Home.
What a strange thought. It's been some time since you've had a real home. A fortress, a refuge, a home most of all. You stand in your central meeting room, near the top of your home's only tower. Here you have a view of the fortress and it's courtyard, where everything connects and the stables are. Beyond it's cliffside home, a view of the beaches and the endless waters of Lunia below.
Below Cresiel practices with his Afina-made warhammer, right now the only inhabitant of the courtyard. He works tirelessly, inevitably, as if every strike is a step towards a victory that will not be denied.
As you take all this in, simply letting it all wash over you and be felt, there is a knocking on the door. Hm? Is someone here? That can't be Cresiel.
I'm giving you room to describe your home base in more detail. There's a court yard and an inner tower, the rest of it is left to you to describe as you see fit. That includes this room, since you wanted a meeting room in particular.
Lifasa is still his home in a way, but this... feels right.
Moore flies over to the simple wooden door to open it -- there's not much need to ask who it is because it's whoever needs to be here.
The room itself (for the benefit of whomever will be there) is simple, with a large, central wooden table in the middle surrounded by comfortable chairs on all sides. There are six windows around the room to look out from with a large seventh one at the top of the room that lets plenty of light in over the table itself. Between each window is a tapestry -- simple colors with the numbers one through six written in several languages.
The rest of the room has several tables and chairs in the corners as well as small workspaces for anyone who needs it.
The figure is a lantern archon, bobbing in the air. "Hello there," the lantern archon dips low in a bow of sorts, "My name is Grias, and I'm here to serve you along with others as a household staff." His voice is mature, strong, deep. "You're the new Duke of Songs?"
"Hello!" Moore greets Grias with a wave. "I am, yes. But please just call me Moore. It's great to meet you, Grias."
He does tilt his head inwardly -- aren't lantern archons usually younger?
Take 10 on K:R (or K:P?) for 77 (wow, look at that number) on that subject, shouldn't someone like that have 'graduated' or something?
They are. This seems unusual for a lantern archon. Some advanced ones are closer to being teenagers than adults, but this is the exception to the rule. It's likely that you're dealing with a unique lantern archon of some unusual standing.
"As you like, Moore," Grias agrees, floating in and then the door closes behind him. How he does that is anyone's guess, but it closes. "I'm here to manage your household affairs and help organize things." The word organize is lingered over, then, "Isn't that a lovely thing, organization? Ooooh, I just love sorting things out and making things that are disordered make sense." Bobbing up and down in the air before swooping up and over to a seat, hovering in place as if sitting, "First of all, there's Rackon, he's a human who sort of became one of us living here instead of dying, he's going to oversee your pantry."
Grias bobs in the air again, "Not that I eat myself, but other people like it! He should have your pantry filled by now, he came bearing plenty of food. There's Annely, a nice hound archon who hates fighting, isn't that strange? She's more of a mother dog, anyway, she'll see to cleaning and upkeep. She's a sorceress, so most of the little things she'll take care of with magic. Then there's Stone and Rock, a pair of awakened stone golems. They really like guarding things, so they'll be your gate keepers and defenders. If you need more people as you grow, just tell me, Lord Erathaol himself talked to me!"
At that Grias puffs up, literally growing a bit larger and glowing brighter. "He told me to make sure you're taken care of, so we'll take care of you."
A human who 'sort of became' ...? How interesting. Wait, does he mean a lantern archon or something else?
"Thank you, Grias. I can tell you've been doing this for some time, so having someone experienced like you will be a great asset to us here. Is there anything I can do for you -- or any help you'd like to have? It sounds like you've got everything you need; let me know if there is anything I can do, though."
He considers for a few moments. "Do you think you're up to the task of keeping requests as they come in in order so I don't lose track of them?"
"I can do that," Grias puffs out, glowing bright. "I'm good at organizing things. I already have the first one ready for you too, Moore. Cresiel requested new weapons and armor, and I know just how to solve that for the two of you."
"Let me guess, we should take a trip up to Jovar?" Moore asks with a smile.
It may not be that, but he's pretty sure that's where they're going to end up anyway.
"Oh good, you already know." Grias vanishes and appears a moment later, a picnic basket before him, "I already made the two of you enough food for a few meals - well, Annely did, she's good at cooking." The picnic basket settles on the grand table, "There's also a change of socks in there if you walk and need them, as well as some bandages if you have an accident and hurt yourself. Oh! Speaking of that, I can do some healing magic if you're hurt. Nothing strong, but I'm good at the basics."
"We'll have to talk more about things and what you want to do, Grias." Moore affirms. Moore will take the basket with a smile.
"I'm not sure how long we'll be gone, so feel free to look around and make a note of any changes you'd make to things, okay?"
"I will. Say, do you have any pets? I think fairies like dogs, don't they?" Grias asks, "Or maybe a nice cat? Do you do falconry, I can get celestial falcons if you like that instead. Or how about trained mice?" Going on and on, Grias bobs in the air.
"You may not believe this, but I was promised that one day I'd be able to summon one of Lord Erathaol's animals." Moore says with a smile. "A few other types of animals would liven things up around here, so feel free to use your judgement on that matter."
Once he's got things settled with Grias, he'll go fly down to Cresiel.
Cresiel awaits you, warhammer at the ready. He's at the gates, a pair of looming, well carved stone golems just outside of it. They're taller than Hanna, looming and keeping a guard outside.
"Moore," he greets, his eyes going to the basket. "You've met Grias, then?"
"I did. Hi Stone, Hi Rock." Moore greets them ... oh, did he just confuse them, though? Oh dear.
"This will be my first time past Venya, actually." Moore says. "Well, that I can remember, anyway."
The two merely nod, keeping any comments to themselves as they stand guard.
"You'll be fine," Cresiel says, "As you are a noble now, things will work slightly differently, as Celestia has already found you worthy."
"If we pass through the other layers, I was actually going to grab something mundane from the area to send back to Aurora -- I always wanted to put more things from here in that small church I built. I always thought people might feel some comfort being near a piece of the Mountain, even when they're away." He smiles a bit, nostalgically for a moment.
"Anyway, do we just... go up?" He asks.
"Aye" Cresiel agrees solemnly, looking up. "My father showed me the way not long ago. Fear not spreading this to others, for only those found worthy can do this. Simply fly with me, Moore." With this Cresiel takes to the wing, ascending higher and higher. "But whatever you do, do not do this on Jovar. Xerona chastises all who seek to so presumptuously fly towards Chronias, and all paths there lead to the Bridge of al-Sihal."
"Oh, yeah, don't worry, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. ..." He smacks himself in the face.
"You know what I mean." He shakes his head and starts flying up!
Cresiel smiles faintly as he flies up with you. "Should I fear Grias mothering you greatly?" His smile stays in place as he looks up, the increased radiance of Celestia like a shining beacon beckoning you onward. Bear this light in mind, for there are times where the Sigil of Loss shall blot out the sun and the moon.
The sigil of... what? He'll have to do some reading on that when he gets a chance.
"Somehow I'll manage his doting." Moore says with a grin. "I didn't realize we were going to get so many helpers, I guess this missive is more important than I realized."
"This mission?" Cresiel asks back, "All missions in Celestia are important, and all receive exactly what they need." You fly up - and below you now see gentle hills and golden light, tombs dotted about. Mercuria, the second layer of Celestia is now below you. "Even ones that you are doomed to fail, for in defeat are often the seeds of a far greater victory."
"I just mean the role we're playing now, of gathering allies to continue our... agenda, I suppose. Or maybe the general mission against Shar and what she's trying to do." Moore says.
"I figured it was just going to be you and me doing most of it, I never expected so much help with day-to-day tasks." Moore says with a laugh. "I even have a spell that makes a mansion with helpers in it, because I'm so lazy about cleaning."
"Cleanliness is one of the guideposts to Chronias," Cresiel recites, "A wise saying of Pistis Sophia from her Gospels. Are you familiar with her collected wisdom?"
Below things change again. Now below you is Venya, snowy and peaceful.
"I'm not intimately familiar, no." Moore says. "I'm sure I could think of something to counter that, though, given enough time!"
"But why would you?" Cresiel asks, "It is fine, hard won wisdom to be understood, not debunked." A sniff of the air as he challenges back without any heat, "It also smells as if you bathed today, or at least used magic to cleanse yourself."
"'One path for all does not make it the right path for all,'" Moore says, sagely. "I just made that up. I'm not saying living in a dirty sty is a good thing people should strive for -- I just mean that to someone, clean isn't clean enough. Or someone else may know exactly where to find things in a grab-bag of chaos. I know, I know, it's an idealistic difference of opinion on that -- my point is that you should be open to new ways of looking at things."
"All the wisdom I need resides here," Cresiel gestures, then looks up at the radiant Chronias above. "There is absolute truth and it awaits us all above, when we become worthy to receive it. Just as there is the absolute light of 21. I would not be shocked to learn that the light of Chronias and the light of 21 are similar things indeed."
"Yes, I understand. There's wisdom outside Celestia too, though, so you shouldn't shun it." Moore says with a smile. "Aurora taught me that. As for that... mm... it's possible... If I find that answer out, I'll let you know." He adds with a laugh.
Actually, she would know, wouldn't she?
To her sorrow.
Cresiel pauses as he looks below. Below are now misty valleys and mountains, luminescent fog covering them like shrouds. The occasional settlement or clearing can be seen in the fog, but most everything below is covered by it. "Solania, the home of Pistis Sophia," Cresiel announces. "Should you ever need solitude, come here and simply walk. Wisdom shall find you when it is right, and you may meet Pistis Sophia herself. She is known to come to those who need her wisdom."
"Can you get to Bahamut's Palace the same way as this?" Moore asks.
"I believe so," Cresiel says, "But I did not ask nor did Father say." He continues to fly up all the while, "Are you planning on visiting?"
"I've wanted to for some time. I'd like to have a better understanding on a few things that I think only He would have experience with." Moore says. "I met some of his monks on my way through here some time ago but I just never had time to seek an audience."
Below things change again. Great plains and gentle slopes are the norm now, citadels and fortresses arrayed about. Armies at practice can be seen below, the great forces that serve Raziel.
"Mertion," Cresiel remarks, "Should you ever wish to improve yourself, or seek healing for something you cannot heal yourself, come here. For Raziel oversees all aspects of a warrior's life, including recovery after the battle."
"Oh, I remember when he showed up in the Astral." Moore says. "That was an interesting fight."
A pause in reply, as below is radiance. "Hold." Cresiel says.
Below you are rolling hills, studded with giant gemstones that glitter with the wealth of entire mortal worlds. Cities, castles, towers and ziggurats are all are seen below, "Go no further above, lest you appear before Xerona for a chastisement. We have reached Jovar."
"I wonder whether Mineral takes after Jovar or the other way around..." Moore says with a glance around. He'll have to find something mundane from here, or maybe he'll just be given something to take back.
"I take it we just proceed ahead to Jovar and we'll find what we're looking for?" He asks. He knows the answer in his heart -- but it's still good to ask.
"Yes, for I know where to go," Cresiel says, "There are great celestial armories here, armories that outfit the vast majority of Celestia's forces." He gestures ahead with a smile, then looks up. Here the light of Chronias is constant, almost overwhelming. It is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, hard to look away from. Cresiel's gaze lingers as he says, in a much softer voice, "The light of Chronias guides the celestial smiths, so that they are inspired to create what must be created."
Moore is temporarily captivated by the light -- not that light, though before he manages to pull himself away.
"I wonder what Afina would have to say about them." Moore says with a smile. "Or they about her."
A glance across the area before his attention returns to Cresiel. "By all means, then, please guide me."
> roll 1d100 see if you run into anything interesting en route
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d100=36]
You fly for a time, soon enough something looms on the horizon. A massive ziggurat, gleaming with gemstones for the bricks of the fortress are made of them. It is larger than you can see, and yet you can comprehend it all, a vast place that impossible and yet possible your eyes. Archons and angels are everywhere, going about on business inside and out. Thousand and thousands at least, perhaps tens of thousands move every moment, coming and going. Let alone the mortals, the pilgrims and more. Few are ready to go beyond the precipice.
"Welcome to Yetsirah, the Heavenly City. It is said entire mortal worlds could be fit within, and here the greatest archon smiths labor away. It is the seat of Sealtiel, the Sixth of the Hebdomad."
"Things sure get more animated the higher you go, don't they?" Moore says with a laugh. "It's funny, both here and in Mineral, the same sort of scene -- fabulous amounts of wealth in the very land itself, yet the denizens don't value it at all. It's hard to not draw some similarities between the two."
"Money is transitory," Cresiel agrees, "Both understand that other things are far more important than sparkling gemstones." He looks on at Yetsirah, gaze traveling up the seven layered ziggurat. "So many suffer under the sin of greed and yet, all you need is provided if you follow the righteous path. It troubles my heart whenever I come across those in greed's bondage."
"There's... a fine line, I think, between wanting nice things and greed." Moore says. "Is it greedy if a paladin kills an evil necromancer and sells all their belongings to buy a new sword?"
Moore does look down at the ground, maybe there's a regular rock or stone or something he can take while he's here.
"It is ever a question. Personally, hold so long as the money is used for a good purpose and a more obvious purpose is not neglected, then it is fine." Cresiel says, "Understanding that the needs of others come before material needs."
Looking down, you see there's stones here and there, certainly. Even the most plain has a gem-like sheen and light to them, occasional facets formed naturally over them.
Moore flies down to take one of the most mundane he can find. He'll find someone to bring it to Aurora if it manages to stay with him when they go back.
"No, I understand. For different people it's a battle, of sorts. I won't make you come with me on any trips to Brightwater." Moore says with a grin.
Cresiel cracks a smile anew, "No, I do believe I should go with you. So that you are properly protected against the siren call of greed."
Moore laughs at that as he gently places the stone away in his bag. "I managed to walk the halls of Crystalle's abode without feeling the urge to take anything, I think I'll be fine. Regardless, you're more than welcome anywhere I go, of course."
Ahead is the ziggurat. As you approach, words echo in your mind. 'Come, all worthy, forever and for all time.' Amen.
That seems redundant -- if you're all the way up here, don't you have to be?
Moore shakes his doubt out of his mind as he approaches along with Cresiel. "I have to admit... I'm nervous, though I have no need to be." Moore says quietly.
"Be not afraid," Cresiel remarks, leading you within.
Gleaming halls, great citadels, vast places, wondrous sights, vast armies. Within are spaces than you can comprehend, yet your steps pass them quickly. Onward, deeper, higher. You pass through entire worlds of archons in a few footsteps, "Space is not important within this place. We will find the path to where we need to go, for we are welcome and expected. Any enemy who sought to enter would have to cross entire realities to reach deep within."
Tepen would be so jealous!
"I can't even imagine anyone making it this far with ill intent." Moore says as he continues forward, trusting in wisdom to lead him where he needs to go. "I like anywhere where I can't manage to get myself lost."
"I cannot imagine it, but I know that one day good and evil will have a final battle," Cresiel says, "On that day Barachiel shall sound his horn and it will be heard across all the realities and planes, a signal for Sealtiel to unlock the paths to Chronias and allow the light to come forth for all Creation. On that terrible, wonderful day, none can say what final battles will rage - or where."
"Hopefully that won't be for some time yet." Moore says. "I've got a lot I need to do before the final battle of Creation, I think."
"We all do," Cresiel smiles, "There is time yet." Time enough. The ________ ____ shall open when it is time.
Then with a step, you stand in endless forges. Here the clang of metal on metal is a constant symphony, archon smiths working away before the flames. Great muscled archons from mere hound archons to great tome archons. Before you armor and weapons of every type you can imagine are made, forged, cooled, finished. When done they vanish, off to points unknown to you. One in particular looks up - a hound archon, easily seven feet talla nd nothing but pure muscle, wearing only a pair of leather pants. He holds a smith's hammer, pounding a cherry-red slab of metal.
"Ho there!" The hound archon calls, "Cresiel and Moore?"
"Hello!" Moore calls out a greeting. "I'd say 'we made it', but that's not really much of an accomplishment when you're only going to end up where you're wanted." Moore says with a smile.
The hound archon laughs, a few rough barks joining in at it. "I like your turn of phrase, Duke. I understand that you need gear, Cresiel?"
"I do. I place myself in your hands, master smith," Cresiel replies bowing his head to him.
"I'm sure I get a few looks every now and again from the folks who are more used to people like Cresiel's way of thinking." Moore says with a smile. "Yes, whatever you and the wisdom of Celestia deems worthy for him." Moore nods in agreement. "I don't know if the wisdom of Celestia included me in anything, but Cresiel is who I'm here to help."
"It included a quest for the both of you," The archon greets, "Also, my name is Raliel," he says, then continues. "It has been revealed to me that you owe Crystalle of Mineral favors?"
"Aurora... and I, especially, owe him a debt that cannot be repaid in normal means." Moore agrees. "It doesn't surprise me that he'd call that in, though I am surprised it's come so soon, at least, for an Archomental of Earth, it seemed like it was going to be a while..." He shakes his head. "Yes, at any rate, your information is correct, Raliel." Moore nods an affirmation after that.
Meanwhile, archons come forth with Cresiel, talking to him softly. His armor, shield and weapon are handed over, taken to the forges.
"Crystalle is not yet aware of a threat, but we have become aware of it," Raliel says, "It is Erathaol's will that this threat be eliminated - a cult of Shar has made a temple in Mineral, where they make obscene sacrifices to the Lady of Loss. Your mission is to liaison with Crystalle, explain the situation, track down the temple and wipe it out. The temple is lead by Duran Emptyeye, a skilled warrior devoted to Shar. In addition to wiping out the temple, he must be stopped. Taken alive and brought to Celestia or at least Crystalle, or killed if that is impossible."
