Okay, it's you and Vul'lath so far. As for other people who go with you, are you looking for anyone or any particular abilities?
Let's ask Morniel if he's up for it. No preferences beyond that.
Morniel will politely state he's disinterested as it's the Abyss, though he'll go if you feel you need his services. Your call.
Let's invite Candy and Moonlight, or Balyss and Stille. A shame Morniel doesn't want to socialize!
No one's perfect. Canderella and Moonlight sounds good. Any other prep?
The usual spells, arch+food. Let's go~
You appear on the path to the Terminal Archive. It is the same as before, save for the storm. The skies are full of dark clouds and rains gush down, thunder and lightning dancing in the sky. Gale force winds buffet you, immediately making you struggle not to be knocked back.
"Ack!" Moonlight manages, holding her arms up to her face as she lowers her head, starting to bull ahead.
Canderella just smiles ear to ear, opening her arms wide and lifting up off the ground, starting to fly into the storm despite the tempest.
"Run into a friend of yours?" Jaela asks with a grin of her own, ignoring the elements as she strides forward.
You have to shout to be heard over the rain as you attempt to progress forward.
Strength checks, Jaela and Moonlight. More commentary after these.
21:01 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+9
21:01 <Kobot> Tohsaka rolled 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{26}
> roll 1d20+2 Vul'lath
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+2 Vul'lath --> [ 1d20=4 ]{6}
> roll 1d20+7 Moonlight
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+7 Moonlight --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
Vul'lath is through the portal a few moments late, catching the wind head on. He barely manages a grunt as he's flipped, pushed back and landing face first on the muddy ground. Meanwhile you manage to keep going, as does Moonlight.
"Oh, I'll help him," Canderella calls, "Focus on getting through it, the storm's centered around the Terminal Archive. Something interesting's happening."
"I'll trust you with his safety!" Jaela calls back, making her way towards the Archive.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=95 ]{95}
> roll 1d100 sub tables
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 sub tables --> [ 1d100=46 ]{46}
You stagger ahead. The storm is intense, but you finally reach the statues. Almost there. It's then that the storm abruptly stops, as if it was never there, save for the mud and your sodden forms. Canderella lands, putting a rather filthy Vul'lath down.
Magic immediately goes to work on cleaning Vul'lath. "Did you see anything in the storm?" Jaela asks, pointedly not saying anything about the mud.
Canderella smiles, "It's the work of Talos or someone directly trained by him. Even after his change, no one can throw a storm like Talos."
Vul'lath huffs and gets his feet back under him, "Quite. Such a garish display of power is a message of its own."
"Maybe we'll even find out what this was all about," Jaela says cheerfully. "For now, let's head for the sixth floor."
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=35 ]{35}
You enter. The maze of bookshelves looks different - different turns, unfamiliar twists, that sort of thing. Going up won't be the simplest thing in the world.
"You've been here more than me," Jaela tells Vul'lath. "What's the better move, aiming for the stairs or looking for a guide?"
"If we can find the stairs while we search for help, so be it. We do both at once," Vul'lath says, looking on with a curling frown.
"Nice place if evil library's your goal," Moonlight comments.
"It's not evil, just misunderstood," Jaela insists, picking north and starting to walk.
"Oh come on! It's in the Abyss! That's uppercase Evil!" Moonlight says with a scowl.
"Candy feels at home here," Jaela quite reasonably points out. "It can't be that bad!"
"It's nostalgic," Canderella says as you walk. "It really can't be."
Plans?
Troll Moonlight some more, go roughly north. Look for paths leading up or anyone else. If someone has actually decent perception they can listen for anyone who might be in the area and we'll orient by that.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=43 ]{43}
"...and it's still creepy," Moonlight insists after about five minutes of walking. You wander the stacks without incident until everything shifts. The scent of dust and rot fills your nose as over a split second the library reorients itself.
You're surrounded by bookshelves on all sides, from the floor to the roof. It's about a 10 by 10 space, all of you forced into it.
"Seriously?" Jaela mutters, peering at the stacks. "In case the evil library is being helpful, look for any devil-related books?"
"I doubt it," Vul'lath says, a dull frown as he checks the books.
Make a Search check real quick, y'all.
19:48 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+8
19:48 <Rei-chan> Tohsaka rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{17}
> roll 1d20+36 VUl'lath.
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+36 VUl'lath. --> [ 1d20=2 ]{38}
Nothing helpful, the books are all gibberish.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sage Vul'lath murmurs.
"It's bad if we use violence inside, period? Or just against someone alive?"
"They disapprove of destroying the terrain," Sage Vul'lath grunts, "If this is a test of patience, it is one we are best served winning."
