You barely have a chance to rest a few moments - barely a bite of your favorite meal is had. That's when Xera comes in, "Mom," she smiles warmly to you, "Are you busy? There's so much going on."
"Let's talk over lunch?" Seira offers, prepared to ask Vayley for another serving of stuffed peppers. "I always have time for you and Emily, you know that."
Xera sits with a warm smile, "How is - no, Emily can wait, there really is a lot going on." she says, "I got asked by Mom to help." That smile slips a little bit, "Last I saw, Mom was seeing to that dragon and old man, and Aunt Elle is still with those refugees."
Seira makes a request of Vayley to arrange lunch for Xera before she nods her agreement.
"I'm trying to break the efreet nation's spirit. We all know that only the Sultan himself or Eblis will cause me to retreat from a battlefield, and even if the clash was forced to its conclusion, it's not certain that they will triumph. That is the understanding I wish to cultivate amidst the efreet, for the rest of them, powerful though they may be, I will break should they cross my path. We'll free their millions of slaves, even if I'm forced to appear on every battlefield that Donald and Valar judge to be beyond the capability of our forces."
That gets Xera to start to say something, but Vayley's quicker. A plate of stuffed peppers is produced and put out, the slaad bowing before vanishing.
After a beat and a few bites of her own lunch, "Then I can't wait to hear about more successes there."
"Valar's had a good first strike, and I took down a wannabe that tried to attack the Cauldron. In the process, however, we tested our battle readiness and our alliances, and made improvements to our defensive deployments, so despite the personal hassle I consider that a success. Our friends in Celestia had to deal with an invasion of Lunia, but they were pushed back. Oh! And Amaryl and I managed to rescue the Grand Xorn and even retrieve his gear. I expect things on Earth to grow exciting pretty soon."
Seira spears a pepper with a fork and cuts it down to more manageable size, before partaking. "What of your efforts?" she inquires. "I have a bigger revenue stream right now, in case it would help."
"It's mostly chasing down leads and establishment work," Xera admits, "There's much to do for all of us." Having some more peppers before hmming, "Zariel's driven. She's not the kind to rest - I had to remind her to once she got going. It reminds me a little bit of you or Antenora when either of you get passionate about something."
Amaryl does get Seira to stop and smell the roses when it happens....
"Guilty as charged," she says with a wry smile. "Can I actually help? Directly, through my contacts or by funneling some of the resources of the Cauldron towards this cause?"
Flicking at a pepper with her fork, a pause, "Maybe," she says, looking down. "We don't lack for money for what we need and we're sufficient in manpower for now. What we truly need is more lore, more knowledge, more clues, as well as a way to discern what's true or not about the Iron Tower."
"I'm working on it, but the Mercane are being shady after their coup and have been dragging their feet on any information, Celestia has nothing new, while Oghma is bound by an agreement with Dis and cannot divulge anything." Seira gives her daughter a sly grin. "Not directly, anyway. Donald and Kascha are on the case."
"We've found much the same. Dispater's taken pains to neutralize anyone who may have any information," Xera admits, "Fighting a paranoiac with these resources feels remarkably futile." A pause to finally eat some more, "Something Dispater no doubt approves of."
Seira declines to say anything else on the matter. Some things Xera doesn't need to know, as they would only distract her. Instead, she asks, leaning forward on the table as she discards her fork and knife momentarily, "Are you kept safe? Have there been any attacks on you, scrying attempts or anything of the sort?"
"Nothing yet - which means they're letting us work for now or good enough that we can't detect them," Xera says openly, "Worry not, we're safe and staying to protected places for now. We know well how keen devils are to send out the knives of assassins."
"Call on me or Amaryl even if it's an overreaction," Seira bids her. "There is no such thing as overkill."
Resuming her lunch as she picks up her utensils, she muses, "I've got a few more irons in the fire, but they're not really at the stage where I'm comfortable sharing them so let's come back to Emily. When was the last time you two talked?"
"Briefly when she was last here," Xera remarks, "We've both been busy." Going back to her own meal and quickly finishing it off before wiping her mouth clean, "How is she?"
Seira briefly looks in on Emily to check, even as she answers, "Not putting her training to use, though that is as much her choice as bullying the locals while she lives on a Prime. What worries me is that she's straying from her path. On two occasions, she ignored individuals cursed by fiends to pursue far more mundane and trivial matters. On another, she abandoned her duty of putting an end to demon-worshipping sahuagin and their ritual to their blasphemous prince. And that after I chided her over not acting to root out an active Sharran assassin living in stealth under the same roof as she."
Seira sighs. "I think this Alyssa she's so taken with is leading her astray, while realizing that appeals to Miss Songsteel would go unheard and that she holds sufficient divine clout to coast her way to a comfortable living regardless of her actions. Sadly, it enables and reinforces Emily's innate passiveness. Anything I do at this point will only drive her away." She pushes the rest of her food away, pursing her lips. "Normally, I wouldn't put you in this situation, but I'm already at a point where I am considering official sanctions. This breach of her privacy may hurt Emily, but not as much as losing her holy powers pending a formal Atonement."
Right now you can sense Emily is in a divine realm, one that is blocking your vision. Shaundakul's will, in part of his section of the Gates of the Moon. You could press against it and try and overcome it if you wished.
Xera closes her eyes and is silent for several moments. "I understand. Could you tell me more of each situation?"
Is my daughter in good health? Seira inquires with Shandakul politely, rather than force a pointless confrontation.
At Xera's question, she wavers briefly but then decides to speak of the events in question. First, the circumstances behind her arrival at Alyssa's doorstep, followed into the drawn-out situation with the Sharran assassin that claimed several lives and Seira had to prod rather hardly to get them to resolve, at the cost of damaging their relations due to exceeding if necessary bluntness. Moore's curse, no doubt severe given his standing in Celestia, and how little attention or interest it received. A similar situation on the outskirts of Morwel's court. Both of them exacerbated by how carefree Emily otherwise had been with Miracle, which Seira certainly approves of unlike many other deities, yet even she firmly believes that its most natural and intended purpose is for such moments of great need and ability to help their fellows.
The whole situation with the demon-worshiping cult deserves more detail, and she recreates it for Xera with her powers. Unlike Emily's passive moments, here she showed a clear understanding of what is needed and initiative to act, only to ignore it altogether at a chiding from Alyssa. "I honestly cannot reconcile a desire to avoid retaliation with looting the sahuagin home and taking out the skeleton crew guarding it." She frowns, adding, "Not literally skeletons, in this case. And truly, how willfully blind must you be to ignore the terrible effects on that Prime from such a ritual? I am about to act on the information myself, after giving her a chance to realize her mistake."
Emily is in hale health. Do you wish to see her?
Xera's expression is thoughtful throughout. When you're at last done, "Please wait until I've talked to her, Mom? I want to hear her side - too often are the steps of a mistake gilded in the heart's own gold. Too often can cool logic divert the needs of justice with the concerns of the pragmatic. Too often can one's perspective lose sight of other perspectives. I would like to know which accounts for Emily here in her own mind."
Yes, please. Thank you, Rider of the Winds.
"We are not at the point of censure quite yet," Seira clarifies. "Yet I can read the future, and Emily's behavior is changing for the worse. I have already given her a warning. I have already sent Agathaiel to provide both guidance and support. I tried positive reinforcement. I tried giving Amaryl a chance with her."
She closes her eyes, continuing in a defeated tone of voice. "Emily continues to ignore the hubris of the actions that put her in Alyssa's orbit. Even when I personally sought out Gond and asked for his help, Emily has thus far ignored my message that Gond is waiting for her in order to help her reimburse Waukeen. Meanwhile, I hear whispers from Brightwater that someone impersonates Miss Songsteel to commit a crime, by appearances, and Emily ignores the entire situation except to trade on my reputation to get them preferred treatment. After I told her of the importance of my reputation, and how wrong she was to use it to put it as collateral for the artifact she borrowed from Waukeen. Does she understand, that as the consequences of her actions I must take time from the war effort and my important projects to clean up her messes, time and again?"
You can see Emily is helping out by carrying a barrel of supplies into what looks to be a storage room. She puts it down and exhales, wiping her brow clear. 'Mom, we're going to build something special here, something you're proud of me for. I promise.' she prays a moment. 'Just watch.'
With her meal done, Xera sips water as you speak. When you're done, "Going out on your own changes you. When I walked Solania I grew much and gained great insights, Mom. I think she's stumbling on that - and if that's all it is, I can nudge her back onto her path."
Full disclosure: This was originally going to be an interrupt early on in this thread, but you went and focused on Emily first, so you get it like this. See also her current node goal.
My other daughter is interested in visiting Emily with her companion, Zariel. Would they be welcome? Seira inquires with Shaundakul.
"So it does," Seira agrees, walking around the table to sit next to Xera. "And it's a difficult situation. I love you both, and I'm proud of you as a parent," she says as she puts her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "But as I told Emily, in a deity's relationship with her followers I cannot play favorites. If Emily ignores a person in need or a fiendish plot and focuses on studying or other things, all important and needed, yet not quite to the same degree... do you see what it will do to my faith, were I to excuse my own daughter from following my dogma?"
She decides to disclose a bit more as she adds, "It matters to Emily as well. She has a romanticized image of adventuring, yet I have told her that present events are making the planes a very dangerous place for her. She had a chance, I told her, of keeping her head down on that Prime or stepping out into the planes. At the time, I believed she had understood me, yet I began wondering when I saw her on a carefree shopping trip to Brightwater. Now, however, she is at the Gates of the Moon, in Shaundakul's realm. If she had decided to pick up the figurative glove and get involved in things, she needs to do it properly or my censure might be the worst of her worries."
I have heard of it on my wanderings. Is Zariel reliable to come in peace and maintain that peace?
"I'll talk to her," Xera promises, smiling up at her. "I'll put her on the path she needs to walk - and how we'll endure if her path isn't the path we walk." Quieter, "Mom, what do we do if....that's true and she wants to walk a different path than us?"
I risked myself to bring her back, and entrusted Xera's safety to her. Please give Zariel a chance.
"If what's true?" Seira asks. "I don't actually think Emily is selfish or worse, you know. I can feel your emotions when you pray to me, and I know she doesn't intend these things in a petty or evil way. That's the problem, if anything! Were she truly misguided, I could set her straight. Yet she passively avoids choices, or folds whenever Alyssa says anything without trying to explain the importance-- it's about values, and getting the importance of them across. And in the worst case, she can always trade on her contacts to get things done by others if she wishes to avoid a confrontation with the group she fell in with. But she doesn't."
To try and answer Xera, she says, "I'm asking you to stage an intervention, because you love her just as much, and because it preserves the official fiction that I'm not taking action myself. Yet if you fail, this will inevitably become public. Perhaps Mystra's wisdom and Waukeen's cunning will show me a path to fix things. Perhaps not. The important thing is that Emily will always be welcome home, and that we maintain our personal lives separate from our duties. What do we do? Keep trying, and be her family no matter what."
"I understand." Xera says, "Don't worry about it anymore, Mom. I'll get it straightened out."
Then they may come.
"I'm counting on you. Ah, and Shaundakul gave permission to you and Zariel to visit!"
"We'll take care of this," Xera says, rising at that. "Unless there's something else?"
"Nothing more important than family," Seira tells her with a smile. "Stop by afterwards, and if you need to take Emily to a Prime ask Amaryl or I for help. I'm afraid it'd be beyond my power to do it for Zariel, but she is always welcome to visit with us if you do that."
Thus Xera leaves and moments later...
'Seira,' Amaryl sends. 'Could you come here?'
Xera, surely!
I'm there, Seira responds, and then she is at Amaryl's side.
Amaryl is watching atop the Cauldron as Bredanalundalum flies, laughing as he takes in all he surveys. She has a smile on her face, Madigar sitting next to her, watching it all and munching on what looks to be elf bread.
"Well, I'm certainly considering changes to the realm," Seira muses as she joins them. The trunk of a massive tree serving as a nice, leafy stairway winding down from the very top to begin with, its many branches creating a veritable maze for fliers to the enjoyment of those who seek a challenge....
And as she does so, Seira takes a peek at Burnar's quest to eradicate the Sharran infestation he is pursuing.
It seems to be going well enough - he's investigating and gathering information quietly, nothing of which is going awry from his point of view.
Madigar turns, "Seira," he calls, "That's your name, isn't it? I didn't forget it."
"Seira Aryn," she affirms. "Welcome to our home. How do you like it?"
"The bread is great," Madigar holds it up and then has another bite, as Amaryl lets out a small sigh. "I hear it's popular in that city you came from, so I requested to try it."
After a beat, "Everything's great. I just really like the bread," he admits, going back to it.
Yes, it's not really elf bread, but names don't have to be accurate! Amaryl will get it one day.
"It goes pretty well with a stew, too," Seira notes. "I could have our head maid whip some up if you'd like?"
At this Madigar looks up, "Why do you have a slaad as a maid?"
"They make the best maids when their inclination runs that way," Seira asserts. "It's somewhat a hobby of mine."
"I never knew that," Madigar says, "Truly?"
Amaryl avoids the entire discussion perhaps, and instead looks up to the wyrm flying above. In moments he begins to descend in great, lazy loops above the three of you.
"Oh yes!" Seira tells him animatedly. "Why, I've once come across a perfect slaad maid who was loyal, competent, presentable and everything a maid should be, including predicting her employer's wishes! It has taken me decades to find a suitable candidate, and once she came around, I instantly knew she had to be the head maid! The secret, my friend, is that they do not understand the limits of what is possible, and in ignoring them surpass all competition, burdened as it is with common sense."
Bredanalundalum descends as Madigar listens. He loops overhead by about 30ft, the Silver Sea seen in the distance above. "Seira," he calls, "It's great to see you here."
"Bredanalundalum! Welcome!" Seira greets him. "My apologies, I was delayed by efreet slavers."
"It's good to be free," The wyrm declares, "Delayed or not, it is sweet."
"Did you get a chance to see Kascha, either of you? I bet you'd get along great!"
"Kascha?" Bredanalundalum asks, "We have not. Who is she?"
"She's a scribe that seeks out lore of every kind, although she has a really sweet spot for dragons. Really, she's like a younger sister of mine~"
"She's lovely," Amaryl adds in here, "She's done well for herself here."
"Then why not?" The wyrm agrees, a big, toothy dragon smile. "Bring her here."
Seira looks in on Kascha. Should she be presentable, a portal will open before her to lead her over!
> roll 1d100
<Penuche2> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d100=85]
She is, just finishing up her lunch. She comes through, "Oh! Hello there," she smiles, "I'm Kascha."
"Bredanalundalum," The wyrm says, "What a lovely young eladrin you are."
This gets Kascha to blush and smile, "Thanks."
Clearing her throat, Amaryl adds, "Why don't you two go talk about dragon lore?"
"It could be the three of you, if you'd like," Seira offers to Madigar.
Bredanalundalum clears his throat, a rumbling sound. "That won't be needed. Let Madigar enjoy his bread." Landing nearby and offering a wing down like a ramp up, "Shall we, my Lady Kascha?"
Kascha blushes even more and gets on, then the two fly off together.
Once they're gone, "A dragon with that sort of charisma, eh?" Amaryl wonders aloud. "I wonder if that's how creatures like Yoshi are born?"
Seira shrugs. "Dragons have a choice of who they want to be, same as humans or elves."
"I hope Kascha likes him...and I hope Surraruthru doesn't get jealous," she adds thoughtfully. "Were those two...?" she holds two fingers up and curls them together. "I'm sure he could take elven form."
"No, his interests don't run that way. Plus he's much too young to consider romance," Seira responds to Amaryl. "And as for Kascha, I have to admire someone who might court her after the way I introduce her."
Starting to smile a bit, "I hope so and I hope it goes well for them," she admits. "And...oh hell," Amaryl whispers, "Donald and Ranbar need your presence, Seira."
"Please enjoy your bread," Seira tells Madigar pleasantly, before leaving him once more to Amaryl's hospitality and transporting herself.
Ranbar is stumbling about, a delirious smile on her face. Donald's grinning and slapping her back, "You'll get used to it, don't worry," he promises.
"What did you do? Don't make me look."
"I felt a connection to Donald, to you," Ranbar says, "And suddenly my magic is even more now. New entire lessons are clear to me."
"Oh, nice! What do you think of my set of spells?"
"They're amazing," Ranbar says, voice slow, awed. "So much is known to me now, magic I never imagined before."
"You know, how would you like to put that knowledge to the test?" Seira muses out loud. "I need to clean up someone's mess on a Prime. A demon prince-worshipping sahuagin cult. Since Donald is bored, perhaps he could show you how these things go?"
"Yes, Lady Seira," Ranbar says, "I'd be honored."
Donald gets up, "That's the spirit," he says, giving you a look. "Go on, I'll meet you outside."
"We'll talk more later," Seira promises. "There is a lot to discuss."
In Donald's mind, she says, No heroics, call on me if there is real danger.
Donald nods slightly. 'You know what this means, don't you?'
Seira gives him a nod, but rather than respond she sends him the same information she had shown Xera earlier.
And as she waits for them to leave, she addresses Gond, Would it be possible to introduce a playmate to Elyssa?
Which information, just to be clear?
The sahuagin quest, what Emily has seen there, the location of the village. That should be enough for Donald and Ranbar to figure out the rest, but if they get stuck I will use bullshit divinations on their behalf.
Okay, wanted to make sure you weren't reading her into the greater Emily stuff. Got it.
"Yeah, I got it," Donald says, "Hey Seira, this means you're getting even more contagious, aren't you?"
Seira doesn't dignify that with a response, merely waiting patiently on Gond.
Well, well, Seira! I didn't expect to hear from you again so soon. Now what's that about?
Are you familiar with Sylvie's son? Oghma's follower, bearer of 21, erstwhile of Aurora? She empowered her son before she hid herself away upon Lifasa's liberation, and it occurs to me that both he and and Elyssa might enjoy meeting others like them. Childlike and wise beyond their years, driven towards greatness.
Well, that depends. Is he any good at building things?
Calley is supernaturally good at everything. In fact, giving him some direction would do him a great deal of good, and building something enduring with his hands and mind may be just the thing!
Let me look at him and decide. It sounds like a good idea - and that's exactly why I'm going to observe him first. Measure twice, cut once.
Keep an eye on my avatar, then, Seira invites him, before collecting Oraga with her other self and sending the two of them into Balmuria. Forcing her way past the Mythal might be possible, but she merely uses the honorary Crimson Guard token she has for its operation, and directs the two of them to appear outside Calley's home.
It's not too hard. The mansion Janson bought so long ago is still in fine shape, kept well and quiet in the Western Reaches of Balmuria.
Calley's outside, sitting in the lower branches of a big oak tree. He's leaning back against the trunk and staring at the sky, expression faraway, eyes drooping downward slowly.
"Hello again," Seira greets him. "What are you looking at?"
"The sky." Calley says, "I like to daydream that if I think hard enough, the moon'll come down and fall on Shar's stupid head."
The weather is pleasant out here today, the faintest hint of a sea breeze smelled and felt.
"Selune will certainly be pleased with that," Seira says cheerfully. "I've been thinking of taking a more active role with you, which is why I'm here. Having knowledge at the tips of your fingertips and the power to use it is impressive, but experience is not something you could just be handed. So why not help you out, since you seemed so eager to act?"
"That sounds like a grown up wants you to do something," Calley responds, looking down from his perch. "What is it?"
"That sounds like a pessimist," Seira responds in turn, grinning at him. "I had a bit of spare time, and I decided to see if I couldn't give you what you wanted. It occurs to me that I can provide you with opportunities that for all your power you wouldn't gain on your own, but the choice is always yours. Do you want to have a more exciting childhood while learning from your successes and growing from your mistakes? Or would you prefer to be guarded as you are now, and to sneak out on your own to other planes whenever it hits your fancy as you have been?"
Calley looks down and after a beat, "That sounds like you want me to eat my vegetables. But...It might be what Mom wouldn't do, so I'm listening."
"I want to give you more options, Calley. You've heard the stories of Afina, haven't you? Yet while she is most famous for being the terror of devilkind, Afina also holds an impressive reputation for her creations. Had she not taken a sabbatical after freeing Lifasa, her mastery of golems would have gained as much reknown as the artifacts forged by her will and magic. Of little notice, however, is the incredible mastery of the elements that she had managed, and you might realize I'm somewhat of an expert in the field. All great deeds, all legends in their own right... and perhaps if you try a bit of each, you will find something that speaks to you in a way only practical experience can provide?"
Having elaborated on her intentions, Seira says, "This time, I asked Gond for a favor. He has a daughter who is a master craftsman. I figured you might try working together and seeing what happens. If you both like it, perhaps you could do it again. And if it doesn't work out, I'll be back in a week with another idea."
Calley's quiet before he hops up, "Alright," he says, "It sounds fun. I can make things, too."
Seira nods, since she expected as much. Anyone with that level of power experiments! She remembers that well.
And it should be enough for Gond to come to a decision, provisional though it may be, so she raises her eyes skywards and waits to hear it.
Well then!
A moment later, a swirling portal appears before Calley.
"After you," Seira tells Calley.
Calley promptly hops right into the portal.
Seira follows while asking of Oraga, Please tell Calley's family that I will be looking after him, and bring him back safely afterwards?
You appear in a forge, dark and smoky. Here a little girl wields a hammer far larger than even Syala's greathammer, bounding a massive slab of hot metal, being held above a massive flame by floating hands of semi visible force.
"Ya! Yaaa! Yaaaaaaaaa!" Each is complimented by the smack of metal, the girl wearing workman's clothes and a burnt leather smock, shaping the metal from a formless lump into the form of a shark within moments. Her hair is red and tied back tightly, her entire focus on the work in front of her.
Calley looks on, "Dolphins are better." he says.
Deftly spinning her hammer 'round in spite of its size, the child turns and says, "Uh huh," she agrees, "But sharks are better at fighting, and this golem's going to be an underwater defender for a sea elf colony. I'm going to mount magical flame generators to it along with a magical compound that keeps it burning underwater."
Coming over and eyeing it, Calley adds, "What about something inside its mouth that does the same and looks vulnerable?" he says, "Along with a magnet past that tuned so it'll get any weapons thrust in stuck inside?"
The child smiles that, "Good idea. Calley, right? I'm Elyssa."
"Seira," she introduces herself with a wave at Elyssa, before looking at the pair of children. "I'll get out of your hair, but call my name if you need anything."
And since the introductions went much smoother than Seira had expected, she sees no reason to linger and help bridge any gaps. Thus, Seira decides to join Gond and watch over them unobtrusively with him.
I'm just going to be a word away from helping in any way, and take Calley back whenever he's ready.
Gond stands nearby and yet unseen, just out of sight through divine will. He watches, arms crossed.
Doing likewise, Seira decides to see this through!
I basically want to see what happens unobtrusively. If Gond wants to bring something up, I'll respond, but otherwise I first want to see how this first meeting will go and whether there will be a second one.
It's...simple enough. They build a shark golem together, working along.
"How about eyes that slide back to launch little javelins?" Elyssa muses aloud.
"How about javelins on fire?" Calley banters back, getting a smile.
At this Gond raises his voice, "Elyssa, don't forget to include some healing capabilities."
