Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

You want to investigate improving Afame further, Afina? A fair call. How do you mean to go about it? Did I give you anything specific or was it vaguer?

You were pretty vague, I originally figured it'd just passively grow along with Afina and you mentioned there could be quests to improve it.

edit: for ideas of my own, since killing badass stuff with it doesn't do much maybe exposing it to places of elemental potency? Maybe on the quasi/para-elemental planes rather than the big four to fit with the prismatic theme?

Certainly, you could try that. What planes are you interested for in particular?

Lets start with the para-elemental plane of Smoke?

Make an K:P check then.

[17:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41+15 using library bonus
[17:45] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+41+15 using library bonus --> [ 1d20=4 ]{60}

There are several notable places.

The Hidden City. A hidden refuge, perhaps a demiplane, said to exist somewhere in Smoke. It's said you can find virtually anything there, even water and clean air.

Gasping Tomb. The place where smoke para-elementals go to die, or so it is said. Stories say they lie down and somehow choke to death at this point, which is whispered to be an intensely powerful point of elemental power within Smoke.

The Choking Palace: The Prince of Smoke is known as Ehkahk. He is neither evil nor good, and attempts to strike a balance between the various forces interested in Smoke, such as other archomentals and the genies. He is a powerful individualist who has a massive palace that eternally burns incense that clouds the eyes of all but his servants and worshipers. The palace of an archomental is surely vastly powerful.

The Gasping Tomb sounds good! She'll go see if she can drag Simmer out of the lava baths to go on a trip there to get away from all this water.

You find Simmer up to her neck in runny, watery lava. She takes one glance at you as you enter, "Are you coming in here for sanity or to try and talk me out of here?" she asks right away, huddling into the lava.

"Talk you out of here," Afina says, going to kneel at the edge beside the pyrodryad and dipping a hand into the lava beside her. "Don't worry, it's to someplace dry. How do you feel about taking a trip to the para-elemental plane of Smoke?"

"Don't wanna," Simmer shakes her head, sinking further in, up to her chin. She then looks over to you, "Though Smoke would be nicer than Water. Why are you going and where in it are you going? Well, maybe, if it's better than Water. Almost anything is."

"I'm trying to find sources of elemental power to infuse into Afame," Afina pats the hilt on the left behind her back. "And I'm going to a place called the Gasping Tomb. It's where para-elementals go to die and is supposed to hold intense elemental power."

"Die? Elementals don't die unless you kill them." Simmer half rises out of the lava, "That doesn't make sense. You're not making sense."

"I'm just going by the stories," Afina shrugs. "They go there to die and then they choke to death. Hopefully we won't choke to death if we go there, now that I think of it..."

"Yeah, that's a problem. We need something to stop that. I like living," Simmer scowls, getting out of the pool. "Fine, fine. I'll go, but you'd best have a way out in case we start choking and dying."

"Don't worry, I had a recent problem with Mei choking and I know a solution if it happens again," Afina says reassuringly, standing up herself. "Go grab your things and I'll meet you by the gates?"

Recruiting anyone else and taking any preparations?

Just Simmer, I'll tell people that I'm going and to Sending me if we get word about Yggdrasil, I'll drop everything for that.

You meet Simmer by the gate. She's pointedly looking anywhere there's not water, waiting for you.

Set up where you're gating to and all that good stuff.

As is her wont (and as is particularly vital so Simmer doesn't freak out), Afina casts a gate flush against the very border of Aurora's dimensional interdiction so that one can pass from the demiplane and through it without getting wet. On the other end is the plane of Smoke with the Gasping Tomb dead ahead!

[19:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp
[19:17] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp --> [ 1d8=5 ]{15}

You appear in fog and smoke. Choking black smock, thick as the thickest fog. It roils all around you, yet you can breathe it. So can Simmer, "Mmm, smells like burning," she says in approval.

[spoiler]

Simmer
HP: 322+15/322
Spells Active: Heroes Feast (CL2), Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL22), Superior Resistance (CL22)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls, immunity to poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:

"Shame we can't see so well," Afina says, flying up to sit off the side of Simmer's shoulder. "I can still sense things nearby though. Just keep moving straight ahead?" she suggests, closing the gate behind them.

> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Koaway rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=4 ]{4}

You fly on a bit. You hear it from far away - the sound of choking, coughing wheezing for any air at all. The sound of suffocation, ahead somewhere in the thick smoke.

