, any notable prep to be done before this trip?

We're good.

My apologies here, since I didn't intend to take last night off until I got home hence this being another delay, but what's the plan? Fly over the ocean and dive in? Walk into the bay and swim along? Teleport?

We'll use water breathing and just wade into the water and walk over. If I remember right, it's a couple hours?

From there, the trio leaves Balmuria behind and goes diving. They slip into the green waters of the bay, walking on the bottom and heading on out. The bay's bottom is well kept for that sort of thing, the three soon coming on fields of seaweed, resembling nothing more than fields of wheat. Sea elves tend to them, giving the trio waves as they pass by.

Jaela is struck with how peaceful it looks, and wonders if Muirfinn would have enjoyed a visit. She waves back, robes billowing in the water, even as she proceeds towards the settlement itself.

Mirima returns those with her own waves and smiles, while Ellese busies herself more with looking around. After a bit, Mirima goes forward and talks to one briefly, coming back. "Risem's that way. It's a new city out of the bay," she reports.

Jaela nods, smiling at Mirima. "Good thinking," she says in approval. "Did they mention anything off? Or some upcoming event or festival that might be a target?"

Meanwhile, she asks Ellese the question she had been wondering about. "Did being under the Mythal help any?"

"Nothing like that, but he was a farmer," Mirima says, a thin smile coming, "I'm happy they had anything to talk about except seaweed."

"A little," Ellese said, "The voices were very quiet in Balmuria, but they're starting up again."

"We should try meditating inside, while they're quiet," Jaela decides, proceeding onwards to their destination.

> roll 1d100 Jaela
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d100=65]
> roll 1d100+6 Jaela
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d100=76]

You're swimming out of the bay and into the ocean proper when...

Spot check, Jaela.

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+13
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=5]

Jaela's roll, since phoneposting's hard for Cor right now.

> roll 1d20+5 Ellese
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+30 Mirima
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=10]

As you go, Mirima suddenly stops, "Over there, hold on," she says, swimming off to the right, her red hair trailing behind her like liquid fire.

Jaela follows!

Ellese likewise follows. A bit off to the side, half sunk in the muddy bottom of the bay, you see a wooden chest. Mirima goes right to it, finding it locked. "What's this doing down here?" She examines it, and you can see it's in fine condition. No sign of rust or wear, "It must have just come down here, it's not weathered by the water at all."

"Let's take a look," Jaela muses.

spellcraft please

The chest is not magical.

Ellese studies it a bit, "Locked," she murmurs, air bubbles coming out from her mouth. Her voice is distorted by the water but still understandable. "Magic or force could open it simply enough, there's no magic."

"Force it is," Jaela agrees as she uses just that.

Strength check.

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=2]

No good. Mirima pats Jaela on the shoulder, "Don't worry, honey. I have this," she says, before trying to force it herself.

> roll 1d20+6 Mirima
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 12 > [d20=6]

Aaaand it doesn't budge. To this Ellese sighs a bit, before kicking the side of the chest herself.

> roll 1d20+5 Ellese
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 9 > [d20=4]

Which doesn't even scratch it.

Jaela tries again.

> roll 1d20+8 Jaela again
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=20]

Rolling for Jaela by request. Apparently I'm in the zone.

With a mighty pull, the top of the chest comes free. Within are neatly stacked golden bars, small but a great many of them, the chest entirely filled. Each is inlaid with a pattern of the stars, moon and sun.

"Nice find!"

Ellese looks to them and shakes her head, "This feels like someone else's treasure. What happened here?" she asks, "You don't just find gold bars sitting about in the open, waiting to be found."

Mirima considers, eyeing the treasure, "A windfall, but you might be right. This smells of more than meets the eye."

"I figured it was from a shipswreck," Jaela muses. "We'll take it with us. Antenora can tell us if it's something local."

How are you transporting it?

Jaela summons Brokion, and them tips the chest in before unsummoning the armor once more. Not an elegant solution, but she would think on one afterwards.

"We should. That's a lot of money, especially to normal mortals," Ellese murmurs, barely heard from the distortions of water. Speaking louder after that, "There's an elven proverb about finding a bag of gold lying in the street. The happy elf left it, because he already had joy enough. The wise elf sought who lost it, because he knew that the it was not his gain, but another's loss. The greedy elf took it and made merry with the money, only to drink too much and die in his sleep."

"Yes, but if a warrior elf maiden found it," Mirima tries to toss her hair, which simply doesn't work underwater. It floats about, which makes her pause and scowl, a hand going to reign it back in. "If a warrior elf maiden found it, they'd use it to smite all the devils they could."

"And if we move past the proverbs, sometimes the treasure's original owners have already passed on. Either way, let's get going?"

> roll 1d100 Jaela
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d100=48]

Another hour or two of travel takes you out of the bay. You soon see a city ahead on the coastal plain, buildings of seastone beneath the waves. It's in the distance still but you can see it, all of it made with richly colored and varied sedimentary rock.

"Are we going in head long?" Mirima asks, checking Woven Gold. "The devil and his minions will notice."

"Yes, which is why-" Ellese begins, only for Mirima to laugh.

"That's why we do just that. Why hide? We're here to end a devil, not slip into its slimy graces. Come, it'll be exciting, as exciting as going in without our swimsuits." Mirima swims ahead at that, hurrying on.

"...eh?" Ellese stares, "Why would that be exciting and why is she throwing away any tactical advantage?" she asks aloud.

"I'm not flashing any devils," Jaela says drily. "Not to mention that we're under a Veil. It's a pretty decent approach, so long as we come up with a valid reason for visiting. Maybe asking about that emblem on the gold?"

She glances over at Ellese. "How would you prefer to handle it?"

Mirima slows, enough not to get out of earshot, and finally stops.

"Well," Ellese says, "A devil will out plan and out politic me. But it's the angle a devil expects. So a feint there that opens them up to a decapitating blow otherwise."

"That settles it,  then," Jaela decides. "We don't know anything about this place to plot and we look foreign no matter shat we do. Let's be treasure hunters looking for gold with the symbol we found and look around the village. If you two spot a lead on the devil or hear some relevant rumors, we'll act."

"Fine, treasure hunters it is," Mirima says, starting to swim along again.

Okay, go ahead and describe how you're going into town and all that, along with your immediate plans once there. Assuming no interruptions.

Sure thing! We're treasure hunters who got a lead on a buried treasure! Mirima will carry one gold bar and be theatrical as she gathers info. I'll do the same for any news, while Ellese checks whether we gain any unwanted interest.

Okay, make gather info, Jaela. I'll sort out rolls and segue into your entrance and results as needed. I'll also roll for Mirima and Ellese for their chosen tasks.

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+25
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=13]

As requested by Cor, that's Jaela's GI.

> roll 1d20+11 (+2 circumstance due to gold bar) Mirima
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=5]

> roll 1d20+5 Ellese Spot both of them are working off-skills, actually
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d20=5]

Risem is full of narrow streets and broad spaces above to swim by. The streets are more suggestions, with most creatures traveling above roof level. It's full of creatures of all types - sea elves, mermen, sahuagin and others that you only get glimpses of. Nothing special happens when you enter, and soon you're hitting the bars. As they are here, buildings full of people drinking liquids from glass spheres, with single, sealed glass straws allowing the liquor to be sucked out and not wasted in the waters.

Gathering information gets you a few things.

- Those gold bars? Worth 50 or a 100 gold each, I forget which. They're from that big land city in the bay. Trade bars, the air breathers call them.

- The sahuagin and sea elves are fighting again, out in the open ocean. The water elemental Oolu lead the sea elves against the sahuagin, or so the rumors say.

- Treasure like that's tough to find. The sea elves take any in the bay they find up to that land dweller city and get rewarded for it.  Bah! You have to go further along the sea routes to hope to find much, into the deeper ocean. Bah, you found one of those? Sheer luck!

- Fortunately, Risem's stable right now. Clinal, a wealthy merman, has been investing heavily into Risem.