Moore nods. "That's simple enough to understand."
Seriously, though, Moore thinks -- Emptyeye? What kind of stupid name is that??
"Interesting times we live in, where deific quests are traded in such a manner. Or maybe it's just the interesting time *I* live in... Ah, my apologies, I get too lost in the 'why' sometimes." Moore admits. "I know it's because it's the will of the mountain, but thank you for helping him regardless. I'm still rather fresh at this 'being important' thing, so I apologize if I speak out of turn at all."
"We all have room to improve, or we would be in Chronias," Raliel laughs a bit more, "This quest need not be done today or tomorrow - prepare first and be ready, for Sharrans rarely go down without a hard fight. Do not dally overlong, but be prepared and ready before you go."
"Trust me, the first thing I was going to ask was whether there was a cafeteria in here or something..." Moore shakes his head. "I realized how silly that would be about halfway through thinking about it. Anyway, yes, my intent will be to do some preparation and research before we go, I owe Lord Crystalle a great deal even beyond the debt, so it wouldn't be right to keep him waiting."
A mere nod at that, "Do as you see fit, it's your responsibility now."
Meanwhile, Cresiel's gear is taken to the forges. Holy words are chanted over them, hammers lightly tapping them. Only lightly as one calls, "Raliel, the maker's mark is Afina's symbol! You know, the Aurora general?"
Raliel's ears perk up, a low whistle coming out. "I'll be right there. Make yourself comfortable while you're waiting, Moore."
Oh, she'll have to hear about that one. He'll find a way to get a message to her on that.
"By all means." He agrees.
How does one get comfortable in a space literally filled with forges, exactly? If he were a different type of pixie, all the shirtless celestials would do something for him, but alas...
He decides to just turn and fly in a random direction -- he'll end up wherever he needs to, after all, so he isn't going to worry too much about how he gets there.
Oh! Maybe someone can use some encouragement?
So gonna look for someone who needs encouragement? What's your parameters there?
He's trusting that he's just going to find someone who looks like they might be struggling with something. Or maybe he won't, if everyone's doing fine! He doesn't quite understand the bizarre space he's in fully so he's pretty much just assuming whatever controls it will take him where he needs to go.
Roll 1d100 here.
[23:25] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[23:25] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 1 > [d100=1]
Well, this is going to be exciting.
You wander. Everyone is working in harmony, no one that catches your ey-hello.
A large trumpet archon pounds away at a suit of armor, glowing red as he works. He sweats, skin covered in a sheen of it as he labors away. His expression is one of concentration and annoyance, working hard.
Moore will cast a quick spell and fly over to get a closer look, but not so close as to be in the way.
Spell is Divine Insight in case there's a secret ban on magic inside here or something.
It's a set of gleaming, golden armor. Yet something seems off about it, something obvious and yet subtle. Something that gives you an impression of being incomplete. The smith pauses and scowls at the armor, giving it a long look over.
"If you don't mind -- I think I might have an idea that would help you." Moore offers.
The smith pauses, turning to you. "Oh?" he asks, "I'm listening, fairy. I can't figure out what I need to do for this armor."
Alas, he'll have to work on the 'famous' part of things a little more... It's fine. Also, he's not a fairy, but that's beside the point...
"I think you're just lacking in inspiration." Moore says as he takes a breath. "Try again, knowing you've got some extra help this time."
Another spell as his voice raises slightly in order to offer his words of inspiration and encouragement through the Words of Creation.
He's using Shared Talent the spell to give +2, then Inspire Competence and Song of Fortune for +14 total, so +16 to his next skill. Moore could probably aid him too, in theory, for another +2.
The archon pauses again before smiling, then raises his hammer and slams it down hard on the breastplate of the armor. A beautiful RINGING sound echos throughout, like a bell being struck. Before you the armor cools, celestial runes engraving themselves all over the armor. A silvery sheen then spreads over the armor, any imperfections fading away afterwards.
"Perfect," The archon looks it over, then turns to you and bows. "Thank you. Let me repay you - those bracers you're wearing, are those bracers of armor?"
"Oh, yes they are." Moore nods. "But really, you don't owe me anything, I'm happy to help. Nonetheless, I suppose it's the will of the Mountain that I found you, right?" Moore laughs a little as he takes the bracers off.
Thus the archon takes them and puts them to the flames, chanting in Celestial as he works them. "Oh mighty Raziel, bestow your blessings of war, so that all soldiers come home alive. Wise Sealtiel, unlock the gates of power seven times, so that all righteous protections flow from them."
Your bracers glow red with heat as the archon works - and then rapidly cool once he is done. "Here. It is my gift," he says, passing you the bracers.
Your bracers of armor improve from +7 to +8.
"Thank you very much." Moore offers a bow as he puts them back on. "If you or anyone else ever needs more inspiration, my name is Moore, I'm the Duke of Songs, I have a base at the... ugh, base, sorry, of the Mountain." He says.
"I will remember that, Your Grace," The archon bows to you once more at that.
"Be well. Whoever gets that armor is graced with exceptional quality." He says as he offers a wave before flying off to meander some more.
The rest of your trip is without incident and your path leads you back to Cresiel. His gear is worked on, pounded, enchanted. "Duke of Songs!" Raliel calls, "We are almost finished!"
The clang of metal on metal sounds, followed by a woosh of air and a ringing of bells. It is done.
"It is done," Raliel murmurs to himself, taking the hammer first. "Cresiel, this is now Aryina, a righteous weapon that shall crush the wicked beneath it. Wield it wisely."
Cresiel's warhammer is now a warhammer+5 with the holy special property.
Moore claps. "Wonderful! That's splendid." He nods his affirmation.
"This will be a boon to our cause for certain."
"Thank you," Cresiel echos, "I shall use them as you intend, for the eradication of evil and the protection of others."
"Aye, you will," Raliel agrees, Cresiel's shield next. "This is now Abbey Veil, a shield that shall never fail you. For even if it is broken, it will reform as strong as ever." The shield is now a gleaming gold with a red V sigil down the middle, "Wield it with honor, Cresiel."
Cresiel's shield is now a heavy steel shield+7. It reassembles if broken, as if made of aurorum.
"How wonderful." Moore says. "What a nice name, too."
"Celestia's will be done," Cresiel seconds, taking the shield and waiting.
"Finally, we have done the least to your chain shirt. Your Afina did marvelous work on it, we have simply enabled it further. It will prove receptive to further power as you grow, Cresiel." Raliel finishes, passing over the armor. It is unchanged, save for a single sigil of...
Do you have any sigil attached to Moore, Neph?
I'm not sure what you mean by sigil, so my guess is the answer is no.
Like a symbol, anything that represents you.
Not really, no. He's got his belt which has Erathaol's symbol on it. I mean I can BS something real quick if you want.
Go for it.
Dark blue background with a pure white musical note (o/' this kind) with three rings around it, with four larger rings further out, if that makes sense. So seven total, but three are close and four are far.
...Save for a single sigil, your sigil, over the heart.
"Let this protect me until the end," Cresiel vows, taking the chain shirt and putting it on.
"Good look and good hunting," Raliel bids you, "I've ran into Sharrans a few times - be careful. They're all tenacious monsters."
"I'll tell you about our fight with Taelfagn some other time, Raliel." Moore says and offers a bow.
"Thank you very much for all of this. I'll return once our mission is complete." He turns to Cresiel at that. "Do you mind if we visit someone on our way back down? It's been some time and I promised I'd see them again, so I'd like to make good on that."
"I don't mind at all," Cresiel says, adjusting his newly bolstered gear, "Who is it?"
"Do you remember Xandra? The one you helped me find before -- she helped point us to Yggdrassil." Moore explains.
Gimme a link to her section real quick, Moore?
Here you go (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,103821.msg1074360.html#msg1074360)
Your trip there is uneventful. The same stone building is there, awaiting you without anything obviously different as before.
"I did expect it to be a -little- different." Moore admits as he flies in.
"Oh?" Cresiel asks as he flies in with you.
"I don't know, I guess I expect things to change a little bit around here every now and again to represent the progress that people have made with their various steps towards higher tiers." Moore says.
Oh, he ought to visit the others he met while he's out and about. Maybe after this mission is done, then.
The chimes are the same, but the music they play is different. It is a sound of discordant notes and faraway flues, reedy and distant.
The same child awaits you, gaze on you even as you enter. "Welcome again, Duke of Songs."
"Xandra, it's good to see you again." Moore says. "I wanted to stop back in and see how you were doing and share a few songs with you that I'd learned in my time away."
"Do you hear it?" Xandra asks back, "The music of the outer spheres is restless. Melodies to make them whole are harder and harder to manage in recent times. Are they afraid of Chronias? I know not, but the light shines ever brighter. Do you see it, Moore?"
Not yet.
"...no, you do not. Not yet," Xandra continues, "Yet his soul is free. The poison is drained from him. All is not lost and much is well."
He looks off the side like he's listening to something for a moment. "I'm working on that." He says with a smile. "Seeing, hearing, remembering... all things I can do better."
A pause, as if to listen the chimes for a moment. "You may or may not know, but I'm on a bit of a mission. I have a base at in Lunia, if you're... er... allowed to leave, you're more than welcome there anytime. I wanted to at least come back in and see you to make sure you were well."
Xandra is silent a moment. Not yet. He is not yet ready.
After that moment she merely nods, "I will go with you," she says, "If that is what you will."
"It should be about what you want, not me." Moore says. "I don't mind waiting a while longer, until I'm ready." He offers a smile. "I can hear it more clearly now, though the speaker always seems to be a little bit different."
"You hear the voice?" Xandra is suddenly intent, focused on you. "You have been gifted as well?"
Moore nods. "I can, every so often. Sometimes It's Lord Erathaol, sometimes... well, you know." Moore gestures up. "It's been a bit more talkative lately, but I think that one is coming from the top of the mountain."
"Softly!" Xandra whispers, "Speak softly of it! To speak too loudly of it brings you closer to the eternal glory and I know it is not your time yet. You have been chosen."
At this Xandra rises, "Shall I aid you, Moore?"
Moore can't help but laugh at that. "I already died once, maybe more than that. I appreciate your concern, nonetheless." He offers a smile and a hand out. "Certainly, if you'd like to aid me, I would appreciate it."
"Then I will meet you at your home soon," Xandra says, "Go. I will meet you there."
Moore nods. "Very well."
He turns and nods to Cresiel and will head back home!
As you fly out, "What voice?" Cresiel asks, plainly. "Do you mean Zaphkiel speaks to you directly?"
"I don't think it's Zaphkiel." Moore says. "I never really considered who it was, but it seems different every time. I always figured it was just the voice of Celestia, though occasionally I think it speaks from beyond even here, maybe even the realm of Good itself."
Cresiel flies along, no comment for a time. "Good itself?" he finally asks back. Below you is Lunia, your trip almost done.
"You know Sylvie, right?" Moore asks. "I'm sure you must, since you're familiar with 21. Long story short, I have this feeling that she went there, that she got called back there -- to Cantasa Alexandria's realm." He blinks once. "I'm sorry, maybe that's not quite right, Cantasa Alexandria may just reside there as well... I admit I'm not terribly familiar with that one."
Cresiel nods...and his eyes seem to glaze over a moment. "I see. It was a good trip, wasn't it?" Cresiel asks. "We are now better prepared for the fight ahead."
"Yes, absolutely. I'd like to do some research on that Emptyeye person to see if there's anything we can use against him before we go to Mineral." Moore says. "By research, I mostly just mean trying to see if I can remember anything important about him that I picked up."
"It's worth trying, knowledge is power," Cresiel says, as you feel a pulse. A bond, one shared with Cresiel, resonates throughout you.
You finished a bond goal for Cresiel.
Cresiel: Friendly. ("This is Celestia's will. We shall see it done and follow the path of wisdom to improvement.")
A smidgen cryptic, but you worked it out just fine.
Cresiel: Item Strengthening (???)
In this case you already got the reward, the finishing was just delayed until you returned home.
Go read the updated note and post here once you have. More this evening, work looms. As you may note, Cresiel is now both friendly and determined, the latter of which is new.
I have read THE NODE.
To your surprise, you have a guest at the gate. The two stone golems are blocking the way in, a winged celestial barred entry. A trumpet archon, if you don't miss your guess. She is tall, blonde and carries a trumpet attached to her belt, wearing a simple robe.
"Hello!" Moore greets.
"...I probably ought to go over basic protocol for guests for the future, in hindsight..." He says quietly afterwards.
"You will learn," the trumpet archon says, "I am here as promised, Moore."
Cresiel peers at her a moment and then merely nods, saying no more.
"...Okay, you're going to have to run that one by me again. You were a trumpet archon the whole time?" He asks, not sounding -surprised- so much as curious. "What was with the whole... child... ...thing?"
"Then, it was the proper form for I. Now, this is the proper form," Xandra replies, merely bowing her head to you. "You have come to me at a time where you seek allies and revealed much. I would serve and aid you if you would have me."
"As long as you promise to teach me the revised song of the outer spheres this time." Moore says with a smile.
"I shall. I study music," Xandra says, "I am a seer and I shall serve you, for our meeting again is surely the will of Celestia."
Do you want Xandra as a full part of your node or a supporting, minor NPC?
Hum. That is a good question. From a mechanical standpoint is there any difference? I mean, for you obviously you have to make a full NPC sheet but other than that?
It's a question if she participates in your node and gets a lot of focus, or is more of a background element.
If you need time to consider, say so and we can talk or you can ponder.
Nah, he's been curious about her for a while, let's make her a main member.
Okay, I shall begin her stat block tonight after session. If all goes well she'll be done before tomorrow's session, but it may run longer than that.
Xandra smiles and you feel the light of Chronias shine brighter above you. Amen.
Okay, next move?
Time for some cheating.
Is Darkdead Evileye a K:P check?
K:L since he's a humanoid.
Take 10 for 87 -- any information I can muster that might help us? Tactics, known vices, types of ... I dunno, weaknesses? Anything of that sort.
Duran Emptyeyes is a known sadist who has made himself a name on the planar stage. An unwavering devotee of Shar, he is a martial artist who fights unarmed, though he can throw chakrams of unholy energy to devastate his opponents.
His vices are sacrifice of others, sadism and overall cruelty in the name of Shar and loss. It is said he only smiles when he has taken something beloved from someone, forever denying it to them. In other words, a complete monster.
He prefers to fight behind minions and only engage enemies after they've been weakened. He makes dreadfully powerful precise strikes, able to crush a kidney or stop a heart in a single blow. He's slippery like the wind, impossible to hit with radius attacks like fireballs and breath weapons. Rather like yourself, Afina or Adrian, really.
He has no known weaknesses.
Moore nods to himself after doing some thinking and reflection.
"We won't have any luck trying to hit him with magic, but I don't think that's really our specialties at all." Moore says. "Xandra, do you want to accompany us or would you prefer to stay here and get accustomed to things?"
"When are you leaving?" Xandra asks.
"I was likely going to leave shortly, though I admit, the passage of time is somewhat difficult for me to track here..." Moore looks upwards before laughing a bit. "I'll have to get a clock. So as soon as possible, to answer your question."
OOC I don't mind waiting for her sheet to be done to continue on, for what it's worth.
I'm working on it now, lemme see where I'm at around noon my time.
Sure, take your time, no rush.
Preview. She's not 100% done, need to write a few custom abilities and sort items out, but the bare bones are done.
Xandra
Trumpet Archon 30//War Mage 10/Paladin 2/Mage of the Illuminated Temple 18
Size/Type: Large Outsider (Good, Lawful)
Hit Dice: 30d8+270 (510 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 40ft, fly 90ft (good)
Armor Class: 39 (-1 size, +6 dex, +14 natural, +10 armor)
Base Attack/CMB/CMD: +30/+39/55
Attack: Trumpet of the Outer Song+44 (3d6+19 plus 4d6 holy 17-20 x2)
Full Attack: Trumpet of the Outer Song+44/+39/+34/+29 (3d6+19 plus 4d6 holy 17-20 x2)
Space/Reach: 10ft/10ft
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities, spells, trumpet, smite evil 9/day, glorious smiting,
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 20/epic, evil and silver, immunity to electricity and petrification, spell resistance 47, darkvision 120ft, aura of menace, teleport, tongues, seer, armored mage (medium), warmage edge, advanced learning, aura of good, detect evil, divine grace, lay on hands (16 hp), glorious spellcasting (9 spells), paladin's spellcasting (1-4),
Saves: Fort +34, Ref +31, Will +31
Abilities: Str 26, Dex 23, Con 29, Int 26, Wis 22, Cha 30
Skills: Acrobatics+39, Craft(Boatbuilding)+41, Diplomacy+43, Heal+39, Knowledge(Arcana)+41, Knowledge(Dungeoneering)+41, Knowledge(Nature)+41, Knowledge(Planes)+41, Knowledge(Religion)+41, Perception+59, Perform(Percussion Instruments)+43, Perform(Song)+43, Perform(Wind Instruments)+43, Spellcraft+41, Stealth+39, Survival+39, Use Magic Device+43
Feats: Servant of the Heavens(1), Spell Focus(Good)(3), Consecrate Spell(6), Sudden Empower(WM7), Easy Metamagic(Consecrate Spell)(9), Sudden Enlarge(WM10), Rapid Metamagic(12), Nimbus of Light(M1), Extra Smiting(15), Extra Smiting(18), Holy Radiance(M9)
Epic Feats: Specialized Metamagic(Consecrate Spell)(21), Great Ability(Charisma)(24), Epic Spell Capacity(M14), Great Ability(Charisma)(27), Epic Spell Focus(Good)(30), Holy Strike(M18)
Alignment: Lawful Exalted
Okay, I didn't get her done, got pulled away, so it's your choice.
