You find Balyss in the Temple of Selune, kneeling and in prayer. It's quiet here, a sense of peace and serenity in the air.
Go ahead, Jaela.
Jaela displays her infinite patience and waits for Balyss to be done.
Balyss is at it for some time - perhaps a quarter of an hour before she rises. "Jaela," she greets you, back to you as she rises, turning to see you after that. "I'm glad you made it back safely." Her smile is soft and serene, a faint silvery glow around her head. Her voice is subtly different, calm and with a gentleness that soothes you.
"I'll tell you a secret," Jaela whispers, leaning closer. "I'm pretty strong."
"I know," Balyss says gently, a silver-glowing hand cupping your cheek. "You were still in mortal peril. We saw many tangled threads of the futures that could be but were not. We thank Selune for her mercy in guiding you back safe and sound, for it was a rocky path you followed."
"That it was," Jaela agrees, mirth melting away. "And I need some guidance now, so that next time I return from certain peril I'm dragging a traitor with me."
"Speak, we will tell you what we know, for we are seven like this, and seven will light the way to Lifasa's future, no matter what the nine say." Balyss speaks, her voice becoming one of many.
"Mala or Ettan are preferred targets."
"Mala nurses her wounds, gravely injured," The voices speak, "She hides away in a den within the dying earth, surrounded by magma and unholy prayers. Her magic was not without backlash."
"Happy to hear that!" Jaela says, perking up anew. "How do we dig her out of there? And can we do anything about Ettan?"
"Go down from where her abode began and tear through the broken earth nearby and into the magma," Balyss replies. "It will not be an easy battle."
"Is there a merit in going fresh tomorrow?" Jaela muses. "Or would it already be too late?"
"It would be too late," Balyss intones, "We see that your chance is now or it shall be lost."
"Thanks. I guess this is it." Nodding to herself, Jaela speaks into the air, "Elena, ask the Master, Afina, Simmer and Mirajane to meet me by the mission arch." Turning back to the possessed Balyss, she asks, "Any final instruction? If there's someone you recommend I bring along, I'll consider it."
"Do not bring Simmer, it is not her battle," The voices speak as one, "Do not bring Mirajane, it is not her battle. Three alone shall stand tall, four will bring death and five ruin."
That's pretty unfortunate. "Canderella? Sylvie?" Jaela asks, going down a mental list of people nice to have in a pitched battle.
"Three alone shall stand tall, four will bring death and five ruin," Balyss repeats in many voices as one.
"Four is death. Got it. Thanks!" Jaela says, deciding not to bother Balyss anymore and heads for the arch to meet with Afina and the others.
Are you going to still have Elena bring Simmer and Mirajane? You never countermanded that.
Yeah.
Jaela, Afina, Mirajane, Simmer and the Master all gather by Aurora's gate.
"So what's this about?" Simmer asks, "Who needs to burn now?"
"Thanks for coming," Jaela tells everyone. "Here's the thing. Balyss is channeling like crazy and her patron suggests we got Mala with that excursion to Lifasa. Apparently, she's hiding out below the lava under her exploded tower and nursing her wounds, but we have to strike now."
She frowns. "Apparently, it's not your battle," she goes on to say, nodding at Simmer and Mirajane, "so I'd like the two of you to stay ready to intervene if things go badly for us." Now, she turns towards Afina and the Master. "Assuming, of course, that the two of you are ready to go?"
"I exhausted my magic really badly against those Nessians," Afina says. "I'm still capable of defeating most single foes we might encounter, but I don't have the reserves to tackle large groups. Do you know what sort of defences she has?"
Afina: 329/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26)
defences: AC 92 (touch 60), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits
perceptions: blindsense 30, low-light vision, darkvision 60, spot +41, listen +41
spell slots: 6/9/10/7/7/6/2/8/0/0/0/0/2
"Selune didn't want to say, only that three would have a hard fight but could succeed, and four and five are variations on death." Jaela shrugs. "That can't be helped. I'm thinking the three of us cover most eventualities, and are swift enough to escape if it comes to that."
"Then we will," The Master says firmly. "Mala will lie broken at our feet within the hour."
In that case, Jaela arranges for another casting of interplanar telepathy to tie the five of them together and casts her usual combat spells before asking for Mirajane to open the gate and maintain it open for the time being.
Afina casts a few spells of her own to prepare.
Shield, greater heroism, and Afina's perfect vision cast"I only have one spell above the seventh circle available and I'm reserving it for emergencies in case I end up in another trap with Taelfagn, so I'll be restricted in how well I deal with anything exotic," she warns.
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30)
defences: AC 96 (touch 60), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/7/7/6/1/8/0/0/0/0/1
Precast on everyone: Interplanar Telepathic Bond CL26 (Tepen), Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL24 (Cresiel), Good Hope CL30, Recitation CL30 [lvl4].
Also, Master wears Hidden Dawn with me.Hidden Dawn benefitsRank 1: CR 10 or sparring, fire resistance 10, 100ft range.
Rank 2: CR 13, +2 fortitude saves, 125ft range.
Rank 3: CR 15, searing light at will as an SLA, 150ft range.
Rank 4: CR 18, +2 reflex saves, 200ft range.
Rank 5: CR 20, flame strike at will, 300ft range.
Rank 6: CR 21, +2 will saves, 400ft range.
Rank 7: CR 24, +2d6 goldenfire damage on weapon damage rolls, natural attacks and spells and spell-like abilities with the fire descriptor, 700ft range.
Rank 8: CR 27, immunity to fire, 1000ft range.
Rank 9: CR 29, save bonuses increase to +7, 5000ft range.
Rank 10: CR 32, goldenfire damage rises to +4d6, unlimited range as long as on same plane.
Spells Active: Spell Turning CL26, Contingency CL32, Permanency/Greater Blindsight CL32, Permanency/Mantle of Good CL33, Foresight CL27, Moment of Prescience CL25, Lore of the Gods CL30, Invisibility Purge CL30, Fortunate Fate CL15, Mind Blank CL17, Greater Mage Armor CL7, Planar Tolerance CL7, Heroes Feast CL20, Righteous Halo CL28, Vision of the Omniscient Eye CL30, Greater Heroism CL30, Shield of Warding CL31, Conviction CL31, Crown of Flame CL30, Sign CL30, Divine Insight CL33, Interplanar Telepathic Bond CL26 (Tepen), Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL24 (Cresiel), Good Hope CL30.