- Keep your heads down, air suckers. Risem not a town to make waves in. Trust me on this.

I want to ask the last person to elaborate!

One of these bars has an actual bar. A single merman runs it and leans in to say that, quietly. He's middle aged and with graying blonde hair and beard, heavily muscled. "This city isn't safe," he says, ever so quietly.

"No way!" Jaela exclaims, before looking around and leaning close. "There's no chance," she continues quietly. "It looks so peaceful!"

"Shut up," The merman hisses, suddenly finding something halfway down the bar far more interesting. He hurries off, studiously ignoring the three. You can see your outburst got a little attention. There's a pair of sahuagin drinking from glass balls, as well as a sea elf picking at a plate of seaweed and sea cucumbers.

Undaunted by this initial failure, Jaela slowly nurses her drink. Once it needs a refill, she signals the bartender and decides to try her luck again, this time properly quietly.

The barkeep comes over after a short hesitation, "Another?" he asks, blandly.

"Yep," she agrees, pushing it across the counter and leaning after the glass. "Listen, I'm sorry about earlier. You were just trying to warn a girl, right?"

In a whisper, barely heard above the sounds of the ocean, "Go back to Balmuria. Nothing good happens here."

"My friends in Balmuria told me it was safe. What changed?"

"Don't ask. People who ask questions vanish," The barkeep whispers, before hurrying off.

Jaela takes her refilled glass over to the sea elf's table with a grin. "This seat taken?" she asks as she sits down.

The sea elf shrugs and gets up, "I was just going," he says in elven, swimming off and away.

Maybe she just needs a change of perspective. The only other name she came across was this wealthy and active merman, so Jaela decides to look up more information about Clinal. And since a devil might be obvious to her sight, she detects evil subtly throughout her interactions in Risem.

GI again, Jaela.

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+25
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=4]

Jaela's roll since still on phone in China.

> roll 1d100+9 Jaela
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d100=38]

It's a mixed bag. She detects faint evil from some creatures, mostly the sahuagin. Nothing telling, nothing more than faint auras in the streets.

- Clinal's been throwing a lot of money around in Risem.

- Oh, Clinal? Shush! Keep your head down if you offend him, since he remember his enemies and debts. You'll end up short a head.

- Clinal's manor is the Pearly Rook, a wide tower just in the boundaries of town.

Taking the golden bar from Mirima, Jaela leads her little group to Clinal's manor!

> roll 1d100+9 Jaela
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d100=62]

You swim on over to it. It's a tower made of the same sedimentary rock as the rest of the town, four stories tall. No other buildings are near it and it has no windows. There's a door on the top of the roof and a door at the ground level.

Jaela knocks on the door at the bottom, as she is a human used to walking on the ground!

It's hard to knock in water, but you manage to get a decent knock going. Mirima murmurs into your ear as you do, "Do you think some servant will let us walk right in?"

"He's a trader, we're here to trade," Jaela responds matter of factly. Though really all she needs is for this shady guy to hear about them snooping around and treasure.

There's a long pause before a slit on the door opens up, a pair of sea blue eyes visible. "Yes?" The voice asks, a question in a single word. A man's voice, for what it's worth.

"Hi!" Jaela greets the pair of eyes, raising the golden bar up to their level. "We heard that Mister Clinal is the one to talk to about this sort of thing."

what does detect evil say?

1st round, presence of evil but not the location or strength. Speaking of, what spells and protections against divinations do you have on you?

I dont use anti divination stuff. Veil is the exception here.

"Is that gold?" The man asks, voice going up a little bit, "A bar of gold?"

"You've got a good eye!" Jaela says approvingly, tilting it this way and that. "Found it as we looked for sunken treasures. Heard the gentlemerman living here could tell its true value and know how to invest it smartly, too!"

Still detecting?

of course

Second round. An evil aura's coming from the eyes you can see and likely the whole creature.

"Hold on," The voice says, closing the spy-hole behind him. The door doesn't immediately open, however.

It's the moment of truth, Jaela muses. Either they're let in or there will be violence!

She decides to give it a few seconds, splitting her attention between this door and the one on top and keeping her scroll of knock close by.

Four seconds or so pass, Jaela about to act...when the door opens. A merman is here, unremarkable. "How much gold do you have," he asks.

"I might just have more than the one bar," Jaela admits with a wink. "We can discuss business, then?"

"Gold, gold and more gold," Mirima says warmly.

The merman nods, "Swim on in," he says, "Master will be with you, with me in the meantime."

Jaela makes use of the invitation!

Within is a rather large room, several passages winding up or further ahead on this floor. The walls inside are the same stone, though the floor is taken up by a sea shell mural of a trident. The merman quickly swims off in the meantime, calling back, "Wait here."

Mirima just comes in and quietly looks about, while Ellese does the same and then leans in to whisper, "Do you think they've bought it?"

"Just be ready for anything," Jaela responds. If the devil is here and makes its move, they'll get their chance to deal with it.

Are you still detecting evil, Jaela?

constantly

Make a CL check on detect evil.

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+23 cl
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=12]

You can suddenly detect the presence of evil.

1st round result, act.

Vindication, although the situation at the entrance suggested as much. Now she just needs to get an estimate of strength....

As you do, suddenly you hear Mirima call out, "Jaela!" The waters around you are turning pink.

Fort save, you three. It's poison in case you're immune.

Grabbing onto Ellese and Mirima, Jaela shifts the three of them just above the upper door to the building, outside.

quickened dimension door

<Tohsaka> Roll 1d20+48
<Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d20=18]

Rest later, just posting this for Cor now.

Ellese is immune to poison.

> roll 1d20+31 Mirima Fort
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=10]

Ellese doesn't even gag, while Mirima holds her hands over her face, coughing. But Jaela's quicker, the two instantly appearing above the tower from her dimension door.

"Let's get them for this!" Jaela exclaims, tapping Mirima's shoulder to imbue her with Neutralize Poison. "Mirima, put our Knock scroll to use. Ellese, let's see if Mirror Image is useful underwater."

Given where Aurora is, it might be a good thing to settle that one question.

Mirima goes to the door and pulls out her scroll from her bag. It's wet immediately, but she quickly reads it off before the waters ruin it. The door here pops open, as meanwhile Ellese casts mirror image. On a glance, you can see it works, but does create a lack of water moving and displacement. The observant could probably pick right up on that.

[spoiler]

> roll 1d10+9
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 13 > [d10=4]

Mirima

HP: 285+19/285
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), False Life (CL9), Greater Mage Armor(CL9)
Bonuses: Water breathing, +6 armor bonus to armor class
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Ellese

HP: 422/422 (regeneration 5)
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), Mirror Image(CL21)
Bonuses: Water breathing, 8 images.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Spell like abilities

1/day-scorching ray. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

Mirima casts as a 9th level sorcerer. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance.
[9/day]1: Endure Elements, Fist of StoneSC, Magic Missile, Shield, Weapon ShiftSC.
[6/day]2: False Life, Ray of WeaknessSC, Resist Energy, Whirling BladeSC.
[6/day]3: False GravitySC, Fly, Greater Mage ArmorSC.
[7/day]4: Greater Invisibility, Orb of Force
[5/day]5: Wall of Force


Ellese casts as a 21st level sorcerer. The save DCs are 18 + spell level. Her metamagic options are Empower Spell (+2), Energy Substitution(Acid) (+0), Maximize Spell (+3) and Energy Admixture (+3). Once per day she may automatically maximize any spell. Twice per day she may declare a spell a smiting spell, dealing an extra 13 points of damage.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance.
[8/day]1: AberrateBoVD, Protection from Good, Seething EyebaneBoVD, C, Shocking Grasp, StuporBoVD.
[7/day]2: Darkness, Devil's TongueBoVD, C, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray, Summon Swarm.
[8/day]3: Devil's EyeBoVD, Lightning Bolt, Love's PainBoVD, C, Rage.
[8/day]4: Absorb StrengthBoVD, C, Black Tentacles, Damning DarknessBoVD, Wall of Ice.
[7/day]5: Call Lemure HordeBoVD, Cone of Cold, Feeblemind, Morality UndoneFC1, Wall of OozeBoVD.
[7/day]6: Acid Fog, Chain Lightning, Freezing Sphere, Harm.
[7/day]7: Delayed Blast Fireball, Fiendish ClarityFC1, Rapture of RuptureBoVD, Whirlwind of TeethBoVD
[7/day]8: Create Greater Undead, Fire Storm, Horrid Wilting, Polar Ray.
[6/day]9: Apocalypse from the SkyBoVD, Eternity of TortureBoVD, MindrapeBoVD, UtterdarkLoM.
[3/day]10: Body SofteningHome, Gathgorian's FireballHome, True Meteor SwarmHome

Jaela proceeds inside!