Hey what are the planar traits here? Anything that enhances air magic?

"Hmm, I might be able to do something about the smoke after all," Afina says with some thought when she hears that smoking, using her innate connection with Air to pick up a spiralling wind around them that siphons off the majority of the smoke and keeps it blowing out, making it even thicker just outside her influence but allowing them to see better within as well as easing breath for those not so well attuned to fire.

Using Control Winds sla to affect a 40ft radius around me with strong winds blowing in a circular pattern and a small eye of the storm where Simmer and I are.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/controlWinds.htm

Empowered and enlarged, Afina. More on the traits tomorrow, just knocking this post out before bed. You and Simmer both negate the damaging ones anyway, so it's not urgent.

Ahead you can see an open space. Here float smoke para-elementals of all sizes, from the size of a small dog to taller than a giant. They all share one thing - they grasp at their smoky throats and choke to death, fading into loose smoke thereafter. As they perish, more come forth and take their position and promptly start to choke.

[spoiler]

Simmer
HP: 322+15/322
Spells Active: Heroes Feast (CL2), Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL22), Superior Resistance (CL22)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls, immunity to poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
[/quote]

Neither affects control winds, so that's fine.

"Is this it?" Afina wonders, looking at the newly revealed area. "When it was described as a tomb I expected more of a structure to the place."

"There might be more ahead?" Simmer says, "I don't understand why, though. Why?" she calls in Ignan, "Why do this?"

No immediate reply from the elementals, who continue a steady stream of death by suffocation and choking.

"Lets just keep going?" Afina suggests, alighting off Simmer's shoulder now that there's sufficient clear air to see by and flying on at a slow enough pace that Simmer can keep up and remain within the eye of her miniature storm. "They seem to come here voluntarily after all."

How long does control winds last?

10 minutes per level so 4 hours

You advance ahead, past crowds of choking and dying elementals. Nothing's head - but, as you go along, you see a good deal of the smoke from the slain elementals flows ahead, faster than you can follow it.

"Well, there must be some sort of nexus or something ahead," Afina says, continuing at her sedate pace onwards. There's no rush after all.

"Probably," Simmer concurs, "I hope that's all it is."

As you advance along, you see the smoke gathering far ahead. It pours into a stone bier, sized large enough for several Hannas to lie on head to toe and still have room. It touches the surface of the bier and is sucked in.

Flying above the bier, Afina increases the intensity of the winds surrounding her so as to blow away all the smoke on and around the bier at least for a few seconds so she can see what's on it or if it's a portal to somewhere or something.

The smoke is moved from the bier. You see the surface is smooth, stone without the slightest reflection or shine. Yet as the smoke returns, you see it sinks right into it, like water.

Humming to herself, Afina returns the winds to their more gentle cyclone that keeps out the ambient smoke but doesn't quite stop the more focused flow from the elementals. "I think it's a portal somewhere, but whether it's only for smoke or for anything..." she floats down and presses a tiny hand against the surface through the smoke.

"It-" You don't hear anything else as you touch the stone. You are sent flying, propelled forward and somewhere else by unimaginable force. Some sort of tunnel, where thick smoke obscures everything. You're hurtling along and out of control, moving even faster than you can of your own volition.

Make a CL check on control winds here, Afina.

[18:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+24
[18:43] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=9]

Your control winds spell is being overwhelmed by a more powerful spell. You might manage some momentary changes against it, but it won't last long. Go ahead and act.

Why do these things always happen to her? Well she has the wind push against her path to slow herself down as much as she can while the going's good. Shinear would be disappointed but this isn't Air and she doesn't want to slap bloodily against a wall at the end of this.

Having a blast of hurricane force winds going counter to my current direction.

The blast of winds momentarily stop you, giving you a chance ot act, but they're already starting to sputter out.

Go ahead, you have a round's actions.

Hasting herself, Afina orients herself for a more controlled flight down this... wherever, rather than the uncontrolled tumble it was before. She has her blindsense out to thirty feet and superlative reflexes so she can surely avoid pancaking against whatever's at the end, and then arrange a soft landing for Simmer assuming she's followed along.

Yep, that's gonna need a Reflex save real quick.

[19:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38+23 using moment of prescience
[19:57] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 81 > [d20=20]

You fly down, riding the winds instead of being a captive hostage to them. It ends in a hurtling right to a stone floor, which you make a perfect three point landing on. Safe. Around you smoke flows in all directions, rising up to the ceiling and clustering there, leaving the bottom clear. You're in some sort of cavern, looks like.

