Afina's getting her things together, preparing herself for her trip to the Cauldron. The power of earth beckons her, and with it one step closer to completion. She's sorting through her closet, checking possessions and generally taking a quiet day to get life in order.
It's then that there is a knock on her door, disturbing her preparations.
We'll get your elementalism quest going shortly, Afina.
Closing the closet and turning towards the door Afina calls out, "Come in."
It's Mei. She comes in, something in hand. It's a simple stone, a brown fieldstone. She smiles and comes forward, pressing it into Afina's hands.
Afina accepts the stone and holds it against her breast, the meaning behind it obvious. While acclimatisation towards Earth won't be as necessary as it was for Water, where she already had the conflicting impulses of Fire within her, it's still important to have an appreciation for the element she hopes to soon take within herself. Speaking of, she floats down to rest her feet on the ground rather than take her usual posture of hovering at eye-height for whoever she's dealing with.
"A thoughtful gift, you have my thanks Mei," she says to the mute elf. Of course fey standards of behaviour dictate that any gift be reciprocated at the soonest juncture, a potential problem given Mei's attitude towards worldly belongings. Also she really doesn't have much to spare herself right now. Then again as a master craftsfairy all she really needs is material. Walking over to her nightstand she takes a glass vase and empties the flowers out of it, casting fabricate the fashion it into a glass sculpture of a female elf in modest robes, her eyes closed and her posture one of prayer. That should appeal to Mei's religious sensibilities.
[17:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+35 craft sculpting
[17:55] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d20=14]
It comes out quite well too, in Afina's opinion! Probably worth a fair copper, but if it's a problem Mei can surely sell it and donate it the proceeds to a worthy cause, or just let it decorate that temple Jaela established. Walking back over she presents it to the elf. "Among the fey a gift must always be answered with another."
Mei takes the statue and examines it, before smiling. She goes to Afina's table and puts it there, then goes back to Afina and sweeps her into a hug. A rather long one, before she lets go and kisses Afina's forehead.
Ahh yes, that whole thing about looking like a child to big folk. Afina submits to the hugs and kisses without protest. Really it's not bad to be shown some affection now and then. "I'll be visiting the Cauldron shortly for this," she holds up the brown rock in her hand, "With Kascha. Would you like to come along?" she invites since Mei's taking an interest.
Mei nods to that, quite quickly.
"Then you're very welcome to come," Afina says, glad for the company. "We haven't spent much time together so this is a good chance to get to know one another." The interesting thing about talking to someone who's mute is that she ends up talking more herself to give Mei's expressiveness something to work with. Crystal would surely be proud. "The Cauldron makes for a pleasant visit, and there were lots of impressive elemental effects when I took Water into myself."
Mei nods and smiles, spreading her arms wide. She looks interested, tapping her chest with a finger. Right over her heart.
"You want to have a heart to heart?" Afina asks, amused. "Well, we have time before Kascha's ready. Why don't you pick somewhere we can go and... if not chat then at least try to understand one another?" Having a normal conversation isn't the easiest thing under these circumstances so letting Mei pick the setting at least makes sense to make up for her lack of verbal communication.
Mei nods and leads you along. To a portal and to the baths. You can already hear the sound of conversation from ahead, female voices not quite distinct to your ears. Mei quickly puts aside her robe and heads within.
It's not a bad spot, for all that it feels a little superfluous here on the elemental plane of Water. But everyone loves the baths.
Except Simmer.
She'll have to do something nice for the pyrodryad later, it was her idea to come here after all. Taking a little longer to peel off her own rather more involved getup, Afina walks after Mei into the baths proper. Her clammy pink skin won't stand out as much here at least, with the steam from hot water having its effects on everyone.
Inside are several women - Ebony, Canderella and Misalea. They're chatting away, floating wooden trays drifting between them. Drinks and snacks are on the tables, little cakes and sweet things joined by amber-colored wine.
"...and I'm glad I wasn't hungry for fish," Misalea says, as Canderella snickers.
Mei quickly slips in, "Oh ho," Canderella says, "More for the party! Elena, get someone to bring us some more food and drink!" She smiles warmly, taking a glass of wine and starting in on it.
Ebony glances your way, "Hello Afina, Mei."
"Hello you three," Afina nods in greeting to the other three ladies, slipping into the water and bobbing about easily as she sticks close to Mei. Does she want the others around to help fill in any awkward silences? It's not a bad idea, she supposes. "So, anything in particular you're curious about?" she asks the knight of the triune, trusting she can pantomine enough for Afina to make sense of her desires and work from there.
Mei points at the steam rising up, then at Afina, then taps the stone floor just outside of the tub.
Meanwhile Misalea goes on, "Hi, you two. But anyway, no one was seriously ill after the healers came. It did ruin all of our nights..." she trails off, "Mei, are you trying to say something?"
Ebony nabs a little bit of chocolate cake with two fingers, popping it into her mouth. She smiles slowly, sighing in contentment. "Steam, Afina, stone. It seems to be an elemental question?"
"I'm going to the Cauldron shortly to see about adding more elements to my panoply," Afina informs the other girls. "My thinking was to do Earth first and leave Air till last. Nothing in me currently conflicts with Earth, although obviously that stands in opposition to Air. But well... you've all seen enough of me for it to be obvious I have a natural affinity towards Air, so I'm hoping my own inclinations will make it easier to absorb Air into me even with Earth's presence."
Seeing no harm in elaborating a bit more she goes on. "Becoming like this," she indicates her figure, "Was a trial by itself. The hatred Water and Fire bear for each other is an ancient and terrible thing, bereft of any understanding. I had to reconcile that inside my very spirit, and only succeeded after several failures. It was quite a cause for celebration in the Cauldron though, since elemental cooperation is one of Seira's core tenets as I understand it."
"Quite," Ebony murmurs, "On the other hand, would taking earth into you lose your grasp on air? Would you become slower, heavier and more like earth, rather than retain your earlier qualities?"
Misalea hums, "I think she has a point. None of the earth elementals are coordinated at all. The better of them are average, but some of them fall over if they try to move too fast."
Canderella finishes her glass off, going for a cookie next, "I think it's a good idea. Use your strengths to make up for the problem." She nibbles on it and pushes a tray of sweets to Afina, "Have some. You'll be putting on weight if you go for earth anyway."
Mei nods slowly, reaching out to take a bit of food.
"That's certainly going to be the case," Afina nods to Ebony and Misalea's points, reaching over for a little cake and biting into it. "For that reason I don't intend to linger for long with only three elements. I intend to go for Air as soon as it's safe afterwards, and from there achieve prismatic completion. I've been sat as a steam pixie for too long, it's past time I finished this journey."
Creamy. It's cinnamon cake stuffed with whipped cream. "Good luck then," Ebony offers, "Are you at risk from the procedure?"
Mei meanwhile looks to Afina and nods quickly, then reaches out and taps Afina right over the heart.
"Not until I go for Air, it's the conflicting impulses that could tear me apart. I don't know what risks becoming prismatic has - I doubt Bahamut and Tiamat care when it's a pixie doing it," Afina answers after finishing her cake. Looking up at Mei after that tap she cants her head to the side a bit. "Are you saying I'm at more risk? Something with my heart?" she brings her own hand up towards her flat chest and frowns a little. "Auril froze my heart after we met her. That wasn't pleasant at all."
Mei wobbles a hand side to side, then taps Afina's heart again.
Canderella frowns, reaching for another glass. "You could just tell us," she says, "I know you have to know at least elven."
"Canderella," Ebony says it like a warning, leaning forward a little. Her wings unfurl behind her, dripping water. "Are you worried about her, Mei? Did the Triune show you something?"
"I can't say a word," Afina gives Canderella a smile, "Not with how I dislike those that talk for love of the sound of their own voices." Then returning her attention to Mei she says, "I hope at least that your presence while I undergo whatever trials are necessary will help avoid any danger I haven't foreseen."
Mei's answer is to reach out and hug Afina again.
Ebony laughs a little and Misalea goes, "Aaaw, that's adorable!"
Canderella just looks vaguely put out by the whole thing, electing to go for a few more cookies instead.
Afina returns the hug this time, at least as much as her much shorter arms allow. "There is something very endearing about you, Mei," she agrees with the consensus (apart from Canderella). "It's surprising that you and Jaela come from the same church."
This makes Mei's eyes widen largely, then the elf falls into giggles. Her voice, what little of it you can discern from those, is sweet. Ebony follows with her own, Misalea also giving into it. Only Canderella doesn't, demolishing a few cookies instead.