"Sure, Daddy," Elyssa calls back brightly, "A healing orb in the center that can diffuse right through the skin."
Like this they work away, improving and adding all sorts of things to the golem to be.
"A real polymath, like Sylvie," Gond says, his voice deep and resonant right now. "Rare enough to see."
"I should've thought of this immediately, but his visit took me by surprise," Seira responds to that. "You tend to fall into the logical fallacy of having only two choices, a normal human boy's childhood or pursuing the path of a hardened adventurer. But there are plenty more out there for Calley as he is right now."
"The best you can do," Gond muses, "It concedes that his childhood is never coming back, so make a childhood instead and improve the hell out of it."
Seira nods her agreement. "Calley is the only one who can one day look back and say if he had a good childhood. So why tie ourselves in knots imagining what would've made the best one for us?"
Gond chuckles, long and low. "Mortals are so often forged by their childhood and bound to it, if they realize it or not. Make sure he says yes to that question. He'll have to come back, they work well together."
Seira gives a happy little fistpump at that.
"You know, I've been considering picking up crafting myself," she muses. "At first I thought golems, but that's not something you start right away with. Is there anything for forging public works and other large projects? I find I do my best designing for such."
Quick OOC question: Do you have ranks in any relevant skills?
Let's see. Craft/Elementals (30) +71, Craft/Metalworks (10) +51, Craft/Traps (33) +74, Knowledge/Engineering (5) +61, Profession/Researcher (33) +64. Any knowledge skill, really.
Clapping his hands together, "Of course there is. Wide scale projects are the best projects."
"Oh, really?"
I'm actually curious, since crafting feats seem to be more the sort of personal gear. But if he's just making small talk, we can move on.
It's small talk. Assuming this wraps, do you have anything else immediate?
Not immediate, but I want to talk to Elle, Sanzha or both.
Perfect, that's my next to do for you anyway.
After a chat with Gond about making public works on a grand scale, you return home. You meet with Lady Sanzha and Elle on Lady Sanzha's request and...
Go ahead with your end of it and I'll then segue into my ends of it.
"Let's take a few moments to catch up," Seira says once they've all been seated on a patio, and drinks provided via the ever-thoughtful Vayley. "I'm about to start on a fresh diplomatic offensive, and it would be nice to see what burning issues we have right now, as well as how our ventures off-plane had gone thus far. Elle, how about you tell us whether there were any issues with the rescuees beyond the two plants Amaryl informed me of?"
Lady Sanzha sips her drink long and slow, eyes closed as Elle speaks.
"One more we found - for a total of three, this one was stealthier." Elle admits, "We could have others we haven't caught. Our policy is to assume we'll catch most attempts, but also work under the assumption that we'll miss a few. Since it's possible to even fool discern lies or similar magic if you have a strong will, stealthy enough magic or tight enough composure."
"In the end, however, it may not matter much," Seira muses. "Yes, we may not be able to see past any protections against divinations without extreme measures, but since we are repatriating most of them, I don't believe much harm will come to us as a result of any subterfuge. Have any asked to stay in the Cauldron to make this an issue, Elle?"
"Not yet, but we also haven't given them much of a chance to ask. They ate and are recovering now," Elle says. She smiles faintly, "Donald has opinions about this sort of thing - he'll go on about spying and double agents, deception and turning agents. I think he's been dealing with spies too long, Seira."
"It is a hazard of the position," Lady Sanzha says quietly.
"If you find the risk unacceptable at any point, let me know then and I will take over in person," Seira tells Elle to make things clear. "Those who wish to stay at the Cauldron will need to undergo a rigorous though painless vetting process, and so long as we have their informed consent we'll figure this out. I can't see anyone with their experiences who could argue with that, given what we do and the risks to that from spies. Let's be as direct as we are kind to them and see where that leads."
She smiles herself, adding, "I sent Donald on a much more straightforward assignment, so it should clear his head anyway." Seira certainly knows the mindset needed for spying and counter-intelligence, and she'll do her best to arrange more breaks like that while finding Donald more trustworthy support. No one comes to mind immediately, however, and she asks Elle, "What of the efforts to upgrade the portal network on our old Prime? Have you made much inroads with Laurenal? I want that project over and done with, so that she could grow into her role properly using that sort of tiered infrastructure."
"We're wrapping up - it's not really that hard with our resources," Elle admits, "Plus the Crimson Guard's helping out and they're hardly feeble. If anything, they're more vigorous now that the Commander's back to his old form. In a related note, our agents there are preparing for the push on the gnome ruins - they're finally almost ready."
Seira doesn't even try to conceal her grin. "Excellent!" she cheers, toasting Oberuth, Marianne and Lyris.
"Excellent," she repeats to herself with more reserve, having downed the wine in her glass. "That's a project I am prevented by the highest authority from personally advancing but wish to see resolved more than anything. The potential for personal power pales in comparison to getting a reprieve from Shar and kicking all that extra interest off our Prime."
It might even become her Prime, in time, Seira muses, wondering how her ideal world might look.
"Elle, please tell me the minute you are done via Sending or prayer. I have another thing lined up for you, and the sooner we do it together the better."
With that, Seira turns towards Sanzha expectantly to hear her news.
Elle finishes her own wine, "I will."
Meanwhile Lady Sanzha smiles faintly, "As you can see, I have dug into arts I have deigned not to before. I wish to go further yet."
"How can I help you cross all the way over?"
A sip of wine, a faint smile. "I was accepted before, I lack the barrier that so many chafe over. I have no need to follow Antenora's path." Another sip, a moment of closed eyes, as if savoring. Then her eyes open, fixed on you. "Though that tome has been remarkably instructive nonetheless. I believe I still have the spark, the tiny essence of divinity deep within. Inactive and forgotten. It is time to water that and cause it to grow again. To do that, I must do something worthy of it, something known across the planes."
Seira nods in agreement, as many of those words are ones she'd told Sanzha before. She rather disagrees on the One approach. While it is not a strict necessity, true, there seem to be benefits to using it. Still, Sanzha is correct in that she only needs the rest of the powers that be to acknowledge her before it might be enough to put her over the top.
"Something unique to the Cauldron, to cement your place here on the planar scale," she muses out loud. "Perhaps the prismatic dragons project? Once we show results, you will achieve something no one had done since Io himself. Your fame will grow, even as the rest of the Astral Reds will formally join the Cauldron and follow me due to our agreement, so the Cauldron's prestige and outreach will grow as well. A win win situation for all, including our draconic friends who get their fondest wish fulfilled."
A considering noise, "Maybe so, but also something more..." A trail off here, before she smiles, "Hands on, as it were. Something violent - all the best stories involve it sooner or later."
"Convert all the dragons, lead them to throw down with Tiamat?"
It would be nice, Seira muses. In the interests of something more immediate, she voices, "How about taking out Akil bin Faheem? I really want to get him, you could distinguish yourself in that battle...?"
"Ah, that could do," Lady Sanzha agrees, "If we can pin him down and deal with him."
"Why don't we look into that, then?" Seira proposes. "It's the sort of confrontation that will have repercussions across more than just the Inner Planes, given his position and prominence. We'll see if we can't use our contacts on Fire for that, but if all else fails, let's launch a direct attack on his assets. If we vanish a few miles of private property, he'll have to get serious."
From Fire Seira jumps to Water as she asks, "Meanwhile, how are things going with that Salmon guy?"
"That will work, we'll need to be prepared," Lady Sanzha says, then meets Seira's eyes before she can ask about other matters. "I ask you as a friend - do you feel I'm prepared?"
"I told you that you are," Seira insists. "If I had any sort of doubt, I would've taken you to Io instead and let Kascha a bit more time to come to terms. Instead, I chose to believe in you and here we are."
"Then," Lady Sanzha smiles and you feel it. A connection to her, strong and vital, growing more yet.
Node update. In this case you have a choice to make. It's +1 Wisdom to anyone in the node but Lady Sanzha. Choose who you wish. You may choose yourself, Donald, Elle, Kascha, Amaryl or Ranbar.
Let's go with Ranbar there.
Done. Check node as normal for new goals.
"Ah," Lady Sanzha says, "We meet his approval."
Glee~
"Zaphkiel likes the idea, yes," Seira agrees. With the main thing handled, she waits for Sanzha to fill her in on the other projects she has on a small flame.
"Now then, where were we?" Lady Sanzha clears her throat.
What else do you want to cover here?
"Let's do a progress report and see where more hands on work could help," Seira tells her. "Starting with Salmon, proceeding to Io's research on One and then the prismatic dragon project with our three volunteers."
"Mostly sorted, some diplomacy got everyone to calm down," Lady Sanzha says, "The entire thing was people slaking their lust for coin however they could."
"We recovered a writ from the efreet mine that would let us draw from Damjin Creditory in Corelle," Seira muses. "Let's collect on that while we wrap up everything here. Can you take care of that, or do you need me there?"
"Let me," Sanzha decides, "Those matters require a certain touch."
The silver note materializes in Seira's palm, and she blows on it lightly to send it flying towards Sanzha.
"Please let me know when it's been handled, same with Elle's short-term task," she requests. "On to Io's research, then. While less key due to our preparations with Bin Faheem, we do need to share the tome with others. How far along in decyphering it are you?" More than anything, Seira is interested in Sanzha's progress compared to her own, given the personal experience that is One.
The note lands on Sanzha's palm, carefully folded and puta way. "We've gotten enough for now. We'll want to review it down river, but it's not immediate. You can release it."
"I'll make the arrangements. Before we tackle the dragons, are you up to date on Yandrazrt's works? He reported a breakthrough for behemoth research, though I'm unclear on just how close we are. And the same for Omni's elemental harmony research, come to think of it."
Amidst this, Seira feels a Sending from Moore. 'Hi Lady Seira, I hope you're doing well. Apologies if you're busy, feel free to reply to this any time. Whenever you finish with That Book, could you please have it delivered to Hope's Landing in Celestia? In addition, I have some notes for you on our mutual project. If you could supply the ones you've found with the book I'll send what I've found so far along with it.'
Likewise. I'll take care of that, Seira responds to Moore.
"Close," Sanzha says, "I'd estimate a few days to a few weeks. The final parts are as important as any others to get right."
"Alright. Let's cover the prismatic research, now," Seira says in clear invitation for Sanzha to elaborate on her flagship project.
"You're familiar with how Baleruk became a prismatic dragon, of course?" Lady Sanzha asks.
"Kascha filled me in. I trust we are not sacrificing other dragons but rather using the method pioneered by Afina?" Seira asks with a raised eyebrow.
"That is the idea, and seeing how viable it is," Lady Sanzha agreed mildly. "And if we'll get prismatic dragons or merely dragons with prismatic or elemental powers. Anyway, the research proceeds. Omni's providing insights and we're preparing our first trial, as well as to determine how repeatable and safe this is."
"Dragons with elemental powers that compliment each other and elemental traits which supply much-desired immunities would be an achievement in itself," Seira muses. "Keep me posted, please. Elle, have you come to a decision about attempting elemental harmony yourself?"
"Not now,"Elle finally says, "With all that's going on..." she trails off a moment, "There's new options to consider."
"Ah," Sanzha smiles lightly, "You wish to become One."
"If Antenora can do it," Elle tosses her hair back, "And if Kascha can ascend, then I should at least consider it anew."
"Fair enough," Seira agrees. "I considered harmony myself, but I'm not sure the elements will provide enough for me to bother, and I worry that covering my obvious weakness of cold will get my enemies to be creative. Besides, I want to keep a fire affinity for the time I reform Fire with Zaaman Rul."
Humming to herself, she asks Sanzha, "What do you think we should do with regards to the Mercane?"
Finishing a bit more wine off, "Nothing," Elle says, "We could make an impact but they're too insular and we have a war going on. I don't like it, but the mercane can make our lives harder in a way we can't do much about short of getting into a feud with them that serves us no purpose, or even pushes them against us. I want to make an impact on them, make an impression, but it's a bad idea when we're already at war."
Lady Sanzha merely lets Elle take the question in her place and then adds, "I do agree, for the same basic reasons. We're stretched thing on a war and meddling with the mercane is a risky proposition. I've had informal contacts with them, they're parrying and hiding in their shell, like sea turtle. And again, this could be entirely routine with a leadership change."
"The leadership change is not the issue, nor is the change in how they operate. I'm bothered by how they sought me out but didn't follow through, even as I asked Sanzha to check back with them. Dragging their feet like this is strange, especially since the logical assumption to make here is that the reason is they are working against my interests, having found what they are. And that makes me wonder why." Seira nods to herself, having vocalized the issue she has with the Mercane. "I'll ask Waukeen."
She nods to herself. "Well then. I believe we are done catching each other up? I hope to meet again in a couple of days and decide on our next move."
"I do have much to do," Lady Sanzha agrees, as...
Ready to move onto the next thing then?
Yes. I think an overview of the War is in order.
Valar is there. He comes forth and sits opposite you, "Let me begin with the general view," he says, "Then we'll get to individual forces and our own situation."
Seira nods, gesturing for him to continue.
"The war is in a distinctly defensive phase. The efreet seem at least accepting of attacks on Fire, though they are continuing fortifications and not all attacks to Fire go well," Valar begins. "After efreet efforts began it, both sides are conducting vigorous efforts to strike at the other side's resources across the planes. The efreet as of yet have not moved on Celestia, the Cauldron or any allies directly after the failed attack on Lunia. However, they are setting a high pace and tempo for resource attacks. We've taken our share of hits there; we've been moving what we can to safer planes or transferring resources and funds to safe locations such as Brightwater."
A pause for a sip of water, "Both sides are doing damage to various efforts and mitigation efforts are being employed, as well as traps and counters."
"In your opinion, does the current situation favor us?" Seira inquires.
"I think it favors none of us," Valar finally says, "All sides are bleeding, but no decisive wounds will come of this. What it will do is put any participant's goals back and further back from the loss of infrastructure, support and resources."
"In that case, compile a list of infrastructures for me to hit in person," Seira bids Valar. "I doubt Eblis or the Sultan would retaliate similarly, and they are the only ones on the enemy side who would give us actual trouble. In case the efreet send one of their nobles instead, let me know at once and I'll strike him down."
"It will be done," Valar says, "What of Imix? Do you believe he will interfere again?"
"I believe his next target will be Zaaman Rul. We'll need to do all in our power to ensure a favorable outcome at the time."
"If Zaaman Rul falls, our foothold on Fire is gone," Valar says, "An intolerable situation. I agree, the question of when and how Imix strikes is important."
"Zaaman Rul will call on me if he believes an attack is imminent, and for now I'm trying to draw fire to us, pun unintended," Seira tells Valar. "I intend to take a week on diplomatic pursuits, but if a suitable target appears let me know at once. And afterwards, I will be able to contribute in earnest."
"I will do so," Valar agrees, "Now, are you ready for specifics?"
"Go for it."
"First of all, our own forces are doing well. While we take losses and have lost some resource battles, we are holding our own. Moreover, we are not being overwhelmed yet. As of now, the efreet are responding with proportional force rather than trying to knock any force out of the war. I suspect they're preparing to do just that - but Zaamal Rul instead." Valar says. "Likely to secure Imix's full aid in this conflict."
"If they think they can manage it, let them come," Seira says with a snort. "Quantity may have a quality of its own, but not in every conflict."
Valar smiles at that. "You plan to take the field if that happens?"
"Of course I will, though Amaryl or Donald would be enough as well. Together, we are unstoppable."
More water after that, "Meanwhile Water's staying out of it, no sign of anyone meaningful defying the ban there," Valar notes, "Air's rallying towards our various forces, but in no great coordination. We have some djinn volunteers we're adding, looking to make a division of them if we get enough."
"Princess Chan hasn't sent her forces to coordinate with us in attacking Fire?" Seira asks in surprise. "I know I arranged for Yan-C-Bin to strike at the dao on Earth and there is little chance of more than a loose association, but I assumed Chan would work closely with us against the efreet."
"She is next," Valar says dryly, "The djinn and Chan are two separate entities and polities." Clearing his throat and going on, "They're mustering and adding, as expected. Nothing unusual there. We've been directly compatible parts of that army to Zaaman Rul's side to help his numbers, but a majority of her forces are best suited to Earth or battlefields that are not Fire."
"Let's use them for Cauldron defense and missions to strike at the efreet off Fire. I want as little chance of Chan and Yan-C-Bin's forces meeting each other as possible, and keeping them away from the same plane seems like the best thing for that. Do you have an update on his forces as well?"
"They're mostly doing their own raiding as anticipated," Valar says, "Nothing too unexpected there."
Seira nods. "There is always the chance of accidents, so I want to be able to reach out to Yan-C-Bin if we spot some excessive behavior on the part of his forces before it grows into a problem. It's good that you're keeping an eye from a distance. Now, speaking of Earth, what of allied forces there and the battles themselves? Has the Great Xorn been of aid in providing targets for us to hit and xorn to liberate?"
"Yes, though going is a little slow there. Earth's nature tends to make battles more drawn out," Valar says, "And the majority of our efforts are on Fire still."
"Very well. Let's move on to our other allied forces. Have those sent by Queen Morwel finished integrating with our regulars? I would like to use Lady Honeydip as the leader of a second prong of our offensive, if we're there."
"They've finished the basics," Valar says, "We're doing supplementary work but they're entirely combat ready now."
"Let's start sending them out," Seira requests. "I don't know how long we'll manage to maintain the current level of spending, so the more pressure we put on the efreet and the dao right now, the better. Perhaps it would make more sense to send them to the Earth front? I'll leave that up to you."
A slight nod, "As for the quasi and para elemental planes, they're being pulled in multiple directions and responses vary," Valar says, "As of now, none of them have deeply committed."
"Please elaborate, in particular with a focus on where diplomatic initiatives or a strong show of force could gain us allies or convince incompatible powers to stay out of the conflict out of self-interest."
"First of all, Ice has no particular side in this fight. I'm not clear if Water's ban extends to ice, but Cryonax is making no sign of intervening on any side, nor making opportunistic movements," Valar says, "Our information on Ice is somewhat limited at the moment due to a spy being discovered, but what we do know suggests Ice isn't making any major moves yet."
"Go on," Seira voices, nodding her understanding.
"Ooze is Ooze," Valar continues, "No one really wants Ooze's help and it's disorganized regardless. I don't think they'll be a meaningful factor, even if Bwimb II wanted to interfere. Just as well, I've visited Ooze."
"That's two down," Seira agrees.
"Predictably, Magma is tilting generally towards the enemy," Valar continues, "Though there's magma force naturally in both Earth and Fire as it is, so it can be difficult to discern an uptick easily. However, our sources suggest they're at least getting a lot of volunteers."
"I did have plans to visit Magma more and attempt to create another Omni," Seira muses. "Is there a convenient way to suggest that Magma would be best served staying out of the War while I do that?"
"I can think of a few, so long as you don't mind risking Fire and Earth interfering," Valar says, "Or simply doing it quietly as you can."
"Give me the options and I'll see what works."
"Get holy ground there and use that as a base," Valar begins, "That makes it a challenge to any who would interfere. Do something on a large enough scale to make the point to Magma, even to a fairly dimwitted elemental."
Seira nods slowly, saying, "I have a modest embassy serving as a portal to the interplanar hub of the Cauldron. Let's see if we can enlarge it. Perhaps I'll see about recruiting a few of the locals while we're at it, and I would appreciate a list of suitable persons to approach. What of Smoke and the quasiplanes?"
"No coherent response yet," Valar says, "A few tokens on either side, but that's normal," Valar says.
"We'll give them more time, then," Seira muses. "How are the rest of our reinforcements? I believe Lathander's contingent already arrived to bolster our defenses, allowing us to send more of our forces out to fight the efreet. Have there been others?"
"Ben-Hadar's not participating, of course, and Chan's spoken for along with Zaaman Rul. Entemoch and Sunnis are largely occupied with Earth and their own issues there, as they naturally oppose the dao and slavery." Valar says, "Though they're much better established than Zaaman Rul, thankfully."
"I'll shop around in Brightwater, then. If we have a wider defense coalition, it will only make the Cauldron safer. What of Celestia's efforts in the War, Valar?"
"They're doing well - hitting efreeti targets and building up forces. I've heard that they're preparing a large strike," Valar says, "But I've not confirmed it yet. They want to set the tempo of the war before the efreet do again."
"We want that as well," Seira agrees. "Please coordinate with Romiel. Our own plans to deploy Lady Honeydip's forces and my personal participation would be far more effective, were they to coincide with a fresh Celestia push against efreet and dao forces."
Nodding to herself, she asks, "Is there anything else of relevance that we should go over, my friend?"
"That's it - if you're preparing ot go out in a week, I'll tell them that and we can coordinate a big attack before the efreet can do the same," Valar says.
"That's roughly the plan. I need to give Ranbar time to shake down, wait for Xera to return and handle a few upkeep matters while we have this breather."
"Then good luck," Valar says as...
Anything else here, or onto Xera?
I'd actually prefer to get together with Amaryl and Kascha first.
Getting those two together is easy enough and...
Go ahead.
"So here's the thing," Seira tells them as they walk through the Cauldron's central marketplace, located conveniently just a level below the portal hub. Her words are intended only for her two companions, an act backed up by divine will. "I can tell that you're uncertain about some aspects of the future, and I was hoping we could brainstorm together to plot a proper course here."
"Oh?" Kascha asks, "Okay, but what do you mean in particular?"
Amaryl just listens for now.
Seira carefully doesn't roll her eyes. "Amaryl," she says, "I know that you're interested in exerting more influance in Pallanth. And unlike the time I tried to move in there and the Seldarine talked to me about maintaining balance, there won't be any issues with you doing it." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "I recall suggesting taking Fooze under your wing and using him as your representative, though perhaps you are thinking elves would be better for Pallanth? Still, there is no rule against having more than one apprentice."
Turning towards Kascha, Seira says, "As we examine our options here, yours should be getting clearer. And you're a native of that world as well, so you would have an understanding many others here at the Cauldron would lack."
Amaryl walks along as you talk, "That's a good plan, I'll gather likely ones and send them visions. I'd like your help with them, Seira. I let it sit a little time because of the war, but no longer."
Kascha smiles a bit, "It's still hard to believe. But...I could, couldn't I? I could deal in the Lost Eastlands and establish a base there under your name and grow."
"Under our names," Seira corrects Kascha gently. They've formed a pantheon, and while comparing herself to Corellon Larethian will be embarrassing until she acquires more power and influence, that's the relationship they should be imitating. The protector and leader, but not the living personification of the Cauldron. Not if she wants the Cauldron to represent all of them. "It's fine if you start at a spot you are comfortable with and get going. Your own followers will grow organically from what you build with your efforts."
Smiling at Kascha, Seira affirms, "Of course I'll help you with whatever you need." Amaryl, too, gets a warm smile of her own. "Both of you. The War effort is important, but so is continuing to spread our message out there among the mortals and keeping the worst excesses of the planes at bay."
"Our names," Kascha agrees, considering.
"It is," Amaryl seconds, "We'll start when you're ready." She meets your eyes and just looks into them, all the world seeming to narrow down to the two of you.
