Finding Bubbles isn't hard. Luck is with you - she's actually in her room. The room's full of clothes on display, as well as sewing supplies and some half finished pieces. She's wearing a simple green dress as she steps aside for you to enter.
"You're back," she praises, "How was your little walk on Ice's wild side, sweety?"
Afina's still in her frozen toga, since the idea was to come straight here to get 'warmed up' as it were. "You missed a fun trip," she says, stepping in and taking a brief look around at Bubbles' furnishings before looking up at the nymph herself. "Mirajane didn't find it very fun though, so if your luck ran more like hers perhaps it's best you gave it a miss. Still, I think you'd have liked Absolute Zero, once we got to the bottom it was quite the beautiful confluence of elements."
"Mmm, that does sound interesting if not for the dreadful dress code," Bubbles says, then smiles playfully, "Did you bring me back a souvenir by any chance?"
Mirajane was right! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing for the taking while they were there. Which is a shame because Magmasoul had its share of treasures. Ice is clearly more ascetic than Fire. "Sorry but there was nothing there except ice and water," she says, smiling up at Bubbles nonetheless. "Instead I've brought you back a far more wondrous treasure than any mere bauble," she flourishes her hand a little before pointing at herself.
Well after getting shot down over and over when giving people a chance to see her naked and then having people doubt her killing prowess against Gathgorian her ego could do with a boost!
"Oh ho," Bubbles says, "Is your body worthy of not bringing a present? Confident, aren't you? I like it."
"I'm not some infatuated human, you know," Afina says, her smile widening a bit at the playful banter. "Having a fabulous and unique pixie like myself offering her attentions is worth more than any dragon's hoard!" With that proclamation she dramatically tosses her makeshift toga aside, ice crystals cracking and tinkling across it as it's ripped off to bare herself.
And even if she doesn't have giant boobs like Balyss and Hanna are obsessed with, her pale and ethereally graceful figure is nonetheless a work of art she can be proud of! Especially with those lovely colours dancing across it now and then. Oh! Was that hint of red across her chest the beginnings of an embarrassed flush? Only Afina knows for sure, and she's not telling!
Make a Charisma check, since you're trying pure force of personality here.
[21:38] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+12 unsurprisingly still gearless charisma
[21:38] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+12 unsurprisingly still gearless charisma --> [ 1d20=1 ]{13}
Ouch.
You get a look over, a little giggle escaping, one Bubbles hides with her hand. "Darling, you're pretty," she says, "But ah..." she gestures at her own chest.
Well that was the most demeaning giggle she's ever been subjected to. "What?" she asks, dramatic flourishes leaking out and her tone returning to its more typical bland (if nauseatingly cute) tenor as she realises this may have all been a terrible mistake. "I don't wear pads under my clothes," she reaches up to pat a hand over her bare chest, "So you can't be surprised. If you're not interested that's fine, I read too much into your flirting, that's all."
Bubbles shakes her head. "I thought you...well...sweety, I thought you strapped them down for speed or some such. If you were born like that, wouldn't you have had it fixed?" Bubbles gently smiles, "There's special ways to change that if you want to and have some money. You're beautiful," she says, "All like a rainbow, just that you surprised me."
Her brow twitches a little at that oh-so-gentle sympathy coming off in waves from the nymph. "I get a lot of comments about my figure from people who think they mean well, but I'm not self-conscious or ashamed at all. This is who I am," she says, walking over to recover her blanket-toga and tossing it back on. "But I still feel embarrassed enough about making a spectacle where it's not wanted, so lets pretend this all never happened?"
She knows the alter self spell, even if the last time she used it was... wow, way back when she fed Annalise that one time. It's been that long? She should retrain it for something more useful. Or use it more often to throw big boobs in people's faces if that's what they want so badly. Which they shouldn't! She's had plenty of lovers in the past that liked her figure just fine.
"You like being..." Bubbles blinks, face going completely slack. "But any nymph..."
After several long moments, "You really...oh sweetheart," she winces, "You aren't a nymph, of course. I'm sorry, all of that was uncalled for."
"Voluptuous and womanly may be the ideal for nymphs," Afina nods her head, marshalling up her dignity as she looks up at Bubbles. "It's attractive on you, too. But for we pixies it's most important to be delicate and cute!" she declares, voice rising a bit in passion as she clenches a tiny fist before her.
Bubbles goes over to her desk, taking a seat. She taps the desk before her, "You're right. Please come over here, Afina."
"No, I think its best if I leave now. If you don't find me attractive I've no interest in seeing you push yourself out of pity. I'm not that desperate," Afina says, making a somewhat transparent pouty face as she considers the only reason she returned Bubbles' flirtations was because it had been a few years since she'd gotten close to anyone and so she threw herself on the first person to show any interest. Desperation indeed.
Bubbles scowls, "Of course I find you attractive! Your confidence, your poise and the way you stand out is attractive. I'm interested in you because you're not a love struck fool or a leering hopeful. You're unique, far more than a typical pixie. Dearie, the fact that you're unchesty has nothing to do with it."
"Oh... well, then..." Afina hesitates at that, looking at Bubbles' face for a moment before satisfying herself of the sincerity in it. With the blanket on so loosely her wings are free enough to flap and so she gives them a flap and lifts herself up onto the desk. "When you put it that way I might stick around."
"Yes, and you might see me wearing less and less as it goes," Bubbles smiles, "Do you drink? I could use something after that." She stands up, "I have red wine, white wine and pinegrape."
"Red wine sounds good," Afina says, settling down side-on to Bubbles with her legs dangling off the edge. "Don't count on getting me drunk easily though, despite my size I'm no lightweight!" Although getting drunk and forgetting that whole embarrassing scene does hold some appeal.
You get a pixie sized portion of red wine, Bubbles having some herself. She drinks at a steady clip, not merely slipping at it. "Good. I know pixies who get drunk with a whiff of something strong. Most pixies are so, so, so dreadfully boring. Aurora's been a breath of fresh air and you are the greatest current of all. You are magnificent," she purrs, "Standing above normal pixies like a queen."
Afina matches Bubbles' drinking pace, the elemental furnace inside of her giving mundane alcohol little chance to gain much of a foothold except when she allows it, and as liberating as her overly affectionate drunken personality can be she'd much rather be herself right now. "Hmph, if you want to make this about stereotypes the typical nymph isn't tremendously thrilling either," she says. "Fortunately Aurora doesn't attract homebodies so I haven't seen much of that type lately," she turns her head a little to give Bubbles a sidelong smile.
This gets a returned smile, Bubbles settling back in her chair and closing her eyes. "Yes well, common nymphs end up a mistress of some marid or other there. Allured by their primal control of water and masculinity, they fall to them like wheat to the scythe. Mmm, few talk of it, but there's a quiet industry of finding adventuresome nymphs who wish to travel to the Prime and bringing them over to the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls. Not all end up with that fate, some have the personality or power to hold their own, but it still happens."
Draining her wineglass and putting it down before standing, "I am not, so I prospered. As you are not a typical pixie and have thrived in the planes."
There was nothing masculine about the Padisha! "It's something I often think about," she admits, gulping down the last of her wine and lifting her gaze as Bubbles stands. "On Lifasa I was an entertainer of minor note and assassin of some renown in a relatively middling desmense. Skilled certainly, but if things had gone as I wished I'd still be there, doubtless little changed from how I was a decade ago. Now, though?" she turns and looks out the window a moment, encompassing everything beyond before she looks back up at Bubbles. "I treat with archomentals and Gods, my name is whispered in realms I'd never even heard of before, the works I craft are worthy of legend in their own right, and I've transcended my own feyness to become a being unprecedented in history." A fabulously unprecedented being it must be said!
Hmm, she does get wrapped up in how awe-inspiring her prismatic nature is now and then, doesn't she? She feels like she understand Baleruk a little better.
When you turn back around, Bubbles has slipped out of her dress. She's wearing a silky shift beneath it. Several daggers are strapped to her legs and upper arms, unnoticed until now. She takes your wineglass and refills yours and hers, smiling all the while. A coy little smile, "Amazing how the planes change things. You survive and thrive or you drown."
"I'm sure many of us did just that. I've looked but all those that can be found are here in Aurora," Afina mentions, but refuses to get any further into that. She's not going to bring things down by talking about devils, she already had to restrain herself from going into a bit about how everything she's gained in the planes is 'thanks' to having devils despoil her home.
"Nice daggers, practical too," she commends with a smile as she looks over Bubbles, noting the different materials they're made of. Accepting the wine she takes a drink before gesturing to the cold iron one. "If that irritates your skin I can recommend rubbing it with crushed burdock root. In my old job I mostly used a cold iron weapon, too." Probably some devil in the Blood War is using it to kill demons these days. She misses that sword, rashes and all. "I could even rub it for you myself, if you like..." she offers with a teasing lilt.
"What an interesting offer," Bubbles says, "Let's take you up on it."
This is heading to fade to black territory, so ready to move along?
Even with a 1, all things are possible. Anyway yes, I'll go grab Afame afterwards and see if it's taken on board my new resonance with Ice like it did with Smoke before.
As you head out several hours later, "Mmmm," Bubbles murmurs, "Dearie, mind if I come with you? I want to see this."
"I don't mind spending a bit longer in your company," Afina says agreeably, freshening them both up with a bit of prestidigitation before she wraps her makeshift toga on again. By now at least all the ice has melted so it's just a damp blanket.
Following along with you, "I do hope the rest of your wardrobe is better than that, or I'll have work to do," Bubbles remarks.
"I didn't expect I'd be able to retrieve my clothes after finishing in Absolute Zero so I brought along something disposable," Afina says, trotting along towards a portal that'll take them to the floor Smrgol resides on. Letting him look after her equipment seemed like the safest thing to do, all things considered. Passing quarters assigned to giants and Hannas and Arrels, she soon comes to the ironwyrm's door and knocks.
"ENTER!" a booming voice declares from within, drawing a little smile as Afina pushes the door open.
"Hello Smrgol, I'm home. Everything's been fine here I hope?" she asks, seeing the crystalline dragon crouched protectively over her equipment while his own hoard rests in the corner as a neatly stacked pile of bullion. He hasn't quite grasped the flair that Baleruk and Arrel reach for in their own hoards even if he's still trying to imitate the concept.
"NONE WOULD DARE CHALLENGE ME FOR THE CREATOR'S BELONGINGS!" Smrgol booms out, rearing back and fanning the multicoloured feathers festooned around his head in an intimidating display.
"Excellent. Have you met Bubbles? Bubbles this is Smrgol, he's a draconic golem crafted from a shard of the Archomental Sunnis," Afina provides introductions, going towards her things and picking up the alloyed short sword Afame first of all.
"CHARMED," Smrgol bellows, fixing his multifaceted gem eyes on the nymph while Afina sees to her business beneath his imposing bulk.
"Charmed," Bubbles echos with a small smile, "My goodness, you're a big one. I bet you have all the female wyrms swooning over you, sweety."
Meanwhile you pick up Afame - and feel it resonate in your hand, flashing icy cold.
Paste me Afame's stats?
Afame - Adamantine/linthrum small short sword +5, skirmishing
- Afina is constantly feels at ease wherever she goes. This gives her the benefits of Avoid Planar Effects and Endure Elements spell. This ability is always active as long as the sword is held.
- Against creatures anathema to Afina (devils) and to Creation (creatures from beyond), this sword deals an extra 5d6 points of damage per strike.
- Part of Afina's natural world is speed and dodging. As a swift action, she may grant herself a +4 dodge bonus to armor class while holding this sword. This may be used at will.
- Once per day, Afina may bestow some of her elemental energies to a willing creature by touch. This is a full round action. Doing so grants that creature the half fire, water, earth, or air elemental template (Afina's choice). This lasts for 24 hours. Doing so takes some of Afina's life energy, and she suffers a -2 penalty to constitution during this time. This penalty cannot be removed until the 24 hours pass.
I never actually examined it after going to Smoke so any stuff it got from that is still pending
"THERE IS A SAD DEARTH OF FEMALE WYRMS ON AURORA. I HAVE OFTEN HEARD BALERUK COMPLAIN OVER THIS," Smrgol notes, though lacking a sex drive of his own he's mostly just parroting what he's figured out from listening to his exemplars of all things draconic.
You hold Afame and you feel power flowing into it. You feel it resonate within you like a bell being struck, the sound echoing in your ears.
At the same time, distant to you, Bubbles smiles winsomely, "Well, that's what shape changing magic is for. Get one of those lovely ladies to transform into a fetching female wyrm, perhaps? I've known many relationships salvaged through applied magic like that. Why, I hear that Kescha? Is that her name?" she asks in a sidebar to Afina, "Whatever, the Seira worshiper. She serves a dragon, she can probably do it."
Amid that, you feel Afame. Air. Air is more complete in it now. Fire and water are partially complete in it. Earth is still unchanged. There's something growing in there, but you need more.
"Mmhhmm, mmmhmm," Afina makes affirmative sounding humming noises as she shucks off her toga and stops time to quickly dresses up in her typical harlequin-esque outfit of tight leggings and minidress with long sleeves and a flared skirt, all in checkered and clashing colours. Affixing her swords in their sheathes behind her waist she sets her twintailed hat on her head and slips on her magical jewellery. "Thank you for looking after my things, Smrgol. Come on Bubbles," she takes the nymph's hand, heading back out.
"Smrgol doesn't have any equipment of his own for that to matter," she mutters as they head back down the hallway, "He just repeats what he hears from the other dragons to try and fit in."
Did you just use a time stop to preserve your modesty?
"Ah," Bubbles giggles as she follows you. "Poor thing, but I suppose you didn't really want to study that part of dragons for accuracy."
I used it to get out of that conversation more quickly.
"Nor just have it hanging out there for everyone to see all of the time. I don't want to know what people would say about me," Afina says, fluttering along now that she's properly dressed in something that lets her wings move. "Anyway, Afame is coming along nicely. I'll need to visit Ooze and Magma next to finish my para-elemental pilgrimage. Simmer will certainly want to come along to Magma - have you met her yet? She might be a bit stand-offish because of your inclination towards Water but she's nice. What are your feelings on Ooze?"
Bubbles shudders, "Oh no, no no no no no no no no no no no no no no! No Ooze! You've never been? Most people who go there are violently ill the moment they gate in from the stench, and it only gets worse. It's a hive of disease and filth like nothing else."
"Oh," Afina says, disappointment rising. "Well I'll leave Magma till last so it's something to look forward to. I suppose Dana might like Ooze? She enjoys unpleasant things. It's either that or bringing along a golem since I doubt I'll get volunteers."
This gets Bubbles to shake her head and lay a hand on your side, "Sweetheart," she says, "You're thinking wrong. You're a sorcerer. If the world is distasteful, change it to something more pleasing. Surely you have ways to mitigate Ooze rather than trying to find those foolish enough to brave it unaided."
"That would be missing the point though," Afina shakes her head, though she leans in a little against Bubbles' hand. "As Earth and Water are part of me, so too is Ooze. I need to be able to find something nice about it if I'm to understand it and strengthen my connection to the inner planes."
"So it would," Bubbles agrees, "You have a talent for finding adventures that give people reasons not to go. I would like to fight with you, but not naked or in Ooze."
"Blame the planes, not me," Afina huffs. "Anyway, like how I researched Absolute Zero beforehand I'm going to spend some time in the library learning about places of power within Ooze... or maybe spots that aren't utterly revolting to all sensibilities. Do you want to help me at least that far?"
"My evening is free," Bubbles says, "In the meantime, what are your sizes? You would look amazing in a frock that..."
Okay, what exactly are you researching?
Places of power on Ooze, same criteria as used previously with Smoke and Ice. Using greater heroism and library bonus so...
[18:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42+15 planes, +2 more if Bubbles aids well
[18:45] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+42+15 planes, +2 more if Bubbles aids well --> [ 1d20=8 ]{65}
Bubbles aids, she has ranks in K:P so she can't fail the roll. 67 total.
The simple truth is that there's little scholarship on Ooze. Few wish to go and few of those that go care to come back and write of it. That leads to a problem, that the places of power within it are largely unexplored and unknown to non natives. The best you find is the following.
- Bwimb (or Bwimb II sometimes, it varies) is the Archomental of Ooze. A he or she (details vary) that rules over the plane from the Fortress of Bwimb.
- There's rumors of some sort of gem nexus deep in Ooze. Blue gemstones and little else is known.
- It's said a powerful fiend once set up a realm in Ooze. Details are lost, but the name remains: The Slime Lair.
---
After several hours, "I think you need a more direct source," Bubbles remarks, stretching and yawning.
"It's so strange. I know ooze creatures are really popular with wizards - we even have one who joined up with all those inferno oozes right here in Aurora. The plane itself must be truly horrible to have so little scholarship on it. Do you think I should just visit Bwimb? Maybe they'll be grateful for the interest?" Afina says closing up another unhelpful book.
"That may be your best move," Bubbles says, "As for the rest, well, you'll understand once you've visited."
"I suppose so," Afina goes to put the book away on its shelf before going back to the table they were at. "What's a good gift for an ooze archomental?"
"I don't have the foggiest," Bubbles admits freely, "Oozes don't wear clothes, do they?"