1. We go on and pause if we run into anything where her mechanics might matter.
2. We spend a day with light RP, just getting to know some of the people here.
3. We wait until I have it done, probably tomorrow morning.
Let's go with 1, I expect it's going to be a while before we get into a fight unless we're intercepted or something, so no worries.
Alrighty then, what's your next move?
Use my mind blank cube that I still need to name, toss in some other spells for Cresiel and Xandra
Surge of Hope (+4 morale bonus to attack, skills, saves, checks, etc)
Tyche's Touch for all three of them.
We will then Greater Plane Shift to Crystalle's Palace, or as close as to that as the spell will allow us to go.
I haven't actually transfered over spoiler blocks yet, so just keep a note of what spells you gave them for now. I'll do that tomorrow morning since I may want to tweak them from B3. Gimme a confirmation on that.
You appear within Mineral. All sparkles as you stand on a path of smooth, polished diamond and gold, not a single sharp edge. Cresiel merely looks around while Xandra stays aloft, feet off the ground by about a foot. "The song here is beginning to show signs of of discordance," she murmurs. "Shar may well be influencing this plane."
So noted.
"If I remember right, the path is this way." Moore says as he heads forward, trusting his memory on how to get to Crystalle's abode. If all else fails, he'll magic it up.
"You're right, she is. That's why we're here." Moore says. "We're going to put an end to it."
"We must," Cresiel concurs, "What does Shar do longer term to this song, Xandra?"
Xandra floats along slowly, yet keeps pace with you. Her wings don't move, she just moves of her own volition. "Discordance. Collapse. Stillness. Silence. Nothingness. The song falters and dies when Shar is too strong. Shar brings oblivion."
"That's one song I think I'll pass on ever learning." Moore says with a huff as they go along. "I've really got to learn that 'move without moving' trick."
"Do you know the Words of Creation?" Xandra asks, "They are the root of it, for they are the root of all harmonies." She closes her eyes and flies along as you follow the path, on and on.
"I do." Moore affirms. "I actually remember overhearing a conversation from... somewhere that there was some way to cause them have less of an impact on you -- less strain, but I never pursued that." He admits
He continues to fly along ... hm, should it be taking this long? It HAS been a while since he was here...
Fortunately it is just ahead. Ahead is Crystalle's fortress, the conversation dying down as you get closer.
Go ahead and approach as you like.
He knows he can hear him from all the way out here, so...
"Lord Crystalle! I come to you today as Moore, Duke of Songs of Mount Celestia. I have with my two allies, Cresiel and Xandra. I would ask to speak to you of a matter not meant for the public." Moore calls out.
To this the gates open wide. Within is the courtyard, none around save for a figure carved of greenish jade. He speaks with a masculine voice, "I am Jade," he introduces himself, bowing to you, "I am speaking on behalf of Lord Crystalle. I am here to receive you. I am here to assure you are well. I am here to give greetings to the agents of Celestia and Erathaol. I have done so."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jade. I am doing well, I hope you and Lord Crystalle are well, as well." Moore adds.
"I am well. I report that Crystalle is well." Jade replies, coming closer and stopping before you. "I say that I will tell Lord Crystalle what you tell me."
Xandra stays quiet for now, while Cresiel merely nods and adds, "Thank you for that, then."
"There is an agent of Shar within Mineral." Moore states plainly to see where this goes.
"I hear your words. I tell your words to Crystalle. I say that Crystalle wishes to know where this agent is." Jade replies.
"We don't have an exact location, but we know who it is. The agent's name is Duran Emptyeyes." Moore explains. "My role here was to offer assistance in locating him and then return him to either Celestia or to Lord Crystalle to be dealt with afterwards. I'd be happy to perform some divinations to try and locate him." He offers.
"I hear Lord Crystalle's words. I say that Lord Crystalle gives you permission to cast," Jade says.
Xandra merely nods, notes of beautiful music sounding around her.
Cresiel stays quiet for now.
Cast away.
He's going to try Hindsight first -- it works in an area (only 60 ft, but still). He'll try it on the 'Days' level, going back 30 days, to see if he gets a sense of any of Shar's spies or otherwise maybe having come through. They were probably warded so it may not turn up anything, but you never know.
He'll also try 'Weeks' and see if that turns anything up.
Failing that, he's simply going to go with a Divination (the spell), with the question being 'Where in Mineral are the sacrifices to Shar being made?' (this is specifically being used to avoid any protections Duran himself has that might foil something like that)
How are you going to identify any spies?
Hindsight itself specifies as follows: Days: You sense the events of the past, stretching back one day per caster level. You gain detailed knowledge of the people, conversations, and events that transpired.
So I would presume that would cover things like 'definitely wasn't an elemental' or what have you. If they were warded or invisible I have no idea if the spell covers something like that... it doesn't really say, so I think that's a DM call.
Okay.
Hindsight shows nothing useful in Crystalle's Courtyard.
Hmm, they probably couldn't make it all the way in here, could they. Well, that's fine.
He'll cast another spell!
Divination (the spell), with the question being 'Where in Mineral are the sacrifices to Shar being made?' (this is specifically being used to avoid any protections Duran himself has that might foil something like that)
I'll note the cost in the money topic.
Caster level check.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+21 : 16 + 21, total 37[/blockquote]
Fort.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+50 : 10 + 50, total 60[/blockquote] mettle, tyche's touch down to +3
!!!!
You stumble back from it, shaking your head clear. You had a vision of something but you pulled away in time, leaving yourself intact.
Xandra floats there, focused on something, eyes closed.
Moore frowns. "It would seem Shar is doing an excellent job of warding any knowledge of the area." He turns to look over at Xandra. "Do you think we could simply follow the sound of the discord?"
"Follow the song, but beware the refrain," Xandra says slowly, carefully.
Moore nods. "I'd expect nothing less from this... ugh." Moore shakes his head as he turns his attention to Jade. "While I believe that the three of us are capable of handling this matter, would you wish to accompany us, Jade? Or would Lord Crystalle care to send another with us?"
"I am asking Lord Crystalle now. I say that Lord Crystalle wants Shar off Mineral. I say that Lord Crystalle will prepare a force to smash them. I believe Lord Crystalle wishes for you to find the Sharrans and then come back here to be reinforced." Jade reports.
Moore nods. "It's his plane, so we'll do as he wishes. We'll locate them and send word or return here. If we encounter any resistance we'll deal with it. If it becomes any more than we expect I will send word immediately."
"I will await you," Jade replies, bowing once. "I will wait for your words. I will be here. I will see you. I will hear you."
"Please give my regards to Silver and Gold." Moore says as he offers a bow before he turns to head back the way they came!
He turns to Xandra at that. "I can try and listen for the discord, though you may be better suited to leading us to it."
"I can hear it," Xandra says, "Are you able to teleport us?"
"Not -directly,- but I can manage some plane shifts to get us where we need to go." Moore says with a smile. "So in a round-about way, yes."
"Eberly Rock," Xandra says, "Take us to that place. Thus is the way we must go forward."
Moore nods and they're off!
Greater Plane Shift to... heck, Lifasa, then back again. He's got like a billion spell slots, might as well use them.
May want to avoid the Prime considering Xandra, but that's just quibbling over semantics since you can aim anywhere.
Make a Perception check.
Ah, I forgot I'm the only one that gets a free pass on that.
Take 10 for 79.
You appear before a tall rock shot with veins of glittering gold, a rather large cavern with the walls studded with gemstones of all colors. Xandra floats here, eyes closed and listening.
"She seems certain," Cresiel murmurs to you, standing close, "Is it like that for you when you hear a voice or intent?"
"I think she can hear it better than I can." Moore admits quietly. "But I only really started listening with intent recently. I still only here words, phrases... I think she hears entire... melodies, perhaps?" He muses.
There is still far to go.
Slowly, Xandra begins to float in a direction, down to a wide tunnel. She drifts forward with no haste, silent as she glides along.
"The mysteries of the Holy Mountain are deep. None but those who have passed into Eternal Chronias can answer them," Cresiel says as he begins to follow.
Inwardly, Moore huffs. Yes, of course there is!
"I'm just glad I've been given a chance to see and hear things like that." Moore says quietly.
He takes a moment to cast Foresight for himself as they go. They hopefully won't run into anything, but...
Okay, roll and post 1d100, would you?
[21:45] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[21:45] <PlushieIthea> Nephrite roll for PlushieIthea < 76 > [d100=76]
ONE OF THESE DAYS!!!!!
Down a path of winding gemstones and wellsprings of liquid gold, where heat radiates from afar and is yet tolerable. As you walk...
"Moore," Xandra says, leading you along slowly, voice far away. "What do you do?"
"That's a very broad question, so I'll answer the best I can." He responds. "I bring inspiration and allow people to go beyond what they think are their limitations. I help people find the right path that they can achieve."
"Why?" Xandra asks in a single word, continuing her path. "Every story comes down to the why, does it not?"
"Be it complex or simple," Cresiel agrees, "For me...Chronias. In the end, that is the only reason that matters. Give away all else if that's what it takes to obtain it. Everything else is worthless lead compared to the true gold of it."
"Because everyone needs help." Moore says, simply. "Whether they realize it or not."
"Why?" Xandra repeats, "Why does everyone need help and why are you the one to give it?"
Cresiel turns his burning gaze to Xandra, "Looking for the wellspring, are you?"
"The wellspring is the most vital point of it all, for it provides the foundation. Those with a pure wellspring are enabled in ways those with a befouled ones can never be." Xandra continues to float along, "The heart and soul are like a deep well. At times, terrible sins can leech into the well, slowly poisoning the waters within. One must ascertain the well is clean before drinking from it or using it to nurture crops, must you not?"
Xandra is up, as well as a node update for her. Let me know when you've read them.
So noded. Get it? Get it???? Noded????
"That's... " Moore smiles a little, maybe a bit nostalgically. "That's because everyone doubts themselves every now and again. Regardless of whether you follow the will of Mount Celestia or the freedom of dreams of Queen Morwel, everyone's heart has room for doubt. Doubt can be a good thing -- it can be a hesitation before you do something foolish, it can be an uncertainty that someone is telling you the truth, it can also be something that keeps you from your goals."
He continues along, face becoming more resolute and determined as they go. "I can't change the world myself -- I can, however, plant a seed of hope, a seed of determination, willpower, fate, whatever you want to call it, in everyone I meet. I can help them know that they can overcome their doubts, their fears. Why am I the one to do it?"
There's a pause, as he considers for a moment, before... Because of them. Lucy, Veren, Pepo, Jetina, Kamhoff. Aurora. All of them.
"Because I want to. Because I can. Because fate has determined I have the ability to do so, and to ignore that calling would be a disservice to Creation. Is it the will of Mount Celestia that I do this? Perhaps. Would Lliira be happy I'm doing it? I bet. Would Queen Titania be proud of me? She already is. I don't need any one singular purpose for anything -- I know in my heart what I want to do, and I won't ever let a day go by where I forget that." He says, sounding more steeled and serious than he had previously.
Toss a Diplo check onto there, too.
Take 10 for 97.
Active Spells: Superior Resistance (CL 24), True Seeing (CL10), Bibliotecha Arcana (CL27), Mind Blank (CL15), Surge of Hope (CL30), Tyche's Touch+3 (CL30)
HP: 408+20
AC: 64, 47 touch, 54 flatfooted 20% miss chance, SR 45, 30 resist all to elements
35/35 Bardic music uses 3/3 Refrain
Spells:
Bard
0th - 4/4 (DC 22)
1st - 8/8
2nd - 7/7
3rd - 7/7
4th - 6/7
5th - 7/7
6th - 5/6
7th - 6/6
8th - 6/6
9th - 5/5
10th - 2/2
Favored Soul:
0th - 5/5
1st - 9/9
2nd - 9/9
3rd - 9/9
4th - 9/9
5th - 8/8
6th - 8/8
7th - 5/8
8th - 8/8
9th - 6/6
"I see," Xandra says at last, "Desire, will and fate. Together they form a triune that is important to every creature in Creation. You understand that and in that there is wisdom."
Cresiel listens and nods along at points, "In a way, you feel like an earnest child who wishes for everyone to be happy. You speak of unity as an angel of Elysium would."
"That probably explains why I have so many eyes on me." Moore admits with a bit of an embarrassed chuckle. "I suppose when you get to this sort of point in terms of power and ability, though, it's the natural course of things."
He nods over to Cresiel, too. "I can imagine some people still see my way of thinking as naive -- certainly in the battle of Good and Evil, I can't be helping Evil attain their goals, for example -- still, it's important to me to know that I have a power to help people and use it to do that."
"I only wonder what drew you here instead of Elysium," Xandra muses as she flies along, the way quiet save for your conversation. "The Arch-Angels work in ways opaque and mysterious, and perhaps their hand is in that in some way."
"I think it might've been where I came from." Moore says. "Lord Erathaol told me the basic ideas behind the lost realm, so it probably had something to do with that. I'm sure I'll find out someday."
"What of beyond moral concerns? What defines you, Moore?" Xandra asks, "What are your hobbies? Favorite foods? What brings you enjoyment and what do you avoid?"
"I like to read, actually, though I hadn't had much time to do it lately, well... except when I was down in Xiranthador. I really need to ask him why it's an underwater library... was that their first choice? Did they just roll with it? Anyway, sorry. I like talking to people, I'd probably be a diplomat in a different life. I like to solve mysteries, whether they're simple or great ones." He says as he goes along.
"I actually have a goal to talk with a friend of mine once I can overcome the limitations of anathemic knowledge. Hmm... as for favorite foods? Fruits, juices, those sorts of things. I'm a sucker for anything sweet. I don't like to fight if I don't have to... I'm not much in a one-on-one battle of strength. Other than that, though... There's not a lot I won't try and do, I've always been pretty good at anything I put my mind to."
Make a Listen check real quick.
Take 10 for 64
"You have a scholar's soul, questioning and seeming to poke without-" Xandra says as you hear something. A soft clip-clop behind you, as if footsteps.
"I think we have incoming." Moore says as he gestures behind them. "I think this is a good opportunity to catch them off guard."
"If they are hostile," Cresiel says as Xandra nods and...
Go ahead and act as you will here.
Moore casts a spell on himself in preparation, just in case!
Righteous Halo. If he has time he'll throw out a Recitation, too.
Do those have verbal components?
They both do, yes.
You cast the spells, weaving them around you. Behind you it is seen - a large mineral elemental, lumbering along towards the three of you. It is making no effort to be hidden.
I feel like that warrants less of a clip-clop and more of a STOMP STOMP!!
Moore gives the elemental a wave... and a detect evil, just in case!
No evil.
The elemental comes closer and stares at the three of you, long and carefully, about 50ft away.
"Why have you come?" Moore asks.
He knows the reason, of course -- Crystalle sent it. At the same time, if that's the case then it's easy enough to verify.
"...curiosity," The elemental finally rumbles in Terran.
Moore smiles. He switches to Terran for himself.
"It isn't safe here." Moore warns it. "There is evil here we're here to fight."
Do I have any way of telling about how 'strong' this elemental is? K:P?
Sure, K:P. Go for it.
Take 10 for 78
It's a standard elemental, nothing odd about it. Odds are it isn't strong at all.
"If you want to be useful to Lord Crystalle, find a way to tell him where we are. If you tell him Moore sent you, he'll understand." Moore says in Terran. "All right?"
"Yes," Cresiel says, voice rich, stirring. "Leave her, please. You have a duty to your Lord Crystalle, go fulfill it." He stands behind you and to the side, while Xandra is right behind you.
"Go now," Xandra says, "I see that only ruin awaits if you come here."
Diplo check, +4 from them aiding you.
Take 10 for 88, then.
The elemental stares at the two of you and ever so slowly says, "...Alright," In a dull voice, then slowly turns and begins to stomp off.
"I never knew elementals could be curious." Moore admits as he turns back to continue down the way they were going originally.
Once the elemental is gone, "I'm mildly surprised that worked," Cresiel confesses. "It just accepted what we said."
"I think speaking their language helps. Dropping Crystalle's name likely did as well." Moore says.
"That and it realized it was out numbered and out classed," Cresiel shakes his head, "Amazing. I did not expect that to work. You have a way with words, my friend."
Moore merely smiles at that as he continues along.
"Still, though... I'm surprised at something. I'm surprised that Shar was able to send an agent into this realm and that they could manage what they've done without the Lord of this plane even noticing." Moore says.
"I wonder if they somehow did something... Hm. I suppose it's possible they did something that could go undetected by the likes of earth and mineral elementals." He says with a tap on his chin. "It's like... in a pitch that only others can hear."
"A good question," Xandra murmurs, "One I will enjoy finding out very much."
Ready to move along?
Yar.
Roll 1d100.
I'll probably pause you for the weekend after that roll, since I'm winding down and wanna give Yuth and Iddy a bit of extra focus, as they were both a bit scarcer on the ground this week. Also working on a nagging post relevant to you.
[21:37] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[21:37] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 100 > [d100=100]
The suspense will kill me. Maybe literally.
It's not a good 100, I'll tell you that much. Be ready for Monday.
...Oh, okay. Fine. Make Listen checks.
Well boo and hiss to that!
Take 10 for 79
Do me a favor and roll for Xandra and Cresiel, too.
[21:50] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+45+4 Cresiel
[21:50] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 68 > [d20=19]
[21:51] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+59+4 Xandra
[21:51] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 73 > [d20=10]
You proceed to a chamber, where several passages go. It's darker here, gemstones glinting with unseen light, but all else is blanketed in darkness. As you begin to walk...
