Okay, I presume you two are going traitor hunting first thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right, how are y'all approaching it?
Need to interrogate Apasa and Mala once Ilsenine's spells recharge/before Mala recovers from her negative levels.
If that fails I'll be pretty and make them tell me.
Which one first?
Apasa
Apasa sits in his cell, held and beaten up from his capture. His gaze is down, eyes half closed.
Go ahead and set this up on how you all are going to do it.
Afina allows Ilsenine the honours with her refreshed spell selection. Hopefully he won't have the same sort of uncanny willpower as Mala has.
> roll 1d20
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{7}
A single spell and Ilsenine nods. "His will is mine. Ask him what you wish to know. You will answer all these questions, Apasa.'
Seems like things are progressing! Jaela waits for Afina to do her thing.
"Lets start with something immediately relevant. What was the creature you were trying to release when we found you and what was your objective with it?" Afina asks.
"The Blighted Prince," Apasa answers. "He would be a powerful asset to defend Lifasa and overthrow Aurora."
"Where did you learn of this Blighted Prince?" Be good to know if it was independent research or if he just got told by Taelfagn. She'd bank on the latter.
"I found it within captured lore," Apasa says, "References, allusions. Further research provided greater illumination." His vice is cold, mechanical, unchanging as he speaks under command.
Hmm. Good job surprising her, Apasa. "Who else did you notify of your discovery?" Of course the devils working for Apasa in the fortress would've reported it to their true superiors anyway, but be interesting to know if he was trying to keep this secret from his masters.
"The Duke of Destiny and no other," Apasa says, "It is my victory alone."
Victory, sure. "Moving on, then. Tell me of the last known locations you have for Ettan, Harkin, Silvber, and Quinn. And what activities or missions are they currently engaged in to your knowledge."
"Harkin is preparing for a visit from Malphas the last I heard," Apasa reports, "Silvber has been quiet and laying low somewhere. Ettan is going about his holdings, while Quinn is in Deephome and preparing an unholy ritual. The ritual will infuse him with further dark power and make him far stronger. The Duke of Destiny has provided the sacrifices for it, for he took some of mine to support it." There is a moment's pause, "I dislike that."
Sounds like Quinn just made himself a priority target. "Tell us everything you know about the ritual Quinn is performing."
"It is the Ritual of the Nine-Fold Soul. One hundred souls will be sacrificed in each segment for 900 total. It is difficult and only possible if you are a warrior of darkness. I believe Quinn will fail because he is weak." Apasa reports back.
"When is the ritual due to commence?" she asks the most important question.
"Three days from now," Apasa replies.
That's good, no need to rush off. Although Apasa may have lost a day to unconsciousness and not realise the exact time, they still have a hefty margin to work with. "Detail all current operations aimed against Aurora that you are privy to," she asks next for a more broad overview on their opposition.
As you say that, Elena pops in, "Afina, Jaela, small problem. First and so we don't forget, there's a new 27 prophecy to look at. Two, we have a visitor requesting to see you. A mercane claiming he speaks for Hellish interests."
"See the Mercane to a meeting room and keep him well guarded," Afina asks. "We can talk about the prophecy later." That's not something to talk about in front of the traitors, even if they are currently imprisoned.
"I don't suppose he's come to offer us another traitor?"
Elena quickly says, "Sure," and then to Jaela, "He hasn't said, Jaela."
"You got this?" Jaela asks Afina. "I can see what he wants."
"That's fine," she nods to Jaela. "I'll be a little longer here."
With a nod back at Afina and another at Ilsenine, Jaela leaves.
Let me move you into a new thread and then reply to Afina in here, Jaela.
Once that is done, "None. I have been cut off from information about Aurora," Apasa says, "Operation security according to the Duke of Destiny. He does not trust us," The follow up is stated casually, "Myself in particular. I suspect he saw this coming or feared it. I have been ordered to cease researching Aurora and studying it, which I have ignored."
She does remember him showing up to taunt Afina when they attacked the elven tree and being unceremoniously yanked away. "What has your independent study revealed?" she asks, since there might be holes they need to plug.
"Medi's magic is unassailable." Apasa says, "It is the equal to divine magic. Aurora hides behind this perfect defenses and your hearts have not darkened. Efforts at subversion are unlikely to work again. You have learned Medi's lesson well."
Afina's reasonably sure she could infiltrate Aurora were she a hostile party, but it's good to know the devils are convinced of its invulnerability. "That's enough." She turns to Ilsenine, "Lets move on to Mala, your Majesty?"
To be fair, Afina also has perfect knowledge of Aurora's defenses and personalities. She probably could too, just because of that alone.
"Yes," Ilsenine says coolly, "This one offends me. Must we keep him? 21 would see to him."
"Dare I ask what makes him more offensive than any of the rest?" Afina feels compelled to ask. Personally she dislikes Mala the most, as she's a truce-breaking coward.
"Something about him," Ilsenine says, "I find him exceptionally distasteful."
"I can't disagree with that assessment," Afina admits. "But until the war is won he's important enough to retain as a prisoner."
"Unfortunate," Ilsenine says.
Any set up here for Mala?
Ilsenine casts dominate, she hopefully fails her save. She's got 8 negative levels currently.
> roll 1d20
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 4 > [d20=4]
That many negative levels makes it rather academic.
A single cast and Ilsenine has Mala stand. "She's under control," Ilsenine says, "Answer anything Afina says."
"Good," Afina says. She'll start off with the same one she just had Apasa answer about the remaining traitors at large. "Tell me of the last known locations you have for Ettan, Harkin, Silvber, and Quinn. And what activities or missions are they currently engaged in to your knowledge."
At this, Mala goes still, not a word coming out. Ilsenine frowns, "Answer Afina's question," she declares, nothing happening.
"Something is interfering," The Queen says at length. "Has she been thoroughly dispelled?"
"Might be some sort of anatheamic block on the knowledge, let me try something else. What is your name?" she asks a more innocuous question.
"Mala," Mala replies blandly enough.
No family name or sobriquet? Oh well, nothing wrong with a bit of simplicity now and then. "Who do you dislike the most among your allies?" she asks something that veers more towards the topic of the traitors but doesn't hold any real intelligence value for Aurora.
No reply.
"Anathemic knowledge? Or a mental block?" Ilsenine asks aloud, "Ask her why she isn't answering, maybe she overlooked that."
"Why are you silent on the subject of your allies?"
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=1 ]{1}
Today's your lucky day.
"I modified my mind with inhibitions that prevent speaking of them under duress." Mala's voice is bland, unassuming.
"One moment," Afina says, going to get a piece of parchment and a quill before she returns and passes them through the bars to Mala. "Write down the last known locations and activities of Quinn, Ettan, Harkin, and Silvber," she commands.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=64 ]{64}
One error of omission is one thing, but you're not double-lucky.
Nothing happens.
Afina takes the parchment and quill back, going to put them away. "Interrogating her will have to wait, a mind probe spell should be sufficient," she says. "I'll ask Vul'lath to prepare one tomorrow. Shall we leave now, your Majesty?"
Okay, next move then?
Once Jaela's free we'll go beat up Quinn
Let me pause you then. As I noted in #elysium, today's not the best day for me with RL distractions and a bit of other things, so this being a slow day is helpful. Progress without being too hectic, I can live with that.
Next move, you two? Do you need to discuss anything IC or are you ready for your next effort?
Lets go check in with Balyss to see if she has any warnings before we gather our party?
Balyss is resting in bed in her room. She's covered up to her shoulders in blankets, while Stille fusses over her. "Ah, Gener-" he begins.
"It's fine, brother. They're here for a good reason," Balyss says, "Come in, Afina, Jaela."
"Not a bad time, I hope?" Afina asks, fluttering in. "We're about to attack Lifasa to try and capture or kill Quinn before he completes a ritual of empowerment and were hoping you might have some advice or warnings. If you're fatigued it's fine, though."
"I'm fine," Balyss says, "Fine enough for this. Quinn, you said?"
"Yes, according to Apasa he's preparing the ritual of the Nine-Fold Soul in Deephome involving the sacrifice of 900 people to make him far stronger, it's scheduled for three days away. Possibly two, Apasa was unconscious a while and he might not have realised how much time's passed him by," Afina supplies some information.
"And hey, are you alright?" Jaela asks Balyss. "Can your body handle all this channeling?"
"I'll be fine," Balyss says, "Let me....guh..."
> roll 1d20+3 con check, no gear on
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+3 con check, no gear on --> [ 1d20=15 ]{18}
Balyss shudders, gasps and falls back onto the bed.
"No, seriously, don't lie--" Grimacing, Jaela asks Stille, "How is she, really?" She doesn't often put faith in vague prophecies but it is a bit too convenient that she's told one fairly shortly before this.
"I don't think it's fine," Afina says, wincing and flying a bit closer. "Please, forget I asked. This is simple enough, you should put it from your mind and focus on resting."
"Drained and overdrawn," Stille says as Balyss doesn't reply. He checks on her, feeling her pulse on her neck. "She's channeling forces she's not meant to, not as a partial mortal yet. She needs to rest, but won't stop."
Balyss manages a weak laugh, barely a sound. "Selune's will is more important. Lifasa's more important." Slowly she opens her eyes, "Have...have to earn that title of Lunatic, anyway. Quinn, right?"
"No, save your strength. There'll be more important missions in the future where we'll need your counsel, I was only being too cautious in bothering you. It's fine Balyss, rest," Afina encourages, reaching forward to pat Balyss's head and giving her a slight smile, "Eat a hearty meal or two as well. We'll leave you alone now," she says, fluttering up and towards the door.
"No, I can..." Baylss tries to rise, but falls back hard. After a moment and a groan, "Go eat a big steak," she half laughs, half groans. "It might finally put some meat on your bones, Afina."
"I'll do that before we set out, promise!" Afina waves, beating a hasty retreat before Balyss forces herself to channel any insights at the cost of her body.
Wait, she doesn't eat meat.
Oh well, it's all magically conjured by the mess hall, it's not as if she's actually killing something for it. What's the worst that could happen?
"You're forbidden from channeling for as long as necessary, with Stille being the one to decide what is necessary," Jaela tells Balyss. "Afina's right, we'll definitely need you at top condition for the final battle."
If she can't be reasoned with normally, this might well do the trick. Nodding at both siblings, Jaela follows Afina to the mess hall.
As you go out, "Thanks," Elena pops in once the door's close. "I'm having Vul'lath do some research on this, and it points to this being really dangerous if Balyss doesn't give herself time to recover."
"I foolishly assumed she'd actually tell us if there was a problem," Jaela mutters. "Well, keep an eye on her as well, alright?"
"Make sure no one else disturbs her then," Afina says to Elena. "She's too helpful for her own good."
Maybe there's a health spa they can send her to or something?
Elena inclines her head slightly, "I'll look into it. Good luck with Quinn."
From there it's Afina's greatest enemy. It sits in the mess hall, unconcerned of her coming attack. It is a big, thick, juicy steak.
It's pretty small from Jaela's perspective no doubt, but to Afina it's certainly a large slice of meat! Surrounded by healthy greens and slathered in some sort of peppery sauce. It's okay though, she's seen people do things like this before, it's fine. Stabbing her fork into it, she saws her knife back and forth a few times to carve off a bite-sized chunk which she holds up to get a sniff of.
Eurgh, her stomach just moved. It clearly knows something it has no experience in dealing with is on the way.
Taking a deep breath she pops it into her mouth and chews.
And chews some more. And a bit more.
Then swallows!
Her eyes widen and her wings beat futilely behind her despite her bum remaining firmly affixed to her chair. Fortunately she no longer needs to breathe but it's still alarming and she thumps a tiny fist against her chest several times before the half masticated chunk of meat goes down the rest of the way.
Then, grimly, she sets about cutting off another chunk. It's going to be a long meal.
Make a Fortitude save and have a laugh.
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+26 fort
[18:09] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+26 fort --> [ 1d20=20 ]{46}
As you eat, your stomach...deals. No queasiness, no pain. It gets easier as you go, if nothing else. Huh, you feel just fine, if full.
"I think that's the most stoic steak-eating expression I've ever seen on anyone," Jaela notes, eating another better sized for her.
Well of course, the mess hall's food is the best no matter what it is! "Mmmph," she grunts, heaving herself into the air and running a hand over her stomach, feeling like her outfit is slightly stretched there now. "Who do you think's a good fit for this mission?" she asks Jaela. "I'm thinking Moonlight and Dana. We should make sure we have people standing by to make Gates from this end as well, if we have 900 sacrifices to evacuate."
"I thought Moonlight went off on some quest for Lathander?" Jaela voices, trusting in Elena to fill them in. "How about subbing Adrian for her? I wanted to invite my brother along, but there will be other opportunities and it'd feel kinda nostalgic."
"Oh, did she? Adrian's a good pick then, yes," Afina agrees with that correction.
Adrian and Dana then. Okay, any prep?
Afina casts her usual spells on herself and the following two spells on Jaela/Dana/Adrian
Greater heroism (+4 morale attack/saves, +20 temp hp), epic mage armour (+20 armour AC). Both CL 27.
We'll get an interplanar telepathic bond cast via Vul'lath.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30)
defences: AC 98 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/6/8/8/8/7/2/3
Vul'lath and Tepen on standby to open portals, so they should be at the end of the courtyard by Aurora's gates and both linked to us telepathically. Adrian wears the other half of Golden Dawn. Also, spells!
Golden Dawn
Rank 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
Spells I cast on everyone: Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL30, Good Hope CL30.
Spell I cast on everyone, it has a short duration: Recitation CL30.
Halved physical damage, negated 'pain' attacks, immunity to negative energy/death effects/energy drain, +2 morale to attack/damage/saves/ability checks/skill checks, +2 luck to AC/attack/saving throws or +3 if worshiping the same religion
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 CL27, Shield of Warding CL31, Conviction CL31, Crown of Flame CL30, Sign CL30, Divine Insight CL33, Interplanar Telepathic Bond CL26, Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL30, Good Hope CL30, Epic Mage Armor CL27.
Short Duration Spells: Grace CL30, Recitation CL30.
Okay finally, where are you teleporting to?
[spoiler]
Dumping ground for now, I'll do the spoiler blocks tonight.
Afina casts her usual spells on herself and the following two spells on Jaela/Dana/Adrian
Greater heroism (+4 morale attack/saves, +20 temp hp), epic mage armour (+20 armour AC). Both CL 27.
We'll get an interplanar telepathic bond cast via Vul'lath.
Rank 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 I cast on everyone: Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL30, Good Hope CL30.
Spell I cast on everyone, it has a short duration: Recitation CL30.
Halved physical damage, negated 'pain' attacks, immunity to negative energy/death effects/energy drain, +2 morale to attack/damage/saves/ability checks/skill checks, +2 luck to AC/attack/saving throws or +3 if worshiping the same religion
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 CL27, Shield of Warding CL31, Conviction CL31, Crown of Flame CL30, Sign CL30, Divine Insight CL33, Interplanar Telepathic Bond CL26, Sublime Revelry CL31, Mass Death Ward CL30, Good Hope CL30, Epic Mage Armor CL27.
Short Duration Spells: Grace CL30, Recitation CL30.
Deephome. Trusting more travelled people like Adrian and Jaela to know more about where that actually is on Lifasa and good spots for gating in nearby.
"Ready," Adrian says, Gaelach out as Dana walks behind him. "How much resistance are we expecting?"
The four of you are at Aurora's outer gate, ready to go.
[spoiler]
To be finished next post with hit points.