"If you sense anything, let me know," she calls back to Mirima and Ellese.

This room opens up into a small chamber, an open hole in the ground leading down. A single sahuagin is staring as the three of you enter, floating above the hole. "Eh? Hey, that door's supposed to be locked," it burbles at you, "Enter at the bottom."

"Funny thing!" Jaela tells back with a grin, swiftly evoking one of her lesser used magics. "Downstairs is filled with poison!"

Quickened Hideous Laughter, Will DC 23.

> roll 1d20+3 vs 23
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=10]

"Oh. OH! OH! AAAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" The sahuagin falls over, clutching its sides as it gives into insane laughter.

"Ah well, glad the devil hires minions who can laugh," Mirima drawls, already heading downward.

It wouldn't last forever, but a few minutes is an eternity in combat. Now considering the sahuagin out of it, Jaela follows Mirima while cackling. Might as well get in character for this!

Ellese frowns, "You sound like a triumphant pit fiend," she observes in elven, as you sim below. It leads into what looks like a reception room. It's nice here, seaweed woven into couches and divans to rest on. Pottery of all shapes and type are about, as well as little jars with tiny, sculpted trees of coral and sea shells growing form them. A female mermaid swims by one, clad in a seashell bra and miniskirt. She's adjusting one of the pots, just starting to turn as the party swims on down.

Archways lead to the north and east.

"Hello!" Jaela greets her, even as her eyes look for any and all signs of evil. "Your boss just tried to kill us after letting us in as guests, so we're a bit upset! Have you seen where he fled, by any chance?"

The mermaid takes one look at the trio before screaming as lout as she can and turning tail, swimming away to the north and through the archway there.

Shrugging, Jaela follows her to the north. Maybe she's heading somewhere. "Though why the screaming?" she complains. "Do I look sinister? I don't, do I? I haven't even killed anyone!"

She flees into the next room, decorated with a general shark motif. The walls have recessed carvings of sharks and the room narrows to a hall that leads to a hole going further down. The woman's there, as a rather large and burly merman with a trident rushes up. "The devil's all this?" he bellows.

Talk if you want, but if you go hostile, it's going to init.

"Hello!" Jaela tries again, finding beauty in audacity. "My friends and I were let in from the door below as guests before poison filled the room! That's hardly friendly or neighborly! I'm afraid I have very stern words for the master of the house. Would that be you?"

Did all my GI earlier get me a desc of the merman? Does my DE detect anything?

"No," The merman cracks his knuckles, readying his trident, "Stupid surface dwelling troublemakers." As the mermaid flees down and away, you can sense the presence of evil.

Round 1 result and no, it didn't. Didn't cross either of our minds. Init here.

"I recommend a prompt surrender! It's either that or a prompt beating, I'm afraid."

Sign expanded.

20:27 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+16 initi
20:27 <Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=10]

> roll 1d20+4 Merman
<Penuche> Koaway invokes Penuche's magic: < 6 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+11 Mirima
<Penuche> Koaway invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+7
<Penuche> Koaway invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=15]

Initiative order is Mirima (29) > Jaela (26) > Ellese (22) > Merman (6)

Mirima just laughs at this, "You have no idea what you're doing."

She'll hold and let Jaela get with the smashing. Go Jaela. She'll act if you don't finish it or something goes awry.

"Selune, this one's for you!" Jaela cries out, holding her hand out towards the merman as silvery lightning lunges at him.

Moon Bolt, Will DC25 or 5d4 str damage.

> roll 1d20+7 vs 25
<Penuche> Koaway invokes Penuche's magic: < 18 > [d20=11]

Roll damage.

21:03 <Tohsaka> roll 5d4 give me all your str
21:03 <Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 10 > [d4=2,3,2,1,2]

The bolt hits the merman right in the chest. HIs muscles shrivel before you, body sagging and loose skin hanging from his now withered form. He struggles to hold up his trident, "What...what?" He repeats, plaintive. His shoulders slump down as he tries and fails to hold up his trident, "My body!"

Free act, he's not resisting anymore.

"It wasn't ready?" Jaela asks in amusement, placing her foot underneath the trident's shaft and kicking it up into her arms in one smooth movement. "Tell me where to find your boss and why he poisons his visitors and I won't unman you." The trident dips in an unmistakable threat. "Well, more than I already have," Jaela amends with a shrug, as she waits on her answers.

21:16 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+38 am I scary
21:16 <Penuche> Tohsaka invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=4]

"D-downstairs," The merman gulps, not resisting at all. In the sub-levels beneath the ocean floor."

"Was he always such a douchebag?" Jaela asks the merman pleasantly. "Or is this a recent change? Really! Poisoning his own guests!"

"I-I don't know," he says, "I was hired a few weeks ago for security!"

"Alright!" Jaela reaches over for the merman. Propping him out, she starts heading out of the room. "You get to show us where the sub-basements are, plus to point out your boss! Oh, and along the way you can tell us about the mermaid in the skirt. Is she his beautiful but tragically evil daughter?"

He can't put up much defense to you, "No, she's the maid!" The merman complains, struggles completely in vain. Down you go, into another level. This one's plainer, a barred door of sedimentary stone on one wall and another door opposite it.

"Directions, please," Jaela requests, trusting in Mirima to open the path for them.

Mirima tries one door at random, "Locked," she reports tersely, before cutting through the lock.

> roll 1d20 just checking for miss
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 1 > [d20=1]

Perhaps its the waters and her own fiery nature, but Mirima really doesn't get much behind the swing. She manages to miss the lock completely. Meanwhile Ellese comes forward, a gesture and a word of twisting, writhing Infernal before a cone of acid comes from her hand, hitting the door right on.

Energy substituted cone of cold, then energy admixture (acid) for an 8th level spell.

> roll 30d6 acid
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d6=5,3,3,3,5,4,2,5,2,3,3,5,1,6,2,2,3,6,6,1,5,1,2,6,1,1,3,3,4,3]

The door dissolves before your eyes. Within you see a small room stuffed to the brim with weapons as well as some light armor and shields. Despite the water, none of the iron here looks rusted as all, though many weapons look made of stranger substances or stone.

"Other door," The merman says, "Just keep going down two more floors, then through the fake wall under the banner of a bonfire."