Now just in case Simmer's coming in behind her, Afina turns her gaze upwards and casts a spell of fiery tentacles, causing a forty foot wide circle of flaming rubbery appendages to shoot out of the walls at the edge of the tunnel that led down here. Given their fiery and non-cold iron state they should give Simmer a much warmer welcome than the stone floor. She'll wait around a moment to listen for any pyro-dryad sounding noises.

Nothing like that, unfortunately. No sign of Simmer falling into your trap.

It's not a trap! It's a... thoughtful consideration. Oh well, she'll use a limited wish to emulate Sending. "Hello Simmer, I'm in a structure at the end of a windy tunnel. It's safe to follow! Just shout when you hit tentacles."

'Busy, natives aren't happy,' Is all you get back from Simmer.

Joy. Well the tentacles will keep for a couple of minutes so Afina will just hang around here and wait. She needs ages for her magic to come back to normal anyway.

As you wait, smoke begins to swirl around you. It pushes against your compromised winds, slowly starting to overcome them. "Who are you," A voice whispers into your ear, like the movement of the wind. "You dally in things beyond your ken, abomination."

"Perhaps so," she acknowledges, crossing her arms. "I am Afina Devilsbane and I come in peace. If you claim dominion over this place, say the word and I will leave." She's here to further her understanding of the elements, not to make enemies after all.

"You have power," The voice whispers still, "Your friend battles the guardians on even terms and holds her own. Why have you come here, abomination?"

"For the same reason I have become what you label as an abomination," Afina answers, debating whether she should just leave on her own terms. It sounds like Simmer's got it handled for the moment though. "I seek the power of the elements. Air and Earth, Fire and Water, the extremes are a part of me. So now I turn my attention to the bridges. Smoke and Ooze, Magma and Ice so as to broaden my understanding."

"Prove yourself," The voice says, "Prove that you have begun to understand Smoke."

"Thus far all I've seen is a collection of elementals committing suicide," Afina replies blandly. "Why? I haven't the slightest notion. It's the sort of display I'd expect to see on Ash or Vacuum rather than here. This is my first visit and your plane remains a mystery to me. I will tell you what I surmise, though," she decides to offer up her interpretation of the place from broad planar knowledge and her own elemental leanings. "Smoke is a plane at odds with its progenitors. While Fire burns brightly for all to see and Air exposes grand vistas in every possible direction, Smoke occludes everything under its sway. Why that is remains to be seen."

"Air flows and Fire burns, but Smoke hides. Air feeds the flames, but it makes the fire consume its fuel and lead to its demise. Smoke rises as its fuel is consumed, as its life is burned away." The voice says, "Smoke is a sign of life and a sign of death. To mortals it is a sign of fire and warmth, where they can endure winter, but if they breathe it in, they choke and perish."

The first part is interesting, although the second doesn't offer any great insights because fire could be substituted for smoke in the statement without meaningfully affecting its content or significance. But still, symbolism sounds apt to describe Smoke.

"Smoke is a byproduct, it is fire that consumes air, that reacts. Smoke is only the product of that, not the cause. It symbolises death but it is not death itself... at least, not so profound and certain a death as fire represents," she says while thinking over the concepts enumerated.

"Yes," The voice agrees, "You begin to understand."

"That is what I am here for," she confirms. "Will you allow for the presence of my friend and I, in this spirit?"

"Yes. Your friend will be here soon. Follow the path once she arrives." Is all the voice says.

"You have our thanks," she says, waiting for Simmer's arrival.

It's not long. Simmer comes out of the tunnel and lands safely, the winds not so violent for her. She's a bit charred and battered but intact. "Oh, there you are. Had to remind the natives not to harass visitors."

"They weren't so keen on having ignorant strangers bumbling around, but we came to an understanding," Afina nods, approving of Simmer's fighting spirit. "Things should be more peaceful from here on. Lets go?" she starts to explore the cavern they're within to try finding the mentioned path.

It appears ahead of you, smoke parting to reveal the way. All around you the trails of smoke gather, beginning to form things. Little humanoids - no. Little smoke para-elementals, slowly gathering as you walk along.

"Smoke is life and death. Smoke brings death but it also feeds life," The voice says. "Fire destroys but it purifies. Air sustains all live yet tornadoes and storm winds slay. When an elemental has reached a point where it will learn no more of Smoke, it comes here to perish and be remade anew."

