Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

The refugees pour in. Hundreds of battered, emaciated souls rushing in. Jetina gives them one look and rushes forward, "Let me help," she calls, as you hear Balyss shout, "Any healers get over here! Anyone who can generate food and water quickly, double time!"

"Lower most of the portals now," Adrian instructs. When did he get here? You aren't sure, having been focused on maintaining your two portals. "We're about out of duration anyway, we'll reopen if they need extraction and keep the main Aurora portal open for now. Fall back, we're setting up a guard around it in case any devils try and come through."

"That one'll expire on its own." Moore says as he gestures to the one being maintained via magic as the one he was personally concentrating on falls apart.

Creating a heroes' feast would probably be overkill right now, so he opts to fly up and out of everyone's way while he starts to play a melody to aid in the efforts of everyone else.

Healing Hymn, +28 to any conjuration (healing) spells cast in the area. It doesn't specify any particular limit, just anyone who can hear it.

Sure. Just for fun, make a Perform check for it.

Well if you're going to ask that, then he'll take 10 for 80.

Your music spreads over the refugees, calming them as healing goes out. You watch - nostalgia.

Jetina is a shining shadow amid them. She moves, whispers a few words and heals a dozen at a time. She is steady, walking along and leaving wounds aside and restoring flesh like it's merely part of an afternoon stroll. Nostalgia, strong and sweet, fills your mind.

Yeah, this is how things ought to be -- they always worked well as a pair to support the others' efforts...

He continues to play quietly to bolster the efforts of everyone else healing the wounded.

It sure was timely that she woke up in time for this... there's no way this is just a coincidence.


He continues to watch and play in case there's an emergency situation.

Wis check.

[14:14] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6
[14:14] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 8 > [d20=2]

As you work, your music soothes. The wounded rest easier and wounds heal better, many simply passing into restful slumber. As you work, "Moore," Balyss calls out, "Come over here."

He will fly over as asked!

Balyss looks at him, a hand on her hip and the other holding her holy symbol. "We're going to move those who need sleep more than food to the infirmary. Would you go with them and perform once they're in? We're thinking it may help with the mental trauma if you play something soothing."

"Sure. I have a few things that I think will help them, too." He nods. "Just have Jetina stay with you -- I know this is right up her alley."

"She's good," Balyss looks over, "Her and the Jarl are going to get along great. Anyway, go." Balyss smiles, "There's more work to be done."

Plan for tending to those sleeping? You said you had a few ideas.

Mass Conviction to give them a little extra boost (+4 morale for 2 hours 20 minutes), and Heart's Ease (I can get 14 individuals per cast and have 7 total casts, more if I use more spell slots)

You'd need 11 castings to get everyone in here - it's just about 150 of them that need sleep, most need food more. Got enough charges?

Yep. He'll use 7 of his 3rd level casts and 4 4th level to cover all of it.

Done, done and done. You cast your magic as you flutter about, tending to the ill and exhausted. They sleep sounder after your ministrations, Priest aiding you and seeing to them.

Priest carefully checks each one over, examining scars both old and new. He checks the pulses of the resting, murmurs prayers over them and then goes to the next. After about going through a third of them, Priest pauses and speaks aloud.

"There is no doubt they are long term victims of torture. They are alive only because the devils wished them to suffer longer. Triune grant them mercy, be the elves or others."

"I know there are spells to modify the memory of someone..." Moore taps his chin. "I don't like the idea of using them for this, but... I suppose it would depend on the individual's wishes. Still, perhaps invoking a stronger spell... mm." He huffs. "What do you think, Priest? I..."

He looks away. "If I had the choice of remembering a horrible time I spent somewhere or being free of its burdens... I ... would... probably still want to remember. So I knew how far I'd come."

"We call on the holy to wash away pain and allow them to grieve, grow and move on." Priest is quiet, keeping his voice down. "Should it be needed, the memories of past agony can be gently washed away, but it is not preferred. Is not forgetting the root of your problem, no matter how painful the memories could be?"

Moore nods. "Yes, I agree."