Well it is! "Not that Jaela isn't personable or anything, but two more different elves are hard to picture," she says, smiling at the shared mirth. Except for Canderella. Reaching over for a little tumbler of wine she helps herself to a drink while they all digest that. Still, she doesn't want Canderella to feel put out or excluded so she asks the succubus, "What were you three talking about before we got here?"
The wine is sugar-sweet, no taste of booze at all. Oooooh, it's good. So very good, not too strong, either.
"Oh, I don't think so. What is a Triune if not multi-faced?" Ebony remarks, taking a wine glass and sipping slowly. "Jaela is one face, Mei is another."
Misalea also goes for wine on that, as well as a bit of cake. "Last night, we had the idea to go catch some fish and make our own dinner. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that the fish looked safe but were in fact not safe. Half the tower was up with food poisoning."
"If anyone's still ill just get some food from the mess hall," Afina suggests. "The food there cures illnesses without you needing to find a healer." Helpful advice dispensed she picks up on Ebony's comment as her own wine rapidly disappears down her throat. "I know it's silly to expect them to be the same, no more than expecting Hanna and Crystal to be alike, but it's just so striking I had to comment."
"Well, I honestly put it on Hanna," Canderella says, sitting back and sinking chin-deep into the waters. "Even if she was an absent parent, there's a lot of Hanna in Jaela. Both of them are warriors through and through, and push come to shove, they react by fighting. That's less to do with the Triune and more to do with her bloodline. She's half celestial while Mei's just an elf. Different blood, different backgrounds, different lives. Besides, can you imagine Jaela with a vow of silence?"
Misalea snickers and goes for more treats, "She'd have to find new obscene gestures to throw at her opponents."
Mei keeps giggling, going for a glass of wine. She takes a sip - and her eyes widen. She licks her lips and then drinks deeply.
"She'd get a talking spear to do the trash-talk for her," Afina says, before adopting a thoughtful look. "I should try making an intelligent weapon sometime. No one's ever asked for one but it could be an interesting challenge." Can't be harder than making a golem anyway.
Mei tilts her head to the side at that, staring at Afina.
Canderella laughs loudly, "If you make one, wouldn't that be like a child for you? Then again, if those golems count by that logic, you're already a mother."
Ebony shakes her head with a rueful smile, going for more wine. After a moment, she pushes some towards Afina as well, a murmured, "You may want it in a moment."
"There's a degree of parental responsibility even if it's not entirely the same thing," Afina acknowledges, having had this discussion with Crystal before. Accepting the wine from Ebony she swiftly drains another glass.
More glasses are taken, "We were planning on getting quite drunk, so keep that up," Canderella encourages, taking another glass for herself. "Most children don't start of being capable of pounding trolls to mush, unless their father is a balor."
Ebony looks mildly perturbed, frowning and hiding it by also going for another drink. "I suppose it does prevent unique challenges," she remarks carefully, "Celestial children are powerful, but are born with innate wisdom and restraint. Alicia's sister, Jessica, has had several children. Each of them is a full celestial and stunningly well behaved. If one of them wanted, they could give a trained warrior a thrashing or compete with a court wizard."
Misalea shivers, "Disturbing," she mutters, shaking her head quickly.
"And that's the thing, all my golems are static, complete beings. There's no childish innocence, no awkward adolescence for Smrgol or the others. But by the same token there's no growth, no refinement of skills or development of the spirit. While their wills are their own and they can form new opinions, the intelligence and talents I imbued into them are all they'll ever have. Even then though, you can see how Rushing Tiger, Vanguard, and Reflection all have their different outlooks and present themselves uniquely despite being more identical than any set of triplets," Afina says, explaining some of her golems' nature for those who might be curious.
Mei nods along to Afina, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Ebony considers, "You sound something like a mother already," she comments candidly, "Even if they are born complete, they are still in some sense your children."
"Creator, mother. Mother, creator," she sings those words as she helps herself to a bit of cake, "Is there really a difference, be it creating life in your body or with your own hands?"
"Until I've done it both ways I couldn't offer a properly reasoned opinion," Afina replies with a coy smile. "But yes, I'm very fond of my intelligent creations. I gave them the gift of free will and they chose to fight for a world none have ever seen. Whether that makes them noble heroes or loyal children, it's appreciated all the same."
"Cheers to that," Ebony raises her glass, drinking more down. She sits back and sighs happily, closing her eyes and savoring.
"I don't know, it'll be sooner or later if Crystal gets her way," Canderella says, just as coy as Afina. "Did you know she asked me for advice for helping you find true love?"
Misalea snickers loudly, as Mei starts to laugh as well. She hides it with her hand, as if trying to reign it in.
Afina groans and reaches up to rub her face before she extends her arm out to procure more wine. "Crystal is becoming a hopeless romantic. I hope you didn't encourage her," she says wearily.
The wine helps, if nothing else does.
Canderella waves a hand, "Oh, I made a few suggestions. The first involved a self-focused transmutation and taking matters into her - or his - hands. Amazingly, she didn't take my advice. So I told her you were a powerful, confident woman. Romance has to happen naturally, not be forced. You're not some wilting maiden sitting on a throne, waiting for Moore to sweep you away." Smirking at that, as Misalea snickers anew, "I told her to find someone and she said she would, even if she has to go out and recruit your dream date herself."
"She needs a date of her own," Afina mutters sullenly, letting the imprecation towards her Majesty slide just this once. "Or some other sort of project to distract her. Maybe I should have a think and come up with something of my own..."
"She does. Right now, you're her project," Canderella nabs more cake, popping it into her mouth. "Mmmm. Strawberry," she murmurs in approval, then more wine. Afina's feeling good - warm and steamy from the bath, light and happy from the drink. Everything just seems fine right now.
Mei leans forward a bit, gesturing. She points at Afina, then at where Afina sword usually rests. She then pantomimes handing it over to someone and then points, as if banishing them out.
"Why yes," Ebony drawls around another drink, giggling. "Give a paladin a sword and a task and they'll be quite occupied. I think she has it, Afina. When Crystal gets on about this, give her something to go smite."
Meanwhile a squad of courres come in. They carry more trays, placing them down on the water. More sweets and more wine are on them, as they then go about and take up empty trays. Once they fly off and are gone, Misalea starts nodding, "Oh yes, it's like a calling. Ever since I took holy orders, I think about fighting evil in a whole new light."
That's a good idea. "Jaela keeps bringing back these tainted evil items she wants to fix, maybe I'll tell Crystal to lend her a hand."
If she's spending time with Jaela's good friend Mei then Jaela can spend time with her good friend Crystal. An elegant solution!
"Exactly, and we'll get more useful things out of it," Ebony agrees, "Purifying evil items is worthwhile but time consuming. That elegantly solves both issues. Bravo." She claps a bit, impromptu cheers coming from the other ladies - except Mei, of course.
Mei smiles and nods quickly and fiercely.
As that dies down, Misalea asks, "None of us are intending to do much today," she says, "What about you, Afina?"
"I'm just waiting till Kascha's at liberty to take us to the Cauldron," Afina answers, seeing no way in which the sweet natured eladrin could object to bringing along the similarly sweet Mei. "So until then we may as well join you in your leisure," she nods agreeably to that prospect, sinking more wine down her throat.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d100=99]
From here the day passes in revelry and joy. Later, Afina has foggy memories of it. Soaking for hours in the tub, drinking, eating and chatting. Wandering out, the wobbling from her perch on Ebony's shoulder. Singing along with Ebony and Canderella, then a swim outside. Then...Lady Skye and fey unison, she thinks. Something. It gets even hazier from there.
She awakens to a parched throat, a sour taste in her mouth and a bit of a headache. She's somewhere dark, curled up and hugging something to her. Her hat, she realizes after some foggy efforts to clear her head.
Hangovers are caused by dehydration, and as a part water elemental she has enough fine control over her internal hydrology to ease that pounding headache readily enough. Head sufficiently cleared she places her hat properly upon it and looks around, the dark no impediment to her eyes.
That helps. She could still use some fresh water in her mouth, though. Looking about, she sees that she's under a sheet and lying on a bed.
She's not very sensible in her drunken state, Afina never sleeps on beds if she can help it. It's the first place an assassin would look! For that matter she very rarely sleeps at all... Ebony and Canderella must have a unique gift for debauchery to have gotten her so merry. Quietly crawling out from under the sheets she looks to see who's bed she's ended up in.
"Morning," It's a room full of knick-knacks and sheafs of papers, some pinned on cork boards on the wall. Tannin's sitting on his couch, reading over some of them. "So there I was," he says, not looking up, "When you were so drunk you flew right into my door. Figured you needed somewhere to sleep it off."