Short Duration Spells: Grace CL30 [lvl3], Recitation CL30 [lvl4].
"You still have your versatility, though," Jaela assures Afina.
Okay, cool. Anything else before I make spoiler blocks?
I think I'm good
likewise
Cor, do me a favor and list the benefits of things like good hope and recitation in the future, since it saves me looking up time. Thanks.
"I'm ready," The Master says.
[spoiler]
The Master
HP: 339/339
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Telepathic Bond (CL26), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL24), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
No problem.
Jaela nods at Mirajane at that, and waits for the gate to be opened! She'll be the first one through.
Stupid DM question: Where precisely are you gating to?
Near where the tower collapsed, like within a few hundred feet?
Unsurprisingly, the broken ground of the tower is no more appealing than when you were here before. Cracks in the earth ooze lava all over and the tower is gone, surely having sunken into the magma.
"So straight down through the magma where the tower fell?" Afina asks, flying down that way. "Have any ideas on how best to dig down? I could try cooling the magma then disintegrating a path, but that'll only take us so far."
"The Master and I are immune to fire, and so should you be," Jaela muses. "I was hoping you had some useful earth magic, honestly, but if you don't I was thinking I'd put Phase Door to use."
"Can we all become as ghosts?" The Master asks, "I can for great strides, but not forever."
"I can only turn intangible enough to get through something as thick as a fortress's walls, it wouldn't work if she's buried deeper than that," Afina says. "Phase door sounds good, any stone shaping I do wouldn't be able to dig much deeper than I can phase."
"Phase Door it is," Jaela agrees, making her way to the tower's remains and searching for a good spot to cast it on the ground.
The door's triggers are simple, and name Afina, the Master, Mirajane and Simmer by name. I get through by default.
I'll use the Bead of Karma, though it sadly won't affect the spell's CL of 25. That means it's 50ft deep.
Effect: Ethereal 5 ft. by 8 ft. opening, 10 ft. deep + 5 ft. deep per three levels
Okay, rules time since I blundered into this one and didn't realize it until I read Phase Door this morning. To quote from the SRD:
This spell creates an ethereal passage through wooden, plaster, or stone walls, but not other materials.
1. Would magma count as stone for this?
2. Regardless, would magma count as a wall for this in the first place?
I'm inclined to gutshot no on the first question, though it's arguable and within the realm of DM fiat. However, magma that's erupted out of the ground is decidedly not a wall, so it moots the first question regardless. So I'm going to rule Phase Door doesn't apply, go ahead and take a different action instead.
Jaela stabs at the magma with her unbreakable heavily enchanted spear to carve a way down.
And phase door was never mentioned again."Stand clear Jaela, I'll just have to disintegrate my way down," Afina says, first launching a jet of freezing cold down to cool the magma before she begins carving a tunnel.
Cone of Cold SLA used and then as many disintegrates as it takes to tunnel into Mala's hideout. I have 9 available.
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30)
defences: AC 96 (touch 60), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/7/7/6/1/8/0/0/0/0/1
I know, right?
Anyway, after an IRC discussion that involved phase door, the precise definition of walls in a structural sense and a bunch of other stupid pedantry, I've made the following houserule in regards to phase door.
Phase Door: This spell can be applied to any solid surface and need not be a wall. Measures that stop ethereal travel stop this spell.
Go ahead and revise if this alters anything, you two, or give me an all clear post.
If we can use phase door then let's, we can disintegrate more ground if that doesn't lead us to our goal.
Yeah, my cone of cold can stand to solidify the magma so we're all clear on the phase door plan.
Okay then. How far does phase door go down?
50ft
All of you step through the phase door.
Ahead is black, solid stone, little rills of magma glowing and providing faint light all along it.
Can I sense any creatures within my 200 feet blindsight?
Does your blindsight penetrate solid rock?
It does not. Sorry, where are we? I assumed we were in some sort of passage made of that black stone you mentioned, are we in some sort of bubble between magma and a wall of that stuff, or what?
"I'll disintegrate to the left and down," Jaela tells Afina. "Aim right and down, and we'll create ourselves a bit of a breathing space?"
Oh, fair enough.
You look around and see you're in a bubble, just big enough for the three of you and a little more. Rock surrounds you.
Afina nods to Jaela and sends a disintegration beam into the stone below.
[19:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check
[19:05] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20 check --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30)
defences: AC 96 (touch 60), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/7/7/6/1/7/0/0/0/0/1
[21:06] <@Luiza> roll 1d20 same
[21:06] <Rei-chan> Luiza rolled : 1d20 same --> [ 1d20=4 ]{4}
Stone crumble. Below you can see a cavern, reddish light from it spilling upwards.
What does my blindsight tell me about what's down there?
Jaela leads the way down!
To the left leads to open liquid of some kind. To the right leads to two creatures guarding a door.
Can I tell what kind of creatures they are?
'Two guards on the right, lets take them quickly,' Afina sends telepathically to her companions as she follows Jaela.
Gelugons. They're moving towards the hole.
'Ice devils,' she adds by explanation.
Are they close enough that we could zip out and get a surprise round on them?
'Got it,' Jaela agrees, seeking to strike in tandom with Afina. Between the two of the and the Master, it might yet be a competition of who gets the drop on the devils!
You could try, though it looks like they're acting to the hole being made.
She can perceive them and they can't perceive her, and that's good enough for Afina as she drops down and rushes the gelugons, stabbing them both in passing!
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+61 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{81}
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+56
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+56 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{66}
[19:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61 crit?
[19:42] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+61 crit? --> [ 1d20=9 ]{70}
[19:43] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4+56+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels
[19:43] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d4+56+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels --> [ 2d4=5 3d6=10 3d6=9 4d6=18 6d6=26 2d6=11 ]{135}
[19:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+58+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels
[19:43] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+58+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels --> [ 1d4=4 3d6=12 3d6=8 4d6=12 6d6=18 2d6=4 ]{116}
[19:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 init for afterwards
[19:43] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+30 init for afterwards --> [ 1d20=16 ]{46}
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30)
defences: AC 96 (touch 60), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/7/7/6/1/8/0/0/0/0/1
[21:47] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+18 init
[21:47] <Rei-chan> Luiza rolled : 1d20+18 init --> [ 1d20=8 ]{26}
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Master --> [ 1d20=2 ]{11}
> roll 1d20+9 Gelugon 1
> roll 1d20+9 Gelugon 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Gelugon 1 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{17}
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Gelugon 2 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{16}
Afina zips past them with superhuman speed, slicing them deep as she breezes by. Both gush blood from deep wounds, barely able ot react as...