[spoiler]

Mirima

HP: 285+19/285
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), False Life (CL9), Greater Mage Armor(CL9)
Bonuses: Water breathing, +6 armor bonus to armor class
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Ellese

HP: 422/422 (regeneration 5)
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), Mirror Image(CL21)
Bonuses: Water breathing, 8 images.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Spell like abilities

1/day-scorching ray. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

Mirima casts as a 9th level sorcerer. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance.
[9/day]1: Endure Elements, Fist of StoneSC, Magic Missile, Shield, Weapon ShiftSC.
[6/day]2: False Life, Ray of WeaknessSC, Resist Energy, Whirling BladeSC.
[6/day]3: False GravitySC, Fly, Greater Mage ArmorSC.
[7/day]4: Greater Invisibility, Orb of Force
[5/day]5: Wall of Force


Ellese casts as a 21st level sorcerer. The save DCs are 18 + spell level. Her metamagic options are Empower Spell (+2), Energy Substitution(Acid) (+0), Maximize Spell (+3) and Energy Admixture (+3). Once per day she may automatically maximize any spell. Twice per day she may declare a spell a smiting spell, dealing an extra 13 points of damage.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance.
[8/day]1: AberrateBoVD, Protection from Good, Seething EyebaneBoVD, C, Shocking Grasp, StuporBoVD.
[7/day]2: Darkness, Devil's TongueBoVD, C, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray, Summon Swarm.
[8/day]3: Devil's EyeBoVD, Lightning Bolt, Love's PainBoVD, C, Rage.
[8/day]4: Absorb StrengthBoVD, C, Black Tentacles, Damning DarknessBoVD, Wall of Ice.
[7/day]5: Call Lemure HordeBoVD, Cone of Cold, Feeblemind, Morality UndoneFC1, Wall of OozeBoVD.
[7/day]6: Acid Fog, Chain Lightning, Freezing Sphere, Harm.
[7/day]7: Delayed Blast Fireball, Fiendish ClarityFC1, Rapture of RuptureBoVD, Whirlwind of TeethBoVD
[6/day]8: Create Greater Undead, Fire Storm, Horrid Wilting, Polar Ray.
[6/day]9: Apocalypse from the SkyBoVD, Eternity of TortureBoVD, MindrapeBoVD, UtterdarkLoM.
[3/day]10: Body SofteningHome, Gathgorian's FireballHome, True Meteor SwarmHome

"Two more floor it is," Jaela agrees, heading through the other door.

"Hmph," Mirima glances over at the weapons, "We can take trophies later."

You go down two more floors. The water here is clear now, and you're lead into the room you were in before, thena nother door, "Uh, t-this way," The merman says, "The master's probably downstairs now."

Happy with her decision to take a local guide, Jaela follows his advice!

Another Sign precast.

The next room over is full of banners of all kinds. Various heraldry and coats of arms adorn them. One stands out as your guide points it out - a black banner with a bonfire on it. It hangs high, plenty of wall beneath it. "There, that'll take you in," he says.

"A lack of subtlety. The devil feels this position is secure. If our foe is a greater devil, he will have summoned minions to oppose us, as well as whatever retainers and allies he can call on. I suggest overwhelming force to crack open his defenses before we can be slowed by them." Ellese says.

"Now you get it," Mirima grins, sword out and ready. "We'll hit them so hard they can only gawk and die."

"I can do that," Jaela agrees, kicking the door open.

There's no door there, he did mention a fake wall beneath that banner, though.

I thought the door was hidden behind the tapestry. Okay!

After a fairly useless kick at the wall, Jaela rears back and throws the trident as hard at the fake wall as she can, ready to follow up the attack with a spell should it not be enough.

[22:35] <@Siri> roll 1d20 21pa, divine might, I can't really miss the wall except on a 1
[22:35] <Penuche> Siri invokes Penuche's magic: < 9 > [d20=9]
[22:37] <@Siri> roll 1d8+42+11+12
[22:37] <Penuche> Siri invokes Penuche's magic: < 67 > [d8=2]

Throwing things underwater is of iffy value at best. But after a kick, the fake wall's clearly been loosened, for the trident hitting it opens the way. Ahead is open air and a stairway coming down. After a moment, warmth and the scent of brimstone hits you like a charging cornugon. The stench of Hell, wafting up from below.

Jaela opts to charge down the stairs, taking two and three at a time!

With a laugh, Mirima follows, a mere step behind Jaela. Ellese hurries along, trying to keep pace as she races on down. It's a long stairway that clings to the walls of a large chamber, a rough circle drilled into the ground below. You're 40ft from the ground but have a clear view. At the bottom of the stairs stands two barbazu, glaives out and barring the way. 20ft down and 40ft away are two erinyes, bow and arrows at the ready, aimed up at the approaching heroes.

The floor itself is one massive pentagram, flaming ruby inlays sizzling. Standing in the center of it, 40ft down and 50ft away is a simple merman. He's dressed in noble finery and carries a spear in hand. "Ah, thank you, thank you," he calls, "Your donation of your treasures and soul will be most appreciated!"

Init here.

"I accept your terms!" Jaela responds with matching cheer, dropping her drained guide. "We'll use all your stuff for good once we've dealt with you!"

[06:35] <@Siri> roll 1d20+16
[06:35] <Penuche> Siri invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=15]

> roll 1d20+11 Mirima
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+7 Ellese
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+6 barbazu
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 8 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+5 erinyes
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 8 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+18 merman
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+9 ???
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 10 > [d20=1]

Initiative is Jaela = Merman (31) > Mirima (21) > Ellese (17) > ???(10) > Barbazu=Erinyes (8)

Open Jaela.

[spoiler]

Mirima

HP: 285+19/285
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), False Life (CL9), Greater Mage Armor(CL9)
Bonuses: Water breathing, +6 armor bonus to armor class
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Ellese

HP: 422/422 (regeneration 5)
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), Mirror Image(CL21)
Bonuses: Water breathing, 8 images.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Spell like abilities

1/day-scorching ray. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

Mirima casts as a 9th level sorcerer. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance.
[9/day]1: Endure Elements, Fist of StoneSC, Magic Missile, Shield, Weapon ShiftSC.
[6/day]2: False Life, Ray of WeaknessSC, Resist Energy, Whirling BladeSC.
[6/day]3: False GravitySC, Fly, Greater Mage ArmorSC.
[7/day]4: Greater Invisibility, Orb of Force
[5/day]5: Wall of Force


Ellese casts as a 21st level sorcerer. The save DCs are 18 + spell level. Her metamagic options are Empower Spell (+2), Energy Substitution(Acid) (+0), Maximize Spell (+3) and Energy Admixture (+3). Once per day she may automatically maximize any spell. Twice per day she may declare a spell a smiting spell, dealing an extra 13 points of damage.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance.
[8/day]1: AberrateBoVD, Protection from Good, Seething EyebaneBoVD, C, Shocking Grasp, StuporBoVD.
[7/day]2: Darkness, Devil's TongueBoVD, C, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray, Summon Swarm.
[8/day]3: Devil's EyeBoVD, Lightning Bolt, Love's PainBoVD, C, Rage.
[8/day]4: Absorb StrengthBoVD, C, Black Tentacles, Damning DarknessBoVD, Wall of Ice.
[7/day]5: Call Lemure HordeBoVD, Cone of Cold, Feeblemind, Morality UndoneFC1, Wall of OozeBoVD.
[7/day]6: Acid Fog, Chain Lightning, Freezing Sphere, Harm.
[7/day]7: Delayed Blast Fireball, Fiendish ClarityFC1, Rapture of RuptureBoVD, Whirlwind of TeethBoVD
[6/day]8: Create Greater Undead, Fire Storm, Horrid Wilting, Polar Ray.
[6/day]9: Apocalypse from the SkyBoVD, Eternity of TortureBoVD, MindrapeBoVD, UtterdarkLoM.
[3/day]10: Body SofteningHome, Gathgorian's FireballHome, True Meteor SwarmHome
[/quote]

Jaela mimics wringing out the merman's neck, and as if through synesthesia all her enemies in this underwater chamber choke as water is squeezed out of their bodies! Before they've had the chance to process this, they are swept up in a wave of frost to finish the job!

Quickened Horrid Wilting, standard Cone of Cold.

07:09 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+21 horrid wilting SR
07:09 <Serith> Tohsaka roll for Serith < 35 > [d20=14]
07:09 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+21 cone of cold SR
07:09 <Serith> Tohsaka roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=1]
07:10 <Tohsaka> roll 20d6 horrid wilting fort DC29 half
07:10 <Serith> Tohsaka roll for Serith < 71 > [d6=6,1,6,2,4,6,5,2,4,6,2,1,4,6,3,4,1,4,1,3]
07:11 <Tohsaka> roll 15d6 cone of cold ref DC27 half
07:11 <Serith> Tohsaka roll for Serith < 62 > [d6=6,5,4,3,5,6,4,2,4,3,5,6,3,2,4]

Will attempt to counterspell as immediate if it comes up.