Adrian
HP: +20/
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage,
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: +20/
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage,
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
"I'm expecting it to be heavy," Afina answers. "They know they're being targetted, and Quinn must be feeling particularly vulnerable before he can complete the ritual. Taelfagn's providing direct support in the form of sacrifices, and likely additional forces for defence. We might even see Gathgorian here. Still, remember that our goal is to kill or capture Quinn, and obtain his sigil. That's the main priority above everything else, although ideally we'll be able to secure the area long enough to evacuate the sacrifices."
"Killing Gathgorian or Taelfagn would rate higher, but yes. As for the hostages, we'll come up with the best way to rescue them while taking out Quinn once we see the situation." Jaela tilts her head. "What if we brought one of the ships?"
"I assumed from the name and given it's in Quinn's territory that Deephome was underground," Afina admits, looking a bit helplessly between Jaela and Adrian. "I don't really know much of Lifasa's geography outside of my home forest."
Adrian nods, "Yeah," he says, "Fairly deep. See how close we can get?" He goes to Aurora's gate and activates it, "Let's be ready."
She's got all her spells cast, so Afina nods to Adrian and takes the lead through the gate, being the best able to spot any ambush or traps on the other side.
Marching order? May matter.
Lets go Afina, Dana, Jaela, Adrian?
You appear in ruin. Before you is a ruined city, a massive cavern destroyed and forgotten. The rubble of stone and broken glass is everywhere, like the graveyard of a city. You appear in a dark, narrow alley, the floor choked with rubble and ruin.
Any creatures detectable within 200 feet of blindsight?
Yes. You can detect something above you, as well as creatures far down the street out of this alley.
More specifically? What kind of creatures?
The one above feels like an erinyes or similar, while the ones int he streets are orthons.
Afina conceals herself in the rubble for the moment. 'Erinyes above us, some orthons down the street,' she telepathically warns the others.
Also she continues to be unimpressed with devil stewardship over Lifasa. Has anyone made even the slightest effort to tidy this place up since the initial invasion?
Taking 10 for 70 on hide
Perpetually glowing as she is, Jaela doubts her ability to avoid notice. Therefore, with the target of erinyes above provided to her, she launches into the air to dispose of them!
Adrian grunts as Jaela flies off, but takes to the air with his boots glowing with phantasmal wings and follows. Dana just grins, "Fuck yeah, Jaela," she calls, following.
You see the erinyes 40ft above and 10ft away. It is a single one, patrolling with bow and arrow at the ready. It looks up at Jaela and friends as...
Afina's stealth 1, Jaela's brashness 3. Initing.
[19:00] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30 init
[19:00] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+30 init --> [ 1d20=3 ]{33}
21:07 <Luisa> roll 1d20+18
21:07 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{25}
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+13 Adrian --> [ 1d20=5 ]{18}
> roll 1d20+5 Dana
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+5 Dana --> [ 1d20=4 ]{9}
> roll 1d20+8 Erinyes
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+8 Erinyes --> [ 1d20=13 ]{21}
Init is Afina (33) > Jaela (25) > Erinyes (21) > Adrian (18) > Dana (9)
Open Afina.
Despite her instinctive attempt at stealth, Afina is perfectly fine with murder and so she immediately flies up, hasting everyone as she drives Hywelbane deep into the unlucky erinyes stomach!
CL 27 haste for all
[19:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61
[19:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+61 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{81}
[19:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+56
[19:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+56 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{71}
[19:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61 crit?
[19:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+61 crit? --> [ 1d20=15 ]{76}
[19:16] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4+56+6d6+6d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels
[19:16] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d4+56+6d6+6d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 4 negative levels --> [ 2d4=4 6d6=14 6d6=19 4d6=19 6d6=23 2d6=5 ]{140}
[19:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+28+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels
[19:16] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4+28+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6+2d6 and 2 negative levels --> [ 1d4=2 3d6=9 3d6=12 4d6=12 6d6=16 2d6=6 ]{85}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/6/8/8/8/7/2/3
You're fast as a blur. In an instant the erinyes is disemboweled, slaughtered in the air and becoming ash. Yet you hear it - trumpets sound all across the ruined city, as if sending up an alarm.
Free act.
Well, from this vantage Afina can at least look around to see any likely candidates for where Quinn might be doing this ritual. It'd need to be spacious for 900 sacrifices, and it's probably in better repair than the rest of the city if a traitor lives there.
Meanwhile, Jaela turns her rise into a plunge into the mass of orthons!
From up here, Afina can see it all. Dozens of patrols all over the city, as well as erinyes and spinagons in the sky. There's only one intact building here, a massive hall on the western end of the city.
Chance for Afina to act before possibly going to init, pending Jaela's stuff.
"There's our target," Afina points to the intact building, flying that way!
Jaela's speed is enough to allow her to redirect herself towards their destination!
The party flies along, Dana laughing as you go. Naturally, this isn't unopposed. Erinyes are coming at you from all directions, as well as spinagons and other fliers emerging from below. .
What do you do?
Afina takes command of the winds so as to dash anything that isn't near her out of the sky!
Control winds to create tornado force winds spiralling around us in a 1080 foot radius, eye of the storm ensures we're fine. Anything large or smaller is blown away.
Blown Away: Creatures on the ground are knocked prone and rolled 1d4×10 feet, taking 1d4 points of nonlethal damage per 10 feet. Flying creatures are blown back 2d6×10 feet and take 2d6 points of nonlethal damage due to battering and buffeting.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/6/8/8/8/7/2/3
Jaela strikes at the fliers with the best chance of intercepting them without so much as slowing down!
23:05 <Luisa> roll 1d20+25 CL1
23:05 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 1d20+25 CL1 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{27}
23:05 <Luisa> roll 1d20+27 CL2
23:05 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 1d20+27 CL2 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{43}
23:07 <Luisa> roll 20d6 horrid wilting Fort DC36 half
23:07 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 20d6 horrid wilting Fort DC36 half --> [ 20d6=74 ]{74}
23:08 <Luisa> roll 15d6+4d6 flame strike goldenfire Ref DC32 half (half fire damage, half holy damage)
23:08 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 15d6+4d6 flame strike goldenfire Ref DC32 half (half fire damage, half holy damage) --> [ 15d6=48 4d6=18 ]{66}
Both spells are twinned, so damage is 148 and 132 respectively.
Is there a save and save DC, Afina?
Whoops, DC 30 fort, sorry.
> roll 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Cor 1
> roll 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Cor 2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Cor 1 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{6}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Cor 2 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{2}
> roll 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Afina
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 all of these need natural 20s Afina --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
Winds and power destroy the fliers around you, or at least knock them back. For the moment the sky is yours. The winds send debris everywhere, swirling the broken city and raising up dust everywhere.
As this happens? Tepen's voice in your mind. 'Afina, Jaela, Adrian. There has been a development in Balyss's situation. Selune is calling her to the Gates of the Moon. When Gisfal attempted to enforce your orders for her to rest, Selune contacted him and asked for him to stand aside.'
That's annoying, but Selune is Balyss's highest authority, they can't gainsay that. 'At least make sure she travels with someone who can look after her. Stille and Ebony, perhaps?'
'Whatever she needs, provide for it,' Jaela adds, having expected it at some point. 'If our presence is necessary, ask to delay for half an hour.'
'It seems that Surraruthru, Stille and Kascha will go with her, though I can have Ebony go or replace one of them,' Tepen sends back.
'That's fine, if that's what she wants,' Afina replies, though Surraruthru doesn't seem much of a nurturing personality, the other two should make up for it well enough.
'Very well,' Tepen sends back.
Meanwhile, ball is in your court here, you two.
Still flying towards the intact building
Jaela continues heading for the tower Afina indicated as their destination.
Spot checks.
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70
[18:41] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+70 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{81}
You can notice a faint bluish rippling around the intact building. If you don't miss your guess, it's some manner of abjuration.
[18:59] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 spellcraft that
[18:59] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+47 spellcraft that --> [ 1d20=18 ]{65}
It looks to be a wide-frame strengthening of the building's walls and durability.
'Building's been magically strengthened, I'm not seeing any offensive component to the wards,' Afina passes along to the others. They don't want to demolish it anyway given the sacrifices likely inside. She looks over its structure as they approach so as to determine the best point of entry.
'Sounds like it'd hold if I break a hole through it,' Jaela muses, giving Afina a chance to supply an alternate entrance point for them she she's in the lead.
It's a long, large hall. Solid stonework by and large, windows dotting it. The ceiling is impressively stony and heavy and so are the walls. As are the doors, though somewhat less so. No real weak points, it's all good work on a glance.
K:A&E can followup here.
'Probably, you can choose our best spot to go in by and I'll follow,' Afina agrees.
Jaela takes a quick look, before she's off with Gae Dioltas leading the way!
K:A&E 10 for 32, then a charge!
[21:28] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+51+7-26 charge, 26pa, divine might
[21:28] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+51+7-26 charge, 26pa, divine might --> [ 1d20=2 ]{34}
[21:30] <@Jessica> roll 16d8+184+208+4d6
[21:30] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 16d8+184+208+4d6 --> [ 16d8=79 4d6=17 ]{488}
Ion this case Jaela can see no advantage, so she just charges straight down. She slams into the roof and breaks through, stone shattering below.
In this room she can see bookshelves and over a dozen silken robed, humanish devils, cries of surprise from all of them as...
Init, all.
[19:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+30
[19:55] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+30 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{33}
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+18
[21:56] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{33}
> roll 1d20+13 did you all remember Adrian's +4 aura to init?
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 did you all remember Adrian's +4 aura to init? --> [ 1d20=2 ]{15}
> roll 1d20+9 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Dana --> [ 1d20=12 ]{21}
> roll 1d20+8 devils
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+8 devils --> [ 1d20=4 ]{12}
Init is Afina = Jaela (33) > Dana (21) > Adrian (15) > Devils (12)
Go.
These don't look anything impressive, so Afina saves her spells and discharges a lightning bolt into one of the devils with a crackling boom, radiant lances of blue-white electricity splitting off from that unlucky devil to hit the rest!
[20:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+27 chain lightning SR
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+27 chain lightning SR --> [ 1d20=17 ]{44}
[20:18] <@Ebiris> roll 20d6 DC 31 ref half
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 20d6 DC 31 ref half --> [ 20d6=64 ]{64}
Unlucky devil takes 64 (DC 31 ref half), all the rest take 32 (DC 31 ref half)
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/6/8/8/8/7/2/3
Actually no, so good reminder there.
Jaela is a whirlwind attacking the devils as she breaches the roof!
[22:18] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+53+7
[22:18] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+53+7
[22:18] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+53+7 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{77}
[22:18] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+53+7 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{64}
[22:18] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+48+7
[22:18] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+48+7 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{73}
[22:18] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+43+7
[22:18] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+43+7 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{67}
[22:18] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+38+7
[22:18] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+38+7 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{61}
[22:19] <@Jessica> roll 5#4d8+40+14+2+11d6+4d6
[22:19] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 5#4d8+40+14+2+11d6+4d6 --> [ 4d8=19 11d6=34 4d6=16 ]{125}, [ 4d8=17 11d6=32 4d6=16 ]{121}, [ 4d8=15 11d6=29 4d6=9 ]{109}, [ 4d8=16 11d6=40 4d6=15 ]{127}, [ 4d8=22 11d6=50 4d6=12 ]{140}
Meanwhile, Adrian plunges down through the hole, Gaelach slicing out as he lands in a three point stance, an almost absent minded swing of his blade.
> roll 1d20+35 (+2 healer's vision, +2 charge, +4 morale, +2 luck, -26 PA)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+35 (+2 healer's vision, +2 charge, +4 morale, +2 luck, -26 PA) --> [ 1d20=3 ]{38}
> roll 2d6+96+9d6+4d6
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d6+96+9d6+4d6 --> [ 2d6=7 9d6=37 4d6=16 ]{156}
Dana's just a hair behind him, but goes for a simple landing, shield up and defending.
Like this lightning rips into the devils. They shudder and convulse as it arcs between them, Jaela there to tear them apart. Each of her blows impales a devil and burns it into ash, a flurry of them. Yet only one survives between all of this, lunging at Jaela - until Adrian's swing neatly cuts it in half, its upper half falling at Jaela's feet before crumbling into volcanic ash.
That's one way to make an entrance. Free act.
[spoiler]
Adrian
HP: 385+20/385
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage,
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: +20/
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves,
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Jaela makes another entrance for them in the floor!
[22:42] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+51+7-26 charge, 26pa, divine might
[22:42] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20+51+7-26 charge, 26pa, divine might --> [ 1d20=13 ]{45}
[22:42] <@Jessica> roll 16d8+184+208+8+4d6
[22:42] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 16d8+184+208+8+4d6 --> [ 16d8=77 4d6=13 ]{490}
The floor beneath shatters, the hole beneath bisected by a wall. There's little gaps on either side, giving you tiny glimpses of rooms below, but not much.
Jaela immediately works at opening up the gap on the left, intending to head down that way.
Afina follows up with a disintegration ray aimed at that wall to properly clear the way into both rooms below, keeping their momentum up!
[18:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check
[18:07] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20 check --> [ 1d20=13 ]{13}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/5/8/8/8/7/2/3
Easy enough. The partitioning wall dissolves as Jaela expands the room open.
To the left is a storage room, a bit dusty and unremarkable. Old boxes and barrels are there, no sign of devils. To the right is a room with a desk, table, chairs and several cabinets. A single human in old, worn clothes is there, wiping a cloth over one of the cabinets. He turns up to stare in shock.
As you do...
Listen checks.
[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+70 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{79}
83 with Adrian's aura
> roll 1d20+38 Adrian
<Rei-chan> MEGAXORNED rolled : 1d20+38 Adrian --> [ 1d20=13 ]{51}
Dana skips since she can't make the DCs.
As this happens, Afina hears foosteps on the floor they're already one. Adrian glances back, "Think we have more coming from behind us," he calls, blade still out.
"You! Where's Quinn?" Afina abruptly demands of the... cleaner?
Really?
She saw the state of the city outside, devils absolutely do not care about cleanliness or neatness. This doesn't add up at all.
The human cringes, middle aged and a bit hunched. "Mas...you aren't a devil?" he asks, hesitantly. "Master Quinn? I haven't seen him all day."
"Then who's in charge here?" No point asking where Quinn is from this person, but whoever's in charge will hopefully know more, assuming Quinn doesn't come rushing back to defend his holdings.
Actually didn't Yian say something about how he goes berserk at holy ground, rushing to profane it regardless of tactical considerations? Maybe if Jaela hallows the place he'll come running.
"Master Yelm," The man says, starting to shake. "Who-who are you?" After a pause, a long pause, "Are you with Makaril?"
"Aurora," Afina replies, still tracking the footsteps of whoever it is that's following them. "Were nine hundred sacrificial victims brought here recently?"
As a comment, I'm on holy fire that burns any evil outsider, evil fey or evil undead within 10ft of me, no save, just SR.
Noted, nothing's remotely that close t you that triggers it.
The footsteps are getting closer, Afina can tell.
"Aurora..." The man breathes, "My name is Barne, I try and pass on whatever I can to Makaril's resistance. They were, but not to this hall. He took them into the deep basements underneath the ruined city. Those are still intact."
"Where can they be accessed?"
'This doesn't sit right with me,' she sends to the others. 'Look at the place, why would the devils have anyone doing cleaning? And this is a dwarven city too, why a human?'
"Show us where, and we'll bring you with us to Aurora once we're done," Jaela tells him. "What you've been waiting for all along is happening now."
'If we're sent into an ambush,' Jaela mentally responds, 'even better to crush their forces with holy fire and draw Quinn out.'
"I'm not sure where precisely they all are, but I can take you to one of the basements and show you passages. They all connect, ultimately," Barne replies.