Init is Afina (46) > Jaela (26) > Gelugon 1 (17) > Gelugon 2 (16) > Master (11)
Go.
Afina abruptly reverses course, flying back the way she came to just under the hole and delivering another pair of wicked stabs to the wicked on her way before she finishes off by hasting herself and her allies!
CL 27 haste for everyone
[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4+56+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d4+56+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels --> [ 2d4=4 3d6=9 3d6=12 4d6=13 6d6=15 2d6=3 ]{112}
[20:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+58+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels
[20:00] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+58+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels --> [ 1d4=1 3d6=5 3d6=14 4d6=12 6d6=21 2d6=11 ]{122}
[20:01] <@Ebiris> Ugh, that damage is wrong the 58 on the non crits should be 28.
So -60 damage for lucky gelugon #2
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/7/6/1/8/0/0/0/0/1
Further edit, Afina's short sword has a x3 multiplier because of epic crafting, and the epic enchantments holy/anarchic power do bonus damage on crits. So...
[11:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+28+3d6+3d6 extra damage for crit 1
[11:01] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+28+3d6+3d6 extra damage for crit 1 --> [ 1d4=4 3d6=8 3d6=6 ]{46}
[11:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+28+3d6+3d6 extra damage for crit 2
[11:01] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+28+3d6+3d6 extra damage for crit 2 --> [ 1d4=1 3d6=8 3d6=15 ]{52}
So Gelugon #1 takes a total of 345 damage and 12 negative levels.
And after subtracting the -60 Gelugon #2 takes 178 damage and 4 negative levels.
Afina is a blur, slicing through the gelugons before they can react. Her blows are savage, slicing the first to ribbons, falling apart into hunks of black ice. The second is bloodied bad, blood as black as the Styx flowing from its wounds. It chitters in pain as Afina's slashes criss-cross it, cutting into its sides and across its body.
Jaela.
[spoiler]
The Master
HP: 339/339
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Telepathic Bond (CL26), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL24), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30), Haste (CL27)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, haste bonuses.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
[/quote]
Jaela runs the remaining gelugon down!
Swift Divine Power, Divine Favor, divine might is happening.
[21:32] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+51+10-20 charge! divine might
[21:32] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=3]
[21:44] <@Luiza> roll 12d8+108+138+18+4d6+4d6+120+9+6
[21:44] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 483 > [d8=4,4,8,7,1,1,4,3,4,1,7,5][d6=4,6,4,6,2,6,2,5]
A single rush and Jaela impales the devli through the head. The entire wretched thing collapses into black ice, shattering on the ground. Victory!
Free act.
Jaela nods at Afina, letting the pixie choose their path with her superior senses.
'They probably had time to get a warning off telepathically, lets hurry,' Afina broadcasts to her companions, firing a disintegrating ray at the door ahead and flying onwards.
[19:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check
[19:53] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 2 > [d20=2]
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/7/6/0/7/0/0/0/0/1
The door dissolves into dust, revealing the next room. It is a room full of jagged volcanic stones and volcanic glass, the entire room boiling lot. Here nine robed figures chant, forming a circle around the pit fiend Mala. She is battered and bloodied, body shimmering with blue spellfire and black blood. As the robed figures chant, her wounds slowly, slowly, sloooowly mend.
I have blindsight 200 and...
[18:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70 spot
[18:08] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 72 > [d20=2]
Can make the DC 70 epic skill usage of defeating visual illusions.
Is everything we see in this room as it seems?
Yes.
'Amazingly no illusions, this really is what we see it as,' Afina mentions to her companions before she moves to attack.
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 init
[18:17] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 37 > [d20=7]
Mala rises shakily as the figures continue to chant, "You want to die that badly?" she declares, wings unfurling. "Medi's secrets will be mine!"
Yes, let's go to init now. Init, y'all.
[20:26] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+14
[20:26] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+11 Master
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+9 robed figures
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+23 Mala
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 37 > [d20=14]
Init is Afina = Mala (37) > Robed Figures (25) > Jaela (24) > Master (22)
Afina and Mala open. Go Afina.
[spoiler]
The Master
HP: 339/339
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Telepathic Bond (CL26), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL24), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30), Haste (CL27)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, haste bonuses.
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
I'm not flatfooted and will counterspell up to 2 spells if they're sufficiently nasty. Please assume I spellcraft them and let me know what Mala or her minions cast.
Afina blurs into motion in an instant!
7th level slot for 2 rounds of time stop.
Round 1: Cast Ferocity of Sanguine Rage and move into melee with Mala (spell gives +13 morale to damage)
Round 2: Cast Searing/Blistering Fires of Purity (spell gives +38 fire damage)Suddenly Afina is in the middle of all the fiends floating right over Mala, who she proceeds to give a righteously deserved and thoroughly overdue beating to!
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+62 -4 nonlethal
[18:44] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 71 > [d20=9]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+62 -4 nonlethal
[18:44] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 75 > [d20=13]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57 -4 nonlethal
[18:44] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 59 > [d20=2]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+52 -4 nonlethal
[18:44] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 67 > [d20=15]
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+65 -4 nonlethal, popping ferocity of sanguine rage for +18 as true strike
[18:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 77 > [d20=12]
[18:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 SR for fires of purity
[18:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=3]
[18:45] <@Ebiris> that never works
[18:45] <@Ebiris> Oh, all of those had 7th level arcane strike (was factored into the attack roll)
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+19+13+3d6+3d6+4d6+7d4 and 2 negative levels
[18:46] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 92 > [d4=1][d6=3,1,5,5,6,2,5,4,4,3][d4=4,2,4,2,3,2,4]
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+19+13+3d6+3d6+4d6+7d4 and 2 negative levels
[18:46] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 90 > [d4=3][d6=6,4,6,3,3,6,6,4,2,2][d4=2,1,3,1,1,1,4]
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+19+13+3d6+3d6+4d6+7d4 and 2 negative levels
[18:46] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 83 > [d4=2][d6=2,1,3,5,5,4,5,5,6,1][d4=4,3,1,1,1,1,1]
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+19+13+3d6+3d6+4d6+7d4 and 2 negative levels
[18:46] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 88 > [d4=3][d6=3,2,2,6,6,5,2,3,4,1][d4=2,3,3,2,3,2,4]
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+19+13+3d6+3d6+4d6+7d4 and 2 negative levels
[18:46] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 89 > [d4=4][d6=6,5,2,2,4,4,2,1,3,2][d4=3,3,4,4,1,4,3]
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), ferocity of sanguine range (CL 27), fires of purity (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/6/6/0/4/0/0/0/0/1
Like this Afina appears and strikes, as Mala shrieks an unholy word of power.