How precisely are you aiming these, Jaela?

> roll 1d20+9 vs 29
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+11 vs 29
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+20 vs 29
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+8 vs 27
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+11 vs 27
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+20 vs 27
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=1]

Water and cold rack the devils. The barbazu wither into nothigness, crumbling into black sand and then even that dissolves. The erinyes barely have time to scream as the same happens to them, only the merman enduring. He shrivels in part and is blasted, wobbling like a top. "It seems I have a Crimson problem," he spits to the side, before making a sharp cutting gesture and vanishing.

Going to counterspell?

"Not so fast!" Jaela cries out, trying to keep him present.

07:34 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+30
07:34 <Serith> Tohsaka roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=2]

With a surge of spell power, Jaela shatters the magic of the merman. He stumbles back, hand catching aflame as blue spellfire fizzles out around him.

Initiative is Jaela = Merman (31) > Mirima (21) > Ellese (17) > ???(10)

Mirima's grinning now, leaping down from the stairs and right at the merman, before he can even utter another word. Woven Gold flashes out, a swipe faster than the eye as...

She's taking the 4d6 falling damage uncontested

> roll 4d6 Mirima
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 14 > [d6=3,6,4,1]

> roll 1d20+52 +5 arcane strike, burning a 5th level spell
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 59 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+47 +5 arcane strike, burning a 5th level spell bounding assault
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+42 +5 arcane strike, burning a 5th level spell rapid blitz
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 46 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d10+36+4d6+5d4
> roll 1d10+36+4d6+5d4
> roll 1d10+36+4d6+5d4
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 59 > [d10=2][d6=5,1,1,1][d4=2,2,3,4,2]
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 73 > [d10=7][d6=2,6,5,4][d4=2,2,4,3,2]
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 67 > [d10=6][d6=2,4,1,3][d4=2,4,3,4,2]

For a moment the merman stays still, then cuts blossom all over his body. Cuts that erupt with arcane fire, the merman thrashing. For a moment he becomes red and scaly, growing in size, before he explodes in a rain of razor sharp obsidian.

> roll 1d20+35 evasion
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=12]

Mirima jukes to the side and parries the rest of it, safe and untouched. But around her the pentagram continues to burn. In fact, you see the blood of the merman splash on it, which makes it burn even more.

Free act for the moment.

Y'all dominated this one, but it was only a CR 20. Barely a speedbump to a prepared party of your caliber.


[spoiler]

Mirima

HP: 285+5/285
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), False Life (CL9), Greater Mage Armor(CL9)
Bonuses: Water breathing, +6 armor bonus to armor class
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Ellese

HP: 422/422 (regeneration 5)
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), Mirror Image(CL21)
Bonuses: Water breathing, 8 images.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Spell like abilities

1/day-scorching ray. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

Mirima casts as a 9th level sorcerer. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance.
[9/day]1: Endure Elements, Fist of StoneSC, Magic Missile, Shield, Weapon ShiftSC.
[6/day]2: False Life, Ray of WeaknessSC, Resist Energy, Whirling BladeSC.
[6/day]3: False GravitySC, Fly, Greater Mage ArmorSC.
[7/day]4: Greater Invisibility, Orb of Force
[4/day]5: Wall of Force


Ellese casts as a 21st level sorcerer. The save DCs are 18 + spell level. Her metamagic options are Empower Spell (+2), Energy Substitution(Acid) (+0), Maximize Spell (+3) and Energy Admixture (+3). Once per day she may automatically maximize any spell. Twice per day she may declare a spell a smiting spell, dealing an extra 13 points of damage.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance.
[8/day]1: AberrateBoVD, Protection from Good, Seething EyebaneBoVD, C, Shocking Grasp, StuporBoVD.
[7/day]2: Darkness, Devil's TongueBoVD, C, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray, Summon Swarm.
[8/day]3: Devil's EyeBoVD, Lightning Bolt, Love's PainBoVD, C, Rage.
[8/day]4: Absorb StrengthBoVD, C, Black Tentacles, Damning DarknessBoVD, Wall of Ice.
[7/day]5: Call Lemure HordeBoVD, Cone of Cold, Feeblemind, Morality UndoneFC1, Wall of OozeBoVD.
[7/day]6: Acid Fog, Chain Lightning, Freezing Sphere, Harm.
[7/day]7: Delayed Blast Fireball, Fiendish ClarityFC1, Rapture of RuptureBoVD, Whirlwind of TeethBoVD
[6/day]8: Create Greater Undead, Fire Storm, Horrid Wilting, Polar Ray.
[6/day]9: Apocalypse from the SkyBoVD, Eternity of TortureBoVD, MindrapeBoVD, UtterdarkLoM.
[3/day]10: Body SofteningHome, Gathgorian's FireballHome, True Meteor SwarmHome

Taking Ellese's hand, Jaela shifts them down to the ground before taking a closer look at the pentagram.

Dimensional Door, spellcrafting/taking 10 for 45.

The pentagram is no great feat by itself. It simply collects diabolical energies and transmutes it to fire. Powerful but not overwhelming - but the blood of a greater devil has splashed on it. It's suprecharged and about to explode. As in now, as the three are suddenly immersed in a great burst of fire.

> roll 1d20+14 spell resistance
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=8]

Since I don't see your block handy, do you have SR, Jaela? If so, I assume that doesn't beat it.

Spell Resistance 33 (42 vs Evil spells/permanent Mantle of Good)

> roll 1d20+13 Ellse
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+35 Mirima evasion
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=4]

> roll 15d6 Ellese full -5 for resistance, Mirima none
<Serith> Kobrb roll for Serith < 45 > [d6=2,1,3,2,6,2,1,6,6,5,2,1,1,3,4]

Jaela simply isn't touched by the magic, which fails to harm her at all. Mirima leaps up like a cat, landing on the stairs and away from the inferno. Ellese? She just stands there, charred a bit and healing already. Her expression doesn't even change, and after a moment she says, "Hell's done far worse to me than some burns."

[spoiler]

Mirima

HP: 285+5/285
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), False Life (CL9), Greater Mage Armor(CL9)
Bonuses: Water breathing, +6 armor bonus to armor class
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Ellese

HP: 382/422 (regeneration 5)
Spells Active: Water Breathing (CL24), Mirror Image(CL21)
Bonuses: Water breathing, 8 images.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

Spell like abilities

1/day-scorching ray. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

Mirima casts as a 9th level sorcerer. The save DCs are 19 + spell level.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance.
[9/day]1: Endure Elements, Fist of StoneSC, Magic Missile, Shield, Weapon ShiftSC.
[6/day]2: False Life, Ray of WeaknessSC, Resist Energy, Whirling BladeSC.
[6/day]3: False GravitySC, Fly, Greater Mage ArmorSC.
[7/day]4: Greater Invisibility, Orb of Force
[4/day]5: Wall of Force


Ellese casts as a 21st level sorcerer. The save DCs are 18 + spell level. Her metamagic options are Empower Spell (+2), Energy Substitution(Acid) (+0), Maximize Spell (+3) and Energy Admixture (+3). Once per day she may automatically maximize any spell. Twice per day she may declare a spell a smiting spell, dealing an extra 13 points of damage.