Jaela flies up to see if the change of vantage point leads to any fresh insight. Should it fail, she'll take Vul'lath's idea for now.
The shelves go up to the ceiling. There's no gaps that you can see.
Jaela settles back to the floor to wait.
How long will you wait before doing something?
A few hours.
You wait an hour. Around that time the bookshelves shift, passages appearing again.
"And then I said..." Canderella narrates, "Well finally. I was about to start growing roots."
"Has that ever happened, you think?" Jaela asks, heading out. "With a treant, say?"
"I'm sure," Moonlight hops up and stretches, "Finally! What was all that about, you think?"
"No idea," Jaela freely admits. "We're here for one reason only, anyway, so I'm not in some great hurry to find out."
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=68 ]{68}
You wander for a time, soon coming on your goal - a stairway leading up. However, a shimmering field of violet light blocks the way up. Standing before it is a bloated, pus-leaking nalfeshnee. His body is covered in oozing sores and one eye is filled with crawling maggots, that come out and gnaw on his cheeks and forehead.
The demon's remaining eye stays on all of you, watching you as you approach.
"You better not be asking for a toll," Jaela says in a warning tone, keeping her eyes on the violent forcefield. Her blindsight will alert her to any dangers while sparing her poor eyes.
"You dare defy me, celestial," The demon growls low, bringing up an oversized claw. "I will crush you like a bug!"
"The name's Jaela," she says, finally gracing the demon with a condescending look. "You starting something, bitch?"
Intimidate check, +5 bonus since your name is famous.
Take 10, Divine Insight for +15, final result 70.
What a good number to go with, Jaela. Well done.
The demon growls but steps back, almost as if shoved. "What do you want?"
"I'm heading to the sixth floor."
The field vanishes. "Go on," He says, gruffly.
Jaela heads up the stairwell without a second glance at the demon.
Moonlight shivers once you're out of earshot, "Damn, where did you learn to get that intimidating? That look could've shaken about anyone."
"Fighting devils nonstop, pretty much," Jaela says with a snort. "Though I feel like I really polished it vanquishing an army of evil slavers. You liked it?"
"Loved it. Teach me?" Moonlight says, giving you a big smile.
"It's all about the proper mindset," Jaela tells her, grinning back. "You're not here to waste time or effort on the likes of that thing, but if it gets uppity and tries anything you smack it with the wrath of an angry Torm. It's a lone guard on a shit assignment and you're surrounded by very capable friends. Think about it like that, and is the outcome in doubt for you, deep down?"
"That's a useful talent," Canderella cuts in, "Understanding your opponent lets you defeat them all the easier. He's not going to risk it most of the time."
Moonlight nods, "That requires understanding fiends, though. Ick."
"You could do it the Dana way and pick a fight with everyone you cross. She's still alive despite that, maybe she's onto something?"
> roll 1d100 Rei
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 Rei --> [ 1d100=34 ]{34}
You wander the second floor for a time. Soon enough you come to an intersection, the path splitting in two directions. From one direction the scent of rot and death is strong, like a choking miasma.
"Let's go where it doesn't stink of death," Jaela proposes.
"I'd argue otherwise," Canderella, "That can mean so many things in the Abyss." She starts drifting that way, "It means something interesting is down there."
"Contain yourself, avoiding conflict is superior here," Sage Vul'lath says, "This is only the second floor, we do not need to seek more difficulties."
"Sorry, the only interesting stuff I'm after are on the sixth floor," Jaela says, heading in the other direction.
Canderella sighs deeply, "Ah, to be so focused. You'll learn to stop and sniff the roses as you get older, Jaela."
"Or lose track of centuries." Moonlight remarks, "Being focused is important rather than going after every little distraction."
"If you think that's roses you need to get your nose checked, Candy!"
"The metaphorical roses," Canderella retorts right away. "Roses are overrated, anyway."
Blindsight range, Jaela?
60ft radius
You can sense something small well above you, moving in and hovering directly above you.
"Bad idea to sneak up or spy on me," Jaela notes, manifesting Gae Dearg and pointing the anti-undead spear at the sensor.
You look up. It's not a sensor but instead a small little eye, floating in the air. It stares down at all of you.
"Annoying," Vul'lath says, "Do you want something or are you merely a voyuer?"
Jaela raises an eyebrow, deciding to give the interloper a chance to respond. Canderella will be happy with that, at least!
The eye bobs above all of you and then hovers right where it is.
"I'll take it as a no," Jaela says dryly, continuing down her original path.
Canderella looks up at it, "I hope whomever is spying thinks it's worth it. If we find you....oh, you know how these things go."
The eye follows above all of you in the meantime.
