It's foggy and misty. That's the first thing you think when you pass through the portal. The Deep Ethereal is as forlorn and silent as you remember, yet ahead you see a river winding through the mists. A river of murky black water, the scent of fetid and befouled water strong in the air.
Ellese grimaces as she looks around. "This place is cursed," she murmurs. "This land is cursed."
Sylvie looks around as well, slipping into a defensive stance. "I'd eat my pants if Lixer doesn't have patrols around here, so eyes open."
Finnegan comes in right besides you, his spear at the ready and staying close to Jaela. "More targets then."
"Anything of immediate concern?" Jaela asks Mirajane, checking her blindsight against regular vision for any discrepancies. "Also, did Aurora manage its own shift?"
As far as precast spells go, beyond those listed for me under Spells, all of us have Heroes's Feast (CL20) and the Mind Blank obelisk set: mind blank (CL17), fortunate fate (CL15), planar tolerance (CL7) and greater mage armor(CL5).
No differences between normal vision and blindsight.
"They're over," Mirajane says, also looking around. "As of now, the vanguard's just going out."
Spoiler block will come shortly.
"Let's get going, then," Jaela states, flying off upriver. "I'll take the front, Ellese behind me, Mirajane and Flannagan on her flanks, Sylvie as our rearguard. No more than five feet distance separation. If you lose any of your partners, alert us immediately."
We'll fly at the maximum speed of our slowest flier.
The party falls into formation.
"Make noise if anything's wrong at all. Better to be heard and tip a watcher off than say nothing and be caught unawares," Finnegan adds.
"Our magic should hold long enough, and I can fire off 21 if I need to," Sylvie waves a hand, dispersing the mist around her face. "That should eliminate any Styx-mist or water where I fire."
Given the reasons behind their presence, alerting a watcher might well be a preferred course of action. But Jaela would avoid that unless Aurora's main assault upon Lethe is found lacking.
Are you going upstream or downstream?
Upstream. We intend to find the river's origin and destroy the portal it's flowing through or divert it.
> roll 1d100 Jaela
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 Jaela --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
> roll 1d100 Jaela
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 Jaela --> [ 1d100=70 ]{70}
Make a Wis check, Jaela.
[22:44] <Corwin> roll 1d20+10
[22:44] <Rei-chan> Corwin rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{20}
As you begin to fly along, you notice something. Your thoughts become more sluggish. Harder to focus, more prone to losing track of what you were thinking of. It's subtle right now, though.
How ridiculous, Jaela thinks. 'Let's play word games. Everyone knows the rules for word chain?'
"I don't," Ellese speaks up, "What are they?"
'Right!' she thinks back. 'It's a game where the players come up with words that begin with the letter that the previous word ended with. You usually pick a category, so say the topic is food and I start with soup? A chain might continue as peas, sugar, rice. You only have a few seconds to respond, so no idling. More to the point, I'm already starting to drift and I bet I'm not the only one. This'll be a nice way to pass the time and have everyone keep watch on each other and how alert we remain.'
Another Wis check, would you?
[19:51] <Annerose> roll 1d20+10 Serith
[19:51] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 28 > [d20=18]
"Bread," Finnegan begins with.
Carrots, honey, cinnamon, rolls, beef, lettuce. Words are tossed around as you fly along, a few minutes passing. It's hard to go - you're keeping on it, but it's easy to forget a word, to lose concentration. Just easy to slip away a bit. Entirely manageable, but it's notable. Interestingly, you notice the same in Mirajane and Finnegan. Sylvie and Ellese both seem more on the ball.
"Mother, one interpretation of the Styx is that it steals the truth away and replaces it with the empty hate of evil." Mirajane speaks up, the chain stopping. As other eyes turn to her, "No lie can defeat the truth of 21, and Ellese is already changed to them. That's what I think, anyway."
"Glorious," Jaela deadpans, before thinking only to Ellese, 'Speaking of, I've been thinking about whether 21 can synergize with your meditations. You've taken it as far as you can with my help, but maybe that's the help you need?'