[6/day]0: Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Resistance.
[8/day]1: AberrateBoVD, Protection from Good, Seething EyebaneBoVD, C, Shocking Grasp, StuporBoVD.
[7/day]2: Darkness, Devil's TongueBoVD, C, Mirror Image, Scorching Ray, Summon Swarm.
[8/day]3: Devil's EyeBoVD, Lightning Bolt, Love's PainBoVD, C, Rage.
[8/day]4: Absorb StrengthBoVD, C, Black Tentacles, Damning DarknessBoVD, Wall of Ice.
[7/day]5: Call Lemure HordeBoVD, Cone of Cold, Feeblemind, Morality UndoneFC1, Wall of OozeBoVD.
[7/day]6: Acid Fog, Chain Lightning, Freezing Sphere, Harm.
[7/day]7: Delayed Blast Fireball, Fiendish ClarityFC1, Rapture of RuptureBoVD, Whirlwind of TeethBoVD
[6/day]8: Create Greater Undead, Fire Storm, Horrid Wilting, Polar Ray.
[6/day]9: Apocalypse from the SkyBoVD, Eternity of TortureBoVD, MindrapeBoVD, UtterdarkLoM.
[3/day]10: Body SofteningHome, Gathgorian's FireballHome, True Meteor SwarmHome
[/quote]

"Sorry, got a bit overconfident there," Jaela apologizes, resting her hand on Ellese's shoulder to channel enough healing to restore her to perfect health. "Figured we didn't have time to wait before stopping it, but thought we had a chance at it."

She spends a moment to consider just what sort of spell the devil had going, and whether it went off as planned or got disrupted explosively.

"What now? Look for his stuff, tell the locals to do something with the place and go back to Balmuria?"

Lay on Hands to heal Ellese, afterwards to heal Mirima as well.

"No need," Ellese says, burns already healing before your eyes. "I've suffered and healed from far worse."

"I'm fine," Mirima says, "The fall didn't even hurt."

Mirima had temp HP and Ellese regenerates, soooooo.

"Anyway," Mirima tosses her wet hair and grimaces, a simple spell drying it. She tosses her now dry hair and says, "Easily so. We should do something about this pentagram." You can see the fires have died down, at least.

Studying the pentagram, you can see it's some sort of life-absorbing spell work, as expected. Decent if not exceptional arcanery, very ordered and precise which suggests Hellish construction.

Jaela tries a generic dispel to see if it would be enough to disrupt the pattern.

[20:51] <@Siri> roll 1d20+25
[20:51] <Serith> Siri roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=7]

On Jaela's touch, the pentagram grows dark and cracks, the precious stones becoming naught but lead.

"Well then," Mirima says, "I'm going to go claim some trophies back upstairs. There's also all the equipment the devils dropped, going to take it?"

"Sure," Jaela responds. "It'd look more authentic when we stop by that bar on our way out, and it's best to break it later than just leave it lying around here."

Loot post.

How far do you want to skip along, Jaela?

Let's chat with that barkeep again!

The three return to the barkeep. It's about the same as before, only the faces of the customers are different. But you can also notice there's a whole lot of quiet whispering, groups having rather intense conversations.

"Hello again!" Jaela says in greeting. "Did you know that this Clinal character was a transformed devil? Boy, was I shocked!"

The barkeep looks up and does a double take, "What?" he hisses, "Lower your voice!"

"Why? He's back in Hell with all his devil minion friends. You know, I hear they can't return for like a century or something, even if they can get past the shame of getting kicked off a world."

"What?!" The barkeep glares at you, "What are you talking about? You...did you...?"

"I went to visit him," Jaela says, looking him over out of curiosity as she tells her story. "He tried to kill me! When he failed, he said how we should bet all our things and our souls on the outcome, and I don't really need his blackened soul but his things are certainly nice."

She tilts her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "You know, I think Seira said something about this? Maybe in the context of bandits? What do you think, am I mixing up my lore? So anyway! We fought. It was a very short fight. Embarrassing, really, and his shame at losing quickly was only eclipsed by him trying to run away in the end. But wouldn't you know it, he had this pentagram all primed for sacrifice and he was bleeding, so... whoosh!" Jaela throws her hands up, before spreading them slowly to her sides.

"Hellfire. Even if you're immune you still get burnt! Not a very smart move, wouldn't you say? Especially since Hell likes to punish failure, and he pretty much blundered into this on his own."

Detect Evil, let's see if all is good. Detect Magic to follow to confirm there are no enchantments and the like.

First round, no presence of evil on him or around him.

The barkeep just stares, "What...you...killed him? You killed Clinal?"

"In the clearest case of self defense ever. I even brought along one of his minions around as witness!"

If you're talking about the guy you intimidated, he didn't follow you into the battle and I didn't see any mention of taking him along with you after.

I'm saying he witnessed the whole thing, not that I dragged him over here after.

Okay then.

"He's dead?" The barkeep repeats, gawking openly at you.

"Extremely. He's left this mortal coil for a warmer environment," Mirima remarks.

"Even devils die if you're determined enough to rid the world of them," Jaela affirms. "So here's your chance to let me know if there's an accomplice I missed!"

The barkeep pauses for a few moments before whispering, "Gaisan, he's an enforcer for Clinal. He not here though, he talked about going to raise trouble in Chyral."

"Enforcer, huh? Got anyone here to take care of it, now that his boss isn't around?"

"Yeah, think I might," he says, just as quietly as before. He glances around, "Got a few ideas."

"Super! Also, I don't really need Clinal's tower so since he signed off all his things to me his investments should really go to the locals. And hey, keep in mind! Balmuria is just a couple hours away!"

"Mmm yes, signing over by defeat," Mirima chuckles as the barkeep nods quickly.

Anything else you want to do here, Jaela?

Let's return to Balmuria. I want to try and help Ellese meditate as back on Aurora, except this time her voices would be quiet. Then we'll catch up with Antenora.

> roll 1d100+2 random
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+2 random --> [ 1d100=35 ]{37}

A nice trip back leads you to Seira's inn. You get to your rooms - entirely pleasant. Mirima's off taking a bath, freshening up for the evening. It's a few hours past sunset, the remnants of dinner on the table and quiet to be found.

Go ahead and set yourself up as you please, including taking this elsewhere if an inn room isn't your ideal for this.

Staying at Ellese's room for this, Jaela takes a seat on the bed opposite her. "Just like back at the Aurora," she tells Ellese. "It's all about finding out who you are, about defining yourself." She briefly entertained ideas of going to a temple for this, but in the end it shouldn't matter. So long as it's quiet and restful, they can meditate anywhere.

Ellese nods, "Will you be joining me for this?"

"Of course! You're not alone, and if there's something I can do to help no matter how small, well...."

"Just be there," Ellese murmurs, "In case something happens."

"Ain't nothing's gonna happen when I'm around," Jaela promises.

Make a Wis check here, Jaela, to guide her.

[21:24] <@Annerose> roll 1d20+9
[21:24] <Kobot> Annerose rolled 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{25}

> roll 1d20+5
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{25}

You watch Ellese meditate and guide her into it, letting time roll off you as minutes turn into an hour and more. You easily bat aside a towel clad Mirima with a few murmured words (and manage to valiantly ignore the towel that ends up dropped on your head before she stalks off) and keep on it.

As this passes, you're vaguely aware of a pale green glow around Ellese. You feel three presences around you, familiar. "I am not a dog. I am not a slave. I am not a devil." Ellese speaks these words in a clear, loud voice.

Thanks to your efforts, giving Ellese the fear-blocking potion from Medi's quarters and persistence, you've helped her overcome some of the trauma and programming the devils invested into her. Her alignment has changed to lawful neutral. She's still a good ways away from the elven ideal of chaotic good, but it's an important step forward.

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that!" Jaela cheers. "And I bet your issues with magic are gonna be manageable, now. Why don't you rest for now, and try to sort out your spells come morning? Those that don't fit your self image you could work on replacing."

Ellese smiles - a slow, shaky smile. "I feel more like myself than I have in years. Yes, rest and in the morning maybe..."

Good to skip along?

Sure.

Did you re-Veil or are you looking normal now?

Jaela rests. Breakfast is Red Dragon Eggs, which in this case is eggs scrambled with spicy red pepper and a side of sliced, hot pepper-sausage. Mirima eats heartily while Ellese picks at her food. The three of you eat downstairs in the main bar, the inn already busy and bustling. Amid this you hear Antenora's voice in your mind, 'Out here or somewhere more private?'

Re-Veil, of course. We're incognito! That said, I wouldn't have gone outside for the hour my magic needs to recover.

'Here's fine,' Jaela thinks back to her. 'If anything's confidential you've got your handy mind trick, or we could just up and leave then.'