Seira nods at Amaryl. She'd thought they could look at candidates here, where several travelers and merchants from their Prime often visit, though she can certainly understand how most deities aren't that hands on. If Amaryl is ready, then they can get properly started on the visions.
As Amaryl prepares, "I think you're right, Seira. That's what I need to do," Kascha says at last. It shoudl come naturally to me. Right?"
"You've done it plenty, representing me. Is it really more intimidating than meeting with Ben-Hadar or the Grand Sultan?"
"A little," Kascha admits quietly, "That means it's about me, and I've always tried to be about others, Seira."
"When I promote myself with mortals," Seira muses out loud, "do I focus on my combat prowess? Do I seek out worship out of vanity? This part you would know well, since you worked hard to advance it among mortals while knowing the reasons I pushed for it." She snorts. "I won't deny it feels nice to be looked at with awe and to have your actions be appreciated, but the real reason is that we are inseparable from our ideals, the things we stand for. The change for you is that you, too, now stand for something. Just as I want there to be more hope in Creation, you have a similar desire of your own. So what I'm saying here is that if it's still not very clear to you, start with the familiar because you can't go wrong with having more care, protection and hope for a better future in the world, and your own feelings will guide you from there."
"...I understand," Is what Kashca says, "I worry about the vanity, but...I know what I want to do now."
At that you feel a connection with Kascha, strong and burning bright.
Node update for Kascha. Go read and reply here.
"Awesome! Do that, safely!"
"Ah!" Kascha cries, "Ah! Thank you!" she looks upwards, then to you. "Someone like that wants someone like me to rise to divinity and rewards me for that." Kascha takes a long, long breath, "Was it as humbling and stunning for you when Waukeen supported your efforts, Seira?"
Amaryl watches, "Humbling, world changing, a redefinition of your basic assumptions of the world."
"I was excited because I really felt like Waukeen and I were friends," Seira confides in Kascha. "It was a great responsibility, but that's just how I like it!"
"That's what makes it seems one of Her Majesty's dreams," Kascha admits, looking ahead at the bazaar, as far away as another world thanks to your magic. "I've met the divine, I know how wondrous they - we - are. That I'm one of them, that I could be like Queen Morwel, that I could be like Lathander, that I could be like...you."
Seira beams at her, sincerely flattered.
Amaryl breaks into a soft smile, a little 'oh' escaping her lips.
"S-so you understand why this is hard, right?" Kascha says, "Who can live up to you?"
"We all strive towards our ideals," Seira muses. "The very idea is to aim for them and do our best. So long as we do that, things will turn out alright. Don't think in terms of an end result or of reaching the goal. Just keep on reaching for your goals with all your might! Stay positive, and always keep in mind how far you've come and how important it is to work at it and keep going. Stay positive, and watch as others around you gain that same positive outlook and reach out to support you. Keep inspiring others, as you have been inspired, even as you keep on looking for fresh inspiration yourself. And hey, if none of this makes any sense to you right now? Don't worry and just keep going, because it will once you experience what I have and what Amaryl is starting to."
With a sheepish but growing smile, "That's what's so amazing about you, Seira," Kascha admits, "You make sound so easy and make it look so easy."
"That's because I hide all those futile struggles against Asmodad and only show my amazing side, like when schooling Lixer!"
"Schooling..." Kascha shakes her head, "We glimpsed Lixer's power in Aurora, and it was terrifying. Yet you can claim such a thing. You're proving my point."
Seira grins at her. "Seriously, though, don't go to the Eastlands on your own. Take someone with you not just for safety, but to bounce ideas off. And once you get established there, I'll visit in avatar form~"
"I want to go myself, but I can't now, can I?" Kascha admits, "We'll have to come up with something, but I have an idea of how to do it. I have to learn how to work through others now, anyway."
"It was the hardest thing for me," Seira admits. "Took me years to get the hang of it. But I think you've got the right experience to make it work, so you'll be okay in a month."
"How do you do it?" Kascha asks, "I'm so used to going and taking care of my own problems, or helping someone with theirs."
"The scale we're working on is too much for personal attention," Seira tells her. "So I come up with a plan, consult with people I trust, refine it and then have people who share the same goal take the lead in implementation. I stay on top of it, intervening where I need to, and keep on refining the plan as results from the ground arrive. If something needs to happen that I can provide with my resources or contacts, I do it. If the people following my plan are too close to it to see the big picture, I have that clarity and guide them. It's a lot like a mix between an instructor and an administrator. I first learned from running my magic school, so maybe you could start with a similar project? Pick one such thing, get it up and running and see what works for you and what doesn't?"
"That's IT!" Kascha gasps, "I have it! I'll fund my own school of magic in the Lost Eastlands and use it to begin a clergy! I can watch that without needing to be there, and surely I can find worthwhile instructors."
Seira gives Kascha a thumbs up sign. "You have it in the bag! And if you need us for advice, we're always here for you, Kascha."
"We are," Amaryl says, "Come to us any time, as the winds come to the woods as they may."
With a bright smile Kascha vanishes, surely off to work on that. Amaryl adds after, "She's found her inspiration now, Seira. From that school can be a thousand seeds to sprout in fertile soil across the planes."
"Should've lead with that, given how we met," Seira says with a laugh. "How about we get a head start on the seeds we want to sprout in Pallanth?"
"Ah, that would be due," Amaryl agrees, "Did you have a plan in mind, dear?"
"Nothing direct, though I came up with several options. We could contact the Seldarine and ask for a joint statement of sorts. If Corellon Larethian sends signs to Pallanth that your star is on the rise, following up on that would net you those you need to help shape Pallanth. Working through my family there is also possible, and just as easy given they started out as our friends and orphans we took in and had my parents bring up. If you want a challenge, you could work through your family instead. Speak in all their dreams, offer a chance at reconciliation, and see who among them feels inspired by you. Finally, there's the tried and true method of casting your net wide, perhaps by endorsing a local festival and going from there."
A pause and a longer one, "I believe you are correct, Seira. I need to contact the Elf Father out of respect for him and his position in Pallanth. The others are good, but his support and aid in this venture, not to mention advice, would be critical."
Seira nods. "If you ask me for my preference," she adds, "I believe it's time for you to reach out to your family. Doing so after Corellon Lathander reintroduces you to Pallanth would smooth out a lot for you."
"It may be." Amaryl admits that, "That is one thing I will seek his council on."
"No time like the present, is there? Let's go~"
"Seira, my love." Amaryl reaches out for your hand, "I'm beyond fortunate that you would do so for me, but I should do this on my own." Squeezing your hand tightly, "Too easy is it for me to sink into relying on you - Emily's reminded me of that side of myself."
Seira squeezes Amaryl's hand to show that she doesn't mind. "Travel safely and invite Hanali over for a visit?" she says, accepting Amaryl's wishes.
And thus Amaryl is gone.
Anything to do before Donald and Ranbar arrive? It won't be long before they do.
Let's see Xera now.
Xera is found and taken to somewhere private. One of your rooms which...
Feel free to describe to world build a bit for your divine realm.
Once asked, "I talked to Emily," she says. "I think it went well."
This particular room has a one-way mirror that runs the length of one of the walls. It changes its view according to Seira's mood, and right now is overlooking a pod of dolphins swimming through Water.
"I gave the two of you privacy at the time, and not just because I didn't want to bother Shaundakul," Seira tells her. "Would you mind filling me in on the highlights?"
"Well, Emily was upset at first and we quarreled," Xera says, "There was no path where we didn't - fundamentally, she believed her actions had good intentions and were reasonable." A beat, "The path to Baator is inlaid with good intentions and reasonable deeds."
Seira nods her agreement. "Did she understand the situation she was placing me in? And beyond that, the problem with looking past people with need that cross her path?"
"She did and does," Xera says. "I honestly believe there are times when two righteous people can disagree about righteousness without either being wrong. Not merely law and chaos, but in other matters. Emily is the same and that is what she clings to - but I elaborated to Emily and once we wound down from her quarrel, got through to her. She's rather shaken up but I believe she understands."
Seira smiles in relief. "Then it's good. If she still dreams of having exciting adventures, that's fine, as it's her life. Ah, how about Zariel? Did she have fun visiting the Gates of the Moon?"
Here Xera nods, "Yes, though she did not reveal her identity to the others. It was a complication we saw no need to add to Emily's situation."
"Fair enough. In the meanwhile, I managed to get something interesting." A flick of her wrist summons the note for Dis, and she offers it to Xera. "I'm considering finding a neutral party that could redeem that and along the way take a good look at Dis, but perhaps the more direct approach of using the sum for bribery could work to gain us information. Do you have a preference?"
"Are you offering it to us?" Xera asks, "Or asking for advice?"
"I'm offering you the choice," Seira clarifies. "I have more options available to me, yet you two are the ones actively working on your own. You may well have contacts you have cultivated or can call upon that would make better use of this. If nothing else, my way will take longer since I still need to cultivate the right connections, given the Mercane situation."
Xera is quiet, "I greatly dislike using the methods and money of fiends," she says, "Knowing it is money stained with blood and suffering. Yet such a thing would be valuable in what we are doing."
"Use every resource at your disposal that doesn't stain your soul," Seira voices. "The money exists in Dis, and were you to do nothing would remain in devil hands. By using it with an informant you don't feed more funds into Hell. If, however, it is a distraction for you I will make discreet inquiries with a few of the more mercenary efreet that I'm enticing to switch sides in the War. Would you like to talk it over with Zariel?"
"I would," Xera says, "She deserves to have a voice in this choice."
"Please do, then," Seira bids her with another smile. "I might need to leave with Donald, but I'll leave the note with Yandrazrt, if so. You can let him know your decision if you're in a hurry and need to leave before I return?"
"I will." Xera comes forward and hugs you, "Be strong, Mom. I'm confident Emily will get this right."
"Thank you, Darling," Seira says, returning the hug warmly. "Be careful out there, you and Zariel."
"I don't doubt we'll dodge assassin's blades," Xera concurs, "Such is the hate against those who walk the path of the righteous; for the wicked seek to destroy them with barbs, to cull them with blades and law them low with spells."
"Do you need more help? I could spare Oraga for your team, and she learned a useful trick lately from Mystra."
Ultimately Xera shakes his head, "No, not yet. Oraga's presence could be misunderstood by certain people, people who may still suspect Zariel. I'd rather not explain the situation to them again and again and hope all believe it."
"As you wish. Anything I can do to help, just name it. We're rescuing that poor girl, and this time it won't take two decades to get the job done."
Okay then, this is winding down. Anything else before Donald and Ranbar?
No, though I would like to meet them with Elle. It can be in the Church!
Okay, go ahead and set up the scenery of your church, worldbuild it a bit.
I liked the last one, even if IC Xera wasn't going to comment on it because her mind was on her encounter with Emily.
This one was actually described before! But we can do it again from another angle.
The main temple of the Church of the Golden Flame is located one level above the volcano's bottom-most terrace, allowing a glimpse at Seira's gingerbread palace. It is, however, the last terrace open to public access, as approaching Innocence or the lake of lava besides it requires special permission. The temple's placement above said lake of lava makes visitors bathe in its steam, and white the heat is considerable Seira's divine power ensures that it is never painful to her visitors outside those of evil persuasion. The temple complex can be divided into three parts -- the offices closed to the public and serving the celestial bureaucracy in charge of administering Seira's clergy across Creation, the massive golden flame in the center of the temple through which worshippers are encouraged to pass, as they are encouraged by its phantom flames in turn, and the newest addition of lush forests surrounding the temple as its public gardens. It is in one such clearing within that maze of greenery that Seira waits for Donald and Ranbar with Elle, one not unlike where she entertained Zariel when the latter wished for a touch of nature.
Never hurts to refresh. You'd be amazed at how often the DM has to be redundant. After all, it's stunning how often a DM repeats himself. So I understand the point, as DMs are constantly repeating themselves to different people.
Elle awaits with you, patiently as Donald strides in. He's whistling and his helmet his off, a jaunty wave as he walks right in. Ranbar keeps pace a few steps behind him, taking it all in, a touch wild around the eyes.
"Hey Seira. The acolyte's version: It was cleanup, they weren't a threat and frankly I'd had more trouble scratching my own ass in the middle of the night than they gave me." Donald calls.
"As expected," Seira tells him, waving Ranbar over. "They didn't get a chance to set off their ritual yet, or it's a case of those sahuagin trying to shoot way above their ability?"
Ranbar follows as Donald adds, "They weren't doing anything all that dangerous in the first place, relatively. I'm glad it's stopped, but it was overkill."
Elle blows out a breath, "Yes, and better than being overkilled."
"I believe Emily understands things better now, and wouldn't be leaving things for us to clean up in the future," Seira voices. "With that said, we need to fight something that'll provide a challenge! You told me that mine would be difficult, but aside from the mile-long boiling adamantine dragon the guards were embarrassingly weak. Do you have something that'll let us cut loose and welcome Ranbar properly to the team? Preferably on Magma, since I want to dissuade the locals from joining the efreet. And you never know, we might run into similar conditions to Omni's birth!"
"I can see about getting something," Donald offers, glancing over. "Hey Elle, let's go do that," he says rather pointedly, his wife shooting him a look before following.
"Not a fan of hitting the ground running?" Seira asks Ranbar with a grin, as Donald and Elle leave.
To this Ranbar takes a long breath and meets your gaze. Her eyes are gentle and kind, "The last several hours have fundamentally changed my life." she admits freely. "What is going on? Donald told me to talk to you."
Seira's divine will ensures that their privacy is guaranteed, before telling Ranbar, "I believe the best way is to ease you into this. I will only say that there are things -- secrets about Creation itself -- that you may only talk to me when we are alone, until I deem that you understand the situation properly. One of them is that I am one of very few who have been selected by Zaphkiel to safeguard Creation from Shar and its other enemies. To that goal, Zaphkiel is personally ensuring that our knowledge of these secrets is protected from all, in a much stronger variant of anathemic knowledge, which you have surely come across before in your studies. You, personally, have received that same protection through my association with you, as have Amaryl, Kascha, Donald and Elle."
There's silence as Ranbar digests that, "Yes, my lady," she finally says, "I don't know what to say to all of that, but I understand what you want."
"You might, merely from being in my inner circle, hear troubling things about the state of Creation. In fact, given your intellect and curiosity, I imagine that you would have soon realized on your own that only a great peril would justify such a blatant intervention from someone who does his best to stay hidden, as Zaphkiel does. In such cases, talk to me while we are in private, and I will bring you further into things until you've been properly caught up."
Smiling at Ranbar now, Seira says, "Our ongoing tasks remain the same, of course. The Abolition War is our chief focus right now, and that's who I told Donald to get us a good target for some hands on action. You'll head out together with me, since I believe that in combat, the best way to acclimate yourself is through such an experience. Just keep your cool and learn what works as you go."
"I have so many questions," Ranbar says the moment you stop talking, "May I ask them, my lady?"
Seira gestures for Ranbar to go on.
"Why me?" Ranbar asks, "What has prompted this rapid rise? I've done well in your service, but this exceeds anything I could ever imagine, as his this power I've so suddenly gained. What of your own struggles if I can gain this so easily?"
"I had a need, which Zaphkiel no doubt sensed. That is what I consider to be the reason. As for being granted power this way? I wish it happened differently, but the important things are that you are a good person, and that you justify your selection with your deeds from this point onwards. The rest doesn't matter."
Ranbar bows her head at that answer, silent long moments after. When she speaks again it is softer, "I understand then."
She will in time. "Were you curious about anything else?" Seira offers. "Not that this is your sole chance to ask me, given we are going to be working quite closely together."
"I..confess I'm at a loss for so much," Ranbar finally says, looking to you. "I know you and your faith, yet in ways I barely know YOU, my lady."
"Realizing this, I decided to bring you along where I can so you could witness me in my natural environment," Seira tells Ranbar with a wink.
"...thank you, of course, and I am honored. It's just...I'm not Donald or Elle or any of them. They've known you for decades, known you as you, my lady. I just feel so overwhelmed." Ranbar admits.
"We all started somewhere," Seira says reasonably. "My first meeting with Donald was about as bad as it gets, I was quite sneaky while becoming apprenticed to Elle, and when I met Amaryl she was a scion of a noble house while I was just a messenger of the neighboring country. You might've been worried that Zaphkiel let you cut in line and forego some of our struggles, but this is a good example of one he left for you to handle."
"Then, why does Zaphkiel meddle in our business so? Are things so dire and are we that joined to Celestia now?" Ranbar asks.
"You've heard the Prophecy of Primus?" Seira inquires. "The reason things are dire is that Creation itself is at stake."
"I have," Ranbar says, "...is it true, then?"
"One of the secrets is that while we have a plan to deal with Shar, she's not acting as alone as it might at first appear. Even taking her down won't be enough to save Creation, for she is merely the public face for her side."
At that Ranbar stares, "It's worse? Seira help me," she mutters, then blushes at that, "Help me, please," she says to your face.
"I told you that I'm working on it, haven't I?" Seira asks her with a confident grin. "At least now you might have context for the recent ascensions here and with our friends in Sylica."
"I do." An answer, "Then I trust you, my lady. I will do as you command, as always your faithful servant."
"Now then! Let's see if Donald's found something for us to do, shall we?"
As you go, "May I make a request, then?" Ranbar asks. "A request for more equipment. My equipment has become stronger, but it is mortal work, not the works all of you wear."
"We'll make it a priority," Seira readily agrees. "Do you have your eye on anything specific?"
"I need to be better armored," Ranbar says, "It would be helpful."
"I'll keep an eye out for something suitable," Seira promises. "In the meanwhile, I'll ward you with my magic whenever we set out."
"Yes, my lady," Ranbar agrees at that.
Does Donald have a target for us to hit? Something rich would be nice, given Ranbar wants gear.
Gimme a d100.
18:43 <CC> roll 1d100
18:43 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 9 > [d100=9]
As you go to catch up to Donald?
Erstblaze will remain off limits to all activities and all sides of this war.
An edict from Kossuth, simple an ddirect.
What is that? I have godly knowledge.
Erstblaze is a blazing wasteland in Fire. Fairly unremarkable, stretches for thousands of miles with barely any habitation besides fire elementals. There's frankly not a lot that's interesting about it unless you're a fire elemental.
It doesn't have any real value to the war that you can think of.
"Do we have any plans for Erstblaze?" Seira asks Donald.
You reach Donald where you met Xera, Donald looking down at the dolphins. "Nothing much," he says, "It's not much of a region in Fire and there's infinitely more interesting locations."
"Kossuth just banned everyone from it, so make sure we don't step on his toes," Seira informs him. "Now, got a target for the four of us? You, Elle, Ranbar and I."
"Hold on," Donald holds a hand up, "Kossuth did what? Did he say why?"
"Erstblaze will remain off limits to all activities and all sides of this war," Seira repeats.
"That begs a few dozen questions," Donald grumps, "And I'm guessing we have none of the answers."
"We really don't," Seira agrees. "And I believe investigating will be one of the activities we're kindly asked to abstain from there. Do we have a mission requiring our skills, and with a decent chance of profit to provide appropriate gear for Ranbar?"
"I'm having our intelligence look into our leads now," Donald says, "Actually, why don't you and Ranbar poke around Brightwater or somewhere like that, see if you can find some leads? The two of you. Together. Talking, being around each other."
"I think not," Seira tells Donald.
She'd considered getting an interview for it before, but Seira decides to see if maybe she can bypass any mortal queues by addressing Primus directly.
Would it be possible to talk to you in person regarding your famous prophecy?
'Good day, Seira,' A smooth voice sounds in your mind, 'I am Quadrus, a Voice of Primus and speak on his behalf.'
Good day, Quadrus, Seira returns. Would it be possible to arrange my request?
'I can move towards that, but I must also inform you that you have a coming meeting in precisely 2 hours, 14 minutes and 49 seconds with Chrona 42, delayed due to planar events,' Quadrus says, 'It is about Chronomancy. Would you prefer to reschedule this or resume this conversation after that meeting?'
Seira taps her lips thoughtfully.
Thank you for informing me, Quadrus. I request that if at all possible, I receive advance notice of any meetings scheduled for me with Mechanus's representatives 24 subjective hours prior. As for the present situation, I am interested in keeping the meeting with Chrona 42 on schedule, and discuss the prophecy afterwards. She pauses, before deciding to ask, Is the meeting with Chrona 42 exclusive to myself?
'I will make a note of that for your file,' Is thea nswer you get, 'Amaryl is welcome to attend, or anyone who has obtained divinity.'
Thank you
Redirecting her attention to Ranbar and Donald, Seira apologizes to the former. "I'm afraid that I have an appointment I need to keep. Give me a few hours, and then we can see about getting you equipped properly."
Ranbar bows deeply to you. "Thank you, my lady."
With a sidelong glance at Ranbar, "She has a name. I've heard you use it."
Ah, the color red suits Ranbar's face. "All of this is so much today. Please, mercy on my patience."
"Yeah, sure," Donald agrees, "Seira's great, she won't smite you for using her name to her face. Plus she has great benefits and dragons, too."
That has more to do with how Seira abstains from smiting people in the first place, though she chooses not to bring it up.
"I agree. There's no need to push too fast," she tells Donald, before deciding to rest up a bit prior to meeting with her visitor from Mechanus.
Just skipping ahead then? Okay, correct me if I'm wrong.
A little over two hours later, you are disturbed, "Seira," Elle says, "We've just gotten some unusual information I think you need to hear."
"What is it?" Seira asks Elle, mentally sending for Kascha.
"We just received word of a location in Air where time is going awry," Is what she says, "From a reliable source."
"Yep, that's for me alright," Seira agrees. She waits a few moments for Kascha to arrive, asking Elle in the meantime, "What can you tell me of the destination?"
Kascha hurries in while Elle continues, "Time is going backwards and strangely there, out of time and with strange creatures appearing. It's a floating island in Air."
"See you in a few," Seira tells Elle with a grin, resting her hand on Kascha's shoulder and transporting them to the edge of the phenomenon.
Thus the two of you are on Air.
Gentle winds blow before an island floating in Air, untouched. Far ahead in the island sits a castle, normal enough looking and rather large. The land of the island is rocky and largely barren, though grass does grow in a few places.
Seira floats ahead at a sedate pace, confident that her appointment will be met precisely on time.
As you enter - before your eyes an in the breath of an instant, the grasses ahead grow full and lush. Flowers rise amid them, blossoming and sweet. Then they wilt and die, only to regrow again and repeat. This happens a dozen times in less than a second.
"Looks like a loop," Seira voices to Kascha, checking the current time.
Like around yourself or in the loop?
Both. I want to tell if the Inevitable is late, and also start by confirming my time loop belief.
The Inevitable is not late - it has two seconds to go.
Time is wrong here, twisted. Your divine will can sense it.
Then you look up and see it. It is an Inevitable of solid gold plating and iron beneath that greets you. It has three claws as toes, a corded body of steel and adamantine, and no facial features. Humanish and yet not, bowing to you.
"Ah," Kascha murmurs, "How?"
"Chronomancy, a forbidden magic," Seira tells her. "I ran into it before on Prime in Pallanth, and Waukeen told me a bit of the basics." At the Inevitable's appearance, she waves in greeting.
His voice is pleasant, if not terribly warm. He greets the two of you, "Kascha and Seira. I've heard of that incident with that gnome, and it's good to finally meet you. It's been a long time."