He rubs his chin afterwards. "I'll have to ask Laura if she knows any other spells that might help out in this situation. I don't know that we need such strong magic as those that call on wishes or miracles... but hopefully just being able to sleep for a while in some comfort will give them respite."

"Being saved will give them respite. We must also provide them spiritual nourishment as much as physical nourishment. I will see to it that clergies come to claim their own and offer them good messages to draw strength from." There is a pause as Priest looks around, slowly sweeping his hand across the room. "In the ashes of diabolical tragedy shall the fires of purity burn anew. Amid these there will be paladins, clerics, favored souls and other holy champions. They will be galvanized by what happened to them and become righteous avengers against Baator."

Moore smiles. "Of course. I hope they can all find their paths back to the lives they deserved to live from the beginning. Although... a thought occurs to me, what do we do with them in the interim? I suppose we have both demiplanes to work with..."

"We'll find places for them to rest," Priest says, "They need time most of all right now. Time to realize they've woken up and the nightmare is over."

"I suppose we're not going to be strained on resources." Moore says. "If we need to build housing for them in one of the demiplanes, I think I can handle that part. ...Hm. Do you think we should prepare for a reprisal here, or do you think they'll just be focusing on everyone still on Lifasa?"

"We are not an easy target, and a retreat to a better place is an option," Priest says, "Yet it is inevitable we will be attacked eventually."

Moore nods. "No sense in worrying about it. Is there anything else you'd like help with for them right now?" He asks.

"Yes," Priest says, "Get several soldiers and have them bring food over. Nothing that will spoil fast or sit poorly, simple food that's easy to eat. Porridge, soups, soft bread."

Surely there's magic that can do that...

Either way, Moore nods. "I'll find some." He confirms and will go to have some folks help him bring food!

Make a Wisdom check.

[13:21] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6
[13:22] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 10 > [d20=4]

This goes well enough.

Just going to help out and wait for things to resolve?

He'll make rounds between the different groups helping the refugees and make pitstops for Healing Hymns as needed.

Do those take daily uses of bardic music?

Yes.

4 daily uses consumed.

You work away, healing the ill and seeing them further restored. Elena soon pops up, "Gisfal wants you on the ready in case there's a reprisal. Out in the courtyard, second rank of soldiers. Sing your head off if the enemy appears."

Noting for my own sake that that makes a total of 5 used thus far.

"Of course. Thanks Elena." Moore nods. Well, just to be on the safe side, he casts a few spells on himself in case something does break out...

Tyche's Touch, Greater Improvisation, Divine Insight. He'll also swing by the readiness arch to grab those spells too. And he'll use his ioun stone to get 20 Temp HP. Let me put up a stat block in case.

One more Wisdom check and then you're holing, though I may see about moving the others on during the down days a bit to minimize this and get you going Tuesday.

[14:25] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+6+13
[14:25] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+6+13 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{28}

13 points subtracted from the Greater Improvisation pool, he has 65 left.

As you fly back, you remember.

Lucy and her libraries. Why are you remembering that now?

Erathaol is the Seer. A woman's voice. A voice you know but just can't identify, can't remember. It eludes you masterfully.

The moment passes, leaving you dazed as you touch the mission readiness arch, magic spreading through you to protect you.

He hesitates for a moment with his hand on the arch.

...Do the memories of them surface when they return? ...Is that what it is?

If so, then... she'll be waking up soon, too. He'll have to wait for a message.

He takes a breath to clear his mind -- he'll worry about the details later. For now, he'll fly to the soldiers in the courtyard!

Will save.

[13:12] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+47 will (+4 if somehow this is an evil or supernatural thing, also mind blank if relevant for the bonus)
[13:12] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+47 will (+4 if somehow this is an evil or supernatural thing, also mind blank if relevant for the bonus) --> [ 1d20=6 ]{53}

You hurry onto the gate, paired with Canderella at the ready. She gives you a glance, and after a few moments as you stand at the head of reinforcements, "I hope a few devils try. They fry so nicely if you throw lightning at them." She smiles - a slow, relaxed and tempting thing, showing off her unnatural beauty. Enthralling, as much a force from her as her magic. It makes you want to stare, unable to look away or ignore her.