Moments later the same woman from yesterday stomps up. "Heard you have fun underwater," she remarks, joining the party and waving over a server. She orders the same as the three of you with extra pepper.

"Why yes, we did," Mirima says after a bite, and calls, "Oh server, I'd like seconds."

Jaela copies Mirima by flagging the server.

"I got to brush up on some rarely-used spells," she tells Antenora. "Nonlethal takedowns aren't really my specialty, so I liked the challenge." She fishes out the gold bar she'd kept unsealed, and places it on the table. "Plus we chanced upon this. Do you know if it's legitimately buried treasure or belongs to someone who misplaced it?"

Antenora takes a glance at it, "The Baronies' trade bars. Where'd you find them?" Antenora asks, "They've only come into use in the past few decades, so it's nothing old."

"In a nondescript chest deep in the bay," Jaela responds. "Figured a sunken ship was the origin, if not someone deliberately burying them. But hey, sounds like it's our good fortune?"

"Unlikely," Antenora hands the bar back, your food coming. "The sea elves of Chyral salvage any sunken ships in the bay for the Baronies. So buried treasure or something that fell off a ship."

"I did think it strange for the gold to be lying there," Ellese adds, "One does not find a small fortune sitting on the roadside, waiting for the first lucky soul."

"If anything it's less strange than a devil that powerful getting its hooks into a village this close to Balmuria," Jaela muses, asking Ellese, "Got any other possible leads to follow? If it's reasonable I'll give a hand."

"Not strange at all. They try and are routinely chastised for the error." Antenora eats smoothly, sampling the food before digging in earnest. After a few bites, "Only religious issues and nostalgia," she admits, "The Crimson Guard is largely skilled at taking care of the Baronies and surrounding countries. There are things to do, but Alicia's faithful need to do them, not us. For if we do it all, how can they grow and lead this generation of protectors?"

Looking over, "But there is one thing that we can do."

"I'm all ears! Does it involve alcohol?"

"No," Antenora replies with a small frown, ""You need troops for your Crusade. There is a force here that owes me a favor."

"No, this definitely calls for alcohol," Jaela insists. "Awesome recruits? That's cause for celebration! So who are they? Are you gonna introduce us?"

"It is early in the day for it," Mirima does mention, "That must mean it's a celebration."

"There is a group of druids in the Barbarian Lands," Antenora explains, "I will introduce you."

"Nice! Wanna go now? Or show us more of the city first?"

"It is your choice," Antenora says.

Ball's in your court here, Jaela.

Let's have her show us the highlights, and then we can go meet druids.

You start with the Old City. You finish climbing the hill, the sea breeze rolling in off from the bay. You can see all the ships here as well as a single shop atop it. "Luna Del Stronger," Antenora says, "A famous magic shop in the Baronies. It served us well in our times here."

Ellese starts to go for it, "Oh? What sort of selection do they have?"

"Extensive," Antenora says, her hair blowing a little bit in the breeze.

Since Ellese is interested, Jaela heads inside. "What you really should be asking is what sort of discount our friend has with them," she says with a laugh.

"Ten percent," Antenora says with a slight smile. Inside is a vast array of glass cases and shelves, all full of various magical arcana. There are weapons and armor, scrolls, books, rings, staves, wands, amulets, runestones, potions and much more. A few people are about shopping, and a hooded woman sees to the shoppers. It smells of roses, sand and bat guano in here.

Jaela waves at the fellow hooded woman, asking her, "Can you please show us your best courtblade?"

The woman nods, voice quiet and not disturbing the tranquility of the shop at all. "Of course, ma'am. You mean an elven courtblade?"

"Of course! Is there any other kind?"

"Some consider thinblades to also be courtblades," Mirima remarks, "They're wrong, but they cling to the argument."

The woman leads the four of you over to the weapons, and to a case with a long courtblade resting in it. "Magana," she says, taking the blade and holding it both hands, taking it out from the case. "A courtblade forged and enchanted to slay a hydra. Legend says that the attempt failed and that the sword was lost, yet here it resides now."

Ellese meanwhile drifts over to the racks of scrolls, examining them. Then over to a case of what looks to be components - you spot a jar of glittering diamond dust, something you know well.

"Want to see how it compares to Woven Gold?" Jaela asks Mirima.

"Yes, though I doubt it'll compare," Mirima says, patting the hilt of her sword.  She takes it and holds it up, giving it a few swings.

"Do you mind if I take a closer look?" Jaela asks, waiting on agreement before trying to look at the blade more closely.

Spellcrafting at 10 for 45 if there's no objections from the staff.

There's no objection.

Magana is an elven courtblade+2, magical beast bane. It grants a +10ft bonus to movement speed, this is an enhancement bonus.

"Yeah, I can see how it could take out a hydra," Jaela voices. "Kinda niche, but very good at what it does. What do you think?"

"A fair weapon, but Woven Gold is better," Mirima says, handing it back.

"Our weapons we forge with our own blood and tears usually are," Antenora adds. "Be it from the beginning or when we find them."

"I suppose," Jaela agrees. "In that case, how about purchasing some quality weapons, slightly wet?" She produces the bow, and then a sword. "These are a set! I've got one more!"

The woman takes them, face briefly illuminated. Middle age perhaps, well kept as she studies the weapons. "Twenty thousand gold," she says.

Meanwhile Antenora glances at them and sends, 'Erinyes weapons?'

"Sounds reasonable," Jaela agrees, handing over the other set as well. To Antenora, she sends back, 'The devil had minions. They weren't very good.'

"Would you prefer gold, gems or store credit?" The woman asks, gathering up the weapons.

'Hm.' Is all Antenora says in reply.

"Gems work, thanks!" Jaela tells her brightly.

'Sounded like we got them all. Devil was posing as this wealthy merman merchant, and thought we were from the Guard. Apparently he had an enforcer away at the time, but the locals seemed confident about dealing with him.'

Make a loot post of the selling, Jaela.

'Hn.' Antenora's reply is short and concise, 'A typical ploy. Sometimes I wonder who is in charge of the various excursions against Balmuria now, for recent efforts have been persistent but relatively lackluster. Were it still the Spark Hunters, it would be far more effective and dangerous.'

Meanwhile you hear a loud gasp. Sounds like Ellese as she reads over a scroll.

Jaela peers at the scroll over Ellese's shoulder, invading her personal space without so much as a thought.

"Ah!" Ellese startles badly at that, the scroll going out of sight. You have time just to catch the name of the spell, "Elle's Electric Elevation."

"Is it the name? Or is it a special scroll?" Jaela asks with a grin.

"It's extremely special," Ellese says, offering it to Jaela. "Of course it shares the same problem as energy vulnerability, but the payoff is ever so tempting."

Jaela takes a look! If it was interesting to a mage of Ellese's caliber, they might use it for Aurora's spellbooks.

"Speaking of spells, did you think of any you could try to learn?"

Post 9000. Some scary numerology there.

The spell is this:

Elle's Electric Elevation
Abjuration
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
Target: One creature

This spell functions as energy vulnerability, except as noted here. This spell only affects one creature, though it may effect it regardless of hit dice. The target gains vulnerability to electricity if it fails the Will save. Additionally, each time it takes electricity damage for the duration of the spell, the damage it suffers from further electricity attacks increases by 50%. It takes 150% on the first source of electricity damage, 200% on the second, 250% on the third and so on.

"Sounds like a perfect fit for Candy," Jaela notes. "Unless you're tempted yourself?"

"It's interesting, but not for myself," Ellese admits, "More the theory behind it."

"Let's get it as a gift for Candy, then?" Jaela suggests. As for the theory, she can't help but wonder if there could be a variant that works with light or even holy power. Probably, though she expects it'd be a more difficult spell to master.

To Antenora, she sends, 'I think we're ready to continue?'

Post the expense in loot. The price is a normal 6th level scroll.