"I'm a terrible drunk," Afina admits, embarrassed at her previous self's impertinence. "Next time don't be ashamed to kick me out and send me to my own room, I promise I won't take offence."
Tannin shrugs. "Everyone has nights they'd rather take back. At least you kept your clothes on," he remarks dryly. "Canderella didn't."
"I'm sure that did wonders for morale," Afina snarks. "Anyway, I'll get out of your hair now, thanks for putting up with me." She flaps her wings about to take off before remembering herself and hopping onto the floor to walk out so she can go freshen up then see if Kascha and Mei are free to travel.
"Rose morale right up," Tannin says blandly, "By the way, here," he reaches over and gets a sheet of paper.
"Hmm? What's this?" Afina walks over to see what he's got.
The paper reads the following, "Please see me once you've recovered. Ebony."
"Oh. Alright I may as well do that then," Afina says. "Thanks Tannin. Feel free to use my bed any time you're drunk!" She sleeps on the shelf anyway. Walking out she still goes to her room to freshen up, but after that she consults with Elena to go find Ebony.
Afina goes to her room and to her closet to change and freshen up. She opens it to find 27 sitting in there, staring at her, right at eye level so that their gazes meet. He stays stone still, unflinching as he gazes into Afina's eyes.
After a long second, 27 leans in and sniffs Afina. "Needs more earth," he declares. "But be careful, The greatest trial yet approaches. Do not underestimate the last, because there may be a fifth. I look forward to your ascension."
Maybe she went to sleep in Tannin's room because 27 was here? She can't quite recall, but unlike Hanna she's actually quite fond of the mad badger-slaad. "Thank you, 27. That's kind of you to say, I know you're not much fond of colours usually. But can you tell me more about this greatest trial? Will it be something when I have all four elements aside from the prismatic thing?" she asks, trying to ferret out more details.
27 reaches one paw out, tapping Afina right over the heart. "Inside."
Hmm, that's exactly where Mei kept patting her. Are they in on this together? "Any advice on how I can prepare for it?"
"Be yourself," 27 says, meeting Afina's gaze once more.
That's something she can take on board at least. In her efforts to master water she only succeeded when she tried to accomplish it purely on her own with no magical assistance. She'll be taking that lesson to heart - a stable equilibrium can't be built on temporary boosts after all. "I will 27, thank you. Now get out of here, I need to clean up," she says, a smile taking the sting out of her words.
27 sniffs and scurries off, leaving Afina be. Soon enough she finds Ebony in the eatery, a corner table. She has a cup of tea, a pattern of sipping it, wincing and rubbing her forehead. "Good morning," she greets.
"The same to you," Afina climbs onto a pixie-sized seat... these are actually quite hard to get on when you don't fly! But she's agile enough to manage it and then ask for some milk and honey to start her day off and wash out any taste in her throat that prestigitation didn't get. "I got your note."
"Yes," Ebony says, taking another sip of her tea. "I'd just like to apologize. That got a little out of hand. We all drank more than we meant to."
"No... real harm done, I think," Afina responds, savouring the taste of her favoured treat that perks her right back up thanks to the magic of Aurora's cuisine. "I'm a pretty terrible drunk although usually I have more restraint. Take it as a compliment that you got me going as far as you did."
"Quite. I'd also like to apologize for Canderella," she says, "She was overly enthusiastic, though few minded greatly." A hint of darkness comes to Ebony's face.
"I heard about that," Afina nods. "Canderella can apologise for herself if she cares to, but I'm not bothered. No one's going to come running to complain about seeing her naked."
"Quite." Ebony smiles ever so slightly, "Except those with husbands who saw her. But still, that wasn't my intent. Somehow the addition of the two of you let things get away from us."
"Speaking of," Afina finishes off the last of her honey and milk, "I need to go find Mei and Kascha so we can get a move on. When you next see me I expect I'll look quite different." Or maybe she'll even look like how she used to, with all the elements balancing one another. That'd be nice, she suited green hair.
"Good fortune," Ebony bids, raising her tea cup in salute. "May you succeed."
"Thanks," Afina bids Ebony farewell, heading out to the courtyard before summoning Elena and asking her to fetch Kascha and Mei at their convenience.
Kascha comes first, ducking in. "Hi, you called?" she asks, approaching. "You have good timing, I'm waiting on Surraruthru to finish a divination."
"Hi Kascha," Afina smiles up at the ghaele. This walking around everywhere business is already getting old but maybe she'll have a new perspective on it soon? "Sorry I never caught you yesterday - Canderella and Ebony got me swept up in things. If you're still free though do you want to go to the Cauldron now? Mei's interested in coming as well."
"Oh yes, but let me check on Surraruthru first," she says, "He's diving about treasures in Water and wants to go find some. His dragon heritage is calling him and he's jealous over Baleruk."
"That's fine, we'll be waiting here," Afina says before talk of treasure hunting on the elemental planes reminds her of a drunken revelation she had last night. "Actually I've been thinking about Earth and it occurs to me, it's the only Elemental Plane that doesn't like to spread its gifts. You know how the elementals get very angry whenever someone goes there and then leaves with diamonds and gold? It's like Simmer getting upset at someone getting set on fire, or a water elemental being unhappy at someone taking a drink. Shouldn't they be happy that their elemental substance is being spread far and wide that way?"
Ignore this post, got mixed up since I came back to a new page.
I'm talking to Kascha now.
Whoops and now I feel stupid. Last post is redacted.
Kascha considers this, "Well, that's a good observation and there's a reason for it. You see," she takes out her book and writes a few lines, focused on that. "To start with a few givens: Air blows. Water flows. Fire leaps and crackles. Earth does none of those things. Earth is deep, heavy, unmoving. Air, water and fire spread freely, but earth does not." With a smile, "Can you figure it out from there, Afina?"
"Rather makes it the odd one out, doesn't it? Still, that's well reasoned and makes sense," Afina agrees, Kascha's logic winning over her inebriated realizations.
"Yes." Kascha smiles brightly, "You got it didn't you? Did you notice how when earth moves, it is because it is mixed with another elemental? Water makes mud, fire makes lava and magma and wind erodes earth into dust."
"It's negative energy that makes it into Dust," Afina corrects. "Then again it's positive energy that renders Water into Steam but we still call me a steam pixie. I suppose the planes don't precisely match language. Anyway, I hope Surraruthru manages to find some treasure without offending any local elementals here."
"I mean in the physical sense, not the planar sense. Think wind-eroded cliffs, not positive and negative energy." Kascha goes on, as Mei approaches. She's blushing but making good time towards you.
Afina nods to Kascha. Fire and water form steam in the physical sense as well, so it's fair. She was just enjoying a chance to show off some of her limited planar lore. "Good morning Mei. Did you enjoy yourself yesterday?" she asks the elf as she comes over.
Mei turns a fiery shade of red, looking away in embarrassment. She fidgets visibly.
"Enj-ooooooh, that." Kascha suddenly giggles and blushes as well, "I heard what happened!"
"Well... no real harm done, right?" Afina says in the face of Mei's embarrassment, not wishing to linger on it in that case. "We're just waiting on Kascha checking in with Surraruthru before we know if we're able to head off right now."
"I'll be back when I know," Kascha says, "We'll have to coordinate things."
As Kascha goes off, Mei blushes even more and bows her head.
"You didn't do anything too bad, did you?" Afina asks, sidling up to Mei once Kascha's gone back through the portal.
Mei ever so slowly nods, crimson as a tomato. She presses her two pointer fingers together and seems to shrink into herself.
"Canderella ran around naked, I'm sure it can't be as bad as that," Afina says to try and console Mei, hoping that pressing fingers together gesture is just an embarrassed fidget and not her trying to mime that she slept with someone she shouldn't have.
Mei ever so slowly nods and puts two fingers to her lips, then puckers them up, then places the fingers out, as if placing them on someone's cheek.
Ahhh, her fears were realised! "Was it at least someone you like?"
Mei wobbles her hand back and forth, looking scandalized. Her eyes are wet, as if tears are about to fall.
Oh that is a problem! This is something where being ground-bound won't work so Afina exercises her wings to attain a more respectable height so she can give Mei a hug. "It's alright, no one's going to think less of you. Everyone gets a bit silly now and then."
Mei returns it, hugging Afina to her rather tightly. Meanwhile the courtyard's fairly quiet. Most people out here are training a bit or watching Water. Baleruk's around but out of sight, the occasional bit of draconic noise carrying.
Afina holds the hug for as long as Mei needs to relax again, before she alights back on the ground once more. "Maybe it'll be good for you to get away to the Cauldron for a little while this way, give things a chance to calm down here," she offers optimistically.