"That'll have to do, lead the way," Afina says, the high tempo of their attack utterly stumbling to a screeching halt now. She's going to have to be ready to evacuate in a hurry if Bel shows up again.
'Then why the ward around this building?' Adrian asks Afina and Jalea. 'Also, we need to go NOW or fight. They're almost here.'
"I'll make a path to the lower floors," Jaela says, adjusting her earlier position due to the incredible shiftiness of the situation. "Adrian, bring our friend."
And with a flap of her wings, she gets enough of a space to crash into the floor of this level to the right of the erstwhile wall! Then, Jaela will just keep going until something strong enough tries to stop her!
Just gimme a 1 check real quick, since time matters here.
[22:01] <@Jessica> roll 1d20
[22:01] <Rei-chan> Jessica rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{8}
WHAM! Another blow, shredding a good chunk of floor. However, only more stone is beneath this.
Jaela disintegrates it with a thought and gesture!
Quickened disintegrate.
19:24 <Luisa> roll 1d20
19:24 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
More stone vanishes, revealing a dark room below. You don't get much of a glance before Adrian calls, "Devils!"
Your choice how to handle it. Dana and Adrian are still a floor above you, while you two and Barne are down here dealing with this. I'll call for init as needed.
Can I get more information on these devils? Blindsight 200
'Go, open up the path below,' Jaela relays to Afina, sending to Adrian and Dana, 'Get down here, I'll hold the devils off.'
Looks like an assorted bunch of barbazu, a few spinagons, an erinyes and a few barbed devils.
Afina flies down into the dark room and disintegrates the floor, not seeing any great threat from the devils she can sense.
[18:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check
[18:08] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20 1 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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/4/8/8/8/7/2/3
Okay. Jaela is going into a side topic for the moment, splitting her off for this combat. One second on that.
It's less of a room and more of a broad hall. Disintegrating the floor only reveals more stone as Barne says, "We're in the basements now," he says, pointing in one direction, "That way leads away from here, the other leads back to the hall, if I have the right of it."
This might need Jaela to cast that Find the Path spell. Afina ways here for them to catch up, monitoring everything around her within 200 feet to ensure nothing sneaks up on them.
You meant waits here and you're holding on Jaela, right?
Oh, typo. Yes, waits here.
It's not long for Jaela to catch back up, the devils presumably dealt with.
Go ahead, y'all.
Afina nods to Jaela. 'Think you can use a Find the Path spell to get us to the deepest part of these basements? That's probably our best bet for finding Quinn.'
With a nod, Jaela tries to use the spell in question to find the sacrificial chamber Quinn has in the basements!
CL check on it, there's defenses in place.
21:18 <Luisa> roll 1d20+25
21:18 <Kobot> Luisa rolled 1d20+25 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{45}
You feel pulled down the hallway that leads away from the hall, according to Barne.
'This way,' Jaela relays, following the path. 'Follow me as closely as you can in case of traps.'
Marching order?
Jaela, Dana, Barnes, Adrian, Afina?
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Ko-PixieFear rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=22 ]{22}
You walk down a ways. Down the hall and to a door and a passage away fromit, your spell guiding you to the passage. As you go down it, Dana looks around, rapier out and ready. "C'mon," she murmurs, "C'mon...."
Jaela keeps to a pace that Dana and Adrian can make by pressing themselves. And if there's anything of interest, Afina will probably spot it long before Jaela's own blindsight kicks in.
Speaking of, make a Spot check for reference, Afina.
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70
[19:56] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+70 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{75}
On and on you walk - as Afina hears footsteps far behind you, back the way you came.
'We're being followed,' Afina reports. 'Someone on foot. Keep going though, I'll let you know if they get close enough to be a concern.' If these tunnels have enough branches and twists they might easily lose any pursuit before it becomes a factor.
Jaela nods, keeping on track.
The footsteps slowly get louder as you go on - a fairly long path, and ahead you see a problem as you turn a corner.
Ahead the way has been barricaded, barrels and loose stones used to form a defensive wall. Erinyes man it with bows and arrows ready, a half dozen of them with a hamatula behind them. They're about 100ft away from you.
Init.
[19:58] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+22
[19:58] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=11]
[18:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+34
[18:03] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+9 Dana
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 14 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+6 devils
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=12]
Init is Afina (54) > Jaela (33) > Adrian (19) > Devils (18) > Dana (14)
Afina opens.
"Just like Benfal," Adrian says, "Break through and rout 'em!"
Afina flies right past the barricade and into the midst of the devils before detonating in a consuming fireball!
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 SR
[18:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 35 > [d20=2]
[18:22] <@Ebiris> roll 26d10 greater fireburst, searing
[18:22] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 152 > [d10=5,7,4,10,10,8,5,2,3,6,4,7,4,7,8,2,10,7,7,7,6,3,5,1,6,8]
DC 33 ref half
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/3/8/8/8/7/2/3
> roll 1d20+16
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=10]
Fire erupts around the erinyes, walls scorched and devils burning. The barricade is ablaze as they stand there, burnt but intact, burning away as...
Jaela.
Jaela promptly smashes into that barricade with Gae Dioltas!
[20:37] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+51+7-26
[20:37] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=2]
[20:38] <@Jessica> roll 12d8+108+156+6+4d6
[20:38] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 338 > [d8=5,5,1,1,2,8,6,3,1,7,5,8][d6=3,2,6,5]
You're attacking the burning barricade itself?
Yes, to break through.
Jaela charges in like a furious dragon, the barrier shattering and flying about, the center of it blown out. The center line of erinyes are hurled back and to the ground, a clear breakthrough in the lines.
Any of your swifts or is that it?
Then Jaela sets everything on even more fire!
[20:50] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+27
[20:50] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=3]
[20:51] <@Jessica> roll 15d6+4d6 Ref DC29 half
[20:51] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 67 > [d6=6,3,6,5,3,4,5,2,4,1,1,1,1,4,5,5,6,2,3]
[20:51] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+27
[20:51] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=17]
[20:51] <@Jessica> roll 15d6+4d6 Ref DC29 half
[20:51] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 48 > [d6=4,1,1,3,2,1,3,2,1,1,6,1,5,2,2,2,2,4,5]
Twinned spells, so 134 and 96.
Important point here: Which spell?
Flame Strike (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/flameStrike.htm). Half holy half goldenfire.
> roll 1d20+16
> roll 1d20+16
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=1]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=11]
Fried erinyes, coming up, quick to order.
The erinyes are consumed in goldenfire, barrier remnants and erinyes burning with equal ferver. They are consumed in the aftermath of Jaela's charge, leaving behind only ruin. Victory!
"Damn, weaklings," Dana scowls, "Come on and give us some fucking worthwhile opposition, you dickless traitor!"
Free act.
Jaela cheerfully proceeds along the path her powers guide her towards!
"C'mon, pick it up," Adrian says, "That made noise, let's not give them a chance to catch up."
Afina, make a quick Will save.
"You can't keep up if I go all out," Jaela needles him with a grin. "Then you'll just be stuck fighting the endless hordes of weaklings in the catacombs while I get to the good stuff."
[19:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+69 moment of prescience
[19:10] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 76 > [d20=7]
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/3/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
Afina feels a faint buzz around her wings.
Adrian matches that grin back, "Yeah? Watch me? Faster than a cat and meaner than Ithea, too. C'mon!"
Jaela dutifully picks up the pace! If she goes too fast, her friends will let her know.
Movement speed brought up to 100ft.
[19:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 spellcraft what's that
[19:18] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 57 > [d20=10]
Hm, some sort of spell just grazed your wings. It was trying to gather some of your pixie dust up. An odd little spell, working from afar and targeting your pixie dust. Definitely custom.
Can she determine more about the spell's range? Is it in the short/medium/long paradigm or is it X miles or 'same plane' or anywhere? What about the targeting, does it target her specifically or is it a 'nearest pixie' sort of thing? What sort of spells would foil it?
It's extremely long range, possibly plane encompassing but most probably several miles. You think it was targeted directly at you. It got around mind blank by not being an enchantment you think.
Do me a favor and list your current immunities, including those granted by spells. Matters for this.
immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, information-gathering divinations, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects
spell resistance 42, freedom of movement, 50% miss chance
The 50% miss chance applies to any spell that affects a target rather than an area, so it would apply here.
Oh, that's sneaky. What's it's doing is trying ti sip at your life force to do it. Protection from Constitution damage and drain should work.
Just wanted to make sure I hadn't overlooked you having that somehow.
'Jaela, do you have any spells that stop your stamina from being sapped?' Afina asks. 'Someone's using a long range spell to affect me, and it doesn't require them to be able to see me for it so I can't do anything about it.'
'Just Stone Body, but I'd prefer not to resort to it. Would Spell Turning do the trick, you think?'
'Should do,' Afina confirms. 'Cast it on me? If I detect it happening again I'll use iron body myself. Same again, spell I'd rather not resort to.'
It takes a few moments for Jaela to cast Spell Turning on Afina so that they'd match, and then she proceeds ahead!
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/3/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
On you fly, deeper and deeper. Down a stairway in a hurry, and at the bottom they are 30ft away. Four cornugons, each bearing a greatsword, utterly blocking the way ahead. "There!" One snaps in Infernal, charging the four of you are you face along. "CRUSH THEM!"
Init.
[19:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+34
[19:12] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=2]
[21:16] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+22
[21:16] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
> roll 1d20+9 Dana
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=9]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+10 cornugons
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=16]
Init is Afina (36) > Jaela (32) > Cornugons (26) > Dana (25) > Adrian (22)
Go Afina.
Afina deals with this obstacle as the last, flying right into their midst before detonating in a searing fireburst!
[19:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 SR
[19:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=7]
[19:45] <@Ebiris> roll 26d10 greater fireburst, searing
[19:45] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 127 > [d10=2,6,8,6,2,3,3,3,4,5,8,2,8,5,5,10,4,4,6,5,9,1,8,2,1,7]
DC 33 ref half
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/2/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
Jaela smites of of the devils out of existence!
[21:51] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+67+4+7-26 smite~
[21:51] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 59 > [d20=7]
[21:52] <@Jessica> roll 12d8+138+96+18+6+156+4d6
[21:52] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 479 > [d8=8,4,7,3,5,4,2,3,7,3,1,1][d6=4,1,6,6]
Her mere presence burns the adjacent devils, and then Jaela dispatches two more opponents with phantom spears!
[21:54] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+30 SR
[21:54] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 50 > [d20=20]
[21:54] <@Jessica> roll 2d6+4d6 burn in goldenfire
[21:54] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 18 > [d6=4,1,1,6,5,1]
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+34+7 ranged touch #1
[21:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 50 > [d20=9]
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+34+7 ranged touch #2
[21:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 61 > [d20=20]
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+34+7 ranged touch #2 crit?
[21:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=8]
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+30 SR1
[21:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=6]
[21:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+30 SR2
[21:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 50 > [d20=20]
[21:57] <@Jessica> roll 15d12 attack #1
[21:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 64 > [d12=7,3,2,8,4,2,6,2,2,3,4,9,7,3,2]
[21:57] <@Jessica> roll 15d12 attack #2
[21:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 99 > [d12=8,8,2,8,8,1,5,11,8,5,3,7,9,11,5]
[21:57] <@Jessica> roll 30d12 crit #2
[21:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 195 > [d12=2,12,5,4,6,5,8,5,9,6,9,11,7,1,2,6,8,7,12,3,10,5,7,7,1,3,10,5,9,10]
Charging smite, crown of flames which is on, then two swift bolts of glory. Gambit with Gae Bolg in case a dude charges me.
> roll 1d20+22
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=9]
The flames catch the cornugons off guard, no move made to dodge them. And why not? Flames do not harm devils, yet these do. They burn and crackle under the flames as Jaela charges the lead one, impaling it straight through. It explodes in a burst of holy light, obliterated to the last. It leaves behind its sword and a few other things in a heap, as goldenfire and bolts of glory slam into the remainder. Two more are crushed beneath your power, already softened up, and the last is burning alive, burning with all the hate and fury as it has as it bellows, swinging at Jaela.
> roll 1d20+20 (-18 PA) fishing
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+15 (-18 PA) fishing
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+10 (-18 PA) fishing
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+5 (-18 PA) fishing
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 > [d20=4]
Gambit away, Jaela.
[09:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+53+7+6-26
[09:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=16]
[09:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+53+7+6-26
[09:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=9]
[09:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+48+7+6-26
[09:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=17]
[09:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+43+7+6-26
[09:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=10]
[09:56] <@Jessica> roll 1d20+38+7+6-26
[09:56] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=11]
[09:57] <@Jessica> roll 4d8+40+2+52+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[09:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 163 > [d8=8,3,2,3][d6=4,2,3,5,1,5,6,3,5,2,1,2,6,3,5]
[09:57] <@Jessica> roll 4d8+40+2+52+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[09:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 153 > [d8=3,8,2,6][d6=5,2,3,3,5,2,3,5,2,2,2,1,3,1,1]
[09:57] <@Jessica> roll 4d8+40+2+52+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[09:57] <Serith> Jessica roll for Serith < 164 > [d8=2,2,5,7][d6=4,1,5,5,4,2,4,1,5,5,4,6,1,4,3]
With one final, tremendous strike, Jaela impales the last cornugon, holy flames immolating it to dust. Victory!
Free act.
"I guess crush them was right," Jaela muses, following the tug from her Path.
"More devils to kill, I can live with that," Adrian says as he jogs along, "Both of you have more where that came from?"
"I've been calling these scum fodder, haven't I?" Jaela answers with a rhetorical question of her own, proceeding on course. "Now try to keep up~"
"I haven't taxed myself yet," Afina confirms as she flies along.
Deeper and deeper. You're running along, footsteps echoing all around the halls as Barne leads you along. As you go...
Spot all. This is probably perfunctory with Afina.
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70
[17:57] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+70 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{73}
As you all hurry along, Afina's eyes catch a tiny segment of stone in the wall moving aside, a tiny spyhole used, gleaming red eyes within it, watching the party as they pass.
My power is leading us! Though he's helping. And I can't beat that.
Afina immediately disintegrates that section of wall!
[18:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check
[18:07] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20 check --> [ 1d20=9 ]{9}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/10/7/9/1/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
The wall disintegrates. Behind it is a mere spinagon in a narrow, tight hallway running parallel to the passage. It stares a moment in shock as the wall it was behind is now gone. It's twisted, smirking devil face is marred with its surprise, a complete moment of being off guard.
Afina takes advantage of that surprise, flying in and stabbing it to death! 'Jaela, does this change your path?' she asks telepathically.
[18:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+62
[18:23] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+62 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{79}
[18:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+57
[18:23] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+57 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{69}
[18:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+30+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6 and 2 negative levels
[18:24] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+30+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6 and 2 negative levels --> [ 1d4=2 3d6=12 3d6=10 4d6=6 6d6=19 ]{79}
[18:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+30+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6 and 2 negative levels
[18:24] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+30+3d6+3d6+4d6+6d6 and 2 negative levels --> [ 1d4=4 3d6=8 3d6=10 4d6=12 6d6=23 ]{87}
"W-"
That's all the spinagon manages to get out before his body is slashed into several pieces, bursting into a foul pile of dust. Got it, another down.
Adrian just glances over and keeps on flying ahead.
Jaela notes this hasn't changed her path at all.
'Not really,' Jaela responds. 'Didn't even register as a trap, possibly because it was so weak.'
No shortcut there then, she'll stick with following Jaela's spell.
Down and down and down some more. At last you come to a heavy stone door, Barne going to it. "This should be barricaded, you'll need to bust through it," she says, as your spell concurs.
Heavy steel doors with no magical protections are weak to disintegrations!