"A long time since...?"
"My, Chronomancy," Kascha looks on, "This should be amazing."
"Since I talked to Alicia and Syala about it. Well, a long time to me, but duties and time flow must as they must. I am Chrona 42, of the line of Chrona Quaruts."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Chrona 42. Regrettably, Amaryl has a prior engagement, but I trust things will work out for her all in proper time." Seira looks about them before clapping her hands. "So! How does this work?"
"There's so much we want to know," Kascha gushes out, "No one who knows about Chronomancy can talk about it, and if you study you can see where it's supposed to be, can't you?"
Chrona 42 inclines his head to the both of you, "Hands on tests along with asking me questions," The Inevitable says,
"Are we starting with the twisted time here?" Seira inquires, ready for some exciting hands on practice. Kascha should easily handle all the interesting questions, and there'll be time to add to them later as well!
"Let's," Chrona 42 says. "Here time is distorted and runs too fast and loops around and around, letting the grass and plants live generations in an eye's blink. To fix weak temporal disturbances, a Temporal Stabilization spell is needed. It is 4th circle. Your divine will should do - focus on that and let it happen."
Seira focuses her divine will, aiming for the moment when the flora is at its prime!
Power. A power you've never known flows through and it is good. It is right. Like a small part of yourself forgotten and lost, a glimpse of so much gained in that moment. The time distortion corrects itself, flowers and grasses in full growth and bloom now.
Seira takes a look, before pausing and looking back on the process anew.
I'm trying to rewind time a bit and then study what past-me has done!
Like actual time travel or just looking back?
I want to be the time traveler observing but not interacting with the past! If I'm doing something wrong my pal 42 will stop me.
As you prepare your will, "Allow me to be instructive, as that is the point of this," Chrona 42 says. "What is it you seek to do now?"
"I've always wanted to study an effect over time even as I was fully focusing on making it happen," Seira elaborates. "Using an avatar is just not the same, and certainly not for when the desire comes after you've already done something."
"Allow me, I am highly practiced in chronomancy," Chrona 42 says, "What do you wish to study?"
Kascha perks up even more at that, "You'll just do all of that for us?"
"It is my duty, and for the duration of this the normal rules of the Compact are relaxed to instruct you properly in chronomancy."
"Myself, fully devoted to using my divine powers," Seira responds. "Almost as importantly, the ongoing results of tampering with time. And finally, the ability to do so on my own, perhaps after you've guided us the first time. Can we start with looping time for a single loop to observe as I broke the time loop effect without interfering with my efforts to break said effect?"
Here Chrona 42 draws lines in the air, forming into a shimmering screen of water. "A lesson of chronomancy - one may wish to travel into the past, but it is best done only when needed. An over use of time travel is what lead to the Temporal Compact in the first place. There are other tools to merely observe. Some scrying spells maintain this ability, such as the spell hindsight. Temporal Scrying is a spell far better suited to it. Your divine will should be sufficient to allow you to see it as if you were there by emulating that spell."
"Are Temporal Scrying and other passive spells that don't affect time banned from use, even for deities?" Seira inquires. "It wasn't clear to me what happened with them or with edge cases and dual school spells like Time Stop and Haste."
"They are forbidden," Chrona 42 says, as Kascha pulls out her book and begins to write. "If it is a spell of chronomancy, it falls under the Compact's ban. Replacements that are of other spell schools do not."
"What about this spell?" Seira asks, gesturing at the shimmering screen. "If I emulate it with my divine power by going from Hindsight, would it be permissible? After all, there is precedent for spells moving schools or parallel spells being created from another school of magic due to inspiration."
"I do not believe so - it is too tied to chronomancy," Chrona 42 says, "Though divinations are the field that most picks up the losses from chronomancy, and making something similar should be possible. Though I warn you against creeping to the border too far - those who oversee the Pacts are neutral, but not all are your friend."
"How does that work?" Seira inquires, starting to observe her actions in the past in the meanwhile. "Do I get an innate understanding of when I'm getting too close to the border? Do I get a strongly worded warning from two seconds before I try something? Nothing, but then someone tries to shiv me in my sleep?"
Since you're studying yourself, gimme Spellcraft real quick.
As Kascha scribbles away, "You will be warned," Chrona 42 says, "As a deity you will not be condemned unless you completely violate the Temporal Compact's rules. Mortals are not so fortunate, though some are simply directed towards futures where they never study or attempt to study chronomancy."
After a moment, "It comes down to who deals with it? Everyone across the spectrum of ethics has a seat here, and even if they're neutral, they still are what they are?" Kascha's still writing away, "Even if they have to maintain official neutrality?"
Fully buffed check! Taking 10 for 123, 125 with Kascha aiding me.
It is you and yet it is more. You ARE, your power connecting and will enacted, a pure power that does what you wish to do. It only loosely resembles magic, as much will and desire as anything else. It reminds you of seeing others do this, of seeing divine will with your own eyes when it is not your own.
If you're looking for some particular result or insight here, feel free to say so and I'll give you something more than this.
Seira tries to examine how the power flows from the basic premise that is a truth unique to her. Catching the perfect moment of bloom may not be directly related to Hope, yet it is certainly derived from the ideals of perfection and success Hope constantly pursues. Would divine power be stronger with a more direct link, and is it a conscious process? Would Seira spending more time as she forms her divine will make for a more effective, more powerful result, similar to how she would spend time on the phrasing of a Wish?
Alongside that thought, Seira also pursues another by examining how this expression of her divine power differs from her execution of Miracle. The framework is a bit different, of course, but at the core the same force feeds into both and Miracle and direct application of divine power alike have been known to overcome the usual limits of mortal circles of magic. Gaining a better understanding of how such things interact is important!
"I'm not so foolish as to ignore a warning," she answers Chrona 42 in the meantime. "Also, if I lack the strength to accomplish something in linear time, what are my odds of winning a temporal battle against the reasons this is now a banned field of magic and their experience? Leveling the playing field works in my favor."
Actually, now that she thinks about it, Seira also explores ways to use several actions at once. The ban means that there is only so much that can happen outside of Time Stop, yet she's been considering that splitting her mind on several tangents would be an interesting attempt at magic. A tangent to look up obscure facts, another or three to converse with allies across the planes, one more to coordinate actions between those of her allies she leads in combat and more on top of her usual combat routine. Speculums of her mind? Maybe not with that name, but certainly something that's inspired by Chronomancy yet avoids the actual ban by relying on Divination, as Chrona 42 suggested.
After studying it a few times, you don't see any sign of time helping, beyond making sure you 'phrase' your will properly. It simply is. From what you've learned as a deity, there's really one surefire way to improve altering reality - becoming a stronger deity and gaining divine rank. The process of actually applying the will looks just right, simply being and doing, beyond typical processes. It's a question of divine power, not of execution. It's not really like a mage who may have flaws in their spell work that hold them back and easily corrected.
Altering reality is simply you and your divine power. A miracle is nicely asking for that divine power, and using the structure of a spell to do so and providing the fuel for it. Interestingly, except if you intervene directly, the actual miracle spell does the heavy lifting, forged by your will and intent if you choose to honor the caster's request. If you personally intervene then it comes down to your power and the miracle's power is simply a conduit for that. In your case you're using a miracle spell's energy directly.
"You'd lose before you even began," Chrona 42 admits plainly, "And Kascha is also not wrong."
For the last, could you elaborate what you're looking for mechanically? Like are you looking for ways to break the action economy here or think a lot of different strands here or what?
I'm looking for ways to get several noncombat actions in a round, so kind of but not really. I think it would be an interesting spell, and counterpart to Amea's which is focused on maintaining concentration for spells.
"That does make me wonder," Seira muses. "As a hypothetical, what if Asmodeus decided to throw in with Shar and got another party to the Temporal Compact to support them? Would the rest of you still win, or could a sufficient alliance of Chronomancers lead by the strongest of divine powers have a decent shot at victory?"
It would really depend on execution, but I'm incredibly wary about action economy things or anything in that ballpark, so it would really depend.
"Hypothetically," Chrona 42 says slowly, "I don't know. But if I hypothetically did, I fear there would be no winners, only who is maimed less."
"I'm satisfied with my questions for the time being," Seira declares. "Lead on with your demonstration, my friend."
"I'm not done yet," Kascha writes away, "How powerful are the Keepers of the Compact?"
"Powerful enough," Chrona 42 replies, a shake of his metal head, "But the greatest power is applying a mere pebble to the path, but in the right place so that the pebble leads to boulders directed just so. With proper chronomancy, one needs only to do a little to divert a forbidden future."
Scribbling away in her book, pausing a few moments, lips pursed and expression thoughtful, "Time builds more mass than even the mightiest champion," she murmurs aloud, "For time builds value, interest and rarity. An investment a century ago can lead to a dynasty today, or a rich man who will fund a hundred champions, or merely a happy family that gives a possible hero the upbringing he needs to become a hero rather than a tyrant."
"Ah yes, you understand well," Chrona 42 concurs, bringing his hands together for a metal clap. "Now then, this entire tower is a hands on demonstration, so please, continue. I will proceed with you."
Thus Seira proceeds, taking a look around! But slowly enough that Kascha can ask more questions if she has any at this time.
The path ahead to the tower seems straight forward enough on a casual glance. Yet as you begin to walk, the tower seems to draw no closer.
"And as the only ones with the power of time, yo ucan play the game on levels and dimensions we can't," Kascha keeps on writing all the while, "Because you have the benefit of hindsight. What's stopping the Keepers of the Compact from abusing their power?"
"Ah, that I know well," Chrona 42 says, "Self regulation and mighty oaths. Should a member disobey the rules, they other members are bound to by oath to destroy them. Should that member be unstoppable by them or should the other keepers fall in with them, the regulations of the Compact on the divine are loosened and all are bound by oath to set the keepers right. And should enough of the divine choose to disregard this...then the Compact is dead."
Seira studies the effect the same way she had observed the time loop. Is manipulation of space brought into this, or their physical position is somehow frozen in time?
Spellcraft here, I think.
18:49 <CC> roll 1d20+78
18:49 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=10]
It's rather tricky work - time is looped microscopically ahead, a split second back loop that prevents progress because it's shunting time there into the past. It's essentially like trying to walk up a set of stairs that gets longer each step you take.
"Ah, do you understand," Chrona 42 asks, as Kascha peers ahead as well.
Taking 10.
"Oh," Kascha says, going back to writing away, "It's like land is slipping back each time and....oooooh. That's really interesting. Is it like a paradox? We tried to find one on Aurora, but the Compact made that extremely difficult."
"It's not quite the same thing, but it's not dissimilar," Chrona 42 allows, "In this case, a Temporal Stabilization will do. This is a relatively minor disruption, this 4th circle spell will restore normal time and allow progress."
"Do you mind using Temporal Stabilization?" Seira asks Kascha. "I'd like to reinforce the effect instead, and see what happens when we work against one another."
"Um...I don't know the spell?" Kascha says, "I can't manage divine will yet, either."
"Ahem," Chrona 42 clears his throat, a metallic rattle, "I can substitute for one end of that."
Kascha's only DvR0, bear in mind, and doesn't suddenly know a bunch of chronomancy. Though she could use a wish to emulate it since the normal limitations don't apply right now.
She can, and I'll even refresh her afterwards! I'll let her figure it out on her own.
Seira nods at Chrona 42, forming the time shunt effect in her mind as she waits to see it begin to unravel.
The spell begins to unravel and yet you try and rebuild it, supporting it. Kascha watches intently, "Ooooh, is that how it works?"
Time itself flickers between the two of you a moment, a rousing second of seeing it, feeling it, tasting time, a part of magic suddenly revealed to you for one glorious moment.
We'll call the actual resolution a caster level check for you and a dispel check for him - he's using something close enough to that for government work, as they say.
19:33 <CC> roll 1d20+34
19:33 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+30
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=2]
Magic against power, power against magic. In the end your power is stronger, the old distortion gone but a new one in place instantly. Time just...started working right in that moment, until you reinforced it, like something on planes and angles you didn't even realize where there snapped back into place. It's...you realize you don't really have words to describe it, not meaningfully and concisely. How do you describe time unknotting itself in ways and angles outside of linear time?
"Nonlinear time is so exciting~" Seira croons, letting go of her power now to see if the effect is stable or requires her continued focus.
It is stable.
Chrona 42 smiles, "I feel the same way," he admits, "Isn't it marvelous? The way time moves and swirls beyond normal perception, glimpsed when it resets itself back to how it should be, to realign properly with the absolute Present?"
"This is such a tragedy. This should be part of everyone's magic," Kascha writes away all the while, "There's such wondrous things we could do with that power."
"No, it really shouldn't," Seira says immediately. "I think the original decision erred too much on the side of caution and celerity magic should have existed, to give one example, but such blatant manipulation of time should not be allowed everywhere. Perhaps limited to a deity's divine realm and the demiplane of an enterprising mage? That would work." Turning towards Chrona 42, she says, "It is my understanding that the passage of time is somewhat fluid with conjured up deminplanes. Is that on purpose? And what of the Astral conditions?"
"Celerity magic?" Kascha asks, curiously.
At the same time Chrona 42 says, "The Astral was created that way and remains that way. It it and will be as it is. Could you explain what you mean about demiplanes?"
"Magic that speeds you up similarly to Time Stop, yet doesn't put you outside of the rest of existence, similarly to Haste," Seira explains for Kascha's benefit.
To Chrona 42, she says, "Some two decades and change ago for me, subjective time, I focused on looking up a deminplane to claim as my own. My research of ancient lore on demiplanes suggested that a particularly gifted caster should have been capable of affecting the flow of time in them, setting it to flow faster or slower. Upon claiming the Cauldron in Astral I decided not to bother with making my own demiplane."
"Should have been," Chrona 42 says, agreeing. "Possible before the Compact."
"Why was Astral alone kept the way it was created?" Seira inquires. "And what would happen if I were to recreate the local conditions in the Cauldron without merging with the plane?"
"I do not believe it can be changed," Chrona 42 admits, "Demiplanes are one thing, true planes are far another."
"So there's no objection to making a layer of the Cauldron use Astral temporal conditions?" Seira confirms, dispelling the effect on the distance and starting to walk forward once more.
"Ahem, I did not say that," Chrona 42 demurs, "I was commenting on the Astral itself. Your divine realm responds to your will, does it not?"
"Yes, although I got a chance to redesign it recently with Amaryl ascension to real power. While we could reshape it now and then, I decided to wait until Kascha or Sanzha follow in her footsteps, and making a layer closer to Astral would probably be easier on realm defense."
"I would confer with my superior," he finally says, "We have not had divinities on the Astral before. My apologies, may I send that message while we continue?"
"I don't mind," Seira agrees, eager to meet the next challenge in the meantime!
"Then go ahead, I'll be right back," Chrona 42 days, vanishing.
"Oh, that's so much," Kascha says, murmuring. "So many options and so much magic!"
"I hope you realize that there are only two options, Kascha," Seira tells her gently. "Recognizing this sort of magic if you come across any remnants of it, and using it in case the Compact is broken. Both would be insanely dangerous and would probably have swift resolutions, so this is our chance to enjoy ourselves with Chronomancy."
"It's not right, magic shouldn't be hobbled, not like this." She says it with soft wonder in every word, "I knew about chronomancy, but not like this. Feeling it so alive, it's like I had a sense that I never knew I had. It's like the Weave has a majesty I was blind to."
"I suppose Mystra agrees with you," Seira muses, trying to speed up the passage of time.
How are you trying to do it? This is a situation where the concept of it matters a lot due to Creation's time metaphysics.
I'm trying to make every two subjective seconds passing for my avatar back home (and the rest of Creation) take only one subjective second for me (and Kascha, and this testing area) here.
Okay, so basically you want double the speed of time around you.
Correct
You find it doesn't quite work - you can't seem to adjust it right. "Ahem," Chrona 42 steps out from nowhere, as if he was always there. "Apologies on that taking so long. You're running into the problem of the absolute Present. Are you familiar with the concept?"
"Please explain," Seira requests politely, confident that Kascha will take copious notes on the subject.
"Ahem," The Inevitable clears his throat, "We are in the present. We can go into the past, but we cannot go into the future, for it is not yet made. A metaphor may help. Imagine we are a single star an empty night sky. As we fly forward, we leave light behind us. We can look back and see the light behind us, for it has been made. But we cannot see ahead, for it is not yet made light, for there is nothing but darkness."
After a moment for that and Kascha to write away, "We call this the present or sometimes the absolute Present. Some works and traditions capitalize it, some do not. Use your own discretion."
Without looking up, "Thank you, that's helpful. Is it to distinguish from casual uses of the word present and the concept of the absolute present?"
"Yes," Is the answer given, "Some prefer to rely on context, but it's ultimately a matter of presentation and personal taste. Certain comma usages are similar to that."
This causes Kascha to keep on writing, but she adds in with, her tongue sticking slightly out of the corner of her mouth, "Commas should be used whenever possible for clarity."
"Quite," General agreement, "But to go back to the point. The present is absolute. You can travel back from the present to the past, but you cannot travel to the future. Likewise, certain things adjusting Creation's time overall are impossible. That's not how you do it. If you want subjective time, adjust time directly around you. It takes a certain touch because the magic has to fortify what it's affecting around you rather than everything else, and not going past the absolute Present. It may seem subjective, but that's how it works. Try it again, focus on a tighter range and affecting yourselves."
"I was affecting us and our immediate area only," Seira responds, frowning now. "I wanted to speed up ourselves, the grass, wind and everything in the immediate vicinity, and then compare the flows of time both here and home. Just what is the maximum radius I can affect here before Creation starts fighting back against the changes?"
"With your divine will?" A rub of his chin, "About this size. In that case, it may just be over. Narrow it down a little and try again, I'll watch in case it's something wrong."
Seira decides to start with a thousand feet radius! Should it works, she'll keep increasing all the way up to two miles or until Chrona 42 asks her to stop. And if it's just too far, she'll reduce the radius by jumps of a hundred feet at a time.
It works, covering the immediate area and more besides.
"There," Chrona 42 says, "A localized temporal adjustment. Continue."
It goes to a bit past 3000ft radius before it becomes too much, collapsing.
Staying at the 3000ft radius, Seira speeds up time. It goes three times as fast! Then four, then five... she reduces the radius if needed, but keeps on boosting the acceleration until she hits times 60. That much might be actively disorienting for her, being in different locations, so it's a chance to find out if she can naturally adjust to it or needs some practice.
Faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Somehow you handle it perfectly. Your senses adjust as Chrona 42 speaks in a blur, yet you can understand him. "The divine mind is far superior, and with some adjustments to handle things such as the deluge of prayer and temporal mismatches. It is not infinite nor is it a defense against being removed from time or frozen, but it is sufficient for this."
"An excellent point," Seira agrees. She hadn't considered on the effects if all of her were within the affected zone, but it's something to consider. She allows time to return to normal, before asking Chrona 42 curiously, "It is my understanding that making a universal improved Haste spell would be difficult, and couldn't take the magic much farther than it already is, but what of Time Stop? Metamagic can stretch it to roughly half a minute of subjective time, but without chaining them is a longer Time Stop banned by the Compact, or merely requires so much power no one thus far felt it was worth the hassle to develop?"
"Time Stop as it is known now is something of a substitute and not a great one. It works but the spell form is far less developed. You'd have to pour in vastly more power and skill to improve it," Chrona 42 says, "The spell is not a dead end, but it is close."
Kascha writes at that, "It is hard to modify, I've tried a few times and usually don't get far. Everything is so exacting."
"The spell formula will have to be reworked, but I saw nothing limiting about it, so the only hard limit would have to come from outside," Seira tells Kascha with a nod at the Inevitable. "Also, I've noticed that when I use Time Stop lately I have far more time on my hands than I need. During my mortal years I had cause to wring everything I could from the spell, but now? I suspect no one's made a more powerful spell since by the time you can design and cast it, you don't actually need it."
Out of curiosity, once more, she asks Chrona 42, "Could you cast the original spell?" It would be interesting to see if she could piggyback on it!
"Of course," Chrona 42 agrees, a moment of will and...
Spell Stowaway?
Correct! Spell Stowaway: Time Stop.
OW! There's a sharp shock, a fizzle around you. You certainly don't enter time stop.
Chrona 42 says, "It's the same spell but it isn't, and I suspect your trick ran afoul of that limitation."
Kascha keeps on her notes, "Same name, same sort of effect but the magical underpinnings are completely different," she says, "I see, it's like naming another spell fireball doesn't help things geared for normal fireball."
"Can you take us within it, now?"
"Certainly," Chrona 42 offers, hands out, "Take a hand, it's simplest that way."
"Let's bring just me in first, then take Kascha next," Seira readily agrees, taking his hand. If the spell is sufficiently different, she'll have to map out the key differences! The actual situation within the frozen time bubble, what she can affect outside it and so forth.
Spellcraft 10 for 103 (Divine Insight).
Ah, you see. One spell is simply a burst of super speed mimicking time being slower, a crude work around. This is like what you did with the island, only magnified to give you a far cleaner, superior result.
Seira checks to see if her avatar in the Cauldron is frozen along with the entirety of Creation while she is in the spell effect with Chrona 42.
Relatively due to the speed of time around you.
"Impressive," Seira notes. "Let's give Kascha a chance to be impressed as well? And in the meantime you can give me your superior's answer, perhaps?"
"Ah!" Kascha cries as she's brought into it.
"Such a situation would-" Chrona 42 begins, only for Kascha to look about and talk right over him.
"Oh, do you see the differences, Seira, it's remarkable!" Kascha gushes, "I get it now, especially how - oh! How remarkable!"
"Ahem," Chrona 42 clears his throat loudly, getting Kascha to pause and blush. "May I continue?"
"Please do," Seira says, gesturing for him to do so. Even if Kascha is being adorable.
"My superiors note that they would prefer that you did not, both to respect the Compact and to avoid strife in the Astral." Clearing his throat, "The delicateness of the situation must not be underestimated. The Compact concedes the Astral because we lack the ability to change it. There was not a deity in the Astral at the time, therefore the Compact did not precisely address this issue, beyond barring deities not native to the Astral from using it in that way. A loop hole used weakens the entire structure, and may well require corrective action to preserve the Compact."
"Are your superiors proposing a suitable compromise to bolster the Cauldron in other ways?" Seira inquires. "The phrasing suggests there is a desire to reach a mutually-agreeable accord rather than force the issue and, in turn, require alterations to a Compact that's worked quite well for millennia."
"What is it you want?" Is the answer back, "We would prefer mutual cooperation without requiring such things, but we will hear you out."
"Would the Compact allow you to give me a room in the Cauldron where I could use Chronomancy that didn't spill beyond its borders?"
"No," There is no give in that, "Exceptions like that are not allowed for anyone, barring a teaching situation like this."
"What if I wished to practice Chronomancy in said room with your direct presence, say once an objective month? Would that fall under teaching situations, or are they a one time deal?" Seira taps her lips. "I can't see that, though. Kascha could come here, but she's not able to exert her divine will to cast the spells, so presumably she would get a chance all of her own to try them out in her future."