"...accept....and..." Words, from far away and down a side path, just caught by your hearing. The echo of an echo, perhaps.
Moore gestures down the path.
"I think we can say we found them. As much as I want to go in spells blazing, we were asked to find them and report back, so we ought to return and wait for Lord Crystalle and his allies." Moore advises.
What happened last time won't happen again. He won't let it!
"If that is them..." Cresiel begins. FLY UP!
"Up, now!" Moore commands as he does that very thing.
"FLY UP!" Xandra echos at the same time, the three of you moving up. Just in time, as a hand larger than Hanna sweeps through where you wear, made of solid stone. You have a fucking problem!
A voice rumbles. "I am Rumbling Slide," it declares as the hand sinks back into the ground. "Surrender in the name of the Tyrant of the Black Earth or face oblivion."
Take 10 on K:P for 93, can I identify if this is a notable elemental? And maybe who the Tyrant of Black Earth is besides the Elemental Prince of Earth??
It's a title for Ogremoch, Prince of Elemental Evil in Earth.
And does that same K:P check give me anything on Rumbling Slide? Would I be able to equate him to Mountainous Fire, for example?
He is a primal earth elemental in service of Ogremoch via Grumbar. He's as hard to hurt and deal with as an earth elemental is, and is a skilled defender on top of it. He's not truly evil, merely serving an evil being by the order of the Lord of Earth.
This may neither be the time nor the place, but as far as Mineral itself is concerned, Crystalle is the highest authority, right? Are Crystalle and Ogremoch equivalent in "rank"?
Crystalle is the highest local authority. Grumbar has authority here well, as would a hypothetical deity who ruled over the Positive Energy Plane (but as there isn't one, this is moot). Grumbar, if he presses it, would likely be able to make Crystalle do whatever. That's based on the history of the inner planes your'd know from your K:P score.
Who is Grumbar?
Lord of Earth, God of Earth. Basically stands above anyone else on Earth. He commands the primal earth elementals as well.
Okay.
Moore switches his language to that of the Primal Earth elementals to hopefully impart the importance and truth of his words.
I forget the name, but whatever is hoity-toity in comparison to Terran.
"Rumbling Earth! Know that I am Moore, Duke of Songs of Celestia. I am here by the will of Lord Crystalle of Mineral!" Moore says. "If you stand in our way, know that you make yourself an enemy of Lord Crystalle and of Celestia! I give you the opportunity to parley and consider your actions to join us against the evil that lies in this cavern. If you choose to do so, I will ensure you are protected and given the appropriate rewards." He stops there and waits to see how Rumbling Earth will react.
A Diplo check is relevant here, -5 penalty due to circumstances.
Take 10 for 99, factoring in the -5.
Active Spells: Superior Resistance (CL 24), True Seeing (CL10), Bibliotecha Arcana (CL27), Mind Blank (CL15), Surge of Hope (CL30), Tyche's Touch+3 (CL30), Greater Improvisation (CL3)
HP: 408+20
AC: 64, 47 touch, 54 flatfooted 20% miss chance, SR 45, 30 resist all to elements
35/35 Bardic music uses 3/3 Refrain
Improv Points: 45/90
Spells:
Bard
0th - 4/4 (DC 22)
1st - 8/8
2nd - 7/7
3rd - 7/7
4th - 6/7
5th - 7/7
6th - 5/6
7th - 6/6
8th - 6/6
9th - 5/5
10th - 2/2
Favored Soul:
0th - 5/5
1st - 9/9
2nd - 9/9
3rd - 9/9
4th - 9/9
5th - 8/8
6th - 8/8
7th - 5/8
8th - 8/8
9th - 6/6
"Leave," The elemental rumbles, "My task is given to me by Ogremoch. Leave this place or suffer oblivion."
Cresiel silently prepares his weapon and shield, while Xandra looks on coolly, unperturbed.
Moore raises a hand in waiting to Cresiel. "Take this as a warning. Lord Crystalle's army approaches this place. If you do not wish to be reduced back to primal bits and pieces, I would suggest you not be here when he arrives."
With that, Moore turns and begins to head back the way they came.
Thus the three of you retreat back. Once you're out of earshot Cresiel turns, and asks simply, "Now what do we do?"
"We let Lord Crystalle know, as we promised we would. This will take a few minutes to cast, I'd rather be certain the message gets through to him in case our elemental friend is dawdling anywhere." Moore says.
Intent is to cast Sending, but let's move back to the entrance first so we're more likely to be able to get out of there in case anything happens.
The message, assuming I get to complete it is 'We are in Eberly Rock. Rumbling Earth is here on orders of Ogremoch. We await you to go further.'
'Return.' A curt, one word answer by Crystalle, saying it all.
"We're being summoned." Moore says.
"I really need to buy something that helps teleport us..." He muses as he Greater Plane Shifts them to Elysium (why not) and then back to Crystalle's Palace. Maybe it'll even get them closer this time!
Two shifts later and you end up back at Crystalle's palace (well, that and some walking). Elementals are rising out of the ground en masse, thousands forming together. Crystalle himself sits on a throne of white crystals, overseeing it all.
"Approach," Crystalle speaks a single word and the elementals part, "Rumbling Earth. You are certain it was Rumbling Earth?"
I can be relatively certain of that from my knowledge checks, right?
The name he gave was Rumbling Slide, not Rumbling Earth, and the check was predicated on the former, not the latter. It did seem to fit Rumbling Slide from what little you saw.
Okay, that was user error. He really did mean to say the same name as he was given, (So, slide, not earth) so does that change anything about this scenario?
I figured it was, just go ahead and fess up to the mistake, since yes, it matters here. Not gonna be penalized for it, this is just a very soft DM correction.
Rumbling Earth is a whole different elemental with a whole different reputation. Crystalle will probably elaborate on this.
If that happens again, I'd appreciate it being corrected earlier, especially if you can tell it was OOC error, since I did go back to verify what his name was and just goofed on it since I'm multitasking.
"He said it was Rumbling Slide, I'm afraid I made an error when I reported that. He was a primal elemental nonetheless." Moore explains. "Please forgive that mistake."
Fair enough, I only caught on the fly myself and didn't wanna retcon several posts. Making the best of a bad situation here.
Crystalle...exhales. A sound like chimes, the elementals beginning to disperse. "Rumbling Earth is the personal guard of Grumbar," Crystalle says, "To see him here would be disastrous. Rumbling Slide is a known servant of Ogremoch and much more manageable."
Important typo fix. Dang Rumbling names.
It's just one of those days for everyone.
"My apologies again. Regardless, I tried to parley with him and he seemed intent on guarding Shar's retinue." Moore explains.
"This...complicates matters," Crystalle finally says, pondering.
"If we fight him, we can defeat him. I have no doubt the Holy Mountain guides us in this quest," Cresiel says, "I will face him head on if needs must, and grind down him down to pebbles."
Xandra is quiet, floating there with her eyes closed. It is not so. Look beyond the first conclusion. "It is not so," Xandra finally murmurs, "I fear his symphony may not be part of the discordance. Or is only tangential to it."
The first conclusion is that... he's guarding Shar.
"It's possible he may not be guarding Duran's operation." Moore says with a look over at Xandra. "That's what you mean, right? If we work off of that, then... well, regardless, he's still -there- and we can't just ignore him, unless... we simply go down another path inside that cave?" He offers as a suggestion.
"It is possible Ogremoch is raiding Mineral again," Crystalle says, "That has to be stopped, but less so than a Sharran infestation." The Lord of Crystal considers a brief time again, "Can the three of you sneak past them?"
"I see no reason we couldn't." Moore says. "I can make all of us invisible and then we can simply fly past where he was."
"He may be able to feel us, so we'll need to fly, yes," Cresiel says, "That should work."
"Do it," Crystalle waves a hand - and instantly you are back at Eberly Rock, smooth and seamless.
"This spell suppresses all sounds, including vocal. I can't manage a telepathic bond spell... well, I could, but I'd rather not risk my magic not working." Moore admits. "Do we have any other way to communicate with each other? I'll still be able to see you both and I think you both will be able to see me, so... hand signals, perhaps?"
"Hand signals, "Xandra agrees, "It is crude, but it will work."
Moore nods and taps them each before himself.
Superior Invisibility — my understanding is it covers everything except True Seeing
Just note the spell charges, sure. Go ahead and set up moving along then.
Moore nods to the others and flies back the way they came!
He'll be on the lookout for any magical anything on their way back, since he didn't check very carefully the first time. Take 10 for 73 on Spellcraft as they go if there does appear to be anything.
Make Perception too for that, I think.
Take 10 for 70, then.
The trip back is nigh silent, no immediate sign of trouble as you reach the place you were before. Xandra silently leads you along, a different passage than the one you heard sound down.
Chance to react here.
Moore has no reason to distrust her ears, so he follows along.
Here the passage slowly narrows and then expands, back and forth as you walk along, along and along. After about 20 minutes more, you catch something on the floor. Something gleaming - but gray metal, not gems or gold. A little fragment of iron or steel, left there.
They're flying, not walking!
Moore raises a hand to the others and gestures below in order to go down and get a closer look.
A fair point. I'm a typo machine today.
It's a shard of steel - from a dagger? Yes, the broken blade of a dagger or a similar small blade.
What in the world is a random piece of dagger doing here...?
Moore attempts a hindsight to see if he can determine why!
He's going to use Hindsight for 30 days first, I doubt it'll tell him much but you never know. He'll try years after that since weeks probably won't reveal anything important.
5 days ago - black hooded and robed men were here. One accidentally dropped a dagger, breaking it on the ground to much cursing. He just left the shard and continued on, uncaring.
is the shard magical at all? I BET IT'S ~EVIL~
The shard is not magical nor is it evil.
No wonder it broke!
Well, you never know when a random piece of broken metal from a non-magical blade might come in handy???
Moore will pick it up to get rid of it later. He then resumes his flight with the others.
Cresiel gives you a look, a raised eyebrow at it and a general gesture in your direction.
Incidentally, what's the duration on superior invisibility?
It apparently lasts 1 hour per caster level. I didn't realize that either, actually.
Moore taps the side of his head a few times as if to indicate he's thinking of something. He then resumes going with the others.
> roll 1d20+59 Xandra Perception
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 67 > [d20=8]
Xandra leads you on another 20 minutes - up a winding cliff, through a little crag and deeper in yet. Yet as she comes to a bend she pauses, holding a hand up to stop the two of you. She turns to you, holds up three fingers and then points to the bend.
Moore blinks and tilts his head.
Ah!
He takes his right hand and walks his index and middle finger over the top of his left hand like someone walking. He then holds his arms up in a cross and makes the most sinister face he can and then holds up three fingers with another tilt of his head and a questioning look.
Xandra nods back, then holds up three fingers and her other hand slashes across them swiftly.
Moore nods.
He then blinks a few times. He didn't think this one all the way through.
He makes a motion like he's singing and then shakes his head sideways vigorously. He then slumps his shoulders and shakes his head again, but then shrugs. He points at Cresiel and Xandra and then nods with both his thumbs up.
Cresiel hefts his warhammer with a nod, while Xandra's blade is drawn. A questioning look, waiting.
Moore taps his chest twice and then flies in first, unless otherwise stopped.
There are three ahead - humanoids in leathers and with short swords at the ready, standing watch. One is a human, one a half elf and one an odd, green skinned dwarf-alike. They're standing guard, watching ahead for what can be seen - and you can't be seen.
Moore nods to his allies and points at the foes! Charge!
In a sense! Because he won't be doing anything!
Refresh me on the spells they have, finally doing spoiler blocks.
They have Tyche's Touch (still at +4) and... the other spells would've run out by now. So just that one!
CL on that?
30!
Silently, the two charge in and...
> roll 1d20+25 (+2 charge, -20 PA) Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=11]
> roll 2d6+34+2d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 52 > [d6=5,3,5,5]
> roll 1d20+53 (+2 charge)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 57 > [d20=4]
> roll 3d6+19+4d6+7
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 65 > [d6=5,6,5,6,5,6,6]
In an instant two go down, one decapitated and another's face crushed in. The third begins to react in alarm as...
Chance to act, otherwise to init.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Moore can't do anything but cheer them on! Silently!
This was such a bad spell to use for this!!
[23:11] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+22
[23:11] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=12]
This is init. No aura bonus because GUESS WHAT CAN'T BE USED IF YOU CAN'T HEAR HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, the downside to your cunning plan reveals itself.
> roll 1d20+15 Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+15 Cresiel --> [ 1d20=18 ]{33}
> roll 1d20+6 Xandra
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+6 Xandra --> [ 1d20=8 ]{14}
> roll 1d20+6 guard
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+6 guard --> [ 1d20=14 ]{20}
Init is Moore (34) > Cresiel (33) > Guard (20) > Xandra (14)
Open Moore.
Moore holds his ground in case one of them manages to escape!
He pretty much has nothing he's able to do at the moment, so there's that.
> roll 2d6+34+2d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+34+2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 2d6=8 ]{48}
> roll 4d6+68+2d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 4d6+68+2d6 --> [ 4d6=8 2d6=9 ]{85}
A flash of hammer, the guard's face smashed into bits. But not before he lets out a shriek of alarm, falling to the ground with a loud thump after.
Free act.
There's no real sense in waiting to see what happens, they may as well press on and forward, so that's where he heads!
In a low voice, "Forward?" Cresiel asks, "Silence is ruined, at least for the moment."
the spell makes you completely silent. I.e. I don't think you can be heard even if you want to be.
I can get the spell text if you need it
Oh, by all means, please. What spell is it?
It's via Superior Invisibility.
EDIT:
Sorry, I had pasted the original description, here is the SC version in case it changed anything (I don't think it did but being complete here)
This powerful glamer functions like invisibility (PH 245), except that it masks image, scent, and sound alike, concealing the subject from all senses except touch. As with greater invisibility, this spell doesn't end if the subject attacks. While invisible, the subject exudes no scent and is undetectable by scent, blindsense, tremorsense, and blindsight.
Superior invisibility renders the recipient immune to detection by see invisibility, faerie fire, glitterdust, invisibility purge, and dust of appearance, although creatures under the effect of the spell can be detected by true seeing. Certain mundane conditions (such as leaving footprints) can also render a subject detectable.
One could argue, I suppose, that it also would've absorbed the sound the person made since they were right on top of them when they died. SC version doesn't mention the 'five foot aura' thing, so forget this.
Okay then, fair enough.
Onward you go, Xandra leading you on in a hurry. Ahead is a slope, a hill in the tunnel rising sharply up. Not so steep as to be impossible to travel, but flight mitigates regardless. High up, about 50ft above you, is the top where darkness billows out.
Just as a note I reposted the SC version of the spell in case it matters.
Moore peers at the darkness.
Does True Seeing help at all? Is it obviously magical darkness?
You'd have to study it with DM or such to find out if it's magical.
You'd also have to get closer, see more of it to see if you see through it, but you think it's working fine enough.
Okay.
Moore approaches the darkness to see if True Seeing allows him to see through it without any trouble.
If it does not, he will take some time to study it.
It does. It's a 5th level darkness spell that expands and billows, slowing creatures who pass through it, save for those who worship Shar.
Spellcraft is trivial here, so no point rolling.
Does that mean slow as in actual slow (like, per the spell or effect) or slow in the general sense of 'you're blind and thus can't see so you go slow'?
Moore turns to the other two and puts his index and middle fingers up near his eyes, moves them in a circle in front of them and then points at the darkness, then gives them a thumbs up.
The actual spell.
Cresiel nods while Xandra gestures ahead and up, then brandishes her greatsword. Be prepared if you go further. The enemy of all lies ahead.
Moore will go ahead and in! He can always cast a Haste spell if needed... once he doesn't need this invisibility, anyway.
Going alone or do you want them to follow?
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
[/quote]
Don't both of them have always-on True Seeing? If so, yes. If not, no.
They do, just needed an answer.
Thus the three of you fly up.
Past the darkness you can see it. A vast cavern, one filled entirely with a ziggurat. Atop it is the symbol of Shar - a massive metal disk colored black, with a ring of purple around it. A sense of overwhelming dread hits you, as well as a distinct sensation that you can hear singing. Far away but you can hear it.
Do not listen. Shar's song only brings death. Guard your minds against it.
Moore turns to the other two and puts his fingers in his ears.
He then takes one hand and taps on his forehead a few times and then holds his hand up as if shielding his forehead from something. He looks over at Xandra and wiggles his fingers at her, then points at Cresiel and at her.
Xandra stares and begins to blush.
Cresiel looks at you with a slow, neutral expression as he tilts his head to the side.
Moore runs his tongue over his top teeth with his mouth closed.
He does his best to mouth 'mind blank' to Xandra, then points at Cresiel once and Xandra once.
Mind blank has verbal components. Would the spell interfere with that?
The SC description doesn't actually say it does... the old description prior to SC did specify that it prevented somatic components (which makes no sense because why would it, I think they meant verbal there). I had been going off the first description without checking the SC one, which is why I assumed you couldn't be heard.
I think that's a rules interpretation thing, but I personally think it's entirely reasonable that it it masks the verbal components of the spell as silence but the spell still works.
This is a confusing as fuck spell, let me tell you.
Yes. I'm going to rule it won't for the moment. Okay.
Can...either of them cast it? Serous question, since it's not a cleric spell for Cresiel nor a warmage spell for Xandra.
I figured Xandra had it! I thought that it came from the sorc/wiz spell list. It's entirely possible neither of them can, and neither can Moore! Note to self, see if Mind Blank can be added to the Bard spell list!