Jaela doesn't pay the eye any extra attention, retrieving her spear and proceeding onwards.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=13 ]{13}
You wander for a time. This floor is rather quiet right now. You come to a normal enough turn, but from beyond it, you can her the sound of something clattering. Sounds metallic.
Jaela turns the corner!
Ahead sits an iron golem. It's a creature you've seen many times. It holds a bloodied body in its arms, smashing it against itself. The clatter comes from its arms against its body. Books shake and a few fall as it does what it does.
Should there be place to move between the bookcases around the crazy golem, Jaela would do so.
"The hell?" Moonlight stares at that, coming to a sudden stop.
"Oh, it's just the local flavor," Canderella remarks, "As long as it isn't hostile, pay it no mind. Whomever or whatever that was, they've already perished. Remember, the rules of this place prevent direct combat, so it was dead before it got here."
No way around it, just bookshelves as high as they can go.
"I'd like to pay it no mind, but it's blocking the way. Suggestions?"
"Wait for it to move or maneuver around it," Sage Vul'lath says, "As long as it obeys the rules here, we are safe."
"We're already waited before, let's do it again now," Jaela decides, perusing the book selection nearby without getting too close to the golem.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 73 > [d100=73]
It looks to be a cluster of books about ley lines. You can read if you wish.
Moonlight turns away with a queasy grimace, "Is the knowledge here so good as to be worth this?"
"You know how anything worth getting's available for a price in Brightwater? It's sort of like that, except with knowledge," Jaela muses, deciding to spend the time with a good book and leylines make for a fairly interesting subject. "A lot more fiends around, though."
"The master of this place imposes sanctuary on this place, violence only happens if you initiate it. Unusual for a demon." Sage Vul'lath murmurs that last part. "It's rather like Malcanthet's realm, in that one can visit it and not be overtly endangered."
"That doesn't mean you can't be endangered," Moonlight says, "There's plenty of knowledge that's better off not being known. I wonder how many people have come here and found what they wanted, only to their great lament?"
"Too many," Sage Vul'lath agrees, tucking his hands into his robes. "Words are not restrained, one can destroy with only words if they are skillful and insightful."
"The Sage and I visited before, so we know some of the pitfalls, at least," Jaela muses. "Just remember not to initiate anything or make any deals and few things could be a danger here."
You notice the grisly smashing sound has stopped.
"Still, I don't think I'll return. There's better places to find knowledge. How did you even find out about this place?" Moonlight asks.
"From my ex," Jaela answers, relying on her blindsight to see whether they can now get past the golem.
"Must have been one hell of an ex," Moonlight says as she look sat you sidelong.
The golem rises now, nothing but gibs left. It starts lurching towards all of you and then past, shaking the shelves a bit with each step.
Jaela shrugs, putting the book she couldn't really get into back on the shelf and proceeding onwards. "It was a thing. We actually heard about my current destination together, but there was never a good time to follow through on it."
"What was his name?" Moonlight asks as you go along, the way clear.
Canderella chuckles but doesn't touch that one at all.
Jaela pauses for a heartbeat, before forcing herself to keep going. "Annalise," she tells Moonlight, hands laced behind her head. "Very bad breakup. Had to kill her."
"...that's a really, really bad breakup," Moonlight eeps afterwards, a hand to her mouth, "Uh, forget I even mentioned it!"
"Forgotten," Jaela easily agrees. "I wonder if immortality messes with your mind? You start getting less excited at all the fun stuff you enjoy doing, nothing feels eternal in this ironic twist?"
"There's been sages who have speculated on it," Sage Vul'lath adds, "Opinions vary."
"That's mostly horse shit," Canderella says as you walk along, "Immortals usually have different priorities or minds than mortal creatures. It's conflating that with a limited lifespan, which is foolishnes.s"
"There's that, sure," Jaela agrees. "But mortals can and do go for the whole spending their entire lives together thing, just look at Adrian and Misalea. On the other hand, take any immortal. Heck, my mom seems to go for the more transient romances herself. It could be the way she likes things, but I wonder if immortals are even capable of something lasting and monogamous."
"Celestia." Vul'lath says rather flatly.
"Mmm..." Canderella stretches, "Oberon and Titania have been married since time immeasurable, though I've heard they routinely have fights and separations only to reconcile. More lawfully bent ones would be more common."
"Not filling me up with confidence, here."
"We're perfectly capable of it," Canderella retorts as you walk, "We often choose not to, especially those of us who are more chaotic. After awhile with someone - centuries or more - you become so close that it's hard for you to imagine being without them. Or so I'm told."
"Fair enough," Jaela agrees.
Onwards!
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 84 > [d100=84]
You wander a little more before luck is with you - the stairway going to the third floor is ahead and unguarded.