"Can't imagine it would work well," Afina agrees. She could ask Morniel, maybe? He's been around, he might know. "I think I'll try asking Morniel," she decides, leading Bubbles out of the library before calling, "Elena?"
Elena appears, dressed up like a maid. "Hi!" she waves, "Morniel's in his quarters, getting ready to leave. If you watch to catch him, you need to hurry."
"Can you ask him to wait for us then?" Afina asks, "It'll only be a quick consultation. Also don't wear that where Jaela can see," she gives some advice regarding the maid costume before taking a portal to the floor Morniel lives on.
"Right!" Elena's gone and you catch up to Morniel. He lets you into his quarters. "Afina, how can I help you." He then smiles and takes Bubble's hand, gently kissing it, "Lady Bubbles, I believe? I have heard of you but not yet met you in person."
"Thank you," Bubbles smiles back, meeting his gaze, "Afina spoke well of you."
"It's that breadth of knowledge for people all over the planes that I need," Afina says, not minding if Morniel's showing some courtly flattery to Bubbles. Even if it was more than that, she's not possessive. "I'm intending to visit Ooze, specifically its Archomental Bwimb. Such a visit necessitates bringing a gift, but I'm unsure what an ooze would want. Do you have any advice for me?"
"Bwimb or Bwimb II?" Morniel asks as Bubbles takes a seat.
"I saw them used interchangeably," Bubbles says, "Darling, that was rather vexing, since no one really agreed."
"It is said that Bwimb died, but that's not true. He spawned a child, both are Archomentals. Bwimb skews towards evil while Bwimb II does not. They do not get along, but cooperate nonetheless." Coughing into his hand, "I will not lie to you, Afina. Ooze is a miserable place. Bwimb's nature is predatory, he likes weapons, even if he ends up dissolving them in his own acids. Bwimb II is painfully lonely. I've heard from her few intelligent servants that she's manage to wretch conversations out of Jubilex out of sheer, lonely persistence. If you meet her, your own presence is more than enough of a gift."
"Ahhh, I just took the varying names and genders as representing the amorphous nature of ooze," Afina admits. "In that case Bwimb II sounds better for visiting, but I take it she resides somewhere other than the Fortress of Bwimb?"
"No, she lives there," Morniel says, "They're father and child, even if they do not get along. Therein lies another danger. You may well encounter both, and it is difficult to find the one you wish before finding the other." He sits back, steepling his hands together, "Be completely warded against acid. Bwimb II routinely hugs people who come to visit her, but she is a giant ooze of incredibly powerful acid. She regrets it deeply once she calms down, but in her excitement she's slain more than one visitor."
Annoyingly her affinity for earth doesn't come with any protection against acid. "I may have to ask your assistance for a spell before I leave then, Bubbles," she asks the nymph who can at least contribute that way even if she's too weak-stomached to come along in person. "That being the case I'll prepare gifts for both Archomentals so as not to cause offense. It sounds as if they're rather laid back about protocol though, so I can just go directly to the fortress and present myself?"
"Yes. There are few guardians because who wants to go to Ooze, let alone the center of it?" Morniel says.
"I know," Bubbles says, wrinking her nose. "I know the spell, I'll take care of it."
Only prismatic pixies it would seem. "Thank you Morniel, I won't take any more of your time," she says, heading back out. "Now I'll have to go to the workshop to fashion something nice for father and daughter. I won't be much good for company but still you're welcome to come along while I work," she offers to Bubbles.
"One further thing," Morniel speaks up, "Are you vulnerable to disease, mundane or magical?"
"No," Afina replies. "An advantage of my elemental nature."
"Good. The nature of Ooze means it festers with diseases. A creature vulnerable to sickness who goes there will deeply regret the mistake," Morniel says.
"The recruiting pool for this trip keeps getting shallower," Afina says with a wry smile. "Thank you for the extra warning, Morniel."
Bubbles quirks a smile and says, "Whoever do you have in mind now?"
"I have to rethink things bearing in mind the information about diseases," Afina concludes after a bit of thought while they leave Morniel to resume preparations for his own journey. "I was thinking of Ellese because she's an acid-specialist," and also has a high tolerance for the revolting, "But she's as vulnerable to disease as any elf." Well, maybe a bit less allowing for her incredible constitution but still. "Assuming anyone else can get magical protection from acid like I'm going to get, immunity to disease is the main qualifier. I can't take Simmer, she'd never go anywhere connected to water. Crystal and Mei then, or possibly Canderella. In fact she's probably my best bet." High tolerance for the revolting, check!
"Elena?" she speaks up after making her deliberations. "Do you know if Canderella is available?"
Elena appears, done up like a butler. "You rang?" she asks, "Yes, she's dealing with 27 outside of the baths. I think they're having a telepathic conversation."
"Running with a servant theme today, aren't you?" Afina observes, giving the suit-clad girl a look over. "Well I'll go drop in. Have you met Canderella yet?" she asks Bubbles.
"Oh, we've met," Bubbles says, "She and that dragon that runs around in human form were gabbing away."
At that Elena nods and adds, "Oh wait! I've been meaning to tell you and I keep forgetting. Gold's been trying to catch you, but things haven't lined up."
"I need to go to the workshop later to make something for Bwimb so let him know he can find me there?" Afina offers, starting to head for a portal that'll take them to the baths.
You find Canderella and 27 just outside of the door to the baths. Canderella sits on the floor, patting 27, who sits next to her. The badger slaad looks downcast.
"Apparently Jaela was mean to him," Canderella says dryly as you come in.
"He does have bad luck with that family," Afina commiserates, fluttering over and giving 27 a cursory pat on his badger-head before reorienting to face Canderella. "But it was actually you that I was looking for. I'm planning a trip to the para-elemental plane of ooze to visit Bwimb and Bwimb II. Interested in coming?"
"Purple, not green," 27 intones. "The second, not the first. The first has been warned of your coming and hates. The second is lonely. Time won't stop him, his eyes only the beginning because his purpose has been decreed from below. I can't see Surraruthru. In the end, remember that it isn't over until the sun rises. You have two, but seven remain, but the bodies are not the important two."
What did she ever do to get on Bwimb's list? She was even planning on bringing a present!
Well, most of it seems to relate to the traitors and isn't particularly urgent, but... "What's this about Surraruthru?"
27 meets your eyes and says solemnly, "I can't see Surraruthru anymore. All I can see is 21's light."
"Elena?" she speaks up for her best source on all things Aurora related, her own business put aside for now in the face of this threat with an apologetic look towards Canderella. "Do you know where Surraruthru is or is supposed to be?"
Elena pops in, "He's off in Niflheim, tracking down a daemon lord of secrets. His name is Secretus, and he took Ebony, Sylvie and Kascha with him."
"He might have run into trouble, I'm going to try contacting him with a sending. Give me a moment everyone?" Afina asks.
Fortunately she can cast it a lot quicker than normal. Unfortunately it also disables her magic for the next little while.
Limited Wish to emulate Sending. Message is 'Surraruthru this is Afina, is everything proceeding well? 27 believes you to be dead. Possibly. He's vague about it.'
Okay, I'll put your sending over in his thread pending a reply and bring his reply over.
The reply is as follows: 'We're alive. Fought a worm that was no danger. We're in Niflheim hunting Secretus with a Yugoloth guide named Thurra, if you wish to come.'
Afina does not, but she isn't about to stretch her already weakened magic to push out another sending simply to say so.
"Surraruthru is fine," she tells 27. "As are Kascha, Ebony, and Sylvie who I'm sure you were equally worried about."
27 nods silently, then eyes you. "Come with you?" he asks.
"How well can you cope with acid and disease?" Afina asks, surprised to actually have a volunteer. Canderella hasn't given a decision yet, on that note.
"Can cope," 27 insists, sword sliding in and out of his heart.
"Alright, welcome aboard. How about you, Canderella?" she asks the person she actually came to invite.
"You really know how to make a girl an offer," Canderella says dryly.
"Sorry I don't have a handsome brother I can throw at you," Afina says, not at all apologetic. Getting people to go places with her feels like pulling teeth lately.
Canderella raises an eyebrow at that, "Meow. Fine, I'll go," she say.
"Wonderful!" and Afina is all smiles again. "I'm doing a circuit of the para-elemental planes to learn more about them, like you were doing with the elemental planes when we first met so I'd hoped this would suit your interests. Bubbles will be providing magical protection against acid for us before we leave, which won't be till tomorrow so there's no rush."
"That's fine, I want to purge if I'm going to Ooze." Canderella gets up, "I wouldn't recommend eating or drinking anything before we leave, odds are it'll come back up on Ooze. You might be able to hold it down with your nature, but you might not."
"I don't eat much anyway, but thanks for the warning," Afina says. She's gotten a lot of warnings about this place, but how bad can it really be? She lived on Gehenna for nearly a year, and that was not a fun time. Also in her time as an assassin she's had to lurk in the odd fetid bog for unseemly amounts of time while waiting for a good opportunity to strike a target.
"You'll be fine," Bubbles says, "As hardy as you are, it's more unpleasantness than real problem, sweety."
Canderella glances at Bubbles, "Sweety?" she asks, a hint of a smile starting on her face.
That's just how Bubbles talks! But one isn't going to let matters of lust slip by a succubus anytime soon.
"I'd be surprised if Crystal isn't shouting from the rooftops once the gossip's had a chance to circulate" she says dryly, but she nods to Canderella's assumption and drifts a little closer to Bubbles. Unfortunately she's never been one for pet names so she isn't going to reciprocate Bubbles' sentiments in that particular regard.
"Yes, and?" Bubbles says sweetly, "Sorry if you moved too slow."
Canderella smiles just a little bit, "Oh no, I'm just happy for Afina. Do you know her friend Crystal? She's been rather advocating for Afina lately."
"Well, that's one less problem," Bubbles shoots back, resting a hand on Afina's side, an arm around her.
With a nonchalant wave of her hand to Afina, "Congratulations, even if Bubbles is not perfect, but who is?"
Ooooh. Did it just get colder in here? Bubbles smiles a little more, her hand a bit tighter on you. "Why thank you. Speaking from experience?"
"I do know that as a friend, I'm going to brave Ooze for Afina." Canderella meets Bubble's gaze, smirking and crossing her arms.
"Dearie," Bubbles says after a few moments, "I believe I'll go after all. That makes four of us?"
Well, her ego feels a bit better now, all told!
"Canderella! If I'd known you were such a good friend I'd have invited you on my naked trip to Ice," she smiles winsomely. "But I'm sure with all four of us the company will make up for any shortcomings in Ooze's ambience."
Canderella breaks the death gaze the two have going and gives you a smile. "That sounds unusually adventurous of you," she remarks, "I heard it was with Hanna and family."
"I suppose you would be more interested in Hanna's unclad presence than mine," Afina concedes, tapping her chin and leaning against Bubbles' still tight grip with a brief glance over the nymph's figure. "I'll admit now that I've tried things with the big folk, I might struggle to look at her the same way."
Bubbles just smiles like a cat in the cream.
"As long as you're happy," Canderella says, "That platitude makes a lot more sense these days." She stands and 27 starts to follow her, "Until tomorrow then?"
"Have a good purge," Afina calls after her. "Well, next on the agenda is crafting and seeing Goldanariux if he's around. Want to come along for that?" she asks Bubbles.
"Why yes, anything," Bubbles says, "Is she always like that?"
"No, she's usually a lot more relaxed," Afina says as they head off to take a portal towards the workshop. "Honestly I'm not sure how much of that was just an act for my benefit or if it was actually sincere. She mentioned Crystal's advocacy and I did mention to her a little while ago when she pressed that Canderella's personality appealed to me." Does that mean Crystal's also been at Simmer and Stille? Questions must be asked.
As Afina considers questions and dealing with things, she heads over to the forges and finds Gold there.
Gold is watching a pair of smiths work on a blade, one holding it with tongs over the flames and the other pounding it. The cherry-red metal rings with each strike. The dragon is in half-elven form, dashing and handsome. He turns and doffs a simple cap he wears, "Afina, I've seen your work before, but this is the first time meeting you. Your work more than precedes you."
Does he mean first time meeting me in the place where I work? Since I have met Gold before, there was a whole big thing about me being a traitor and murderer and all that stuff dragons shout when they first see me.
Yes. The first meeting where he wasn't raging at you, anyway.
"Goldenariux," Afina inclines her head in greeting. "Medi's facilities help a lot, while the army gives me lots of practice. Though I try not to spread my work very far beyond that, aside from the odd dealings with the Mercane. Even if it's little in the grand scheme of things, the thought of a devil ever wielding a weapon of my creation turns my stomach."
"Yes." Gold himself grimaces at your words, "Once, I gave a ring I enchanted to a promising champion. He fell and the demon that slew him took the ring for his own. It was a bitter lesson."
Her reservations about making things for the market mostly concern the chain of commerce allowing devils to freely purchase her work through a few layers of obfuscation, but the scenario Gold posits hits close to home as well. The devils probably picked up a few trinkets from the fallen during their attack on Lethe, but then there's the arsenals that Lief and Muirfinn were equipped with, no doubt now helping some rotten devil advance itself.
"Ironically I'm actually here to make a weapon for evil in this case, so we can pay our respects to the Archomental Bwimb when we visit Ooze tomorrow. I expect he'll just melt it down so it's not a great concern, but funny how we ended up on this topic."
"Isn't it?" Bubbles giggles, "Somehow our conversations end up on smithing. We drift to what we're good at."
"Ooze? I wish you well," Gold says, "I hear there are blue gems native to there worth a great deal of money, should you find any."
"You're the first person to actually mention something positive about ooze," Afina says, smiling. "Oh yes, have you met Bubbles yet? She's a recent recruit as well, come to us from the Citadel of Ten Thousand Pearls on Water," she adds, having been remiss in her introductions. "Bubbles, this is Goldanariux, late of the plane of Mineral. He was recommended to us by Platinum in the court of Lord Crystalle. Moore's done a good bit of diplomacy for us with that realm."
"Charmed," Gold says, taking her hand and kissing it. "We've met already."
Bubbles is all smiles, "Thank you, thank you. I must ask, is Mineral heaven for dragons?"
Gold flashes a smile, "I'm afraid not. It's all look and not touch. It's a tease."
This gets Bubbles to laugh, "Oh, your own personal hell?"
"To some." Gold clears his throat after, "I mean to ask if Aurora needs any rings forged. That seems to be a weakness in your crafting regime, especially as Sylvie is currently away."
"Yes, we have apprentices who can make minor rings but for more potent ones Sylvie is usually called on. Even she has her limits though," Afina says. "I'll introduce you to Recce," she waves for him to follow, fluttering out of the main workshop floor towards an office where a bookish looking pixie spends most of her hours in support of the Crusade. "She takes in requests and portions work out to the apprentices or lets me know if it requires my skills. Helps with the stock-keeping too, so if you need particular materials or reagents she'll liase with our merchants to get you what you need without you having to leave the forge or bother Elena."
Recce looks up and waves a bit, nose firmly buried in her book.
"Yes, Sylvie introduced us," Gold says, "I've lost hours in work already, barely keeping up with the demand on a busy day. Not for anything terribly complex, but the demand for the basics alone is considerable."
Bubbles murmurs along, taking out a little paper fan and fanning herself. "It's only a shame the forges are so hot. Sugar, have you ever studied marid cold forging?"
Afina leaves the unsociable but hardworking pixie to her own devices since Gold's already made her acquaintance.
"I almost exclusively craft through fabricate spells," she tells Bubbles. "But I'm unfamiliar with marid techniques."
"It's a technique that melts metal with a specially prepared acid rather than fire," Bubbles says, "A marid forge is as cold as Auril's teat, dearie."
"That sounds like it would be fairly time consuming," Afina says. "Not dissimilar to cold iron forging. But for efficiency a fabricate spells can't be beat."
"Without any doubt," Gold says, "Though there is value to doing things the hard way, sometimes. Rituals, the sweat of your brow mixing with the weapon."
"Oh, I do like rituals," Afina says, reaching behind her back and unsheathing Afame, holding up the crooked blade of black metal with a pale silvery etching that sometimes glistens with other colours for Gold and Bubbles to see. "This is Afame, I forged it of an adamantine-tempered linthrum alloy around a horn taken from a sylvan Lord of the Hunt. I actually originally intended it for sale, but the blade wouldn't come into its own until it was blooded on something antithetical to Creation, and I wasn't about to waste its potential on a mere gibbering mouther so it spent a long time simply in reserve. But a few months ago I had cause to travel beyond the Outer Planes. While there I was accosted by strange and malign beings, but it gave a good opportunity to properly hone this weapon at last. It ended up being too good to sell," she smiles fondly, turning her wrist so the sword catches the light at different angles, "And is in some respects a reflection of my own nature. That's why I've been travelling to the para-elemental planes recently, to hone myself and Afame, for its too unique a weapon to merely infuse magic in to enhance as I would with my other sword. A harder and more time consuming effort, but satisfying all the same."
"May I?" Gold asks, peering at the blade.
Meanwhile Bubbles nods along, "Wait, outside the outer planes? That's impossible."
"Of course," she reverses her grip and hands Gold the blade by its hilt. At his current stature it's about the size of a dagger, although the hilt is fairly slender compared to what a human or elf might prefer.