Fort saves, all, I'll sort it out at the same time since tied in init.
[18:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+32+29 dropping an MoP on this
[18:58] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 78 > [d20=17]
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), ferocity of sanguine range (CL 27), fires of purity (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/6/6/0/4/0/0/0/0/1
2 moments of prescience left
Jaela cries out in dismay!
[20:59] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+35 counterspell
[20:59] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=8]
The circle is 30ft away, Jaela.
Jaela's rapid cry shatters the spell, crushing it underneath her will as Afina strikes - again, again and again. Blow after blow beats Mala down and she collapses in a heap. She struggles to rise and fails, finally slumping over, out cold. Got her!
The robed figures chant in one voice as one as...
They're casting an overpowered corrupt mass orb of force. The mass part looks custom to you.
Jaela puts a stop to that nonsense right away, narrowing her eyes at the robed minions!
[21:15] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+35 counterspell
[21:15] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=14]
The spell shatters against Jaela's magic, broken into tiny pieces. They glitter in the air, little crystals of spellfire that soon snuff out into dust.
Jaela.
Those spellfire crystals are drawn towards Gae Bolg as Jaela points it at the robed devils, tip glowing! Before they can so much as move, each of them is tagged with a bolt of light that is followed by another right on its heels!
[21:21] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+34 SR
[21:21] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=11]
[21:22] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+43+25 ranged touch, moment of prescience, twinned burst of glory
[21:22] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 70 > [d20=2]
[21:23] <@Luiza> roll 30d12+4d6 goldenfire-boosted burst of glory
[21:23] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 214 > [d12=10,12,6,2,1,11,4,3,12,9,8,11,12,7,3,1,10,11,6,6,11,1,6,4,10,2,11,6,2,5][d6=2,4,3,2]
Total damage of 428 to each robed devil, no save.
The Master's subject to this too since it hits every creature in range and he's neutral. Okay with that?
Since I haven't taken my move action and I go before him (and am standing ahead of him) let's say I use my ridiculous speed to maneuver to exclude him from the radius.
Okay.
The blast slammed into the robed figures, each of them knocked over and burnt terribly, falling in heaps and not getting up. Victory?
Free act.
'I've got Mala,' Jaela thinks to the others as she picks up the downed pit fiend. 'Master, mind grabbing one of the flunky corpse? We're heading out.'
'No telling what sort of anti-teleport defences are down here, we'll gate out at the same point we came in,' Afina agrees, leading the way back up through the phase door.
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d100=36]
> roll 1d100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 96 > [d100=96]
The three of you hurry back out - and you find a figure waiting there. A lithe, red pit fiend clad in a tight-fitting black dress, feminine in body and form. She is semi transparent and has ears with a slightly elven tilt. 'Thus, Mala falls," she observes, "Welcome, Aurora. I want to talk."
Afina slows and drifts close to Jaela so that she can plane-shift them away in a hurry. "We'll gladly host you for a very long talk, Velasca," she says, taking a gamble on this being the elf traitor.
Again I have godly senses right now so is she actually here or is this a projected image or the like?
[20:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70 spot
[20:09] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 88 > [d20=18]
For reference.
It's an illusion, a projection and nothing more.
"It's all gone to Hell, hasn't it?" The elf sneers, "All of this and we can't kill a few refugees. It's all going to fall apart because of one idiot mistake."
"Is this your way of asking for sanctuary?" Jaela wonders out loud. "Surrender to us here and now, and you will be treated well."
"In so many words, yes. I want out," Velasca says, "Taelfagn can't stop you with all his power, what chance do I have now?" The pit fiend gives both of you a long, disgusted look, "I'll give you my sigil in exchange for sanctuary, freedom and other benefits. I have no intention in spending the rest of Creation in a cell or embracing oblivion. You want this world back, you can have it. Hell's promises are empty. Bel is a doddering fool that has sealed his own destruction."
Jaela nods. "You got it. Your sigil and information on your remaining friends, and I'll let you slink away. Or offer to personally keep you safe at Aurora until we're done with the Lifasan campaign, whichever your preference."
"We're not going to stay here and parlay when reinforcements could arrive at any moment," Afina cuts in. "But your offer is of some merit. Come to Elysium and present yourself at our gates - if you're half the sneak Yian thinks you are you should be able to slip your handler's leash well enough for that. And unlike Mala we do honour parlay, this won't be used as an opportunity to capture you."
"Impossible," Velasca scowls, "If I could flee this plane on my own power, I would. Stay there, I will come - without my sigil, which is safe elsewhere. Betray me and you will never see it." The image vanishes.
The Master's expression is cold, empty and controlled. 'Will we strike or listen to her?'
"Listen," Afina says. "An easy win is an easy win, though it depends on how greedy she gets with her demands." She sheathes her sword and takes Jaela's and the Master's hands. "I'll plane shift us away at the first sign of trouble. Quicker than a Gate."
'Agreed,' Jaela relays, reaching for the Master's burden. 'I'm sending these two to Mirajane. Simmer, please secure the prisoners.'
An extension of her will sends the pair directly towards her daughter's location, and then Jaela boosts herself and her friends in preparation of any devil ambush.
Celestial Valor, and twinned Gae Assail channeled into Gae Bolg
After a moment, Velasca is there. She looks much more solid now, a scroll in her hand. "The contract," she says, brusquely. "Read it quickly. It will ensure that trust is irrelevant."
Afina snatches the contract, accelerating time so she can indeed read exceptionally fast. 'Put her down if I act at all unusual after reading,' she asks Jaela.
7th level slot to time stop for 2 rounds of speed-reading.
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), ferocity of sanguine range (CL 27), fires of purity (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/6/6/0/3/0/0/0/0/1
"I went against gods over my word," Jaela says, scanning the scroll for magic. "Just saying."
Taking ten for Spellcraft 65 if there's magic.