From here you wander the New City. It's all houses not too old, fairly large ones interspersed with the occasional shop. You see children playing and guards walking the streets, a good time until you come on one house in particular, not far from a temple of Mystra. It's a two story house, like many others here. Yet the front door has flowers, baskets of food and even coins left there. Antenora stops before it and looks on for a good time, "Home," she murmurs, "Alicia, myself and our friends lived here before her ascension."

"Oh!" Mirima raises an eyebrow, grinning. "So it's a shrine now, down to the offerings?"

"Balmuria is still grateful for Alicia's bravery. For our bravery." Antenora advances to the door, "The faithful guard it on most days, but today is not most days."

"Hey, that reminds me," Jaela muses. "Back home one of the merchants is selling a ring that's rumored to have belonged to Alicia. Want me to pick it up and send over, in case it's the genuine article?"

Antenora pauses at that, midstep to the door and hand out to open it. "No. I will go myself. If it is somehow one of Alicia's rings, I'll see that it returns to her. If it isn't, I will have words with that merchant."

"Just tag along with us when we return, then," Jaela offers. "It would be a pain for you to get inside on your own."

A nod and then you are lead inside. It seems...like a house. A normal, well decorated house, with a large living room that connects directly to the kitchen. There's a stairway going up. "Amazing things came from such a simple place," Antenora says, drifting over and looking all around.

Ellese comes in, taking a seat after looking around. "Are there any lingering magics here? Any affects or the like?"

"Yes. Alicia's faithful who sleep here have visions," Antenora drifts to the kitchen, "She still remembers this place. A place where evil was vanquished." She comes over to Ellese, "Rest here a time, meditation here may help you."

Jaela perks up at Antenora's suggestion. "That's a pretty good idea," she agrees. "And we've got time. I wanted to run a training idea by Antenora as it is."

Ellese quickly nods, settling into the couch to relax. Mirima comes over as Antenora leads the two of you to the kitchen, speaking quietly. "What's your idea?"

"Okay, so I'm just thinking out loud, right?" Jaela says as she looks the two of them over. "Mirima and I went to Ysgard to train a few months back and there was a bunch of lava and violence to train my body to resist attacks better. I'm sure there's improvement to find here, but I was thinking about the next step of regeneration." She holds up her hand, a ring glinting on it. "The ring of regeneration just doesn't cut it. It's good for aesthetics and making sure you don't die by a stupid accident, but it's utterly worthless in actual combat. So anyway, I figured I'd either work at it in Ysgard or ask someone who has first hand knowledge with people acquiring these sort of skills."

"You know, dear, you should have looked closer to home." Mirima says with the beginnings of a frown, "Dana's quite good at regeneration."

"That may work on Ysgard, but not on another plane," Antenora murmurs, keeping quiet. "I did not know how to teleport for a long while after my rise. In time, I developed the skill thanks to a great deal of meditation in Sylica and Mount Celestia. In those planes, meditation was the key. If you seek to bolster your outsider nature, you must remember the planes close to you and how they would reflect on you and that."

"But Dana likes pain. A lot of pain," Jaela does not quite complain. "Good point, though. No reason I can't ask all my friends to see how they'd manage it and go from there."

She nods at Antenora, then. "Meditation or training with some bigshot in Arvandor or the Court of Stars, going by what you're suggesting?"

"I wouldn't suggest it. Do it alone. One of the points of chaos is self sufficiency," Antenora glances over at Ellese as she meditates, "I would think you'd find it just as good to do it on your own, or even faster."

Mirima chuckles warmly, "Jaela doesn't have to do it alone. I'll be there to help her."

"Chaos sounds so structured!" Jaela comments with a grin, throwing her arm around Mirima. "Yeah, this sounds like a plan."

Antenora snorts, a sound rather like a laugh. "You begin to see the self contradictory nature of chaos."

Mirima leans into Jaela, "I'll make sure she succeeds, or at least has a remarkably good time trying."

"How about you?" Jaela asks Mirima. "What's in your plans of training, since you've reached the pinnacle of your style?"

"There's no pinnacle," Mirima says, "Only as high as you can make your way into the art. I can now see higher feats than before, ones I couldn't imagine before this."

"Ah, really? That's just... wow, something beyond how you took that Nessian apart?"

"Yes," Is all Mirima says, smiling.

Antenora returns that smile, "There's always more to grow into. I've mastered the arts of the hellreaver and the paladin, yet as I train I see more potential on the horizon."

"I just kept on getting distracted by shiny things, learned all the spells, then invented my own style of fighting," Jaela muses. "To each their own?"

"Yes. Though speaking of, this was supposed to be a romantic vacation," Mirima hmphs, "But somehow," she reaches out and flicks Jaela's ear, "We kept getting distracted by shiny things."

"We killed a bunch of devils together!" Jaela protests, laughing. "What could be more romantic?"

"Oh, I don't know. You, me, Antenora and a rousing game of who can get naked the fastest?" Mirima smirks at that.

Antenora starts to open her mouth to say something, but Mirima cuts her off. "I'm not sure romantic is the word you're looking for," she says, after a beat.

"I had a fun couple days and I'm sure the rest will be just as nice! But it's only fair you pick the next vacation?"

"Oh yes, I will," Mirima says, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "So many ideas..."

Antenora just shakes her head with a hint of amusement, going to check on Ellese.

Okay, your plan for the rest of the week is to have Ellese meditate?

Meditate and get cooler spells! But yes. We'll just keep touring the city and generally have a great time and then go meet the druids.

> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=5 ]{9}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=1 ]{5}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=2 ]{6}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
> roll 1d20+4 Ellese
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+4 Ellese --> [ 1d20=13 ]{17}

A few days pass. Ellese meditates a lot, making slow progress. After one long evening session, she says, "I've freed my mind, but my magic's harder. I'm starting to see it's woven to the deepest wounds and corruption." The two of you are talking in Ellese's inn room, Mirima off doing a spot of personal shopping. "It's like a gash at the bottom of a lake that constantly leaks poison into the waters of my mind."

Jaela purses her lips, thinking on the problem. "You found your center," she voices. "It helped when you weren't alone for that, and in particular when the voices were cut off. If this is harder, then maybe you need a change of environment. I still think the basic idea is sound, but maybe what you need is to try meditating in Elysium or one of the other heavens." Tilting her head, Jaela adds, "Or maybe it's about taking smaller steps. Devil magic is associated with fire a lot, so rather than breaking free of the taint altogether what if you simply worked within those rules for now? Once you don't have magic that makes you sick to use, it might be time to try and push the boundaries again."

"Maybe," Ellese considers, "Though I think the best solution is to stop the poison from coming in, to address the deeper corruption. That may be where I need magical aid."

"Since it's a lengthy process, no reason you can't do both," Jaela points out. "Some of these spells, they change you as you use them. Corrupt you. Why let them do that?"

I'd like to take 10 for K:A for 52 to figure out if there's any magical aid that I could provide myself, arrange on Ellese's behalf or recommend.

This sort of corruption is deep and perverse. She's ultimately right. Even fi she frees her mind, her magic is still polluted. The source has to be addressed.

The tricky part is that it's not the sort of thing you can atone away. It's not Ellese's sin that's the problem. You need something profoundly holy to help her, to wipe away Baator's power without shredding her spirit or worse. As a powerful servant of the Triune, you may quality for the profoundly holy part, but you'd need to develop your own approach. After all, you were able to help free her mind.

"I've got an idea," Jaela finally tells Ellese, after thinking about the problem some more. "I've got this quest about purifying a corrupted ring through the purity of a newborn's joy, and I think we'll bend the rules a bit by inviting you over for that. It sounds like just the sort of situation where you would get a good shot at the sort of backing you need to cast off Baator's influence for good. So in the meanwhile, just work on keeping your mind your own and keeping your magic less likely to taint you. The practice is bound to come in handy later!"

"I will," Ellese promises.

Okay, ready to move along now? Jaela, would you mind time-shuffling the druids back and doing the Surraruthru thing first? He's waiting on you, and the druids are a plane shift away afterwards.

Okay!

Then this thread is done for now. Locking.