"So everyone would prefer to believe," she says to Bubbles. "For a time I bore a weapon composed of Unmatter. It was a tremendous trump card against the devils, but had negative effects on me abd Creation that weren't immediately apparent. Sylvie and I had to return it to where it came from so it couldn't pose a further threat in anyone else's hands if it were discovered again in the future."
> roll 1d20+34
<Kobot> Kowork rolled 1d20+34 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{47}
Gold studies the blade while Bubbles hums, "I didn't understand most of that, darling. Never mind, it sounds like you could spend some time explaining that."
"Probably," Afina admits with a shrug. "I'm being a bit scant on details because some people get upset when I talk about such things. It's in that realm of knowledge that's potentially dangerous to even know about, I think. Though I haven't noticed anything ill since then with myself or Sylvie, or Balyss who helped clean up the aftermath."
"The sword is a masterpiece," Gold concludes when done, while Bubbles digests what you said.
"Thank you," Afina says, taking the sword back and sheathing it. "After this trip to Ooze and then one more to Magma it should be all the better. Now, for Bwimb's gift I'm on a budget so I won't be able to get too exotic with the components, just steel and wood for a battleaxe I was thinking," she goes towards where basic materials are stockpiled and signs out for what she's taking so the books will balance after she's finished. "Functional as a weapon perhaps, but I want something that looks more like a display piece. I expect the more beautiful it is the more satisfaction he'll derive from melting it."
"I'd suggest gold inlays," Gold says without a hint of irony, "May I assist?"
"That's a good idea," Afina says approvingly, going to acquire some gold to work with, and some emeralds as well on the subject of prettying it up. "Can you cut gems?" she asks Gold. "Something very fine and smooth is needed, almost organic looking."
"Yes," Gold says, as the two of you settle into work.
Make checks now, since results are going to matter here and the higher, the better. Gold will also cast hardening on the final product if you like.
> roll 1d20+44
<Kobot> Kowork rolled 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{60}
For gemcutting.
Taking 10 for 62 on craft (weapons) with greater heroism to help. No harm in having it hardened at the end to make it a bit sturdier.
+13 to the final result's hardness. Go ahead and describe it, y'all killed the checks.
The finished axe is a work of art, delicate looking and light as a feather yet with a deadly blade of razor sharpness that bleeds acidic and poisonous mist when swung. The faces of the axehead are inscribed with sylvan writings espousing the fleeting and ephemeral nature of all things with a pattern of tiny emeralds set towards the base of the axhead in a fading starburst towards the edge.
See loot thread, it's a +5 corrosive and venomous battleaxe sized for a medium creature
The actual crafting doesn't take as long as the magical enchantment, and it's there where Medi's equipment proves its worth, vastly simplifying and streamlining the process. It still takes a few hours but when done Afina examines the finished product with a critical eye. "This'll do," she muses, before nodding in satisfaction and taking a moment to think up a fitting name according to her usual schema for such things. "I will call it Bwytaflad."
The linguistically skilled might notice that this is a corruption of the words 'disposable axe' in Sylvan but she condenses out a few syllables and reorders it a little so that the word flows better, so it's mostly just an in-joke for her own benefit.
"It will. A pity it's to be destroyed," Gold remarks, "What a waste."
"Sacrifices have to be made when dealing with such beings," Afina says. "Really better it be destroyed than used for malicious ends, but I don't think there's any way to avoid Bwimb even if we want to see Bwimb II, and this'll make everything go much more smoothly."
"It will be a pleasure to work with you, once we're making things that are meant to last," Gold says, "I look forward to it."
"We do work well together, don't we? Our next collaboration should advance the Crusade in more tangible fashion," she agrees. Now Bubbles has been pretty considerate in hanging around through all of this so she asks the nymph next, "Do you want to go get something to eat now, Bubbles? Or are you following Canderella's advice about purging?"
"She was kind enough to explain what she meant - a potion to ensure strong, violent and through bodily processes, dearie. I'll simply abstain eating." She leans in and gives you a hug, "You finish things up, I'll meet you tomorrow."
Wrapping slender arms around Bubbles' neck Afina returns the hug. "See you later then," she agrees. "I'm going to go rest as well," she pulls away and collects the axe. Even if she doesn't need to sleep a peaceful eight hours are still required to prepare her spells.
Okay, prep for Ooze?
Nothing special on Afina's end. Bubbles obviously needs to prep a bunch of energy immunities and probably a bunch of remove disease and lesser restorations as well.
All of you meet at Aurora's front gates. Bubbles has gone for a simple black dress with paint stains strategically littered about it, giving it a variety of colors.
[spoiler]
Bubbles
HP: 223+15/223
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and Wills saves, immunity to disease and poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Canderella
HP: 276+16/276
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and Wills saves, immunity to disease and poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
27
HP: 164+17/164
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and Wills saves, immunity to disease and poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Spell-Like Abilities
At will-dimension door. Caster level 22nd. The save DCs are 18 + spell level.
Bubbles casts as a 23rd level druid.
[6/day]0: Creater Waterx3, Cure Minor Woundsx3
[7/day]1: Cure Light Woundsx7
[7/day]2: Barkskinx2, Lesser Restorationx5
[7/day]3: Remove Diseasex5, Neutralize Poisonx2
[7/day]4: Control Water, Flame Strikex2, Planar Tolerancex3SC, Rusting Grasp
[6/day]5: Cloak of the SeaSC, Panaceax3SC, Wind Tunnelx2SC
[5/day]6: Antilife Shell, Extract Water Elementalx3SC, Tortoise ShellSC
[5/day]7: Animate Plants, Aura of VitalitySC, Control Weather, Creeping Doom, Heal
[5/day]8: Bombardmentx2SC, StormrageSC, Sunburst, Superior VigorHome
[4/day]9: Greater WhirlwindSC, Phantom Bearx2SC, UndermasterSC
[2/day]10: Energy Immunityx3
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+10 heroes feast
[17:58] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 18 > [d8=8]Afina's wearing a mostly black dress with speckles of yellow around her upper body while her waist and thighs are covered in a poofy skirt adorned with bands of black and yellow, giving her a very waspish look. Even the tails on her hat have a sort of antennae-like feel to them. "Good morning, is everyone all ready?" she asks, fluttering over. "I'll gate us over once we're all protected against acid."
Afina: 287+18/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/10/10/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
"Sweety, that's an inspired look," Bubbles comes over, "Does it have a functional stinger?" She meanwhile enchants all of you - save 27, who shakes his head - with protection from acid.
Energy immunity (acid).
"No, although now that you mention it..." Afina twists around in a somewhat spine-creaking manner as she grabs the sheathe of Afame from where it rests crossed above Hywelbane II's position on the small of her back. Rearranging the straps that hold it in place she flips up the back of her skirt (she has full length leggings on underneath so there's nothing to see there. Fliers have to be aware of these things when wearing skirts) before rearranging the sword underneath and dangling straight down, pushing the tip through the threads of her skirt so that the sword can take on the role of a fake stinger to complete her insectile look.
Bubbles claps her hands together, "Oh, that's just inspired. You should make a real, magical stinger and enchant this outfit afterwards, it's so daring! So few people can pull off that look, but you do it with style."
"Ahem," Canderella coughs, "Where in Ooze are we gating to?"
This is why she likes Bubbles so much. No one else understands fashion the same way!
"I'm going to aim for just outside the Fortress of Bwimb," Afina tells Canderella. "As I understand it there's a lot less formalities to observe than with other archomentals so we'll just go straight in the door from there. Hopefully we'll find Bwimb II first, but if not we at least have a gift to get on Bwimb's good side," she hefts the axe somewhat oversized for her hand as she flies towards the gate out onto Elysium and then casts a magical Gate to take them to Ooze!
Afina: 287+18/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/10/10/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
The smell. You barely have a chance to see anything before the smell slams into you like death. It's rot, pus, trash, old grease, rotten eggs, body odor and more all at once. Your stomach immediately rebels and...
Fort saves, all.
[18:39] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+25 +4 more vs poison
[18:39] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 37 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+36 Canderella
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 46 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+22 Bubbles
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=2]
Even with planar protections, the smell is unbelievable. Afina holds it together, if just barely. Canderella does the same, while Bubbles falls to her knees and is noisily sick. 27 just looks around and sniffs once, undisturbed by it all.
You stand on a small island over a rancid see of dark goo. It gently rolls like jelly, lots of islands dotted about. Far ahead you can see a castle half submerged in the good, a gate to go in wide open. Vaguely humanoid figures made of colored goo of all sizes wander about, going in and out of the muck.
Afina is fortunately quick enough on her toes to hold Bubbles' hair back, keeping it out of the stream and kindly rubbing the nymph's back while she expels from the stench. "I did not take this seriously enough," she says, her voice having a certain hollow twang to it as she elects to cease all respiration except what's required to verbalise.
"Few people do," Canderella grimaces, "There's really nothing like it."
"T-thank you," Bubbles says raggedly once she finishes, "I-I'll be fine, dearie. Just give me a few."
It's not much, but Afina casts prestigitation and then runs a finger across Bubbles' upper lip, leaving it smelling of particularly potent lemon. She does the same for herself before offering it to Canderella, just to give their noses something else to focus on. 27 at least seems fine.
"Should have brought masks, really. Fill them with crushed flowers or something else with a strong smell." Next time! If there ever is a next time that is.
Afina: 287+18/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 5/10/10/10/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
"Helps a bit," Canderella says, "But if they don't work, you're throwing up into a mask, and that's no fun."
That's an unsightly but accurate point. Now, how to get across to that fortress? Wading/swimming through the ooze doesn't appeal in the least... "27, can you carry Bubbles so we can all fly across?"
27 does so without complaint.
"My, I get carried around by the strangest things," Bubbles remarks.
Go ahead and describe what you're doing now.
With aerial mobility assured, Afina takes wing and leads the group towards the sunken castle ahead, intending to go straight through the front gate.
None of the para-elementals move to stop you. You go right in. The courtyard just within is flooded with ooze, gates to within the castle bare of doors. The way ahead is blocked by a giant ooze para-elemental, nothing but muck and filth. As you approach, "Name?" It asks.
"Afina Devilsbane, with Bubbles, Canderella, and 27," Afina answers, fluttering to a stop before the enormous ooze. "I would like an audience with Bwimb II if possible."
"Inside. Find." The elemental steps aside without any further words.
"Oh joy," Canderella wrinkles her nose, "This sounds suspiciously like a scavenger hunt."
"Morniel suggested it would be like that, and we're more likely to find the one we're not looking for than the one we are. Still, needs must," Afina says, flying into the fortress.
Ahead is a large chamber. A broken glass chandelier hangs from the ceiling, a few pieces of it floating atop the muck. Filthy cloths that might have once been tapestries or paintings hang on the wall. Deeply corroded and filth-caked metal inlays are in the wall.
There's a door straight ahead, leading deeper in. It's a large double door and closed shut.
There's a hole in the ceiling to the far end of the room on the right, leading to the next floor if you care to go in.
There's also a door just below the level of the muck on the right side, flooded but otherwise open if you care to go mucking.
Finally, there's two doors on the left, but the wall's given way there, a cave in blocking you.
"Dearie, are there ANY maids or servants here? How dreadful, they haven't kept this castle up at all!" Bubbles remarks.
"Sort of nostalgic, but most demons take better care of their holdings. Rather sad to say," Canderella admits.
"It feels like they're making a point," Afina says. "They could live in natural surroundings like outside and be just as comfortable. Or they could expend the effort to make this fortress as tidy and gleaming as any kingly redoubt. Look at these," she flutters over towards the filthy cloths, picking at one. "These were never fine tapestries or real paintings. This isn't a grand fortress fallen to decay. Everything here is the way it is for a reason. It's a statement as to the nature of Ooze."
Wasn't the great message of Ice one of preservation and stasis? Is Ooze then a plane of entropy and rot?
But that's a facet she'd link more towards the quasi-elemental planes tending towards the negative energy one. How do Earth and Water combine to form... this? She's not sure yet, but every moment here is one spent learning.
"For now lets try going straight in," she goes to open the double door straight ahead from the entrance.
Canderella pauses as you advance, "It's also something for them to do, something to rot other than the ooze."
The door's not opening. It's not locked, but it does seem to be stuck. At least to a mere pixie's casual efforts.
Afina isn't any kind of 'mere' pixie! But still she puts a bit more vim into her efforts. "Someone give me a hand with this?" she asks, landing to brace her feet on the ground and push her shoulder into it.
Afina: 287+18/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24), energy immunity (acid) (CL 23)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, acid
Spell charges: 5/10/10/10/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
Canderella's arms are free and she comes over, "On three," she says, "Three!"
Strength check, both of you.
[20:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 str
[20:31] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 7 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+4 Canderella
<Serith> Kowork roll for Serith < 13 > [d20=9]
Ow. It's stuck pretty good, your efforts don't budge it.
Maybe she should have brought Smrgol after all. "Well, I'm not going to disintegrate it no matter how poorly maintained it is, so lets try going up instead," she decides, flying through the hole in the ceiling.
"We really should have brought a man with us, darling," Bubbles sighs, "There really is nothing so useful as a big, strong man to take care of things like that."
Canderella rolls her eyes, "That's why we have magic and summons, but if you want to go up anyway..."
The room above is free of muck. Old, rusted and crusty suits of armor stand on display, a few knocked over. They hold battle axes as weapons, all of them in similar states of neglect.
There's a door to the north here, ajar and with a bit of ooze leaking out. The smell hits you all over again, stomach doing a backflip.
There's also a door to the west, closed.
"Summons work but one path is as good as another so why waste the magic?" Afina says, taking a little look around the armoury. "Hmm, seems like I made a good decision making this as an axe instead of a sword," she notes on seeing the armaments present. Fluttering northwards (and pausing just a second in the face of the heightened smell) she goes to fully open the already ajar door.
You open the door. Fortunately, as all of you are airborne, the gush of ooze from it doesn't get any of you. Ahead is a room coated in ooze, as if once full of the muck. It's all dried and crusted now, a coating save for the bit that flowed out. It's a small chamber with a single collapsed couch and another door leading further along. A human sized ooze para elemental sits on the couch, silently staring ahead.
Fluttering in, Afina stops near the elemental and tries greeting it in Aquan. "Hello. We're not disturbing you are we?"
The elemental gives you a bland look and says one word, "Studying."
"Dearie, are you studying the wall?" Bubbles says, laughing into her hand. "Really?"
"Studying," The elemental turns his attention back to the wall.
Shifting her orientation to look at where she... thinks the elemental is looking. It's hard to tell since they don't have much in the way of faces. Anyway, Afina tries to see what's so fascinating about it, since she needs to understand the para-elemental mindset if she's to figure out where Ooze fits in her own makeup. "What do you hope to learn from it?" she asks, less judgemental than Bubbles.
Spot check.
[19:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[19:19] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{55}
You can see there's a subtle gradient to the crust over the wall. It's thinnest near the roof and thickest on the floor.
There's nothing revelatory about that. Assuming the ooze was slowly filled in and then drained away again then it would tend to settle most of the muck lower down. What's the elemental's reasoning behind finding it so fascinating?
That isn't immediately obvious, unfortunately.
Well if the elemental doesn't care to answer her question she doesn't care enough to push it. Maybe this muck was left by one of the archomentals passing and thus has mystical significance? Fluttering onwards she opens the next door to proceed with their explorations of this stinky fortress.
This door leads into a half collapsed room. You can see the front end of a ballroom, the roof having caved in. A single door on the left isn't buried and you could open it. Alternately, you could climb or fly up the rubble to the next floor. You can't see much, but you can hear the sound of a beating drum above.
"How quaint," Canderella murmurs, "Very ruined chic."
"They have a theme and they're sticking to it," Afina agrees with Canderella's assessment, fluttering over the ballroom. "I doubt this has ever seen a single dance though."
"A dreadful waste," Bubbles mourns, as you fly up.
The floor of the next room's largely gone. Only a few bits clinging to the wall endure. Sitting on one of those is a small ooze para-elemental, much of its gunky body full of various solids. A man sized ooze para elemental wields a crube club, banging on those bits. It's the drum sound you previously heard.
There's a door to the west and east here, both closed but intact.
"Hello," Afina tries greeting these elementals in Terran. "Are you trying to make music or is there some other purpose behind this?"
The human sized elemental stops and turns to you. "Breaking down. Breaking down parts into the ooze."
"Oh," Afina says, nonplussed. This plane gets stranger and stranger. She could wrap her head around Smoke and Ice well enough, but this place just doesn't fit her mental map at all. "Where did you get the parts from?"
"Ooze," It answers, gesturing downward. "All is in the ooze and all comes from the ooze."
The smaller one adds, "We must break it down within us."
"Hmmm. Entropy?" Canderella asks, "Are you trying to reduce it all into the ooze?"
Entropy seems to fit ooze pretty well as a theme, but Afina listens along with Canderella to whatever answer the elemental will give.
"Not reduce. Join the ooze. Break down and join the ooze. Become more with ooze. Become ooze." The elemental frowns, a human-ish expression as it considers. "Ooze is all. All is ooze."
"But ooze reeks," Bubbles grimaces, holding her nose. "I say," Her words are distorted by it, "Dearie, who wants everything to be ooze like this?"
"It's a common theme for elementals to want everything to be of their element," Afina says, seeing the sense in that. "Anyway we'll leave you to it. But before we go do you know where we might be able to find Bwimb or Bwimb II?"
