There is no resistance, no reaction. The tower of Khin-Oin rises impossibly high behind the party, like the spine of some great giant made into a tower. The banks of the Styx are busy, yet you appear perfectly. Not a single creature is looking your way, not a single creature even reacts. You see pole-barges that go about, as well as low prowed ships that glide along the black waters. Clusters of silent fiends are about, no words needed when the mind dictates the fate of soul larvae.
All is gray and dark here, the ground cracked and parched, save for right by the Styx, which becomes a foul gray mud. The few trees about are dead and withered, no fruit to be found on them.
[spoiler]
TODO: Armor bonuses.
Antenora
HP: 816+20/816
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+4 (+4 morale), Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+4 (+4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+4 (+4 morale), Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+4 (+4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4
Spells Used: Mass Energy Immunityx2
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+4 (+4 morale), Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+4 (+4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
They're already hidden under Alicia's invisibility sphere, further abjurations hiding them from all but the most potent of divinations while no bloodhound can track their scent. It's not perfect by any means, blindsense enough to find them should they wander too close to someone with that ability, but it's enough to ensure no pointless encounters here in Hades.
Altering reality further to link their minds together, Alicia's voice is heard in her companions' heads. 'Up and towards the river, make sure to follow my movements closely.' Then she ascends up over the docks and above the Styx, orienting them to fly downstream over the foul waters.
Telepathic bond there, CL 34 via alter reality.
Alicia HP: 704+20/704
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), invisibility sphere (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34)
Defences: AC 79, CMD 90, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills
Perceptions: Arcane sight, perception +55
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/7/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
The party flies in formation, Antenora at one side and Latha at another, while Syala is just below you. No fiend or monster makes any sign that they've noticed you as you begin to fly along.
'Gloom is better than the Abyss, at least,' Antenora sends.
'Pick your poison, I have few fond memories of my times in Hell,' Latha returns. 'This realm is akin to a soul that has given up all hope, dead and gray until it turns black forevermore.'
Alicia doesn't really care to debate the individual merits of lower planar aesthetics and stays quiet as she flies along. She's the slowest of them so at least it's easy for the others to fly close without risking any lapses in formation that'd take someone out of the sphere.
Okay, Give me a general Perception check that I'll use for this and see if anything happens.
[17:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+55 perception
[17:57] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+55 perception --> [ 1d20=6 ]{61}
You fly on some time. Soon enough it's a gray monotony, bland and lifeless, and yet horrors glimpsed in the shadows. None come forth to challenge you as you fly along -until about 25 miles along. It is here a low prowed ship has run aground, barrels and the like scattered about in the mud. Several bodies are scattered about here - all humans. At least one is stirring, trying to rise.
'Lets move a little closer and investigate?' Alicia points it out and moves closer, having a look at the scene.
Detect evil and arcane sight up.
[18:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if needed
[18:20] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if needed --> [ 1d20=1 ]{38}
There's magic on a few of them - various protective wards as well as planar protections. They also have magical items - the one trying to rise has a green cape that is enchanted to provide protections and enchanted armor as well.
Antenora peers down, 'Adventurers with bad fortune, or a trap?'
'I don't see any evil or signs of anything strong,' Syala says, 'Antenora?'
'They're within normal bounds of intelligence and they're mortals, not spirits.' Antenora reports back. 'My spear has not lit up.'
Alicia looks around over the river and the surrounding landscape to see if there's any clues as to what befell them.
[18:42] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+55+15 perception with divine insight
[18:42] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+55+15 perception with divine insight --> [ 1d20=1 ]{71}
I can see for 3 miles as a deity.
You can see what happened easily enough. A rend in the hull of the ship, something big tore into it. You can see hints of sharp rocks in the Styx nearby, as well as bits of wood there.
'Poor seamanship, they struck a shoal. Were lucky their ship was close to the shore but if they'd sailed further from it nothing probably would have happened,' Alicia thinks. A bit of subtle reality altering stabilises the wounds of everyone here so none are likely to bleed out. Anything nearby that might threaten them while they recover?
Not at the moment, no. Unless you count going into the Styx.
'Unfortunate,' Antenora says simply.
'Shall we intervene more than this?" Latha asks, 'It seems wrong to leave them here.'
'They're not captives here, they chose to sail and trade in the lower planes of their own will,' Alicia says. 'If they don't have their own means to repair their ship or escape otherwise I have to question how they've survived long enough to encounter us. I won't help them with delivering their cargo, whatever it is.'
She does try to read the surface thoughts of the one man that's conscious to see if that sheds any light on what they're doing here.