[21:38] <@Armand> roll 1d20
[21:38] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{5}
Naturally, there is one less door and stone around it. Ahead is a chamber - storage, perhaps, boxes and barrels. Alls tacked up, three fortifications ahead. Erinyes and barbazu hold them, dozens of arrows flying in the aftermath as...
Init.
[19:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+34
[19:40] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+34 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{40}
[21:41] <@Armand> roll 1d20+22
[21:41] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{34}
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 Adrian --> [ 1d20=19 ]{32}
> roll 1d20+9 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Dana --> [ 1d20=10 ]{19}
> roll 1d20+9 Devils 1
> roll 1d20+9 Devils 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Devils 1 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{28}
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Devils 2 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+9 Devils 3
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+9 Devils 3 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{18}
> roll 1d20+15 ????
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+15 ???? --> [ 1d20=2 ]{17}
Init is Afina (40) > Jaela (34) > Adrian (32) > Devil Station 1 (28) > Devil Station 2 (18) > Dana (19) > Devil Station 3 (18) > ??? (17)
Open Afina.
Refreshing her haste spell on everyone, Afina flies into the midst of the devils and detonates once more to expediently deal with them!
[19:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 SR
[19:55] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+33 SR --> [ 1d20=17 ]{50}
[19:56] <@Ebiris> roll 26d10 greater fireburst, searing
[19:56] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 26d10 greater fireburst, searing --> [ 26d10=138 ]{138}
DC 33 ref half
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/9/7/9/0/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
> roll 1d20+16 ref save
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+16 ref save --> [ 1d20=14 ]{30}
Devils catch ablaze, burned by your supernaturally hot flames as you stand amid them. Barrels burn, boxes blaze and baddies boil, as...
Jaela.
Jaela strides into the breach after Afina, deciding to take a page from the pixie's book! Except when she detonates, it is with a holy fury unmatched by any!
[22:01] <@Armand> roll 1d20+34+7 ranged touch
[22:01] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+34+7 ranged touch --> [ 1d20=15 ]{56}
[22:01] <@Armand> roll 30d12 twinned
[22:01] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 30d12 twinned --> [ 30d12=189 ]{189}
[22:02] <@Armand> roll 1d20+30 SR
[22:02] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+30 SR --> [ 1d20=14 ]{44}
378 holy to every devil in a 100ft radius of me once I'm in their midst, no save. Burst of Glory.
Init is Afina (40) > Jaela (34) > Adrian (32)> Dana (19) > ??? (17)
Obliteration. What else can there be after unloosing that sort of power? The devils are routed, obliterated before your eyes as...
Any other actions this turn?
My two swifts are being reserved to counter stuff, though I'll Gambit with Gae Bolg if something survived.
Nothing you can detect.
None of you have tremorsense, do you?
Nope.
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
My senses are blindsight 60ft, invisibility purge 140ft, spot +29.
Adrian and Dana advance but do nothing else.
"You two have that down," Adrian says, "The dreck can't even do the first thing about it."
Just as he says that, suddenly the ground cracks open. Hundreds and hundreds of rotting arms erupt out from the stony ground, grasping at everyone.
> roll 1d20+63
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+63 --> [ 1d20=20 ]{83}
That calls for CMB, but that's an unfortunate roll for all of you.
The hands erupt up, reaching up to grab each and every one one of you. They hold you tight as...
Each of you is grappled. Go Afina.
Is this a spell or a creature? Close-Quarters fighting gives me a free AoO against anything trying to grapple me, even if it has improved grab or the like, and I add the damage to my CMD.
Also as I'm airborne I'd be invisible to tremorsense if it's using that to determine its targeting.
And I have 50% miss chance after all that!
Miss chance, 20%.
It counts as a creature for this so feel free, Afina.
The hands are plentiful and grasping enough to have a shot at anything they can reach.
Miss chances noted, rolling them now.
> roll 1d100 vs 50 Afina
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 vs 50 Afina --> [ 1d100=43 ]{43}
> roll 1d100 vs 20 Jaela
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 vs 20 Jaela --> [ 1d100=6 ]{6}
You two are off the hook, other two aren't. Go.
Do I think it's undead with my ridiculous knowledge?
AoO first
[18:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+58 +4 more if it's an evil outsider
[18:15] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+58 +4 more if it's an evil outsider --> [ 1d20=18 ]{76}
[18:15] <@Armand> roll 1d20+49+7+6 AoO (+4 if a devil)
[18:15] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+49+7+6 AoO (+4 if a devil) --> [ 1d20=2 ]{64}
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+24+3d6+3d6+2d6 normal/holy damage
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+24+3d6+3d6+2d6 normal/holy damage --> [ 1d4=2 3d6=7 3d6=9 2d6=5 ]{47}
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 4d6+4 if evil outsider
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 4d6+4 if evil outsider --> [ 4d6=18 ]{22}
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 3d6 if lawful
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 3d6 if lawful --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6 if sneak-attackable
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 6d6 if sneak-attackable --> [ 6d6=27 ]{27}
1 negative level from holy and 1 negative level from anarchic if they apply.
See how it reacts to that so I can better gauge my turn's action?
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 6/9/10/9/7/9/0/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
Jaela stabs at the encroaching hands before getting out of the way with a flap of her wings!
[20:15] <@Armand> roll 1d20+49+7+6 AoO (+4 if a devil)
[20:15] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+49+7+6 AoO (+4 if a devil) --> [ 1d20=2 ]{64}
[20:16] <@Armand> roll 4d8+36+11d6+4d6+2 and 1 negative level, +4 more if devil
[20:16] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 4d8+36+11d6+4d6+2 and 1 negative level, +4 more if devil --> [ 4d8=20 11d6=29 4d6=5 ]{92}
That or some sort of magic construct. Looking more carefully, magical construct, you think.
Jaela, you don't get an AoO from this. Afina does because she has a feat enabling this on grapples. Unless you have something doing that too, in which case say so.
Afina staps through several of the arms as she blurs in between them. They're cut away - no blood, simply vanishing when severed, as more and more rise up.
I said I was going into Gambit at the end of my turn, and an attempt to grapple is an attack like any other. Even if an attack misses me during Gambit, I get my AoO.
Fair enough then, your attack does about the same as Afina's. Forgot you went into gambit, so good catch.
Magical construct as in a summoned spell effect or like a golem?
'Looks like a construct,' Jaela sends over to the others. 'Strange, I really thought it was undead for a moment there.'
Could be either, probably a spell though you think. At least based on your arcana knowledge.
"Jaela, can you dispel it?" Afina asks.
Holding, I'll try something else if that doesn't fix it.
Can I? Swift action number 1~
[20:39] <@Armand> roll 1d20+41
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+41 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{51}
Under this magic, the hands suddenly vanish, dispelled back to whence they came.
Free act, for now.
"Piece of cake," Jaela responds, following the tug of the Path to continue onwards!
Afina follows Jaela as well, though she casts detect magic. There's a lot of spells being thrown at them without a caster present, one she could perhaps see as a custom effort but two? Is there some sort of scrying sensor or magical awareness field around here that allows for remote spell targeting? Is the caster looking through Barnes's eyes, maybe?
[18:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+47 spellcraft
[18:44] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+47 spellcraft --> [ 1d20=18 ]{65}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/10/9/7/9/0/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
There's some magic emanating from the ground you're standing on. It seems to be some sort of guidance, targeting spells cast to it and through it.
'Everyone start flying,' Afina says. 'They're using the ground to target spells. If we're not in contact we should be safer.' She casts Air Walk on Barnes. "Don't touch the ground," she warns him severely before they continue on.
Jaela has no trouble leading the way while staying afloat!
Airborne it is. Once in the air, "Neat trick," Dana says, "Gives me an idea, too."
"What's that?"
"Some sort of ass kicking ability that comes right on up and fucks all the enemies over," Dana says, "Something to get a lot of the assholes at once."
"Wouldn't it get boring after a while?"
"I haven't gotten bored of burning things," Afina opines.
"Afina fuckin' gets it."
On that observation you advance in. Down more stairs - and you find a thick wall of iron midway down, completely blocking the way ahead. It glows red with heat, as if burning hot.
'Adrian and I are immune to fire,' Jaela muses in their minds. 'I can manage a protective spell. How about you, Afina?'
'Only to resist fire, not immunity,' Afina answers. 'There's probably a wall of lava behind the door like in Apasa's place. You disintegrate it and I'll shoot out a cone of cold?' she suggests.
Adrian readies himself in front of the wall, "Get back, just in case," he says, "I can block if it is fire."
Jaela wards Dana all the same before disintegrating the door!
Energy Immunity: Fire CL26.
Also!
[21:29] <@Armand> roll 1d20
[21:29] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20 --> [ 1d20=11 ]{11}
The wall is gone, and sure enough ,a pocket of lava starts to gush out, spraying up and out, as if pressurized.
Afina?
I'll put resist energy fire on Barnes while Jaela wards DanaA spray of frigid air meets it!
[19:32] <@Ebiris> roll 15d6 cone of cold
[19:32] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 15d6 cone of cold --> [ 15d6=32 ]{32}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/8/8/8/7/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
Lava meets cold. What happens is an explosion, pelted by rock as hunks of it flash freeze. The hallway is now clogged by volcanic glass and stone, , but at least you aren't about to be immolated anymore.
Afina uses Stone Shape to carve out a tunnel through the now solidified lava.
Done and done. The passage is now revealed, if you care to travel it.
Assuming Jaela's path says so then they surely will!
Jaela follows the Path!
Down ahead, into a room. Here is a lot of open space, a barred and locked door at the far end. However, ahead of you? A line of lemures blocks the way 30ft ahead, squalid and squeaming like blobs of soul-fat. Behind them stands a good dozen steel devils, tower shields at the ready forming a formidable shield wall. Behind them stands a pit fiend with a gelugon on either side of him.
"I am Colonel Magre," he introduces himself, voice a soft, sibilant thing that yet carries. "Surrender or face immediate execution."
"A colonel leading lemures into battle? What an honor to meet you!"
Adrian chuckles at that, "Yeah, not even a general? What noble did you piss off to get this position?"
Dana just readies her shield and rapier, "Yeah, what the fuck ever. C'mon and die so you can sniff asses in Hell."
With the mocking part of combat done with, Jaela charges ahead!
Of course with blindsight 60 and anti-invis 140 if this is some elaborate trap I'd like to know about it as I close in.
Afina certainly doesn't have banter for a lowly gelugon.
[18:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+34 init
[18:14] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+34 init --> [ 1d20=20 ]{54}
It's the pit fiend speaking, but yeah. Init.
[20:15] <@Armand> roll 1d20+22 init
[20:15] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+22 init --> [ 1d20=3 ]{25}
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 Adrian --> [ 1d20=14 ]{27}
> roll 1d20+89 Dana
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+89 Dana --> [ 1d20=11 ]{100}
> roll 1d20+10 lemure line
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+10 lemure line --> [ 1d20=12 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+18 sheel devil shield wall
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+18 sheel devil shield wall --> [ 1d20=5 ]{23}
> roll 1d20+19 gelugon 1\
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 gelugon 1\ --> [ 1d20=18 ]{37}
> roll 1d20+19 gelugon 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+19 gelugon 2 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{22}
> roll 1d20+26 pit fiend
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+26 pit fiend --> [ 1d20=9 ]{35}
Dana's init is 20, it wasn't meant to be +89 but +9.
Init is Afina (54) > Gelugon 1 (37) > Pit Fiend (35) > Adrian (27) > Jaela (25) > Shield Line (23) > Gelugon 2 = Lemure Line (22) > Dana (20)
Afina opens.
With everyone currently resistant to fire, Afina can afford to go all out. Thus she speeds herself up massively before bringing the fire!
7th level slot for 2 rounds of time stop
Round 1: cast planar bubble
Round 2: cast searing delayed blast fireball to cover all the devils
[18:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 searing delayed blast fireball SR
[18:27] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+33 searing delayed blast fireball SR --> [ 1d20=13 ]{46}
Does 162 fire damage, ignoring immunity/resistance. DC 35 ref halfAnd as time resumes its flow she follows that up by throwing a swarm of meteors at the pit fiend, fireballs blooming across the battlefield!
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33 searing meteor swarm SR
[18:34] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+33 searing meteor swarm SR --> [ 1d20=2 ]{35}
[18:34] <@Ebiris> roll 4#1d20+51 ranged touch
[18:35] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 4#1d20+51 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{70}, [ 1d20=17 ]{68}, [ 1d20=15 ]{66}, [ 1d20=17 ]{68}
Does 96x4 damage to the pit fiend struck (bludgeoning/fire) and 48x4 damage to everything else. No save for pit fiend, DC 37 ref half for the rest.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/7/8/6/2/3
2 moments of prescience left
> roll 1d20+13 lemures if you couldn't guess, they're waaaay boosted
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+13 lemures if you couldn't guess, they're waaaay boosted --> [ 1d20=4 ]{17}
> roll 1d20+21 steel devils
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+21 steel devils --> [ 1d20=13 ]{34}
> roll 1d20+24 Gelugons
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 Gelugons --> [ 1d20=16 ]{40}
> roll 1d20+24 Gelugon 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 Gelugon 2 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{26}
> roll 1d20+29 evasion pit fiend
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+29 evasion pit fiend --> [ 1d20=10 ]{39}
Init is Afina (54) > Gelugon 1 (37) > Pit Fiend (35) > Adrian (27) > Jaela (25) > Shield Line (23) > Gelugon 2 (22) > Dana (20)
> roll 1d20+24 gelugon 1
> roll 1d20+24 gelugon 2
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 gelugon 1 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{43}
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+24 gelugon 2 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{34}
> roll 1d20+21 steel devils
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+21 steel devils --> [ 1d20=8 ]{29}
Fire and fury. The devils are blasted, burned and obliterated. The lemures are no more, the shield wall badly burning and almost broken. The pit fiend screams as he's hit over and over again, falling to its knees, still up, if perhaps by little indeed. Then one of the gelugons turns to Afina and....
> roll 1d20+20
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{25}
Nothing happens, magic crumbling before Afina's might.
Then the pit fiend stands its ground and begins to chant, horrid words coming from the depths of Hell. The screams of the fallen, the faithless and the failed. Magic begins to form around her, as it fans out, abruptly immersing all in unholy power.
> roll 1d20+30 SR check
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+30 SR check --> [ 1d20=19 ]{49}
Fort, all.
[20:55] <@Armand> roll 1d20+35 counterspell
[20:55] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+35 counterspell --> [ 1d20=1 ]{36}
[18:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61 fort, moment of prescience
[18:55] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+61 fort, moment of prescience --> [ 1d20=4 ]{65}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/7/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
Fort
[20:56] <@Armand> roll 1d20+66
[20:56] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+66 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{67}
> roll 1d20+46 Adrian does not fail fort on a natural 1
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+46 Adrian does not fail fort on a natural 1 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{50}
> roll 1d20+44 Dana also has steadfast determination
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+44 Dana also has steadfast determination --> [ 1d20=1 ]{45}
Dana is grateful to Steadfast Determination about now.
OOC: 160 hellfire damage. Halved for all but Jaela, who takes full.
Maximizing hurts.
Pain. Pain and fire that is not fire but pure hate, boring and burning into the four of you like nothing else. Jaela shudders, caught offguard from it and burned, the flames blowing into her like a poison. YEt all of you endure, far stronger than that as...
Adrian and then Jaela. Go ahead and go, Jaela, I need a sec.
12th level slot sacrificed for -60 damage on that via spell shield.
Is Barnes dead, btw?
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/7/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
He wisely fell back when attacks started being a concern.
"Enough!" Jaela snarls, burning with holy light. "Disappear from my sight!"