Jaela cheerfully climbs up!
"So!" she says along the way. "Moonlight, your turn to pick a topic. Or you could tell us something new about yourself. Bonus points for an embarrassing story!"
"Well..." Moonlight begins as...
Listen check.
21:33 <Annerose> roll 1d20+12
21:33 <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=9]
You hear someone whisper your name from behind you. A woman's voice, maybe?
Jaela turns to look, asking, "Did you hear that?"
"Since I want to say heard what, no," Canderella turns while Moonlight keeps her gaze ahead. Sage Vul'lath studies both walls carefully.
"Not a thing," Moonlight confirms. "More magic?"
"Or telepathy," Jaela agrees, checking herself over with Detect Magic all the same. "In case you're reaching out to me and not wasting my time, I'm listening," she says while it takes time for her magic to run its course and either clear her of foreign influence or identify one.
There's fading magic around you. A simple spell to project a one time message to you and nothing more.
"Idiocy," Jaela mutters, heading on. "So you were saying?"
'The fates turn...' A voice narrates into Jaela's head. 'An unexpected twist further disrupts the pattern of fate, yet it is not by the hand of chaos.' The voice is cold, distant and masculine.
"Well..." Moonlight begins again.
Thinking about the associations this brings up would be foolish in case whoever it is has the means to listen in o Jaela's thoughts while avoiding detection, and so she pays attention to Moonlight instead.
"...When you're powerful and trusted a servant as I am," Moonlight holds up her hand, "Hey, it's not hubris, just fact. The point is when you reach a certain point of prestige you're expected to manage several roles. Diplomat's one of them, especially when I'm away from the House of Nature. Put the best foot forward for Lathander, right?"
You reach the beginning of the next level. This time there's no books on the shelves, just tightly bound scrolls and small stone tablets.
Jaela pauses to take a look at what's on offer, here. "I get you," she tells Moonlight. "It's the same sort of training I had from the very start. It doesn't always seem obvious why you need it, but that tends to happen later, right?"
"Yeah, usually after you make a mistake or ten," Moonlight quips right back.
Meanwhile Sage Vul'lath pauses to study a tablet, while Canderella follows along. "Where I'm from, diplomacy means telling your opponent you're going to summon a storm's fury on them before you do it."
"Is there any actual benefit to that? It's not a bluff since you do it anyway, and it's not particularly intimidating since a storm out of the blue is far more scary than when prepared for it."
Canderella shrugs, "It's part of the fun and games."
Above, you note the strange eye is still following the party.
Jaela decides to keep going for now.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> THECOLDFINALXORNOFFSEASON rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=11 ]{11}
Luck is with you - you barely go 2 minutes before you come to an intersection that has a stairway going up to the 4th floor. However, a pale purple force field blocks the way up.
Jaela studies the effect, even as she keeps an eye out for a loitering gatekeeper.
Spellcraft, might matter here.
Taking 10, Divine Insight for 15, result of 62
It's augmented wall of force. Not only does it have the normal wall of force properties, but it stops disintegration as well.
Jaela decides to try her hand at Superb Dispelling!
The wall dissolves under your spell, revealing the way ahead.
Sage Vul'lath nods dourly, "That will do, Jaela."
"It's my specialty," Jaela agrees, heading up. "Though you know, I've been trying to develop my more artistic side? Painting, writing, that sort of thing? I've been thinking I should maybe bug Afina for some proper tools for that, but then she'd give me this look, you know the look, the 'how does this help us kill devils' look and I'll just be standing there awkwardly while she seems disappointed."
"You'd think she'd do that?" Moonlight asks.
In the meantime, you find the fourth floor to be much like the other floors. Back to books, nothing immediately awry here.
"She'll help, of course, but yeah probably," Jaela responds, nodding. "So! Hobbies! I shared mine." She picks a random book to leaf through while waiting on an answer.
> roll 1d100 Rei
<Rei-chan> THECOLDFINALXORNOFFSEASON rolled : 1d100 Rei --> [ 1d100=1 ]{1}
The book is titled Devilslaying.
How fortunate?
Jaela devours its secrets!
Int check, +2 circumstance bonus.
19:17 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+8+2
19:17 <Rei-chan> Tohsaka rolled : 1d20+8+2 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{29}
It's all fundamentals through a demon perspective. Often perverse and cruel, it nonetheless has effective knowledge. You lose track of things as you walk and read, nodding along to a point about searing flames versus electricity on devils.
"Trouble," Moonlight murmurs, stirring you from your reverie.
Electricity would be clearly better-- "Hmm?" Jaela looks up, but that is purely for show as her blindsight fills her in on everything around her.