"That's an idea," Sylvie says, "Remember that 21 simply is. It works on its own rules and accord, it can slice you as easily as it slices evil."
Ellese considers it slowly, as Mirajane blinks and shakes her head. She's about to say something when...
Any of you have extra-ordinary senses?
Blindsight 60ft, the usual darkvision.
You can sense something moving on the water below the party.
'Attack! Move left!' Jaela thinks sharply to the others, opting to err on the side of caution. Her aura should already give any devils inconvenient burns, but she calls down a Flame Strike that sets the water below to boil while she moves with the rest of their formation aside and bestows Celestial Valor upon all of them!
Swift action for Flame Strike, move to the left as a group, Celestial Valor on the group as standard.
Damage if evil outsider within 60ft:
[21:44] <Corwin> roll 2d6
[21:44] <Serith> Corwin roll for Serith < 6 > [d6=5,1]
Flame Strike Ref DC 29, -4 to save if evil outsider within 40ft:
[21:44] <Corwin> roll 15d6
[21:44] <Serith> Corwin roll for Serith < 63 > [d6=6,6,5,3,6,6,5,4,4,4,2,1,3,5,3]
You only have time for the swift, so don't mark off celestial valor yet.
You summon a pillar of flame which strikes the Styx below. It bursts into greasy steam where it hits, a rise of the water disrupted. Whatever it was, you don't sense it anymore with your blind sense.
Finnegan's at your side already, Val ready to defend you. Ellese is starting to chant, while Sylvie stares down and Mirajane says, "You saw ti in time."
"I guess," Jaela says dubiously, fortifying herself with Foresight. "I expected... more." After a moment to ensure nothing is coming after them, she adds, "Formation change. Mirajane, swap with me and sweep around with true seeing as we go."
"Yes, Mother," Mirajane does that as Finnegan comes close, "I expect it's probably a trick or projection, maybe not intelligent."
"Let's keep going," Jaela asserts, resolving to treat any such tricks with the seriousness of an attack.
At this Mirajane speaks up. "Resistance is light so far, Mother, but the devils are defending in depth so that should soon change. Gisfal's impression is that they're highly fortified and looking to wait us out. A strategy involving the Styx or a counter-force is the thought right now."
'Relay to Gisfal that our main goal may be achieved with just our team, and not to risk Aurora should things take a turn for the worse,' Jaela thinks back.
'Understood,' Mirajane says, and after a few moments, 'It's passed on. I'll let you know about any further updates.'
Jaela presses on with a nod, hopeful that their eventual destination is not located days away.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 > [d100=18]
You fly on for several more minutes, following the river. Mirajane speaks up in your mind then, 'Mother, they're pondering a retreat. Resistance is rapidly increasing, with several mobile combat groups flanking Aurora and Styx-water being weaponized. Gisfal leading at the front is concerned about how the devils are successfully eroding our magics, while Adrian is worried about the devils preparing something that can breach the outer perimeter and attack Aurora directly. Lixer's defenses here seem an order of magnitude more potent.'
'We're scrapping this part of the mission,' Jaela relays to the others, after thinking about this for a moment. 'No signs we're getting closer, and it doesn't sound like Aurora's made a big enough splash yet. Mirajane, tell Gisfal and Adrian that we'll be teleporting over the hitting the worst offenders with 21. Have them describe the place enough for my teleport to take hold, and to be prepared to strike once we do and the devils are startled. We'll reassess then, if that doesn't get them to bring up enough reinforcements.'
Nods all around, Sylvie saying, "Hopefully that'll turn the tide, or show that there's enough reinforcements that we can't manage it reasonably."
Mirajane does so. "Talking now, hold on."
As Mirajane communicates with Aurora command, Jaela wards herself with Spell Turning and includes the others in Mass Death Ward. It only makes sense, given Lixer.
"Mother," Mirajane speaks up, "Adrian wants to retreat because more combat groups have appeared, flanking and surrounding, and the front line is going poorly. If you wish to impact the battle, we must go immediately and be advised that they use the Styx as a weapon. A miscalculation could cost you everything."
"Sylvie, get ready," Jaela says, before having everyone grab on and aiming for a spot just outside Aurora's gates and off to the side to avoid blocking any traffic.