Mass Heal as swift.
[21:09] <@Armand> roll 1d20+67+7-10 10pa divine might charging smite
[21:09] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+67+7-10 0pa divine might charging smite --> [ 1d20=19 ]{83}
[21:11] <@Armand> roll 12d8+138+96+18+6+60+4d6+4d6
[21:11] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 12d8+138+96+18+6+60+4d6+4d6 --> [ 12d8=49 4d6=10 4d6=12 ]{389}
Goldenfire to all the devils within 10ft of me.
[21:12] <@Armand> roll 1d20+30 SR
[21:12] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+30 SR --> [ 1d20=7 ]{37}
[21:12] <@Armand> roll 2d6+4d6 burn
[21:12] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 2d6+4d6 burn --> [ 2d6=6 4d6=8 ]{14}
Who are you charging?
The pit fiend. Since I'm flying I assume I can go above the wrecked wall of devils. They can AoO me, of course.
They can and they will!
> roll 1d20+30 vs Jaela's AC of way more than that
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+30 vs Jaela's AC of way more than that --> [ 1d20=5 ]{35}
With the wall in disorder, Jaela zips past and to the pit fiend, impaling him. There's a gurgling cry and he explodes, ripped in half by his own energies.
Init is Afina (54) > Gelugon 1 (37) > Pit Fiend (35) > Adrian (27) > Jaela (25) > Shield Line (23) > Gelugon 2 (22) > Dana (20)
Any other actions this turn, Jaela?
I'm done. But you're right, I'll explicitly Gambit with Gae Bolg as I've been doing all this time!
Adrian meanwhile charges in, going to meet the devastated shield devils head on, as they burn with goldenfire.
> roll 1d20 -25 PA this is just a 1/crit check since even with the boosts Adrian has a ton of to hit going right now, will do the math if it looks like it might matter
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 -25 PA this is just a 1/crit check since even with the boosts Adrian has a ton of to hit going right now, will do the math if it looks like it might matter --> [ 1d20=2 ]{2}
> Crap, math time.
<Ebiris> Adriaaaaan!
> roll 49+2+2+4+7
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 49+2+2+4+7 --> {64}
> Yeah, doens't matter. Okay.
> roll 2d6+90+9d6+4d6
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d6+90+9d6+4d6 --> [ 2d6=6 9d6=32 4d6=9 ]{137}
Adrian charges into the devils head on, a swipe of his blade clearing away three. Shields and bodies are severed in equal measure, a gaping hole in the defense line as the remnants of the shield line try and hold the position, as the second gelugon, burning and marred, turns and stabs at Jaela.
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+39 vs Jaela AC --> [ 1d20=7 ]{46}
> OOC: +4 more but still a miss.
Gambit away.
Stepping aside, Jaela lets the unlucky devil run head-first into Gae Bolg!
[21:42] <@Armand> roll 1d20+53+7-10+6 10pa
[21:42] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+53+7-10+6 0pa --> [ 1d20=20 ]{76}
[21:42] <@Armand> roll 1d20+53+7-10+6 10pa crit?
[21:42] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 1d20+53+7-10+6 0pa crit? --> [ 1d20=18 ]{74}
[21:44] <@Armand> roll 12d8+120+11d6+6+60+42+9d6+4d6 and 4 negative levels
[21:44] <Rei-chan> Armand rolled : 12d8+120+11d6+6+60+42+9d6+4d6 and 4 negative levels --> [ 12d8=43 11d6=42 9d6=34 4d6=10 ]{357}
Init is Afina (54) > Gelugon 1 (37) > Adrian (27) > Jaela (25) > Shield Line (23) > Dana (20)
As you would expect, impaling a gelugon through the throat kills it. Good to know. As that happens...
Make a Listen check, all. +9 circumstance penalty.
Taking ten for 35.
[19:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61
[19:50] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+61 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{76}
Afina can hear the faintest whirring in the air.
Meanwhile Dana marches right up to the remnants of the shield wall, tucking into them as well as you two deal with the rest.
> roll 1d20+27 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+27 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA) crit threat
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=14]
> roll 2d6+100
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 109 > [d6=6,3]
More of the line is reduced, strange chanting from the steel devils interrupted by impalement. As Dana fights...
Afina.
[spoiler]
Adrian
HP: 385/385
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP:392/392
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Is there a particular source for the whirring? Anything on blindsight beyond what I can see?
It's coming from the air all around you, unnaturally so.
Any relevant knowledge or spellcraft?
Taking 10 for 55 on arcana/planes/spellcraft or 57 on nature if any are relevant
Something is agitating the air around you. Odd, that's either specialized magic or a powerful air elemental. It's a sign something windy and explosive is about to happen.
"Brace yourselves!" Afina calls, stilling the air around them as best she can!
I still have control winds up, using that to make the air still. Takes a standard action so that's my turn, I'll use a swift on Afame for +4 dodge to AC.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 103 (touch 66), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/7/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
The winds still at this, the whirring sound ceasing to Afina's keen ears.
The first gelugon continues to hold his position, taking a defensive stance as magic wraps around Dana - but nothing happens.
Adrian and Jaela. Go Jaela.
Jaela decides to kill everything in sight! Afina's warning means she's reserving her magic in case she needs to send an interrupt, but that just means she's free to eliminate this gelugon!
[20:18] <@Armand> roll 1d20+51+7
[20:18] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 60 > [d20=2]
[20:19] <@Armand> roll 12d8+138+6+4d6+4d6+18
[20:19] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 253 > [d8=3,6,5,6,3,2,7,6,7,5,8,6][d6=6,3,1,5,1,5,3,3]
Init is Afina (54) > Adrian (27) > Jaela (25) > Shield Line (23) > Dana (20)
Jaela's blow just tears the gelugon in half, insectoid devil obliterated in holy flames. Meanwhile Adrian strikes and strikes the devils before him as...
> roll 1d20+31 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+31 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA) extra haste attack
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+26 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA) extra haste attack
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+26 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA) crit threat
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+21 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+16 (+4 greater heroism, +2 recitation, +1 haste, -25 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=5]
The damage is sufficient to finish it, I won't roll a bunch of unneeded dice today.
With a few sweeps of Gaelach the steel devils are little more than dust on the wind, gear littering the ground as the party stands victorious - for now.
Free act.
Jaela checks the Path for their destination, before setting off!
Afina doesn't care to delay for looting when they have a traitor to find, and follows after Jaela while keeping the winds still. "Good job everyone," she commends their performance just now.
"If we'd been this strong a few years ago, the invasion may have failed," Adrian remarks as Jaela's path tells her to keep going, opening the door and on.
"We had no reason to push ourselves that far," Jaela says curtly, keeping on her path.
This doorway opens, revealing stairs going down. From below you feel pain suffering fear misery hate terror agony, all coming through you like a scything wind. A melange of emotions, passing through you a split second before your protections dampen them down.
"Feels like we're close," Jaela says, her voice growing grim at the misery carried on the wind. "I'll push it, so catch up."
Movement at 140ft.
Afina's at 120, but she'll slow for Dana and Adrian
Down and down and down you go. The steps are cold and clammy, slippery as you walk down. As you do you begin to hear groans of agony and...
Listen checks, all. Or being real, just Afina since she's SUPEREARS.
[19:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+70
[19:19] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 72 > [d20=2]
Also flying and not walking, as per earlier warning about not touching the ground
It's the faintest sound - grinding from the walls on eithe rside. They're moving! Afina can hear it as...
Chance for one standard action, Afina.
'Look out, wall crushers!' Afina sends to Jaela to warn her, not able to do any more than that.
For Dana and Adrian who are close by she can be more useful at least, a pair of shimmering rainbow walls hugging the actual walls and extending down the passage.
6th level slot sacced as swift for 1 round time stop, casting a prismatic wall on the left during time stop and on the right afterwards. Walls are 108 feet long.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 103 (touch 66), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/6/5/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
So you're walling to protect everyone but Jaela?
You know that is kind of a dick move. How far away is Jaela, can I see her? I can sacrifice a higher level spell to catch up and then put up walls to protect her during time stop too. If she's within 108 feet I don't even need to go that far!
Jaela, how far ahead were you from the others?
I went at the speed of 140ft, presumably the others are rushing after me at speed 100ft or so? I don't know how long we went for since we killed the last batch of devils as it wasn't described. If it's been a few rounds I'll be in range.
We'll say it's been 3 rounds, so Afina can do the math and see if you're in range or not.
That'd put Jaela 120 feet ahead of us. Just barely out of reach.
Okay, change my action to an 8th level slot for 3 rounds of time stop, and 4 walls placed total.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 103 (touch 66), spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/2/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
Walls of prismatic power spring up, blocking walls that cave in to squish the four of you. Dana whistles, "Damn, the old wall trap. That's a classic from any third rate bard."
"Thanks!" Jaela says quite gratefully. "Alright, new plan. I'll stay in range." This time when she proceeds, it's at a speed the others can manage so that they can deal with anything together.
Down you go, the chorus of the damned and tormented louder. At the bottom of the stairs is a thick iron door, firmly shut and engraved with images of a nine layer pit. The images move, showing hapless souls condemned deeper and deeper down, forever plummeting.
Jaela disintegrates this door as well!
22:03 <Luisa> roll 1d20
22:03 <Serith> Luisa roll for Serith < 13 > [d20=13]
CL check on the door, it's protected.
[20:05] <@Armand> roll 1d20+30
[20:05] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=11]
The door crumbles away, the passage within ahead. Warmer air and horrid sounds come from within.
Here you can see a vast pentagram, 90 in diameter. All about are sacrifices, stacked on one another and writhing, screaming. In the center of the pentagram stands a pit fiend in heavy armor, glowing with a dark, unyielding red light. He stands alone and yet tall, energies flowing into him.
"Aurora!" he calls, as...
Chance to react, all. Offensive choices mean init.
[18:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+34 didn't come here to chat
[18:14] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=11]
"Surprise!" Jaela yells, even as she relays to the others, 'I'll stop time and consecrate this place.'
[20:17] <@Armand> roll 1d20+22
[20:17] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+13 Adrian
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 14 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+9 Dana
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+43 Quinn
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 57 > [d20=14]
Init is Quinn (57) > Afina (45) > Jaela (39) > Dana (24) > Adrian (14)
Quinn wins init and opens.
Quinn surges with power as he turns, "Aurora!" he bellows again, "Kneel and die!" Arcs of red lightning come from his body, surging through the pentagram to slam into you all. The sacrifices all moan as more power flows into Quinn, rushing into him like a river, visible now as a dull, dark red light.
No SR, supernatural ability. Reflex saves, all.
[18:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 evasion
[18:37] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=3]
edit: should be 48, forgot the haste bonus
[20:40] <@Armand> roll 1d20+67 evasion
[20:40] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 86 > [d20=19]
Also, don't forget I'm not flat-footed and will counterspell any actual magic sent our way. If something targets me specifically, spell turning will handle that.
> roll 1d20+35 Adrian
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+43 Dana
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=13]
Adrian has improved evasion.
> roll 40*12
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 480 >
480 damage, half of which is electricity damage and half of which is from unholy power. Afina evades, Jaela evades, Adrian evades, Dana halves.
So 480, 240 after halving, down to 235 from electricity resistance 5. Ow.
The red electricity hits all of you - or would, but you're too fast. Jaela prays briefly, the lightning failing to touch her. Afina blurs and burst apart into air, reforming away from the lightning. Adrian just parries it, gathering it into Gaelach and sending it careening off to the side harmlessly. Dana stands there, shield-blocking it. Some is stopped, but she crackles and cooks before your eyes, screaming as Quinn laughs and suddenly the four of you are shoved back, hard.
> roll 1d20+58
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 76 > [d20=18]
CMD?
[spoiler]
Adrian
HP: 385/385
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP:157/392
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
89
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/7/9/0/7/2/8/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
89 with all the magical boosts to defense.
Dana's base is 89 before any bonuses. Huh, recurring. Anyway, she beats it in her default so no math needed.
Adrian's base is 57. He doesn't make up 19 points and is hit.
The blast is heavy, but Jaela and Afina hold firm. Adrian is knocked back and onto the ground, while Dana just grins, "Gimme some more, cocksucker!"
Afina.
She knows Jaela's about to do a time stop that she can piggy-back off of, so Afina is free to focus herself fully on undoing Quinn's dark magic! "Spells break asunder!" she calls, disjoining the magic around him!
spell enhanced mages disjunction, how many checks?
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/9/9/6/9/0/7/2/7/6/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
Nine.
[19:04] <@Ebiris> roll 9#1d20+29
[19:04] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 44, 36, 36, 47, 39, 36, 36, 47, 37 >
Before your eyes, two points of the pentagram fade away, yet the rest remains, glowing bright.
Jaela.
Jaela has the same idea! She uses her strongest spell to disrupt as much of the magic on Quinn as she can before time just... stops.
[21:14] <@Armand> roll 7#1d20+41
[21:14] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 54, 48, 53, 46, 51, 45, 55 >
[21:14] <@Armand> roll 1d4+1
[21:14] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 2 > [d4=1]
The pentagram fades away, magic of it crumbling as you stop time and...
Go ahead.
Nodding to Jaela as time freezes, Afina says, "I'll summon someone to heal Dana," she says, calling forth a ghaele eladrin to assist.
Casting ferocity of sanguine rage on round 1 and summon monster x on round 2. The eladrin acts after the time stop ends and will cast Heal on Dana to restore 150 hp for her.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/7/2/7/5/2/3
1 moment of prescience left
Ghaele hp: 112, AC 29, fort +11, ref +13, will +13 (+4 deflection/resistance vs evil)
'No time, no time,' Jaela mutters within the time dilation, moving towards the faded pentagram and using Gae Bolg to draw a much more appropriate symbol of three interlocking circles within an inverted triangle. A soft silver light joins Jaela's usual glow as she calls upon the Triune's guidance and support to deliver the suffering souls trapped above!
Time Stopped Round 1: Moonlight Revelation, standard. Consecrate, swift 1. Assay Spell Resistance, swift 2. Bolt of Glory -> Gae Bolg, move.
Time Stopped Round 2: Brilliant Aura, standard (will catch Gae Bolg and Afina's sword, but I'll alert Afina ahead of time in case she doesn't want it and wants to opt out). Divine Favor, swift 1. True Strike, swift 2. Position myself in melee with Quinn, move.
Afina also flies over behind Quinn, understanding Jaela's intent.
As time resumes, Jaela unleashes her strongest attacks upon the traitor!
[21:54] <@Armand> roll 1d20+60+2+20 (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura)
[21:54] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 88 > [d20=6]
[21:55] <@Armand> roll 4d8+59+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[21:55] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 134 > [d8=3,5,2,4][d6=6,4,4,2,2,4,5,3,4,6,2,3,4,6,6]
[21:56] <@Armand> roll 1d20+40 CL for bolt of glory
[21:56] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 55 > [d20=15]
[21:56] <@Armand> roll 15d12 twinned
[21:56] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 108 > [d12=9,2,12,10,1,3,12,3,11,3,8,12,10,7,5]
216 damage from the bolt of glory
[21:57] <@Armand> roll 1d20+60+2+14 smite (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura)
[21:57] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 95 > [d20=19]
[21:58] <@Armand> roll 1d20+60+2+14 smite (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura) crit?
[21:58] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 91 > [d20=15]
[21:58] <@Armand> roll 12d8+177+11d6+4d6+30
[21:58] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 317 > [d8=7,6,1,2,7,1,6,7,5,7,5,3][d6=4,1,5,1,3,1,6,4,2,4,6,6,5,3,2]
[22:01] <@Armand> roll 9d6 and 3 negative levels on a crit, forgot that
[22:01] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 34 > [d6=6,5,3,3,1,1,6,6,3]
[21:59] <@Armand> roll 1d20+55+2+25 moment of prescience (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura)
[21:59] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 102 > [d20=20]
[21:59] <@Armand> roll 1d20+55+2+25 moment of prescience (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura) crit?