Xandra shakes her head at that, while Cresiel slowly mouths, 'I do not have that spell,' he replies, slowly and letting his lips be read.
Moore smacks his forehead.
There's a sudden sound as nothing seems to change, yet the two of them can suddenly hear him.
His voluntarily ending his Superior Invisibility spell but using his Greater Invisibility SLA. So theoretically nothing changes for Cresiel and Xandra since they could just see him the whole time anyway.
"Okay. So that's a problem we'll fix another time." He says, quietly. "I'm protected, and I have a feeling I can overcome this music with my own if I have to. How do you all want to approach this? ...Yeah, I know, I can't hear you, so how about this..." He looks over at the ziggurat and then back to them. "It's obvious whatever they're doing is going on inside there. Do you all want to try and find a way inside or just wait for them? Um... hold up one finger for going and two for waiting."
Cresiel holds up three fingers.
Xandra takes a moment to look at him sidelong, less than amused. She puts a hand on her hip and gives him a look, waving a hand.
Cresiel merely smiles, and brings his hands to his mouth, folded together, as if praying. He then points to the ceiling and shakes his hand back and forth, then mimes his hand falling to the ceiling down onto the temple.
This gets Xandra to pause, seemingly considering. She slowly shakes her head, mouthing, 'Defenses,' as best she can, slowly.
Moore looks like he's considering, then nods to Xandra.
He balls his fist up and then smacks it with his other fist a few times.
...
...
There's a pause.
"Right, I can talk, can't I. I don't think that'd do much to it since it's probably built to withstand that sort of attack." Moore says. "However, who knows what Lord Crystalle could manage in that regard?" Moore says with a smile. "We could still scout it out and I can get an idea of what sort of magic was used on it. But how'd they even -get- it here...?"
Cresiel nods at your words, then takes both hands and traces a large, oval shape.
Xandra merely nods slightly and then slowly mouths, 'Learning....telepathy...spell...next?'
"We're never doing this stealth nonsense again." Moore says firmly.
He turns and waves them along to fly closer to the structure. He keeps an eye peeled for magical sensors and the like or other magic in the air that might detect them anyway, if they haven't already been found.
So heading on into the cavern then?
Correct.
The three of you begin to fly into the cavern. As you do...
Spot all.
Take 10 for 66
> roll 1d20+45 Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 65 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+59 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 61 > [d20=2]
You see it, a glimmer. The black disc surrounded by purple begins to subtly glow the moment you enter the cavern.
Chance to react.
An alarm? Or maybe...
"Back -- back, the way we came." Moore says, as he tries to get back in case it's some sort of weapon!
Wise, perhaps.
Xandra's eyes widen and she flies back with haste, Cresiel just behind her. It's just in time - the eye emits a strange, strobing blast of black, that seeks onto the three of you.
Reacting quickly enough gives you a +3 circumstance bonus to armor class for this attack.
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Moore
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=16]
Moore is missed. Cresiel is hit. Xandra is hit.
> roll 1d20+24 SR check
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=2]
The blast washes over the two celestials, but fizzles away without doing anything. Yet the stone near them as they pass back and ito the previous cavern is gone, utterly disintegrated.
Moore flies on, a bit further than he was going to originally, before he turns around to peer towards the symbol of Shar to see if it's still glowing at all.
"Okay, wasn't expecting the giant black eyeball magical laser defense, I admit." Moore says through some quick breaths. "If they didn't know we were here before they know -someone- is here, at least... but even so, it may just be an automated one... hmm." He shakes his head.
"We found them and are here. If they're going to come to try and fight us, we fight them outside of their magical range, we'll have an advantage." Moore says. "I will take time to contact Lord Crystalle again, unless either of you have a faster way?" He looks to the two of them.
Cresiel shakes his head. He pantomimes a large oval again, then has two fingers 'walk' to it and through it, then three fingers on one hand in front of one finger on the other, with Cresiel carefully mouthing, 'Talking'.
"Well, sure, we could Gate there and back, but what's the point if we're just going to come right back here?" Moore asks. "I suppose time might matter. All right, let's go, then." Moore gestures and off they go to Arborea, and then back to Mineral!
I'm keeping track of the spells for this, don't worry. That makes 7, by the way. Who knew regular Plane Shift might ever be useful!
Woosh and woosh. You return to Crystalle's palace, the Archomental still sitting on his throne in the courtyard. "You return," Crystalle greets, "How goes your efforts?"
"We've discovered where the Sharran are hiding. Somehow or another, they managed to get a large... pyramidal structure inside a cavern in Eberly Rock. It has a weapon atop it that... if my guess is right, it sends out magic similar to disintegrate. It was also able to pierce through out invisibility, but nothing else in the cavern could. We also did not encounter Rumbling Slide, though we ended up taking a different path." Moore explains.
"I'm not quite normally so.. reticent to fight, but you made it clear you wanted to be informed, so I want to make sure I follow that reasoning, Lord Crystalle." He finishes.
"You found it? Good," Crystalle says, a moment as the invisibility on Cresiel and Xandra vanishes.
A deep exhale from Cresiel, "Finally. We must learn a means of telepathic communication before doing that again."
Xandra smiles faintly, "I thought you were enjoying it. Though regardless, fighting silenced was not a good option, so I supposed a tactical retreat."
"For future reference, you can just dispel the spell if you need to. Or I can for you. I think you can. Would you believe me if I told you it never came up before? Anyway yes, we'll have to seek the wisdom of Celestia for that, later." He huffs once as he turns back to Crystalle.
"I can't say for certain if they knew we were there or not. The fact that we didn't instantly have several Sharrans on top of us when the weapon tried to strike us would indicate that I think it is simply an automated magical defense." Moore explains.
"Will you be able to handle it?" Crystalle asks, "Such a defense makes a direct attack by massed forces costly."
Moore nods. "It's dangerous, but it can't hurt us if we get inside it. I didn't have a chance to look for entrances, but even if it doesn't have one, we can assuredly make our own if we need to." Moore says. "I can protect us with some magic before we return. Lord Crystalle, do you have any way of preventing them from teleporting or otherwise leaving Mineral?"
Crystalle smiles - a strange thing to see on him, but he does.
"That is trivial once I have a location."
Moore nods again, a grim look.
"Then this is how I think we should approach this." Moore says with a look to his allies. "I will cast protective magics and bolster us with my words before we return. Lord Crystalle, if you can get us back to where we were again... or, if you can somehow get us to the temple's outskirts... then I think we can take things from there. I don't know how many they have within it, but... well, considering what happened to their outlying guards, I wasn't impressed."
"I can," Crystalle says, "After that I will seal it and the battle will rest in your hands." Looking closely at the three of you, "Can you handle it?"
Moore nods. "Absolutely."
"Then prepare," Crystalle declares.
Okay. What's your agenda for prep here?
Spells being cast:
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
If Cresiel or Xandra have any buffs to use, by all means. The idea is to use the longer spells first and then the super-short duration ones right before they go anywhere to maximize their length. If they lose a round or two it isn't a big deal.
Xandra doesn't have much, she's a warmage. Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC. Anything else, y'all?
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)That will do it.
A rush. A surge of energy as you stand at the bottom of the incline, darkness billowing out. Unholy moans echo from above, from the darkness and where you know the temple to be.
Cresiel merely gestures ahead, "It is time to bring light to the darkness of entropy."
Xandra looks to you, "Our first battle. Let us make it a good one."
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
"I'm just happy we don't have to do the hand signals anymore... All right, our first order of business is going to be to get to the side of the temple. If we find an entrance, great, otherwise, we make an entrance. Or entrances, depending." Moore says with a nod to the others.
"Let's do it!" He shouts as he starts to fly back and towards their destination!
Up. Up and past the darkness, past the miasma of Shar. You find that the Eye of Shar is now radiant with darkness limned with purple. In the vast space between the entrance you are at and the temple are ghostly, shadowy things. Shadows and greater shadows, things Moore's religious training lets him instantly identify. Hundreds float all about, ready to oppose you.
"Good!" Cresiel's voice booms throughout the cavern, "All you wicked who seek to embrace light and have it bring you to oblivion, come forth. The goal of your deranged Mistress is right here, and I will give it to any shadow that seeks it!" His shield gleams with flames, a halo of light around him.
Xandra stays closer to you, "We are ready, Moore. Let us begin. Show me why the light of Chronias entrusts you with us!"
Init.
[21:51] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36+2
[21:51] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=7]
Cresiel and Xandra get +14 to their init.
> roll 1d20
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=16]
> OOC: +29 for a total of 45.
> roll 1d20+20 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 28 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+12 shadows
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=10]
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Shadows (22) > Eye of Shar (0)
Open Moore.
Moore snaps his fingers as magic envelops him. "Begone from this place!" He shouts, as his words invigorate his allies and himself!
Harmonize, bardic musics only require a movement ability to start.
[22:00] <Nephrite> roll 3d4 nonlethal
[22:01] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 5 > [d4=3,1,1]
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
That it, Moore?
Most of you all have a lot you can do each round, so just lemme know decisively if your turn is done.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Oh, yes, sorry. That is it because that eats my Standard and my Move.
"Can you withstand a Bolt of Glory?" Cresiel calls you as he gathers in power.
Action pends a reply here.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used:
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
"I'll be fine!" Moore shouts. "Probably won't even touch me!"
Cresiel flies forward, glory flying from him in all directions as...
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC vs all
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=2]
Hits the shadows. Hit or miss for you, Moore?
That misses me! Hold on, I'll make a spoiler block for your sake, but his Touch AC right now is 63.Active Spells: Superior Resistance (CL 24), True Seeing (CL10), Bibliotecha Arcana (CL27), Mind Blank (CL15), Surge of Hope (CL30), Tyche's Touch+3 (CL30), Greater Improvisation (CL30), Mass Death Ward (CL27)
HP: (44)408+20
AC: 64 (78), 47 (49)(63) touch, 54 flatfooted 20% miss chance, SR 45, 30 resist all to elements
35/35 Bardic music uses 2/3 Refrain
Improv Points: 45/90
Spells:
Bard
0th - 4/4 (DC 22)
1st - 8/8
2nd - 7/7
3rd - 7/7
4th - 6/7
5th - 6/7
6th - 4/6
7th - 6/6
8th - 6/6
9th - 5/5
10th - 2/2
Favored Soul:
0th - 5/5
1st - 9/9
2nd - 9/9
3rd - 9/9
4th - 9/9
5th - 6/8
6th - 8/8
7th - 1/8
8th - 8/8
9th - 6/6
> roll 27d12 whoops
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 190 > [d12=7,9,8,3,9,6,2,8,2,7,5,10,6,4,11,5,9,11,9,10,3,1,8,5,10,12,10]
A sphere of about 100ft around Cresiel is cleaned. Shadows are obliterated, each one struck reduced to nothingness. Cresiel stands ahead, gesturing for more to come as...
Xandra.
Xandra flies forward and gestures. Like a galaxy of stars, tiny, unerring bolts fly from her to strike all of the shadows. Rest.
Sandalphon's Amazing Barrage. Hits all enemies within 2800ft with the following damage. Of course anyone inside and out of the line of sight and effect is okay, but ow.
> roll 1d3+28+18
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 49 > [d3=3]
Lesser shadows are struck and obliterated, while greater ones reel back. Hundreds of shadows are exterminated in a moment, ruined and crushed utterly. What remnants remain slink away, into the ground or ceiling, escaping from the hideous barrage.
Eye of Shar is up in the next post, chance to react if you want in the meantime.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
[/quote]
"Return to the shadows and leave here forever!" Moore shouts.
The shadows flee - but the great Eye of Shar does not. Instead rays emanate from it, aiming for the three of you as...!!!
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Moore
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=8]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 38 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+35 touch AC Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+24 SR check
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=9]
Does that hit and beat your SR, Moore?
No on both counts, if it matters.
The beams hit and fizzle, doing nothing at all - and the Eye of Shar is glowing brighter now, as...
Go.
You said hit, but I assume you mean miss there.
"Now, forward!" Moore calls to the others as he begins to race forward, putting everything he has into moving. "We'll have to endure another shot or two but we have to make it there!"
Double moving here, which is a total of 180 ft (60+30 from haste x2).
Fixed, a chunk of that just wasn't there.
Do you have anything prevent AoOs?
I do not. I'm fine taking some licks.
The Eye of Shar is gathering dark light to itself, purple growing ever brighter around it. An utter emptiness that shoots right at you, corkscrewing through the air and aimed right at your head.
> roll 1d20+37 touch AC Moore
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+26 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=14]
Touch AC holds.
Yet Moore jukes downward, under the blast that flies and hits the wall far behind you, a huge chunk of it gone instantly, little fragments of gems and gold raining down. As this happens, Cresiel follows as...
Cresiel traves 300ft. More.
As he swoops ahead of you, Cresiel holds his shield out as another beam fires right on him.
> roll 1d20+37 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+26 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 41 > [d20=15]
Doesn't beat his SR, so I won't bother to do the touch AC math.
Yet this ray his radiant Cresiel, his expression grim as he holds his shield up. The blast is consumed by light, as Xandra follows, keeping pace with you as...
> roll 1d20+37 touch AC Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+26 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 46 > [d20=20]
SR holds, barely.
Yet this blast dissolves as it reaches her, as if never was. You're currently about 600ft from the building as...
Go.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 680/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
"Okay, I'm getting really tired of that." Moore mutters as he continues to fly along. He briefly considers stopping to hurl some magic at it, but for now will just continue along.
180 again to be 420ft away?
> roll 1d20+39 touch AC Moore
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 53 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=11]
Touch AC still hold as well?
Yes and it does. Fuck you, Shar!!!!
Another blast flies towards you, corkscrewing as it hits you...except you're too fast. Another juke, another dive as secondary blasts come, firing at Cresiel as he comes close to the building and at Xandra as she keeps with you.
> roll 1d20+39 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+39 touch AC Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 43 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=2]
Neither penetrates SR.
Yet again nothing happens, the two of them far too mighty to fall to such magic.
Go, Moore. 420ft away and Cresiel's almost there and will act on it this round.
Moore continues to fly forward!
Yep, just moving 180 again.
240ft away.
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC Moore
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 60 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+30 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=15]
That get through?
It did not! Hit the SR right on the nose, too.
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+30 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+41 touch AC Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 46 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+30 vs SR
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 34 > [d20=4]
Cresiel is hit.
240 damage to Cresiel.
The beams fly again - and this time Cresiel is hit just as he reaches the front. He shudders as one of his wings is simply gone, as well as ahunk of his back. Blood flows and hisses when it touches the ground, wailing spirits erupting out from the ground and fading away as it does, tiny shadows howling in distraught fury. There is a gate ahead, a grand entrance closed. Cresiel charges in, warhammer raised and...
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 8 > [d20=8]
> roll 2d6+44
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 47 > [d6=1,2]
67 total after bonuses are added.
Cresiel strikes the wall mightily as his wounds suddenly heal in part, his back no longer bleeding as...
Xandra, who simply keeps pace with you.
Cresiel used divine succor as a swift for 70 points of healing. 29/30 holy fury points left.
Go Moore.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 500/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 29/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Moore continues to move ahead! If that thing keeps firing at them even when they get out of line of sight of it, he'll have to do something, but for now he just keeps on moving!
180 more.
> roll 1d20+43 touch AC Moore
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+43 touch AC Moore --> [ 1d20=13 ]{56}
> roll 1d20+32 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+32 vs SR --> [ 1d20=12 ]{44}
You fly on swiftly, now only 60ft from the doors. You fly above another blast as the Eye of Shar continues firing on all of you. Hunks of precious wealth and metal disintegrate below you, hardly noticed as...
> roll 1d20+43 touch AC Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+43 touch AC Cresiel --> [ 1d20=18 ]{61}
> roll 1d20+32 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+32 vs SR --> [ 1d20=5 ]{37}
SR held.
Cresiel ignores another blast as he hefts his warhammer, striking again and again, a savage flurry as...
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=8 ]{8}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=17 ]{17}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=9 ]{9}
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here haste bonus
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here haste bonus --> [ 1d20=13 ]{13}
> roll 2d6+64
> roll 2d6+64
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{69}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{69}
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{68}
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{67}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{71}
Blow after blow hits, the great gate within shuddering under the impacts, solid stone starting to crack as...
70 points of healing from divine succor, 28/30 holy fury left. Xandra just keeps pace with you.
> roll 1d20+43 touch AC Xandra
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+43 touch AC Xandra --> [ 1d20=3 ]{46}
> roll 1d20+32 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+32 vs SR --> [ 1d20=7 ]{39}
Whiff. Go Moore.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 570/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 28/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
[/quote]
Moore flies in next to Cresiel. Whew!
Since he doesn't have to spend so much time moving, he casts a quick spell to help bolster everyone.
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves. I doubt either of them have Erathaol as their deity, but maybe??
> roll 1d20+45 touch AC Moore
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+45 touch AC Moore --> [ 1d20=6 ]{51}
> roll 1d20+34 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+34 vs SR --> [ 1d20=8 ]{42}
Yet your defenses hold. You dodge another blast as you make it there, Cresiel calling, "Forward! We have to breach the gates!" At the same time more of Shar's hatred flies forward, corkscrewing towards Cresiel.
> roll 1d20+45 touch AC Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+45 touch AC Cresiel --> [ 1d20=18 ]{63}
> roll 1d20+34 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+34 vs SR --> [ 1d20=15 ]{49}
240 damage.
Again Cresiel is hit, much of his side simply gone, blood pouring. The spirits in the ground arise and howl in fury as they are banished, Cresiel's wound scabbing over nigh instantly. Undeterred, he raises his hammer and calls, "This deals lethal wounds to me, such is the taint of its evil! Do not treat it lightly!"