DC 27 will on alter reality-ed detect thoughts.
> roll 1d20+11
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{27}
His will and mind are a blurry mess - blurry enough to defy you, at least on first blush. As you do this he staggers up to his feet, face a mask of blood. A younger man, no older than 20. He fumbles for a metal vial on his belt, the contents swallowed. Once done he exhales and runs a hand down his face, "Fuck," he mutters, "I'm alive!"
She'll try again, they can afford some measure of delay to perhaps resolve this mystery.
> roll 1d20+11
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{16}
Right now all he's thinking about is seeing if his friends are alive and mentally intact, as well as being upset over this whole entire venture.
'He's concerned for his friends at least. We can help a little more,' Alicia decides.
In the shadows of the run aground ship where the active person can't see, she summons a moon dog.
Summon Monster IX SLA.
She then telepathically commands the dog to help with healing the people here and then make itself scarce once it's done all it can.
The moon dog obeys, going to them.
Antenora nods slightly, 'Good. Let them have hope where there is none.'
'That should be enough for them to get it together,' Syala says, 'If a survivor is a spellcaster of skill, more than enough.'
'The rest is up to them. Lets continue,' Alicia flies onwards, though she'll keep an eye on things back here to make sure the moon dog isn't mistreated.
Sure. Gimme a d100 in the meantime.
[20:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[20:35] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=55 ]{55}
The trip continues on, but as you are, it is ultimately uneventful. No great challenges, no barriers. Only a hint of the sky lightening at last, the gloom of Hades parting ever so slightly on the horizon.
'We're getting close. Lets wait until we're almost there before we cast the spells that'll last longer than half an hour so we can handle any surprises. Save shorter ones for directly before combat when we can engage on our own terms,' Alicia suggests to the others.
'Be careful - any serious defenses are only ahead of us,' Latha says, as you get general agreement otherwise.
On that note she can afford to cast sensual blessing early so as to have a vastly better chance of spotting any hidden defences.
Sensual blessing cast for all the senses out for 3 miles and vastly better perception checks.
Alicia HP: 704+20/704
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), invisibility sphere (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34)
Defences: AC 79, CMD 90, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
Gimme a new Perception check in that case real quick?
[17:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80
[17:24] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{85}
Ahead Alicia can see the sky become rose, like the color of the sunset. It's beautiful ahead, green grass growing at the edge of her vision. Almost like something pleasant rather than the ever-crushing gloom of Hades.
Alicia continues on, everyone cloaked under invisibility until they're close enough she can start to see inhabitants or structures.
Soon enough you can - beautiful, well made buildings of pleasant colors in a pleasant, sunlight place. They are spread out casually over perhaps a mile, residents seen going about - succubi, incubi, demons and other such filth. None of them seen aware of what looms over them.
Alicia studies the layout and make of those buildings to see if their purpose or import can be discerned from the outside.
A few near the front are easy to tell from signs. One has a sign of the Honeysuckle Inn. Another has a sign that proclaims it 'Lenore's.'. From the windows you can what looks like a den of prostitution.
Another looks to be a cluster of shops - from glimpses inside, though it's hard to tell details from the angles you have.
Beyond that is a large, luxurious manor. It's classically wealthy, standing out from size alone.
There's a few other assorted buildings, including one that has a certain look to it, a practice yard as well that suggests it may be a barracks.
Any sign of those hidden catapults or hideaways for archers or mages that she was warned about?
Looking closer, yes. Hidden well, blended in, but you can see signs of them. Little adjustments in the terrain, hidden windows that blend in, that sort of thing. They're very well hidden, but your eyes are far better yet.
Are they all pointed outwards or can they be aimed inwards amidst the buildings?
It looks like they could be adjusted, based on angles and design.
Alicia gestures for them to stop still well past the outskirts, able to easily survey things from a distance. 'It looks like we were told. Taverns, shops, brothels, Violet's manor, a barracks. The defences can be turned inwards so they'll be a problem if we bypass them but I don't think they're a serious danger and we want to focus on getting under Violet's manor as our first priority. We can sweep whatever's left after we deal with the demons in charge.'
'Agreed,' Antenora says, her gaze ahead. 'If they know we're coming they're doing a fine job of not showing it.'
'If we strike from below and core out the heart of the resistance here, the rest should be mop up,' Syala agrees, 'I have no intention of giving Violet or Malcanthet a fair fight.'
Antenora clicks her tongue softly before, 'Perhaps a few will even surrender willingly. It would be a fine thing to bring a bounty of more than destruction back with us.'