"Hmmm..." Canderella murmurs, "That goes right back to the nature of this plane."
The larger elemental points to the door to the east.
East it is, so Afina goes to open that door.
> roll 1d100 Rei
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 Rei --> [ 1d100=21 ]{21}
You go to open the door - but 27 suddenly goes ahead and shakes his head and puts down Bubbles. "Let me open, rest of you fly back."
"Alright 27," Afina agrees, trusting that he knows what he's doing and flying back towards the other door as requested.
27 opens the door - and ooze pours out and down to the floor below. 27 stands solidly as it washes over him, until the room drains of it. Ugh, the smell is hideous. 27 merely shakes off and says, "Safe now."
"...I'm going to buy him a treat, whatever he eats," Bubbles says, shivering.
"He's on the skids with Jaela right now. Better if you try to defuse that headache," Canderella retorts, holding Bubbles. "Shall we continue?"
"It's a sad and one-sided friendship that he has with that family at times," Afina nods sollemnly, face a bit puckered up in the face of that stench before she heads down the now safe path. "Good job, 27."
27 follows along, smiling as much as he can. Ahead is a long hall, and on the far end is another door.
> roll 1d2
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
"Ah, ah, ah," A female voice chides, light and energetic, like a child's. "C'mon, put some effort into it!"
That sounds occupied by more than just the usual inscrutable elemental so Afina exercises a bit more decorum this time and knocks on the door!
"Oh!" The feminine voice gasps, "Someone knocked! They really knocked! One of them listened! Yes, you can come in!"
Is this Bwimb II? Did they get that lucky so soon? Bracing herself to be hugged, Afina opens the door!
Right on the other side of the door is a huge blob of purple ooze. It quivers all over, "Ooooh, a pixie! A rainbow pixie! It's Afina like Dad talked about! Afinaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" The purple ooze is leaping right at you, as if to envelop you.
Afina's trained reflexes scream at her to lash out, to disrupt the grab and give her a chance to avoid being ensnared, which as a tiny pixie often confronted by far larger creatures is often a death sentence.
She resists the urge, smiling and spreading her arms. "Hello!" she greets brightly, prepared to endure the slimy embrace. Hopefully Bubbles' magic will hold out.
"Hiiii!" Bwimb II engulfs you, knocking you down as you're surrounded by acidic slime. It gets all over you and soaks you, yet you do not burn. "Hi hi hi hi hi!" It's sort of like being hugged and she's warm to the touch. "I'm Bwimb II! Oh, we never get visitors, this is lovely!"
For someone who exults in motion, this sort of smothering hug is deeply unpleasant no matter how well intentioned. Still, Afina does her best to endure it, not really able to hug back or do much of anything when so engulfed. "It's nice to meet you, Bwimb II!" she gets out when her head is momentarily clear of slime.
For what it's worth, you picked the shortest possible path to either Bwimb by a long shot. Clearly you have a luck bonus going and no one knows about it.
"Hi!" Bwimb II oozes off you, in front of you and wobbling all over, constantly in motion. You're covered in purple slime head to toe. "You have all the elements in you, that's amazing! Plus you're alive, so the only thing you're missing is negative energy."
Would it be rude to clean herself with prestidigitation? Probably. Still, she better do it eventually before Bubbles' spell wears off.
"Perhaps one day I'll study the Quasi-Elemental planes and make some progress on even that, though maybe not." Negative energy is inextricably linked with undeath, a state she has no interest in approaching. "Still, I thank you for the compliment," she smiles, fluttering her wings to take off and hover, slime flicking off them with the motion. "I do enjoy having all the elements in me, but there's still so much I have to learn. That's why I'm here, I want to know more about how Earth and Water fit together; what Ooze is."
"Ooooh!" Bwimb II shakes and oozes all about, undulating waves of motion. "If you stay awhile, I'll be happy to teach you!" She slithers into the room a little more, a ruined sitting room. Here four large ooze para-elementals hold rusty old flutes, trying to play them to no avail.
"Alright, that's enough! You four can go, keep practicing!"
Getting it straight from the archomental sounds a lot more direct than going around places of power and listening to laconic elementals. "That would be really nice of you, thanks!" she says brightly, fluttering into the room after Bwimb II. "Oh, let me introduce my friends first. This is Bubbles, that's Canderella, and that's 27. They mostly came just to support me but I'm sure they're all very interested in learning more about Ooze as well."
The elementals ooze off, leaving you alone.
"Charmed," Bubbles says, "My goodness, that color's in this year. Purple suits you."
"Canderella Stormfury of Talos," Canderella introduces herself and curtsies.
27 just nods.
"Ooooh, you brought friends!" Bwimb II shakes all over, constantly in motion. It's almost hypnotic. "You should study from 27, he understands all about entropy. But okay, what do you want to know about Ooze?"
"So is entropy what Ooze represents?" Afina seizes on that, finding a clear spot to land on facing Bwimb II. "What I'm trying to do for all the para-elemental planes is to find out what their essence is, what their element represent and how it relates to their components - and then how it relates to me. How do Water and Earth combine to form entropy?"
Her mind goes to the old example of the waves wearing down a cliff over time, is it as simple as that?
"It's more complicated that that," Bwimb II says. "Water erodes stone, but creates sedimentary rocks at the bottom of a stream. Rains wash away topsoil but rivers bring fertile lands." She starts to bounce up and down, bouncing off the ceiling and floor. "Everything breaks down at some point and gets recycled, it's the way of nature! People hate it since they can often only see the negative parts of it!"
"It's hard to see future advantages if the status quo benefits you," Afina says, seeing the viewpoint of those who hate it. "But the concept of recycling like that is central to fey existence, so that's an illuminating perspective. Looking at it another way, Earth is what things grow from, and Water is a source of nourishment that enables growth. Take them together and yes, what's there might not survive the transition, but there's a promise that something new and valid will form from it."
"Yes," Bwimb II agrees, stopping and jiggling on the floor. "It's like manure. It's a great fertilizer, but it's still disgusting. Life isn't always pretty."
"An excellent example," Afina says, pleased. Really, having a helpful archomental on hand makes all the difference when it comes to understanding elements! "Now if you'll give me a moment I can try to put this all to some practice by embodying those concepts in my own elemental mixture."
Closing her eyes and focusing inwards, she lets her elements of Earth and Water off the leash, free to mingle inside of her while she focuses her thoughts in the direction Bwimb II has explained for her. A point in the cycle, not the tall and proud beginning, nor the vibrant promise of what's to come. The middle step, the rot that brings down the first so as to make way for the last. That's what ooze is.
Wis check, +5 circumstance bonus.
[16:51] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9+5
[16:52] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=17]
You feel it - your elements mix and grow, understanding coming from within you. It's like a switch was thrown and you get it. You get ooze, feeling your body drip and turn slime like for a few seconds before reverting.
How did you miss this before? It feels so obvious to you now.
"Yes..." Afina murmurs after briefly turning into iridescent slime and then back again. "I understand ooze, now," she smiles and opens her eyes. "That's what we came for, but it feels like we only just got here. You don't mind if we stay a little longer, do you?" she asks Bwimb II. "I'd love to hear more about what you do here, or we could share stories from our own travels if you have the leisure to listen."
Given how lonely the poor archomental must be, giving her a few hours of their time is the least they can do.
Bubbles gasps at your change, while Canderella just nods.
"Oh, you can stay as long as you like. Pleaaaase?" The slime becomes a long, thin band that spins around you like a helix, "Pretty please?"
"It's fine, we'd love to!" Afina insists, fluttering over to sit on one of the couches and patting the ruined and dirty cushion beside her in invitation to her companions. "What would you like to talk about, then? Do you want to hear about our travels, or our homes? The Crusade we fight for? Or is there anything you want to tell us all about?" They'll either give her some fun stories or provide a captive audience for anything Bwimb II wants to get off her proverbial chest. It's only fair after the help she's given without a thought for compensation.
Bubbles sits with a hidden grimace,s while Canderella takes it without complaint. 27 sits at your feet and says, "Crusade."
"Oh, that's right, you cheated!" Bwimb II laughs, "Silly seer slaad! Oooh, all s! Isn't that neat? Tell me all about your Crusade!"
A subject dear to Afina's heart! "Well, it all starts and ends with Lifasa, the world I came from," she begins, patting Bubbles' hand to show her a little appreciation for being nice. She'll do something good for her later! "No doubt from the outsider perspective it's nothing special, just one Prime amongst many. But it's home, and I'm sure you understand the pull of such a thing even if it's humble." Ooze is certainly the humblest of the planes that she's visited, but now that she's met Bwimb II and heard her speak of ooze she can't say it's a place without pride, even if it presents a run-down appearance.
Continuing her tale she goes on, "Years ago Taelfagn, the baatezu Duke of Destiny approached nine Lifasans all of different races. He indoctrinated them in the ways of devils and taught them profane rituals. A ritual they performed to allow Bel's armies to assault Lifasa on a grand scale, with no warning. Or at least no warning that I'm aware of." She does wonder if anyone ever caught wind of what was going on but was silenced or discredited. So many died that the stories of what happened then will always be a bit blurred. "There are tales of heroism and valour from everywhere, I can only really speak for my small part of the world, a remote and isolated forest called the Gloaming Wood which was the seat of power for traditionalist fey. We fought off the first wave in a bloody grinding battle that left us battered but triumphant, believing we'd weathered the worst and that we'd have time to rally ourselves, that we'd bought time for old and powerful magic to be brought to bear. I only heard snatches but the very spirit of our world was stirring, and the greatest of us were working on calling on it to turn the tide everywhere, to defeat the diabolical invasion at a stroke. Then Abigor set foot on Lifasan soil and every plant, every tree, every dryad burned and died. A great many old and powerful dryads were part of that ritual conclave, and the backlash of their interrupted ritual sent magic wild, planar rifts opening everywhere even as we were being hard pressed by the second wave of devil invaders that were far more potent than the first.
"So goes the fall of Lifasa. Abigor victorious, the nine traitors exalted and each given rule over a part of our world, and Taelfagn continuing his work to drag that conquered world fully into Hell. Its defenders scattered and lost to the planes, or fallen to the last in that overwhelming and unexpected attack. For many stories this would be the end. Certainly I'll wager the devils wish it were so. But a new chapter was to open, one man's desperate search for a legendary fortress was about to bear fruit, and his travels took him to a particular tavern in the Silver Sea where chance would unite several sons and daughters of Lifasa... I speak of course, of Medicant."
Bwimb II splits into two, each half vibrating and wobbling in an identical pattern. As she speaks they merge back into one, "Oh! Of course, home is home!"
"I heard of Medicant! Dad talked about it a few times," Bwimb II pipes up, "Medi's the only mortal who has ever beat my Dad in a fight. So good, that sounds like Hell was mean again. The ambassadors they send are always so cruel." Bwimb collapses into a pancake of slime, whimpering. "Dad likes the yugoloths who visit the most, though. The devils are too arrogant and demons start too many fights."
After that digression, Bwimb II springs back up into a giant blob and says, "Ooooh. So all of you met in a tavern, just like the bard told me of." At this she slumps down again, "The bard's gone like your world is. Dad killed him, just like Abigor killed so many of your friends."
"Does your dad kill a lot of your guests?" Afina asks what she feels is a very pertinent question after that digression!
"Yes, we really do need to know that, dearie," Bubbles says, leaning forward.
"Sometimes," Bwimb II slumps again, becoming a bubbling little puddle of slime on the ground. "If he doesn't like them."
Didn't 27 say that he hates her? This axe better work as a bribe to not get attacked in that case.
"Why do you stay here, then? Surely Ooze is big enough that you could set up a more welcoming home of your own somewhere else?" Afina asks, figuring this is worth putting aside the history of Aurora for a while to discuss.
In a tiny little voice, Bwimb II says, "I love my Dad. Sometimes I can get him not be so mean, since I split off him and I sort of understand him. Who would help the elementals here if I weren't here?"
"Ahh. I understand," Afina nods soberly. It's not entirely unlike her own relationship with Ilsenine after all.
"So, where was I? The tavern? There were five of us. Myself, Jaela, Ithea, Willim, and Adrian. He was the one on that quest, and for all that we came from the same ruined world we were strangers and ignorant of any connection. If a rough-housing band of devils hadn't barged in, it's quite possible we'd have gone our separate ways without ever talking, and things would have turned out quite differently. But the devils did barge in, and all of us with plenty of grudges to bear rose up to challenge them. Among the epithets thrown in battle we discovered what we had in common, and Adrian took us aside in the aftermath to tell us of his quest to find the lost fortress of Medicant. Finding it a lofty and remote goal, but no moreso than personally exterminating every devil on Lifasa.
"So we travelled together, making friends with elven battle-dancers and a long sealed vampire, finding the keys to Medicant in the Stoic Angel Galariel, and finally discovering the fortress itself sealed away in the Deep Ethereal. We claimed it for ourselves, earning the friendship of its custodian Elena." There were a few rough patches at the start sure, but everything's fine now! "Unfortunately we weren't overly keen on the name Medicant, a quirk of the Common tongue giving it fairly negative connotations. We ended up settling on the name of Aurora, I think mostly just because it sounded pretty. Now we had for ourselves a mighty bastion, a symbol of our commitment to fighting Hell, and a legend to rally others to our cause. Here is where the Crusade truly begins."
"Ooooh! That sounds neat!" Bwimb II burbles, bubbling up into a perfect sphere of floating purple ooze. She vibrates all over as she replies, "If I wasn't an archomental, I'd join it, since it sounds like a lot of fun. Devils are fun to beat up when they get too arrogant."
Canderella laughs a bit, "Pardon the question, but you don't act like your father at all. Do you take after your mother?"
"I don't have one," Bwimb II slumps a bit, sphere deflating into a general blob of ooze. "I split off Dad when Grumbar sliced him in half."
"Really?" Canderella remarks, twirling a bit of hair around her finger, "That's too bad, I'm sorry. Nevertheless, why ever did Grumbar do that to your father?"
"Oh, Dad got in trouble for inviting the General of Gehenna to Ooze. Grumbar and Istishia got realllllly angry and punished Dad for it. That's okay since it made me!" A rise up and now she's a column of ooze, swirling around and around.
Are para-archomentals subservient to archomentals of the prime elements? Or was it just a case of Grumbar and Istishia being strong enough combined to put Bwimb down? "It is a shame you can't join us," she agrees. "There's no shortage of arrogant devils that need beaten up. Which is what we did a lot of once the Crusade got going. There's too many battles to really cover exhaustively. We roamed the planes, finding the lost and dispossessed of Lifasa where we could, and gathering others who had their own reasons to fight alongside us." Here she favours Canderella and Bubbles with smiles, reaching down to pat 27's head as well.
"And for the most part we've seen victories. One of the nine traitors attacked one of ours at a fighting tournament but a warning from 27 here let us send forces to overpower and capture him, and more recently during a raid on Lifasa we annihilated the stronghold of another, bringing her back to inhabit our dungeons. Then there's Abigor, the spearhead of the original invasion. There was some infernal politicking at play which we did our best to fan, which ultimately had him go renegade and seek shelter in the domain of Auril. But leaving Hell's fold didn't erase his crimes, so we went there and bargained with Auril for his life. Either she believes we'll succeed in liberating Lifasa to hold up our end or else she really just didn't like Abigor, but she withdrew her protection and we battled him there before the Frostmaiden's throne, ending his long life of atrocities at last."
"Yay!" Bwimb II forms hands of slime, that clap. Unfortunately they don't make a clapping sound, being ooze and all. "You got him! Tell me about those others you mentioned - Jaela, Ithea, Willim and Adrian. They all sound neat."
27 perks up a bit and murmurs, "He's coming."
"Eh?" Bwimb vibrates and rolls side to side, before spiking out in all directions. "Eeee! Dad's coming, he got wind of visitors!"
"Well then," Afina pushes up off the couch and flutters into the air. "I'll tell you about those others afterwards depending on how this plays out. If we need to leave in a hurry can you make sure I can cast a gate spell from here though?"
"Oh, I'll open one for you," Bwimb II promises.
Just in time, since moments later a big, green-brown ooze. It leaps up in one blobby move and lands before all of you, "Aurora," It declares in a flat, menacing voice that ripples.
"Bwimb," Afina returns. "Thank you for allowing us into your fortress. Your daughter has been a lovely hostess. But please, before you think us churlish guests," she reaches down to pick up Bwytaflad, the axe oversized for her frame and so not held with any great expertise or intent to harm. Fluttering closer she presents it towards the archomental. "A gift, hopefully it suits your tastes."
Paste the weapon's stats here.
The finished axe is a work of art, delicate looking and light as a feather yet with a deadly blade of razor sharpness that bleeds acidic and poisonous mist when swung. The faces of the axehead are inscribed with sylvan writings espousing the fleeting and ephemeral nature of all things with a pattern of tiny emeralds set towards the base of the axhead in a fading starburst towards the edge.
See loot thread, it's a +5 corrosive and venomous battleaxe sized for a medium creature
Has +13 hardness from Gold's spell, and the crafting checks were at 60 for gemcutting and 60 for weaponsmithing
Diplo check, +20 bonus.