In short, the contract promises Velasca safety inside of Aurora, immunity for any of her crimes, freedom from imprisonment and the right to walk away when it's all over to where ever she wishes. In short, she gets off scot free.
In exchange, you get her sigil and the right to interrogate her, and a promise that she'll answer your questions truthfully to the best of her knowledge. She won't conspire against you and will abide by her part of it as much as you do yours.
At the bottom is a place for a general of Aurora to sign, and notes that the signature is binding for all of Aurora.
Jaela can see that the contract is indeed magical - it binds those who sign it to the terms of it, so long as they're one of the listed parties.
'Looks straightforward,' Jaela reports mentally. 'I'm ready to sign it, unless there's anything in the text itself we can't live with?'
"Unacceptable," Afina says after an instant of reading. "My counter-offer. You will be confined to one of Aurora's guest quarters until the occupation of Lifasa is ended or Lifasa is suborned into hell - having you wander around freely is poison for morale, but I'll spare you the dungeon. At that point you're free to go and have a hundred and one years of liberty during which no one associated with Aurora will pursue you for your crimes. If you get murdered in a bar-fight with someone who recognises you, that's on you." She pauses a moment for Velasca to digest that. "Also I'm not seeing any penalty clauses."
"Acceptable," Velasca says after some thought. She smiles a bit coldly, "The penalties simply curse your body and drag you to death's door and then through it, clawing at your soul like a hungry cat all the while."
Dipping to the ground, Afina casts fabricate to turn some magma into a simple stencil. Flying back up, she cuts into her forearm with it to use her blood in the absence of any ink, making her suggested alterations to the contract. "Sign to accept the alterations and then I'll sign for Aurora," she says, handing it back to Velasca.
Afina: 329+20/329
active spells: glaciante's spiteful ward (CL 29 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 27), many moments of prescience (CL 29), control winds (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), shield (CL 27), greater heroism (CL 27), Afina's perfect vision (CL 27), sublime revelry (CL 31), mass death ward (CL 24), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), fires of purity (CL 27)
defences: AC 97 (touch 61), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, and critical hits, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/8/10/6/6/5/0/3/0/0/0/0/1
> roll 1d100+9
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 45 > [d100=36]
You sign, while Velasca pulls a quill out from her dress. As she bends over to do it, you feel a deep chill settling in over everything, the oppressive warmth of magma being cooled.
"It's done," Velasca says shortly, "Open a gate and use your strongest dispel. Quickly! Memory thieves are coming."
Luckily, Jaela held something back! Gae Bolg disappears into storage, and in its place a staff appears that Jaela then strikes against the ground!
Supercharged Superb Dispelling! And then Gate!
[23:06] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+47
[23:06] <Serith> Luiza roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=5]
There is a tremendous crack as Velasca shudders and the ground is suddenly iced over. The magma freezes solid as the gate opens, Velasca wasting no time in diving through.
Afina is right on her heels!
Jaela does likewise, trusting in the Master's speed! In her mind, she tells Mirajane, 'We're through, shut your gate down!'
'Done!'
The four of you race through the portal as a taste of winter is felt, but you escape through. Elysium is warm and pleasant - save for Velasca, who looks distinctly unimpressed.
"Do you want to get Velasca settled in while I handle Mala?" Afina suggests a division of labour to Jaela. They're both elves right, clearly they'll have lots of fun together.
"Sure," Jaela responds. "Follow me," she tells the turncoat, heading for the gates. First, she'd need to tell Elena not to shoot Velasca....
All eyes.
Without a doubt, all eyes are on Velasca as everyone heads in. She holds her head high as you reach the entry hall - and Adrian, Elder Magi Tepen and Crystal are there. "Velasca," Adrian's voice is like ice, yet his gaze turns to Afina and Jaela instead.
She'll just drag Mala along behind her on a floating disc and hover close enough to hit her if she looks to be regenerating. "She surrendered," Afina says to Adrian. "So long as she proves a model prisoner and provides her sigil we've promised her safety here in Aurora for the duration of hostilities. Please don't attack her, because I'll be the one to pay the price if she's killed."
"Tepen," Velasca says, "Your continuing survival annoys the Duke of Destiny." Her voice is bland, though she wears a rather unpleasant smirk. "I would warn you of the danger this poses, but he has proven remarkably fangless against Aurora."
Tepen's voice is cool, controlled. "If I am bothering him, then my course is clear."
"All of you do. So many disparate destinies, woven together to fall before the Child of Lifasa. Oh, I can just tell he loathes all of you, hates you like nothing else. Beneath his smug exterior, he loathes each and every one of you." Velasca smirks, arms crossed and wings drawn in. "A master plan and yet it fell apart before a few refugees in a relic of the ancient past. It's gotten so bad that I hear he's executed any storytellers who mention plucky heroes or a persistent resistance in his presence."
"Good. That'll hold him over until we relieve him of the burden of existence." Adrian's hand is on the hilt of his sword throughout this, "How does it feel to see what you sold your soul for being as worthless as a pile of shit?"
"Adrian, convene the generals that are present," Jaela tells her friend, motioning for Velasca to follow her into Aurora proper. "Elena can let me know when you're ready."
With that part handled, she heads towards the officer rooms, intending to put Velasca in one next door to her mother.
"I'll put Mala in the dungeons, it'll be a while before she's fit to talk I expect," Afina volunteers. "I'll join you once she's settled," she nods to Adrian before taking a portal to go drop Mala off with Willah and Yian, making sure to strip her of her possessions once she's put in a cell.
Afina, do you want to handle loot posting now or later?
Later, none of her stuff is likely to be usable it's just devil trash plus an important sigil we need to win the game.
Her minion might have something useful~
As Afina goes to do that, Velasca is escorted. Once in there and after a look around, "Acceptable," she remarks, "So," she turns slowly, "Jaela, the legend, the myth. It's amazing you've made it this far...or Hell is even more feeble than I believe. There's only one thing I wish to know - is Hanna really your mother?" she asks with a hint of amusement, "Or is she a stand in for a solar or some other high celestial who wished to conceal your true heritage? Some of us have wondered."
"It's not a huge revelation that I'm one of the sources of infernal gossip," Jaela muses. "Does kind of make Hell look childish, but what can you do? People will be people, even terrible ones."