Latha's quiet as she surveys the lands ahead, 'What of the Styx? Can they use it against us?'
Correct me if I'm wrong but does divine rank provide immunity from the problems of Styx immersion?
Yes. It's nasty but not divine tier nasty.
'Not meaningfully, unless her ability to steal the powers of others is sufficient to work against a prepared and guarded mind,' Alicia says. 'Be more wary of expendable defenders with skills copied from greater threats.'
'That will be a problem, so be on guard,' Syala agrees.
'For victory,' Antenora raises her spear up high, then begins to fly ahead.
'For tomorrow,' Syala adds, 'One a little better than yesterday.'
'For every soul we can protect today and every day ahead,' Latha concludes, following.
Okay, go ahead with approach/prep/ect as desired.
While they're far enough away not to be heard casting any spells, they go through their remaining important boosters before plunging into Rosewater, flying high towards the big mansion.
Okay, following buffs cast before we go in for real.
Recitation (CL 34), +3 luck AC/attack/saves
Righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), +3 morale attack (superceded by greater heroism)/damage and an extra attack like haste.
Syala should cast mass power of the huntress. Save the per round buffs for immediately before combat.
Power of the huntress (CL 34), +8 enhancement natural armour, +20 competence stealth, +6 init, gains combat reflexes and can't be flat-footed.
Side note power of the huntress is an amazing buff for Alicia for combat reflexes alone. Get Syala to cast it more or learn it herself.
She does foresight, spell turning, repelling shield, and greater visage of the deity on herself too.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), invisibility sphere (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
Spoiler block update, more in the next post.
There's more to be cast just before combat.
[spoiler]
Power of the huntress (CL 34), +8 enhancement natural armour, +20 competence stealth, +6 init, gains combat reflexes and can't be flat-footed. - These are all somewhat situational or overlap, so apply case by case.
Antenora
HP: 816+20/816
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+7 (+3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+3 (+3 morale), AC+3 (+3 luck), Saves+7 (+3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0 extra attack per round
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+4 (+4 morale), Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+4 (+4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4
Spells Used: Mass Energy Immunityx2
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+4 (+4 morale), Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+4 (+4 morale), Skills+4 (+14 stealth)(+4 morale), Checks+0
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
Thus you plunge in, plunge towards the manor. You get within 100ft, still no sign of being noticed. For the moment at least, the advantage seems to be with all of you.
Gesturing, Alicia brings them to the ground near the side of the mansion. Shrinking herself to the size of a grain of sand so that she won't be picked up on anyone else's tremorsense, she lands on the ground and employs her own tremorsense to get a feel for the mansion's interior, subterranean space, and inhabitants.
There's a good deal of vibrations below - something's moving and regularly. Quit ea lot of open space down there, too. Huge caverns, segmented and sorted, along with a large first floor of the manor. The caverns are much larger than the manor and have lots of creatures below.
Any moving water down there?
Yes, there looks to be a few places water drains from the Styx to within.
She floats up off the ground and reverts to her full size again. 'There's an expansive underground complex much larger than the mansion itself, lots of activity down there with inlets from the Styx,' she reports to her companions.
What routes are available to get down there without making her own and how much activity do they go by?
There's three, all deep inside the manor. None look too busy right now on a 'glance'.
'That must be where Violet works,' Antenora surmises, 'I doubt it will be as easy as gliding through the ground.'
'Could we possibly come in through the Styx?' Latha suggests, 'Though perhaps that would be a foreseen tactic.'
'I'd think of it,' Syala agrees, 'Too obvious since there are natives who can swim in the Styx.'
I meant total routes, like passages from the mansion or neighbouring buildings or secret tunnels. Basically anywhere that connects that complex with the surface.
There's a few dozen of those, both secret and not. Lots of those to play with.
Can I get some examples based on accessibility, presence of guards, and where they seem to lead?
Sure.
All are guarded by at least a pair of guards.
Most lead deeper or out to little escape passages, tucked away and seldom obvious. One in the basement of the barracks for example, one near the shore of the Styx is another. They're generally fairly spread out and none are that easy to get to - they're off the main roads and the like.
What about the main roads for comparison? How are they guarded/travelled? Where do they open out/lead to?
The main roads are fairly open, no guards and a decent amount of foot traffic. They go to the various buildings here as you'd expect - though Violet's manor requires a good deal of walking past the end of the road.
Sorry I misspoke. I meant main roads in terms of underground passages. Like the direct route down from the manor interior or any other well travelled passages to the underground complex, as compared with the little escape passages with two guards.