Mei nods silently, smiling shakily. She then sighs and shakes her head.
"These things happen to everyone, the best thing to do is just accept it and move on," Afina declares resolutely. "Maybe avoid drinking with Ebony and Canderella in the future though, that's not a bad idea."
Mei nods very quickly there, biting down on her lip. She then looks to Afina questioningly.
Well she may as well share and prove that she isn't letting it get to her? "I woke up in Tannin's bed," she answers that questioning gaze. "Don't know how I got there, but he was a good sport about it. Nothing untoward happened as far as I recall, I just barged in and dived under the blankets."
Mei puts a hand to her chest and exhales heavily, relief on her face. She smiles and pats Afina's head.
If it helps Mei get past her own issues, Afina can deal with a little head patting. Deciding to change the subject she asks, "So we're going to the Cauldron, do you know much about it? I know Seira's a dragon but she's also an elf, I think?"
Mei nods and smiles, spreading her arms out. After a moment you hear a noise from Baleruk - a low growl that travels. Mei points in that direction and nods.
Of course it's usually her job to calm down Baleruk. "Lets go see what's happening there," she agrees, starting to walk over. At least she's quick on her feet no matter how short they happen to be.
You go over to Baleruk. Most everyone else is giving him a wide berth. He's curled around the building, which is beginning to look more like white marble than black obsidian. The patches of white are spreading. He's currently licking a corner of the building, which is turning a pale gray and then a snowy white.
"You will BOW TO MY MAJESTY, BLACK! No color will DEFy my edicts, not even a color THAT ISN'T REALLY A COLOR!"
Mei stops, stares and looks to Afina, uncomprehending.
Aww, he's just shouting at his possessions, not bothering anyone else. That's fine, she can just cheer him on. From the sidelines.
Quietly.
As quiet as Mei actually, the elf has the right idea for now. "Nevermind, lets just go back and wait for Kascha."
Unfortunately, "AFINA!" Baleruk bellows the moment you say a word, neck craning around to gaze right at the two. Mei waves slowly, trying to smile as Baleruk glares at them both.
Not quiet enough! "Hello Baleruk," she smiles and walks over. "We were just coming over to see how you were doing. I'm heading off to the Cauldron shortly to master the remaining elements."
Baleruk's neck extends out, the dragon coming eye to pixie with Afina. He stares at her several seconds before bellowing, strongly enough to force Afina back, "WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME INSTEAD OF DOING THAT?! GO GO GO!"
Sometimes just by luck one pushes the right buttons. "Okay then we'll see you later. Wish me luck!" she says before hurrying off to await Kascha's return.
As the two hurry off, you see Kascha and Surraruthru emerge out, coming to you.
Go ahead, y'all.
Afina nods her head in greeting as the two approach. "Ready to go now, Kascha?" she asks the ghaele before showing an interest in Surraruthru's wacky get rich quick schemes. "Where are you headed, Surraruthru? Got a lead on some treasure out there?"
"The treasure of Seira's approval. She's commanded my presence to give me a quest. Treasure comes after."
Surraruthru pauses before a toothy, gruesome grin spreads across his maw.
"I have, however, gained a small trove of information that may be of interest to you. For the right price."
"What sort of information for what price?" Afina asks suspiciously.
"Oh, just about what we need to save Muirfinn and Lief. As for the price... That depends on how much you want to know."
"Get out of my sight," Afina hisses, outraged at someone seeking to profit from the tragic fate of Muirfinn and Lief. "Those two gave more than their lives for our world - your home. And you hold their fates over me like a cheap bauble? Get out before I do something regrettable."
Surraruthru chuckles.
"Price paid in full!"
Surraruthru looses his grin. "To be honest, I didn't tell you straight out because I don't have a straight answer. There's an ally we need, but I don't have a name. I do know it's someone on a plane we already have contacts on, which narrows it down a bit. You'll need to put diviners or something on it. There's something else, too.
A piece of Lifasa will survive. And Seira believes it will come into my possession. Something that can serve as the heart of my grove. If cultivated correctly, it could serve to start groves across Lifasa once we liberate it and help restore it."
Afina's ire calms at that quick backtracking, though she remains suspicious that the little dragon would have shamelessly pocketed her gold had she offered it. "Go and tell Balyss what you know, she's our foremost expert on divination," she instructs, eyes still narrowed. "And have better care with your jokes in the future. Muirfinn and Lief were much beloved here, and there are those who'd take even greater offence than I at such heartlessness."
She doesn't really understand the stuff about groves but it sounds like something between Surraruthru and Seira so she'll leave well enough alone there.
Kascha begins to smile at Surruraruthru's antics - and stops cold when he asks for money. Her jaw drops, staring at the back and forth. She reaches out and grabs Surraruthru by a wing and says, "SURRARUTHRU! That's not funny! Her eyes are tearing up, threatening to spill over, "Lief and Muirfinn are suffering for our Crusade! They gave everything they could to free Lifasa!"
Surraruthru snaps at Kascha's hand.
"If you disliked the joke, there are far less insulting ways to express it. You are lucky I am tolerant. Balruk would have taken your arm.
I said not a word to mock them. Not one. If the subject is that touchy for you, then I'll leave it be. But take into consideration that the only person I've been with in Aurora is Kascha. How am I to know who means what to whom and what their limits are? I arrived, went into combat and then got shuffled away with my lair as an out-of-hand write off. I know next to nothing of anyone here."
He turns to Kascha, "And you should have known I wasn't serious. I had already told you everything. If I truly wanted money for it, why would I have given that information to someone who could under-cut me immediately? Disliking the joke aside, you should know me that well by now."
"You clearly knew well enough about Lief and Muirfinn to seek a divination about them," Afina says, not impressed with the tiny draconic tantrum.
Kascha meets Surraruthru's gaze, unblinking and utterly serious. "You're lucky I don't transform right now, grab a hold of you and fly off to teach you some respect," she says, "I have half a mind to do exactly that! Muirfinn and Lief are my friends, as well as Afina's and everyone else's here. They're suffering for all of us, possibly for eternity!" Tears shine in her eyes, but they don't fall. "Any of us would face down anything to help them without question. If it happened to you, I'd be the same way if someone else made that joke."
"You're right, I did know enough to ask in my divination. The fact that I did shows I pay attention to the people around here. If you didn't like the joke, then I'll apologize for it.
I apologize for any inadvertent insult."
"Apology accepted," Afina says coolly. "Now if it would please your draconic majesty, would you go and share the results of your divination with Balyss so she can do a follow up? I'm eager to reach the Cauldron."
Ready to skip along? Telling Balyss will likely just retread your previous summary, so it can be skipped over unless you wanna deal with it.
Assuming a skip, will one of you add that to your pending stuff list to resolve after the Cauldron?
I'll add it. And moving on is fine.
Soon enough the party is in the Astral once more, the realm free of the damage and chaos from before. Like this, they take off towards the Cauldron.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Space_Cat invokes Penuche's magic: < 5 > [d100=5]
The trip is not a terribly long one, as much as you can reckon time. Suddenly, you stand before a great volcano in the Astral. It floats unattended, golden dragons flying above the top of it. A great mountain with semi-hidden cave entrances is before you, the occasional elemental of varying type spotted about as well.
Kascha clears her throat, "Welcome to the Cauldron, Surraruthru. Afina, are you going straight to find Lady Sanzha?"
Surrarthru eyes the land mass.
"Impressive. I'll have to make my grove match it one day. I assume Seira resides in the center of the volcano?"
"She does," Kascha leads the way, flying on up towards the top of the volcano. "Let's make an entrance," Kascha smiles, "Unless you'd like to visit that bust of Alicia again, Afina?"
"Sanzha first, please," Afina says.
Thus the party flies up and in. to the top of the volcano. Within lies a great many terraced layers, buildings built into the greater Cauldron. Elementals of all sorts can be seen, as well as quasi and para elementals. Gold dragons fly overhead, whilst humanoids of all stripes go about the terraces. Celestials are sprinkled in as well, as you head most of the way down. Farther below is a lake of lava, a palace of gingerbread and whimsy besides it.
You are lead into this palace through a simple side door, unseen until Kascha takes you right to it. Then it is simply there, as if it was always there and you merely looked past it. You step into a warm, comfortable and cozy room. A fire crackles in a fireplace grated with candy canes. Chairs are about, wispy clouds that float in the shape of them. A pitcher of ice water sits on a table of polished wood, decorated on each corner with dragons.
"Welcome back." Lady Sanzha greets the four of you, enjoying a glass of ice water. She is blue skinned and beautiful, a tight-fitting dress worn. A trident rests nearby.