Ahead is a tall creature clad entirely in iron armor. All you can see are burning red eyes, the man easily taller than Hanna. He has a huge, wicked looking cudgel in hand.
'Come with me.' His voice overpowers your mind, like someone screaming right into your ears. 'You will all follow.'
"We're busy. Keep going, tin man."
"Yes. Or take your best swing," Sage Vul'lath smiles, all chilliness and wintry amusement. "The guardians of this place will have much to say about it."
The figure takes a step forward and glares at all of you, 'Come with me. NOW.'
Jaela closes the book she's reading with a snap, and while balancing it on the palm of her left hand summons Gae Bolg. "Reconsider the life choices that brought you to this point," she tells the screaming figure, matching that step forward. "Or it will all be over before the guardians get a chance to chastise you."
Before your eyes, the figure's eyes split open. From those twin gaps roaches and other crawling vermin race out, all over his armor. 'You do not have a choice. You are summoned. Come or the crawling ones will find you.'
"Disgusting," Moonlight readies her own mace, face screwed up into a grimace.
"Aaah, how droll." Canderella says. "Like a little bit of a storm wouldn't blow them away."
Jaela's expression turns stony, and her body soon follows.
It's time for Stone Body, oh yes.
"Go along now," Canderella waves her hand, lightning dancing over her body as if she were a live wire. "We're done playing."
Moonlight steps up, light like the noonday sun coming from her. "Lathander's light reaches everywhere, even here. Care to experience it first hand?"
Intimidate checks, all.
20:41 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+40+15
20:41 <Rei-chan> Tohsaka rolled : 1d20+40+15 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{75}
> roll 1d20+48 Canderella Intimidate
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+48 Canderella Intimidate --> [ 1d20=8 ]{56}
> roll 1d20+9 Moonlight intimidate
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Moonlight intimidate --> [ 1d20=6 ]{15}
> roll 1d20+4 Vul'lath
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+4 Vul'lath --> [ 1d20=16 ]{20}
Total of 81, he can't beat that so no point in rolling.
The bugs clatter and hiss at you as one, unearthly noises that send a chill up your spine. The creature breaks apart, armor and all, into thousands of vermin that crawl up the shelves and out of sight.
"For fuck's sake," Jaela grumbles, walking ahead. Finishing the anti-devil book will have to wait until she's an entire floor away from this.
"Eyes open," Moonlight warns, "He might try something, even if he didn't have the guts to go through with it."
"Don't worry about that," Jaela says, her anger serving to focus her wonderfully.
Indeed, as you do, you can see them with your blindsight. Bugs crawling all amid the shelves and behind the books, watching you and moving along as you move.
Jaela proceeds ahead, observing her conditions. A Wall of Stone might do the trick and protect her, but if the material of the passageway doesn't lend itself to being used in such a way, she'll need to step closer to the wall to avoid the books and put on a Crown of Flames for that nice and toasty aura.
It's a wide hallway of bookshelves. It's coming up to a right hand turn, with a little nook opposite it. You aren't sure what's in there, you'd have to go closer. Might be a dead end, might be a passage.
Jaela heads on to resolve this mystery!
Within the nook lies a iron basin. Words are enscribed onto the side, "The price of knowledge is blood."
Jaela dismisses the stone from her being, removes her right gauntlet and wraps it across the tip of her spear while holding it above the basin.
"Jaela, what-oh, blood sacrifice," Canderella says, "I didn't take you for the type."
Jaela merely shrugs, waiting to see what sort of knowledge will present itself in response to her quite precious blood.
How much are you going to bleed here? HP number is fine.
Let's say 10hp
You bleed a bit into the basin but nothing happens. Perhaps more is needed?
Jaela decides to keep going, since she did come here for knowledge.
I'll go up to 50hp and stop if nothing happens.
-30 HP total.
You let more blood pour in. The basin glows briefly and the bookshelf right besides it becomes a doorway.
The first outcome she had expected, then, and not the second. Jaela nods to herself, sealing the cut and cleaning her hand. She steps into the doorway, choosing not to heal herself just yet in case it seals the opening.
"I hope regret does not follow one day," Vul'lath observes, "Your blood is potent."
The door opens, revealing a small, bookshelf lined chamber. Sitting on a stool here is a hunched old demon with sickly yellow skin and a long white beard. She is nude and her entire body is wrinkles and sag. A pair of cracked white horns extend up from her head and curve towards her back.
"Jaela of Aurora," She says the name softly and slowly, as if tasting every letter. "Your blood sings of heroism and demands the head of devils. In that we can agree." She beckons you closer, "Tell me who your enemy is."
"Do I have to pick just the one?" Jaela asks with a snort, stepping over to her. "How about Duke Taelfagn?"