"That is likewise impossible," Chrona 42 says. "Should further teaching be desired or required, we contact you or simply arrange it to happen."
"If you're not willing to help me with practice, providing the actual magic would have to do," Seira muses. "Creating an avatar for the first time takes a while. Speed up the process for the first avatar of any deity following me, and I'll consider it worthwhile enough to forget any thoughts of merging the Cauldron with Astral."
"A moment, please," Chrona 42 says, "That sort of offer would need to be approved by my superiors."
"Certainly," Seira says graciously, showing nothing of her cautious optimism. Amaryl might get her wish, now! And Kascha and Sanzha wouldn't need to be hobbled when they come into their own.
And like that Chrona 42 is gone.
Sidelong to you Kascha says in your mind:
Do you think they'd agree to something like that? It would be so helpful!
Lixer sure had some outside help with his avatar upon ascending to the throne of Lord of the First.
Oh! Do you think Mechanus did that?
I think Asmodad did it and the Compact let him. Once you open that door for him, he can't complain about doing the same for me to preserve their equilibrium, and that's where I'd imagine the strongest opposition would come from. In the end, it's harmless on the planar scale. I'm not asking for something unreasonable, unlike during the start of negotiations.
That makes sense, but I'm not sure they'd agree to it regardless. Oh, I hope you get it, that would be so useful.
Nothing is certain in negotiations, Seira agrees, waiting.
Chrona 42 is there a split second later, "I have discussed this matter, but a question first. Why do you think we would grant such a request?"
"It is a limited and finite application of magic rather than carte blanche by its very nature," Seira responds. "Ultimately, it doesn't affect the balance between the various factors one bit. We'll grow in power same as we would have otherwise. While it does provide is some flexibility, but given the large amount of capable mortal agents serving me, I don't lack for people who would rival Amaryl's avatar in capability to send to Primes. In the end, I believe you would agree because it serves your goals, while allowing me to do something nice to my wife and friends."
A consideration there, "Why do you think it serves our goals, Seira?"
"Maintaining the status quo is your goal, and this is a means of doing that without the bother of wide-scale negotiations. I'm aware of the difficulty that existed in setting up the terms of the Compact, and closing off any... loopholes, shall we say, will no doubt cause each side to pull for concessions of their own. Besides, you know it is best to gain results by mutual agreement. Ruling through force or fear is feasible in the short term, but leads to discontent. Impose your will too heavily, and there will be some who seek to exploit any clause or loophole. Why choose that when an easier option exists?"
"Because if push comes to shove, we win," Chrona 42 says, "The rule of law is strong and we have the benefit of stepping back, ensuring our victory. But," he considers, "Is this request your true goal here, Seira, or another negotiating tactic?"
"Amaryl was upset over not being able to visit the land she was born for so long, and I saw the same in Kascha. Had this been some right of passage literally every risen power had to go through it would be one thing, but if Lixer gets to have his daddy pull some strings I don't see my own request as that outlandish. I would quite honestly be happy with it and you wouldn't need to push anything as I'd be fully in your corner."
"I'm sorry, what?" A pause at that, "I don't follow. What is that about Lixer?"
"Alicia faced his avatar when we hit him a couple months ago, and Kascha here was part of the Aurora's efforts during the Crusade to free Lifasa. They hit one of his residences and gained considerable information about him. There's simply not enough time between Lixer ascending to his throne and forming an avatar without daddy dearest cheating. Perhaps he fed him enough power to shorten the duration, though given I faced Lixer in person and he didn't seem that strong I doubt it." She shakes her head. "To clarify, I'm not claiming you did this for him, only that something shady took place. Still, it gave me the idea that the yearlong waits were not inviolable, and since I answered your queries honestly I'd appreciate some of that directness back. Are you willing to do me this favor, so that I'd do you the favor of ensuring the status quo remains unchanged and the boat unrocked?"
"I was not aware of this. A moment." Chrona 42 bows and is gone, just like that.
Kascha is silent a few beats before, "Well, that's interesting."
Seira curses. Is it too much to hope for that people reciprocate?! Still, she settles to wait silently rather than blow up at Kascha who doesn't deserve that attitude one bit.
Yet in a few instants Chrona 42 is back. "I apologize, I feared there may be a breach of the Compact," he explains, "In light of this situation, we're willing to do it once, for whomever you please, that is an acceptable situation."
"Let's bring Amaryl's avatar into the fold, then," Seira responds immediately. To Kascha, she thinks, It seems there are other shortcuts in play, so we'll look for them to help you once you're at that stage yourself.
"We can resolve that once we're done here," Chrona 42 says, "Now, are you ready to continue?"
"Yes, please," Seira agrees, looking forward to it!
Ahead lies the tower itself. The gate looks solid.
The gate looks solid.
The gate looks solid.
Your eyes can somehow see many gates at once, as if they were stacked on each other somehow.
"Is time being repeated here? Duplicated?" Seira asks uncertainly.
"Repeated carefully in another loop, a paradox of sorts," Chrona 42 explains, "It's harmless to touch if you want to try it more closely."
Seira does want to check, but not through a touch. She forces her mind to single out one of the iterations of the gate and attempts to disintegrate it.
It feels - good. Right. Again you feel a part of magic that just wasn't there, as the gate becomes one with a shift.
"Well done," Chrona 42 says, "A relatively simple problem to solve."
Seira smiles at him, and proceeds inside.
A simple path within, an empty floor with four stairs going up, each in a cardinal direction.
The stairway to the north is made of gold and looks otherwise normal.
The stairway to the south is made of stone and is difficult to look at.
The stairway to the east is made of paper and seems to loop higher and higher the longer you look at it.
The stairway to the west is made of dust and dirt.
Seira focuses on the southern stairway with all her mental strength! "Time magic can play with your perceptions to hide something?" she asks with surprise. "Partially, rather than erase it from perception altogether?"
Spellcraft.
10 for 103 with Divine Insight again.
It just seems not there, different. Time isn't right there somehow, hitches and hiccups instead of solid movement.
"What would happen if one were to step there?" Seira muses, summoning a dog and having it ascend the stairs.
The dog steps in - and one gory moment later, the summon is gone.
"That," Is the answer, "Any of us would easily survive it of course, but it is dangerous."
"Let me try something," Seira muses, calling upon her divine power to surround herself with Chronomancy's version of a planar bubble. Then, she steps upon the stairway herself and sees whether the normal time she imposes upon her surroundings fixes the issue with the environment.
What exactly do you mean by a planar bubble here?
As the spell Planar Bubble except modified to bring my time with me rather than gravity/magic/etc.
To your command, the planar bubble forms and slowly time rights itself before you.
Seira goes up the stairs, checking whether time remains fixed once it's past the range of her personal time bubble.
It does not as Chrona follows, watching interestedly as Kascha writes away.
"How would I go about enforcing the proper time surrounding me on my environment in a more permanent manner?"
"For this, a Greater Temporal Stabilization would be needed," Chrona explains, "Following the principle of such spells as Restoration versus Greater Restoration."
"Greater Temporal Stabilization!" Seira cries cheerfully.
Again you feel it, magic forgotten and lost. It feels so right to use, so natural as time repairs itself before you.
"Oh, I see that it restabilized the temporal time frame," Kascha says, nose deep in her book, "By using the proper and absolute present as a frame of reference in comparison, you'd normally need to call on the right names to adjudicate that as a true spell."
"Let's see what awaits us above?" Seira proposes, climbing.
Thus you go up higher up. The stairs wind up, higher and higher and higher yet. You feel an odd pressure against yourself as you do, but nothing seems to come of it, at least that you can casually tell.
"Time folded into repetition?" Seira inquires, peering at it curiously.
Spellcraft.
Taking 10 for 88
It is as well as mixed with something that tries to reverse your local time at the same time, as far as your body is concerned. In other words, return you to being naught but a baby. Fortunately you're not subject to such a thing.
"An affect of actual reversal?" Seira asks curiously. "Would you mind sharing a few tales of how it was used in the past?"
"With hostility, mostly," Chrona admits, "Are you familiar with the Lost Layers of Arborea?"
Do I actually know IC?
You're a deity and on really good terms with Morwel, so yes, that's reasonable. Fair point asking since I wasn't sure if Seira had run on it IC yet or not.
"Yggdrassil and your headquarters, amongst others?"
'Right," Chrona agrees, "Now aging back mortal creatures is frowned on. They're meant to die and become spirits, but chronomancy could manage by copying some of what the Lost Layers do to visitors. It's the same idea, weaponized."
"So that extra-expensive wizard spell returning someone's youth only the once is artificially limited?"
"Wizard's Grace?" Is the confirmation you get. "My understanding is that like time magic, restoring mortal youth or even giving them immortality is not as difficult as you would think, were all artificial limits removed and the Weave allowed to work unfettered. No, mortals are meant to pass and the greater ones are meant to find immortality through various means - the easiest is always to become an outsider without dying, barring measures of predatory undeath, which have vast drawbacks."
"Yep, that's the one," Seira agrees. She despises expensive spells on principle, and this is even more annoying by being one-shot magic. "Good point there. I could always reincarnate someone like that, yes."
Turning her mind to the problem at hand, she asks, "So to fix this thing, do I boost the proper flow of time to counter the backwards inertia?"
"Exactly. Divine will should suffice," The Quarut says, "Try so, it will not be overly difficult for you now."
Seira does so!
And like that, time again refreshes and restores itself back to normal.
Seira gives the staircase a pleased look and continues her ascent!
You rise up to a small, triangular room. This room is ancient and ruined, forgotten and utterly desolate with the rot of the ages. The floor buckles with the faintest pressure on it.
Seira replicates the effect she had just witnessed and corrected, reversing the flow of time for the decrepit room to make it properly presentable once more.
The room reverts - into a fine sitting room, table and chairs, a single book sitting atop the table there. A fire crackles in the fireplace as your guide says, "Well applied. Have you begun to grasp how temporal magic works, at least in direct application?"
"Actually, I think I've grasped it the divine wizard way. Everything's possible, the structured spells are merely training wheels. I'm aiming towards that mastery of the arcane, actually," Seira tells him, her voice not carrying to Kascha to avoid biasing her. And really, the same is true for the so-callef arcane/divine divide....
"Then I believe you've learned the essence of what you need," Chrona decides, "Both you and Alicia are quick studies, with your focus on magic."
"Thanks! Then it's time to see the riddles you've left for me to uncover~" Seira says cheerfully, summoning the book into her hands and cracking it open after a glance at its magical aura, if any.
Guuuh! The book's letters seem off, changing. Some are written, some are yet to be written and a few are even being written right now. They change, going back and forth, a melange of past, present and future.
Seira freezes the book in time, taking a look at a snapshot of the text.
The book is frozen, the text solid. Kascha comes in next to you and leans over, "Oh, we can read it together, Seira."
"Sure can!" Seira agrees with her. "I was thinking of taking several snapshots of it during different times and then piecing it all together into a coherent whole. Do you have a better idea?"
"Oh no, that sounds fine," Kascha says, "I just want to see what it says, it has to be good."
Seira takes a series of snapshots of the book, from before its existence and just past it crumbling into dust in her hands. Then, she provides the copied information to Kascha so that her enthusiastic friend could put her mind to it and compile the puzzle!
Quick question, are you reading it yourself as well?
Yes, though I'm giving Kascha the chance to solve it first.
> roll 1d20+14
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=2]
Kascha works on it silently a time, absorbed and with no sign of putting it together quickly.
Seira decides to give it a try herself!
Make an Int check then.
22:19 <CC> roll 1d20+22
22:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=2]
It's a rather complicated read for obvious reasons, but you begin to get the gist. It's a history book, a history book of pasts that you know never happened.
"Once a day, you can read this book to see a history that never was, up to the current time. Though the farther in the past you go, the less reliable it is," Chrona says.
"If I study it enough, I'll see the temporal cold war that lead to the Compact?"
"Cold?" The Inevitable says, "Well, Ice wasn't involved in it any more or less than other planes, though there was that incident with all the primal elementals on Ice."
Well it certainly wasn't hot from the start, Seira muses. "I presume the book is mine to keep? How detailed do the histories get? Would they cover my own actions on Prime prior to my ascension?"
"It is yours. I suggest learning by experimenting with it," The Inevitable says.
"I can experiment with using temporal magic on it?"
"By using the book," Chrona says, "Focus on the possibility you wish to see."
Seira decides to try it! Holding the book in her hands, she focuses on the actual history of her first time venturing into the God-King's ruins.
What is the change in history you're working from here, Seira?
I'm trying to see the actual history rather than an AU to first tell if it works, and second to see how detailed/correct it would be.
You focus and the letters form indistinct blobs, nothing solidifying at all.
Seira takes note of this and focuses on a timeline where she never called Kascha back to life at her side.
Sure enough, words appear now. Reading it, you see that it changes Aurora's fate. Without Kascha's aid, missions go worse and rely on different people. In time, Muirfinn's attempt to challenge and slay Athux fails without her, resulting in Muirfinn, Canderella, Adrian and Vivantha falling to Athux. That setback hurts Aurora, more when Misalea loses her life in a desperate bid to free Adrian's soul. It leads to increased struggles, increased challenges - and when the battles for Lifasa comes, it all becomes hazy more and more vague, but all it speaks of is increasingly negative for Aurora's chances.
Seira purses her lips. She'd like to think she would have given Aurora her aid anyway, but it was Kascha's failure to support the Crusade properly that really got her going. Would she have reexamined her priorities where it comes to the divine status quo in time? Certainly. But how long would it have taken?
She decided to check another change in time, this one being a timeline where she and Alicia went into the God-King's ruins with intent to bring about his final judgement just before they two of them ascended and were barred from doing so.
Nothing happens.
"Interesting, isn't it?" The Inevitable approaches, "It's once per day, the magic to create and analyze such a thing is not easy."
"That..." Kascha frowns as she reads, "The battle against Athux was close. Even a little setback could have doomed us. That's far too plausible."
"I'll let you choose the what if for tomorrow," Seira tells Kascha, offering the book to her. She can wait another couple of days to find out the answer to her thoughts.
Then, she checks the room methodically with her eyes and magic, and should it hold nothing else of interest Seira plans to descend and pick another stairway to stabilize.
You find nothing else of interest here.
Going back down, you see...
A simple path within, an empty floor with four stairs going up, each in a cardinal direction.
The stairway to the north is made of gold and looks otherwise normal.
The stairway to the south is made of stone and is difficult to look at.
The stairway to the east is made of paper and seems to loop higher and higher the longer you look at it.
The stairway to the west is made of dust and dirt.
Seira decides to pursue the path to the east, breaking the looping time and then immediately freezing what stairs remain in time so that she would still have a stairway to climb.
Up these stairs you go, the challenges seemingly in hand now. In here is a plain room, with some hunks of what look like iron ore, a hammer and a cold, empty hearth.
Seira forms a mirror floating in the air before her, and uses it to look at the room in the past, then the future, in case it was in a different state elsewhen.
In the past you see that a sword is there instead of iron ore, a hammer and a cold hearth.
Seira reverts time to the past, examining the sword.
Loooot.
It must be the very definition of awesome but impractical, Seira muses as she idly advances the three of them forward a day.
"Take a glance at the book?" she tells Kascha, since she did promise to give her the next shot at it.
Nothing happens.
Remember, going into the past is fine, but future travel doesn't work. You can go up to the present but no further. You can divine or view likely futures, but they aren't written in stone.
Arguably, if we used it at a given date and now we're in the past, the 1/day usage hasn't been hit for it back then! But sure.
"I think I'd like to ask for a hint here," Seira tells Chrona, raising the sword she'd found. "It's really, really nice, but I will never be able to use it. That feels terrible to a dragon! Am I supposed to reforge it with the equipment in the present?"
The nothing happens was to trying to go into the future for the reasons noted in the previous post.
"Temporal manipulation to adjust the temporal frame - or just take it from the past," Chrona admits, "Either is fine. Consider it a complementary addition to your hoard, complements of the Temporal Compact. Everyone who goes through this gets a few."
Understood! Then let's see if Kascha can read the book in the past!
"I like gifts!" Seira chirps. "Are you saying that if it can't be reforged beyond a curio I won't be able to use?"
"That's right," Chrona says, "Though you may find it extremely helpful if you ever have to go to the past. You came after the Compact, you lack any reserve of such things."
After a giving the room the same check she gave the previous one, Seira comes over to read the book over Kascha's shoulder.
It's still on your story, Kascha reading up the end sections. "Hmmm. Can going back in time rejuvenate magical items?"
"No, in the same way that going back doesn't replenish your expended spells for the day," Chrona says, "Though there are ways around that with the proper chronomancy."
"I know that divine will can refresh mortal magic, even artifacts in the hands of our chosen servants," Seira muses. "What's the other way?"
"Temporal Recharge. Expensive for a mortal to cast, easy for you. Merely will it," Chrona says.
Seira eagerly casts Temporal Recharge!
It's...right, right in a way that still surprises you as the book is recharged. Kascha immediately begins to read it.
Seira peers over Kascha's shoulder, smiling at Chrona in gratitude.
Idiot DM time: What was your request? I'm having an absolute brain fart for what your second story request was going to be.
My second story request was of Seira and Alicia choosing to go into the ruins and deal with Daa-vid just before they ascended. I gave Kascha a chance of her own, though, so it'd be nice to see two stories after an appropriate temporal recharge.
Thus do Alicia and Seira go into the ruins. The history...grows immediately fuzzy and then dark. Words seem to curl into themselves and change, blossoming out only to change again. After a few moments Kascha shakes her head, "Is it damaged?"
Chrona comes and takes a look, "Ah, this is what happens if you try and chart something intensely powerful. I'm familiar with the situation there, I suspect that the Fairest Star may be beyond this book's ability to understand. Considering what trouble it lead to, it hardly surprises me." Clicking his metallic tongue, "When the divine makes a mess, it's always a big one."
Since it seems Kascha doesn't want to come up with a story of her own, Seira recharges the book again and then decides to see what would've happened if Torm's daughter hadn't been abducted.
And thus, Yemimah rises. Another light joins and you can read a dozen small changes, all for the better. A few more battles one, a stronger Triad. Soon enough it winds on and on, history improving. Before it hazes out entirely, the last lines describe Yemimah heading with Torm to challenge the God-King, at his side for that coming battle.
Kascha reads it all, smiling by the end. "It doesn't say, but I like to think it would have gone better," she says, "Everything's easier when you're supported by someone who cares abut you."
"I do wonder why they're still the Triad after getting another deity, but that's pretty much what I expected," Seira muses. "Alright! One more!" And she decides to start at the aftermath of the God-King subjugation war, where Shar and Selune somehow managed to overcome their differences.
Blurry words, indistinct text.
"To imagine such an unlikely thing may be beyond even the book's ability," Chrona remarks.
Seira nods, closing the book for now. It's good to learn all the limitations now, even if some of them are disappointing.
And there are two more stairways to explore, so she descends once more!
Going back down, you see...
A simple path within, an empty floor with four stairs going up, each in a cardinal direction.
The stairway to the north is made of gold and looks otherwise normal.
The stairway to the south is made of stone and is difficult to look at.
The stairway to the east is made of paper and seems to loop higher and higher the longer you look at it.
The stairway to the west is made of dust and dirt.
Seira examines the stairway of dust and dirt.
It looks solid enough. Nothing seems to impeding your way up, at least to a casual examination.
Some things you need to experience on your own, and she attempts to ascend.
You walk up - and in the blink of an eye, the passage is gone, the way up sealed with stone.
Kascha blinks, "Eh?"
Seira rolls back time to her starting point, and then decides to go back further to see what had been there previously.
Easy enough. About a day ago you see Chrona there, casually using magic to stone over the passage.
"Ah! Seira! Kascha," The past version of the Inevitable says, "You've figured it out. To proceed, stop the passage from reverting to the past. Also, the magic was undetectable due to shunting it into the past - an extremely advanced trick with drawbacks, but effective purely in the present."
"So tricky!" Seira exclaims, considering the means to accomplish it before settling on Choronomancy's variant of the dimensional anchor spell.
As you consider, the present Chrona says, "Also, cast it in the present to settle it," he says, "In the past it won't work unless it's something with a long enough duration to last the difference."
Kascha nods along, writing, "That makes sense. And shunting something to the past to be undetectable, that's clever. I like it. Why is it so hard?"
"Well," Chrona clears his throat, a metallic rattle, "It works because much of the time, no one is looking in the past, only the present. But if Chronomancy is a known problem, skilled mages will know to detect for it and not rule that out."
"I thought it would work as a barrier, but if it's just suppressing the effects, then yes, that makes sense," Seira muses as she repeats her spell in the present as instructed.
"Actually, have you seen implementations where a spell is instead shunted off to another plane rather than a different time?"
"Oh!" Kascha says, "That makes perfect sense!"
"That's close enough," Chrona says, as the passage ahead returns to your magic.
Seira climbs up the now unblocked stairway!
Here sits but a single glass orb, atop an altar. It looks unremarkable in a plain, slightly cramped room.
Yet as you watch it, the orb flickers with a pale purple light.
Seira studies the orb, asking Kascha, "What do you think?"
"It's pretty," Kascha says, as...
Orb of Yesterday
This orb allows yesterday to be seen, all within 20ft of it. Any creatures that touches it sees the last 24 hours around the orb instantly.
Seira uses the orb to take a peek at yesterday, before picking it up and rewinding time with her own powers to test the difference in experience.
Yesterday was fairly boring besides your meeting there with Chrona.
The orb is like watching it as you lived it, while the magic is much the same, but somehow...more? Perhaps simply more intimate.
"Here you go," Seira tells Kascha, passing the orb over.
Glancing over at Chrona, she asks, "How would you set up an attack against Kascha in the past? A spell like forcecage, say, which would execute in the present without any of the trappings of casting?" Aside from curiosity at such techniques, Seira also wants to see whether Kascha would spot such preparations with her orb.
"The simplest way? I'd change history without meeting her, so that I win without making a single attack. That would be ineffective now, but far better to change the path when it is easy than to change it the hard way."
"Well yes, but I'm trying to experience the more direct attack. It's like evocation, which is ultimately weaker than its subtler alternatives, but since it's pretty and fun it's in fairly wide use. Just like how you closed off the way here in the past, I'm wondering if there's a way to emulate all the metamagic that eliminates signs of casting and the time it takes to cast by shunting all of that process into the past. Then, I want to see how it works so that I'm ready for it if it's ever used against me."
"Oh yes, that can be done. It's not easy - Silent and Stilled spells are easier," Chrona admits, "But it can be done. Would you like a demonstration?"
"Yes, please," Seira says, nodding to Kascha so that she remains attentive with that orb. Removing gestures and sounds, disguising any visible spell effects and greatly reducing casting time are all possible with metamagic, as she'd told Chrona, but there is always a chance for her to counterspell those. It remains to be seen whether she'll get such a chance now!
Chrona focuses - and magic surrounds him. Potent magic, something to temporally displace a few bits of himself. Sublimely powerful and difficult work, but suddenly it begins to rain in the room. No signs, no hints, nothing. It just happens.
"Oh, I saw it in the past, just a little bit ago," Kascha says, "What circle was that trick?"