"Hello again, Lady Sanzha," Afina greets the marid, walking over and giving her a little curtsey in greeting. "It's been too long. Have you had any further successes with blending the elements?"
"We have made some innovations based on your success," she greets, "Water? Also Kascha, it's been too long. Who are your friends?"
Kascha smiles warmly, "Ah, this is Mei of the Triune. She has taken a vow of silence, so please don't hold her being quiet against you." Mei waves and smiles. "And this is Surraruthru, a fairy dragon from Lifasa. Seira has him guarding me."
"Seira mentioned that," Lady Sanzha says, giving Surraruthru a look. "Sit down, rest. Amaryl or Seira will be with you once Afina and I go to see to her next step."
"Thank you," Afina gratefully accepts the water and parches her thirst. "You're right though, I'm here for those next steps. I wanted to try accepting Earth into me first, and then Air."
"Hmmm," Lady Sanzha pauses to sip her water, "One after another?"
"Possibly," Afina temporises. "Best to see where I stand after the first before seeing if it's safe to go for the next. But ideally yes, I've put things off too long and I'm eager to make up for lost time."
"Our current thinking is that the first one won't be as hard," Sanzha says, "You've had time to settle and both air and fire can merge with air or earth safely. The fourth will be the challenge. If you're ready?" Lady Sanzha stands, "If the rest of you would wait here?"
"Just a moment," Afina says, doffing her hat and immediately feeling lesser for it. Her cloak follows, and then she removes her rings, amulet, slippers, weapon harness, leaving Afina in nothing more magical than her phase spider dress. Wrapping her belongings up in her cloak she hands them off to Mei, "Can you look after these for me?" she requests, taking a moment afterwards to dispel all the magic she currently has on her.
"Now I'm ready," she turns to Sanzha.
Afina: 139/139
AC 38, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/8/8/6/7
Saves currently: Fort: +17 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +26, Will: +23
Surraruthru watches the proceedings silently after returning Lady Sanzha's gaze steadily.
"Kascha, what is this place? It seems... Out of place. In a volcano."
Mei takes your possessions and nods, leaning in to give Afina a quick hug.
Afina is led through a door, then another and into a passage into the Cauldron's cave systems. As you walk along, veins of molten gold glimpsed in the walls, "Are you prepared?" Lady Sanzha asks, "You know this may end badly."
I'm going to move off into a new thread since Afina's going to try her elemental luck, Surraruthru. Posting that and the reply to your post shortly.
"What reward comes without risk?" Afina asks philosophically as she walks barefoot across the rocky surface. "I've been doing well with the two elements, there'd certainly be no harm in stopping. But I want to be more, I want to take this as far as I can."
Lady Sanzha accepts that without further comment, leading Afina deeper and deeper. Through twisting passages and caves, eventually to a great room. A square divided into fourths. One fourth of the room blazes with fire, another full of water, a third nothing but a lump of varied rock and the fourth perfect, open air. They touch in the center, an ever present war of four elements. The conflict is massive, yet held in check by a shimmering sphere of force.
"Here," Lady Sanzha says, "We have made improvements with the research we did on you. When you are ready, fly into the center," she says, "We will begin with earth. When it is done, stay in the circle if you wish to immediately attempt air. If you do not, fly out instead."
"Understood," Afina says, exercising her wings to take flight where she hovers for just a moment on the precipice, a hand resting over her heart. Focusing her resolve for the task ahead, she moves forward once more and lands perfectly in the centre.
You fly in. Immediately you are bombarded with sensations. The rolling water, the blowing wind, the blazing fire and the solid earth. You can't see anything, you can't hear anything. You're choking, all four elements pressing against you with no restraint and no mercy.
Then the other three fade. All around is earth. A tomb of earth, heavy rocks and unyielding metal. You can feel it all around you, ancient power unmoving and placed for stretches of time that make your fey lifespan seem naught but the blink of an eye.
Act as you will, Afina.
Earth is static. Patient. Immutable. Knowing this, Afina strives to be the same. Relaxing her body into this earthen tomb, she accepts the element pressing around her without struggle. She considers how Earth reflects on Fire and Water, whether magma and ooze might form a bridge for her current self to match with this solid element but discards the idea - like Kascha said, both of those introduce mutability into Earth that doesn't reflect its fundamental core.
Patience will win the day.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Afina waits.
Earth is solid. Unchanging. It waits with her. It is patient, unending, eternal. As she is, it is. She feels her body growing heavier, stronger, bulkier.
Con check.
[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[19:11] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 16 > [d20=13]
It's harder to breathe. Harder to think. Harder to see. But Afina weathers it, enduring it as she feels herself grow heavier yet. She's doing it, she can feel earth settling into her, with far less of a battle than water gave.
Con check again, +3 bonus.
[19:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[19:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 19 > [d20=13]
Slow and steady wins the race!
Afina builds on her successes. It all goes perfectly, settling into her. There is a gasp as...
That went absolutely flawlessly for you. Considering how water went, you were do. Describe what Afina looks like now and stay in or leave the sphere as you please.
The change isn't as drastic as before, at least in terms of Afina's colouration. Her steamy pink-hued skin settles on a more pale porcelain tone but that's about it, however the texture certainly changes with her untamed bob of white hair transforming into a wire-brush like consistency while her skin hardens all over. Her finger and toenails take on a slightly faceted appearance, like tiny gemstones, but for all that she continues to radiate a steamy heat from all her pores that's particularly evident in the little white wisps that emerge from each breath.
Content with how things are going, Afina remains where she is.
It is all around you. Emptiness. A lack of earth. Afina resists the urge to panic, to be ill. It blows against her like a hundred rough claws, scouring at every stony inch of her skin. Winds blow in all directions, tearing against her. Wrong, so painfully wrong. Too free. It moves too fast. It hurts.
It is a discomfort, but isn't this how she's always been? Being like the Earth won't avail her any longer, the mightiest mountain can still be worn away to dust by the work of wind across aeons, that endless patience availing naught. So Afina moves, not butting against the wind, not challenging it - that's destined only to fail. Instead she lets herself be blown, slight effort from her wispy wings to choose when conflicting breezes pull in two different directions, but always she moves. The rigid oak breaks but the supple willow merely bends, after all.
Con check, Afina.
[19:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[19:41] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 10 > [d20=7]
Bends or breaks? Afina isn't sure. The pain fills her entire body, blood starting to trickle from her nose. It's like she's solid and not at the same time, her body shuddering as it tries to do the impossible. The winds are like lashes against her, tearing and potent. She's trying, trying, trying, but it's like she's being beaten down.
Act as you please here, Afina.
"Ow..." she brings up a hand to her nose, sludge-like blood sizzling against her skin where it stains behind her knuckles. Gritting diamond-hard teeth she struggles to endure the lashings of the wind, constantly moving... and that's a trick there isn't it? While magic items and boosting spells are one thing, there's one particular spell that's as much a part of her as breathing, one she's refined into an art form and relied upon so much that she only ever really feels right when under its sway.
Casting haste upon herself, Afina moves like and with the wind, slipping between air currents to avoid getting trapped in whirlwinds or dashed between conflicting gusts. She can do this, she knows she can!
Interesting plan. Make a con check, +2 bonus.
[19:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[19:52] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 19 > [d20=14]
Good call. The DC here was 18, that saved you from a possibly cataclysmic chain reaction of failures.
Afina's signature spell makes her move like the wind, both enhancing and resisting her nature. She moves faster, flowing through the not-earth as best she can. Slowly, ever so slowly, she gets her balance back. It's wrong, alien and foreign - but it's not crushing her now. She's breathing faster and heavier, but it's not so painful for now. Yet the winds still blow, still lashing against her.
Act.
At least she's not bleeding anymore. As she grows more at ease in flying amidst the winds she allows herself to get a bit fancier with it. Recalling a time she danced with succubi amidst a thunderstorm she grows more artistic with her movements, capering from breeze to gale, pirouetting amidst whirlwinds, and prancing between walls of wind.
[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+18 perform dance
[20:00] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 38 > [d20=20]
Roll 1d20+38, Afina.
[20:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[20:17] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 56 > [d20=18]
Afina dances. Such a thing is as much frantic movement and pounding thunder as actual form, a wild dance that yet holds undeniable artistry within it. She remembers the fury of the storm and Canderella's own magics that bring down more. It calms her as she draws on that, somehow forcing it out from the stony tomb that enveloped it. She feels more in control, more in balance - and then the air is on her again, battering and ripping.
Con check, +4 bonus.
[20:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7
[20:23] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 15 > [d20=8]
Pain.