"Yes....yes, he is your enemy," The old crone whispers, one withered hand reaching out for yours. "He surrounds you like a bad fate."
"It's a very happy thought I have, of taking him out and taking his title. It'd suit me better!" Jaela says cheerfully.
"No. Your fate is not fate," The old creature hisses as you, "Do not pretend it is otherwise!"
Moonlight stays back, a hand on her mace, while Canderella has her back to this, watching your flank.
"Semantics," Jaela says with a grin. "I'm gonna kill him. Gonna give me advice?"
"Yessss," The creature hisses, taking your hand in hers. "Let me taste your fate."
Jaela waits for the shady fortune teller to share her insights!
> roll 1d20+31 vs ???
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+31 vs ??? --> [ 1d20=13 ]{44}
The demon peers at you...until she screams as her eyes swell and pop like water balloons. She howls in pain as blood pours down her face, hands going to her face and tearing at her cheeks. Strips of yellow flesh are peeled away, only making it worse.
Moonlight turns pale and quickly turns away, while Sage Vul'lath watches.
"It seems that her power was not sufficient," Sage Vul'lath says. "Unfortunate. I wonder if she will survive?"
Jaela uses a mass heal on herself and the demon!
Caster level check.
21:47 <Tohsaka> roll 1d20+26
21:47 <Rei-chan> Tohsaka rolled : 1d20+26 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{34}
Is it an opposed check?
It is not, just a flat CL check vs a DC.
Your injuries are healed. The demon's are not. It thrashes and writhes as it tears apart its face, screaming, "HE CAN SEE ME!" before jamming her forefinger into her brain, through the eye socket. She falls over and dissolves, leaving behind yellow ichor and red blood.
"I tried," Jaela says simply, staring at the ichor for a long moment before tearing herself away. Maybe her answer lies in one of the books placed upon these hidden bookshelves?
"This is not a place for kindness or second chances," Sage Vul'lath says solemnly, bowing his head. "I hope it was only the Duke of Destiny that saw her."
The books are in various languages, a collection about seers, divinations and prophecies.
"Maybe I should've picked a weaker enemy, then?" Jaela muses. "Some efreet slaver boss or a shitty archomental?" She peruses the books to see if there's anything interesting on breaking prophecy.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=91 ]{91}
Nothing that a quick check reveals, anyway.
"So who would be your enemy?" Jaela asks Moonlight curiously, deciding to head back out. And maybe clean up the traces of her blood if there are any left.
Not a drop of your blood is left.
"Right now, my stomach," Moonlight grimaces, "The Abyss never grows any more palatable."
"This is true," Jaela agrees, deciding to finish the book she had picked up earlier. The author's lamentable choice of evocation aside, it was fairly interesting!
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=75 ]{75}
You wander a time more - and as you do, you hear a rumble of thunder, then another and another. You pause down the narrow hallway all of you go down, single file.
"Hm?" Canderella says, "Oh yes, do continue, I like where you're going with that."
"Hmm? What's that, Candy?"
In the meantime you've skimmed the salient points of the book. It's nothing new for you, but ignoring the demonic slant, it's accurate in what it does. It's even free of horrors or curses on the pages, simply being a collection of lore. Granted, the lore might be troublesome for a mortal, but you're beyond that.
"Thunder." Canderella says, "I wonder if there's more going on somewhere?"
"Dunno," Jaela says with a shrug, offering her the book. "I think you'll like it. By the way, I support the lightning and thunder approach."
"Best to be on guard," Sage Vul'lath warns, drawing his dagger.
"I'm always on my guard," Jaela says, though she calls upon Foresight to be even more so!
Indeed, fortune is with you - for the stairs to the fifth floor are around the next corner. Unguarded, no less - or they appear that way, but your blindsight lets you see an invisible succubus waiting, leaning against the wall.
Jaela makes sure to walk in such a way as to place herself between her companions and the invisible demon. Should the succubus start anything she'd be there to put a stop to it, and if the succubus decides to trail them Jaela can always announce her presence then.
As you begin to approach, "Oh, hold on," Her voice is sultry and teasing, "No one can pass. Unless..."
"What do you want, harlot?" Moonlight asks, to which Canderella gives her a rather unkind glare.
"Are you angling for a job?" Jaela asks curiously.
"What." Moonlight says flatly, turning to stare at you.
"A job? Oh, whatever sort of job could an innocent, chaste and pure maiden like you have to offer me?" The succubus asks, coming forward and into visibility. She's brown haired and with deep, dazzling blue eyes. The typical lush, alluring body of a succubus joins it, she wears a simple silk shift and nothing else.