Just like when he first met her -- why doesn't he seem to have that impact on people? Or maybe he does and he doesn't notice...

"Did you get a haircut?" He asks, out of nowhere.

Moore casts a quick spell for himself after that, since if they do break through for some reason, it's best to be prepared!

Harmonize, CL25, lasts 25 minutes.

Canderella laughs - a light thing like bells ringing and angels singing. It's simply beautiful. "No, but thank you, I have been thinking about it."

"Hm. Something seems... " He pulls his eyes away after a while. "Forgive me for the pun, but it seems like you're more charged up today. It seems like you're overflowing more than normal. Uh... in the... power sense, not the... you know."

Canderella laughs lightly at that, "Why of course. The storms sing to me today! My blade craves devil blood. The chorus of chaos demands a pound of infernal flesh."

A beat, Canderella leaning in towards you.

"Or I'm just having a good day. You decide."

"I think it's both, really." Moore agrees. "But your charisma is invigorating."

Canderella merely makes the slightest curtsy.

"Please enjoy then, preferably as we send Hell's minions crying back to Bel's teat."

Moore offers a flourishing bow. "Then, by all means, Lady Canderella, let us wait and see if the forces of Hell are so gracious as to give us an audience."

Make a Spot check, just for reference.

Take 10 for 46.

A few tense minutes pass, but no sign of a Hellish reprisal yet.

"Stay focused," Gisfal calls, "Hell's strikes are sure and mighty, and may come only wen you begin to slacken your guard!"

Moore pats his mouth with a stifled yawn, but stays prepared!

It's then that a thunder crack shakes the Astral, making everything outside of Aurora tremble as if on a boat during a storm at sea. Soldiers stare on as the Astral itself begins to writhe before all of you.

"Probably incoming! BE READY!" Adrian's voice from somewhere, as you struggle to regain your equilibrium.

"Flashy, but not really that intimidating. I think I'd give it a 4/10." Moore says in Canderella's direction.

Why, if they're giving everyone this much time to prepare, why not be courteous and use it to their own advantage?

Haste on all the named NPCs present, so I'm guessing Candy, Adrian, Gisfal, himself? Not sure if they're all too far away though. If they are let me know.

Yes. There are others, but they're out of spell range and leading troops. Does that impact anything?

No. He'll throw it on 21 other random soldiers if they're in range, too.

21?

It's 1 target/level, right? 25-4 = 21

For some reason I thought you were talking about 21, the object.

My brain's just not been cooperative today. Clearly having a carb-bomb of a lunch was a mistake. Then again, if ravioli are a mistake, I don't want to be right.

Speed wraps up around your enemies, as suddenly the Astral Plane screams. The Silver Sea stretches out outside of Aurora from horizon to horizon, green fires spreading amid it like a plague. Devils.

You see so many devils.

Devils all around Aurora, lead by one whom you cannot ignore. His presence is overwhelming, choking. It's all you can do to keep thinking and not panic blindly, for at the head of the Infernal army that is coming from the burning sky, is a figure of nightmares. A pit fiend that towers over lesser such fiends, a blade of burning hate in his hands. You feel it pulse with him, murderbowkillgroveldestroysubmitmaimsbegmashpleadcrushkneeldevoursurrender.

You shudder.

His belt is the heads of angels, forever screaming to whatever deity they believe can still save them. They cry out, a chorus of noise all around the fiend, one that pierces the air and burrows into your mind.

Bel, the Lord of the First, stands at the head of the infernal forces.

"FORWARD, FOR THE GLORY OF HELL!"

Run. Run while you can. It is not time to Aurora to face him.

You don't want to die before you meet her again, do you?

You blink.

What?

The Astral continues to rumble, as you blink. You were about to cast a spell of haste, but...what? Bel. You remember Bel standing before Aurora, a moment of inhuman terror even as the devil army you saw is no longer there, nor is the Lord of the First.

Yet you still feel the overwhelming terror, the horror that pierced your Mind Blank. Your hand shake, your stomach queases and you're sweating profusely. It is time to use your diplomacy, Moore. Convince them.

It is a moment of prescience. A moment of stark terror that covers his face like a sheet as his wings stop and he falters.