"12th," Chrona dismisses the rain after a few seconds, "Doing so and doing it in the Weave properly doesn't require overwhelming power, but overwhelming finesse instead, as you're working with the building blocks of magic."
"Can you walk me through it?" Seira requests, interested in trying to cast something similar. She delivers the concept of a flower suddenly appearing in Kascha's free hand, intending to seed the spell in the past.
Incidentally, would Instant Counterspell work there? It's immediate action, but I'm not sure how it interacts with this stuff.
If you aren't aware of it, no, because you don't know to use it in the first place. You can't counterspell if you aren't aware there's something to counterspell. If you saw through the trickery you could use it as normal.
It's like...shunting back and forward and you're pretty sure even your divine will can't do it, only precise spell work. You grasp the theory of it at least with some demonstration - it's like casting the spell in the past and the present at once, dividing parts of it as needed.
"It feels sort of like a spell completion item," Seira muses, borrowing the orb from Kascha. "Hit me with another one from a week ago? I'll try to counter it."
Intent is to see whether Instant Counterspell will work with the orb even if the spell itself was from much earlier, and to try and actually counterspell a Chronomancy spell with chain counterspell.
No rolling needed since it's purely testing.
Once you know the spell is coming and from when, countering it isn't any harder than a normal spell. That's the big if, admittedly.
Well then! Time for them to explore the last stairway!
As you go down...
There is a complication to the war, Seira.
How so? Seira inquires, continuing to head down. Chrona will return them while no time has passed, so even an immediate, all-out potential attack just doesn't carry the same urgency with it as it otherwise would.
Barachiel, right?
Yes.
Akil bin Faheem has made two offers to Celestia through a back channel.
Unexpected. Are you able to share the contents with me?
The first offer is to broker a negotiated peace. That the war will benefit no one and we can stop it before it spirals out of control.
The second, offered if the first was rejected, is that he wishes to permanently adjust the political landscape of the City of Brass, and the current Sultan's reign may be close to an end.
Seira snorts in amusement. It's this experience, where you didn't expect something but it makes perfect sense the instant you hear about it. So there's the obvious throwaway option we're meant to refuse for the perpetuation of that hateful status quo, and immediately afterwards he proposes to stab his master in the back! And I bet that even if we approached the Sultan with this, there's some other third plan running in the background, where Akil pretends he's just tricking us. Is that about your analysis as well?
I see three possibilities.
It may be a sincere offer to gain power.
It may be exactly as you say.
It may be as you say, but the Grand Sultan is involved in the plot.
Also, we cannot rule out Hell manipulating matters through Akil.
The trouble of it is that discerning which is the truth is far from simple.
Were this offer made to me, I would reject it after consideration, Seira muses. That two options were presented is an attempt to lock us into thinking they are the only ones available and to force us to choose between them. In fact, both are bad. We can achieve our goals of ending slavery across the Inner Planes without a pact with Hell to divine Fire between us, which is where this would undoubtedly lead if the offer is sincere.
We are not inclined to take it, either. But it may be meant to appeal in the future.
Much as I want him dead, if he takes out the Sultan to seize power and abolishes slavery, I'll consider my goals for the war achieved. So we'll see what happens, I suppose?
Until then.
Meanwhile Kascha looks on, "Who is it, Seira?"
"Barachiel wanted a consult." Seira smiles at Kascha. "Don't worry, things are fine outside. Now, let's see where the last stairway leads?"
The last stairway's solid - you just can't advance, like trying to push through solid stone.
"Is it frozen in time?" Seira wonders. Interactions with people during Time Stop are blocked in a similar fashion, so she figures she might as well explore that possibility first.
"Sort of," Is the answer, "Are you familiar with Time Stop?"
"Obviously, although to my regret I can't use it effortlessly yet," Seira responds. "That said, I'm not aware of anything that ends it early short of antimagic. Is that the answer here?"
"Yes. Sometimes the hammer you have is the hammer you need," Chrona states, "It's the simplest way by far."
Surrounding herself with an aura of antimagic, Seira attempts to step forward!
And like that you advance forward smoothly, no resistance at all.
Atop the stairs is a room with a simple shield, made of steel and wood. It awaits you.
Kascha follows, writing away all the while.
Seira cheerfully examines the shield!
Shield of Yesterday
This shield is a heavy steel shield+2 in the present. When in the past, it becomes a heavy steel shield+8, temporal fortress. A temporal fortress weapon grants a +6 bonus to saves versus chronomancy.
"You just know this and the sword are going to get used," Seira mutters, before stepping back into the past to practice a bit with her new toys. The shield is animated to float protectively at her side, while she summons a melee training dummy sufficiently warded that it won't collapse from a single strike.
You find them to be finely made and balanced arms and armaments.
As you do Kascha watches, "Hmmm, this has been really informative. Thank you," she turns to Chrona. "I've learned so much. Haven't you, Seira?"
"Definitely," Seira agrees, freshening herself up with magic. "Is there more to find here, or are we done for now?" she asks Chrona. There will always be a chance to ask for a refresher, or join Amaryl on her own excursion, after all.
"You're done," Chrona says, "Someone will contact you shortly about the agreement you made."
"Thanks!" Seira chirps, and then decides to use this chance to explore a few other variants via her book.
Seira takes a look at a timeline where she made a different choice in seeking Akil bin Faheem out to size him prior to meeting with the sultan during the summit. When his offer came much sooner, and she and Barachiel agreed to work with him to depose the Sultan and achieve their goals....
I want to see whether I can make an alternate history with two consecutive differences.
The next timeline, once the book had been recharged, explores Seira convincing Istishia to let the various sides choose their own allegiance in the Abolition War.
Another timeline, after a fresh recharge, looks into Seira and Amaryl stubbornly staying at Lathander's side rather than withdrawing with his proxy during the confrontation with Mephistopheles.
A final timeline explores the consequences of Seira succeeding to trap more of Zariel's divine essence after their flight from Avernus.
Effectively, DvR1 Zariel from the point of rescue.
Choosing two separate differences doesn't seem to work - it goes right to fog and indistinctness.
As Chrona watches, you try the second one. You are able to see forces rise and go forth - and the moment Water steps into Fire, it becomes too indistinct to read, all at once.
The third one is fairly short: Mephisto ultimately chooses to withdraw and from the book's text, Lathander was 'genuinely angry and driven to wrath' towards you, thoughts towards what he had lost and come close to regaining in a moment. Relations between the House of Nature and the Cauldron cool rapidly.
Finally, it doesn't look different from here, at least greatly. Perhaps Zariel's time has not yet come.
About the last one, was it actually possible to gather the divine essence better? I'm curious about pointers for how I could've done that (or could do it in the future).
Seira tries two more timelines to compensate for the first failure! In one, she keeps the first divergence of meeting with Akil to size him up during the summit.
In the other, her change is solely that Akil approaches Celestia after the attack upon it by Fire's forces got repelled.
The book doesn't go into enough detail there.
History doesn't seem to meaningfully change from that meeting - but then again, it wasn't far past and war was probably inevitable with the personalities involved.
The second shows that Celestia essentially rejects the offer, as it did before. Not a huge amount of change.
The book is recharged in case Amaryl wants to play with it, and then Seira waves at Chrona and takes herself and Kascha home!
Thus you return home after an interesting adventure and...
Next move?
FYI, you and Moore are due realm updates, those'll be tonight or tomorrow.
I want to schedule that visit with Primus, but first cover Amaryl's avatar! And hear how things went with Corellon and in Pallanth.
Amaryl is found there, "Oh, Seira," she comes forth and gives you a hug, before, "I had the most interesting time in Arvandor. It was beautiful and oh, I ran into Alicia as well."
"Did you, now?" Seira asks curiously, returning the hug warmly. "Tell me all about it~"
"Oh, I came and there was a tremendous feast," Amaryl begins, "Talking about our strategies and how to prosecute the war. It was so wonderful there, Seira, all the warriors and celebrants had a lovely time and all was right. It's like the stories I heard as a child, where pain and misery are no more and all elves are brothers and sisters again."
"That's pretty close to how we got with Pallanth, isn't it?" Seira muses, leading Amaryl deeper into the palace. "The fey take care of the festive mood, and the noble houses are aligned with the king, in support of their human neighbors and working to the betterment of elfkind?"
Aside from some distinct coldness from House Gaial, though this plan should fix that last bit!
Amaryl follows, holding your hand. She smells good - like sunshine and faintly of berries, of fruits ripe in the summer sun.
"Yes," Amaryl agrees, "The only sad part was Alicia's visit, because she came about something a horrible succubus did."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Seira asks, breathing in the summery scent.
"Ah, you should ask her, it was terrible," Amaryl says, "The darkest of arts, using an elf as a canvas to take stolen soul knowledge and empower them into a deadly champion, then have it flee away once defeated."
Seira grimaces. "Demons," she mutters, shaking her head. "I'll check in with Alicia later. For now, I'm hoping that I have a small gift for you."
That said, she leads the way into the secret chamber only the two of them can access, which holds Amaryl's avatar.
The avatar right now is little more than a suggestion, forming slowly as the two of you enter. The chamber is well lit and pleasant enough, simply barricaded away from all others.
"What is it?" Amaryl asks.
Chrona did promise that this would be taken care of once they had returned, and given mastery over time if there were any need for preparations, they would've been done in the past. Thus, she pauses for a moment to see whether a miracle takes place....
"Ahem." Chrona's voice is heard, "Can you hear me, Seira? We'll do this, but we need your permission to reach such a place."
"Granted," Seira says, deciding to keep an eye on her orb for extra information.
And like that, it simply happens. The avatar grows in between the blinks of an eye, opening her eyes.
"Seira?" Both Amaryl and the avatar speak at once, "Oh! This is...!" Both put a hand to their mouth at the same time.
"Thank you, Chrona," Seira says, resealing the room once the process is complete. If there's anything more, Chrona and his friends will know and tell her before she even does it, time travel being great for that sort of thing!
"Now you can literally go to Pallanth on the heels of Corellon's support and your visions to the populace," she tells her wife brightly.
"Or...One thing first," Amaryl smiles gently, avatar flanking you and Amaryl in front of you. She just smiles, saying not a word.
That smile of happiness made all the negotiations worth it, and Seira grins back!
And thus a good time is had by all.
A little later you decide to...
Next moves, assuming no interrupts?
I want a chat with Primus. Hopefully, it'd be arranged off screen, given I acted IC to negotiate for it already and it'd just be boring Sendings back and forth. After that, however, I want a fresh target to hit. Donald should know that the ideal team for it would be Elle and Ranbar accompanying me (he can come too if he thinks it's a fun or worthwhile mission~).
You barely have a chance to do anything else before a message comes.
Seira, I formally request aid. Imix is moving to attack.
To be clear since father and son share the same markup for this, this is indeed Zaaman Rul.
We will be there at your side, my friend
Seira's avatar abandons her tour of Lifasa's University Town with an apology, returning to the Cauldron to be ready to serve as the last line of defense. Na'lith will remain in charge of the defending forces, of course, as that's his job and Seira doesn't intend to micromanage her followers.
Meanwhile, Seira herself takes a moment to confirm with Valar and Honeydip that there are no planned actions for their armies. Valar would be leading his force with her to Zaaman Rul's realm, while Lady Honeydip will marshal her army to wait for a signal to join the battle, much like the way Seira intended to call upon Alicia's aid during that strange assault on the Cauldron. A reserve they could commit after observing the enemy's movements would be worth its weight in platinum.
Oraga gets her first battlefield command as well, as Seira decides it is time for that. She will lead Omni and Yandrazrt as an elite three-person team to take on any exceptional enemy officers at her own discretion.
Finally, Seira's staff will consist of Donald, Elle and Ranbar, much like she had been considering earlier.
As the armies acknowledge their orders and organize, Seira takes another moment to consider the plan....
It's hat time! "Yet the greatest function of the helmet is future seeing, allowing the wearer to have an instinctive grasp of which of her strategies are wise. This grants a +20 competence bonus to any check related to leading soldiers and planning battles, as well as the ability to 'sense' flawed plans."
Taking a (buffed) 10 for Profession/General 98.
23:03 <CC> So weird that the node didn't trigger, though
23:04 <•Kotono> That does resolve it. Hm. Post about that in your thread and I'll figure it out tomororw.
Oraga gets her first battlefield command as well, as Seira decides it is time for that. She will lead Omni and Yandrazrt as an elite three-person team to take on any exceptional enemy officers at her own discretion.
Do you mean those two will serve with Oraga, to be clear?
Oraga's a Ranma situation due to simply inhabiting the body with no interest in the male or female parts of it. I usually use he as a result, I just want to be clear here.
Yes, I'm using she for Oraga. Oraga will lead Omni and Yan-chan.
The main thing you can think of is that consulting with Zaaman Rul first would be worthwhile, so your plans can be coordinated fully. It's possible another iron is in the fire and that will affect your deployment.
Letting Valar know that she will inform him of any last minute changes should they become necessary and asking him to tell her the moment his forces are ready, Seira takes her companions and Oraga's group and transports them all to Zaaman Rul's realm.
Seira, Elle, Donald, Ranbar, Oraga, Omni, Yandrazrt.
As you prepare?
"Seira?" Amaryl asks.
"Yes, Dear?"
"I want to say thank you. Having an avatar is already making my efforts easier," Amaryl says, "My love, I-"
In that moment you feel it, the connection to Amaryl blossoming bright as...
Node update.
She understands even without words, and Seira is by Amaryl's side the next moment, kissing her. Then, with a confident grin, she tells her, "Let's mess Imix up, shall we?"
"No let's. We will," Amaryl matches your confident look.
Any personal prep before going? How are forces traveling over there?
In my understanding, divine power from myself or Amaryl can open a portal/portals for the troops when it is time. If I'm wrong, we actually have a dedicated portal to Zaaman Rul's realm in the trade hub, which can be commandeered for the purpose. I doubt there'd be much trading going on during a major attack.
Personal prep is precasting the Combat Loadout spells without asterisks. They will be shared with my party as well as offered to Oraga's party, if there is a need for them (or you could just give them a flat bonus from this, given Team Oraga will be fighting offscreen).
Sounds good.
Fire.
You once again step into the ever inferno of Fire.
Flames crackle and dance around you, parting as you appear before a great, burning tower. Forces are assembling here as you see Zaaman Rul here, issuing commands from atop a great obsidian boulder, arms crossed as servants heed his words and go forth.
Most of the forces are fire elementals and natives to fire - dragons of flame as well, a scattering of those and small supports of fire giants and other such things. More and more pour in by the moment, assembling a vast hoard. The crackle of flames is ever present, burning and hissing.
"Seira," Zaaman Rul raises his voice, "Welcome!"
"It's good to be here," Seira returns, making her way over to him. "My armies are ready," she says without preamble. "How would you prefer that I deployed them? We don't have time to integrate them, but we can decide on their respective tasks."
Zaaman Rul hops down and is before you, "Thank you." A moment of sincerity before a flaming map appears. "My strategy is three fold. Forces on Fire itself will attempt to stop the armies from invading, but as of now I fear the numbers doom that. So I have adjusted my realm into the shape of an oval and ringed it with lava mountains of powerful currents, save for a single pass. This pass will lead to my tower and myself - for I am the goal for Imix." Zaaman Rul says.
"At the beginning, I will battle in the frontlines. I will seek to eliminate powerful enemies and possibly provoke Imix into doing something foolish, but I expect that to fail. My ultimate gambit is a fake retreat, understanding that stopping them from entering my realm may well be doomed." The lava mountains are meant to slow them, but I also concede my father is more powerful than I, and can likely overcome my will to shape this realm. So thus I weaken his forces and allies, then funnel him here to crush his army in front of his goal."
Amaryl inspects the map, "So a fighting retreat into a victory?"
"That's the essence of it. I need to draw Imix's forces in and crush them. I lack the ability to force that anywhere but here. Of course," With a hint of a smile as magic spreads, giving you privacy, "He may find and certainly expects a flanking action from my own allies. He'll get one too, so he can't simply overwhelm my realm and crush us all."
Ranbar is silent throughout this, head bowed in silent reverence.
"So where will be we?" Elle asks, "That flanking action or something else?" She inspects the map, "Also, what are the enemy layouts?"
Donald just whistles, "Hey, as long as we get it done."
"The enemy disposition can be discussed shortly, but...I'd like you here to help me crush the enemy," Zaaman Rul says, "You've been a loyal and true friend, Seira. I want you helping me for the most important part of this battle."
A crude map to show the gist of it. The red lines within the oval show the lava mountains and the tower in the center. It's purely a visual aid.
https://i.imgur.com/AayE6Oo.png
Seira studies the map as well, pursing her lips. "Finally my time to shine?" she muses, pointing at the segment leading into the realm and then at another a short bit after said entrance. "I'm a goddess of magic and war, so there are a few tricks I have been sparse with thus far. If I'm at one of these spots, I will kill everything within two miles. I suppose I could still be swarmed with genuine monsters, though a ban on dimensional hijinks will take care of that, making the defensive position within your realm better suited for it. Still, I'd personally prefer to make a stand outside and see if losing enough frontliners gets Imix to pull back or appear in person, where we will fight him together."
She gives Zaaman Rul a chance to respond, consulting with her artifact about this idea.
Same as before, 10 for 98.
Both strategies are sound - simply different approaches.
Zaaman Rul considers this, "How strong is your ability?" he asks.
"Anti-army, pretty much. We and our lieutenants might survive repeated explosions amped to a ridiculous degree and Imix, the Sultan or Eblis might have a counter for it outright, but I've yet to meet an army that could."
"Can you use it reliably without catching the allies around you within it?" Zaaman Rul then asks.
Seira shakes her head. "Afraid not. The deployment would need to be adjusted so that the perimeter forms sufficiently behind me. Say three miles?"
"That's difficult to employ," Zaaman Rul finally says. "But..." A trail off, "A great way to bloody their nose directly. But if it can be countered, then it's risky to use on the strongest." A rub of his chin as he considers it.
As Zaaman Rul does, a particular prayer catches your attention. "Seira, help me," A quiet, desperate prayer from Aribyn. As you recall, he is a dwarf who serves as a general, low intensity problem solver. He's not one to pray save for rituals, preferring to let his actions speak.
"In the end, it would be difficult to deploy it effectively if we don't plan for it ahead of time and clear the space for me to work, either to greet the invaders or to trap them just inside your realm where their escape will be made difficult," Seira reasons. "While Imix could counter me, don't we actually want to draw him out in the open? If he appears, I will retreat towards the front lines where you are, and we'll follow your plan, all the way up to the gambit of further retreat? And if he focuses on us, our combined armies will be free to take care of his forces."
As she speaks, Seira splits her attention to look in on Aribyn!
As Zaaman Rul considers?
Amaryl speaks up and says, "I think it's worth trying, because we may not be able to use it if we don't use it early."
Meanwhile yo usee Aribyn is on a mountain path - a narrow, crumbling mountain path, his back flush against the cliff face as he turns, barely enough space for him to do that. Circling him are two griffons, bloodied but furious. The only way out of this is down or up, and he distinctly lacks wings, being a dwarf and all. He's wearing chain mail and carrying a sap in hand, eyeing the griffons with a quiet worry.
Sometimes, it just takes a leap of faith, Seira whispers in Aribyn's mind, ready to catch him with feather fall once he follows her advice. Given her control, she'd be able to do it just short of the ground, to avoid giving the griffons a chance to assault Aribyn mid-descent due to the speed he will pick up.
"Aside from that," Seira adds to Zaaman Rul and Amaryl, "we really should decide Valar's deployments, and how we can best use our reserves."
With that...Aribyn takes a breath and leaps down, the griffons squawking and slashing at him. Yet he falls safely and fast, plummeting town and down and down...until at the last moment he lands softly, the griffons left behind well above.
Seira gives him a sense of approval, waiting for Zaaman Rul's answer in the meantime. After all, he is the one under threat, and she is here to support rather than supplant him.
"Alright." Zaaman Rul says, "We'll make that work once the first attack begins. Be careful, Seira - if someone strong enough to stop that is there, it could go wrong. You know the story of my last battle with Imix." He clasps your shoulder and then smiles, "But you're fearless. I admire that."
"Few plans survive contact with the enemy," she agrees. "I'll still do my best to thin out the herd and make them hesitate. I won't take any stupid risks this early into the engagement, either."
"Then go marshal and prepare your soldiers for now," Zaaman Rul says. "Soon we will celebrate over my father's broken army."
Let's get our people over here, Seira tells Valar, back at the Cauldron with his army. Zaaman Rul has a basic idea on deployment, and you should contribute to it.
She decides to explore the entrance to Zaaman Rul's reshaped realm, bringing Donald, Elle and Ranbar with her. "Any thoughts?" she inquires, observing in person the spots which would be best used for making her stand.
Besides general strategy stuff, any prep or to dos here, or good to move along?
Once the attack is spotted, I'll cast the asterisk'd spells, but that's my prep. The rest was already stated. If Zaaman Rul and Valar defer from planning deployment strategy, I would propose that we simply are responsible for separate duties. His forces can keep guard well, familiar with the terrain. Our forces can serve as the first line of defense after me, since they are varied and anything that gets past me due to sheer numbers or other bullshit will be better suited to fighting Fire-based enemies than other Fire-based creatures. Zaaman Rul will be there with my team, Amaryl, and Oraga's team.
Finally, Lady Honeydip will be ready to be used as reserves, either to be brought in on the heels of an invading force to trap any enemies that press into Zaaman Rul's realm between our armies or to reinforce our forces if we need the numbers due to attrition. Finally, there exists the risk of diversion, so she could find herself deployed against it.
Awesome. Gimme a quick d100.
22:03 <CC> roll 1d100
22:03 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d100=2]
As Seira prepares...
Meanwhile her avatar sees to the Cauldron. All seems well for now at least. Na'lith is training the soldiers when her gaze looks up. She notices the Astral beyond suddenly looks dimmer, darker.
Please come and take a look outside, Seira requests of Kascha and Sanzha, consulting with her other self on just what might be causing this unfortunate phenomenon.
Kascha and Sanzha attend you in a moment, looking up. It's getting darker by the moment, "This can't be right. Are we under attack?" Kascha says, "We should mobilize."
Sanzha looks on, "Oh, I see. Troublesome."
"Yes, Sanzha?" There's no point in telling Kascha that their forces are already mobilized at their highest alert, she'll realize it on her own soon enough.
Any knowledge to help me out, btw?
K:P real quick, sure.
10 for 103, RealSeira is curious.
There's a lot of things - an astral storm, but not on that scale.
More likely something unholy, dark or shadowy. Something big, whatever it is. Something ominous and not good at all. You can't -prove- it quite yet, but the odds sure don't look good.
Seira's avatar decides to try and counter it with divine application of holy power, if only to see the level of threat she is facing here.
How precisely do you aim to do that?
Since the information I got is extremely vague, being precise is difficult. I presume it's Shar, but I have no idea how she would do something dark and shadowy and unholy to a whole section of Astral. If it's possible for me to figure it out, I would like to do the opposite with light/goldenfirefire/good. I assumed it was an application of divine power resulting in rank checks.
Thus Seira extends her divine will and she feels it - a thousand little points, each a tiny cluster. You can see them now - so many portals are opening on the Astral at once, opening to allow passage to it. You smell it, the smell of dead olive trees and dying earth. The smell of fire, the smell of Hades.