[21:59] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 91 > [d20=9]
[21:59] <@Armand> roll 12d8+177+11d6+4d6
[21:59] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 276 > [d8=6,5,2,2,2,1,4,7,7,8,2,4][d6=6,1,1,1,3,5,2,6,4,4,2,4,3,1,6]
[22:01] <@Armand> roll 9d6 and 3 negative levels on a crit, there were two crits!
[22:01] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 32 > [d6=4,1,6,3,1,5,6,1,5]
[21:59] <@Armand> roll 1d20+50+2+14 smite (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura)
[21:59] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 72 > [d20=6]
[22:00] <@Armand> roll 4d8+59+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[22:00] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 133 > [d8=4,1,4,8][d6=3,4,2,5,3,2,3,5,5,1,6,6,1,6,5]
[22:00] <@Armand> roll 1d20+45+2+14 smite (-5 to his AC from moonlight revelation, armor and shield bonuses negated along with their enhancements from brilliant aura)
[22:00] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 64 > [d20=3]
[22:00] <@Armand> roll 4d8+59+11d6+4d6 and 1 negative level
[22:00] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 129 > [d8=8,6,5,6][d6=6,2,4,2,2,4,2,6,1,4,2,1,3,1,5]
[22:02] <@Armand> roll 2d6+4d6 goldenfire crown of flame
[22:02] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 17 > [d6=2,2,3,1,5,4]
[22:02] <@Armand> roll 1d20+40 cl
[22:02] <Serith> Armand roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=14]
In that one moment as the pentagram fades, Quinn appears vulnerable. The energy around him falters as Jaela strikes, glorious power and her spear impaling him. Goldenfire explodes throughout his body, a convulsion as he screams, then everything turns red, a titanic blast of sheer power.
Reflex saves, all. -9 circumstance penalty for Jaela.
Turns out being supercharged here was explosive if mixed with holy power.
[18:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+44 Afina evasion
[18:01] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+44 Afina evasion --> [ 1d20=4 ]{48}
[18:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+13 ghaele (+17 if it counts as evil)
[18:01] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+13 ghaele (+17 if it counts as evil) --> [ 1d20=5 ]{18}
[21:36] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+67-9 evasion
[21:36] <Rei-chan> Luiza rolled : 1d20+67-9 evasion --> [ 1d20=20 ]{78}
> roll 1d20+35 Adrian improved evasion
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d20+35 Adrian improved evasion --> [ 1d20=2 ]{37}
> roll 1d20+43 Dana
> roll 1d20+43 Dana
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d20+43 Dana --> [ 1d20=17 ]{60}
> roll 40d12+40 Afina full, Jaela none, Adrian half, Dana half owwies incoming and spell shield, probably
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 40d12+40 Afina full, Jaela none, Adrian half, Dana half owwies incoming and spell shield, probably --> [ 40d12=276 ]{316}
316 points of damage, which Afina takes fully and Adrian and Dana halve. 158 if you halve.
Pain. Agony. You can barely see anything after - and a moment later the roof is collapsing, crushing all of you beneath it.
Fortitude save, all. This sort of thing would instantly kill anything remotely normal and mortal by excessive damage, but all of you are far beyond merely normal and mortal.
[spoiler]
Adrian
HP: 227/385
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP:234/392
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
[21:52] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+66
[21:52] <Rei-chan> Luiza rolled : 1d20+66 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{72}
[19:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+61 moment of prescience
[19:53] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+61 moment of prescience --> [ 1d20=9 ]{70}
12th level slot sacrificed for -60 damage via spell shield.
Ghaele is killed.
Afina 73/329
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/7/2/7/5/2/2
> roll 1d20+46 does not autofail on a 1 since steadfast determination Adrian
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d20+46 does not autofail on a 1 since steadfast determination Adrian --> [ 1d20=13 ]{59}
> roll 1d20+44 Dana same thing as Adrian
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d20+44 Dana same thing as Adrian --> [ 1d20=2 ]{46}
> roll 30d10 Afina half, Jaela half, Adrian half, Dana full ow
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 30d10 Afina half, Jaela half, Adrian half, Dana full ow --> [ 30d10=158 ]{158}
79 if halved. HPs after this, y'all. Adrian and Dana are still alive but hurting. Let me know what sort of HP shape you two are in.
[spoiler]
Adrian
HP: 148/385
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus, +7 saves, +4d6 goldenfire damage
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Dana
HP: 76/392
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL15), Fortunate Fate (CL13), Planar Tolerance (CL7), Greater Mage Armor (CL5), Heroes Feast (CL20), Greater Heroism (CL27), Epic Mage Armor (CL27), Sublime Revelry (CL31), Mass Death Ward (CL30), Good Hope (CL30), Recitation (CL30)
Bonuses: +1 morale attack rolls and will saves, immunity to fear and poison, +4 morale attack/saves, +20 armor bonus
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Another 12th level slot on spell shield for -60 damage. Leaves Afina with 54 hp
Afina 54/329
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/7/2/7/5/2/1
490/490 (79)
Agony. All of you are pinned under countless tons of rock. Somehow you live, something that would crush a normal human into paste. Yet all of you are separated, blinded by rock and unable to move.
The rock is warm, strange, almost electric currents passing through you and beyond to the rock every second or faster yet.
All of you are treated as blind (not in actuality, but all you could see is rock pressed into your face, so for practical purposes you are) and paralyzed (unable to move due to being pinned by all the rock. Act if you have anything you can do or powers to get around this, you two.
Afina still has the following vision modes: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
Afina barely manages to twitch a pinky, but she doesn't even need to do that much to call upon those who serve her at Earth's behest! Didn't this happen recently in that yugoloth's lair too? She should stop fighting things underground with Jaela.
[20:06] <@Ebiris> roll 2d4 large earth elementals
[20:06] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 2d4 large earth elementals --> [ 2d4=2 ]{2}
Elemental Swarm (Earth) sla used
Unfortunately only a pair of elementals answer her call, but they still get to work shifting rock around her to free up some room, able to pass through it like air themselves.
[spoiler]
Afina 73/329
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/7/2/7/5/2/2
Yes, I had the same thought about that too, Afina. Clearly Jaela needs to kill the underground, as she said on IRC.
'I'll try to teleport up to an open spot,' Jaela thinks to the others, relying on her boots of greater teleport. If such an open spot still exists in the massive cavern that got buried, she'll appear there, otherwise the spell will fail to take hold.
Quick question, greater teleport so infinite range. Just aiming for a generic open tunnel spot above?
Within the confines of this cavern we've been in at this time. I doubt everything collapsed from the very surface, and even if so an air pocket might well be there.
> roll 1d100 this is pretty much random luck, so the lower the better here
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 this is pretty much random luck, so the lower the better here --> [ 1d100=62 ]{62}
The rock slowly shifts around Afina, carefully and enough to let her begin to move. Enough to cast for now, coughing up rock dust.
Jaela appears in a little space, barely enough for her to curl up into a ball and a bit more, but she can move here. Enough to cast but not much more, but there's also some air here.
'Alive,' Adrian grunts, 'Hurts like a motherfucker, but I'm alive.'
'Fuuuuuuck!' From Dana's profanity, she's alive, too.
'Okay, that worked,' Jaela muses. 'Planning on using elementals for digging us out, Afina? If that's the plan and you have a large enough space around you, I could try teleporting over and aiming a Phase Door at Adrian and Dana.'
[20:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 1 check for disintegrate
[20:32] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20 check for disintegrate --> [ 1d20=10 ]{10}With enough space to move a little, Afina promptly disintegrates a ten foot cube around her, wings fluttering as she floats in place! "Go," she coughs, gesturing to the two elementals and pointing in the directions she knew Dana and Adrian were in. "Find the man and woman there and dig them out."
'I'm sending elementals to dig Dana and Adrian out,' she broadcasts telepathically. 'There's clear space around me.'
I'm going round by round on this, so that's it for the moment.
Afina 73/329
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/6/2/7/5/2/2
Jaela aims the greater teleport for an open space near where she'd seen Afina last. First, regroup as much as possible!
> roll 1d100 luck, lower the better
<Kobot> Sunshine_Ko rolled 1d100 luck, lower the better --> [ 1d100=50 ]{50}
The debris above Afina rumbles ominously, but does not fall. It's mostly one slab of rock, held up beyond this, though a few pebbles and more dust rain down.
'Alright, I'll hold on,' Adrian says, 'We need to find the sigil, too.'
Jaela appears next to Afina in the meantime, having space - for now.
'Alright, so you're still near the same place you were before,' Jaela muses, reaching for Afina to heal her. 'So was I, and he was right in between, so let's try to excavate there and look for the sigil.'
I'll phase door from where we are towards my original position, bypassing where Quinn was and using Detect Evil, which works through up to a foot of solid stone. Afina gets LoH for up to 378hp, however much she needs.
Cool. Round by round so waiting for Afina here.
Freshly healed, Afina shores up their little air pocket while Jaela tries to get at Quinn and her elementals recover Adrian and Dana.
Using Wall of Stone SLA to shore up the sides and buttress the ceiling on either side of Afina and Jaela, leaving 'front' towards Quinn and 'back' towards Adrian and Dana clear.
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/6/2/7/5/2/2
My action is as I said before, using phase door towards Quinn and detect evil to find his stuff. Sigil should be extra evil, and detect evil penetrates up to a foor of stone on top of the tunnel's cheat.
> roll 1d100 stability, though th eimmediate range is supported thanks to Afina's actions
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 stability, though th eimmediate range is supported thanks to Afina's actions --> [ 1d100=37 ]{37}
There's a few rumbles of the settling stone, but nothing else.
Afina's wall of stone blocks up and supports the sides and ceiling, as...
One problem, Jaela: The door does not allow light, sound, or spell effects through it, nor can you see through it without using it. <--- Phase door explicitly doesn't allow this. If you're going back to your original position and trying it there once you're out of it, that's fair game. But using it while in the phase door tunnel isn't. Go ahead and revise your action to account for this.
I said I was opening a door to where Quinn was. I should remember relative positions since I was flanking him with Afina. If there is no space at the destination I will disintegrate one.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=32 ]{32}]
You got lucky, there's space. If there isn't any, you couldn't reach out through the spell and disintegrate anything, as see the previous post.
There's space - just a little gap above it, barely big enough to crawl into. It scrapes your body and squeezes you tightly, but you can get in there.
Jaela slowly turns her head around and looks for evil!
While Jaela does that Afina checks in with Adrian and Dana. 'Are those elementals having any luck digging you out or want me to summon more help?'
Nothing within a foot of Jaela's vision, besides a general aura of fading evil that's everywhere.
'They're working on it,' Adrian replies.
'Yeah, just fuckin' fine,' Dana sends.
'Nothing,' Jaela reports in frustration, before disintegrating two areas around her and retreating to her phase door, just in case.
[i[> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=43 ]{43}[/i]
A bunch of rubble falls, but nothing caves in somehow. There! With the open space you can detect overwhelming evil, a sigil ring sitting atop a hunk of stone.
'Got it!' Jaela relays triumphantly, picking it up and storing it away. 'How long before we're linked with Adrian and Dana, Afina?'
She takes the opportunity to look for magic, in case something of value survived the explosion and ended up near the sigil.
Spot.
[20:42] <@Luiza> roll 1d20+44
[20:42] <Rei-chan> Luiza rolled : 1d20+44 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{58}
Magic is wild and uncontrolled here, auras unreliable. However, your sharp eyes catch a glint of something. Half covered by rubble is a silver bracelet, shiny and smooth. The inside of it is covered with images of birds in flight. It radiates strong magic.
Electing to hurry things along, Afina summons some more elementals to go dig the other two out and brace the rocks around them better.
[18:47] <Ebiris> roll 1d4+1 greater earth elementals
[18:47] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d4+1 greater earth elementals --> [ 1d4=3 ]{4}
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), greater heroism (CL 25), afina's perfect vision (CL 27), shield (CL 27), interplanar telepathic bond (CL 26), sublime revelry (CL 31), death ward (CL 31), good hope (CL 30), recitation (CL 30), haste (CL 27), control winds (CL 27), spell turning (CL 26), ferocity of sanguine rage (CL 27)
defences: AC 99 (touch 62), CMD 89, spell resistance 42, immunity to fire, water, earth, cold, disease, poison, fear, mind-affecting, critical hits, negative energy, & death effects, halved damage from melee and ranged attacks, 50% miss chance, freedom of movement
perceptions: blindsight 200, low-light vision, darkvision 60, all-around vision, see invisible/ethereal, spot +70, listen +70
spell slots: 5/9/8/9/6/9/0/6/2/7/4/2/2
Easy enough to do. What's the plan here now, you two?
Get Dana and Adrian hauled out then gate ourselves back home.
Cool. Anything to add, dread Jaela?
I'll grab the bracelet and we'll go, yes.
> roll 1d100
<Rei-chan> Sunshine_Ko rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=7 ]{7}
Done and done. Battered, dusty and victorious, the four of you return to Aurora intact and...
Ball's in your court.
"I don't think that was our best showing," Afina says, casting prestidigitation to clean all the dirt off, "But a win's a win. Three more sigils to go."
"It's the first one that blew up," Jaela affirms, Mass Heal restoring Adrian and Dana. "Let's try for another sigil once we store this one away."
"We'll need a lead on Ettan, Silvber, or Harkin's location, and with Balyss unavailable and our current prisoners growing stale we might struggle to find anyone quickly," Afina points out.
"How about you check with Mala and I'll reach out to Makaril?" Jaela proposes.
"Mala isn't talking," Afina shakes her head. "She's done something with her brain to prevent herself from giving up any information under mental compulsions. I've asked Vul'lath to prepare a mind probe spell tomorrow to see if that'll get anything out of her."
"Lovely. You know what, let's see if Velasca has some lead. Maybe we'll get our second sigil yet today."
As you go, "Oh hi," Elena pops in, "Just a quick update. I overheard 27 tell Surraruthru he'll die if he goes out tomorrow, so plan accordingly if you were going to rely on him."
"Thanks for the warning, Elena," Afina says. He seems busy enough with his hoard and things anyway.
"Yes. Also say," Elena says, "He also wanted something like, 'Jaela's food that isn't Jaela's food.' That make any sense to you?"
"Give him one of my favorites I'm not currently eating, whenever he asks for it," Jaela resolves that little issue. "I'm headed to see Velasca."
From there, you find Velasca in the quarters you have given her. She is sitting on a chair just big enough for her pit fiend bulk, watching the flames while swirling a glass of ice water in her hand. Her gaze is faraway, but she smoothly turns to the two of you when you enter. No comment, just expectation, waiting.
"We're being too successful," Jaela tells her, deciding not to dance around the subject. "Quinn's history, now. Any ideas where we can strike next?"
"Another one down," Velasca reflects, sipping the water. "How many are left?"
Afina shoots Jaela a look at her outright asking a traitor for strategic advice. "Tell us what you know about Silvber and his Outer Ring Fortresses." she speaks up to put things back in the right tone.
Another sip, eyes closed. "As you like, but I have a question as well. How can serving, being submissive and unwilling to do so many things make you so powerful? It defies logic."
After that and a moment, "The Outer Ring Fortresses protect the outer bounds of Lifasa and certain areas. I would expect you are aware of that already? If not, I'll need to explain more."