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15+20 diplo
[19:36] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=6]
Bwimb stalks around all of you, circling. The ground hisses beneath his feet as he eyes the offering, before snatching it from Afina. "Acceptable," he declares, as it dissolves within his slime.
Bwimb II meanwhile slinks back, a little quivering blob. She doesn't say anything.
"Now," Bwimb says, "You are here to slay me, assassin?" He says, all his attention on Afina.
Aww, he didn't even savour it at all. What a pig!
"Of course not," she replies, simmering with irritation at seeing the axe dissolved so unceremoniously. Yes she knew that was to be its fate, but he could have at least shown some appreciation for the craftspixieship! "What sort of assassin announces herself at the front door? I have no grudge against you, nor have any of my allies spoken ill of you."
She would have led with 'We only kill devils' but that's blatantly not true. If someone asks Aurora to go kill a dragon or whatever in return for support in the Crusade, they'll go do it and quite happily too.
"That's right. I serve Talos. I'd blow your front door down and rain thunder on you without end, rather than this," Canderella scoffs, "Do you take me for a rank amateur?"
> roll 1d20+51 Canderella Diplomacy
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+51 Canderella Diplomacy --> [ 1d20=11 ]{62}
Bwimb comes to a stop, slime splashing together and spraying all of you with foul ooze. It burns a bit, even with your protections.
"Plots and plans, then. But not your own," Bwimb concludes.
"They're innocent, father," Bwimb II cautiously slinks forward, moving in little waves. "I promise, it's probably those stupid arrogant devils that are lying again."
> roll 1d20+60 Bwimb II Diplomacy
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+60 Bwimb II Diplomacy --> [ 1d20=5 ]{65}
Bwimb II moves around her father slowly, a little trickle of slime going around and around, "Please? I'm sure they're completely innocent."
"...fine." Bwimb concludes, "They are your responsibility. Muck, summon the Baatorian and Hadesian ambassadors to the precipice!" He then vanishes, gone.
"My travels to the para-elemental planes are no secret, the devils probably saw an opportunity to poison the well before I got here," Afina comments after Bwimb vanishes, reaching up to wipe the stinging slime off her face. "So I can expect the same when I visit Magma later as well."
"I'm so sorry!" Bwimb II slumps down into a little puddle of bubbling ooze, "I should have talked to him better and calmed him down before. He only really gets angry when I don't do it right." She sounds despondent, voice heavy.
"That's nonsense, there's no one to blame for his behaviour but him," Afina turns on the younger Archomental. "You're not his keeper, Bwimb II. Don't ever blame yourself for what he does, and don't let him palm the blame off onto you either."
In your mind you hear, 'That's remarkably unhealthy. She's being abused.' Canderella sends.
Bwimb II just slumps, "But I am. I can make him act nicer, so I stay here and do that. Otherwise everyone will think Ooze is evil."
She gives Canderella a slight nod, matching her thoughts. "I'm not sure that's the right way to go about it," she tells Bwimb II. "It's clear he takes you for granted, and he didn't even register you when he came in to throw his weight around just now. I let it go after I raised the subject before, but after seeing that... Bwimb II, I truly think you need to get out of this fortress, out from under Bwimb's shadow."
'That, or we play the most dangerous game and attempt to put the bastard down,' Canderella remarks in your mind. 'If we could get Bwimb II to help us, just maybe...? That and the reward we could get would be unfathomable.'
Bubbles frowns deeply, "I think she's right, dearie. That man...ooze...thing is a brute."
Bwimb II slumps even smaller on the ground, "But he'll treat Muck badly without me, and what about all the elementals I'm helping find more out about Ooze? Father won't care about that. And and and what about the guests who come and...it would be my fault," she says in a quiet voice. "It's always my fault when something goes wrong."
27 comes up and nuzzles Bwimb II and says, "You don't know anything else, do you? All the power one could want and you know nothing but this place. Evil always repeats itself, just like how Lifasa is in chains, you are in chains."
'Killing an archomental isn't something we can just do on a whim, we'd need to prepare and come back,' she replies mentally to Canderella.
Aloud she says to Bwimb II, "It's not your fault, that's just what he's convinced you of because he won't accept responsibility himself. If you left here you could still help elementals that come to visit you, you'd be able to have guests visit without them being afraid of Bwimb, you could even take Muck with you. You're his daughter, but you're not his inferior."
Bwimb vibrates all about, rolling in waves. "B-but....I'd still not help anyone who comes here. I have to stay here, for Ooze."
"What about everyone that comes to Ooze but stays away from here because they're scared of Bwimb?" suggests another perspective on that argument. It's cruel but considering the story of that bard she has to follow with, "What about the people that come to visit you and only get killed by Bwimb?"
"You can do more good away from that brute, love," Bubbles says, "There's so much more that you can be."
Bwimb II flattens again, "I..I can't," she says, weakly. "I just can't leave."
"It is a big step," Afina concedes. "But why don't you just try it for a little while? Take a tour of Ooze, visit places that deserve an archomental's attention and get to know the rest of your subjects? Even a little time away from here might do you some good, Bwimb II."
"I'll think about it," she says, voice barely audible as she's little more than a shrinking puddle of goo now.
"I'm sorry, Bwimb II," Afina flutters over and crouches down to pat the puddle. "I know this is hard, but we only want you to be happy. We'll go now to let you have a think, but I'll come visit again," she promises.
"O-okay..." Bwimb II stays like that, as Canderella gently sighs and rises.
"You'll endure," she says, "We'll bring someone who can sing next time, too."
"Oh yes, I know some very good singers. I could even show you a dance too," Afina agrees to try and give Bwimb II something to look forward to. "Thank you again for all your help, it was really nice meeting you." She steps back away from the sad little puddle of para-elemental might before opening a Gate back to Aurora on Elysium.
"Bye..." Bwimb II says sadly, as the four of you return.
Once the portal's closed and you're in Aurora, "Baths, we'll talk there," Canderella says immediately, "Afina, magically clean us as we walk there. Combined that should get the smell mostly off in a few hours."
A bit of prestidigitation as Afina flutters around everyone does its best at cleansing everyone as they head inside and towards the baths. "You can come too, 27. I'll vouch for you if anyone protests," she says. He's a badger after all, it's not like he's going to get anything out of seeing bathing women.
Soon the four of you are in hot, steamy waters. Bubbles sighs in relief, "Honey, that was really disgusting."
27 curls up in the water, not seeming to care or need to breathe. He starts to take a nap at Canderella's feet, as she ignores his presence and uses a bit of magic to have soap cleanse herself without lifting a finger.
"I'm glad you didn't say yes, I'd have had to take steps." Canderella sighs, "I was worried someone might do something rash there."
"The plane might not be the nicest, but Bwimb II really was nice. I feel bad for her," Afina says, iridescent wet hair plastered around her head as she floats with just her neck and the tips of her wings above the water. "Canderella suggested we handle Bwimb ourselves," she says for Bubbles' benefit. "That's not a fight you can just jump into on the spur of the moment, but if we want to prepare... Bwimb II gave us a really big clue, didn't she?" she says, before raising her voice. "Elena?"
Elena pops in, dressed in a bathrobe. "Hi," she says, then grimaces, "More soap, now!" she grabs a clothespin out of nothing and puts it on her nose. "What do you need?"
"We're working on it," Afina says resignedly, scrubbing herself a bit more. "Do you ever remember Medi talking about the time he defeated Bwimb?"
"Oh yeah," Elena perks up, "He did. He managed a spell to fix Bwimb into a solid shape and summoned dozens of solars to batter him while he countered Bwimb's supernatural powers."
"Of course," Bubbles says lightly, "Summon dozens of solars. Why didn't we think of that, Afina?"
Canderella hums, "He could do that? I once heard of a spell that could summon one briefly, but even that's beyond what we can manage."
Elena nods right away, "Of course. Medi made Medicant, are you surprised he could do that? All of you are strong by standards, but Sir Medi was something else. His first act was stopping the end of his world, remember?"
"Did he say why forcing Bwimb into a solid shape helped?" Canderella presses, "That sounds like the key to it."
Elena nods, "He did. Bwimb can't be hurt by any weapon. Smashing or piercing him doesn't harm his jelly buddy, and cutting him doesn't harm him, but instead makes a temporary double of Bwimb that only makes things worse."
"Really we can substitute ourselves for the solars in terms of melee, but that spell... do you know what the spell was specifically, or is it recorded in the library anywhere?" Afina asks, floating still in the water. "And other than weapons is he vulnerable to magic in general, and any elemental damage in particular?"
"I don't think it was," Elena admits, "I don't know, he only told me the story once. That was Sir Medi...I see some of him in all of you sometimes, but he had the ability to do things that should be impossible."
Not as much information as she'd like, but still helpful. "Well, if nothing else I am a sorceress, and fully capable of devising my own spells. I'll pursue my efforts in that direction, but taking a direct hand against Bwimb isn't safe in the short term. Still, I will visit Bwimb II again sooner rather than later. She needs to see a friendly face now and then."
Elena nods and vanishes.
"She is a darling, isn't she?" Bubbles agrees, "For a giant pile of slime. If only gelatinous cubes were the same, dungeons would never be empty."
That gets Canderella to laugh, startled but laughing. "All of that and you think of those bothersome acid cubes?"
"I've heard of them but never seen one," Afina pipes up. "They do sound quite dangerous. Fly into one of those unawares and you're done."
"Oh dearie," Bubbles smiles as she cleanses herself, "You don't know the half of it. They're the worst things to find in any place like that. They're as personable as a brick wall."
Honestly it just sounds like any other bit of dangerous but unintelligent bit of dungeon fauna, but Bubbles seems to feel strongly about it. "It sounds like you're talking from experience. And even with that you still came to Ooze for me," she gives the nymph a radiant smile despite everyone's poor odour.
Bubbles smiles back, the two of you sharing a moment.
Canderella pats down and pets 27, who says (despite being underwater, he's perfectly understandable), "I agree."
Okay, what's your next move?
Magma! I'll do the library routine to find out about places of power there.
[20:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42+15 planes with library
[20:27] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 76 > [d20=19]
You find several references.
- The Sinkhole. A great floating island of basalt atop Magma, this island is dominated by a massive, stone sinkhole. It's said newborn magma para-elementals emerge from it and sometimes powerful ones go in, only to emerge stronger. What lies at the bottom is a mystery.
- The Monolith. A strange monument of a material no scholar has ever successfully analyzed. The natives hold it as sacred and those that go to visit seldom return. The few that have suggest it is a place of sheer elemental power. One must find some way to endure the elementals here, who attack on sight. Once spotted, powerful elementals rapidly swarm visitors, including up to primal magma para-elementals for those who try to carry the day with force.
- Magma's Core. It is said that parts of Magma are criss-crossed with stone tubes, mazes larger than some worlds. It is whispered that all of them ultimately lead to the same place, where a burning gem the size of a city resides. Lore holds that if anyone can find this gem and touch it, they will forever be immune to fire.
- Obsidian Forest. One part of Magma that is close to Earth is mostly solid, the ground a slurry of rocks, metal veins and even gemstones. Trees of obsidian grow here, razor sharp and able to slice anyone part. Roiling clouds of poisonous steam float above the forest, shedding raindrops of fire and acid. It's said that several rare metals grow here, such as amiban, iron glass, rulsteel and rarer things yet. These metals are worth a small fortune if you can find them or could be fashioned into powerful arms and armor.
The Monolith might hold plenty of power but there's no wisdom to be found amongst mindlessly hostile elementals. The Obsidian Forest doesn't really fit, being too tied to Earth even if it seems interesting nonetheless. That leaves the Sinkhole and Magma's Core as possibilities. She leans towards the former, as more specific to magma rather than fire. That then leaves who to take with her. She'll give Bubbles a break, and after thinking through who she knows is immune to fire without needing magic there's only two possibilities so she's soon off to locate Simmer and Arrel if they're around.
Simmer's in her room. She's added a lot of red and orange to it - some paintings of fire, hanging cloths, that sort of thing. Also some volcanic rocks dotted about. She's sitting on her bed, counting out a pile of coins, "Come in," she calls, "One thousand three hundred eighty, one thousand three hundred ninety..."
Afina flutters in, opening her mouth but then stopping as she hears what Simmer's doing. Landing beside the pyrodryad she waits patiently until she's either done counting or stops at a nice round number. "Get a good haul recently?"
She stops at 1500. "Small one. Helped Tryll and Moonlight on a trip to Pandemonium, managed to grab some treasure as a demon horde attacked us. This isn't actually any of it, I'm just recounting since I took an enchanted bow as part of it and figuring out how I want to improve it."
"Lightning and holy are usually good bets with what we fight," Afina volunteers. "Do you feel up to going on another trip? I'm just about finished my tour of the para-elemental planes, only have Magma left to go."
"Magma? Absolutely," Simmer perks up, "When do we leave?"
"Depends, did you exert yourself much in Pandemonium?" Afina asks. "I'm only down a couple of gate spells and cantrips from visiting Ooze, so I can go now if you're ready. We'll pick up Arrel as well if he's available." Since he's not a spellcaster it shouldn't be any kind of question whether he can come along.
"Let me rest, then. It was a short but sharp battle. Demons need a lot of fire to go down," Simmer admits, a little frown as she gathers all the coins into a sack and drops them on the floor.
"Tomorrow's fine then. I'll catch you early and we'll head off? We're going to a place called the Sinkhole if it's familiar to you," she says, bidding Simmer a good rest before she goes to recruit Arrel.
Arrel's found with Gold. The two are in the forges, having a conversation in a corner. You don't catch any of it - just a few fragments of draconic - before they notice you casual approach.
"Afina," Arrel greets you, "Elena said you were coming this way. You need me?"
"Yes, although since Gold's here too I have something for him," she says before turning to the humanoid gold dragon. "Bwimb accepted the axe. He didn't seem particularly appreciative but still, he started off ready to attack over thinking me an assassin come to kill him, so we call it a success regardless," she says, since he's probably curious how his hard work was received.
"That takes me to the next step," she turns back to Arrel. "Simmer and I are going to Magma tomorrow, to visit a place of power called the Sinkhole. I'm not sure how much chance to spread your wings you'll have, but if you're willing to accompany us I'd be glad to have you."
"Good," Gold says, leaving it rest at that.
"I'll come." Arrel says, as Gold considers. He rubs his chin, the current half elf humming.
"Magma? Are you interested in one other?" Gold inquires.
"Certainly there's room for one more," Afina smiles at Gold. She had considered him but left it alone so he could get settled in a bit longer, but adding another fiery soul to the contingent wouldn't go amiss. "The Sinkhole is a large island of basalt dominated by the hole of the same name. Newborn para-elementals periodically emerge from it and powerful ones enter only to leave stronger than they were. No one's talking as to what's actually down there, but it seems like a good place for me to find an understanding as to the element. Simmer has to recover her magic after a recent mission to Pandemonium, so we'll be set to leave early tomorrow."
"Then we will go as one." Gold smiles, and it is not a kind smile, "Most elementals are wise enough not to trouble a gold dragon. Our trip should be a peaceful one, Bahamut willing."
"If it is we'll be half and half for how these journeys have gone." Although really they did ask for it on Cold so she can't complain about that. "Anyway, that's all for now. I'll see you both tomorrow," she says, fluttering off afterwards.
Any prep to do, Afina?
Other than picking out another fabulous outfit, Afina is good.
Your companions wait for you just outside of Aurora. Elysium is peaceful and lulling as it was before. Gold is in dragon form, resting on the grass. Simmer lies on his back, watching the clouds go by. Arrel perches on Gold's tail, wings curled in as he awaits.
Go ahead and intro today's edition of Afina's Fashions.
Magma of course will mean lots of earth tones and reds and blacks, but Afina doesn't want to just blend in she wants to blaze a trail. That means white is the order of the day, a colour that also brings with it a commitment to casting prestidigitation a lot so it doesn't become a dirty sooty mess. It's a long and formal looking dress that reaches down to her feet, covering them completely while she's in flight with the bottom of the narrow skirt that flares out past her ankles in a multi-layered and jagged style somewhat reminiscent of feathers. It's accessorised with a cape in the same feathered sort of style, a piece which has had her eyeing the wings of Aurora's angelic contingent somewhat speculatively. It wraps around her upper arms and hangs low off her back to allow room for her actual wings to flutter freely and convey her through the air, also doing a good job of covering up the swords worn at her back. It wouldn't be Afina without a hat of course, but she's actually restrained herself to go with a more simple bonnet to keep with the slimming effect of her attire.
"Everyone ready?" she asks as she flies over to the group, smiling at how cosy they all look on Gold's back. Without further ado she opens up a Gate to Magma, placed at the edge of the basalt island.
[18:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp
[18:40] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+10 heroes feast temp hp --> [ 1d8=1 ]{11}
Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 6/10/10/10/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
"I am ready," Arrel takes off and lands on the ground, as Simmer frowns.
"Afina, don't you think the bonnet's a bit much?" Simmer says.
"I can't not wear a hat, Simmer," Afina says, flying through and waiting till everyone's come after her before she takes her hat off. "Still, I'm open to constructive criticism. Fashion just feels so much more important since I became prismatic," she admits, a bit of focusing on the magical garment shifting its style to a much more elaborate piece, with two puffy cones striking up from her head. Almost like horns really, as she puts it back atop her iridescent hair.