"Kascha, please ask Vlaakith politely whether a myriad of portals from Hades are opening up into Astral in her neighborhood as well," Seira voices, before considering what the best ways to close a portal might be.
Plenty of stuff like antimagic or dimensional lock should pause portals for the duration, iirc, but what would actually kill them?
A dimensional anchor would suppress a single portal, a lock all the portals in range. Antimagic would suppress them unless it'a deific work.
"She says no," Kascha reports quickly.
"Huh. Sanzha, please gather a team able to use magics to lock down dimensional travel and have them ready to assist me. Kascha, I'm going to use that neat little spell Jaela came up with to deal with devil incursions. Find out whether we have someone capable of doing the same to back me up."
Extending her mind farther, she tells Honeydip, I believe an invasion from Hades is imminent. I plan on allowing the first wave in before blocking the majority of their portals. Please be ready to strike at those who appear once that happens.
Then, after casting Sensual Blessing upon herself, Seira in avatar form dashes out into Astral while firing off Dimensional Locks at the clusters of hastily-formed portals!
Combat Loadout for the Avatar + Sensual Blessing. I forgot to note that SeiraPrime has Bibliotheca Arcana precast, so a note of that here.
As for the clusters I'm targetting, how far does this effect spread? A mile, two miles, infinity?
Looking out it spreads for about 12 miles.
In that case, I'm going to head out into Astral to position myself at at a spot roughly distant 1750ft from the cluster of portals nearest the Cauldron, zapping clusters with Dimensional Lock all the while. I'll zap 3 of them a round, and travel at the speed granted by Int 40 (+15).
Everything all tallied, what's that put your movement speed at?
I don't remember how Astral speed works except that it's based off Int.
400ft.
Just tossing this out and giving you a chance to reply at leisure, since I know you crashed right after work today, and in case this speed changes the calculus at all.
Let's do this.
You begin to fly out, flinging them as they fly. Yet you barely begin before it happens - shadowed things emerge. Twisted things cloaked in darkness, emerging all about as more and more portals open, expanding past the limits rapidly. Snarling, snapping, silent daemons - battle axes and blades, faceless things emerging from the portals.
They're here, Seira tells Honeydip and Na'lith, even as she casts the interdiction spell that blocks out dimensional travel for a massive radius around her and proceeds onwards! Time to see whether the portals she covers will be taken out once she moves.
Jaela's Teleport Block, radius of 1750ft. I'm hoping it works like Dimensional Lock for the purpose of nuking rather than suppressing the individual portals, and going to see that!
Going to stay out in the field, then? If so init.
Come at me, fodder bros!
13:19 <CC> roll 1d20+19
13:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 17 > [d20=9]
You win init. Seira (32) > Hordes (17)
Go ahead and go, I'll define them more and add inits as needed. It's just beginning after all.
Proceeding with my action of Jaela's Teleport Block and flying at top speed to hit more portals with its range. Gambit so I'd hit back anyone AoOing me.
The shadowy daemons by and large shrink away from you, as portals continue to spread. You fly about on your mission, yet they're spreading and spreading in all directions. The daemons don't impede you at all, instead gathering away from you and...
Go ahead. Perhaps wisely the daemons aren't trying to directly fight a deity. At least not yet.
Seira continues her attempts to wipe out the portals, even as she waits for Honeydip to lead her forces to eliminate those daemons already out here.
Is the teleport block closing the portals permanently after they leave my radius?
Give me Perception int hat case real quick, then I'll answer all the questions. Someone may be trying something sneaky.
Taking 10 for 98.
The portals are slowly recovering, though not fast. Slower than they should.
Honeydip is leading the army forth as you'd expect, spilling out from the Cauldron in the meantime.
You can shadowy things emerging from the portals. Like living darkness, next to insectoid mezzloths, crab-like piscoloths and the over muscled, scaly yagnoloths. The daemons continue to emerge, the shadowy things one and all darting for the Cauldron, all but impossible to see once they're in the Silver Sea.
Na'lith's forces will keep the Cauldron safe! Seira keeps moving at high speed and making a circuit of the portals. If she closes down enough of them, perhaps they will either dispel or whoever is behind the attack will give up on it. And meanwhile, she leaves up enough permanent dimensional locks to make the respawning difficult, trusting in Honeydip and her army to dispatch the invaders!
I'll keep going fast to nuke portals (400ft x4 = 1,600ft at a dedicated run), and drop 2 Dimensional Lock spells per round as swifts so that even as I leave the area some of the portals won't come back due to being nuked permanently via those AoE spells.
Thus Seira drops dimensional locks and flies as the armies begin to clash around her. Daemons simply are unwilling to engage her as she does so - and yet a portal about 4000ft ahead opens wide. From this they come - a swarm of dozens and dozens of nycaloths, great green brutes with axes ready to strike. Each a horror worthy of a nightmare, each looming in the Silver Sea like the beginning of the end. Things of greed and hate, eyeing you with open disgust and fear.
"Dragon...dragon...crush the false dragon..."
Whispers echo throughout the air as you pass, a near silent, distorted urging.
Seira makes her way towards them! At this rate, it will only take her a few seconds to reach and seal that portal, and then she can dispatch those whispering fools!
Yet as you advance the nycaloths are moving towards you as well - six dozen if there's one, and more coming by the second. They're moving fast, daemons moving out of the way of the coming, cataclysmic collision.
Init.
20:20 <CC> roll 1d20+19 I thought I already rolled this
20:20 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=9]
So you did. DMs do stupid things on occasion when running multiple combats. My bad.
> roll 1d20+18
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=14]
What's your old init?
13:19 <CC> roll 1d20+19
13:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=13]
I think I win due to higher mod? Anyway, my action is set! I only need two rounds to bring my portal-nuking aura into play.
The nycaloths are not slow - they're moving fast, but not fast enough. Another dozen or two dozen manage to emerge as your teleport block comes into play. As the nycaloths close in, great waves of cloying, greasy darkness surround Seira all around, the combined power of dozens of powerful daemons.
> roll 1d20+28
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=8]
Doesn't beat your SR.
Yet it's nothing against you as...
They're obviously in the way of advancing straight ahead, so it's your go to react. If you fly straight on you'll plunge into melee range with them.
Can I get a brief rundown of their strengths and weaknesses? My IC knowledge is fairly godly.
Nycaloths are fearsome melee fighters with a barrage of axe strikes, claws and sometimes bites as well. The cause bleeding wounds that can be difficult to heal, as well as the ability to grab a creature and lift off with them, taking them into the air. The stronger they get, the better they get at brawling - they're roughly analogous to cornugons in that particular niche.
They don't have any weaknesses besides the normal weaknesses of daemons. Don't bother with acid or poison on them, it won't harm them at all.
These ones look powerful, developed - likely more than your normal nycaloth on an individual basis. For this many to work together, it suggests a powerful entity is directing them into this battle.
How does it feel, to be trapped here with me?
Seira closes to within 400ft, and then unicorns fill the Astral Sea! A burst of light bright enough to cut a swath through the invaders follows swiftly on their heals, before the entire area is bathed in sunlight!
Many Moments of Prescience, Seira's Unicorn Apocalypse, Twinned Sunlance
Unicorns!
21:06 <CC> roll 1d20+47+3+4+30 ranged touch, mmop
21:06 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 86 > [d20=2]
21:09 <CC> roll 1d8+24+16d6
21:09 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d8=4][d6=4,3,1,2,6,2,4,3,3,5,4,4,1,1,2,3]
Twinned Sunlance!
21:11 <CC> roll 1d20+47+3+4 ranged touch
21:11 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d20=20]
21:11 <CC> roll 1d20+47+3+4 ranged touch crit?
21:11 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d20=6]
Main damage:
21:12 <CC> roll 60d6
21:12 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 201 > [60d6=201]
Twinned, so 402 damage.
160ft radius secondary damage:
21:14 <CC> roll 12d6
21:14 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d6=5,2,3,4,1,6,1,4,6,1,3,4]
Twinned, so 80 damage.
160 damage to creatures to which sunlight is harmful or unnatural.
Also blinded.
Ref DC36 half and removes the blindness.
I presume no undead/oozes/fungi/etc~
Quick question, how are you getting SA on the 'loths? This is round two of them being in init, they aren't flatfooted.
I misread the spell desc, I don't think I ever used it before. That said! Let's say I used Impromptu SA. I would've gone for it if I realized the spell doesn't let me auto-SA.
That's fair. Also nothing like undead or fungi.
> roll 1d20+24 Ref
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=7]
The unlucky nycaloth hit by the sunlance is vaporized on the spot, while the others are assailed and knocked around amid the sunburst. The light devastates the attackers, leaving the nycaloths disorganized and blinded. They fumble about, struggling to recover from that. The charge towards you is broken, at least for the moment. Unholy blights are flung, but none come close, none with them like that.
Go. They took that on the chin.
Did they seem weak vs sunlight? The desc of shadowy daemons made me wonder, and it'll help me figure out how buff they are.
Seira decides to keep things simple at present, and follows up that assault with three fireballs blossoming in their midst! She also keeps moving, yet maintains the blocked portal within the range of her dimensionally locking aura to see if increased exposure to it would ruin the portals better.
21:34 <CC> roll 20d6 Ref DC38 half
21:34 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d6=5,5,4,2,2,2,2,6,5,4,5,4,2,2,2,2,5,3,2,2]
21:34 <CC> roll 20d6 Ref DC38 half
21:34 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 75 > [d6=6,1,2,3,6,4,2,5,4,6,6,5,6,6,3,3,2,2,1,2]
21:34 <CC> roll 20d6 Ref DC38 half
21:34 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d6=3,5,2,3,4,3,2,2,5,3,3,2,2,3,6,3,1,1,3,1]
They did not, at least not obviously.
> roll 1d20+24 Ref
> roll 1d20+24 Ref
> roll 1d20+24 Ref
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=15]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=18]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=16]
The fireballs roast the broken daemon charge as she soars past, more of them burnt alive and to nothing within her goldenfire. There are a few survivors, blinded and broken, but without any doubt the charge is broken.
Taking a moment, you see Honeydip's front line is charging into the daemons well, meeting them head on.
Seira, it's also not like yugoloths to do this. Someone must have paid an absurd amount of money for this, or more likely something more valuable.
And yet, there's little I can do but repel the obvious attack at the Cauldron, Seira responds, finishing off the survivors and finally uncovering the original portal for the nycaloths.
I want to see whether being covered by Jaela's Teleport Block for 4 rounds killed the portal in question, or if it's still (slowly) reviving.
Glancing back, you see that portal is reviving - faster than the others, too.
Dimensional Locks it is, then. Seira proceeds to seal that portal and others near it, before continuing on her way across the Astral doing more of the same. At some point, her enemy will either get tired of this or tip their hand, and that would mean she could actually respond properly.
> roll 1d100 meanwhile
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d100=81]
Honeydip is holding well, forcing a good line and pushing the daemons back. Your own efforts are going well - the daemons are beginning to fall back, away from the portals and the Cauldron, which are no longer expanding.
Is this it, somehow?
Seira diligently continues closing the portals, giving her army a chance at their hard-earned victory. Once the invasion is defeated, it would have been through their efforts rather than Seira herself holding their hands.
Honeydip is advancing cautiously, not over extending. Yet the portals are closing, daemons fleeing you faster and faster when...
Seira, scouts report there's another force approaching, and the retreating daemons are moving to link up to it. It's not immediately close, I think we outperformed them here.
I'll trust in Honeydip crushing the force she's chasing before they can link to their allies, Seira responds, keeping to her plan. With her army exceeding expectations in this way, she won't deny them the satisfaction of taking advantage of the enemy's failures in planning!
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d100=76]
The battle's going well - the daemons are in full retreat now. A good deal look to be getting away however, as Honeydip is fighting inherently defensively here. None dare come close to you, fleeing the moment your gaze is on them, if they aren't already running away.
Seira decides to zoom ahead now and deal with the other enemy force!
Going to use a long-ranged spell, so once I'm 1,800ft away from the second army I'll blast them~
How long range are we talking here?
...1,800ft
I mean the range of the ability you're using, total. Like how big a boom is this gonna be, so I can sort it out on in one post.
It's Lunatic Storm. At my CL, we're talking 11 spheres.
You fly on ahead a bit, catching up close to the retreating elements. You don't see the second army right away - they must not be that close.
Up to you if you wanna pursue this longer than a minute or so or do something else. You could also blast the retreating elements if you prefer, you have the range and power to do so.
Seira decides to trust in the scouts and just use her superior speed to reach the reinforcements. Once she's dealt with them, she'll see about helping Honeydip catch the original force in a pincer.
Thus you fly ahead into the Silver Sea. The question now becomes: Do you follow the retreating elements or rely on other means to try and track down this second force?
Just looking for your plan here, be it magic, some ability or simply asking for more directions.
I'm proceeding in the same direction the retreat happens while asking Kascha for better directions from the scouts, who actually know where the other force is.
Keep going that way. It's hard to tell in the Astral, but it won't be immediate to find them. So keep an eye out for scouts as you go, Seira. I'll let you know if our scouts find anything else.
Do you need my aid for this?
Just keep an eye out in case there is a third group or a lot more portals reappear by the Cauldron
For her part, Seira flies off towards her destination!
Thus you fly on - and soon you see one. Skittering ahead, a crawling, insectoid humanoid on all fours. It swim-crawls just at the center/left of your vision, scurrying along and ahead through the Astral.
Seira sets it on fire even as she advances to spot more of them. Setting off an army-killer spell really requires an army as a target to be of any real use.
How are you setting it on fire? Spell? SLA? Something else?
Delayed Blast Fireball x2 via SLA. Do you want me to roll?
Please do.
20:05 <CC> roll 2#1d20+39 CL
20:05 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 48, 52 >
20:06 <CC> roll 2#20d6 Ref DC39 half
20:06 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 84, 59 >
> roll 1d20+13 evasion 1
> roll 1d20+13 evasion 2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=9]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=6]
To your mild surprise, the first fireball merely burns the thing, making it begin to skitter away.
It doesn't get a chance to as the second fireball makes it a torch, burning away into spent ash.
Any idea what that is? Taking 10 for K:Planes/Religion/Arcana of 103.
A half fiend from yugoloth blood, if you don't miss your guess. Well, it was, until you burned it to death so thoroughly.
Seira keeps going to find the main force!
With your superior vision, it's not too much farther - a great dark tide on the horizon, stretching far and long indeed. A daemon host, a great tide of yugoloths brought forth for an unholy, apocalyptic assault. More than you can count or perhaps care to count, a great multitude of them ahead.
Seira elects to come within a thousand feet of them before moonlight strikes out to devastate huge sections of that army, the destructive silver glow somehow fitting for use in Astral....
Spell Enhancer, Arcane Thesis, Lunatic Storm
In this case init and we'll begin to sort it out.
21:05 <CC> roll 1d20+19
21:05 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=14]
Go for it.
As moonlight cleanses the Silver Sea of her enemies, Seira calmly observes the enemy to pick out any leaders for special attention!
21:39 <CC> roll 1d20+47 SR
21:39 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=9]
21:41 <CC> roll 12#37d6 Will DC45 half, 20ft radius bursts
21:41 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 120, 114, 130, 122, 133, 135, 156, 147, 127, 125, 125, 154 >
21:41 <CC> roll 1d6 rounds that illusion is down
21:41 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d6=3]
Perception 10 for 101.
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=5]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 34 > [d20=14]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 22 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
> roll 1d20+20 21 fishings
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=16]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=11]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=3]
Your wrath rips into the 'loth army, devastating great chunks of it. Yet there are more - far more as they advance on, more and more and more and more. You cleansed spheres of them, but yet more come. You can't see true leaders yet - just company leaders and the like, no one notable face leading from the front.
That they haven't broken is interesting, and Seira decides to keep up the pressure with fireballs for a short while. Should the leaders become obvious, she'll give the invaders another push.
Can we confirm this new wave is not using the same portals further out? she asks Kascha. And that the ones near the Cauldron haven't reopened at a rate that represents a danger?
22:29 <CC> roll 3#1d20+50 SR
22:29 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 56, 53, 51 >
22:29 <CC> roll 3#20d6 Ref DC43 half
22:29 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 65, 69, 65 >
Okay, before we go on. Cor, you wanted some distances and such, you mentioned it in PM? Could you elaborate what you want, and in the event that changes things, I'll let you redo this turn.
My turn is fine. In any case, if I'm expected to just kill all the enemies here, I'd appreciate knowing how many there are, how close to each other they are standing and so on. My distance to them is a thousand feet, since I can move as well and my movement speed on Astral (of 400ft) should beat anyone.
On a glance, you can't reasonably count them all - but thousands would be a safe guess, if not more out of sight. Think a gigantic horde of them. They're all fairly close together, though with occasional and regular gaps of 20 to 30ft between them. Clusters is a good term.
I'm going to spend a few rounds blasting them and seeing if they come up with elites.
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=16]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=7]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=18]
Just to be clear, how mobile are you being here?
I will be moving up to 400ft each round in an attempt to stay in a distance of 1,000ft from this army. Perfect maneuverability.
Like this Seira is a burning star. She flies amid the Astral, flinging fire and burning the 'loths. Arrows, spells - many miss, but not all. Some are close enough to be a danger even at this speed. Arrows fly as great bolts of dark lightning rain down. The Silver Sea erupts from below, a thousand hands reaching for Seira, all while curses slide off her harmlessly.
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=16]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=7]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 63 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 44 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=2]
AC and SR?
AC of 81, SR of 48.
Yet it's like a dream they can't catch. It slips through their fingers, spells fading around Seira and arrows ineffective. Boulders follow, coming from nowhere and yet missing entirely. The army begins to wrap around to the sides, fanning out, moving around to try and surround you at a distance, as well as above and below.
A pulse.
A crackle.
You feel it. A presence, a power. Something is coming from within the horde.
Seira prepares herself, ready to take this fight to the next level!
Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, activating armband of the spark
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=15]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d20=8]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 34 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+28 probably 20 fishing vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=5]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 37 > [d20=9]
More. Moore attacks, barrages that mean nothing to one such as yourself.
They are circling you, enveloping you above and below. Yet you draw on your own power, the Silver Sea being blotted out by daemons trying to pin you in, trying to form a loose cage around you. They're circling, preparing as you feel the presence getting stronger and stronger. They're staying far away as they can and yet trying to form this as...
Go.
Seira seeks contact with the 'loths above as she blows everything up while trying to make herself a tempting target!
20:12 <CC> roll 3#1d20+50 SR
20:12 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 60, 67, 53 >
20:12 <CC> roll 3#20d6 Ref DC43 half
20:12 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 75, 61, 79 >
More fireballs, I'm in gambit. Come at me, losers!
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
> roll 1d20+53 probably 20 fishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=2]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 > [d20=19]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=15]
> Whoops, wrong numbers.
Modifier for the army is +20. Whoops. My mistake, pulled up the wrong roll set.
Fireballs blast out as you clear space above, racing up. Yet they instead cease attacking a moment. 200ft away and emerging, 120ft above you.. IT emerges small and grows larger and larger - the skeleton of a great dragon, a truly massive one. From the ribs slats of metal armor are seen, hiding what stays within, but glimpses of roiling, boiling darkness within can be seen, writhing to your gaze.
Atop the creature's back are dozens and dozens of skeletal archers, each with bow and arrow ready. The dragon opens its maw wide and a masculine voice whispers, "Seira Aryn. I come for your head."
Chance to talk, it'll be joining init once that's done.
"I'm sure you'll try," Seira responds. "Got a name, Skelly McRibs?"
Can I get a size for the skeledragon, rough distances on the skeletons on its back (between the farthest two, say), and whether I have an idea about the boiling darkness?
Colossal, it's about an additional 50 to 300ft to the skeletons from front to back.
For the darkness, gimme a quick K:A.
Taking 10 for 103 for K:A.
I'm not clear on the sizes.
So the dragon is 300ft across, being Colossal, correct?
What about the skeletons on top of it? Are they standing from snout to tail, or grouped more on his back? If the latter, how far are the farthest two apart?
Longer with the tail. About 400ft long counting tail and head, roughly.
The skeletons are medium and along its back from shoulder to tail. They're even placed, 5ft apart, packing as many on as they can.
I see. So a 60ft radius spell will get slightly over a third? (120ft out of 300ft)
Anyways, darkness info and banter and we can fight~
The darkness looks like raw energy supplemented with power - it'll likely corrode and destroy while plunging you into darkness. Thing damning darkness, only much more potent. You wouldn't want to be in that unless you were protected somehow.
"I am the Warship Accusation." Is the answer, "We shall rend you apart until nothing is left, until only the dreadnoughts of this plane can scavenge what is left behind."
"Good luck with that!" Seira chirps, summoning an iceberg.
Time for init.
> roll 1d20+8 Warship Accuser
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+15 Archery of the Dead
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+13 What Boils Within
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 23 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+24 Unseen
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+3 Spite
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 15 > [d20=12]
Init is Seira (35) > Unseen (33) > Archery of the Dead (32) > What Boils Within (23) > Army (22) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Init goes your way. Go.
Does the dragon have spell stowaway: time stop? Also, what spells do I see? I'm going to come close enough for greater arcane sight to go into play and I doubt I'll fail spellcraft.
It does not.
Gimme CL on greater arcane sight then.
21:27 <CC> roll 1d20+37
21:27 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=1]
It's warded - strongly enough to stop your own magic. Whatever has enchanted or perhaps directs this beast is no trivial foe.
What horror did it you cannot say, but it seems someone powerful wants you dead.
Seira stops time. She is 200ft away at one point, and right next to the warship the next and Silver Sea erupts in chaos! An iceberg slams into the skeletal beast's neck while a flower placed further down its back spits fire all over! Further fireballs rake the transport's flanks, though Seira pays little mind to them, content as she is to slam a clawed fist into its ribcage!
Round 0, swift 1: Time Stop
21:08 <CC> roll 1d4
21:08 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 2 > [d4=2]
Round 1: Move next to the warship, Delayed Blast Fireball x3
Round 2: Summon Kassim's Sky Flower to cover 200ft of the dragon's back and all the skeletons there, Spell Enhancer, move action to channel chain dispel into my claw
Transport and skellies, delayed blast fireballs:
21:46 <CC> roll 3#1d20+50 SR
21:46 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 62, 55, 55 >
21:46 <CC> roll 3#20d6 Ref DC43 half
21:46 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 81, 79, 73 >
Round 0, swift 2: Imix's Touch (boosted with Spell Enhancer), Enhanced via Ruby Eye Talismans
Round 0, standard: Iceberg
Round 0, move: channel another chain dispel into my claw
Transport and skellies, Iceberg:
21:47 <CC> roll 1d20+45 Iceberg SR
21:48 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d20=17]
20ft radius, no save:
21:48 <CC> roll 20d6
21:48 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d6=4,4,6,3,5,1,6,1,4,5,3,4,4,1,6,3,2,4,6,2]
between 20ft and 40ft, damage 74 Ref DC39 half
between 40ft and 60ft:
21:48 <CC> roll 10d6
21:48 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d6=1,3,5,6,5,1,4,1,1,2]
Ref DC39 half
Transport, Imix's Touch:
21:51 <CC> roll 1d20+51 Imix's Touch SR
21:51 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=8]
21:52 <CC> roll 1d20+60 touch
21:52 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 67 > [d20=7]
21:53 <CC> roll 41d12 enhanced Imix's Touch, flames stopping DC is 49
21:53 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 256 > [41d12=256]
21:56 <CC> roll 16d6 SA via armband of the spark
21:56 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d6=4,4,1,3,1,2,2,4,3,4,2,1,2,1,2,6]
Total damage from Imix's Touch is 298, how many dispel checks?