She leans against the doorframe, gesturing at the decent if a bit spartan room. "Let's go a bit into the contract both our sides have signed, shall we? As Afina quite adequately put it, it is not any fault of ours if you start a bar fight and end up killed in one. So, Velasca, clarification number one. Stop trying to start bar fights while here. Clarification the second. Until you've shown the ability to internalize the previous suggestion, I recommend you stay here. Anything you require within reason and covered by the contract will be provided to you. I understand the need to boast and brag, but this recommendation is truly made in your best interest. Clarification number three. I will respond to you in kind. If you manage to overcome yourself, we could, perhaps, converse. Otherwise, we'll fall in a pattern of sarcastic, ineffectual threats," she says, nodding at the devil elf, "and stern if sarcastic warnings."
Jaela spreads her arms, pushing off the wall. "Any actual questions or requests before I leave?"
"The question was quite serious. You would fit in nicely as some celestial plot disrupted by pure...chaos," Her face twists at that, an artful scowl. She begins to pace, taking in the room. "Contact me when you wish to interrogate me. As agreed to, I will answer truthfully."
"Until then," Jaela agrees, leaving the room. Once the door closes behind her, she contacts her daughter via their telepathy spell, thinking to her, 'Mirajane, I need you to relocate to a room next to Velasca's for the near future. Between you and Mom, we should maintain the peace.'
'I already am, mother,' Mirajane sends back. From there...
You two, go ahead and set up who you want to meet with over this newest issue.
I want to meet with the generals currently in Aurora, fill them in and discuss our next move.
Afina will be present as a general!
Easy enough to do.
"Before we begin, we have something as well, new 27 prophecies," Gisfal remarks, "So they are not forgotten in the excitement of today's events. Now then, Jaela and Afina?"
Go ahead, ball's in your court.
"It's been a very busy day," Jaela agrees. "As you know, we left earlier to strike at traitor holdings on Lifasa. Our attack on Mala's tower was successful, but after reinforcements failed to materialize we retreated. After a brief diversion to assist the crew stuck in a devil ambush on Smoke, we decided to go after Mala once more based on Balyss's advice. It was after we secured her and her sigil that Velasca appeared as an illusion. Our offer of surrender was accepted, albeit with conditions, and we decided to go through with this for Lifasa's sake. Now, however, we have two more of the traitors and their cooperation should ensure we'll get at least one more tomorrow."
Quick OOC announcement. Moore's a day ahead so strike the stuff about 27. This is why I didn't want to split the days up, but needs must.
"A good day's work," Adrian agrees, "But what are the conditions you agreed to?"
"She gets safe harbour in Aurora until Lifasa is either free or in Hell, after which we allow her a hundred and one years of liberty during which we don't go after her for her crimes," Afina summarises. "In return she provides her sigil and her knowledge."
"I know what I'm doing in 101 years," Adrian says flatly, "But fine. Where's her sigil?"
"She hasn't provided it yet," Afina says. "Allegedly it's somewhere safe but if she's been found out and someone else retrieves it first, things won't look good for her."
"I suggest we get it before going any further with this," Gisfal says. "Let's make sure she can hold up her end of this before we have to suffer any repercussions of our choice."
Adrian glances at Afina, "I'd have thought you'd taken that for sure before slicing her to ribbons. Hell, I'm surprised you even agreed to it."
"Retrieving it should be our first order of business," Jaela states. "However, we should use the rest of the day to interrogate both of them, cross-reference their knowledge and then strike again tomorrow with another team. I propose we focus on Ettan for the same reasons as before, and also prepare an alternate target in case Ettan evades us or we want to preserve our momentum."
"She didn't appear physically until I agreed to parlay, and I'm not like devils. That actually means something to a fey," Afina says with a bit of pique. "Also the fact is facing those Nessians exhausted me, even going after Mala was tricky. So the timing was opportune for Velasca. Past that? A hundred and one years is nothing, the number of devils involved in occupying Lifasa means I'll still be working my way through them by then and I can wait that long before giving Velasca her due."
At Adrian's words, she adds, "If Velasca fails to provide the sigil promised in the contract, she suffers the magically-binding consequences."
"Alright," Adrian says, getting up. "I'll swallow my pride and revenge, so long as she has that sigil. Let's go get that."
"Any objections to Ettan being the next target, then?" Jaela confirms, since they're all here. "Who would be the alternate? Quinn?"
"I think Harkin would make for a better secondary target after Ettan," Afina suggests. "Left alone he can make more and more troublesome golems, so taking him out early reduces the eventual opposition we'll have to face."
"You'd know," Jaela agrees with a nod. "Alright, let's go have a chat with Velasca."
Velasca sits on her bed, looking at the portal as you enter.
"Back already?" Velasca asks, the faintest hint of amusement.
"It was a pretty quick decision," Jaela responds. "Let's talk about getting your sigil before all else."
"I need a small quantity of gold - about twenty gold coins will do, or a similar amount of loose gold." Velasca says, "Retrieving my sigil will be trivial for you so long as you have what I'm about to make for you."
Jaela produces twenty gold coins of Brightwater's currency and hands them over. "Here you go."
Loot post it.
Velasca takes the gold coins and does things - strange things, odd words uttered as she moves the coins around, deftly manipulating them. They begin to stretch like clay, molding themselves together and into the shape of a ten pointed star. It's a tiny, handheld thing, "Hold this when plane shifting yourselves to the Deep Ethereal. No gates, nothing fancier, a plane shift. It'll pull you in the right direction, then place it on the box there to open it and retrieve the sigil."
"Any defenses or traps beyond that? Does anyone else know of this hiding spot?" Jaela asks, accepting the key. "How did you even manage to get off plane to plant it, if you couldn't leave on your own when we met?"
"Maaagic," Velasca drawls slowly, "Amazing what it can do these days, with the right set up and preparations. There's no traps, and no one should know about it."
"It's a legitimate question, your magic wasn't up to snuff for leaving Lifasa at all, nevermind to the Deep Ethereal," Jaela points out. "Still, it's encouraging that no one knows about it, as far as you can tell. With that taken care of, let's cover any immediately actionable information you are privy to. Any pending offensives against our local allies? Time-sensitive vulnerabilities in defenses for one of the other traitors?"
Afina just loiters around near the portal, since Mala is still too out of it for questioning.
"At the moment, not that I know of, but our communications have grown strained," Velasca admits, "The situation is a mess and Bel's forces and Taelfagn are both trying to reassert control. I'm fairly certain that the Duke of Destiny is trying to keep us in the dark regarding each other."