"There are literally only two reasons for her to try and stop us, and the other is just for kicks," Jaela explains to Moonlight. "I tend to assume the second is always a factor for demons, thus the need for a clarification."
Returning her attention to the succubus, she smiles sweetly. "The job is fighting devils in the Crusade. The job is always fighting the devils."
"Oh, I'm not a fighter," The succubus giggles, "I'm a guardian. This stairway can only be used if you can answer my riddles, for only the might of the mind matters here."
"I'm pretty sure you're fucking with us, but sure, riddle away."
Sage Vul'lath smiles, "This shall be easy," he declares. "Go."
"Oh, confident?" The succubus drawls, "Fine. My domain is the past. I am born in the present and the future is unknown to me. What am I?"
"Regrets?"
"Correct," The succubus says, "That or history, they are one in the same."
Sage Vul'lath nods slightly, "I prefer history."
"So you have a mind in there?" The succubus drawls, "Next then, the more of these you take, the more of them that you leave behind. What are they?"
"Footsteps," Jaela says apologetically. "Sorry, already heard that one before."
"Unfortunate," The succubus steps aside, "Go on...and be careful."
"Planning on it," Jaela responds, heading up.
The fifth floor is quiet, empty. Just bookshelves, row after row of them instead of being a maze. It's so quiet you can hear your own breathing clearly.
Then a rumble of thunder, so loud it startles you. Then another and another, before silence returns.
"Maybe you'll get your chance to figure this out," Jaela muses, looking sideways at Canderella. "Sounds like the storm's where we're heading, too."
She keeps going, however!
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Zombie_Ko roll for Serith < 98 > [d100=98]
> roll 1d100 subtables
<Serith> Zombie_Ko roll for Serith < 66 > [d100=66]
Oh boy, here we go.
You walk along - until you all walk into a comfortable, cozy den. Lots of chairs around a roaring fire, the scent of cocoa and pine in the air. It's dark, lit by the fireplace and fireless torches on the walls. Sitting in one chair is a old man, hale and hearty, his long, unkempt hair white-gray. He wears a rather tattered robe, once finery but now closer to being purple scraps.
"Sit." The old man says.
Jaela makes use of the invitation, observing the old man and waiting for him to make the next move.
Moonlight follows, gaze on him all the while.
Canderella smiles and sketches a curtsy. "Greetings, sir."
"I am known as many things," The man says, "But in this place, I am known as the owner and master."
"I'm Jaela, regardless of where I am," she introduces herself. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"You've been here many times, yet you no longer smell of that vampire," He says, "Curious. You seek answers?"
"Not that many," Jaela demurs. "And what can I say? I like to read. The chance to do it without things devolving into a fight is to be cherished."
To answer the actual question, she says, "I was heading to the sixth's floor to seek the Forgotten. I was told that it would lead me to a way to kill devils permanently without allowing for reincarnation, respawning and the like, and is a different method from doing so upon their plane of origin. And, of course, that this is a means I can use."
"That information can be yours for the right price," The old man says, the sound of cracking bone as he steeples his fingers together. "Yes," He sits back deeply into his chair, "Would you like to make a contract with me, celestial?"
"What would that entail?" Jaela answers his question with her own, ignoring the overtly villainous behavior to get at the core of the offer.
"Six pieces of lore worth killing for," The old man says, "Lore valuable enough that life is naught but a trifle before it."
I'm suddenly drawing a blank, here. Can you give me a few examples of this sort of lore?
Exactly what it sounds like, you'd reckon. Lore that's valuable.
"One for one is a far fairer exchange," Jaela responds smoothly. "Even then, the knowledge we receive would remain with us, while the knowledge we part with will, no doubt, be delivered to the highest bidder."
"Knowledge is its own treasure," The old man fires back, "I'd consider five pieces."
"It's a far more different experience than what I'm used to," Jaela says, frowning now. "It was a book for a book before, so if you want more than the one secret I'm willing to entertain it in exchange for more than one benefit to us. If you throw in that book about me and a couple more favors to be cashed in at a later date, we might get somewhere."
The old man considers before sitting back, "Then I believe we are at an impasse."
"I suppose we are," Jaela freely admits. "The ability to kill devils permanently is a nice to have one. Given the infinity of devils and the impossibility, at least at this point in time, of us killing all of them this would not affect the war effort. Also, since devils are harshly punished for failure I suspect that were we to kill any of our prisoners they would be punished for centuries upon respawning. For us, then, the utility is strictly in the ability to execute those we personally wish dead."