Simmer reaches up and pats her bare head. "I can and do go without a hat, Afina. You can too."
"What works for you doesn't work for me," Afina retorts. "Also this hat's an incredibly potent magical artifact that survived the searing fires of Magmasoul with me, and it's the only thing I own from Lifasa. This is is no mere ordinary hat, Simmer. It's an icon of power, a totem, even."
"Yes, but I swear you're married to it," Simmer says, hopping to the ground as Gold turns back to half elven form. "You look cute without it, sometimes, and I think you forget that. That's all."
"Well... alright, let me try something new," Afina says, heart warmed by Simmer's support of her cuteness. Taking off the hat she focuses on changing it to a new style, turning it into a silvery hairpiece which she threads through her tresses towards the back and side of her head, small hands running through her hair afterwards to tease it away from its perennial hat-haired state.
Arrel merely looks on dispassionately, while Gold keeps his own council.
Simmer claps for you, "See? That's different and works for you. It's striking seeing you without it, it really draws attention."
"It's not unbalanced?" Afina asks, still worried even if she's committed to trying this new hatless look at least for a little while. "Well, anyway. I've taken us to the island's edge so if we just strike out inland we'll find the Sinkhole soon enough."
Chatting done, the party heads through the gate. The edge of the island is a volcanic hellscape, where magma seas roil behind you and a thin crust of volcanic stone is beneath your feet. Everything burns. The sky is an inferno of exploding volcanic gases, the air here only tolerable to Afina through her elemental nature.
"It's not," Simmer assures you, taking a deep breath, "Besides, a little bit of asymmetry stands out and makes you unique."
She does like asymmetry, this is true. Though she usually reserves it for colours rather than proportions. "Uniqueness is good," she agrees, already casting prestidigitation as her pristine white outfit has stains starting to appear on it from the gases.
Fluttering her wings to gain a bit of altitude and look around she breathes deeply, unbothered by the toxic mix of gases. "Very dramatic landscape, isn't it?"
Gold steps forward and transforms, "A red dragon's lair," Gold remarks, "Do you wish to ride me?"
Generally Afina prefers to rely solely on her own motive powers, but she recognises Gold's offer for the kindness it is, coming from a dragon who can see the thing on her forehead. "I will, thank you Gold," she flies over near his head. "Where should I sit?"
"Between my wings," Gold says, as Simmer hops back on up.
"Let's go!" she calls, as Gold and Arrel begin to fly forward.
Going to do anything or just along for the ride?
I'll keep an eye out for trouble with my keen pixie senses!
Flying back over Afina settles herself between Gold's wings at their thickest point. Not as comfy as Shinear but it's not the worst.
The party flies onward.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=17 ]{17}
Your trip across the island is uneventful. After perhaps 15 minutes of flight, you spot something ahead. Below you is a collection of crude huts made out of formed volcanic stone. A few small pools of magma boil up here, sizzling and popping. You can see creatures of rock and lava ambling about in the village below. They are of varying sizes, most larger than human. Magma para-elementals, if you don't miss your guess.
"Lets land here and see if we can learn anything!" Afina shouts over towards Gold's head as they wing over the landscape. Elementals in general may be fairly laconic but even so they might learn a thing or two about what lies ahead.
"Yes," Gold shouts back and circles down, landing on the outskirts of the village. Arrel follows, as the elementals approach. They stay back, but there's several dozen converging ahead of you.
Flying off Gold's back and moving forward to meet the converging elementals, Afina calls out in Ignan. "Hello! Can anyone tell us about the Sinkhole?"
One comes forward - an absolute titan of an elemental. Bigger than four Hannas stacked up together and broad as six of her, it is a small mountain of rock and magma given form. It kneels before all of you, arm resting on its knee and it says, "Hello, little pixie!" A man's voice, cheerful. "A pixie, a gold dragon, an eagle and a fire dryad! How amazing."
Well, that's quite a verbose elemental! "Hello!" she repeats herself, matching that cheer. "My name is Afina Devilsbane. My friends are Goldanariux, Arrel, and Simmer. We're trying to learn more about Magma and we heard the Sinkhole was an important place to para-elementals," she introduces herself and explains a bit more about their purpose here since she's likely to get an actual conversation going.
"Oh, it is, it is. Let me introduce myself. I am Devin Garzara, wizard extraordinaire and lava para-elemental monolith. To cut to the heart of the matter, it's a long story."
Gold peers at him, "I gathered. Is your possession of the elemental willing?" He bristles just a little bit.
"Oh yes, yes. Marvelous story, really. Magma - elementals aren't long on names, I'm afraid, and this one's particularly uninspired. Anyway, Magma wanted to learn about mortal creatures after being summoned by them. How it happened from there isn't terribly important, but the short version is that he agreed to be possessed by me. I get all the power and agelessness, he gets access to my mind and memories to learn from directly. Such as this? He's learning about cities and settlements." His arm gestures back towards the village, drops of lava flying and splattering over the ground.
"I did once meet an earth elemental who was mystified by the concept of gender," Afina says, recalling a prior experience. "I gave him some reading materials rather than a more hands-on demonstration, though."
"I hope not!" Devin declares, scandalized. "That way leads the birth of freakish cross breeds. Why, I once knew an ogre with fiendish blood, dragon blood and fire elemental blood. I then helped it become a half golem. Marvelous story, really. After that, it didn't even register as an ogre to magic, but as a construct and aberration. Fascinating study, I really must recommend reading the book about it. It should be for sale in Brightwater if Paerus is doing his job, it's titled Ogres Blues. You know of Brightwater, I reckon, with such a diverse party. Why, I bet you all met in a tavern there and decided to come here!"
"Not quite. We're representatives of Aurora, home of the Crusade to liberate Lifasa," Afina explains. He didn't recognise her name so he probably won't recognise those terms either, but there's nothing lost in the telling. "As I possess qualities of all four of the prime elements, I have been embarking on something of a pilgrimage across the para-elemental planes so as to better understand and master my elemental nature. Magma being the last stop, and Sinkhole hopefully offering the wisdom I seek."
"Oh, that's marvelous! You must have the most marvelous story," Devin declares brightly, the elemental clapping. After a few moments the other elementals join in. "Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Gold eyes them all, "Yes, but to the matter at hand, we seek wisdom about Sinkhole itself."
"Oh, but this is wisdom." Simmer pipes up, smiling, "See, this wizard gets it. Of course the answer is to join with a magma paraelemental. Okay, you could do better by going with a pure fire elemental, but damn it, he's still getting it."
Is that sarcastic? Afina's not sure. Sarcasm got one killed back home, but she's gained some experience with the form of 'wit' since coming to know Adrian.
Still, she's not sure and it would be poor to take offence if it was sincerely meant. "It does make for a potent combination," she agrees with Simmer.
"Oh my goodness, yes, I do get it," Devin agrees, "How did you balance the elements and what names did you call on? I can't imagine anything less than a four-fold diagram of Grumbar, Akadi, Kossuth and that annoying wet one I won't profane us with would do. Still though, you wouldn't get anything stable out of it, so you'd need something incredibly powerful to act as a stabilizing catalyst as well as to ensure that degeneration won't occur. Dragon's blood, maybe? No no, it would show. Fiendish or celestial blood's right out, too much baggage. Oh of course, your own fey nature. Young woman, did you use yourself as a catalyst and a canvas to paint on at once? Marvelous!"
"It was more of an introspective process than that," Afina replies. "Originally it started when I was exposed to Magmasoul in fire, making me a pyrofey just as my friend Simmer here is. That would have been the end of it but for a prismatic dragon I know who believed I was beginning a journey much like his own. I was taken enough with the idea to pursue it, and yes I do believe my sylvan nature was an important aspect. Seira was my primary patron throughout the process, and I can't recommend enough that you should visit the Cauldron if you have any interest in mingling the elements."
Devin nods along the entire time, "Marvelous story, marvelous news. I'll absolutely have to go there and learn more. There's only one question: Who is Seira and what is the Cauldron? I've been rather provincial the last couple of centuries, all tied up in Magma. The elements aren't much for spreading news and gossip, I'm afraid, and it sounds like something I'm supposed to know but I don't."
"Don't feel bad, I didn't know anything about it until recently myself," Afina commiserates her similarly provincial existence. "Seira is a newly risen dragon deity, who seeks to foster goodwill and understanding between the elemental planes. The Cauldron is her realm on the Astral Plane."
"Mmmm. I'll take a vacation soon and go see," Devin says, "Now then, the marvelous facts about the Sinkhole. You should be fine, but expect lots of magma and looser lava. Loose enough to swim and sink through, which is the point. They purify the elementals who go through, you'll just have to endure. Hope you can breathe in it or don't need to breathe. Leave the elementals alone in there and they should do the same. There's creatures in there called Magarmin, they're a cross between para elementals and spiders. They're predators and will eat you as gladly as the elementals."
"Are there no intelligent guardians?" she asks. Breathing isn't much of a problem for her and Simmer, although Arrel and Gold would certainly have concerns.
"Not as far as I know, but I've never been all the way down. Magma gets skittish down there," he admits, "Dreadfully unbecoming of an elemental, but he really doesn't like whatever's at the bottom."
Physical purification won't help her, and she's not likely to learn much from supplicant elementals and animalistic predators. Was this the wrong place, or will she find something worthwhile at the bottom? "Well it sounds like the bottom is where we want to go. Thanks for your help, Devin. If you do visit the Cauldron say that I sent you, they should treat you well," she says, going to board Gold once more.
"Also if you ever decide to follow a more martial calling, come visit Aurora! A monolith's body paired with a wizard's mind would make a mighty ally!"
Devin waves, "What is Aurora?" he calls back.
"A mobile demiplane fortress, we use it as our base in our war against Hell. It used to be called Medicant aeons ago if that's a name you recognise!"
"I'll look it up," Devin calls as you fly off. Once you're out of earshot, Simmer says, "That was a lovely little interlude. I wish more wizards had good sense like he does."
"When you get to it it's just a nicer form of lichdom. He has immortality but he's denied his own flesh," Afina says. "Still, he was an agreeable sort. I hope he does decide to come visit us later."
"Powerful allies are needed," Arrel says, "How powerful a wizard is he, do you think?"
"Hard to say since we never saw him cast a spell. Possessing an elemental Monolith would take a lot of power, but since it's a cooperative thing that probably reduces the burden required. Still, ninth circle casting at an absolute minimum I think." That's the level needed to summon and control a monolith so it provides something of a comparison.
"Perhaps, though it could be a something a little simpler," Gold says, "Soul transference is not my area of expertise, though I once sponsored a hero dealing with a cult who used it. Vile business, as they took unwilling captives and forced the matter."
"Also it could be an approach that focuses his skills solely in that area while letting others fall behind, like my haste specialisation," Afina suggests.
"That is true. Speaking of, I need to focus more on fire," Simmer admits as Gold flies along. "There's so much more fire I could be using."
"I do like fire," Afina agrees. "I never much bothered with area effect spells in the past but when fighting the hordes of hell it's a great boon. And so satisfying to cast, too."
"Yes," SImmer says, eyes shimmering. "There's nothing better than a fire spell. Oh, the crackle of the flames, the cries of the immolated, the wanton fires spreading laviciously through everything..." A long sigh from Simmer, "It really is the best, Afina."
Spot check.
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[18:42] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{51}
You spot something on the horizon, further ahead on the island. Some sort of slight rise, like the lip of a volcano. The Sinkhole?
"Did you hear about what I did to Willah's fortress with one spell? That's not something the assassin's arts can manage!" Afina says brightly, leaning forward a little. "Think I see it on the horizon, we're getting close."
"You owe me for that, it was my spell," Simmer grins as you lean ahead.
"It is, a hole large as a mountain,' Gold warns as you fly closer, "I can see elementals there. We fly in and descend down?"
Dragon eyesight is superior.
"Land at the edge and we'll have a look down to plan our approach!" she calls over.
You approach. It's massive, large enough for Gold to go down comfortably. He lands at the edge, various elementals lingering around it. It's a crust of stone about 15ft high, forming a natural lip. None of them react to the party's presence as you land.
Flying off Gold, Afina goes to hover over the hole itself and take a look down at what waits for them below.
It's a deep emptiness, going down further than she can see. The walls are volcanic stone and you see the occasional pulse of red light illuminate things farther below.
Just a smooth pit or are there ridges/pathways around the sides?
There's some ridges and the like, but you don't see anything like pathways within range of sight.
Are any elementals visible descending/ascending? Are they climbing or earth-melding?
Peering down, you can see a few elementals. They're descending - oddly, they're falling slowly, like under feather fall.
Experimentally, Afina stops her wings and lets herself drop for a second, starting them up afterwards and re-ascending, just to see if that feather fall type effect is pervasive to the area.
You fall slowly, gracefully. Just like the elementals.
"We can just drop down," Afina says, hovering back in place. "Although Simmer should stay on Gold or Arrel just in case we end up falling towards something we'd rather not land on."
Simmer hops right back on, "Lead on, Afina? You're the one suited to this best."
"Follow me, we'll go down from the centre so we can see best all around," Afina says, flying off towards the middle of the great sinkhole before she allows herself to fall.
Make a Spot check for general reference.
[16:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[16:16] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{43}
All of you begin to go down. The first 10 minutes or so of descending are uneventful. Veins of magma in the walls provide illumination, and soon enough you see an obstacle. Below is a floating sea of magma, blocking the way further down. Magma paraelementals simply fall into and sink in, uncaring.
"So..." Afina flutters her wings a bit to level herself up. "Simmer and I don't need to breathe, but I don't think it's quite so easy for you two, is it?" she asks Arrel and Gold.
"It isn't," Gold says, peering down, "One of you should go ahead and see how deep it is."
"I will, I can come back up easily," Afina volunteers herself as the logical choice. Casting message to allow communication with everyone at a distance she hastes herself before plunging into the magma!
Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24), haste (CL 24)
AC 88, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
Spell charges: 3/10/10/9/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
Do you have a swim speed and any other relevant effects, like freedom of movement?
Swim 90 while hasted, which also grants me freedom of movement
It's not really like swimming. You've been in lava and it's not the same. It's closer to rock that's hot enough to move, like a boiling hot clay. You make slow progress but you make progress, needing about a minute to reach the other end. Below is more of the chasm, stretching down further than you can see. However...
Spot.
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[18:16] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{42}
Also blindsense 30
You can notice on the far walls - now closer, the chasm now about 100ft in radius or so - are strange spider-like creatures of magma. They spin burning webs with several lumps wrapped up on them.
Unlikely to be a significant threat. Reversing her course Afina flies back up into the magma and pushes herself through the rest of the way to regroup with her friends.
You return up a little slower, just because flying up through something is harder than going down through it.
"Well?" Simmer asks, "Any chance there's heaps of treasure waiting for us?"
Gold snorts, smoke coming out of his nostrils.
"Nothing so exciting," Afina replies. "The magma's about a thousand feet thick, it took me a minute to pass through, probably triple that for everyone else?" She's not quite sure of what speeds others can reach through such difficult terrain. "The chasm narrows in quite a lot and there's those magma-spiders lining the walls, so try to stick towards the centre. Can everyone manage that?"
Nods all around. "Yes," Gold says, "I can swim."
Arrel looks down, "I'll manage."
"Alright, Simmer you stay close to Gold and I'll stay close to Arrel, just in case anything happens?" Afina suggests, giving the two dragons a chance to catch their breath before she refreshes her haste spell on everyone and descends once more!
Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24), haste (CL 24)
AC 88, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
Spell charges: 3/10/10/8/9/9/9/8/7/7/6/5
Haste is enough to eliminate the need for rolls, due to the added speed.
It's a short trip for you. The others follow a minute or so later, taking deep breaths of air once out. Arrel looks up, "The magma floats there? Strange."
"Doesn't even dip towards the centre," Afina agrees with the oddity. "It must be a deliberate choice, creating layers and varying up the obstacles for a purpose rather than simply allowing things to form naturally. Now remember to stay away from the walls," she says as they begin to float down again, keeping an eye out for any overly ambitious arachnids.
Spot, everyone.
[20:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[20:21] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{58}
> roll 1d20+32 Simmer
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+32 Simmer --> [ 1d20=5 ]{37}
> roll 1d20+34 Arrel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+34 Arrel --> [ 1d20=12 ]{46}
> roll 1d20+34 Gold
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+34 Gold --> [ 1d20=17 ]{51}
Afina can spot the spiders watching all of you, arachnid eyes following the four of you are you go down. Not turning away, unblinking.
Afina keeps her eyes on the spiders in turn, content to live and let live so long as they don't start any trouble.
Arrel glances over at them and clacks his beak, while Gold simply stares right back at them.
> roll 1d20+20 Intimidate (+12 size differences) Gold
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+20 Intimidate (+12 size differences) Gold --> [ 1d20=13 ]{33}
> roll 1d20+15
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{31}
Close.
The spiders quickly begin to scurry away when the big old gold dragon glares at them. Arrel chortles, "They have sense after all!"
"If they have any wits at all they'd know we don't have the look of easy targets," Afina says, pleased she doesn't have to exert herself to deal with them more permanently.
Simmer pats Gold's side, "We need to have you around more often. You solve so many problems."