"Even if it's not immediately actionable, what do you have on Ettan? We hit a few of his favorite spots, but he managed to slink away. It'd help to know where he's hiding, what other holdings of note he has and what sort of deal the Gray has with him."
"The Gray's not involved," Afina pipes up. "That was just the Unseelie wanting a peek at where Bel had appeared, there's no link beyond that."
"The Gray?" Velasca asks, "What is that," she asks, momentarily sidetracked.
It's unfortunate they know more about some things on Lifasa than their primary source of information for the near future, but Jaela just shrugs and gets past that. "An interloper that cost us getting Ettan the other day. Back to the point at hand, where do we have the best shot of getting Ettan? Where would he fight in a glorious last stand rather than abandon to us?"
"Personal servant to the Queen of Air and Darkness," Afina says. Shouldn't elves know their nature lore better? "He interfered with a recent mission to capture Ettan."
"Regardless, where have you hit," Velasca asks. "What does he have left?"
It's weird that she would know enough to spy on Mala but hasn't been on Ettan. Maybe he's considered too weak among the traitors?
"We hit Blackhearth twice, and had his nearby camps burnt to the ground," Jaela tells her. "We also hit Harkin's fortress complex in Arklea Plains, so if you have anything for him once you've filled us in on Ettan that would be great."
"Yeah," Adrian says, arms crossed. "Anything to end this."
"I can do better than either of them. I can give you Apasa and where he should be most of the time." Velasca says, "If that interests you."
"I wouldn't really call Apasa 'better'," Afina says, having little merit to the one traitor who's big claim to fame was throwing some telepathic trash talk at Ithea while they attacked the elven tree before being unceremoniously yanked away by the boss. "But go on."
"Sure, start with Apasa," Jaela agrees. "Then fill us in on the rest. For your information, we hit Quinn's Stone Forest and Broken Cathedral. Tell us what's left for any of them, then we'll get down to specifics like defenses, notable flunkies, the works."
"Apasa is hiding in the Syrel, an old fortress he's had dug up," Velasca says, "He's kept it fairly secret and he's working on something there. "
"Actually," Jaela says, glancing at Afina. "Mind collating the information from Velasca, here, and Mala? Adrian and I could go grab the sigil in the meanwhile."
"Alright," Afina flutters over and lands on Velasca's nightstand. "Why don't you first of all tell me how you knew we'd captured Mala so quickly?"
Okay, Jaela into a new thread aimed for next time and Afina continues here. I'm focusing on Tryll and Calleigh today and it's pause time, so I'll run them further.
"If you must know," Velasca says loftily, "Pure luck. I had a spy who caught sight of you all from afar and reported back."
How fortunate it was one of Velasca's and not a more loyal traitor. Is that an oxymoron? Oh well, she can indulge her curiosity about another recent issue they elected not to follow up on. "Do you know anything about a recent visit by Duke Malphas to one of Harkin's holdings? Castle Bleakcrest?"
"Yes, some," Velasca says, "The event of the season for damned fools. What do you want to know?"
"We assumed it was bait meant to Aurora into striking there, with a trap or heavy reinforcements waiting to come down. Was that correct or was it really just a golem inspection?" Afina asks, curious to know if she outsmarted herself on that one or if it was justified prudence.
"I know Malphas was there. I don't know if it was a trap," Velasca says, "Harkin was closed mouthed about it. I'd bet on it being a trap, the stupid dog's running scared after what you've done to some of his pet golems."
"It's too bad you didn't take Willah's place," Velasca says, "We might well have won already if you had. Some little crumb like yourself has grown into a legend and we've flailed about and failed to stop it. Was it you or something Medi left behind? Or are you nothing but a puppet to Morwel, Titania or Seira?"
"Medi didn't leave behind a convenient potion of unleashed potential or handbook on how to run an insurgency, no," Afina says dryly, but she doesn't comment further on how things like the forges have helped her do so much more than she otherwise might have been capable. No point giving away things without needing to, after all.
"But since we're on the subject of running scared, I'm curious what fallout there was from Taelfagn's failed attempt at capturing me on Benfal. Been privy to any tales there?"
"Only rumor," Mala says, smirking, "That some grand scheme was escaped. That you somehow came face to face with the Duke of Destiny and lived to tell of it. I suppose you're a cut above Muirfinn and Lief."
"We retrieved them anyway," Afina says placidly, not rising to the bait. "Moving on, I presume you're as aware as we are of the deadline that Bel's presence on Lifasa has set. What's Hell's endgame for that? What plans have been set in motion or reworked in light of this?"
"That? Oh, I hear the Duke of Destiny is moving frantically now," Velasca explains, "Propping up every little thing he can. Getting any forces he can get up, hiring yugoloths and astral stalkers, virtually anything he can buy with coins and get facing towards Lifasa."
"Do you have anything specific?" Afina asks icily. "Because so far all you've given us is a whole lot of rumours and generalities. Are you just so self-absorbed that you don't notice what your comrades are doing? I want something actionable."
"As you like," Velasca says, "First of all, Harkin's gotten several brigades of yugoloths, lead by a handful of ultroloths. He has several assassins and spies rustled up from deeper in Hell, dogai and the like. I get the impression they want revenge for what you did to their paragon. I'd watch your backs if I were you. He's planning on using the 'loths as a reserve force if I know Harkin, while using the assassins to soften up strategic targets and terrorize leadership. Probably field leadership, since Aurora's all but impenetrable."
That's something useful, they can make sure to have talented spotters close to any officers in upcoming battles on Harkin's territory. "That's better," she nods approvingly. "What about Quinn, Ettan, Silvber, and Apasa? What sort of reinforcements have they drafted and how are they being utilised?"
"Quinn's been assigned the Marburn Company, a mercenary army approximately 5,000 strong. They're cursed earth-aspected dwarves tainted by fiendish blood from some Prime or another," Velasca waves a hand, "The Duke can keep all of them straight, but...I find it disquieting. So many worlds," she murmurs, almost to herself. "Do you think that strange as well?"
Ugh, are they really bonding? Yuck.
"I found in unsettling when I was first introduced to the wider planes," she admits. Because she did! "Intellectually of course I always knew there were other worlds, but not so many that Lifasa's fate could be greeted with such apathy." Also they don't even grow from Yggdrasil's seeds, all she knew was a lie!