"...We... ...we need to leave." Moore stammers out.

Is that... right? They need to... ...yes, no. No.

He takes a breath. Steady yourself -- no one likes a diplomat who can't stay professional.

He raises his voice. "Gisfal! We need to move Aurora. Now! Anywhere else -- we need to leave!" He shouts.

"Elena! Where is Balyss?!" He calls out. "Is she sensing anything!?"

Gisfal is nearby, coming over to you at your call. "Why?" He says bluntly, "Speak plainly, if you have a good reason."

"I think Bel is coming. No." He shakes his head.

"Bel is coming." He says, again.

"I'm sure of it."

"How do you know?" Gisfal says, waiting.

Meanwhile Elena pops in, "Working on it, both bodies are going full blats. I'm getting a third one after this!"

"Divine intervention, I don't know!" Moore says, his voice wavering for a moment.

a moment
A moment.

A moment, yes.

He takes a deep breath. "I had a vision. I can't tell you where it came from, but I can assure you that it wasn't wrong. If you have to have me identify it, call it divine intervention from Erathaol." Moore says with a hint of awe in his voice.

"I do not ask you to do this lightly, I am well aware of the current situation, so I will beg if I have to. Please." Moore repeats. "We need to leave before he gets here. We can't fight Bel right now."

Make a Diplo check here, Moore.

Take 10 for 96, using Divine Insight and more Improvisation points.

Gisfal is silent for a few moments, meeting your eyes with his.

"Move! Everyone inside," Gisfal bellows, "We're retreating to Elysium! Elena, tell Tepen or someone who can cast Sending as fast as possible to tell Jaela or Afina to meet us in Elysium! NOW!"

As Gisfal says this, the Astral begins rocking harder, people moving as fast as they can. "FASTER!" Gisfal calls, "Or you may not live to regret it."

Moore takes a breath.

Another breath.

It's all he can to calm himself down right now, focus on breathing.

Waiting a sec on Tryll here, in case Tryll or Calleigh does anything immediately relevant.

Tryll reaches out and moves the farthest away along, granting you precious seconds. Seconds you need as Aurora begins to move. The portal opens before you as you go in, a horrid shaking and a moment of unreasoning fear -

-

!!!

Elysium. Aurora stands on the sacred grounds of this holy land, no sign of the devils.

He lets out a breath.

Whew, they're safe.

........

Wait, but what about the people on...

"If Bel was really coming to face us, then he's probably going to turn his attention back on the others still on Lifasa, right?" Moore says with some hesitation and concern. Fear? Yes, fear.

"Wait... wait." He stops himself. "Why was Bel even... ..." He frowns. "They must've seen an opportunity..."

As Gisfal commands the troops Adrian flies over, skimming across the ground to you. "The hell happened?" he demands as he reaches you, "You talk to Gisfal and we're in full retreat."

He takes in a breath. "Bel was coming." He replies.

"I had a... a premonition, I guess you'd call it. I saw him -- screaming angel belt and all. He was leading that charge on Aurora." Moore says. He swallows once, as even trying to recall it seems rather difficult. "Bel was leading the charge with the devils against us."

Adrian takes 10 on K:P for 36.

"Erathaol?" Adrian asks after a moment, glancing back as soldiers begin to fulfill Gisfal's orders. "He's known as the seer, I didn't know he'd given you the gift of precognition like that." His gaze is intense on you, but lightening after he looks away. "We left the attack parties in a pinch, but they're capable of getting themselves out of there intact. Did your vision show him turning back to Lifasa?"

Was it Erathaol? Maybe... it was...

He takes a breath. "It was a voice that has yet to steer me wrong. I... all I say was Bel breaching the portal with hundreds... if not thousands of devils. I... I worry that he may turn his attention back to Lifasa, since his attack on us was thwarted."

Adrian's face twists into a grimace. "Fuck," he mutters with feeling, "Stay right there." He flies off to Gisfal, then pauses, "No, check that. Elena, get Balyss to stop whatever she's doing and use the fastest fucking divination she has for guidance. Hell, get everyone who can manage it to do so, now."