Ooooooh.
They're guarded and well kept, minimal foot traffic but there is some. They tend to open out to one place on the surface and go to multiple places within.
Okay. Basically I want one of the bolthole passages with minimal guarding and blockages on the way in that connects straight to the deeper parts of the complex, what are my options there?
There's really only two that work well for that, and that don't require heavy infiltration.
The yard of the brothel has a tucked away section, view blocked by trees and bushes. There's one there. It has minimal guards but is longer.
The other has more guards and a few blockages, but very little foot traffic. It's hidden in the shops.
Fortunately distance is a trivial concern when Alicia's around. 'Our best way in is probably a hidden path behind the brothel. It does have guards and if we can't sneak by them we'll have to defeat them instantly, but beyond that it's a fairly unobserved and little trafficked route that'll take us down into the depths of the complex.'
'Then I'm ready if you are, love,' Syala smiles, hefting her hammer. 'Are you?'
'Let's ruin Malcanthet's day,' Antenora seconds.
Alicia nods and smiles, gesturing in the direction they have to go. 'This way,' she sends, flying over towards that entrance in the brothel garden.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=78 ]{78}
As you go, there's a small problem. A couple leaves out a side door - a succubus and an elf woman, holding hands. The succubus isn't wearing anything, nor is the elf. They glance around, the elf blushing hotly. No one is about and they hurry into the garden. The demon giggles and calls, "See? Didn't that give you a rush?"
Antenora meanwhile sighs silently, 'There are so many things wrong with the timing of this.'
Syala smiles ever so faintly, 'It's succubi. What do you expect, and if I remember the stories about how Alicia met you...?'
'I'm still adjusting to my name being called by a few faithful when when they are having private times,' Antenora says. 'Let alone mix it with the likely blackening of a soul. Mostly that part.'
'Silently dispatch the succubus and knock out the elf,' Latha sends tersely, 'That should do.' Then, with a moment of lightness, 'Or have Alicia rescue them, I suppose, as normal.'
'Just wait for them to leave or run them off, having to hide the bodies puts too much risk of early discovery,' Alicia sends back, waiting a moment. She'll see what magic is on the pair and whether the elf is evil in the meantime at least.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), invisibility sphere (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
The elf is evil. The succubus has a long lasting mage armor spell on herself.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=92 ]{92}
"I do feel a rush," the elf says, leaning in for a kiss and more.
Antenora clears her throat in your mind, 'Let's run them off.'
Yet as Antenora does that the elf suddenly slumps,a tumble onto her back. Her chest is torn open, the elf's heart in the demon's hand. "Sorry," she says with a little malicious bit of sing-song in her voice, as the elf stares up in shock, "All of that WAS enough to doom your soul. Just a little lust, a little fun, a little blasphemy. It aaalll adds up."
Alicia silently sighs. 'Just wait then. She and the rest will all get theirs after we take care of Violet, she won't stick around now I think.'
Silence. The body is dragged away, the succubus taking her back inside.
You notice the blood doesn't leave any stains behind, sinking right into the ground here.
Convenient upkeep.
Or carnivorous foliage.
Either way, the coast is now clear for Alicia and party to fly over to directly above that hidden entrance they're planning on accessing. She can start by checking it over for magic.
There's no magic on the door, it's just a door.
It's a regular door and not like a trap-door or concealed tunnel or something? Is it a shed or a toilet or something like that?
Oh sorry.
It's a secret door, colored to blend into some vine and bushes. It's green and blends in easily. You can look right at it and miss it, and it looks like it opens inwards. No furrows into the ground, just a smooth opening.
Going back to grain of sand size, Alicia lands on the ground so she can feel with her tremorsense what's behind the door and down the passage it conceals.
A pair of guards are just inside and the passage quickly slopes downwards and onwards, heading towards the main areas below.
'Two guards. Make yourselves invisible, I'm changing from the invisibility sphere now,' Alicia warns the others, still sand-sized and making herself conventionally invisible so she can end the sphere effect once the others do the same. 'I'll slip inside, kill the guards, and then open the door for you to follow.'
'Ready,' Antenora sends, as the others do the same.
Tiny as she is, Alicia can easily fit through a gap between the door and the frame so she can actually see what's on the other side with eyes instead of esoteric senses now.
A simple, well enough lit tunnel. Two incubi guards are here, lounging and sitting by each other. They're tossing dice and looking disinterested at best.
This needs to be instant before they can get any sort of telepathic warning off, so Alicia positions behind one of the incubi and sends a needle-thin beam of silver fire coring through his skull, out his eye, and then through the skull of his companion.