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
> roll 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=17 ]{17}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=16 ]{16}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=12 ]{12}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 max PA, it's a door so it's basically a 1 check here --> [ 1d20=11 ]{11}
> roll 2d6+64
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{71}
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{73}
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{73}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{75}
> roll 2d6+64
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+64 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{71}
Divine succor, 27/30 holy fury.
Again, again, again, again. The great gates shudder with each hammer blow, quaking. Rains of pebbles and hunks of stone follow, cascading down around the furious solar. He raises his hammer up and with a final blow crushes straight through the door. A great hunk of falls backwards, a space to proceed inward through. Within is a great, shadowy thing, a shadow that is yet more. Its face begins to twist as behind it you see half a dozen robed Sharran cultists. One has a wicked, curved dagger out and at the throat of a barely conscious human woman. Her eyes are gone, pure black emptiness lined by purple. Her arms are merely stumps at the shoulders, legs skewered partially through by chakram halves in several places.
Beyond this you can see a little antechamber - that's all ti is, perhaps 15ft deep and not wide. Little slits in the wall can be seen - murder holes.
"Surrender of the woman finds oblivion," The cultist warns, face hiding their face but the voice decidedly feminine.
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Face of Loss (27) > Cultists (25) > Murder Holes (23) > Eye of Shar (0)
Xandra is up but a chance for you to react Moore. This is a long post so I'll be back to it in a few.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 400/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 28/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.
"I'm going to make this really easy for you." Moore says, the light of the halo around him burning brightly against the darkness.
"Lay down your arms and give up your perverted pursuits or you'll all find yourselves seeing the light of Celestia in a way you never thought possible." He warns them.
You can use that to try an Intimidate check on your turn if you like. If you want Xandra to hold on that and a reply, say so.
Xandra should do what she feels (or hears) is the best thing to do, Moore trusts her.
> roll 1d20+45 touch AC Xandra
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+45 touch AC Xandra --> [ 1d20=3 ]{48}
> roll 1d20+34 vs SR
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+34 vs SR --> [ 1d20=9 ]{43}
Xandra reaches the doors as well, gazing ahead. She holds just a moment at this, letting you take the forefront.
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Face of Loss (27) > Cultists (25) > Murder Holes (23) > Eye of Shar (0)
Are you protected against mind-affecting magic, Moore?
I am! I have mind blank, for reference.
The face shifts and shifts, yet it does not settle on anything as...
"Surrender!" The cultist demands again.
They're holding. Go Moore.
"You have one chance to lay down your arms now before we remove you from Creation permanently." Moore says, voice carrying a surprising amount of authority in it for once.
He's going for Scary Pixie here.
Intimidate check.
Take 10 for 83.
> roll 1d20+20
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+20 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{21}
How many ranks of Intimidate do you have?
33.
Something in your voice, your glare, your look? Regardless, it gives them pause, the cultist dropping her knife almost of her own accord, a startled little yelp after she does. For a moment their defenses are down, and that is all Xandra needs. She darts in as Cresiel lurches forward, hammer raised high.
> roll 2d6+62+2d6+7d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d6+62+2d6+7d6 --> [ 2d6=4 2d6=12 7d6=21 ]{99}
Cresiel's hammer strikes the cultist right in her face, a sickening crunch of bone and flesh as Xandra grabs the captive and pulls her back, shielding her with her body.
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Face of Loss (27) > Cultists (25) > Murder Holes (23) > Eye of Shar (0)
The shadow twists and writes, before sliding forward and reaching out, going for Cresiel's throat.
> roll 1d20+24 incorporeal
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+24 incorporeal --> [ 1d20=15 ]{39}
Yet Cresiel dodges to the side, as the cultists shake visibly, but nonetheless go to draw weapons - yet as they do, a great spike of stone erupts out from below, hitting Cresiel and the cultists both.
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Face of Loss (27) > Cultists (25) > Murder Holes (23) > Eye of Shar (0)
> roll 1d20+60
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+60 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{74}
> roll 8d6+50
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 8d6+50 --> [ 8d6=27 ]{77}
Cresiel is missed thanks to Moore, while the cultists are hit.
Out of pure instinct, Cresiel dodges the spike, while the cultists are impaled. Several are slain while others are wounded, as...
Murder holes don't have an angle thanks to the spike. Go Moore.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 400/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 28/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.
Crystalle must be moving.
Aura is switching to the overcome SR one for now since they don't need an init bonus. This is +14.
"Begone from this place!" Moore shouts -- he seems to be saying that an awful lot. His voice carries, offering a further bolstering to his allies.
[blockquote]Rolled 12d4 : 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1, 4, 4, 3, total 32[/blockquote] (nonlethal damage)
Inspire Greatness, +8d10 temp hp, +8 Attack rolls, +3 fort, these are competence bonuses if it matters.
He points at the shadow. From his hand a searing ray of light flies out!
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 11, total 11[/blockquote] (touch attack, will add in bonuses if this is needed)
[blockquote]Rolled 15d6 : 6, 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3, 1, 1, 1, 5, 2, 3, total 43[/blockquote]
This all of course assumes he can still see the shadow with the giant spike in the middle...
Toss me a quick Perception check, Moore.
Take 10 for 70
The shadow was just missed, so you can see it fine. Check that, the spike grazed it and didn't hurt it.
The ray of light hits the shadow in center mass, causing it to flicker and glow with radiant light. A howl comes from it as...
Fort, Moore.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+60 : 16 + 60, total 76[/blockquote] (Mettle)
Yet Moore shakes something off, as...
Cresiel.
Cresiel stays into the thick of it, going after the cultists relentlessly.
> roll 1d20+45 (+18 Moore, -16 power attack)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+45 (+18 Moore, -16 power attack)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 48 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+40 (+18 Moore, -16 power attack)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+35 (+18 Moore, -16 power attack)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+30 (+18 Moore, -16 power attack)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=2]
> roll 2d6+46+2d6
> roll 2d6+46+2d6
> roll 2d6+46+2d6
> roll 2d6+46+2d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 62 > [d6=6,3,6,1]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 60 > [d6=2,6,3,3]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 69 > [d6=6,6,5,6]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 59 > [d6=3,5,1,4]
Already wounded, the cultists all fall before Cresiel's hammer, relentless in claiming them as his wounds heal further. They fall as...
25/30 holy fury. Xandra.
Init is Moore = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (28) > Face of Loss (27) > Spike (26) > Cultists (25) > Murder Holes (23) > Eye of Shar (0)
Xandra points, a glowing slash of light scraping across the Face of Loss.
> roll 1d20 touch AC, will do the math if it looks close
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 2 > [d20=2]
> roll 30d8+18 the math checked out
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 176 > [d8=1,8,4,1,3,8,7,4,7,5,4,4,7,8,2,8,5,1,6,7,2,6,8,8,8,4,7,6,4,5]
The slash tears the spirit apart, the shadow ripped asunder and fading away with a final, unearthly wail. The moment, in the doorway and between it all, you're safe. Sure, there's murder holes to the side, a closed door ahead and that Eye of Shar behind you, but for the moment you're safe.
Free act.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 470/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 25/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.
[/quote]
"Great job, everyone." Moore affirms with a nod. "Can any of you get her to Celestia?" He asks. "I think it would be all right to gently put her through a gate for safe-keeping so she doesn't suffer any more trauma."
"I would, but likely the Archomental has already sealed the area," Xandra remarks, kneeling before the woman, gently murmuring words to her. "Her wounds are severe and almost certainly cursed. She should be taken directly to Mertion."
"Of course." Moore says. "In that case..."
He lays a hand on the woman to cast Heal on her at least for now.
150 points of healing if it does anything.
"Lord Crystalle, if you can hear me and can help keep her safe while we go deeper, we would appreciate it." He says afterwards.
The woman recovers somewhat, but her maimings do not. She groans piteously, Cresiel's face softening. Her kneels next to her, "Peace," he murmurs, "Soon your suffering shall give way to eternal joy. The race is not much longer, be strong."
Taking 10 on Diplo.
The sense of compassion and love from Cresiel is a palpable thing, radiance that seems to calm the woman. She sighs deeply, as if stirring in her sleep, and her eyelids slip shut.
"Come." Cresiel stands after that, positioning her to the side and out of any angles, "We have darkness to root out."
"Let us proceed." Moore says as he moves ahead. He seems to not even care that the murder holes exist.
Indeed, you receive no attacks from them as you stride forward, throwing open the next gate.
Or you would, but abruptly...
> roll 1d20+60
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 66 > [d20=6]
AC, Moore?
78, 68 if we're talking Flatfooted.Active Spells: Superior Resistance (CL 24), True Seeing (CL10), Bibliotecha Arcana (CL27), Mind Blank (CL15), Surge of Hope (CL30), Tyche's Touch+3 (CL30), Greater Improvisation (CL30), Mass Death Ward (CL27)
HP: (44)408+20
AC: 64 (78), 47 (49)(63) touch, 54(68) flatfooted 20% miss chance, SR 45, 30 resist all to elements
35/35 Bardic music uses 2/3 Refrain
Improv Points: 45/90
Spells:
Bard
0th - 4/4 (DC 22)
1st - 8/8
2nd - 7/7
3rd - 7/7
4th - 6/7
5th - 6/7
6th - 4/6
7th - 6/6
8th - 6/6
9th - 5/5
10th - 2/2
Favored Soul:
0th - 5/5
1st - 9/9
2nd - 9/9
3rd - 9/9
4th - 9/9
5th - 6/8
6th - 8/8
7th - 1/8
8th - 8/8
9th - 6/6
Guh! At the last moment you react instinctively, dodging to the side as a grasping hand of stone, larger than Hanna easily, erupts out and tries to grab you. It retreats back a moment later, deprived of its prize.
"Rumbling Slide again, I wonder?" Moore shrugs. "We have more important matters to attend to than him, so we should continue forward."
Can you advise when it's been 10 minutes from when they left Crystalle's Palace? I'll redo the songs if I can.
I will when it has been.
You throw open the doors ahead. Here is a massive central space, dominated by iconography of the Eye of Shar. HEre cultists, shadows and huge, looming black -things- in the shape of oversized humanoids do war. They are fighting earth elementals and Xorns, the entire field a combative mess. There's doors further in in all directions, but everything is combat ahead.
Chance to act on this how you will and possibly leading to init.
If Crystalle wanted them to aid his allies, he would have given them a missive to do so.
"Let us avoid engagement here if we can and make our way to the source of the dissonance." Moore says with a look to Xandra. "Can you still hear it with all of this going on?"
"Straight ahead, forward and then forward more," Xandra cries over all the noise, "We have to push through all of this, clear the way!"
"Then let's push forward!" Moore says.
They can try and fly over if they can otherwise just punch through if they need to.
Okay. Make Dex checks, +4 bonus for every 10ft your base fly speed is above 30ft. So +4 if 40, +8 if 50 and so on.
Don't forget my Aura also gives +14 to dexterity checks! Yahoo!
So... my speed is 90 with Haste, so that's... 4x6=24.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+48 : 9 + 48, total 57[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+73 Cresiel
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+73 Cresiel --> [ 1d20=18 ]{91}
> roll 1d20+44 Xandra
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+44 Xandra --> [ 1d20=9 ]{53}
The three of you move like lightning. Fortunately, there's almost no aerial action to get in your way, the two of you flying over all of it - as you see Rumbling Slide grab two cultists, pulling them into earth. Sharrans pounce on a Xorn, stabbing it over and over until it goes still. Darkness ripples out from a cultist, turning an earth elemental to dust and a few pebbles. A shadow is hit by a particular elemental with glowing blue fists, dissolving it with an unearthly wail. But all of that is behind you, a door ahead and a chance to barge on through.
Moore waves a hand and emits a yell to try and break the door into pieces!
Cacophonic Burst around the door, DC27 Reflex.
[blockquote]Rolled 15d6 : 2, 5, 3, 3, 1, 1, 6, 2, 6, 5, 2, 4, 6, 1, 4, total 51[/blockquote]
The door shatters immediately, the sonic blast cracking it and sending stone shards flying inward. Past here is a hall of pitch darkness, only your magically treated vision allowing you to see past it. A hall of pure emptiness, where Eyes of Shar are painted on every surface, glowing with purple light swallowed by the dark.
At the far end is a stairway going up slightly, onto a raised floor that continues onward.
K:R.
Take 10 for 99. Scary!
This known as the Walk of Loss. Faithful to Shar walk this and are at risk to be wounded, bled. Those that are worthy are untouchedand pass through, those that are not are consumed by the shadows, ripped and torn.
Unfortunately, not following Shar just means that the magic here treats you as unworthy, assailing you.
Would I know if a Disjunction would partially or totally remove this particular obstacle from our path? Take 10 for 73 for spellcraft if needed.
It should, assuming you pass the dispel check. At least in theory, anyway.
Disjunction doesn't list a dispel check, so I am guessing you mean CL? Either way here it is. He's angling it for the center of the whole thing to hit as much as he can in the 40ft burst it provides.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+30 : 16 + 30, total 46[/blockquote]
Check houserules for magic disjunction, but close enough there for the moment. Anyway.
The darkness fades from your spell, normal light returning as magic crumbles with blue and black sparks, sizzling in the air.
Fair enough! This is my first time, be gentle. EDIT: So what is the cap? It just says it's a magic dispel on all things, does that mean it's rolled at +10 per dispel magic or something else?
"Onward." Moore says as he leads the way.
Put that question in nagging, would you? I'll answer it tonight, running 3 combat rooms so a little busy. Thanks.
You walk along - and as you do? Ahead of yo uan earth elemental, large as Hanna, burst sthrough, bear hugging a Sharran. He resists and screams, pounding against him before the elemental passes through the far wall.
"What is Rumbling Slide's purpose here, then?" Cresiel murmurs as he hurries along with you.
"I am just as confused as you are." Moore admits. "Perhaps Lord Crystalle gave him better impetus to attack the Sharrans. That's the best I can come up with."
On and up and up. Ahead is a space with a great altar, before it the broken bodies of earth elementals and cultists alike. Amid more images of Shar and of the Dark Dancer, an orb of absolute black floats. Perhaps the size of Moore balled up, it is unmoving and unreacting as...
K:A.
Take 10 for 99 again. Scary!
What lies before you is an umbral blot, a blackball. What's worse is that it's one known as an Eye of Shar.
Anything that touches it is disintegrated, including creatures, suffering extreme damage. Dimensional vortexes rage around it, making any attack against it unreliable. It interfers with planar travel around it, moot considering what Crystalle has done. Oh, and counts as an unholy altar for Shar, spreading her power for a mile around it.
Does anything come to mind as to what we can try and do to either disable it, destroy it, or get around it? I'm guessing another disjunction is likely to cause all sorts of problems.
About the only thing to do is destroy it, which is easier said than done by a mile.
"I don't think we can ignore this..." Moore says. "Let me try something, although I don't know how well this is going to work. Whatever you do, don't touch it. I'd just as well use a time stop and go around it but I don't think we have the luxury."
Moore takes a breath.
Do I have any reason to believe an antimagic ray or antimagic effect would have an impact on it?
Unfortunately, your musings are cut off by the sphere advancing on you, gliding inexorably towards the party.
"We must destroy it," Xandra concurs, as...
Init.
Antimagic might help if you can get it to stick.
Everyone gets +14 to their init.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+36 : 8 + 36, total 44[/blockquote]
> roll 1d20+29 Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+20 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+25 Eye of Shar
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=7]
Init is Moore = Cresiel (44) > Eye of Shar (32) > Xandra (24)
Open Moore.
"Don't let it touch you!" Moore shouts to his allies as he points at the Eye of Shar and fires a beam of magical energy at it! "I'm going to see if I can destabilize it somehow!"
Switching aura to the SR piercing one.
[21:57] <Nephrite> roll 1d20 touch attack
[21:57] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 1 > [d20=1]
Well it'll have to wait to see if that has any effect!
Moore then flies back and away from it as best he can!
He's going 90 ft straight to his left away from it.
Moore flies to the side, Cresiel holding his position before the loathesome eye.
"Not one more step back, abomination," Cresiel declares, a sweeping gesture of his arm. A bolt of glory flies true, slamming into the Eye of Shar.
Burst of Glory.
> roll 1d100 vs 50 miss chance
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 67 > [d100=67]
> roll 1d20 ranged touch, will do the math if it's close
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=20]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 173 > [d12=2,3,3,4,1,6,1,5,12,5,4,1,4,8,12,9,12,8,10,12,12,8,9,6,1,11,4]
70 HP healed via holy fury, 29/30 for the encounter.
Holy energy batters the Eye of Shar, a blast of it knocking the thing back. Yet this only momentarily checks it, pushing it back before it glides right at Cresiel.
> roll 1d20+40 Cresiel Ref
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 55 > [d20=15]
> OOC: Er, fort.
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 55 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+40 Cresiel Ref
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 55 > [d20=15]
> OOC: Er, fort.
> roll 80d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 288 > [80d6=288]
> roll 10d6 forgot the add on
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 24 > [d6=6,4,1,1,1,2,1,3,4,1]
312 damage to Cresiel. OW.
The sphere touches Cresiel - who unravels. Wings crumble, an arm half dissolves and his middle is open, bleeding profusely. His blood darkens on hitting the ground here, your ally holding his ground despite it, gritting his teeth and keeping the line.
Xandra. She'll hold for you since you have a plan. Go.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 228/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Glory, 29/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.
"Get away from it and heal yourself!" Moore shouts. He waves a hand and tries again!