It hurts so much.
Afina bleeds from a hundred tiny cuts all over her body. Her spider-silk dress is badly sliced, parts of it falling away under the barrage. But she's doing it, ever so slowly withstanding it and bringing it within her. Every moment of it makes her bleed from more cuts, everything within her shaking tremendously. Her vision is impossible to focus, her body rocking back and forth uncontrollably. She can feel bile rising up in her throat - but slowly, ever so slowly, she's drawing air into herself.
Act.
No matter how badly it hurts, Afina keeps up her desperate dance, keeps on moving before being moved. The only way out is through, and so she endures like the earth even as she flies like the wind!
Con check with a +5 bonus, Afina. Gooood luck.
[20:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[20:36] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 12 > [d20=7]
Afina, are you sure that's right. That's lower than your previous checks with a similar modifier. It's a +5 bonus to your existing Con, not a replacement.
My bad, yeah. con is 17 so +8 total for 15
Afina holds on - barely. But she's bleeding so much, head spinning. It's all she can do to hold on and not tear apart under the energies. She needs more. She has to have more. If she doesn't, the growing maelstrom within her will explode out, ripping body and soul apart like old rags.
Go, Afina. You can feel things inside of you and they aren't good. They're raging without control and fighting.
She needs to buy a little time. Focusing a haste spell into herself, compounding upon it over and over, she accelerates herself beyond reason far faster than the world around her. Like this the wind is stationary compared to the pixie, letting her move amidst it at leisure and hopefully get some of her equilibrium back by the time it starts moving relative to her once more.
sacrificing a 9th level slot for 4 rounds of time stop to catch a breather
It helps. She's hurting, bleeding, shaking. But slowing the wind helps a little, and when it expires, she's better braced to endure. But damage has been done and she's struggling to hold on and finish this.
Con check, +4 bonus. G'luck.
[20:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7
[20:52] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 19 > [d20=12]
Almost...almost...almost...
Overwhelming pain as Afina's skin splits open. Blood pours out as well as earth, fire, air and water. Everything vanishes save for one thing, 40ft ahead. The four elements from your body form together in front of you, a creature. A tornado of wind with fire blazing in it, arms of earth and legs of water.
Afina pants, shaking and injured. Her dress is mere scraps of cloth now, doing little to hide her body or stop her bleeding. She kneels there, gasping for air as she sees it form.
She can feel it. The malice from it, the contempt. The elementals will not be so cheaply combined. Ancient wars do not fall to a mere pixie's will. As one they advance on her, resistance to the very idea she embodies.
Init here. You're itemless so bear that in mind. Also you've lost half of your hit points due to damage and bleeding, so adjust that in your spoiler block. Good luck.
[21:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20 init
[21:09] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 22 > [d20=2]Afina: 69/139, haste (CL 23)
AC 39, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance, immunity to fire, water, disease
Spell charges: 6/10/9/7/9/9/8/7/5/5
Saves currently: Fort: +17 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +26, Will: +24
> roll 1d20+4 it might actually win init
<Plushie_Ithea> Space_Cat roll for Plushie_Ithea < 5 > [d20=1]
Or not. Initiative order is Afina (22) > All-Elemental (5)
Go Afina.
Ahh, this would be that final trial 27 warned her about. Drawing herself up as elements swirl about her, flecks of rock, droplets of water, embers of flame, all carried forth on unseen winds, Afina's appearance stabilises back into what she once looked like as a fey, skin pale but not unnaturally so, hair a pale green. "I suppose it was just a temporary ceasefire," she reflects, breath coming raggedly as she draws herself back up. "Prepare yourself, then!" Channeling magic into herself, for this is no mere internal test of the spirit, she speeds herself up massively and casts some of her usual beneficial spells!
8th level slot sacced for 3 rounds time stop, casting greater mage armour, greater heroism, and moment of prescienceThat done she takes flight, flying twenty feet into the air. "Here we go then, fire and earth!" she shouts, raising her hand as a quartet of rocky missiles manifest above her outstretched grasp, dull whumps heard as each is wreathed in flames before the air screams as it's split by their passage, rocketing straight at the omni-elemental!
Meteor swarm cast.
[21:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 ranged touch
[21:12] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 52 > [d20=12]
[21:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 ranged touch
[21:12] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 56 > [d20=16]
[21:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 ranged touch
[21:12] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 49 > [d20=9]
[21:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+40 ranged touch
[21:12] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 59 > [d20=19]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+2d6 bludgeoning, no skirmish alas
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 17 > [d6=6,4,6,1]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+2d6 bludgeoning
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 8 > [d6=5,1,1,1]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+2d6 bludgeoning
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 16 > [d6=4,5,2,5]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+2d6 bludgeoning
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 10 > [d6=3,1,4,2]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6 fire, half vs immune, ignores resistance
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 17 > [d6=2,5,3,2,3,2]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6 fire, half vs immune, ignores resistance
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 27 > [d6=3,5,5,4,5,5]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6 fire, half vs immune, ignores resistance
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 15 > [d6=5,2,1,2,4,1]
[21:13] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6 fire, half vs immune, ignores resistance
[21:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 26 > [d6=6,6,4,4,5,1]
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/7/7/4/4
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
The meteors fly out, pelting your foe like missiles. Yet it barely budges from them, watery legs boiling and tornado still spinning. The reaches reaches out, a javelin of swirling air and crackling fire in its grasp. It leans back and hurls it right at Afina.
> roll 1d20+34 vs 52
<Plushie_Ithea> Space_Cat roll for Plushie_Ithea < 36 > [d20=2]
But Afina's still much too fast. She turns into a blur of air, juking out of the way of the javelin. It sails off into nothingness, missing her narrowly.
Go Afina.
"Now for water and air!" Afina shouts as she flies away from that attack, buying more space as she gestures out above the omni-elemental, water forming in a great bubble overhead that crystallises under the effects of frigid air to form a gigantic iceberg that plummets down to shatter atop the creature with a thunderous crash and rain of tinkling ice!
Iceberg cast
[21:22] <@Ebiris> roll 20d6
[21:22] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 65 > [d6=4,5,1,4,2,3,1,5,3,1,1,4,4,6,5,1,1,4,6,4]
No save on the damage, and buried in snow (DC 25 str to free itself)
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/7/7/4/3
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
The iceberg falls and slams into the all-elemental's head. Ice cracks like an egg, bursting into steam. Snow buries it...
> roll 1d20+14
<Plushie_Ithea> Space_Cat roll for Plushie_Ithea < 31 > [d20=17]
Only to melt down in a burst of fire. The snow's gone almost instantly, and the all-elemental raises an arm to the sky. An arm of earth brings forth a tidal wave many times taller than the elemental, and throughout it are jagged, sharp rocks, being carried along with it. It's coming for you - you have to do something!
Go. There's a giant tidal wave coming your way, but it's going to take a round to reach you. It's coming from behind the elemental, though it doesn't seem worried about it.
"That's enough for the elements then, have a look at the future!" Afina calls, conjuring forth a prismatic wall directly in front of the elemental!
Prismatic wall 92ftx46ft
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/7/7/3/3
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
The tidal wave surges forward - and is stopped by your wall. Parts of it burn away, other parts dissolving and more just gone. Hunks of ice plummet away, water frozen solid. The wave breaks apart, no longer a threat to you.
Go.
Eschewing elemental tactics for the moment, Afina flies above the wall to get line of sight on the manifestation of the elements and points at it. "I made you and I can unmake you!" she cries, getting into the dramatic spirit of things as a green beam lances out from her fingertip!
Disintegrate, DC 27 fort, I'll roll both damage sets to save time.
[21:36] <@Ebiris> roll 5d6+2d6 if fort save is passed
[21:36] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 29 > [d6=2,3,4,6,3,6,5]
[21:36] <@Ebiris> roll 40d6+2d6 if fort save fails
[21:36] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 159 > [d6=1,3,5,5,6,3,6,1,1,2,5,2,1,3,6,4,6,5,4,4,5,3,3,1,6,3,3,5,6,5,3,2,6,2,4,6,5,4,1,6,6,1]
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/7/6/3/3
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
> roll 1d20+29 yes, it has a stupid fort save. Hope for a 1
<Plushie_Ithea> Space_Cat roll for Plushie_Ithea < 46 > [d20=17]
A solid hit - that crumbles a little bit of it, but not enough. It rises up in the air, past the wall as well. It gestures, huge boulders in all directions appearing and coming together to squash Afina flat.
Ref.