She smiles all of a sudden. "What we really should be discussing is your interest. Namely, that whatever rules of conduct fall upon this fine establishment, at the core you must want to see devils die. Us delivering on that is, as they say, its own reward. That you stand to gain a worthy secret out of the deal should only raise the scales in your favor further and advance our working relationship for future contracts. We're immortal, and the Crusade has a habit of finding its way into hidden devil lore. Perhaps next time we raid one of their holdings, we'll have in you a partner to drop off such juicy information with?"
Make a Diplomacy check here.
Take 10, Divine Insight, result of 81.
"That is not untrue," The old man says, perfectly calm. He is silent a few moments, "I'm not adverse to negotiations over different lore in the future."
"If such a mutually beneficial relationship were to start, this is the point where it happens," Jaela says, waiting for him to either accept her terms under the premise of aforementioned future benefit or offer an amended one.
"Two pieces of knowledge in exchange for the previous offer and an agreement of further knowledge trading," The old man counters.
"Agreed," Jaela voices after thinking this over herself.
The old man rises, offering you his hand. It's a old, gnarled thing that's twisted and swollen.
Jaela shakes it.
"Speak your lore," The old man invites, returning to sitting.
"Hey, thanks," Moonlight glowers at him, "So nice to not be behind a zone of silence again."
"Control yourself, Moonlight." Sage Vul'lath's voice is flat.
"We have a contract, so I know I feel obligated to keep it," Jaela muses. "Unfortunately, you have me at a disadvantage here. Please allow me to be frank for a moment. While you're quite powerful I don't have the same way to vet you and your ability to back up your claims that you have for me. If you were to go first, that would serve as that confirmation for me and put me at ease."
The old man snaps his fingers - in spite of being swollen and arthritic. A book with a midnight black cover appears in your lap. "Take that to your greatest smith, they will be able to construct a weapon to destroy devils for all time from it."
Jaela nods, opening the book to flip through it. While not a smith herself, she should be able to tell if the theory sounds and that the methods don't violate their ethics, which was after all one of her conditions.
And it will also give her an estimate on the sort of lore that this is worth, since different people will kill for different things.
K:P and K:A checks. Also Craft:Weaponsmithing if you have ranks.
Taking 10 for 55 K:A and 60 K:P. If I can take 10 for an int check on the crafting and use Divine Insight, that's 33.
You...honestly aren't sure what this is. It's an incredibly complex process that touches on the soul, but it isn't destroying it. It's invoking several conflicting and strangely interlinked principals and ideals. It's all linked together in some sort of logic, but it's a bit beyond you. You more or less grasp parts of it, but not all and the overarching conclusion is incomprehensible to you.
"Alright," Jaela says, all businesslike now. "Towards my part of the bargain. Aurora held negotiations with Duke Martinet, representing Asmodeus. I can tell you the details surrounding that event, which would be guaranteed the only version of it actually true."
As a note, roll a Bluff check if you include anything untrue.
The old man ponders and nods silently, then waves a hand and says, "Continue."
"Two of our officers, Muirfinn and Lief, were captured during a strike on a devil outpost. Muirfinn was reportedly held in Nessus at Asmodeus's pleasure, and we approached Queen Vla'akith in order to retrieve him. Rather than secure his release, she made it possible for us to hold negotiations at her palace. Asmodeus saw fit to invite us, and Morniel and I went along with a small party to represent Aurora. Out natural allies of Celestia, the Cauldron and Sylica supported our side, but loaned out their personnel for the cause rather than take direct action. That was due to our desire to resolve things on our own, given Muirfinn was one of ours. Over the course of negotiations, which took roughly two days of deliberation and rest, we secured Muirfinn's return."
Jaela smiles again. "How was this? To the best of my knowledge, this is only the third such negotiation held on Asmodeus's behalf, and information on such things is sparse."
No need to lie here.
"That is sufficient," The old man says, "Yes, that will do." He stands and passes you something - an old white token, scarred and weathered. "When you have information for another trade, invoke this. Cast it on the ground and think of your intent to trade."
Jaela blinks in momentary surprise, but if he accepts it as two pieces of lore that works for her. She accepts the token, inclining her head. "Of course. I'll do that." Pausing briefly, she asks, "Before we leave, was there something going on outside? A storm?"
"Talos visited. We had business." The old man says, as a portal stretches into being behind all of you.
"It's been a pleasure," Jaela says, waiting for her companions to step through the portal before she follows them.
The portal takes you outside of the Library, just before the teleportation spot.
"Profitable," Sage Vul'lath says, "Dangerous, but profitable."
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Jaela says, holding onto the book. "Vul'lath, would you mind compiling a list of secrets that we may consider parting with once we're back? I'd rather be prepared next time something like this comes up rather than winging it."
Sage Vul'lath nods and...
Good to wrap here?
Yep
Done. To nagging!