Enemies who consider themselves superior in every way just can't help themselves if you give them a chance, Jaela thinks. At the very least, no harm in trying, and she shrugs at Afina's look.
"The answer's one of those 'if you have to ask, you won't understand it' kinds," she tells Velasca. "Why don't you explain more about those certain areas? Under the new management they've probably all been remained The Valley of Eternal Torment and the River of Really Red Blood."
A pause and a longer pause, before Velasca almost smiles. It's there but held back. "Harkin prefers bombastic names, apparently Hell was content to humor him. Fool."
"Are you familiar with ley lines?" Velasca asks next.
"Skill with a blade and spell doesn't equal power unless you use that skill for your own ends," Afina humours Velasca. "I gained much practice at killing in serving her Majesty, but I was never powerful for it, or at least no more powerful than a mightily enchanted weapon could be called such. At best you can say it trained me with skills I put to use in building power for my own purposes when I was forced to strike out on my own after Lifasa's fall."
That explanation provided she adds, "I'd never heard of the Outer Ring Fortresses until Yian mentioned them as Silvber's fief, you may explain in detail."
"The idea of them, yes. Their original placement upon Lifasa, not so much."
"After Lifasa's defeat, Hell added ley lines around Lifasa's perimeter. The ends of the world were wrapped in hellish power, and around these fortresses were built," Velasca explains, gaze back on the fire. I'm not clear on the details, but they stretch below ground and those fortresses are both to protect them and protect from a direct threat from beyond Lifasa's borders, in case that route is chosen by the enemy."
After a moment, "The Duke of Destiny was always somewhat reticent about them, perhaps Silvber knows more. They are doubtless a powerful source of energy and not a thing known to any of the common rank or file, or most of the commanders. I only know because I was able to discern the tricks used to create them."
Is Lifasa a flat world? I just always took it for granted it was a sphere but this is D&D so I could be wrong!
Do you have any relevant skills? I'll give you an int check with a +10 bonus if not. You might know or you might just believe a falsehood, it's never come up.
She has knowledge (planes) at +45 and knowledge (nature) at +48?
K:N, sure, but it's a harder DC than something more directly relevant, but go for it.
[18:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+48 nature
[18:49] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 64 > [d20=16]
There's a few myths about the end of the world amid the fey.
- The first is that the world never ends, going on forever and forever. New continents, new seas, all of that. Based on planar knowledge you've learned since then, you suspect this one is simply wrong or a garbled retelling of the reality of there being many Prime Materials.
- The second is that the world is indeed flat, and you can reach it, plunge over the edge and never be seen again. Possible and nothing you've seen would render that impossible.
- The third is that the world is a loop, and that if you start at a place and go in one direction, you'll eventually return there. Also possible, you've heard of Primes like that, spherical like the moon in the sky above.
"By what enemy in particular?" Afina asks. Most invaders would use gates or plane shifts after all, and Aurora wasn't even a thing when these fortresses were being constructed.
"My understanding is that the ethereal could be used in such a way," Velasca says, "At least the Duke of Destiny claims so, but Medicant for an army and magic for small forces makes it largely irrelevant."
"They must be spread over a huge area then to encircle all of Lifasa. Are they linked by any mechanism or does Silvber just rely on teleporting devils to pass along communications?"
"Teleportation and telepathy, as far as I know, as well as runners," Velasca responds.
"Does he base himself out of any particular fortress or rotate between them?" Afina asks.
"Yes, the four Keystones. Large fortresses at each of the cardinal directions," Velasca says, "A fool's undertaking, but what is Hell if not a nation of fools?" Her voice is reflective, "Are all fools, and we but fools capering about for the entertainment of the divine?"
"A fool's undertaking is one that's bound to fail, isn't it?" Jaela muses. "I think we don't qualify, then, given all the success." She smiles in sudden amusement. "Actually debating philosophy with a devil would make a fool out of me, won't it? Given how it's all pointless and all? If you actually thought you were a fool before you'd try to do something about it instead of writing angsty poetry and being all reflective when we stop by for a visit." The poetry bit is a guess, but it's probably spot on given Velasca is moody and was an elf. "You don't have a lot of good choices, and that's entirely your fault, but you do seem to be picking the ones that make your life the most miserable out of all the alternatives."
Velasca scowls at all of that, especially the poetry comment. She gazes at the fire, face locked in that scowl. "What then, oh great general Jaela, would you do in my situation?"
"My friend here will vehemently disagree with me, but the Triune has this foolish belief, according to just about any devil out there, that you can always do better. Actions matter, intent matters. Once I've realized I've been deeply wrong, I've taken steps to do better. And you know something? I'm not afraid of my future or about going against the so-called entertainment of my superiors, unlike every single devil in existence, and my life's happier to boot." Jaela gives Velasca a pitying look. "Do you really need someone like me to tell you the obvious? Your actions show that you've already realized you made a mistake. Once a person normally realizes that they try to make amends for as long as it takes."
Velasca shakes her head, "That path is sealed to me. Your Triune would only have one answer and it's not one I'd survive. They may humor your mistakes, but you serve them."
Jaela nods slowly, smiling indulgently in amusement. "You're right, of course. Who would you believe about her dogma, the literal favored servant of the Triune who reincarnated a repented sinner from Gehenna, or your devil-granted education? The latter, clearly. It's been so superior about everything else. I'll stop insulting your intelligence at once."
Velasca is scum of the highest order, no doubt about it, but even having a hand in destroying a Prime would probably pale in the face of Annalise's crimes and the Triune was willing to give her a chance. And the irony is that it must seem too good to be true and will get ignored.
"Tsch." Velasca turns back to the fire, and after a few beats, "I know enough to know that what a servant says is not always the mind or intent of the master." A brooding pause, "Well meaning or otherwise. Devils make an art of purposefully misunderstanding for advantage within the letter of what is said, if not the spirit."
Yet she pauses.
"You are not a devil," she murmurs, frowning. "You are not a devil. Bah, prophecy," Velasca scowls even fiercer, tossing the glass into the fire, shattering within the fireplace. "How little that has served the Duke of Destiny. Is it as worthless coming from your side as it is from Hell's side?"
"I get your problem," Jaela voices. "It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? What can I say, the Triune works like that. You must've known that much from your time as a mortal. Hell believes in the letter of the law, and tries to fuck you over through any loophole they can find. Since they've been doing it a lot longer than any mortal and have an infinite team of minions, they'll always win like any gambling house."
She snorts, shaking her head. Gambling can actually be fun, but what sort of fool does it with their soul? And just for a tiny bit of power, something you can get by training?
"Arborea's just the opposite," Jaela continues, "and not on the planar geography. It's idealistic and lets each person define that ideal the way they see fit. The one rule is that you need to try and be a good person. Not on pain of death, or pain of pain, or anything of the sort. You fail badly enough and stop trying, and they drop you. That's it. Sounds easy, right? So when I look at why people don't rush towards it en masse, what I think is that some people really like their discipline, some are just too lazy and others let their fear - of failure, then unknown, whichever you like - stop them."
Glancing at Velasca, Jaela asks her, "If I'm reading you right and you're actually considering this, which one of them's stopping you?"
Make a Diplo check here for reference.
19:46 <Jaela> roll 1d20+75 (+2 vs elves)
19:46 <Serith> Jaela roll for Serith < 87 > [d20=12]
"I'm tired of being manipulated," Velasca says, weariness creeping into her voice.
After a pause that drags out, "He was an elf. An unremarkable one, except that he hadn't broken under several days of torture. He refused to speak a single word to his torturers, even as they wrecked his body and took him to death's door. Curious, I had him brought to me when I heard of him. His aura spoke of goodness, but only the goodness of a peasant, a commoner. He did not speak under the greatest of magic I used to pain him, until in my fury I went too far and inflicted a lethal wound."
Another pause. "He said to me: You are not a devil. Then he died, a smile on his face. Now....now I find it in mind, as I wonder - are your prophecies any more worthwhile? Am I merely trading one misery for another? Was that the influence of Moonbow, accursed lady of mysteries, her voice through a mortal pawn? Gilded words at the right time to exchange one cage for another."
"Gods often work in mysterious ways. Could Sehanine Moonbow have made his suffering lighter through her power? Maybe, but she's not the one who put him through that. You did. The Triune would never allow a follower to be tortured where she could stop it with her power, merely to deliver some message at the right time. The Duke of Destiny might've gone for a convoluted plan like that, which is a good rule of thumb for what our side isn't doing.
"And misery? We can experience it since we're not puppets, but my misery never came from the Triune. And if, at some point in time, she would've caused me any, I was free to leave her service without ill will or punishment. I've already told you as much. So it all comes down to this feeling of being in a cage, doesn't it? And that's where your perception of Creation comes in. Absolutely everything in it is restricted in some way, even the highest of deities and the lowest of devils. You either make the effort to find the place that feels right, or you complain about not fitting in. Or go outside Creation and get eaten by tentacled abominations, to cover absolutely all the options."
"My options are few,' Velasca says sourly, "Even in a century, how much can I do?" Her gaze turns to Afina at that. "Is there any point if I'm merely buying time?"
"I'm glad I haven't been forgotten," Afina says with an eerie smile. "But I think I'll leave this in Jaela's hands for now. You and her seem to have a rapport going."
"Tell me," Velasca insists, "Would anything make you forebear your revenge?"
"It's like one of those things that you know are bad for you and you'll regret, but can't help yourself," Jaela explains to Afina.
Returning her attention to Velasca, she says, "The final part you're missing is this - you need to take a leap of faith. Not as some juvenile test or to prove yourself, but because that's about the only way someone like you can turn things around. If you want to try and make amends and attempt to be a better person from now on, you need to do it without some pact-sealed promise that everything will turn out perfectly the way you want it to."
"How many lives burned when Lifasa fell, Velasca?" Afina asks right back. "How many have you tortured since? How much of the land have you despoiled? How many spirits have been perverted and denied their rightful place? Do you think you can balance those scales in a hundred thousand years, never mind a hundred?"
"...there's no point, then," Velasca finally says, gaze back on the flames.
Another pause, yet another. When it goes almost too long, "I know my own sins. I am not that far gone to forget my lessons as a child. What point is there to any of this if am to be obliterated? Afina has defeated the best we have, I have no illusions I can defeat her. After all, is that not justice for that to happen?"
As you talk, Velasca's gaze goes to your holy symbol. "You wear a symbol of a crusader, not a preacher. Even if you have forbearance, those who walk with you will not."
"Fear it is, then," Jaela decides, looking disappointed. "Afina, do you want to aim at those outer fortresses, or try for someone else?"
"I'm happy to try, but our odds of actually finding Silvber at one are slim. Do you have any better ideas?" Afina asks, not getting any further into Velasca's pretensions of repentance.
"There's still a point in the attack," Jaela muses. "If they're using it as a defense, they have to fortify it on principle. And if we knock one of the key fortresses out, the one in charge of them will either show up to defend it out of fear of punishment over failure, or will need to throw even more resources into fixing it up. Since the devil resources for Lifasa are finite, that should lessen them elsewhere. What do you think?"
"That's fine," Afina agrees. "Velasca, what can you tell us about Silvber? His tactics and habits?"
"Does he explode when he dies?"
There's a long, drawn out silence. Velasca seems lost in her thoughts before she finally speaks.
"As far as combat goes or in general?"
"More strategically," Afina answers. "Yian gave us an overview of his proficiency with dark speech and hellfire."
"He's been working on a more defensive mindset," Velasca says, "The Duke of Destiny requested that of him, he has complied. He has the least problem of any of us at following his orders." Her gaze is on the fire, faraway even as she speaks. "In his position, I imagine he'll be focusing on defense. It's what those fortresses are for."
"Right. We'll give it a thought," Jaela voices, nodding at Velasca before heading out to confer with Morniel.
Morniel is found in the strategy room, head bowed in prayer. He looks up as you come in, "Afina, Jaela. Congratulations on recent efforts," he says.
Afina trails along with Jaela, honestly a bit glad for a breather to consider what to do more. The relentless pace of hitting those traitors is satisfying yes, but as the near disaster with Quinn showed it's also wearying. "Thank you, Morniel," she accepts those congratulations. "We're having to step up our efforts more and more because of the deadline we're on, but at least we're getting victories from it."
"It could've been better, but in perfect world we wouldn't need to do it in the first place," Jaela responds. "Sorry for the interruption, but we need a fresh set of eyes on this."
"Certainly. Elena would you have someone come in with some refreshments?" Morniel considers, "Some sunrisers as well."
Elena pops in, "Sure," she says and vanishes, almost too fast to be seen.
"The more we strike," Jaela gets right to the chase, "the less information we have to work on. They've gone more compartmentalized and switched to defense. Losing Balyss's help at this timing hits hard."
"Annoying. Wise of them yet certainly annoying," Morniel concurs, sitting back. "How are they compartmentalizing it?"
"I don't think it's wise, per se. I think they're panicking and lack any real authority, and so try to do the best under the circumstances. Of course, my heart bleeds for the traitors." Jaela shrugs. "Taelfagn apparently stopped telling them information about each other or even regular devil plans for Lifasa, and we don't have a good idea of where or how to nab the remaining ones."
"There's still some interconnectedness," Afina puts in. "Apasa had his slaves taken to be used as sacrifices for Quinn's dark warrior ritual. But in general they're going to ground and losing sight of the bigger picture on Lifasa."
"Wisely treating a gaping hole in your chest still means you have a gaping hole," Morniel points out, with a hint of open amusement for once.
A pause as a soldier rushes in, carrying a tray of light snack foods. On it are three small glasses of glowing orange-yellow liquid and three more pixie sized small glasses of it.
Once the soldier salutes and leaves, "It doesn't surprise me. They're liabilities now," Morniel points out. "It seems taking them to Baator is not politically or magically possible, which is more to our aid."
"I had this vague idea of checking in with the resistance, but if Makaril had a solid lead on a traitor he probably would've reached out himself," Jaela muses, reaching for the glowy drink. "Do you have a line to a really good diviner that'll give us a decent target?"
Afina silently takes one of the smaller glasses for herself and sips at it while Jaela asks her question.
"Several. Balyss is back," Morniel points out mildly, "If she does not suffice, then I can point you towards them."
The drink is sweet like juice and makes you smile in spite of yourselves. You can also feel a strong alcoholic burn. "It's a mix of fruit juice, alcohol and ambrosia. It brings relaxation, stress relief and happiness. Drink," Morniel says, "Happy thoughts travel different avenues than other thoughts."
"That was quick," Afina says, considering how bad off Balyss was when they set off for Lifasa a little while earlier. She does feel better for the drinking at least, easing her stress.
"She is?! Why don't I get told these things!" Jaela exclaims. "It was important enough to contact us during the raid, but the resolution isn't?" She frowns all of a sudden. "Is Ellese back as well and no one bothered to tell me?"
"Selune chose to bring her into eternity. I understand it was to happen sooner or later, and that needs merely brought it forward. She is a valuable mortal servant, too valuable to fritter away with half measures," Morniel explains, and then in a graver voice, "A sacrifice for Balyss, as it will slowly separate her from her friends and mortal life."
Morniel raises an eyebrow, "There must have been a breakdown in communications. She is not back as far as I'm aware."
Jaela downs her drink of happiness, letting the tension steam out afterwards. "Can you check up on that, you think? We can see if Balyss can narrow our target better for us while congratulating her."
Elena pops in, "She's in her room with Sylvie," she says. "Want me to ask her?"
"Does she actually look well enough to be handling these queries?" Afina asks Elena, considering the state Balyss was in when they last saw her.
"Yeah. I gather Selune helped her when she became a full outsider, and that fixed the problem anyway." Elena says.
"Alright then," Afina drains the rest of her drink. "I can tell her all about that steak I ate."