Gold smiles as you go on down, further down. About another five minutes down you see an outcropping on the far wall. A door's been forged into the wall, made of solid ash-white stone, standing out starkly from everything else.
"Lets investigate that?" Afina suggests, banking down towards the outcropping and landing before she tries knocking on the door first.
She's here as a guest after all!
All of you fly down, Gold turning back to half elf form once you land. It's a door big enough for a normal human and not much else. No decorations or anything.
Afina waits a little bit after her knock but if no answer is forthcoming she'll try opening it anyway.
The knock gets a belated reply - the door opens, a magma paraelemental opening it. Human sized, no more. It says slowly, "Yessssss?"
"Hello," Afina greets the elemental. "My name's Afina. My friends and I are exploring the Sinkhole. Do you live here?"
"Yessssss," The elemental replies. "Come in? Have tea."
"Thank you for your hospitality, we'd be glad to accept," Afina says, heading in after the elemental for some tea and hopefully information!
Inside are rough decorations, all sorts of things made of white stone. Tables, chairs, a bed, a kitchen with counter, bookshelves, even a window that opens up to a lava flow, blocked by glass.
"I Sorcerer, Magma Sorcerer." The elemental says, getting a stone teapot and serving you boiling hot tea. "I make fantasy reality."
Afina accepts her tea and drinks, using prestidigitation to once again clean her white outfit which has gotten pretty sooty again while she settles in a free chair. "I'm a sorcerer as well," she responds. "I like to make things, a talent that I share with Goldanariux here. Also burning, which Simmer shares an affinity for. Does living at the Sinkhole help with your sorcery?"
"We all have some magic," Simmer joins you, while Arrel hovers just inside, barely able to squeeze in.
"Helps. Fire. Burn." The sorcerer says, "Like not burn, too. Like everything."
That's a nice attitude to have! Sipping some more of her tea, she asks, "What do you know of the Sinkhole then? How deep does it go and what's at the bottom?"
"Deep," The elemental says, "Power. Conversion." It struggles a few moments, "Elemental improvement and breakdown."
So not that dissimilar from Magmasoul and Absolute Zero in concept, she's probably on the right track coming here after all. "Are there any guardians there?"
"Yes. Big Magma. Taught me sorcery." The elemental says.
Can't be so bad if he teaches sorcery to plucky elementals that come along. So why was Magma... er, the other Magma, the one that Devin was possessing, afraid of whatever's at the bottom? "If we were to go down and visit Big Magma how should we approach so as to avoid any conflict?"
Gold sits back now, "It's a question of worthiness or fulfilling some criteria? He doesn't receive every elemental kindly?"
Magma Sorcerer nods his head, an entirely human gesture. "Big Magma does what is needed, not what is wanted. He teach me, taught me. Some want improvement but get breakdown instead."
"What do you think makes you different from the ones that get breakdown, then?" Afina follows up her question.
With slowness and enunciating each syllable, "I am a sorcerer," The Magma Sorcerer says. "I am a sorcerer, so I am sufficient."
"Well that gives us an advantage, doesn't it?" Afina says blandly, finishing off her tea and putting the cup down on the table. "In recognition of your hospitality you may ask of me a boon," she invites, as is proper.
It wasn't so long ago she would have just spurned the beverage to save herself the trouble, but things change.
"Teach me a spell," The Magma Sorcerer asks. "Show me."
"That I can do," she says, considering it a fair trade. "What circle of magic have you achieved?"
"Fourth," The elemental answers, "Four circles."
"I could teach you the Orb of Fire spell if you don't already know it," Afina offers. "Or if you feel prepared to take a step further, we can try to expand your capabilities to the fifth circle with the Fiery Tentacles spell."
"Fiery tentacles. Teach me," The Magma Sorcerer says, eagerly.
"We'll need some extra room. Come outside with me?" Afina bids, heading out onto the platform with Arrel and then using her innate command over the earth to expand it out further giving more room to demonstrate magic with.
Using stone shape to make extra supports (24 cubic feet of stone) and then wall of stone coming out horizontally (24 5ft squares) to expand the platform out from the doorway."Here is the spell," she says, casting it first off and causing a swarm of glowing orange tentacles to erupt out of the newly created platform, writhing madly and crackling with embers. "It's a variant on the classic black tentacles spell, which is already achievable for you at the fourth circle. The basis comes from..." she begins, falling into a detailed lecture on spell composition as she does her best to teach this specific spell while also expanding on Magma Sorcerer's base knowledge to better prepare him for the higher levels of arcana.
Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 3/10/10/8/9/8/9/8/7/7/6/5
Just curious, do you have any skills related to teaching?
I have tons of arcana/spellcraft skills but for actually conveying the information all I have is raw charisma.
Make a check on that just for giggles.
[18:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15 raw charisma
[18:35] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+15 raw charisma --> [ 1d20=9 ]{24}
You teach and the elemental watches. "I...am not ready for this," He finally says, speaking slowly and carefully. "I will be one day. Thank you."
Well if it was that easy Aurora would be full of archmages wouldn't it? "You will be, in time. Just keep on studying and challenging yourself," she advises. "Now, we will continue downwards. Farewell, fellow Sorcerer," she says, flying out over the sinkhole and beginning to descend once more.
Once you're going on down, Gold speaks up, "This Big Magma concerns me. Why would he care about an elemental with the ability for sorcery?"
"Force of personality is the defining feature of a sorcerer, isn't it?" Afina replies as they slowly float down. "It's not something most elementals are very strong on. So where one is found it must be like a rare prize."
"Yes, and one with that has the potential to be great." Arrel flies in circles around all of you, sweeping the perimeter as you fall. "We're also meeting a notable lack of resistance. I suspect one and another are related."
"You think it's a place for elementals with potential and not just a place for them to promote?" Simmer asks, "Devin up there's a unique elemental of a sort as well, or will be when Devin's done with him."
"But the elemental was the sort to allow itself to be subsumed by Devin's will, so probably lacks much sorcerous potential. Hence its fear of the place," Afina surmises. "Well even if it's not quite what we expected, I'm sure Big Magma will have insights to help me understand this plane better so we'll keep going for now."
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=33 ]{33}
You go down and through another few bands of magma. The tunnel's starting to narrow and the spiders are leaving you be. Far below, instead of darkness, you can see a reddish glow.
Afina continues to descend uninterrupted, shifting a little bit to maintain herself in the middle of the shaft but otherwise content to just go with the gentle fall afforded by the Sinkhole.
Like this all of you descend to the red glow. You come to float above a small little pool of magma, where a single voice asks you, "You are not of magma. What is your purpose here?"
"I am of Fire and Earth," Afina answers. "I want to learn more about Magma, to understand how the elements inside of me can better work with each other. Is this something you can help with?"
"Yes," The voice says, sounding...pleased? Yes, pleased. "What do you know about Magma?"
"Very little," Afina confesses. "I will share my suppositions, however. Magma is the natural medium between Fire and Earth. Where Fire is quick and wild, and Earth is slow and careful, thus Magma is measured and inexorable. And much as when Ice and Water combine to form something with aspects in common with Earth, so too does Magma share a parallel with Water, but with curious differences as well. Ice is even more static than Earth, and Magma is more forceful than Water - where a river of water may take centuries to carve its course, a flow of magma will do the same in mere hours.
"Those are my impressions, at any rate. I am most interested to hear from those who live here to correct any of my misunderstandings."
"You are not wrong," The voice says, "I sense the power in you. Open your mind and apply it to yourself. The answers you need are already there, within you."
It does become a bit easier as she goes and parallels become evident enough. "Allow me a moment everyone," she asks, closing her eyes and focusing on her internal elemental matrix. Drawing back her connection to Water and Air she lets Earth and Fire surge forward and mingle within her, focusing on her understanding of para-elemental dynamics throughout.
Charisma check.
[19:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[19:12] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{30}
It...clicks. Something in you shifts as you feel your elements move. You grasp another truth, and this one is like completing a puzzle. You feel more somehow, closer to something wordless and powerful.
Throughout this Afina's skin becomes dark and pebbly, a deep crimson glow emanating from underneath. Then it subsides and she resumes her previous prismatic hues. "So there it is. I don't know that I really needed to be here for it, but visiting a place sacred to the elements only felt right. Thank you for your hospitality," she inclines her head towards the pool below.
"Yeah, thanks, "Simmer says, "You're alright for...whatever you are? A big elemental a bit too shy to come out?" she asks with a smile.
Gold inclines his head in the draconic version of a nod, "Thank you."
"Magma needs more that are exceptional. You are exceptional." Then with that, you fly up. In a few seconds of blurriness you rise all the way to the top, floating above the Sinkhole.
That was handy! Flying over to the lip of the Sinkhole Afina draws Afame and studies it to learn how its been changed by her journey across the para-elemental planes.
Current stats for reference are:
Afame - Adamantine/linthrum small short sword +5, skirmishing
- Afina is constantly feels at ease wherever she goes. This gives her the benefits of Avoid Planar Effects and Endure Elements spell. This ability is always active as long as the sword is held.
- Against creatures anathema to Afina (devils) and to Creation (creatures from beyond), this sword deals an extra 5d6 points of damage per strike.
- Part of Afina's natural world is speed and dodging. As a swift action, she may grant herself a +4 dodge bonus to armor class while holding this sword. This may be used at will.
- Once per day, Afina may bestow some of her elemental energies to a willing creature by touch. This is a full round action. Doing so grants that creature the half fire, water, earth, or air elemental template (Afina's choice). This lasts for 24 hours. Doing so takes some of Afina's life energy, and she suffers a -2 penalty to constitution during this time. This penalty cannot be removed until the 24 hours pass.
When Afina draws Afame, her body stiffens and a scream erupts out of her.
"Wha-" Simmer grimaces, holding on tightly to Gold.
"What manner of sorcer-" Gold begins, silenced abruptly.
"This is-" Arrel adds, as all the world becomes dark.
Afame tears itself from your hand and floats in front of the four of you. Magma is gone and you stand in a field of barren earth, ablaze as winds blow and rains pound down. Further out all four of the elements do war, birthing magma, smoke, ice, ooze.
Controlling herself after that scream Afina gives her hand a little shake to work off the sudden numbness. Looking all around at the elemental chaos she's sparked she takes a deep breath before shouting, "Stop!"
She'd thought she was past all this but it seems the war was only postponed and not ended. Still, she'll enforce her will over the unruly elements one way or another.
The elemental fury around you stops. Afame floats to you, all the elements flowing back into it.
Ah, simple enough. Satisfied, Afina reaches out to grasp her blade.
The blade is grasped. It feels fine as you are in Magma once more.
"The hell was that?" Simmer says, "Afina, what did you do?"
Afame gains the following benefits:
- The enhancement bonus rises to +6.
- The damage it deals to creatures anathema to Afina or Creation increases to 6d6 per strike.
- Afina can now bestow the ooze, magma, smoke or ice creature templates (Dragon 347) to creatures in addition to the half elemental templates.
"I misunderstood," Afina says as she studies the blade. "I saw a declaration of conflict, something to be subdued as when I first achieved my prismatic apotheosis. But that wasn't it at all: it was balanced. A violent harmony where the strife of the elements gives rise to para-elements. Nothing is actually lost in the process, only transformed."
Sheathing the blade she turns to her friends. "What we just witnessed was a reflection of my own inner world."
Simmer starts to say something, forcefully closes her mouth and shakes her head. "Sorry, just reminded me of something else. Old memory."
"Is violence so core to you?" Gold asks, "'tis a violent Creation, there is no doubt of that."
"Do bear in mind that was a reflection viewed through the lens of a sword," Afina points out, tapping Afame's pommel. "But even then, yes. I'm an extremely violent individual by any reasonable standard. For most of my life I have been used as a tool of murder. And with my rejection of the fey Cycle I have committed myself to an eternity of fighting hell."
Gold considers those words as you begin to head back.
Anything else to do here?
Nope.That all said, Afina opens a gate back to Elysium so they can all return back to Aurora.
Also she cleans her sooty outfit again with prestidigitation.
Afina: 287+11/287, glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 24 attached to epic mage armour), heroes feast (CL 20), mind blank (CL 17), fortunate fate (CL 15), planar tolerance (CL 7), epic mage armour (CL 24), moment of prescience (CL 24)
AC 87, spell resistance 39, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear
Spell charges: 3/10/10/8/9/8/9/8/7/6/6/5
Home again. You find Aurora rather tense, soldiers drilling and more just generally around. The moment you step through, Elena appears, "We got a message from Hell," she says without preamble, "It's about Muirfinn."
Gloating? Or more likely offering a trade. She doesn't imagine any terms they offer would be acceptable. "What are they saying?" she asks curtly.
"Go see Adrian in the War Room," Elena says, "He has the details."
"Alright," she nods, before turning to Simmer, Arrel, and Gold. "Thanks for accompanying me on my trip, you three. Go get cleaned up or take some time to relax, from the sounds of it something'll be in the offing soon." After that dismissal she goes to hunt down Adrian.
Adrian's by himself, reading over some documents in the War Room. "Afina," he says without looking up, "Vlaakith's efforts bore fruit faster than we expected."
She'd actually forgotten about that. "I genuinely expected nothing to come of that," she says, a bit surprised. Flying over and taking her usual chair she asks, "What did they demand?"
"Here," Adrian passes over a document.
It's written in Infernal, with translations into Common, Celestial, Sylvan and all four elemental languages. It reads (more or less in the case of the translations) as follows:
"Asmodeus, His Dread Majesty, Lord of the Ninth, Archduke of Nessus, Keeper of Malsheem, Great Master of all Infernal, Final Judge of All, Supreme Devil of the Pit, His Most Serene Royal Highness The King of Hell, wishes to invite Aurora to a summit about the fate of Muirfinn. The summit will be held at Shir'kandor, a personal holding of Vlaakith, Queen of the Githyanki.
Representing Hell will be Duke Martinet. He will be accompanied by eight personal attendants, an imp servant, a selected gelugon Infernal Master of Contracts and Records and a single observer from the following: Lord Bel, Lord Dispater, Lord Glasya, Prince Lixer, Duke Malphas, Duke Taelfagn and Duke Gathgorian.
Aurora is invited to match those numbers as they see fit but not to exceed them.
A response may be sent to Queen Vlaakith within nine days."
Interesting choice of observers. Bel, Lixer, Taelfagn, and Gathgorian all make sense. The others, though? Do they have interests in Lifasa?
"We lose nothing by attending, though I don't believe any price they offer will be one we're willing to pay," she says, putting the document back on the table.
"About my take," he says, rubbing his face. "I don't think even Ithea has enough lives to satisfy whatever Baator wants. If they make a serious offer, what are we willing to trade for Muirfinn? We need to decide on that."
"Nothing to compromise the Crusade, and no other lives," Afina says. "As tragic as Murifinn's fate is, we have to weigh him against the millions more suffering under Hell's grip. Just because they don't all have names and faces to us doesn't make them any less important."
"Hell," Adrian mutters, closing his eyes. "Who should go?"
It's a pity Ithea's so distracted lately since she'd want to send her. "Jaela of course, it was her idea and she's good at navigating that sort of arena... really sending anyone feels like a punishment detail, doesn't it?" she asks with a pouty face.
Adrian cracks a grin, "I know. I'd say two generals should go but no more, in case something goes wrong. I'll volunteer myself if no one else goes. As for the rest, statements should be made with them." Rubbing his chin, "Cresiel had some good advice about that. Hell picks up on meaning and social status naturally, so who we bring says a lot."
"But Queen Vlaakith is hosting it as a favour to us, so just making a few blatant insults to the devils is also going to look bad to our hostess," Afina points out. "Any insults would have to be subtle and carefully chosen."
"Good point," Adrian admits, "This isn't my strong suit. All this...sometimes it makes me wish I was still a guard. Ever feel like that?" he asks.
"There was a simplicity to my old life, much as with yours," Afina nods agreeably. "But I've become too fond of making my own decisions to ever want to go back."
"Yeah, it's nice being on top," Adrian agrees, "Anyway, any ideas on people to send?"
"Morniel is the obvious choice, although maybe too obvious? I don't know, Jaela's probably the best one to decide," Afina admits.
"Too useful not to send," Adrian remarks right back, "This is his bread and butter. They'll be anticipating him, but I think it's worth it. Anyway, I'll talk to Jaela when she's back. It's not an emergency, though the troops are worked up since the messenger made a big entrance."
"How did that play out?" Afina asks curiously, mostly interested in what their response to a devil presence at their gates was but also just in general how provocative the messenger was being.
"They used a mercane mage." Adrian almost smiles, but it doesn't really last. "He appeared in a great thunderclap and burst of smoke outside of Aurora, carrying a white flag of truce. The thunderclap was loud enough to shake the ground. Pageantry is all it is."
"Theatrics," Afina says dismissively. "I'll go get everyone settled then, work off some of that nervous energy through a few drills," she decides, getting up and flying out of her chair.
As you walk away, Elena pops up, "Oh, Afina. Queen Ilsenine has the Court in session and would appreciate your presence, though she understands if your duties occupy you."
Well so much for that. Gisfal will have to handle things in her stead. "Thanks for letting me know, Elena," she says, changing her course.
The Court is busy, bustling. There's dancing and song, as well as talk and gossip. All of continues as you enter, Crystal nearby as you do. "Afina," she greets you, "Her Majesty wants to talk to you during this."