[21:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 evasion
[21:39] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 36 > [d20=6]
But Afina's just fast enough. She dives down through a tiny gap between two boulders, avoiding the impact. The crush of stone on stone rings in Afina's ears as she comes around.
Go.
That's actually about the extent of her non-elemental offence. She never even learned magic missile, surely bringing shame to sorcerers everywhere. However she's fully capable of making up for that with her fists, and that's exactly what she does now as she rushes the elemental, a tiny pixie backhand to rock its cheek in one direction before she roundhouse kicks it in the other, bouncing back off and away afterwards!
[21:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+48 7th level arcane strike
[21:43] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 62 > [d20=14]
[21:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 7th level arcane strike
[21:43] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 62 > [d20=19]
[21:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+4+2d6+7d4
[21:43] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 24 > [d3=2][d6=4,2][d4=1,1,2,1,1,2,4]
[21:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+4+2d6+7d4
[21:43] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 27 > [d3=3][d6=3,1][d4=4,3,3,1,2,1,2]
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/7/5/3/3
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
Afina darts in, avoiding a headbutt and battering the elemental's cheeks. The arcane flames spread and do some damage, but not much. It's like trying to hack away at a mountain. But it's still a solid hit, the elemental's form generally ravaged all over. You've landed hits, rocky arms chipped, tornado slower, flames dimmer and water wobbling. But it's not down as it points at Afina.
> roll 1d20+20 vs AFina's SR
<Plushie_Ithea> Space_Cat roll for Plushie_Ithea < 25 > [d20=5]
But nothing happens.
Go. Your SR held.
"And again, now with more fire!" Afina says, accelerating herself just enough to manage another spell before she lunges in to dropkick the elemental's chest and then uppercut its chin before flying away!
6th level slot sacced for 1 round time stop, casting searing fires of purity during it and then attacking with burning touch ability added to my unarmed strikes
[21:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+48 7th level arcane strike
[21:48] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 62 > [d20=14]
[21:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43 7th level arcane strike
[21:48] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 55 > [d20=12]
[21:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+1d6+22+2d6+7d4
[21:49] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 41 > [d3=1][d6=1,2,2][d4=1,2,3,2,2,2,1]
[21:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3+1d6+22+2d6+7d4
[21:49] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 52 > [d3=2][d6=6,3,1][d4=1,4,2,3,2,4,2]
Fire damage ignores resistance/immunity
Afina: 69+20/139, haste (CL 23), greater mage armour (CL 23), greater heroism (CL 23), moment of prescience (CL 23)
AC 52, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/9/6/9/9/6/3/3/3
Saves currently: Fort: +21 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +30, Will: +27
This time Afina manages to rip through the elemental. It shudders - and then begins to break apart as she kicks away from it. Air flies off as earth falls, fires gutter out as water pours down. You've won?
For a moment all Afina can do is suck in air. Her body aches all over, pain like a tempest exploding throughout her body. As she helplessly writhes, the elementals return. Air, water, earth and fire flow into her body, not stopping, not doing anything but pouring into her.
Make one last con check, Afina. +10 bonus.
[21:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+13
[21:57] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 28 > [d20=15]
At last. The elementals flow into her, in harmony and no longer at war. She shakes all over, the purpose filling her - before simple, overwhelming exhaustion takes her.
Congratulations, Afina. The prismatic pixie template is a 3 level adjustment. It replaces all four half elemental templates and gives you the benefits of all four templates. That frees up three levels, so you'll need to rebuild on account of that. Afina's going to be out of commission for a little while, since she's completely overwhelmed and healing from a fundamental change. I'll start posting you tomorrow (or later if your rebuild takes longer).
Before you ask, yes, there may be some rainbow powers suitable to it. We'll cover those potentials later.
Buzzing. Far away noise. A deep, seemingly endless sleep parts as Afina begins to awaken. She hurts all over, pain pounding down on her and trying to push her back to unawareness.
She's been here before, hasn't she? Afina slowly opens her now heterochromatic eyes, blinking deep red in her left and dark purple in her right. Emitting a soft groan she squeezes them shut again against the light, curling up in on herself. Her skin now is a more reasonable hue, no longer porcelain pale nor dusky brown or lobster pink, looking much as she once did before all this elemental busines started. Hair is still a pristine white however, albeit one that shimmers subtly with other colours when her tresses catch the light just so. Her wings stand out as a true hallmark of her current state, each of them a curved rainbow in miniature with all seven colours blending together, red at the tips and violet at the base.
After a moment she starts to untense and opens her eyes again, looking around with growing alertness.
Oh, it hurts. The light is too much, leaving her reeling and dazed. She can hear voices far away, fading as her mind swims in soothing darkness. She is lost like this for a time until she emerges again, eyes slowly opening. She's looking up at a roof of rock, though it feels like she's resting on a soft bed.
Once more regaining her wits, or something like them, Afina slowly and carefully sits up to have a look around.
You're lying in a bedroom in a cave. A simple statement, though misleading. Everything here is pixie sized and decorated in various rainbow hues. Her gear is sitting on a table nearby, along with a still steaming-hot meal.
What a thoughtful hostess Sanzha is! Standing up Afina takes a moment to examine herself, taking note of things familiar and new. After a moment of that she wraps a bedsheet about her to make up for her destroyed clothing before going to eat the meal left out for her.
It's rather good - a seemingly random blend of foods, but it's all good. In addition, there's a few odd things on it. A small metal cup of what looks to be boiling lava, a small bowl of tiny gems and several strands of sea weed.
The sea weed is eaten readily enough, she knows that's perfectly edible for all kinds of creatures. The lava she's slightly more careful of, taking just a little sip at first before she plucks up one of the gems and eyes it speculatively. Popping it in her mouth she rolls it around her tongue before pushing it between her molars and biting down. It's not cold iron at least so at worst she'll just fail to chew it, there shouldn't be any danger of breaking a tooth.
A sip of the lava warms Afina to her toes. She can feel it going down, burning away discomfort and leaving a sense of rightness after it.
Crunch! Mmm! MMM! It's good, surprisingly so. The sharp, almost salty-sweet taste of the gemstone makes Afina moan. It's like eating flavored ice, refreshing.
Well it's nice to have her dietary options expanded! Balyss will probably nag her more but for now she just enjoys it, downing the rest of the lava before cooling off with the gems. The cold certainly doesn't bother her now!
By the time she's done, Afina feels pleasantly full. As she sits back and relaxes after the meal, Mei enters her room. Her face lights up and she hurries over, looking Afina all over.
"Hello Mei," Afina smiles up at the elf, still a bit too sore to fly up and greet her properly, though she allows herself to be inspected with a smile. Fanning her rainbow wings out slightly with the blanket high around her chest and low around her back to allow room for them, cocking her head in a manner that has colours shimmering through her otherwise mostly transluscent hair as it catches the light from a new angle. "How many days have I been recovering for?"
Mei holds up four fingers, then gives Afina a little hug. She's about to do more when another enters - Kascha. "Afina!" she cries, "You're awake!"
"Hello Kascha," Afina cranes her head around Mei to wave at the ghaele. "I only just got up properly and had a bite to eat - my thanks to whoever laid out the meal. Mei was just telling me how long I've been in recovery." It's quicker than last time at least!
"Well, of course. Seira spend a good deal of time checking you over," Kascha joins Afina, taking a seat at the table. "She helped speed your recovery along, otherwise you'd be out for a few weeks."
"I should thank her for that," Afina declares with a firm nod. "I'm still a little achey but the meal helped. Have I missed anything interesting while convalescing?"
"Nothing," Kascha replies, "You've slept through four days of us fussing over you and spending time in the Cauldron."
"Well it was definitely worthwhile," Afina says, leaning back a little. "Even with the aches I've got, I feel so much more whole. Everything's balanced nicely now - even if I still favour fire, there's a better harmony to things. It wasn't easy though," she shakes her head, "Leaving Air till last was certainly the right decision. If Earth had been in opposition when I tried to absorb it I wouldn't have had nearly as many tricks or exercises to help me adapt as I did for Air, and it was still a close thing."
Kascha's face grows grave, "Yes. Afina..." she trails off her, "Seira said your soul had, ah, she described them as, well...metaphorical cracks. If things had gone any worse, she thinks it would have broken apart from the force of what you were trying to do." Quickly holding her hands up, "But don't worry, they've healed now that you found harmony. But it was a dangerously close."
"Well have no fear, now that I've become prismatic I've no further intentions towards toying with my internal essence." Admittedly she'd like to become a fey again but she's found peace with her status as an outsider and what most matters is that she chose it for herself, it was never forced upon her. Besides even if her connection to most of the courts is tenuous at the moment she's surely a shoe-in for the Rainbow court if she petitions to join!