Since we didn't get a specific position, we'll use greater teleport to get there and have Sylvie provide relief via 21. She's confident it can temporarily help with the Styx, so we'll see how that goes.
Chaos.
Aurora's gates are heavily defended, soldiers clashing. Archons hold the lines as devils surge from above and below. Gelugons lead squads of steel devils, the air thick with the stench of brimstone. The archons are holding a perimeter around the gates as runners and warriors go about. Above in the fog you can dimly see more movement around Aurora, everything happening at once. Battlecries and magic mix, along with the ever-present light of 21. A book appears in her hand, blasting over a squad of devils as...
Go ahead, Jaela.
'Have Adrian and Gisfal push back!' Jaela relays through Mirajane. There should be a brief, priceless glance at the battlefield as 21 disperses the fog, and Jaela instructs Finnegan and Ellese to keep an eye out for priority targets or enemy commanders. That would be their chance at either turning the tables as the devils are routed by 21 or slowing down pursuit as Aurora is forced to retreat.
You can see much of the battlefield. Devils all around Aurora and your forces as they fight desperately. You're clearly outnumbered from a mere glance. 21's flashes of light illuminate things as Finnegan and Ellese join forces. Val flashes and Ellese's acid magic pushes the devils back, rallying the troops.
'On it, Mother,' Mirajane sends, standing guard over you and Sylvie. Fortunately, the devils seem more inclined to run from 21 than to face it down and you're rapidly clearing out space from the gate. As things settle a bit, a runner comes up, "General Jaela," the female half-elf reports, a quick salute, "I-"
Suddenly all the world is electric white.
> roll 1d20+24 SR
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 SR --> [ 1d20=18 ]{42}
Jaela, you have spell turning up, right?
Correct. I would also appreciate the chance to counterspell if I can, due to Foresight I don't get surprised or flat-footed.
Sure, go for it.
"Enough!" Jaela snarls, gesturing with Gae Bolg as the world threatens to disappear. She's still trying to acclimate to using such powerful magics, but this one spell comes as naturally to her as breathing.
Superb Dispelling as in immediate interrupt.
[21:48] <Corwin> roll 1d20+36
[21:48] <Rei-chan> Corwin rolled : 1d20+36 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{55}
Jaela's foresight tingles and she looks up. She can't quite see it, but she can sense it. The light, a spell - a powerful figure above, a pit fiend. A snarled word of magic shatters the lightning bolt into nothingness like a hammer through a plate glass window.
Act.
Finally, a target for her mounting frustration of the devils gaining an upper hand. But Jaela holds herself a few moments longer, her duties to her people taking priority.
'Mirajane, call upon deliverance from the Styx. Get inside afterwards and assist with healing,' she sends to her daughter. 'Tell Gisfal to retreat while Adrian supplies cover. Get Baleruk out here to me.'
Raising her free hand skyward, Jaela calls out, "For Lifasa!" and Celestial Valor settles over her group, the runner and almost two dozen adjacent soldiers.
'Don't let him try again,' she orders Finnegan and Ellese, while Sylvie's orders are far simpler -- 'Kill him.'
Mirajane - Miracle to eliminate the Styx droplets; if she thinks the Miracle absolutely can't accomplish that, then at least a temporary respite by blowing the fog away from Aurora and its forces for a minute. Then, step inside the courtyard to heal and continue relaying things telepathically between myself and the other commanders.
Sylvie - 21 that fucker
Finnegan - ready action to charge and interrupt the pit fiend
Ellese - the same but with magic
Jaela - Gambit stance with Gae Bolg, waiting to hear from the runner, Curse of Inadequacy channeled into Gae Bolg as a move action.My spells: Celestial Valor, Foresight, Spell Turning, usual precasts, arch spells. Mage Armor CL5 should be the first to drop.
> roll 1d20+23 Mirajane caster level check
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+23 Mirajane caster level check --> [ 1d20=18 ]{41}
Mirajane's voice echos across the battlefield, perfectly pronounced Celestial. "Oh keeper of three that is one, restore vital minds and banish the wicked forgetfulness!" A great wind comes, blowing away the black rain. 'Mother,' Mirajane reports, 'It's working, but a powerful force is resisting.'