"Remade into what?" Afina asks, content to walk when surrounded by those of similar stature to she. Except for Simmer of course, but nobody's perfect.

"New elementals. They will hopefully not be as limited in their understanding of Smoke." You walk further, past all of this. Some vapor is not used and continues on, swirling ahead. "This is the most precious things they learned, but also what stumped them on the further nature of Smoke. It will be analyzed and understood by those wiser, so that the mistake can be overcome."

"Reaching your limit, plateauing out, and then being reborn with a fresh perspective," Afina recites. "It's not dissimilar from they fey lifecycle."

"Is this on purpose for us or is it just the way it is?" Simmer asks, "It's a point we're born to understand."

"It is how it is," The voice replies, "What is important is taken to those who can proceed past that limit. It is all as planned by the Prince."

"And those who do pass that limit?" Afina asks. "Are they a superior strata of para-elemental, or something more?"

"They advance, grow larger, become more. The greatest become the monoliths or unique creatures," The voice says, "They are called to serve Ehkahk directly."

So it's basically just a pre-requisite for the higher echelons rather than a barrier for the uniquely potent, though of course getting to those levels still requires passing this anyway. She doesn't have any further immediate questions, since they'll surely see more as they follow the remaining smoke to wherever it's headed.

Ahead a figure approaches. An old man leaning on a staff, clad in black robes and with a staff that glows a sickly green. His hair is long and unkempt, his eyes a solid gray color. He speaks in the voice you have heard so many times before, body adorned with jewelry and a circlet. "To learn what Smoke is, you merely need to look around and then into yourself. If you hold all the elements, then all are already before you."

The answer was within you all along, hmm?

It's a cliche in stories, but experiencing it for herself is novel enough to please Afina. "Is that so?" she hums, taking a deliberate look at her surroundings before she closes her eyes and focuses on the quiescent elements that form her existence. Earth and Water are put aside, allowed to fade into the periphery of her awareness as instead she looks to Air and Fire. Under her control the elements exist in something like harmony, but she remembers well the omni-elemental she faced and how readily they'd lash out if given the chance. And she's giving them something of a chance now, loosening the reins and letting Fire consume Air as is its wont, smoke beginning to waft off her body as she gives at least two of her elements a chance to mingle, yet remains poised to clamp down again should things go too far.

Make a Wisdom check.

[20:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9
[20:54] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=11]

Sorry about the lack of post to this last night, fell asleep sitting up before I did this one. My bad.

You begin to grasp it as Air and Fire roar within you. Smoke rises off your body, obscuring everything around you as you struggle. Yet harmony comes despite the intermixing as you feel...more, somehow. Correct. You feel better balanced, your elemental powers calmed. At the same time, you feel Afame grow warmer.

Yes, this certainly feels like the correct path. She will have to visit the other para-elemental planes soon. Though she could perhaps do the same through introspection anywhere, it feels more correct to visit the planes and make something like a pilgrimage out of it.

"This was a worthy trip," she announces, the last of the smoke wafting off her as she allows things to settle into their new equilibrium. "You already know my name, might I have yours?" she asks their guide here who helped her better herself.

"Alyn," He answers, as you hear Tepen's voice, 'Afina, please return to Aurora. Crystal has returned, sickened.'

Well, fortuitous she just finished up here then. Holding up a hand to her present company in a gesture to suggest she's not talking to them she cants her head and says, "Understood, I'll be there momentarily." Then to present company, "Thank you for your hospitality, Alyn, but an urgent matter has occured back on Aurora so Simmer and I must take our leave. Is there any inhibition on teleportation magic here?"

"None," he says, "We prefer to punish those who presume to, rather than stop them." He smiles at that, a decidedly unkind one.

"I'm glad for all of us that it never came to that. Bear with me a moment Simmer, this might take a few attempts - I had to use limited wish when I contacted you earlier." Turning away she attempts to cast Gate!

[18:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100 spell failure
[18:06] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 45 > [d100=45]
[18:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100 spell failure x2
[18:07] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 84 > [d100=84]

And on the second try a gate appears leading directly to Aurora's entrance, flush against the demiplane so Simmer needn't worry about getting wet. "Farewell, Alyn," she bids goodbye to their host before flying through.

Going to weave you into Jaela and Neph's topic now, closing this one. You'll get info on Afame whenever you have a down moment to deal with it.