Elena appears for a split second, "Got it," she says, then winks away.

"It strikes me as peculiar, Adrian." Moore says, quietly. "Could they really muster that much against us in that short of a time?"

Adrian's gone off to talk to Gisfal, leaving your question unanswered and unheard.

Gisfal and Adrian briefly talk, short and sharp. Elena then appears next to them and vanishes.

Was it you? Or was it...

He takes a breath and flies over to Adrian and Gisfal.

"Moore," Adrian's voice is crisp, "Balyss says the answer is unclear, so odds are something's interfering with divinations. We won't take that risk, though knowing Jaela's situation, she's using her teleport blocking spell. Additionally, we can't risk losing more of Aurora's generals if this goes all wrong. If Erathaol trusted you with this, I'll trust you with this: Assemble a small team, no more than four officers, and report back here as soon as possible. You'll be going there as a relief force to try and help anyone escape in case Bel does go there."

After a moment, "But the priority is escaping yourselves if it comes down to that. Losing Afina, Jaela, 27, Hanna and Baleruk would be a disaster, but losing your team as well would be catastrophic. Questions?"

He shakes his head. "No. I'll get who we need and get out." He says.

Dana, Candy, Sylvie.

EDIT: Made an edit to remove Moonlight and add Sylvie.

Let me hold you a sec pending Tryll posting again, in case that impacts this, and so I can sort him to his next thing.

Belated, but Adrian will overrule the Sylvie choice. Same reason he's not going - he's not risking 21 on a rescue mission that could be doomed from the beginning.

Okay, then Moonlight it is.

Dana's first, coming over at a trot, "Well fucking finally, it's like getting all making out and then the guy chickenshits out or blows in his pants. We gonna go fight something?"

"We're there to make sure everyone else gets back safely." Moore says. "If we happen to be able to bash a few devil skulls in while we're there, then that's a bonus."

"Yeah, sure. Who else is going?" Dana says, shrugging. "What the fuck ever."

"I asked Canderella and Moonlight to come along. That way we've got pretty much every aspect covered properly." Moore answers.

"Coming," Canderella calls, sauntering over.

"Yeah, I bet she says that a lot." Dana mutters under her breath, readying her shield and rapier at the same time.

Moore can't help but grin at that comment and then he nods to Candy. "All right, I'm not entirely sure where we'll end up when we go there, but hopefully it'll be close enough to the others. Oh!" He snaps his fingers. "Elena, can you get Tepen or someone else to cast the inter-planar telepathy spell on us? Just to be safe."

Elena pops in, "He's coming, he's coming," Elena says, then pops out.

"Oh, how simple." Canderella says, "What's the complication?"

"What, with us going?" Moore asks.

"Yes," Canderella says as you see Moonlight sprinting across the courtyard, red hair vibrant in the light of Elysium as she races over. "You called," she says, skidding to a stop.

"We're going to Lifasa to make sure everyone else gets out. I... had a premonition that Bel was going to attack Aurora." Moore explains. "Now that he can't, he may turn his attention to Lifasa to capture everyone that's there right now. We're going there to hopefully meet up and get out."

Moonlight takes a deep breath, "Lathander," she breathes, "No time to waste then, let's go!"

"Yeah!" Dana hefts her shield, "Let's go kick some devil ass so hard that Asmodeus thinks he's getting assfucked!" She grins ear to ear, "Maybe this asshole will be a worthwhile fight."

Go ahead, Moore. Where are you aiming for?

Since Adrian (I think, maybe it was Gisfal) mentioned Jaela's teleport block, what would he know about that? His intention is to get them basically nearby where all the refugees were coming from -- i.e. where they opened the gates to last time.

Roughly, you'd know a teleport block somewhere akin to 1/5th to 1/4th of a mile in radius.

Then he'll just go as close to that as they can go -- would Greater Plane Shift suffice if the coordinates are basically 'as close as possible to where the gates were'? Or can I use Jaela as a target?
If not then we'll just have to wing it as best we can.

You've visited that location, so yes. Of course, if Jaela's block is still up, you'd be blocked. Your call if you want to try.