[22:17] <Nephrite> roll 1d20
[22:17] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 6 > [d20=6]
Antimagic ray again.
Do I need to do math here? aaaaaaaa
Yes, yes you do.
78. I hope that's enough!
Forgot my other aura, 79!
> roll 1d100 vs 50 miss chance
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 82 > [d100=82]
The beam hits the Eye of Shar - which seems to go inert, at least for the moment. It's not moving, not attacking. Is it safe?
Free act for the moment.
"Cresiel, heal yourself!" Moore shouts quickly. "I... let's just hurry along, it may not be able to follow us if we get far enough away from it, unless one of you has a better idea." Moore says as he starts to fly towards the area past it.
Cresiel channels healing energy into himself as...
Heal, 150 HP healing.
Beyond all of this are two doors heading deeper into the back.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 378/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx2, Heal 30/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.
"Let's hurry." Moore says as he casts Haste on all of them again as he flies to the doors to try and open them! "Don't let those wounds linger." He says after that.
Listen check.
Take 10 for 70
You hear the faintest whistle of wind behind you, as you head for the doors.
Moore turns around to look at what's making the noise! He has a terrible feeling he knows what it is, though...
"Behind us!" Xandra calls as you whirl. The Eye of Shar is moving once more, glowing with a deep, malevolent darkness.
Back to init. Roll, y'all.
[23:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36
[23:36] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 49 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+29 Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 47 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+20 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 38 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+25 Eye of Shar
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 45 > [d20=20]
Init is Moore (49) > Cresiel (47) > Eye of Shar (45) > Xandra (38)
Open Moore.
"So let's try something stronger!" Moore shouts as he throws his hands out to try a disjunction this time!
Rolling against +30 because that's his caster level. Not sure what level it should be rolled at if there is one for that spell.
[23:50] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+30 please eat a dick shar
[23:50] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=10]
I do also still have a swift and a movement, so I'll take those after seeing whatever this does.
Unfortunately Shar's all out of dicks.
Your dispel hits the Eye of Shar and nothing seems to happen, no visible reaction.
Can I tell if it failed or if it succeeded and just hasn't seemed to have any visible impact?
You aren't sure, but no visual response or obvious sign is usually a sign of failure or of subtle magic being dispelled.
Okay. He's going to hope it did something!
"It should be somewhat weakened from before, but make sure you don't let it touch you if possible!" Moore shouts to the others. He flies up and away from the others to try and make it less easy for the Eye to have a target. "Just use whatever magic you have and we'll have to see if that does something!"
Init is Moore (49) > Cresiel (47) > Eye of Shar (45) > Xandra (38)
As Cresiel begins to heal, he continues to hold his position aganist the Eye, turning around and praying, "Oh glorious Sealtiel, let your light shine against the wicked."
Bolt of Glory.
> roll 1d100 vs 50 miss chance
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 vs 50 miss chance --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
But this time the bolt is knocked away, distorted into a thin needle that whizzes by it harmlessly. As this happens an earth elemental, human sized, erupts from the ground...and grazes the Eye, gone instantly. As this happens...
The Eye of Shar is up
The Eye again glides towards Cresiel, relentless as...
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 touch AC Cresiel --> [ 1d20=19 ]{59}
> roll 1d20+40 Cresiel fort
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 Cresiel fort --> [ 1d20=9 ]{49}
> roll 80d6+10d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 80d6+10d6 --> [ 80d6=287 10d6=34 ]{321}
Owwie.
Another touch as Cresiel holds the line. Entire gaping hunks of him are gone, bleeding profusely onto the ground. As his blood darkens and shadows in contact with it, Cresiel somehow stays standing, even though most of his abdomen and chest are but a memory.
Xandra and Moore. Go ahead and go as I work up Xandra's go, Moore.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 127/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Heal 29/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 1 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
Moore flies over to Cresiel and puts a hand on him.
"It is not your time yet. Get far away from it, it shouldn't be able to move that far. I can handle this thing." He says quietly.
Heal, 150 restored to Cresiel.
As Cresiel's wounds heal, Xandra eyes the Eye before her. She gestures, stepping back to the side carefully and...
> roll 1d100 vs 50 miss chance
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 vs 50 miss chance --> [ 1d100=6 ]{6}
A scything blade of force hits the Eye of Shar, yet is deflected away, torn apart like paper.
Cresiel is up in the next post. Adding his healing from you now.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 277/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Heal 29/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 2 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
[/quote]
Sorry. Remember, if I do a split post and just don't reply, I probably brainfarted it. Smack me in nagging. Coming up in the next post for real now.
Cresiel simply heals and falls back at your command, as...
Divine succor 27/30 and heal for 220 healing total.
As Cresiel dodges, the Eye whirls on Moore, drifting towards him with stunningly rapid flight.
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Moore
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 touch AC Moore --> [ 1d20=15 ]{55}
Does that hit you, Moore?
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 497/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Heal 29/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 2 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
[/quote]
It does not. Eat a dick, Shar!
I like your attitude.
Yet Moore dives out of the way, dodging the eye by a hair as Xandra holds her position tensely, calling, "Slash apart!"
> roll 1d20 will do the math if needed
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 will do the math if needed --> [ 1d20=10 ]{10}
> roll 28d8 using free empower
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 28d8 using free empower --> [ 28d8=118 ]{118}
> roll 118/2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 118/2 --> {59}
> roll 118+59
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 118+59 --> {177}
A blade of unseen force slashes into the Eye of Shar, cutting deeply into it as darkness billows out, then...
Moore.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 497/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx2 27/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 3 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
This is more of a metaphysical question but Moore wants to try something. If the Eye of Shar is more or less a ball of literal nothing, the obvious counter to that is 'something,' and what makes 'something' besides Creation?
What I'm getting at is he'd like to try and use the Words of Creation to 'create' something as a counter to it. So yes he's basically going to try and sing at it and hope that works.
Sure. Any particular bardic music as a frame of reference or just going to go pure WoC?
He's just going to try and do a performance using the words and try and weave in some Lightspeaking.
Okay, make a Wisdom check and then a Charisma check.
Fair warning: You know well using the Words of Creation is draining and dangerous. This may be far more so. Are you still willing? If so, make the checks.
He is willing to take that risk.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+25 : 20 + 25, total 45[/blockquote] Wisdom
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+34 : 6 + 34, total 40[/blockquote] Charisma
Uh, how are those checks so elevated?
+4 from Surge of Hope and +15 from Greater Improvisation. Sorry, I should've said I was using my improvisation points, let me pull out my spoiler block where I'm tracking it.
Active Spells: Superior Resistance (CL 24), True Seeing (CL10), Bibliotecha Arcana (CL27), Mind Blank (CL15), Surge of Hope (CL30), Tyche's Touch+3 (CL30), Greater Improvisation (CL30), Mass Death Ward (CL27), Haste (CL30)
HP: (44)408+20
AC: 64 (78), 47 (49)(63) touch, 54(68) flatfooted 20% miss chance, SR 45, 30 resist all to elements
35/35 Bardic music uses 0/3 Refrain
Improv Points: 15/90
Spells:
Bard
0th - 4/4 (DC 22)
1st - 8/8
2nd - 7/7
3rd - 7/7
4th - 6/7
5th - 6/7
6th - 4/6
7th - 5/6
8th - 6/6
9th - 5/5
10th - 2/2
Favored Soul:
0th - 5/5
1st - 9/9
2nd - 9/9
3rd - 9/9
4th - 9/9
5th - 6/8
6th - 8/8
7th - 1/8
8th - 8/8
9th - 4/6
> roll 77d4
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 77d4 --> [ 77d4=168 ]{168}
Non-lethal damage. Are you still up after that?
I am. That puts me at (212)/408
> roll 1d20+18
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{31}
A saving throw of 10 + 1/2 your hit dice + your Charisma modifier would be what, Moore?
10+15+15 = 40.
Your body throbs with the sheer power your song brings, managing to string together word after word. Your throat is dry, your vision swimming and gold-tinted. But your song echos, the Eye of Shar's light fading, quieting. You feel weaker and weaker by the moment, words you've never heard before spilling out of you. You can only maintain the song a few moments, but...
2 points of Constitution damage, sacrifice cost that can't be negated.
Congratulations, you've found one of the three secret uses of the Words of Creation. Find the other two to unlock a new feat.
"Cresiel! Strike now!" Xandra calls, as Cresiel nods, a single prayer before a burst of glory flies true.
> roll 1d20 ranged touch math if needed
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 ranged touch math if needed --> [ 1d20=13 ]{13}
> roll 27d12
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 27d12 --> [ 27d12=182 ]{182}
The Eye of Shar is hit again, little cracks appearing along it as is suddenly seems to awaken, darting at Moore furiously.
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Moore
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 touch AC Moore --> [ 1d20=20 ]{60}
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Moore critski?
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 touch AC Moore critski? --> [ 1d20=15 ]{55}
Ow. No crit I presume since last 55 missed, but make a Fort save.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 497/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx2 27/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 3 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
I'm also immune to crits, thank goodness!
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+35 : 1 + 35, total 36[/blockquote] (Inspire Greatness, Sure of Hope, Superior Resistance, Celestial Fortitude, then minus 1 from the loss of the 2 constitution) oh, and mettle.
Oh! Does my 20% miss chance apply by any chance?
It does, and you'd better hope it comes through after that natural 1.
Roll it, 1d100 vs 20.
That would be ideal, wouldn't it?
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 86, total 86[/blockquote]
> roll 80d6+10d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 80d6+10d6 --> [ 80d6=287 10d6=40 ]{327}
That shouldn't kill you, but with the nonlethal it should knock you out. Go ahead and confirm, though.
You are correct, that puts me at ... 101. How does the nonlethal work? Is it just listed as (202)101/408?
If you have nonlethal damage higher than your current hit points, you're knocked out. So more incoming.
The touch of the sphere is too fast to avoid. Your wing grazes it - and you feel nothing. See nothing, hear nothing. You float in unawareness as...
70 + 150 healing, which also heals an equal amount of nonlethal damage. That puts your HP above your nonlethal damage, right?
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 497/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx3 26/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 3 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
It does, yes. That moves me to 320/408.
You awaken, lying in a heap. You see Cresiel's back, body shielding you, just in time to see the Eye of Shar drifting towards him. As it does, Xandra chants, another slash of force slamming into the Eye.
> roll 1d20 will do AC if needed
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 will do AC if needed --> [ 1d20=9 ]{9}
> roll 28d8
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 28d8 --> [ 28d8=131 ]{131}
Another slash in the Eye as it drifts forward, nothing deflecting it this time. It's cracked all over, slowly repairing itself as it comes for Cresiel.
> roll 1d20+40 touch AC Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 touch AC Cresiel --> [ 1d20=19 ]{59}
> roll 1d20+40 Cresiel fort
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+40 Cresiel fort --> [ 1d20=5 ]{45}
> roll 80d6+10d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 80d6+10d6 --> [ 80d6=309 10d6=31 ]{340}
Not a sound. Cresiel refuses to scream as hunks of him are gone, more of his blood spilling - but you're safe for the moment, the Eye of Shar unable to get to you to finish you.
You're up, Xandra held to make sure she didn't need to grab you if Cresiel couldn't do it and get you up.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 167/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx3 26/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 3 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
"I owe you one." Moore mumbles quietly. He won't die here, nor will he let anyone else -- he calls out to Erathaol for aid as healing magic flies out of his hands. He also takes a breath as he touches his belt once and vigor surges through Cresiel! He then moves to try and be a closer target than Cresiel -- that was a fluke, it won't happen again...!
Mass Heal, everyone is healed for 190. He'd hope it'd damage the ball of awful fuckoffshit but I think it counts as a construct anyway so there you go.
He's also going to use his Belt's 2/day function that I've literally never had to use before now. Go me. Anyway, it's a swift action to give the target of Inspire Greatness 100 temporary HP, so Cresiel gets that on top of his healing.
Shar tends to be an overpowered bitch and it reflects in her creations.
Healing passes through all of you, mending your wounds even more. Pain vanishes save for Cresiel, who is still only half a solar, hanging on despite his injuries.
Xandra merely glowers at the thing, slashing with her hand one more time as...
> roll 1d20 will do math if needed
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 17 > [d20=17]
> roll 28d8
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 109 > [d8=2,7,3,7,7,7,6,7,3,5,2,4,1,2,1,4,6,7,1,1,1,8,4,5,2,2,2,2]]
The slash cuts deep into the Eye of Shar, lacerating within it. For a moment it is still, before suddenly gale winds howl around, you everything being pulled in towards the Eye. Yet the winds are oddly silent, not a speck of noise as...
Reflex saves, all.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 357+100/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx3 26/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 4 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
[/quote]
[21:25] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+44 evasion
[21:25] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 55 > [d20=11]
I have no idea how evasion would help against this but you never know! Oh, shoot, don't forget Tyche's Touch!
That makes his roll 57, because the +3 would've been burned up on the other fort save, so this is +2.
> roll 1d20+58 Cresiel Reflex evasion
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 67 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+51 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=5]
Gale winds are whipping through now, savage and unchecked. Yet Cresiel holds his ground, providing a bulwark. Xandra juuuuust begins to be pulled away, but pivots to him and grabs onto his shield arm, while he gives Moore enough of something to lean on to resist the pull, barely.
Moore, go. Gale force winds so factor that into any action, it makes moving dicey. Don't get sucked into the Eye.
"Can I just say I really hate this thing!?" Moore says as he takes a breath. He'd love to try and replicate his earlier attack with Creation, but maybe now isn't exactly the best time to knock ones' self unconscious. He waves a hand and sends a bolt of positive energy at the Eye!
[21:34] <Nephrite> roll 1d20 touch attack
[21:34] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 5 > [d20=5]
Total is 78.
FUCK OFF AND DIE, IF CONSTRUCTS CAN DIE.
[21:36] <Nephrite> roll 15d6
[21:37] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 52 > [d6=4,1,3,2,3,2,5,1,5,5,2,6,6,3,4]
You shoot your blast into the center of the Eye, hitting it dead on. One of the cracks tears open, a great gush of winds buffeting you all back - another and another and another, the Eye breaking apart. Before your eyes it shatters, winds knocking you prone - but it lies broken now. You did it! You won!
Free act.
Moore takes in a breath from his position on the floor.
He lets it out again.
He pulls himself back to his feet. "Are you both all right?" He asks as he looks at both of them.
"I'll live," Cresiel says, shaking his head, "We still have to find Duran, can you continue?"
Xandra merely eyes Cresiel a moment, "I shall endure as well, I was not harmed. The Eye seemed disinterested in me, despite my spells dealing considerable harm."
"I won't have any lasting injuries." Moore says as he taps Cresiel once.
Another Heal for 150.
"Yes, though, give me just a moment. I don't want any of this running out at an inopportune time." Moore says as he takes a breath again and sings for a moment.
He's refreshing Inspire Courage, Greatness and Heroics. Not rolling the nonlethal damage because he's just going to cast Refreshment at the end of it. He can accomplish this in two rounds, for reference. This also means Xandra gets a fresh 8d10 temporary HP as well as Moore. Cresiel still has his 100 so he doesn't.
Healing and refreshing your music all happen without incident.
Ball is ever so momentarily in your court, since anyone who challenged the Eye before you died horribly.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 507+100/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx3 26/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 4 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
"Let's continue on." Moore says with a nod as he goes to the doors again.
There are two doors going deeper in, both of them locked and standing next to one another.
"I never did manage to master that spell that just opens locked doors." Moore says with a mutter. "Xandra, do you have anything that will get us through these quickly?"
"I do. His name is Cresiel," Xandra smiles faintly, stepping aside.
Cresiel nods and steps forward, "Which door?"
"I have a feeling they both lead to the same place. Let's say Right." Moore says.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Massive impacts rock the door as Cresiel slams it again and again, until it collapses off the hinges in a broken heap. Ahead is a narrow hallway going down, down and deeper down yet. Only a few sputtering torches light the way.
Moore takes a breath as he steels himself for whatever's next. He heads into the passageway, keeping an eye out for anymore ridiculous tricks.
They really better not have another one of those dumb floating planar breach orbs.
Down you go. Down and down and down into the dark, into the cold and into the empty earth. Down you go to a place where warmth seems alien, deeper yet as...
Perception.
Take 10 for 71
Xandra and Cresiel will take 10 here.
You can hear it - faint. Wails, cries of pain, panting. Horrid sounds, the stuff of nightmarish fever visions, the children of the battlefields of war.
"Steel yourselves," Xandra says, "I fear we come into the Sharran's dungeon. I have heard of the nightmares Sharrans inflict on those they capture. You saw a glimpse of it at with that hostage, and I dread what we will see, and pray that we can bring them to a place of healing and mercy."
"Once we deal with Duran, they'll all be free, in one form or another." Moore says as he continues along.
Thus you go down. It is a long hall, doors on either side, only tiny slits through them to see within. Here lie a good dozen humanoids of various stripes, all slain by obvious blunt trauma. Smashed heads, broken bodies. They are stripped down, nothing left on them. Nothing is in the hall, either, save for the bodies.
From the rooms you hear those cries, those terrible, terrible cries.
"What...?" Cresiel breathes, "Why are...?"
"Is Rumbling Slide raiding the Sharrans for treasure?" Xandra murmurs aloud. "So greedy as to taken the bloodied robes from them?"
"...I'll find out." Moore says. "...Erathaol, give me the strength."
He takes in a breath as his eyes glaze over for a moment as he communes with the the history of the past.
He's casting Hindsight here on the days version: "You sense the events of the past, stretching back one day per caster level. You gain detailed knowledge of the people, conversations, and events that transpired." This goes back 31 days, if it matters.