Also 5,000 nearly matches Aurora in manpower, before recent reinforcements from Arborea are factored in. Certainly they're fodder to the likes of Afina but an army is needed to hold ground, and it emphasises how bad off they are in numerical terms.
"I feel so...small." Velasca says, "Hell doesn't tell you that. That you're merely a tiny speck amid its vastness. That everything you know is merely a blink in the eye of eternity." She keeps her voice low, "I have seen thousands of worlds in an instant, all through the magic of the Duke of Destiny. I have seen them and see how Hell is infinitely vaster than them."
There's a pause, a long pause.
"That's it, you know. What the most ancient books Mala found said, hidden away in her private library. That's supposedly what the purpose of Creation is, to determine the questions of good and evil, law and chaos. More fool me to choose the feeble side, one that can't even win on one world with all the advantages, who has a paragon that can't even kill a stray pixie, a catfolk, a human and a half celestial. At least we got the troll-blooded."
"Willim died to a random cornugon we don't even have a name for. It died seconds later. That's the chaotic whimsy of battle for you," Afina says, wondering if Velasca's trying to bait her with things like that or if it's just a fundamental part of her character to unthinkingly needle. They don't really know much about pre-Taelfagn Velasca, unlike Willah and Apasa, so who knows? She's not here to work through Velasca's neuroses though, she's here to get information to help the war.
"As for Creation's purpose, I've stuck my banner to the winning side, and after Lifasa is free I'll be busy for as long as it takes to see that the right answer is found. In the meantime we have far smaller concerns. Such as the forces and dispositions of your fellow traitors?"
"Yes...yes." Velasca considers, "Where were we?"
"Quinn's dwarven mercenaries," Afina prods.
"Yes. They are no great threat except the officers, but still inferior to typical devil legions. They are numbers, not a true threat. Do not be overly concerned with them, there are greater worries," Velasca explains. "The arts of war will see you well against them, but they are not kind to captives."
"No devils are," Afina says succinctly, recalling Operation Renewal. "What about the others?"
"They are not devils, merely cruel," Velasca says. A pause as Jaela returns, as...
Go ahead, Jaela.
"We've got it," Jaela says, rather than keep Afina in suspense. "How's it going over here?"
"Passably," Afina answers, nodding in satisfaction that with another sigil they're a step closer to victory. "Velasca's telling me about recent reinforcements the remaining traitors have had drafted to their cause."
"Does it look like Apasa's our best bet for the time being after all?"
"Couldn't say, I'll wait and see if Mala has a more urgent tip but for now I think this information's worth following," Afina answers, as her discussion with Velasca has so far covered more of grand strategy than tactics useful for a quick capture raid.
Going on from that, Velasca quickly recaps the Marburn Company. "I would suggest any who risk being taken prisoner by them commit suicide if possible. They will not accept no for anything they desire, up to your very thoughts with magic from a few of their captains. While they are not the biggest threat, they are numerous and cruel. Hmph, rather like lemures, and ultimately about as meaningful."
Jaela gets a long look after that, Velasca's expression neutral save for the slightest smirk. "In the end...is it worth it, to serve rather than to rule, even if your throne is illusory?"
"Don't tell me you're an atheist outsider," Jaela deadpans. "Anyway, you namedropped Syrel as Apasa's hiding spot? Can you give us its defenses, his top minions, the works?"
"Hardly," Velasca says with a sneer, "Do you see? Everything we were offered was ultimately an illusion, a lie. My throne on Lifasa is dust and delusions."
A pause after that, "I can, but a moment first. Is there water here? Cold water. It has been...some time since I last had cold water."
"I'll get some," Afina says, glancing at Jaela before she flies out, going to procure a glass of ice water from the mess before she comes back and offers it to the devil.
"No cold water?" Jaela repeats. "Whyever not?"
"Pit fiends are marked by Hell's fires, not the cold of Stygia or Caina. It is seen as a contemptible mortal weakness amid your peers to drink it," Velasca says.
"So devil peer pressure stopped you from drinking it?"
"Status and reputation are everything," Velasca says, "Otherwise, you're a peon with no respect and no power."
"There's something to that," Jaela muses. "Of course, some choose to lead rather than follow and are strong enough to make it stick."
Afina returns with water in the meantime as Velasca says, "Yet there can only be one in Hell, in the end, and he's not going anywhere."
"Here," Afina hands Velasca the chilled mug of water. It's fairly big for her little pixie hands but it should give a pit fiend sized thing at least a couple of gulps.
Velasca takes it and takes a sip. She grimaces afterwards but has another sip and another. "Another one of Hell's gifts," she says, "My tastes have changed considerably. To better fit diabolical culture."
"Not to be mean or anything, but Syrel?" Jaela tactfully reminds Velasca.
"An old fortress Apasa had dug up. He's fortified it with various devils as well as whatever's down there," Velasca explains. "I don't know what has his attention so much with it, but I've heard he's drawn enough troops that taking it won't be trivial. I'd imagine he's found something from Lifasa's past, before evil lost so often."
'Tepen, mind taking a look for records on Syrel?' Jaela requests telepathically, before asking, "Any specifics? Knowing our abilities, do we need an army to take it or could we blitz it ourselves?"
"The way there's hard from what I hear, teleport locked too," Velasca says, "A small force to strike in and gut it. You'd have to be obvious to take an army there."
"What about any notable lieutenants or bodyguards?" Afina asks. Though most traitors have lacked those where they've mattered in battle, there's no telling who Taelfagn might have watch over them as things get more and more grim for their ilk.
"One Eye Kurten," Velasca replies, "A cornugon veteran of the Blood War. He's a deft hand with a blade, you don't want to have to fight him if you can help it...at least according to rumor, so you'll probably kill him in ten seconds flat." A smirk comes to her lips.
"I think that's enough for now," Afina says. "We'll be back when we have further questions."
Okay, since all of you are tapped out on resources, I assume an attack won't be today? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Tepen's checking into Syrel but it'll take him a bit, so no answer right away.
correct but let's handle the intel now so we can strike first thing in the morning
For the sake of getting things moving, how about we split the difference? We do it in the morning and if anything requires prep time or things that would be a problem if left until morning we'll assume it gets handled overnight. Sound good?
I really want to get things synched back up time wise so it's less of a DMing hassle.
ok
Okay, new topic coming shortly.