Elena vanishes as you sit back and savor. You feel good with that in you, happy and relaxed. You want to smile.
"Another is reasonable. A third only if you're not doing anything productive the rest of the day," Morniel says. "Imbibe wisely as to your needs and demands."
"I better not then," Afina says, shaking her head. "Thanks for talking to us Morniel. Any advice for how we pursue the remaining traitors before we get Balyss's perspective?"
"I may, but talk to Balyss first. What she gives you could change anything I tell you," Morniel says.
She nods, before she and Jaela go off to visit Balyss.
Just to be clear, I'm waiting to give Jaela a chance to add anything there.
We're off to see the wizard!
Who is Balyss.
Balyss is not taking wizard levels. Scary!
You find Balyss with Sylvie in her room. The two are passing back a little flask of something and chatting away, "Jaela! Afina!" Balyss waves, flask in hand. "There you are! Elena said you were coming by."
"Hello Balyss, you're looking a lot better," Afina says as she flutters in. "Sylvie," she nods in greeting to the other present as well.
"Afina," Sylvie smiles warmly at that, nabbing the flask for another drink. Then in a faux whisper, "Balyss was the irresponsible one today!"
"Well getting out of bed in her earlier condition does sound like that," Afina is compelled to agree. "But if that's what you're told to do, that's what you do."
"Yeah," Balyss agrees, "Selune says and we do. S'how things work. Get the message and go smite things in the name of the moon. Always wished I learned how to smite, but I've never had the time. Spell studies take up so much effort." A long huff of breath, arms crossed beneath her bosom as she adds, "Jaela, where do you find all the time for your training?"
"Turn almost everything into training to stay in general shape, multitask by considering spells and tactics while practicing repetitive maneuvers," Jaela responds. "Not having much of a civilian life helps." She smiles at Balyss, adding, "Glad to hear you're doing better. And hey, did your body have to die for this, or was that just me?"
"I could'v elived, but the stress would be there. Y'know, mortal bodies just aren't made for this." Balyss snatches the flask back and drinks, "Applejack," she offers afterwards, "We all knew it would happen one day, servants like us rise too high to be treated like mortals. Selune just moved up the timetable. She does that. Like one time I thought I'd go on a date next week, but right after smiting some unexpected evil, I ran into my date and we had a dinner date then."
A wistful smile plays on Balyss's face. "We broke up the next week, but it's the thought that counts."
"You should've tried smiting evil together," Jaela suggests, holding her hand out for the flask in clear invitation. "It's a good conversation starter, if nothing else."
You're given the flask. "See, problem is that the guy was more into another girl and apparently they were childhood friends," Balyss makes a face. "His heart just wasn't into it. Jerk."
Sylvie smirks at that, "Yeah well, some people have no taste."
"Huh." Jaela takes a long sip, before offering the flask to Afina.
It's strong stuff to be sure. A long sip hits you harder than the sunriser, at any rate.
"Yeah, huh. I bet they have a bunch of babies now that run and drive their mother crazy." Balyss says.
"Gee, yeah, kids are a hassle," Sylvie drawls before giggling.
"Bitch," Balyss turns with an annoyed look, grabbing a nearby pillow from her bed and chucking it at Sylvie.
Afina takes the flask and has a little sip of it to be polite. "Oh, I ate a steak earlier," she mentions amidst the brewing pillow fight. "Haven't noticed any differences since then."
"Well, you don't gain weight overnight, but good for you," Balyss says with a broad smile, "How was it?"
"It was very chewy, I almost choked," Afina reports blandly. "I still feel it in my stomach actually, like an extra weight. I should do something about that before we go out again."
That's one plus of being an outsider and thus freed of dietary necessities that she's appreciated for a while.
"Aw, you aren't used to it," Balyss waves a hand, "So you had questions?"
"We're looking for a good lead on the remaining traitors," she explains, landing on a convenient bit of furniture for talking without having to crane her neck up. "We managed to kill Quinn on our earlier outing." No need to burden Balyss with knowing that all the sacrifices got killed too, "So that leaves Ettan, Harkin, and Silvber, but we don't have any solid ideas of where any of them might be hiding."
"Hiding like rats," The voice that speaks is not Balyss's, but Selune's. Balyss floats up off the ground, beginning to radiate silvery moonlight that illuminates the room in moon-glow. "Your Crusade has been triumphant yet again and forced the hand of Hell. The Duke of Destiny has called many infernal favors to surround the last three with all the protection he can muster. Silvber hides deep in the unholy ley lines Hell has installed, in a new fortress known as Gar-Malleos."
The light is overwhelming, radiant as Selune speaks. It is too much, as you feel sheer presence manifest in the room. It overwhelms you like an overpressure wave, "Ettan and Harkin are protected in another way. They are now destined to face Aurora, but only when Aurora attacks to wrest control of Lifasa back and save it. Only then can Aurora find them and confront them, over the fields of battle. The Duke of Destiny has expended a great deal of power to do this, I suspect he will not be capable of many other tricks now. But until that time, finding the two will be nigh impossible."
A pause, as the pressure becomes more. So much more, so much overwhelming moonlight, the room becoming hazy, the roof replaced with the night sky, the moon shining above. "Know that the Lord of the Ninth has chosen to support this venture of Taelfagn's. Nessian Pit Fiends of dreadful power protect Silvber and will aid Harkin and Ettan's armies. They crawl across Lifasa like reavers, stealing away life and any fragments of good that remain. The climax to this war draws close. The bonds of our eternal Competition loosen around Lifasa, for the rules have been broken. Do you understand how Lifasa must be saved? I may answer this, for Asmodeus has spoken on how Lifasa may be damned or destroyed.
A warm spring wind blows, refreshing both of you as the moon shines brightly, the stars twinkling around it in the dark sky. "Know that I shall not allow those that are mine to enter this battle unprepared. Balyss shall be my proxy for this battle, Stille shall be gifted and I will augment the power of Gaelach. Know that Hell will do similar things, and these coming battles will be the apocalypse of Lifasa. Its life or death hinges on your shoulders now. The end need not be the final end, Lifasa may yet be saved."
"Is there a better way than the one we found?" Jaela asks Selune respectfully. She'd prefer not to sacrifice Lifasa to gain some version of it uplifted to the heavens, and their plan to get all the sigils is fairly open-ended. Given that they've been told they can't implement it ahead of time, having more detail can't hurt.
"Yes, and one destiny pulls us all towards," Selune says, "Gather the nine sigils and head deep into Lifasa. Seek the heart of the world, where the corruption of Hell blossoms. Destroy the corruption, enact a ritual Balyss now knows to teach you and use the sigils as the focus. You may yet save Lifasa with that. But know that this is the hardest route, for you will face nightmares and the ultimate battles against the Duke of Destiny there. It is not impossible Bel will challenge you should you go that way."
"Should you triumph militarily but be unwilling and unable to do that, you may have no choice but to call on the Maiden of the Gate." Both of you feel slightly lightheaded, but it passes. "As it is for mortals, Lifasa will die but be reborn in paradise. Should that be your choice and you stand victorious, pray to any of us that have supported you in righteousness, and so it shall happen."
"Finally, should all else fail and you triumph but do not have the sigils or cannot otherwise complete your victory, there is a third option. Stand triumphant and sacrifice Aurora. I believe a demiplane of this power can fill the wounds of Lifasa and restore to stability, as well as give it a chance to heal. Should you choose this route, Balyss will know the ritual to enact. Use this wisely, for doing so sacrifices the core of your Crusade."
As the light blinds you save for the night sky above, "Know that the first is what fate and destiny move towards. What has happened will not end without a climax lightly. Yet you have ever shown the ability to fight against fate, and should that be your desire or your need, you may do so again."
"The first, yes," Afina agrees with that. Aurora will be necessary in the future, and she certainly couldn't ask Elena to sacrifice herself. "Should Bel appear in person again, is there any equal support we can call on? Or any means to drive him off beyond our own strength of arms?"
"If all fails and your souls will be forfeit, pray and I shall come, or pray to another allies and they will come in this case. But..." Selune says, "The battle between Lord of the Nine and deity will shatter Lifasa like glass. That is why we will not fight Bel directly there, for our battles are the battles that end worlds. To march with you personally would be meaningless if Lifasa was lost. Even an avatar at this time risks too much, with fate heading towards the end of Lifasa."
"And on a more optimistic note, how do we make sure nine idiots don't condemn an entire world like that again?"
"Kill the Duke of Destiny," Selune says, "Put him to 21's light or somehow capture his soul. Do not allow him to survive your victory."
"Can the goldenfire spear deal with him?"
"It will be effective against him, but by itself it will not stop him from reforming in Hell," Selune says, "But I am not precisely certain of that, though I see no reason to doubt it. Use it to battle him, but do not use it by itself for the final blow."
The Blade of Endings would've worked of course, but she's better off without it. "You'll be along for the final push then, Sylvie," Afina says to the blonde in the room.
For some reason, the moonlight doesn't touch Sylvie at all. "I know," she says. "I always assumed I would, because 21's too useful for this."
"One more attack, then, and we'll take Aurora and go all-in," Jaela says, having processed all that. "Let's hit Gar-Malleos today and plan for the final battle over Lifasa come morning." She pauses to give Afina a chance to object, asking, "If we go, who's the best match for the team?"
"Those with great power," Selune says, "Gar-Malleos will be a difficult battle."
"Someone good at evasion for handling hellfire, and strong of will to endure Silvber's dark speech," Afina decides. "Hanna and Mei?"
Jaela frowns slightly at the mention of her mother, but ends up shrugging. "And the Master to round us out? Mom is too hyper-focused and we might benefit more from her magic, so he'd be a welcome addition." Especially if they need to split up and secure several objectives, she muses.
"Is there a problem with Hanna?" Afina asks, hoping she hasn't stepped on family drama.
"Don't want to risk her. Same reason I hadn't suggested Mirajane for this. But if she stays as support and the Master takes the front we can make it work."
"We can swap her out for Canderella if you prefer," Afina offers. "She's as good defensively, and her magic's great against devils and fortresses."
"Thanks." Jaela sighs, looking uncomfortable. "I know they'll be in danger soon enough, but with all the escalation on our missions against the traitors I don't want to have family along if I can help it."
Balyss shimmers once more and the light fades, the room returning as Balyss lands. She exhales, "Whew," she says, still faintly glowing with moonlight. "I...woah," she murmurs, "This is different."
"Cute," Jaela comments, happy with the offered change of subject. "Elena, can you mimic the effect?"
"It was easier now?" she asks Balyss as she comes back to them.
"Much, and Selune wasn't lying. All my senses, all my body..." Balyss murmurs, "I feel Selune's presence constantly now, watching over me and protecting me. I know the rituals and I know what I have to do for Stille and Adrian. Elena, would you get them to meet me at the cathedral? It's like I always knew it and I forgot it until now."
Sylvie hops up, "You sound awfully sober, and I feel suspiciously sober. I think Selune cheated."
"Selune will do as she sees fit. Would you two like to join me for this?" Balyss asks the two of you.
Balyss now has the proxy template applied to her.
"We'd be honoured," Afina agrees, taking to the air once more.
Jaela follows suit with a smile.
You find Adrian and Stille already there. Stille is calm, waiting with a smile, while Adrian asks plainly, "What's going on? I had an overwhelming urge to come here."
Balyss steps forward, "Selune's will. For you, Gaelach's power will be unlocked for the coming battles. Give me the sword."
As Adrian moves to do so, he sends a glance at the two of you, as if questioning.
"Don't worry, we won't tell your wife," Jaela solemnly promises.
"Give her the sword Adrian. You'll get it back," Afina reassures him.
"Not remotely what I was worried about," Adrian retorts with a smile, giving Balyss his sword.
Balyss holds it up to her, merely tracing her finger along it. IT begins to shed moonlight, a radiant glow from it. "Gaelach's full power will be Aurora's for this Crusade," she promises. "For the moon is with you."
Gaelach's full powers are manifest now, as if it were always under moonlight.
Gaelach
This sword's origins are lost in the mists of ancient planar times. In the last several eons it has been in the hands of Mistfall, a Shard of Selune. This blade looks to be made of mithral. It is of fine quality but possesses no visible identification marks. There is an invisible symbol engraved on the pommelstone, a symbol from a forgotten language that has been translated to roughly mean silvercloud.
Gaelach functions as a greatsword+4. It strikes as a silvered weapon but does not inflict a -1 penalty to damage. When fighting in moonlight with Gaelach, the bearer gains a +5 bonus to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, armor class, skill checks and ability checks. In addition a cloud of silvery dust surrounds the bearer. This cloud resembles a silvery glitterdust effect, and indeed it foils invisibility for the bearer. However, these silver motes invariably show the bearer the truth of things around them, stripping away illusion and showing reality. This grants the bearer true seeing within a 30ft radius.
This ring is designed to be used with Gaelach. When worn by the bearer of Gaelach, it increaes the enhancement bonus of the blade by +2. When Gaelach is exposed to moonlight, it causes the bearer to glow with pure moonlight. This radiance is blinding to any who attempt to do the holder of Gaelach harm, granting them total concealment against attacks. This light does not hinder allies or the bearer of Gaelach.
Jaela grins back at him, saying approvingly, "Now we can glow together!"
Adrian takes the blade back and nods, "Thank you. Both of you," he says, holding it and glowing, before sheathing it. The glow dulls at that, still there, but barely.
"I must ask," Stille speaks up, "Are you two involved in this or merely bystanders to Balyss?"
"Bystanders," Afina replies. "If you want my blessings give me some money and ask me to make something for you," she adds dryly.
"Our presence was asked for, but we're not goddesses sharing bits of our power with you," Jaela responds to Stille in agreement with Afina. In a sense, perhaps they are involved since they've been pushing so hard after the traitors and lead to this situation?
"Stille," Balyss says, "Selune has a gift for you."
"I'm ready," Stille comes forward, "I always have been."
"We know, brother, we know." Balyss smiles warmly at this, "It's not time yet - she allowed me to see that she needs one of us partially mortal in the future. "But consider this a blessing...and perhaps a wedding gift, one day."
"You know, I've never been taken over by the Triune or had cause to use the royal We," Jaela confides to Afina quietly. "Same with Mei and Priest. I wonder why."
"If Mei could talk she'd probably use it," Afina opines just to be contrary.
"I think she's allowed to talk when it's channeling the Triune," Jaela opines.
At this, words come from Jaela's mouth that are not her own.
"We prefer to guide, Jaela. To participate actively raises stakes and destroys far too much. Were we deities to fight directly over every world, no worlds would survive to be claimed by the victorious. But know that we are watching and may yet act in these extraordinary times."
Jaela has a distinct sense of amusement from within her that is not her own, yet uplifts her spirits.
"Well that settles that then," Afina says with a satisfied nod.
Jaela gives her a thumbs up, quite amused herself.
Stille glows and then laughs. "Really, dear Balyss?"
"Really." Balyss replies, "Ithea will be amused. It will take time to get used to."
"For who to get used to?" Afina dares to ask.
Stille shifts, becoming a large tiger before your eyes.
"That." Balyss says. "Lycanthropy, adjusted for him and purified of the actual disease and drawbacks, as Selune gifts those lycanthropes who put aside their nature and come to serve her."
"Oh, that is nice. You and Ithea will look good together when she gets back!" Afina approves with uncharacteristic earnestness.
"Would be awkward if you break up at some point of eternity, though," Jaela feels she must point out.
Balyss laughs, "It works both ways. Now then..."
So you two wanted to take a run at where Silvber is hiding?
Yes! I presume we know where to plane shift for this?
Yes. See IRC, we're setting it up there. That will get a new topic for it, this one is closed.