Sylvie whirls and turns, firing 21 up ahead at the pit fiend. The great beam of light slices through the air, dissolving fog and rain both.
> roll 1d20+30 vs 46
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+30 vs 46 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{44}
> roll 21d12+21
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 21d12+21 --> [ 21d12=160 ]{181}
The devil screams as the runner reports, "Ma'am, we're rotating otu forces and considering retreat. Soldiers are coming back amnesic and devoid of memories thanks to Styx-water. General Gisfal does not believe that current circumstances are conductive to a victory."
Oh, amid all that, you can see the pit fiend blasted. Parts of it are gone, strips of skin and bone no more. It's starting to focus more power...
If you wanna command Finnegan and Ellese to act on that, feel free, or if you wanna do something yourself.
'Strike,' Jaela orders Ellese and Finnegan. Ellese could cut loose without worry, and then Finnegan would be there in melee and destroying this fiend!
"Tell Gisgal to draw back our vanguard," Jaela tells the runner, repeating her intentions so there is no confusion. "The gates are clear, and Styx is in retreat. We'll regroup inside."
It's a matter of priorities, and she only thinks back to Mirajane after the immediate matters have been dealt with. 'Have Vul'lath assist you. If it's a tug of war, keep the pressure on. How soon before Baleruk arrives?'
Should both Ellese and Finnegan fail to interrupt the pit fiend's spell, I will counterspell myself. But not before they act.
Finnegan's there in a blink, closing the distance as lesser devils move in from the fog, trying to protect their master.
Activating divine wrath as a free action, +6 sacred to attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws. Also grants damage reduction 5/-. Note that I used +3 instead of +6 on the roll, so that's being corrected.
> roll 1d20+42 (+2 charge, +3 divine wrath, +5 smite infidel, -15 PA)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+42 (+2 charge, +3 divine wrath, +5 smite infidel, -15 PA) --> [ 1d20=18 ]{60}
> OOC: That should be +6 from divine wrath.
> roll 2d8+182+3d6+1d6 and 1 negative level
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d8+182+3d6+1d6 and 1 negative level --> [ 2d8=14 3d6=14 1d6=5 ]{215}
The devil isn't fast enough. Finnegan's spear impales it through the left eye, divine lightning striking from above at the same time. It screams like the bellows of a forge ruptured, before crumbling into tiny shards of glass.
Meanwhile Baleruk emerges, "Who DARES DEMAND MY PRESENCE?!"
Free act for the moment, though Finnegan's gonna be busy up there and so's Sylvie.
"Baleruk!" Jaela exclaims happily. "Good to hear from you!"
Turning towards the devils that don't dare approach her and the glowing nimbus of holy power surrounding her, she calls out, "Lixer, you dickless cum dumpster! Stop hiding behind Daddy's skirts and come at us!"
Casting Recitation (myself and lots of people around me) and Divine Power (myself) this round.
Chaos again.
Baleruk's roar joins your call of defiance as you weave spells around myself. The armies clash in the fog as challengers approach. All those who attack Finnegan - mostly masses of spinagons - are skewered and ended fast as you can blink. Ellese flings magic around, spell created acid scarring devils and forcing them back. Meanwhile a runner comes out, "The vanguard's in retreat, elements will be getting here soon, ma'am!" he reports to Jaela, "Hold long enough to get everyone back in."
At the same moment you feel a bone-chilling surge, one that makes your head begin to throb. Your teeth and jaw ache in time with it, vision blurring as...
Fort, Jaela.
"The devils won't get through!" Jaela states as fact, so firmly that those that hear her can't help but be filled with her determination.
[19:02] <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+50+7+3
[19:02] <Rei-chan> Tohsaka rolled : 1d20+50+7+3 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{69}
You resist...something? You aren't sure, the memory of it slipping through your mind's fingers. A whole-body coldness envelops you, Jaela shaking as if it were the coldest day of winter. She feels an overwhelming sense of worthlessness, unworthiness, contempt. It passes in a split second but leaves her cold and queasy.