Skeletons and transport, Kassim's Sky Flower:
21:54 <CC> roll 1d20+49 Kassim's Sky Flower SR
21:54 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d20=3]
21:55 <CC> roll 15d6 Ref DC42 half (saves get a -6 penalty), 100ft radius
21:55 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 51 > [d6=2,2,2,6,1,2,4,2,4,3,4,2,5,6,6]
Since I forgot a standard action for round two and that Time Stop is 1d4+1, here's four more delayed explosions.
22:04 <CC> roll 4#1d20+50 SR
22:04 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 65, 66, 64, 67 >
22:04 <CC> roll 4#20d6 Ref DC43 half
22:04 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 63, 76, 73, 69 >
Quick question as I work this all out: Where are you next to the warship? The front? The sides? It's a big ribcage after all, so just a general location is fine (front/middle/back/whatever). Will resolve all the rolls in the next post. It may matter for what the ship does on its turn, so.
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 1
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 2
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 3
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 48 > [d20=15]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 47 > [d20=14]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 4
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 5
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 46 > [d20=13]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=10]
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons fireballs 7
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 1
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 2
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 3
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=16]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 27 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 4
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=12]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 5
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 6
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex obviously 7
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=7]
> roll 1d20+33 (+6 ???, +2 ??) evasion skeletons iceberg when relevant
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+12 ship it ain't good at reflex vs iceberg, rolling this to see if parts of it are less damaged for a flavor perspective
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=18]
> roll 1d20+27 (+6 ???, +2 ??, -6 flower) evasion skeletons flower
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+6 ship (-6 flower)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 14 > [d20=8]
Let's say front, and not in the Iceberg range.
Sure. Gimme 16 dispel checks.
22:34 <CC> roll 16#1d20+30
22:34 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 31, 36, 38, 49, 46, 38, 34, 47, 34, 47, 42, 47, 33, 49, 48, 50 >
Dune, my bad, the delayed blast fireballs should've had a DC of 48, not 43. Kassim's Sky Flower is 47, not 42 (still the same -6 penalty to save). Iceberg's save DC was correct.
Fire and chaos erupt.
The skeletons shatter and melt int he head, collapsing in flames as the archers are incinerated. The Warship itself buckles from the ice berg, dragon arching downward under the pressure of it. Your own blow causes flames to erupt all along its rib cage, the darkness within roiling as the metal there sizzles and begins to look runny. A few flares of magic crumble away from it as the ship survives - battered for sure and the skeletons down, but not down and out. Not yet.
Init is Seira (35) > Unseen (33) > What Boils Within (23) > Army (22) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Unseen is up.
Your keen vision notices something. Your flames leave charring that begins to repair itself, recovering and rebuilding in an instant.
What Boils Within.
As you notice that, the metal slab closes to you rises, the boiling darkness erupting out like a geyser, covering everything.
Fort save.
How many spells did I get dispelled? And is the warship back to full health, or merely healing?
22:53 <CC> roll 1d20+65+30 mmop
22:53 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=4]
You dispelled 3 spells and the ship is healing fast, though it's not full healing.
240 damage, halved down to 120 thanks to the save.
The darkness is horrid - absolute and boiling, like the hate of a thousand fallen paladins. Seira endures it and burns the hate away around her, cast in darkness that...
Means of perception, Seira?
To confirm, it's not a targeted attack and it's not magic, given I have means to resist/deflect them both?
My means of perception are true seeing 120ft, scent, low-light vision, darkvision 60ft, blindsight 60ft, tremorsense 60ft, greater arcane sight and a bunch of immunities to dazzled/blinded.
It's a radius supernatural ability. Does that change anything?
No.
Init is Seira (35) > Unseen (33) > What Boils Within (23) > Army (22) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Yet Seira endures in the overwhelming darkness. Her divinely protected and augmented eyes are able to see through it, able to feel the air, her varied senses serving her well. She is able to see the army hold a moment, Seira lost in the darkness.
As this happens the Warship's back grounds again, a crack in the spin that rapidly begins to repair, then a few others. It's burning away from your flames, ribs and metal charring as abruptly...
It's using time stop. Trying to counteR?
Haha, I have spell stowaway: time stop. Let's do this!
> roll 1d4+1
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d4=3]
Normal init of: Init is Seira (35) > Unseen (33) > What Boils Within (23) > Army (22) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Now becomes...
Temporary init is Init is Seira (35) > What Boils Within (23) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Round 1 in time stop, begin.
The cursed wound in the Warship's ribcage burns, as Seira turns into a dragon and seeks to widen that hole with her claws!
Swift to turn into a dragon, then full attack!
Imix's Touch damage for this round:
20:16 <CC> roll 41d12
20:16 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 286 > [41d12=286]
Attack #1:
20:17 <CC> roll 1d20+72
20:17 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=8]
Channeled dispel:
20:18 <CC> roll 13#1d20+30 dispel
20:18 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 33, 47, 36, 31, 39, 32, 33, 42, 43, 37, 49, 44, 49 >
The rest of the attacks:
20:18 <CC> roll 1d20+72
20:18 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 77 > [d20=5]
20:18 <CC> roll 1d20+72
20:18 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 82 > [d20=10]
20:18 <CC> roll 1d20+72
20:18 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 88 > [d20=16]
20:19 <CC> roll 1d20+67
20:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=11]
20:19 <CC> roll 1d20+62
20:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=16]
20:19 <CC> roll 1d20+57
20:19 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 77 > [d20=20]
20:20 <CC> roll 1d20+57 crit?
20:20 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 74 > [d20=17]
20:20 <CC> roll 5#1d20+67
20:20 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 70, 74, 84, 81, 72 >
Damage:
20:22 <CC> roll 6#6d10+94
20:23 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 120, 126, 133, 112, 129, 116 >
20:23 <CC> roll 12d10+188 crit
20:23 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 250 > [d10=5,6,5,4,2,6,1,10,1,10,6,6]
20:24 <CC> roll 4d6+94+2d8+84+2d6+84+2d6+84+2d8+103
20:24 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 496 > [d6=3,5,3,4][d8=6,5][d6=3,2,1,3][d8=6,6]
Please describe the outcome and I'll use my remaining swift action after.
With the ship ablaze, Seira latches onto the warship and TEARS. She rips the ribs of it wide open, the back of it snapping apart. Then it all comes out - the roiling darkness, like an ocean of black spilling into the Silver Sea. It's pouring out relentlessly, all around you.
Fort again.
20:40 <CC> roll 1d20+69+30
20:40 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=1]
Now that it's out in the open, do I have an idea for what can contain it? Ie, would stuff like resilient sphere or forcecage? Or, perhaps, it can be kicked back home with dismissal or dispel evil? Finally, what about countering it directly (conceptually)? Goldenfire (as fires of creations) didn't seem to work, perhaps because I don't have the full version, but what about sunlight, holy power and the like?
I'm basically looking for what would seem sensible to me, given a 103 result on a relevant knowledge check.
You suspect that force walls and the like should be effective, or at worst a prismatic sphere.
An extremely strong light effect should be able to counter this, such as an epic light spell of no small power. You'd want as big a radius and high a spell level as possible.
Also good thing you can't fail saves and blew many moments of prescience here.
Another 240 damage halved, so 120 damage.
That Lunatic spell would've been far more useful here against that icky darkness than used on the army, but Seira's learning the best use for her most powerful spells as she goes! And she still has a fairly potent spell made by a Lathanderite, except she'd boosted it beyond its original performance. Now, it literally gets its chance to shine!
Twinned Sunlance
SR:
20:57 <CC> roll 1d20+45
20:57 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 64 > [d20=19]
Attack:
20:55 <CC> roll 1d20+70 ranged touch
20:55 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 85 > [d20=15]
Damage:
20:55 <CC> roll 30d6
20:55 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d6=1,1,3,4,6,1,1,4,2,2,1,1,4,5,6,2,2,1,3,6,4,1,3,3,5,2,6,5,4,4]
Twinned damage is 186
160ft radius sunburst
20:56 <CC> roll 6d6
20:56 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 21 > [d6=4,3,1,3,4,6]
Twinned damage is 42
Damage for a creature to which sunlight is harmful or unnatural is 84
20:56 <CC> roll 25d6
20:56 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d6=3,3,6,5,6,3,3,4,1,5,2,3,6,2,5,6,6,3,3,3,3,5,1,6,5]
Twinned damage is 196
What level spell is sunlance and what's the CL here?
Sunlance is a lvl11 spell, but since it's Twinned the metamagic made it a lvl12 spell (that's the slot I'm using). The CL is 35, and I have +10 to CL to overcome SR from Arcane Thesis.
The sunlances explode out - but harm nothing. Instead the darkness crumbles and fades away, much of it countered around you. More spreads behind you but you're gored out the center of it. It's spreading slower now, fizzling out and coming to a stop a little at a time.
Normal init of: Init is Seira (35) > Unseen (33) > Army (22) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
Now becomes...
Temporary init is Init is Seira (35) > Warship Accuser (16) > Spite (15)
The front half of the ship flies ahead and manages to execute a turn, dragon skull facing you. It's still flying, still intact as it turns. It opens wide, as if to expel breath, but nothing comes out. Instead the intact ship rams right in at you, a headlong charge.
This is a trample attack. You can either make an AoO at a -4 penalty or make a Reflex save to avoid it, but not both.
I'll dodge.
21:31 <CC> roll 1d20+62+30 evasion
21:31 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d20=1]
You are so lucky for MMOP plus not auto failing on ones.
With a burst of raw insight, Seira dives straight down. It's a plunge that avoids the ship by a moment, yet she whirls. Most of the back half of the ship is falling, but the tail stays upright. A tail enemy? The bony tail turns and hurtles at you, trying to smash you beneath it. It's wobbling wildly but seeking you, with unnatural aim and agility.
> roll 1d20+84 (+20 true strike we all know what a +20 is on an attack roll, +3 ???, +5 ???, +1 ???)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=11]
AC?
97 due to magic. I love you, magic! Also, dragon.
Yet somehow Seira barks out a word of power, blocking the attack cold. It recoils from her as...
Round 2. Go.
As the broken up yet surprisingly spry carcass continues to burn merrily, Seira decides to eliminate the rest of the darkness while fixing up her body. Meanwhile, her trusted flower continues to burn everything in sight!
Imix's touch continues to burn, unsure which part of the ship it hits (both, given it was at the point of breakage?)
22:10 <CC> roll 41d12
22:10 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 302 > [41d12=302]
Heal, doubled with Sensual Blessing and restoring me to full.
Radiant Assault x2 on the darkness:
22:14 <CC> roll 2#15d6
22:14 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 54, 60 >
Will DC43 half, lvl9 spell equivalents
Sky Flower for 100ft radius:
22:14 <CC> roll 15d6
22:14 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 51 > [d6=4,5,6,2,2,4,3,3,1,2,4,4,5,5,1]
Ref DC47 half, save made at -6
Move action, channel chain dispel into claw.
> roll 1d20+12 ship front reflex
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+24 ship tail Reflex evasion freed it's actually faster and mobile
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 25 > [d20=1
The darkness barely even ripples at this light, mortal magic clearly not enough to phase it. Yet meanwhile your sky flower fires true, both the front and the back of the ship being burnt, fireballs pockmarking them both. The back falls, immolated utterly, exploding in goldenfire after that miss. It plunges down as the surviving front turns and charges you once more.
Trample, same as the last round. Ref save or AoO it.
18:41 <CC> roll 1d20+62+30 evasion
18:41 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 98 > [d20=6]
Out of MMoP uses for this spell.
And yet Seira gracefully avoids the charge, the remnant of the ship missing as it barrels past you again and then...
Round 3 of 4. Go.
Seira casts another Many Moments of Prescience spell to ward her, and then tries to see whether she can attempt to manipulate the Sky Flower through Miracle to shoot Light-themed fireballs this time!
Imix's Touch continues to burn:
18:58 <CC> roll 41d12
18:58 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 239 > [41d12=239]
Sky Flower!
18:58 <CC> roll 15d6
18:58 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 51 > [d6=3,5,3,3,3,5,2,3,1,5,3,5,3,6,1]
Ref DC47 half, save made at -6
I'll use my last action once this resolves.
Are you aiming to mimic any particular spell here or what? Are you trying to add the light descriptor to the spell, mechanically?
The latter, yes. Incantatrix stuff can affect already-cast spells, and metamagic can possibly do this pre-casting. I'm hoping between Miracle, divine powers (Wish-lite), innate control over fire and presumed innate control over light (that's more a Jaela or Alicia thing but I presume can't be that hard once you've gotten a foot in the door) I could work something out. That, in turn, will give me a round's worth of lvl13 Light spell to hit the darkness with.
This is one of those cases that's really RAW borderline, so I took a few minutes thinking of it, but I'll allow it. There's spells like Syllen's Switch and that's reachable for a wish/miracle anyway, so I think it's doable.
Glinting bright fireballs of light erupt out, shredding the darkness as the front of the ship burns. It crackles before collapsing, falling apart utterly as you stand there. You did it!
You have a round left in time stop.
Seira spends her last action the previous round prepping a delayed blast fireball to use on the army once time unfreezes. Are we moving into the next round now? I'm unclear whether there's anything left in init.
If I killed everything then I'll just add 3 more delayed blast fireballs for the army.
There is not. Gimme damage and DCs on the fireballs?
Once time unfreezes, Sky Flower fireballs and regular ones decimate the army some more!
Sky Flower, 100ft radius
20:08 <CC> roll 15d6
20:08 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d6=1,6,3,6,5,3,1,1,2,2,3,2,3,6,5]s
Ref DC47 half, save made at -6
Delayed Blast Fireballs, 20ft radius
20:10 <CC> roll 4#1d20+50 SR
20:10 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 56, 68, 62, 57 >
20:10 <CC> roll 4#20d6
20:10 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 79, 79, 61, 68 >
Ref DC48 half
> roll 1d20+53 vs Seira 20 finishing
> roll 1d20+53 vs Seira 20 finishing
> roll 1d20+53 vs Seira 20 finishing
> roll 1d20+53 vs Seira 20 finishing
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 71 > [d20=18]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d20=8]
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=11]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=1]
> roll 1d20+28 vs SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=17]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 37 > [d20=9]
Assaults from all directions. A mortal hero would be dead in a moment. Even many great heroes would be dragged down, but Seira is more. She is surrounded increasingly by the moment in all directions as the broken remnants of the ship plummet out of sight, striking daemons as they fall. They're starting to tense, starting to advance now, close in on you.
Great hordes of fiends, of masked or robed figures, faces hidden. So many hidden, save for weapons. Miserable things, shadowed things that loom ahead in open malice. The air grows thick with the scent of fetid water, rotting meat and pus. It is a choking miasma, the Silver Sea more and more blotted out by the advance.
Go.
Any change back at the Cauldron? Seira asks Kascha. And how goes Lady Honeydip's pursuit?
Meanwhile, Seira is all too happy to take advantage of her draconic form and the instant defeat of such worthy opponents by terrifying the enemy!
Frightful Presence Will DC is 36, Intimidate is at +70 (+4 for every size category my Gargantuan self is bigger than them, and I'll add +30 from MMoP since it seems to be an opposed check).
We're holding up well, Seira. Lady Honeydip's doing well, though moving slowly to avoid traps and ambush. You're still well ahead of them.
Meanwhile...
A good chunk of this force is immune to fear, but not all. The ones who aren't can't make that roll so no point rolling for intimidate if you want to make that. What level of fear does Frightful Presence induce?
On a failure, creatures with 4 or less HD become panicked for 4d6 rounds and those with 5 or more HD become shaken for 4d6 rounds.
I hoped that those immune to fear are logical enough to cut their losses when it became a slog they are losing.
> roll 1d20+20 vs will sav epart of the fear combo
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 24 > [d20=4]
I thappens slowly and at once. Elements of the forces skitter back, hisses and whispers as they see Seira's draconic form. It's not all - not even half, but parts begin to fall back, begin to flee. Things hissing in twisted words, looping around and around like a sphere. Parts of them retreat at your power, but some aren't going away - yet. Instead a voice murmurs, freezing all of them and the retreat.
"We will not lose," it declares. "Not to this crumb before us. Strike, strike, strike."
Second Intimidate check, Seira, this is an opposed check.
Seira sneers at the forces remaining standing against her, even as she explodes in fire that cleanses the immediate area around her. As her body grows too painful to view directly, lightning streams from her out stretched arms, stabbing deeply into dozens of enemies over a thousand feet deep into the army's ranks!
Intimidate it is! (with MMoP again)
21:23 <CC> roll 1d20+100
21:23 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 117 > [d20=17]
Forgot +10 from Voice of the Dragon, so 127 and +4 per size category my Gargantuan self is over them.
Empowered Greater Fireburst, 10ft radius of me
CC> roll 1d20+50 SR
21:27 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d20=10]
21:27 <CC> roll 15d8
21:27 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 70 > [d8=4,8,5,7,1,1,2,3,1,8,8,7,6,8,1]
105 damage, Ref DC48
Chain Lightning x2, 2 main targets and 68 secondary ones
21:28 <CC> roll 2#1d20+46 SR
21:28 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 59, 57 >
21:26 <CC> roll 2#20d6
21:26 <CC> roll 2#10d6
21:26 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 79, 66 >
21:26 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 33, 25 >
Ref DC44
Is that the rest of an ongoing turn or starting a new turn there, Seira?
> roll 1d20+98 (wow close, +32 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 102 > [d20=4]
Since I haven't actually acted this round it felt fitting to be a bit scarier!
> roll 1d20+20 fireburst
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 29 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+20 lightning
> roll 1d20+20 lightning
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=19]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 37 > [d20=17]
Lightning and fire again strike the army. The forces recoil from that, many hit but still more. But at this too much of the army breaks - they flee, the words that interdicted them breaking little against your power. Yet a brave few charge that...
AoO.
Seira's claws rend all in her way, even as the strike strips away any magic it meets!
22:24 <CC> roll 1d20+72+30-30 pa
22:24 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 92 > [d20=20]
22:24 <CC> roll 1d20+72+30-30 pa crit?
22:24 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=9]
22:25 <CC> roll 2#6d10+97+30
22:25 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 159, 155 >
Channeled chain dispel, though it's probably not needed?
Gimme a dispel check anyway.
06:51 <CC> roll 1d20+30
06:51 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=11]
Seira's claw rips through four of them at once, tearing them asunder as magic bursts amid them. Even as she does, they all swarm her, leap on her, slash her. She's surrounded, daemons assaulting and clinging to all over.
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=6]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=4]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d20=9]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 > [d20=19]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 61 > [d20=8]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 63 > [d20=10]
Yet none of them can touch you like this, none of them can do a thing to slow you. They're trying, grappling - but it's in vain.
Go.
Even as Seira shifts her stance to better duel the insects charging to their doom, the air around her heats up rapidly until it is no longer bearable for anything besides her!
Gambit, followed by two Maximized Greater Firebursts.
18:42 <CC> roll 2#1d20+49 SR
18:42 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 61, 60 >
Damage is 120 for 10ft around me. If any survive the first, I'll use the second. If any still survive that, I'll full attack.
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=20]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=19]
Two bursts of fire clear the immediate area around you. Daemons burn away in golden flames, leaving only the remnants of an army, much in retreat and more falling back, while several handfuls still assail you. A few dozen are closing in , outside of the range of the fireburst but closing.
Amazingly, the DC I forgot was 40.
"Come!" Seira calls out to the stragglers. "I will give you a proper death in honor of your bravery!"
She charges into their midst, ready to take them all down!
Not actually charging, though in Gambit. Also, I'll AoO anyone coming at me before they actually get into range since Gargantuan.
18:42 <CC> roll 2#1d20+49 SR
18:42 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 61, 60 >
Why the repeat of the SR rolls?
So you're moving in but not attacking or...?
Yes, copy/paste fail.
18:56 <CC> roll 1d20+71
18:56 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d20=7]
18:57 <CC> roll 6d10+97
18:57 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 138 > [d10=7,7,3,8,6,10]
Seira slashes through more, a bite and a claw swipe clearing the way. At this point the same voice as before utters one word, dripping with hate and malice, "Retreat."
The forces begin to retreat, falling back from you, a few spells, arrows and the like flung as they do.
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 68 > [d20=15]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+28
> roll 1d20+28
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=4]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=2]
Yet none harm you, your magic and power holding as...
Go, they're falling back.
Thoroughly disappointed that those brave dozens that kept coming after she routed the remainder of the army, Seira decides to eliminate them. Golden fire streams from her mouth in a massive cone, while two supercharged fireballs eliminate those further out!
19:51 <CC> roll 18d10+2d10
19:51 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 115 > [d10=1,6,10,4,7,10,2,5,7,6,8,9,4,8,8,3,2,4,1,10]
19:51 <CC> roll 1d4
19:52 <Penuche> CC invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d4=4]
Ref DC 44 half
Maximized Delayed Blast Fireball x2
120 damage x2
Ref DC 42 half
> roll 1d20+20
> roll 1d20+20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=20]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 28 > [d20=8]
Not a repaste, they're just rolling well.
Fire and flame consumes the retreat as they flee, several dozen more immolated. Without any doubt you have the advantage now as they flee, flee away back whence they came. The only question is - now what do you do?
Free act, at least for the moment.
Seira promised them death and she would not let some nameless loser voice turn her into a liar!
I will give chase for 5 rounds, using delayed blast fireball x3 a round to kill all those from this post (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104289.msg1146720.html#msg1146720) and here (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104289.msg1146791.html#msg1146791).
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=12]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=3]
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 66 > [d20=13]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=12]
> roll 1d20+53
> roll 1d20+53
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 62 > [d20=9]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=2]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 58 > [d20=5]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 64 > [d20=11]
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 73 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+53 crit check
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 60 > [d20=7]
> roll 4d12+24
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d12=2,11,10,12]
DR applies.
It is a massacre, spewing death as more and more flee. Some have fled farther than you can immediate chase as you deal with others, but it's sorted - for now. All you suffer is a lucky shot to the wing, tearing in but nothing truly debilitating.
I'm not seeing any more forces rallying, Seira.
Excellent, Seira responds, healing the wound with a Heal. Please inform Lady Honeydip that I will wall off this section of Astral. If this fails to be enough for her army to crush the remnants of the original invading force, I will just be sad!
And then Seira begins layering walls of force with an extended duration alongside the estimated retreat course. Seven minutes should be plenty to rearrange this would-be battlefield to give Honeydip every advantage.
Okay, that'll keep you busy but it's mostly offscreen for now. This topic has ran long, so I'm going to start a new one for the Zaaman Rul side of this.