Let's try it. Moore will use Greater Plane Shift.

Nothing happens. Planar magic's being blocked, most likely.

He nods. At least that means the devils can't do the same.

He will try again approximately 1/4 of the mile away from that location in a westerly direction.

Opening a portal with your own magic or Aurora's gates?

He's trying Greater Plane Shift again. I should probably look up what the aurora gates can do at some point.

At will Gate, as the spell.

Oh, then in that case yes, let's go with the free version.

You appear in darkness.

The bleeding rift above is still in the sky, kept sealed for now.

The air is thick, heavy, miserable. Befouled, the land lightly quivering as if in the throes of torment.

From here you can see the rift, far away and glowing with the same infernal red light.

Take 10 on Spot for 46, can we see Jaela from here or anything noteworthy that might indicate which direction we need to go besides back east?

Looking carefully, you can see a thick fog lingering over the surface of the rift, obscuring sight.

Moore points. "That way, let's go." He says as speedy magic wraps around everyone again!

Refreshing Haste on everyone so we move fast!

"Forward!" Moonlight agrees, as the four of you go.

Movement speed, Moore. Will matter here.

90 ft/fly (good), assuming double move it's 180

We're going round by round now, so expect a short delay after this post for the others to catch up.

You quickly fly about half of the way there, covering the ground. It's then that Lifasa screams. There's no other word for it. The scream rips through your head like liquid-hot agony, making you fall to the ground in a barely aware heap.

Gah!

Moore tumbles to the ground and clutches at his head as he slowly regains his senses.

This is like what happened on Benfal, but without Cantasa Alexadria to fix it... ugh.

Take 10 (if possible) on K:P for 59 for any way that we might be able to do about this or lessen its impact on us since we can't have that happening when we're trying to get the hell (heh) out.

Due to the pain you're in, taking 10 isn't viable. Roll the check, please.

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+49 : 10 + 49, total 59[/blockquote]

To wound the land like this, so violently now. Only the coming of a massively powerful outsider could make Lifasa hurt like that.

"Shit." Moore mutters.

'Tepen, Bel or something worse is coming. We need a contingency in case we can't get out of here on our own and we need it fast.' He sends.

He struggles to get back up and continue on with the others.

'Do so. Retreat at your discretion, don't throw your lives away,' Tepen warns.

Well, if Bel is actually here then he'd have seen him by now...

He takes a breath and continues towards the foggy-looking area at top speed!

"The hell was that?" Dana calls as you get up, Moonlight zooming ahead as well.

"Really bad!" Moore replies.

"No fucking shit!" Dana snaps, "How about we try that again and with less of the motherfucking obvious?!"

"Bel's coming bad!" Moore shouts over his shoulder.

Amid Dana's curses...

Pausing you a sec for Iddy and Afina to catch up.

As you fly closer?

'Bel coming from below. Unable to assist in time. Taking down dimensional interdiction now. Escape off plane at once! That's an order! Evacuating myself.' Jaela's voice.

Welp!

"Yep, leaving now." Moore says as he Greater Plane Shifts everyone back to Elysium!

Dex check.

The wonders of having an aura that helps in these situations. And Greater Improvisation!

[15:36] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+11+12+13
[15:36] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=3]

Wavering.

Shaking.

A moment that lasts forever, dazed and confused.

It is only broken up by the mercy of Elysium, as you appear nearby Aurora. Cheers - Afina and her group are back as well, though no sign of Jaela.

He lets out a breath.

"Well, that was a little more excitement than I was ready for today." Moore says as he slips down onto the ground for a moment to rest.

"Too bad," Canderella says, "There was so much lightning I wanted to show him." She nonetheless sags in relief as more cheers go up.

"Still, something about all of this is off." Moore says as he pushes himself back up. "There's no way even Hell could have mobilized that fast against us if they weren't already planning this."

"Yeah," Dana says, "I want ask someone who knows this shit what's up, like Morniel or Gisfal." She spits to the side, "Gonna do do that, even if I have to drag them but the balls to do it."

"I have a feeling we need to have a meeting." Moore agrees. "Let's go see what's going on."

Pausing you pending a new topic tomorrow.