Meanwhile Baleruk goes into foggy melee, savaging any devils who do not flee before him. Your line here seems to be holding, and indeed, you begin to see a few tattered lillend fall back into sight.
'Jaela!' Tepen's voice shouts in your mind, 'They've breached Aurora's sphere of force from behind. Squads of overgrown gelugons and cornugons are forcing their way in. There's a pit fiend with them that's spraying Styx-water everywhere. Get everyone in as soon as possible so we can escape and contain this!'
"Hold the fort for me a sec!" Jaela calls out to Baleruk, before sending herself across to just outside Aurora's other side!
DD if I can manage the range, Greater Teleport otherwise.
Greater teleport.
No good - you reappear a moment later, not having moved. You know teleportation magic enough to know a block when you see one. Someone's set up something to stop a teleport there. Probably dimensional lock, zone of respite or something like that, but you'd have to go there to be sure.
'Mirajane,' Jaela thinks at that. 'Order Sylvie and Ellese to rush through the Aurora and support the defenses. They need to take the pit fiend with the Styx water down, hard. Baleruk and I will hold the fort on this end.'
Then, she leaps in action, using her superior speed to impale the lesser devils in her way upon her lance. It would take a pretty powerful specimen to survive, and any who dare to strike at her get swatted aside through her retaliations as Jaela proceeds to dominate the battlefield at the entrance to the Aurora!
'It will be done,' Mirajane promises, as you tuck into the battle before you.
Make a normal attack roll for reference.
16:30 <Marianne> roll 1d20+43+3+5+2+4 Gae Dioltas charge!
16:30 <Rei-chan> Marianne rolled : 1d20+43+3+5+2+4 Gae Dioltas charge! --> [ 1d20=16 ]{73}
16:31 <Marianne> +5 more for 78
16:31 <Marianne> roll 1d20+43+3+5+2+4+5 Gae Dioltas AoO retaliation (x8)!
16:31 <Rei-chan> Marianne rolled : 1d20+43+3+5+2+4+5 Gae Dioltas AoO retaliation (x8)! --> [ 1d20=15 ]{77}
-2 more since not charging for 75
16:35 <Marianne> roll 3d8+87+12+42+15+24+2d6+2d6 holy+goldenfire damage (silver/good/epic vs devils)
16:35 <Rei-chan> Marianne rolled : 3d8+87+12+42+15+24+2d6+2d6 holy+goldenfire damage (silver/good/epic vs devils) --> [ 3d8=16 2d6=4 2d6=11 ]{211}
Marianne
Uh, I just needed one roll for reference, but hey, damage rolls are always nice.
You wade into the battle. Spinagons are obliterated before you, bursting into golden fires or skewered into oblivion. You hold the line on one side, Baleruk on the other, as forces fall back. You quickly have your side cleared, many retreating - yet from ahead, a wave of black water comes for you. A wave reaped from the sea, looking to engulf you in the waters of the Styx.
Act.
'Status on Sylvie and Ellese with that pit fiend?' Jaela asks Mirajane. Most of her attention is occupied by that unnatural wave, however, and she quickly snaps off a pair of dispels in the time it would take most casters to use one while her armor shifts into robes that allow for easier casting!
16:51 <Marianne> roll 1d20+36 dispel
16:51 <Rei-chan> Marianne rolled : 1d20+36 dispel --> [ 1d20=4 ]{40}
16:51 <Marianne> roll 1d20+36 dispel if the previous failed
16:51 <Rei-chan> Marianne rolled : 1d20+36 dispel if the previous failed --> [ 1d20=5 ]{41}
Intent is to use the Dispel Evil SLA if the wave continue and washes all the way up to me.
'They're on it,' Mirajane says, as you throw your power against it. The wave is stopped, crumbling to water that plunges below rather than splashing you.
React but I need a few to catch up the other thread, since that matters here.
Jaela charges down into the nearest concentration of devils and calls upon the Triune's name! Meanwhile, the spot she'd touched lightly before venturing forth becomes a holy area where mind control and summoned creatures are repelled!