"Please be careful, Afina," Kascha says, reaching out and taking her hand, "If your soul breaks apart, it's over for you. Forever."
It's no worse than what the devils would do to her given half a chance, but Afina takes the warning in the spirit it's intended. "Don't worry Kascha, it's done now," she says, clasping the bigger woman's hand back. "And now I have greater strength with which to defend myself and others. It was well worth the effort."
"Good!" Kascha sighs in relief, "You made a big breakthough, you know. Everyone's excited over it. They've been spending hours going over divinations on you and the results."
"Well if anyone wants to interview me I'm happy to answer any questions," Afina offers. "I couldn't have done this without so much unstinting support from you and Sanzha and Seira, and everyone in the Cauldron." She turns her gaze to Mei with a smile, "You and 27 helped as well with your advice and warnings the other day."
Mei blushes and smiles slowly, nodding.
"Oh, 27 helped you?" Kascha says, "What did he say? As for interviews, I'll pass that on."
"He told me to be myself, and warned me of a fifth trial - I think that was the omni-elemental I had to fight."
"It's a relief," Kascha says, "I'm just glad you're back and safe, and thank 27 for the help too."
Okay, how much talking and interviewing do you want to do? I can move you along if you'd rather skip past it.
We can skip past it unless anything interesting is likely to come out of it immediately. She's just gonna describe stuff as it happened from her end so no need to get deep into recapping.
Soon enough the four gather, returning to the Astral and then to Aurora. A planar bubble keeps you for getting wet and you enter. Home again. Nothing's immediately happening in the court yard.
Okay, chance for you two to decide what you're going to do next. Together mostly for convienence, Surraruthru will likely split to a new thread.
Afina's going to get a situation report and then go see Baleruk
I can go with the situation report, depending on who's there I can do the Balyss Info Dump, the Myr's Sword thing, and mention the Grand Weaver idea for Aurora, then hit Tannin for loot locations and Myr's Sword. If any of the Anarchs are around, I'd like to get the Filbrez's Surprise out of the way, too.
Also planning to gift the painting to either Afina or Kascha. Not sure if Afina's into paintings.
Okay, we'll keep you together for now. We can do the situation report, offering the painting and after that roll into the anarch thing with Moore. Another post coming.
Mei soon excuses herself, but Kascha, Afina and Surraruthru head to get a situation report. They find Adrian and Morniel are talking in the meeting room, words caught as you walk in. "...and in conclusion with Ben-Hadar..." Morniel stops and looks to Afina, then smiles warmly. Adrian grins, "You're looking a lot more colorful, Afina!"
"I could give Baleruk a run for his money now," Afina agrees, preening a little as she flutters on rainbow wings. "How have things been here while I was gone?"
"You haven't missed much," Adrian yawns, "Even Morniel's diplomacy was routine, except for the marid." He yawns again and stretches, "I've been catching up on my sleep and training."
Kascha quietly takes a seat, "What do the marid want? Oh, I've been meaning to study them. They aren't dragons, but they are elemental and Lady Sanzha's so interesting when she gets talking about them. Politics like water currents, she says."
Surraruthru lands on the table and cocks his head at the mention of giving Baleruk a run for his money, idly wondering how that would actually turn out, but instead settles in to listen.
"Well if they're anything like Lady Sanzha we should get along well. What's their interest in us? Any potential for an alliance?" Afina asks, taking her customary seat.
Morniel picks up from here. "Possibly and some sort of unclear curiosity, in reverse. Aurora's a made name across Creation now, interest is only natural. The Padisha's offering to send a party to us for a tour, dinner and discussions."
"Well we'll show them our best hospitality then," Afina resolves since this is their home plane. "When are they expected?"
"Tomorrow," Morniel replies, "You have time to prepare and you should. One point of curiosity was Aurora's fey court and they requested a meeting with Queen Ilsenine. She agreed and wishes for you to be there."
"Seems I recovered just in time," Afina says. "I'll keep to the sidelines and support her Majesty then."
"That's about all," Adrian says, "Anything else?"
"I need to go to Air for a bit but it can wait till after tomorrow," Afina says, rising up into the air. "For now I better go and show Baleruk the fruits of our labours."
"Before you go, I acquired something in the Cauldron. A painting. Quite excellent. Would you be interested in it, Afina?"
"No thank you, though I appreciate the offer," Afina demurs. "You should use it to adorn your hoard. Wealth can be shown with more than mere lucre."
Surraruthru simply nods and decides to offer it Kascha later, in private.
I'm going to split you off to Moore's thread, Surraruthru. We'll knock out that gift next.
From here, Afina goes to visit Baleruk. She finds he's not in the courtyard, nor is his obsidian room. You find him in his lair, lying on his bed of coins. He doesn't seem to be doing anything right now, simply lying there with an undeniable air of contentment.
Fluttering over, Afina lands directly before Baleruk's snout. "It is done," she announces as if he can't see for himself.
Baleruk leans in, sniffing Afina twice. Each movement of air nearly sends the tiny pixie flying, but she holds her position. "You smell like rainbows," he declares, "Excellent." He sounds completely calm, "Do you still need to breathe?"
"I don't actually know," Afina admits. She can breathe water easily enough but that's not the same thing. Still, she doesn't need to eat and hasn't for a while, maybe it's just as easy to skip on the breathing? Stilling the rhythmic motion of her chest she holds her breath to see how long she can manage it...
It's strange. It feels wrong to stop, chest twitching and fighting it. But at the same time, it doesn't hurt. There's no burning from suffocation or lightheadedness at all.
Quick note on outsiders and breathing. Lesser ones need to. Around 12 to 15 hit dice it begins to become optional, and generally epic outsiders don't need to at all, though some do out of habit or out of preference. A fair few do unless they intentionally don't since it's so ingrained into them. This actually came up with Jaela recently since Cor was curious, so I'll repeat it here. Incidentally, you do need to breathe when you talk, simply because it requires an airflow.
It explains why Alicia was able to drown a harvester devil in B1, but suffocating an advanced pit fiend is probably not going to work.
She furrows her brow a little but the seconds drag on into minutes without any weakness or discomfort. Opening her mouth she makes a quiet gasp and then coughs as she discovers talking without breathing to be impossible. "It appears not," she says after resuming breathing once more.
"Good. Stand still," Baleruk commands, gathering a great heap of gold coins around Afina, burying her in them.
Afina stands still and allows herself to be buried. She's reasonably sure she's strong enough to dig her way out if need be, to say nothing of the innate elemental magic she has that could be put to use on any kinds of problems.
Wooosh. Suddenly Afina is surrounded by wonderfully hot molten gold, then a moment later sheer cold hits her. Brr! She's suddenly entombed in a skintight mold of gold. A moment passes before it cracks open on the side, splitting apart and allowing Afina to exit.
"Cold doesn't bother me now either," Afina reports, stepping out of the pixie-mould she was just encased within.
"Good." Baleruk says as you get out. It's a bit rough, but it's essentially a solid cast of you made out of gold. Baleruk closes it with one claw and uses a few sparks of flame to melt the edges, then a bit of cold to solidify it again. He takes it and puts it by the statues of the angel and slaad, "There. Jewels LATER," her roars, "I need proper jewels for this now!"
"Want me to touch it up?" Afina offers since Baleruk's skill is more in jewellery while her own talents at sculpting could turn this into a masterpiece even before it gets prettied up with gemwork.
Baleruk considers and then says, "Do it."
Go ahead and describe what you're doing then make the relevant craft check.
Casting greater heroism first to just make herself that little bit better at everything, Afina then lays a hand on the statue and casts fabricate. Gold runs like water as it shifts and reshapes, continuing to represent an image of Afina but the details just pop that much more now, while the statue is shifted from her somewhat boring standing still pose to something more dynamic as if in flight, one leg hooked back while the other just barely rests on the ground with a bit more gold focused there to give it a stable base despite the action pose of a fairy in flight.
[18:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 sculpting
[18:31] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=4]
It's not Afina's best work, if she's honest with herself. It's a dashing and dynamic image, but it just doesn't pop. It's only a rare masterpiece and not a once in a lifetime achievement of artistry. Alas.
Baleruk looks to it and rumbles, "Good."
These things happen. It's still good by any standards of course, but Afina isn't the sort to tear down her art and redo it in pursuit of perfection - each piece is the work of the moment that crafted it, and that's as valuable as practiced perfection. "Is there anything else about my new state you think needs addressed?" she asks Baleruk.
"Not now," Baleruk says.
Anything else or good to move to the marid?
Lets move on
Locking this one, you and Moore are going into a new thread.