"I'll go and pay my respects," Afina says, considering it best to do that before anything else. Flying over towards the throne she lands and kneels with her head down, waiting to be recognised.
"Baroness Devilsbane," Queen Ilsenine greets you, "I would be appraised of the military situation." She then rises from the throne, "With me."
Standing up once recognised, Afina follows after Ilsenine to wherever it is they're going to talk about things.
A pleasant sitting room, where drinks and snacks have already been laid out. Ilsenine sits and helps herself, "Explain the situation. Rumors abound."
Afina has a little cake just to be polite. "Recently Jaela made overtures with Queen Vlaakith of the Githyanki, asking her to act as an intermediary with Hell in recovering Muirfinn's soul. She apparently had some success as the recent fuss was caused by a Mercane intermediary offering Baator's invitation to a summit on the fate of Muirfinn's soul to be held at one of Vlaakith's holdings.
"We're waiting for Jaela to come back from her current excursion to prepare a reply giving details of who she intends to take with her." She doesn't countenance any possibility that Jaela would just refuse the invitation after going to the trouble of getting it set up.
Queen Ilsenine slowly spreads jam on a biscuit, silent for a time.
"I see," she finally says it, "It must be understood that this Court will support Aurora in anything to this end. Muirfinn deserves better." Quietly, almost under her breath but a hair too loud she says, "None of us deserve that fate."
Afina nibbles on her cake while Ilsenine digests that, waiting until she's replied before she answers. "No, but we shouldn't expect Hell to ask for anything that isn't ruinous in reply. My own opinion is that this summit will be a lot of posturing with unreasonable demands. However, it's Jaela's to manage, and she's well suited to that kind of arena."
"I will hope," Queen Ilsenine nibbles as well, "That this leads to something positive, but I fear you are right."
"That's all I've heard since I got here," Afina summarises. "The Mercane used as a messenger made a spectacle of himself on arrival and put everyone on edge, but there's no immediate threat or plans for battle."
"I see," Ilsenine closes her eyes and exhales. "Thank you."
"It's no trouble, your Majesty," Afina reassures her.
"Thank you nonetheless, Baroness," Ilsenine smiles and meets your eyes, then looks to a window. She gazes out it, "Perhaps as winter rages we can begin to see the first hints of spring. I find myself hopeful, for Hell's acknowledgement only strengthens our Crusade. Legitimizes it, rather. Another small step, but a step."
"Perhaps. I've entertained thoughts like that myself," Afina admits. "If we could capture Lixer or some other hellish luminary, their life may be enough to sway Asmodeus into ceding Lifasa back to us."
"Is it possible to do that before the negotiations?" Ilsenine asks.
"Absolutely not," Afina shakes her head. "You saw how poorly our attack on Lethe went, and Lixer spends most of his time in Nessus. If we could go there and successfully defeat and abscond with Asmodeus's son, we wouldn't even need to negotiate for Muirfinn."
"As I knew and feared," Queen Ilsenine frowns, "I hope against hope to bring the terror to them that they so freely gave us, but they are powerful."
"Perhaps so, but we are strong and growing stronger," Afina says to lift Ilsenine's spirits. "If we'd been at our current strength on the day of the attack, Lifasa would never have fallen."
Yes Abigor still would have killed every plant the moment he set foot on their world, but he would have died very swiftly thereafter.
"If only." Ilsenine sighs, her wings and shoulders drooping. "Afina, is there a plan of this diplomacy ends up being a double cross?"
"We haven't even planned for what to do if it's in good faith," Afina shakes her head. "Once Jaela comes back she'll oversee planning for the event and any contingencies."
"Very well," Ilsenine says, "Good luck and good fortune to Aurora for this."
Any plans in the meantime, Afina?
I'm waiting for Jaela to get back at this point so I'll just hang around Aurora doing general things
This soon takes Afina to the forges, as she does much there. She finds Gold there with another, one you've met once or twice in passing - Hamogan. He turns to you and brings his hands together in a clap, "Afina," The psion greets you, "Do you have a minute?"
"Of course, Hamogan," Afina says, fluttering away from the requisitions board towards the psion. "What can I do for you?"
"Are you interested in any psionic items?" Hamogan asks, "I wish to spread awareness of them through Aurora. You using one would spread knowledge of them greatly."
"I don't actually have enough funds to have anything meaningful made right now," Afina admits. "Nor am I very familiar with psionics. Can you give examples of the sort of abilities they'd have? If anything sounds useful I'll put in an order as soon as I can afford it."
Hamogan goes right on.
"There are things that benefit any and all in psionic crafting, just as there are with magic items. For yourself, I would recommend a psychoreactive skin, as they spread out over the entire body and do not conflict with other magical items. There are many different effects to choose from and others can be customized. They are somewhat like ioun stones, but the full body coverage makes them superior for effects that cover the whole body. Compare a ring of regeneration to a skin of the troll."
"You can't just ignore aesthetics, though," Afina says, not sold on the concept. Maybe a skin-tight catsuit sort of thing works for people with certain physiques, but not for her. "For the same reason I very rarely turn myself invisible even though it's simple and innate for a pixie. My visible presence is heartening to our allies and a challenge to our enemies, and similarly my prismatic skin is a declaration of my unique nature."
Also when you rely on being invisible you get rudely surprised by anyone with blindsense or true seeing, both of which are fairly common at the level she fights at.
"Then would you consider a psionic tattoo? They are akin to self activated and worn scrolls, except you do not need any psionic ability to use them."
"Does the tattoo vanish after use?" Afina asks, because she doesn't really want to mar her perfect prismatic skin in any sort of permanent fashion.
"Yes," Hamogan says, "They can also be moved about your body as you desire until they are used."
"Well, if they're like scrolls they won't be much use offensively but I can see what's available for augmenting or utility effects," Afina considers. "Oh!" she straightens up a bit as she remembers some useful items she picked up recently. "What about psionic potion equivalents? Or do either of you two happen to know anyone that can make potions more powerful than third circle effects?"
Hamogan smiles, "As a matter of fact, I know someone who can do that. It's a rare talent and masters of this are highly valued."
"I don't have the money to properly take advantage but if you could provide an introduction later it would be helpful," Afina says. "I obtained some Dragonmarrow from Emerelda which I'd like to use on suitably powerful potions to make the best use of."
"Come to me when you're ready. A-ahem," A quick interjection as Hamogan clears his throat, "The potioneer is not fond of walk-ins without someone vouching for them. His work is elite and he expects to be treated like that instead of a common artisan."
"I think all of us here can relate to that feeling," Afina says understandingly, glancing at Goldanariux to include him in that sentiment as well.
Gold even smiles when he replies, "Yes. I can see some members of Aurora take your services for granted."
"That I don't mind so much, not when every thing I make goes towards killing devils and freeing Lifasa," Afina says. "But the Union Bank's first approach to me was quite insulting."
Hamogan chuckles, "Oh? I have my own experiences with them."
"Vivantha and Muirfinn had had some trouble with a demon and fell off the infinite staircase where they somehow ended up in the Union Bank," Afina begins, going to sit off the edge of a workbench as she talks. "So that had them thinking they were coming to us from a position of strength, and had Muirfinn deliver a message that they were interested in having me work to produce items for them at cost. They ended up being more obsequious when their own representatives came here and I treated their offer with appropriate derision, but even attempting that as their first gambit lost them a lot of credit with me."
"At cost!" Hamogan laughs, "Yes, many mercane try absurdly undervalued first offers. Mine was for 5% above cost, and only because he knew I wouldn't take cost."
"They did offer a book that they said would help me break through the barriers in what I could make, so I ended up taking 25% above on regular commissions for that. It ended up being worthless anyway, I think it was written from a more religious standpoint, lots of things about Gond in there and giving yourself over to inspiration. I figured out my own method in the end anyway, but we probably would have gotten a better deal if I'd known that book wasn't going to be much good for me," Afina concludes how their relationship with the Union Bank was formed.
"I've heard so many stories about mercane, always chasing the greatest deal. How they are not Waukeen's children is a mystery to me," Gold remarks. 'They have their uses, but I refuse to sell to them. Better to choose someone to wield a weapon wisely than leave it to the highest bidder."
"I like Filbrez at least," Afina says for one of them, even if she's not really fond of the Union Bank in general.
Hamogan nods knowingly, "I've read the minds of more than a few mercane. Most are more or less the same, like any sort of outsider. Oh, the personality and the exact focuses change, but the underlying motivation's there. Except it's money instead of an ethos. Ones like Filbrez are a joy because they're more advanced, more developed. You can get one that's much more tolerable that way."
Afina can't get all snobby about outsiders anymore, since she is one now! And also now knows that all fey are derived from them as well.
"He's been with us since not long after we started, so he's put the time in to deserve something for his investments. The ones that came from the Union Bank felt more like opportunists, but sometimes we have to make compromises in who we deal with for the good of the Crusade. The promise of making better equipment for everyone from that book was too good to resist, even if it didn't actually work out."
"Compromises, the enemy of good and evil both," Hamogan chuckles to himself, "Yet always inevitable."
Gold snorts, a little bit of flame coming out of his nose. "Filbrez is worthy of respect then. Even if he seeks to line his pocket, he has served you willingly and truly. "
"Yes," Afina says, pushing off the workbench and taking flight. That's enough talking about Mercane for her, now. "What are you two working on now, anyway?" she asks to move things along.
"Ideas right now," Gold admits, "For various anti-devil weapons."
"Shiftsilver's probably the best base you can find," Afina suggests. "It's easily obtainable for us with our large lycanthrope contingent. I use it myself in Hywelbane II," she reaches back to tap one of the twin blades resting over the small of her back.
"That or pandemonic silver," Gold rumbles, "They loathe that even more than normal silver."
"Haven't had a chance to work with that before, but now that you mention it it's a material that would be very useful for me," Afina says, recalling what she knows of it and pairing that to her command over Air.
Are you looking for a Knowledge check here, Afina?
I figure Afina's knowledge is sufficient for her to know what the stuff does by taking 10 so I googled it. She's commenting on how useful it is based on what I saw, since it has that wind-based fear effect and she can control winds and stuff.
That's fine, just wanted to be clear.
"The problem is where it grows and harvesting it safely," Hamogan says, "I once treated some miners who were driven mad by Pandemonium's winds getting some. It completely soaks the psyche, Pandemonium's winds are a threat top top to bottom."
"That's the case for most of the good things. We're lucky on the shiftsilver front since it's convenient for us and potent against devils. I once went to obtain some Everblaze to make a weapon for Zaaman Rul," Afina says since they're basically just idling around and swapping stories at this point. "Just mining it out without getting burnt regardless of protections is hard enough, but then there's the primal fire elementals to worry about as well."
"Everblaze?" Hamogan asks, leading.
"A red stone native to Fire, it forms in superheated wells deep in the plane's burning mountains," Afina explains. "It's hot enough to burn a fire elemental, and no magic can protect against its heat. Though once refined and forged as a weapon that energy is tempered to only burn those struck rather than anyone around, otherwise it wouldn't do anyone any good as a sword. I went looking for it with Kascha and Ithea and they were both being attacked by a primal elemental by the time I actually found a deposit, so I had to time stop and fabricate it out of the rock as a rush job before we teleported away."
"I would like some of that," Hamogan says, "Primal elementals are not worth it. They wield legendary magic as easily as we breathe. Even if you triumph, there is always grave risk opposing one."
"I didn't want to fight it anyway. Before it spotted us it was singing, one of the most beautiful songs I'd ever heard. Defeating such a being wouldn't have done anyone any good. This," she reaches up to tap her brow, a glance over at Gold, "Has taught me that even if something craves battle, I shouldn't always be so quick to give it. I don't have others' talents for defusing situations though, so retreat is usually preferable."
Gold nods slightly in return to your glance. He then says, "Wisdom is learning when to fight and when not to. There are many times when we must do battle, but the times where we should restrain ourselves are just as important, if not more important. To slay an enemy removes a threat. To make an enemy an ally removes them and strengthens your own side."
"I'm still working on that last part, but luckily I'm blessed with those who can better wield words as allies."
With that the conversation dies down and you get to crafting. By the time you finish and then go wash up, you find Bubbles waiting for you outside of the baths. "Oh dearie," she greets you, "How were your trips?"
"Good," she flutters to a stop before her newfound lover, smiling up at her. "Magma was a lot more straightforward than Ice was, and didn't have the complications Ooze provided. I'm not done yet, I think I need to visit the quasi-elemental planes as well to broaden my understanding further but I'll put that aside for now since there's other things to worry about. Want to join me in the baths?" she invites.
"Certainly," Bubbles follows you in, and as you undress, "I'm thinking of some treasure hunting soon, once all this blows over. I'm going to need funds, darling. Are you interested in going?"
"I wouldn't mind, actually," Afina says, peeling off her frequently prestidigitationed white dress. "I was actually thinking for all the time I've spent touring the para-elemental planes to bolster Afame, I could have made enough money elsewhere to make a near-equivalent weapon from scratch. Wouldn't have had the same enlightenment so I don't begrudge it, but it's still there in the back of my mind."
"Then I'll get on it. I have some friends who can provide leads," Bubbles goes ahead and gets into the warm waters, up to her neck. "Probably on Water or related planes."
"Nothing wrong with that," Afina says, slipping into the water after Bubbles with nary a splash. There's no one else around so she doesn't mind floating up against Bubbles' side so they're touching but she won't be so rude to future bathers as to actually get frisky in the water. "I have some unfinished business to take care of when Jaela and Kascha get back, and might be needed for something else after that but then I'll have time."
Barring of course an unexpected crisis which would be fairly expected all told.
"I heard from the hydras that Surraruthru already found a hoard in the Crystal Reef Sea, so that's best skipped. I doubt we'll get so lucky there twice in a row." Bubbles sits back and closes her eyes, breathing in the steam. "Ice may do. There are places treasures have been long entombed, waiting for someone to unearth them."
"He made a fortune on that one, I heard," Afina agrees, it having been what she was thinking of when comparing the investment of time she put into Afame. "Wouldn't mind going back to Ice again, though."
"I'll see what I can find," Bubbles promises, "Honey, so long as we keep our clothes on there."
"That's fully on you," Afina giggles, nudging Bubbles' arm. "Make sure it's nowhere with one of those gear-stripping portals. Although if you could find out where they all put the stolen items you'd be rich."
"I know someone who stumbled on what may have been that, sweetie," Bubbles smiles with nostalgia, "A free falling mass of items and treasure in the Astral. Came on it by dumb luck. Auguries suggested it was something like that, or a bag of holding that went wrong."
"The astral's a good place for finding strange random things like that," Afina nods. "But there's always the worry that you'd go do that and then come out to find you'd been at it for decades without noticing. Not an issue normally, but with the Crusade to look after..." Of course she'd probably get a Sending long before anything went critical, but the timelessness just makes one worry what they could be missing out on.
"There's a disease...mmm, no. A malfunction." Bubbles days, "People who spend too long on the Astral lose the ability to understand the flow of time once they leave it. They go quite mad unless they return to the Astral, sugar. Fortunately it's rare and only the result of a lengthy visit."
"Aren't the planes wonderful?" Afina giggles. "Speaking of we should probably relocate off Elysium soon before anyone decides they don't want to leave. I'll go handle that later."
"Oh, they're just wonderful, darling," Bubbles matches your giggle. "Don't you think?"
"Mmm," she makes an agreeable sound. "So what've you been doing lately, anyway?" Afina asks, having mined out that particular vein of conversation.
"Making dresses," Bubbles says, "Also, I have a new one for you to try, you'll just love it."
"Oh, thank you. We'll go do that after bathing. Can never have too many outfits," Afina says happily.
Soon enough you're there. Bubbles goes into her closet and comes out with a little dress. It has a wide, flared skirt and is otherwise a typical pixie one piece. Except this one glitters with all the colors of the rainbow, as if cloth of a dozen hues was expertly blended together.
"A little thing for everyday wear, that shows what you are without being too over the top, but with room for accessories of your own."
Afina leans in to study the outfit before nodding in approval. "I like the cut," she says, fingering the flared skirt. "And the colours do represent me well. Let me try it on," she takes off her feathered capelet before stripping out of her pristine (and oft prestidigitated after that trip to Magma) white dress before slipping into this new garment.
It fits perfectly. It's soft and smooth, like tight but not too tight silk. It shimmers with colors as you move.
Bubbles claps, "It's not meant for combat but for casual wear, or maybe a casual court function."
Running her hands down her sides to smooth out the fabric, Afina twists around a little to survey herself before looking in the mirror approvingly. Her hat currently in its silver hairpiece mode from the old dress is re-formed back in its traditional twintailed style with a matching colour scheme to the rest of her outfit. "I'll have to get you something later to return the gift, I like it," she says at last.
"Thank you, dearie. Now..."
What happens next is fun for everyone and passes some time most wonderfully. After that...
Any idea on what you were going to get for her?
'Later' was a nebulous term for 'not immediately'. Since I have very little money.
Aaaah yes, the problems of being currently being broke. I feel ya. Got anything else on the agenda right now?
Since Kascha's back I'll go talk to her about how to forge a key out of those goldenfire embers for a lock we've never seen.
Okay, I'll move you over to Iddy's thread then. This thread's locked.