Holy Word, 40ft radius, no save, probably autopass my SR. Hallow on the area before our gates, to boost up our defense and the path of retreat some.
More spinagons fall, but more are retreating. As you do, you see the vanguard and support start to reach you. "In, in, in," You hear Gisfal's booming voice over the battlefield, "In!"
Jaela lets Gisfal do what he does best as she continues to dart across the battlefield! She's burning brightly even in this gloom, and even though her actual attacks leave countless crushed devils, it is her very presence when the devil leaders haven't taken the field against her that is the true weapon!
"Come on!" she calls out into the battlefield. "I actually felt the beginning of a spell there before you fled like a little bitch! Won't anyone face me properly? Lixer has chosen his timid flunkies well!"
Let's taunt and intimidate! Also boost our side's morale!
As a swift, I want to use Control Water to try and lower and otherwise push away any Styx water.
The devils are simply falling back now as everyone gets into Aurora - including Surraruthru and Moore. In your mind, 'Mother,' Mirajane says, 'We're shifting over to Elysium as soon as possible. Get in. We'll still be battling the incursion, but the advantage will shift to us.'
Moore will fly with the others to Aurora and back inside!
Oh, for fuck's sake, can't Tepen deal with it while supported by Vul'lath, Sylvie and Ellese?
'On it,' she responds to Mirajane, flying back to the entrance. 'Have Adrian or Gisfal take over for the defenses here, whoever's closest.'
Control water is effective enough, pushing back the water from you.
With everyone racing inside, Jaela flies across Aurora. Ahead you see a wide, jagged gash in the sphere of force, crackling in the air. Dozens of devils are through but contained, 21's light disintegrating more and more of them. As you fly over, the fog outside of Aurora is replaced by Elysium's sunshine. The forces outside of it are gone, but those inside are still there. No sign of the pit fiend that apparently caused the gap, though.
"Moore!" Jaela calls out above the din of the battle. "To me!" She raises Gae Dioltas high above her head, and calls upon the most powerful spell of healing in her possession, seeking out every single person within Aurora!
"Of course!" Moore flies over, offering his voice in the aid of healing to Jaela's magic.
[12:05] <Nephrite> roll 1d4+5+27 and I helped
[12:05] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d4+5+27 and I helped --> [ 1d4=4 ]{36}
Wounds heal all over Aurora. At the same time, with the light of Elysium shining through, the devil remnants are surrounded. The battle is fierce, bloody. A gout of acid maims several, followed up by 21 obliterating them. Before you the last few fall, "Clear!" Sylvie shouts over the din, "We're clear here!"
For the time being, Moore continues to offer words to empower healing to those nearby. He'll wait for the others to decide how else to proceed.
'Mirajane, we're heading back out,' Jaela thinks, switching back to her usual armor. 'Confirm with Gisfal, Tepen and Adrian that we haven't left anyone behind, nothing remains to secure Aurora here and that Afina's group hasn't sent a request for assistance.'
'Yes, Mother,' she answers. "Confirmed. However, you should know that Mirima was hit by the Styx-water. We should be able to heal her, but right now she's out of action.'
'Let's go see her,' Jaela responds. 'We still have a bit of time before your own magic responds properly to you.'
Mirajane catches up with you directly, "She's been taken to the infirmary." she says aloud, then in your mind, 'Mostly because she's an officer so not to alarm the men at her condition. By the way, where are you thinking of going out to?'
Moore, what you going to do, keep helping the rescue operation? Surraruthru, what of you as well?
He's fine continuing help with the recovery efforts or however else he can be of assistance.
'Back on our original jaunt. We'll track the river as far up as we can, and with a bit of luck do what we originally went there for.'
In this case, I'm going to split this into individual threads. Please don't post any more here except for Surraruthru, since I'm waiting on a reply from him.
I've still got a fair bit of buff spells ready to go, and some damage spells, so if need be, I can go out for some more slugging action.
So noted. You'll be holding for the moment with more of Aurora's forces. You're getting a new topic for now, this one's getting locked.