You see it happen in the immediate past. Sharrans preparing here, mustering for the defense...and the elementals rise up. A bloody, vicious battle which the Sharrans receive no reinforcements, ultimately being smashed by elementals and xorns. When ti is over everything on the cultists is taken and then the elementals retreat - and even take a wooden table and chairs near the stairs, along with the battered iron mugs also there.
Moore comes back out of his trance with a nod.
"I have no idea why, but yes, the elementals came in here and... took everything." He shakes his head. "It wasn't Crystalle's elementals, they have no interest in things like that. Either way, they saved us the effort of destroying them. Let's move on." He says.
The passage continues to a dead end. There's cells to open and little else here.
You can continue to hear the groans, the wordless pleas, the unsilent suffering of those within.
"A corundum," Xandra murmurs, "I recall wood is valuable to some on Earth, since there are no trees there, but still...clothing? Weapons? What avarice, or is there a deeper meaning?"
"There may be. It's something we can investigate once we've dealt with the threat here." He says, as he lingers by the cages. "For right now... we need to find Duran. We will return and help everyone here." He says -- a promise, not anything else.
On the way back, he's going to cast Fortunate Fate on the three of them, CL 19.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=19 ]{19}
As you flutter back up the stairs, the ground begins to shake violently. Sharply so, rattling and rocking everything around. Cresiel merely stands there, pausing and impassive, while Xandra floats a few inches off the ground.
"The battle continues," Cresiel takes to the air, floating as little as he is able, "Let's hurry."
Moore nods.
I suppose they'll try the other door now, provided nothing impedes them from doing so.
There are several warhammer blows that crush it down, and ahead is a stairway going to the west and downward, deeper into the earth.
Onward and up(down)ward.
Down. Down and down and down and down. About 40 steps down is a broken body of another Sharran, as well as the ruins of what was perhaps once an elemental, spread about the stairs below like rocks chucked on down.
'Moore. I am Onyx,' A masculine voice sounds in your mind. 'We are fighting against forces from Earth that are staging a retreat action. Can you secure the interior of the temple?'
'Yes, we can handle things in here, Onyx.' Moore responds. 'We will inform you when the leader is dead.'
"Our allies are fighting the forces from Earth outside." Moore relays to the others. Let us press on."
Another ground quake as you press deeper in. Down and down you go, deeper in indeed.
Quick Perception.
Take 10 for 71
You can faintly hear the sounds of breathing below. Ahead is the end of the stair way, opening up into a dark space that you can't see from here.
"Something is here." Moore says quietly as he continues forward.
Let's see what my ~special eyes~ (true seeing) can see. Does Foresight tell me anything other than 'boy you're in a really dangerous place in general'?
Down you go. Ahead you see them - a squad of perhaps 15 Sharrans, weapons at the ready. Robed one and all, giving you deadly gazes. There's a door ahead here, a door on the left side and two on the right side. The walls are purple and black, making it appear even darker, bleaker.
"Surrender or face damnation," Cresiel says, marching forward. "The choice is yours and yours alone."
"In case you didn't notice, we already destroyed the Eye of Shar upstairs." Moore says, leaving it entirely at that for them to figure out what that means for the rest of them.
"Exactly," Xandra murmurs, advancing as well. "Surrender or die."
Intimidate check, those two will aid you for +4.
Take 10 for 80 with the aiding.
> roll 1d20+37
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{43}
The cultists stare at you, in fear and apprehension. One gestures and they all step aside, "Duran's that way," He points to the door on the left side, hand shaking.
"You should all give up your pursuits of whatever Shar promised you." Moore says as he goes towards the left door. "I'll be happy to help you atone once Duran's dealt with -- and I don't mean by killing you."
No response as you open the door. It is carpet covered, lamps shedding light on the walls. A short hallway leading to another door past this.
If there was a trap or something, he images the terrified cultists would've said something.
Regardless, it doesn't hurt to check.
Take 10 on Spellcraft for 73 for ~magic~
All there is is some basic magic to keep it clean and prevent casual wear and tear.
Time to open the door! Failing that, knock it down!
The door opens. It's a nice working office - carpeted, a desk, shelves, books, that sort of thing. Nice.
Well, except for the tapestry dominated by the Eye of Shar, of course.
Sitting atop the desk and waiting is a man, strong and stout. He has one eye that is gone, empty, lined with purple. He has no weapon and wears loose clothes. He's alone.
"Well damn," he says quickly, hopping to his feet. "I'd normally be at the front line, but busy, busy, busy."
"It must be nice to fool yourself into thinking this sort of decoration covers the abominations you unleash onto innocent people." Moore says, thinly hiding his disgust.
"I'm sure you've realized you're not going to be able to teleport yourself out of here." Moore says. "In addition, I'm sure you've realized we already shattered the Eye of Shar and are yet alive and unharmed. I'm also aware you're not going to simply hold your hands up and surrender to us." Moore adds with a sigh.
"Understand this regardless, Duran -- I, Moore, the Duke of Songs of Celestia and my comrades will put an end to your abhorrent behavior."
"Death has come for you. Repent or die," Cresiel rumbles from deep within his chest, as if the earth itself was shifting in fury.
Xandra draws her blade in one smooth motion, "There is no place for you in the song, not as you are now."
Duran slowly stretches, arms above his head. "Aaaaah. Just what I needed to cap off this day - self righteous bullshit. C'mon," he gestures, beckoning you closer. "Here I am."
Init.
[21:30] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+38
[21:30] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 50 > [d20=12]
Xandra and Cresiel get +14 to their init roll.
> roll 1d20+29 Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 39 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+20 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 40 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+11 Duran Emptyeye
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=14]
Init is Moore (50) > Xandra (40) > Cresiel (39) > Duran Emptyeye (25)
Open dread Moore.
Moore just shakes his head and gestures at Duran.
Reaving Dispel on him. Moore's no dummy!
13 dispel checks.
[21:38] <Nephrite> roll 13#1d20+20
[21:38] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 22, 21, 22, 37, 35, 32, 23, 22, 37, 35, 26, 23, 37 >
Well that's certainly a set of rolls.
You get six spells, any of which you can reave. They are...
Greater Heroism, See Invisibility, Superior Mage Armor (+10 to AC, custom improvement of greater mage armor), Blindsight, Nondetection and Fortunate Fate.
Hey, guess what? I'll take all of those! Or do I have to pick one? If I have to pick one I'll take Superior Mage Armor.
You can take all of them if you so choose.
They are all mine, mine! Even if See Invisibility and Blindsight don't really do anything to help me!
Xandra glows brighter as she intones, "Let your loss be holy, rather than profane." Cold, glowing rain falls, bolstered with power.
Glorious Spellcasting with a smite used on Rain of Desolation.
> roll 7#1d20+28
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31, 39, 38, 34, 32, 40, 43 >
Screams. Duran Emptyeye screams as he claws at his face, the rain melting and freezing his flesh at once. The light is seemingly overwhelming to him, radiance erupting from both surviving and empty eye. As he screams, the rain passing? Cresiel advances inexorably, the Sharran's magic shattering and stolen.
> roll 1d20+47 (+2 charge, +18 Moore, +14 furious strike, -30 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 64 > [d20=17]
> roll 2d6+44+2d6+7d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 85 > [d6=4,1,4,4,5,2,3,6,6,4,2]
The solar advances on Duran, bringing his hammer down in a single, near overwhelming blow. Duran takes it right on the chest, a sickly crunch of bone as he's flung back, falling back over his desk. Cresiel advacnes to smash him down again, but Duran leaps up, flinging a black vial that bursts apart in midair, a momentary flash of black where all the world is emptiness, save for the looming, purple rimmed Eye of Shar.
Fortitude saves, you three. Immunity to blindness negates.
[spoiler]
Cresiel
HP: 507+100/680
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: Mass Death Ward, Burst of Gloryx3, Healx3 26/30 holy fury.
Xandra
HP: 510/510
Spells Active: Tyche's Touch (CL30),
Bonuses:
Negative Conditions:
Resources Used: 4 11th level charge, 1 12th level charge.
Mass Conviction (+4 morale bonus to saving throws) (CL19) (190m)
Mass Surefooted Stride (can move through difficult terrain with no penalty. What??? they might run into it) (CL30, 30m)
Surge of Hope (CL30) (30m) (+4 morale bonus on attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls) (it does saving throws too but that's really pointless with conviction)
Life's Grace (CL19)x2 (Cresiel, Xandra) (19m) (protects against ability drain and all that jazz, armor is treated as ghost touch)
[23:32] <Nephrite> roll 18d4 nonlethal
[23:32] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 44 > [d4=2,4,2,2,2,4,1,4,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,4,2,1]
He'll bolster the three of them with Inspire Heroics for +12 morale bonus to save (doesn't stack with conviction but it's only temporary) and a +12 dodge bonus to AC. This lasts a total of 60 rounds, i.e. 10 minutes.
Right before they leave he'll also cast Haste.
Cresiel will drop Mass Death Ward, CL 27th. He'll drop Shield of Warding on himself for +5 sacred Reflex and AC.
Moore will also toss in a Superior Resistance to both Xandra and Cresiel. (+6 resist bonus to saves) (CL30)
+16 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +16 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls
Recitation, (+2 luck bonus to AC, attack rolls and saves.)
So, here's a technicality question, does true seeing prevent blindness?
Here's a roll just in case it doesn't.
[22:08] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+52 mettle (+1 tyche's touch, +3 Inspire Greatness, +4 Surge of Hope)
[22:08] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=2]
It does not.
> roll 1d20+40 Cresiel
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 42 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+48 Xandra
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 51 > [d20=3]
The flash of darkness passes, vision returning as all of you shake it off. Just an unpleasant moment, resisting something that instinctively makes you want to shiver.
Go.
"Are you scared, Duran?" Moore asks him, his expression neutral -- neither a smile nor a frown. "I'm not going to put you through the same torture you've inflicted on others."
At his words, a gentle snow begins to fall in the area.
Snowsong -- Duran can hit the Will DC unless he rolls a 1 pretty much.
Allies under the effect of the snow gain a +4 morale bonus to Charisma and attack rolls, and a +4 insight bonus to Armor Class. In addition, the snow imparts fast healing 1 and resistance to cold 15 to all affected allies. All melee attacks made by allies in the snowsong deal an additional 1d6 points of cold damage.
"You have a greater power that's going to make you come to term with your crimes." Moore adds, as words of power flow.
Destined Strike, +4 to attack and damage rolls, Improved Critical Feat, +15 to threat confirmation. Oh, and I forgot, both Latha and Cresiel get +2 CL because they can hear Moore singing.
> roll 1d20+20
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=5]
DC?
...oh, wow, uh, he actually failed. I was not expecting that.
uh.
ok.
As long as they remain in the area, they suffer a 20% chance of spell failure (for both divine and arcane spells) when casting any spells with a verbal component.
I thought it did damage or something but I guess not!
The DC was 30, by the way.
He's missing his spells.
Reeling, Duran screams as he tries to pull it together. There's no reply, no chance for it. Xandra merely stands aside as Cresiel brings his hammer down, again again and again.
> roll 1d20+51 (+2 charge, +22 Moore, +14 furious strike, -30 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 53 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+46 (+2 charge, +22 Moore, +14 furious strike, -30 PA)
> roll 1d20+41 (+2 charge, +22 Moore, +14 furious strike, -30 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 56 > [d20=10]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 44 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+36 (+2 charge, +22 Moore, +14 furious strike, -30 PA)
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 52 > [d20=16]
> roll 2d6+64+2d6+7d6
> roll 2d6+64+2d6+7d6
> roll 2d6+64+2d6+7d6
> roll 2d6+64+2d6+7d6
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 92 > [d6=2,2,2,1,2,4,4,1,6,3,1]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 106 > [d6=5,4,3,3,3,4,6,1,6,3,4]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 101 > [d6=3,1,5,2,4,5,5,1,3,5,3]
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 104 > [d6=6,1,4,1,2,3,4,6,2,6,5]
> OOC: Strike the 7d6 from all but the first and the +14 from all but the first, but that isn't changing much here since he's blind.
What happens next is bloody, brutal. Duran is simply crushed beneath Cresiel's hammer, nothing but a broken ruin left of him. The solar looms over him and simply shakes his head, "A waste of a life and a soul."
You won!
Free act.
Yes, the Eye was stronger than Duran, let alone how this fight and entire scenario unfolded.
Oh no! They're not supposed to kill him! Or, rather, they were given the missive to bring him back to Celestia alive, anyway...
Is there any quick thing Moore could do so he uh, is less dead?
It's ok if not.
That's an honest DM mistake on my part, so he'll take the -4 and go nonlethal. I'm not going to penalize you over me simply forgetting in the heat oft he moment.
Duran is a bloody mess - but alive, if out cold.
whew!!!
"...It's what you get for following Shar." Moore almost spits the words. He takes a moment to look through the desk and take whatever is there -- he can read it and figure out any meaning later.
He's going to give the desk a quick onceover for anything since he's pretty sure this place is about to topple. Take 10 for 70 on Perception and all that.
"Let's return and see what we can do to ease the suffering of the captives... or help them move on, if we need to." Moore says.
We'll handle that and looting shortly.
As you check the desk, a mineral elemental rises up from the ground. Human sized, "Moore," he says slowly. "Sharrans dead?"
"Dead or captured," Cresiel says, shaking his head. Picking up Duran, "I'll handle this one. I intend to get him to Celestia soonest. Has the other resistance been crushed?"
"Yes. Bad Earth ran. Sharrans dead." The elemental replies, peering closely at Cresiel.
Moore nods to Cresiel and speaks to the mineral elemental in Terran. "Yes, Sharrans dead. Going to rescue captives."
"If you can, pass up your chain of command to undo the sealing around this area," Cresiel continues. "Additionally, have an elemental bring the hostage I left just inside the front gate to me. I intend to directly transport the captives here to Mertion."
The elemental nods to all of you at that.
Chance to add anything here.
"Please convey my thanks to Lord Crystalle for his aid." Moore adds in Terran.
Okay, at this point there's several things you could do.
1. Looting.
2. Going with Cresiel to see the hostages and prisoners, and transport them to Mertion. Also drop off Duran while there.
3. Meet with Crystalle's forces.
4. Something else of your choosing.
What will you do? Cresiel's booked unless you want to directly counter mand him, but Xandra's free.
Moore trusts Cresiel to take care of the hostages and get them safely to where they need to be. He'll handle the looting aspect of things first and then meet with Crystalle's forces. Oh, and of course if all the surrendered cultists are somewhere he'll deal with them.
Okay. I'll do a loot post in the morning - it's just a bit late for that for me - so we'll pick up then. Congratulations. Additionally...
As Cresiel heads off, he pauses. "We have stood against Shar and it was good, but it is only the beginning. Vendettas with Shar rarely end. Still..."
You feel a momentary connection with Cresiel, a sensation of strengthening, of will unbreakable.
Congratulations, you fulfilled Cresiel's node goal. Go check out his new one and post once you have.
"Don't worry, I'm not the type to rest on my laurels." Moore says with a grin.
So read and so understood.
Your loot is up, go reply to that and we'll hash it out over there.
In the end, you only find a few survivors. Crystalle sits on a throne of crystal before the temple, the looming, disintegration firing Eye of Shar crushed into rubble. Of the ones who let you pass, you only see three still alive, all of them wounded. Mineral elementals are beginning to undo the building, removing it stone by stone, magic flaring away and fizzling at their touch.
Go ahead.
"Lord Crystalle." Moore greets him with a bow. "Thank you again for the aid you provided to us. I am curious about something, do you have any insight into what Rumbling Slide and his cohorts were attempting here? Does Ogremoch see value in what was taken in a way that differs from my understanding of you and yours?"
"Ogremoch can be greedy," Crystalle replies once the pleasantries are done, "He takes what he gained here to his caves, to be his treasure and his treasure alone. This would not be the first time he has raided Mineral, and he has the power and skill to sometimes get away with it, much as it pains me to say."
"Do you think they -- Ogremoch and Rumbling Slide, were in league with the Sharrans until we made an opportunity for them?" Moore asks.
"It is impossible to say, but I find it unlikely. Unless evidence is found..." Crystalle trails off, considering. A chime of crystals, a ring of magic around him. "No. There is no connection, only coincidence."
Moore nods.
"Very well. I do not consider my debt to you repaid with this, for whatever that means to you." Moore says, offering another bow. "Is there anything you'd have of me before we return to Celestia?"
"You have served Mineral well," Crystalle says, "Take a sign of my gratitude." From the ground rises a mineral elemental, carrying a pillow in both hands. Atop it rests a dagger made of red crystal, jagged and imperfect. "It was a weapon of a paladin who died long ago on Mineral."
"I hope they were doing good work here." Moore says as he takes the dagger (the pillow is probably filled with rocks anyway, he's sure) and bows again.
"You honor me with such a gift. Know that I am always a stalwart ally of Mineral, though probably not as hardy as most who live here." Moore says with a grin.
From there...
Going home now? Also loot post.
Yes, I'll go back and we'll see where we get led. I'm going to guess all the way back up but we shall see.
Sorry for the delay, stomach and I just had a fight. Pepto Bismol wins again.
Elaborate by what you mean there? Back to Lunia? Back to somewhere else?
Back to Celestia and we'll see where the mountain decides to take me, if anywhere. If it drops me off at Lunia then he'll see if he gets any missives to visit the top again to report in or not.
If he doesn't get anything telling him to go anywhere he'll just head back to Home Base and take a breather until the next day.
Okay, I think this topic is done. Next topic incoming.