[17:15] <@Ebiris> roll 40d10
[17:15] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 40d10 --> [ 40d10=225 ]{225}
DC 47 ref half.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), invisibility sphere (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
> roll 1d20 thye're 20 fishing with that DC
> roll 1d20 thye're 20 fishing with that DC
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 thye're 20 fishing with that DC --> [ 1d20=19 ]{19}
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20 thye're 20 fishing with that DC --> [ 1d20=4 ]{4}
Silver fire instantly consumes them, the dice dropping to the ground. They're gone like that, burned away in silver fire.
Reverting to normal size, Alicia checks for any magic on this side of the door that might have been hidden from the outside. Lead cored wood is a thing sometimes!
You're correct. There's a few alarm spells of varying types on the door, set to trigger if anyone but a demon opens the door.
That's easily circumvented at least, Alicia simply preventing any magic from functioning.
Anti-magic field SLA used. Does that nix all the alarms? Being careful in case a proxy or demon lord cast any of them so they'd survive in antimagic!
Sure enough, they endure. A divine creature cast these, no doubt.
You're on the ball today.
She ends the antimagic then. 'Be a moment, if Violet isn't a proxy then someone who was or Malcanthet herself cast the magic alarms here. They won't dispel easily'
Violet is a better spellcaster than her, galling as it is to admit. However she has left an obvious hole in the defences.
Can I cast summon spells here while the astral links are severed?
No.
Marie actually would be useful here. Or Jessica, they could easily trick the alarms into thinking that they're demons. Not a skill anyone here possesses however, so she'll just have to get creative.
If I shrink down enough to fit between door and doorframe, can I get line of effect on either side of it to connect two squares with space compression?
Yeah, sure.
Going small again, Alicia positions and warps space between two points on either side of the door then. 'Just walk towards the door and you'll pass, it's fine now,' she sends to the others.
This works well. Once through, 'Dice?' Antenora brings them to her hand with a bare flex of divine will.
'Onward,' Latha says silently.
'Leave them, the guards were amusing themselves,' Alicia tells Antenora. Setting foot on the ground now, her tremorsense stretches down the passage ahead and beyond, and after fixing the warped space around the door she compresses space down the passage to speed their transit down it while stopping clear of any guards she can perceive with it or blindsight.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
Assuming no exceptional guards, what's your general plan for dispatching them? I'll note any cases where other means may be required or indicate your plan isn't effective on face value, should you come on such things.
Alicia will make herself sand-grain sized and move close enough to any guards that she can blast them all with a single shot of silver fire like was used on the incubi before.
Doors will be bypassed by the same sand-grain/space compression trick used before as well.
A few more are unremarkable - guards taken down. As you're getting close to the main halls, you feel it. Footsteps coming this way, from that main hall. A single set of them, but moving at a good clip.
'Someone's coming our way,' Alicia warns the others. 'Moving with purpose, might be some guards missed a check in.'
Be unfortunate timing since they're moving fast themselves, but they've gotten pretty far. Can she tell much about this figure with blindsight yet? How soon before they intercept one another?
About half a minute with how fast they're moving. A female, shapely and walking with a confident step. She's clad in a gauzy robe of some kind.
'Understood,' Antenora says, 'Doubtless another demon.'
'We're ready if you need us,' Syala sends. 'Perhaps it's Violet and we're lucky.'
Is it a straight line path between us and the woman, or are there any rooms/corners between us?
There's one corner not far from where you are.
'There's a corner ahead we can use to get past her without conflict. Let her puzzle over the missing guards while we press onwards.'
Idea is to get at the corner and wait in grain of sand size, with the other three further back from that corner. Once I catch sight of that demon I'll compress space between the spot by my friends and a spot way past approaching demon. We then all flit through that twisted space and cancel it behind us.
Sure. How far back do you want them?
Just ten feet or so, enough to be well out of field of view from around the corner.
Sure.
It's set up and there, you catch sight of her. A beautiful demon with raven black hair, sauntering like she owns the world. She looks a little like you actually in the face, but the body is uh, sinfully riper. You can tell she's a demon from the wings and horns - a succubus, unsurprisingly.
[21:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+55 quick planes check
[21:09] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+55 quick planes check --> [ 1d20=12 ]{67}
Is she a demon of any renown that I'd recognise her?
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
No, nothing visually notes off any noteworthy names.
Well, her knowledge of demons is hardly exhaustive. Could even just be a temporary look. In any case she has plenty of room to play with as she adjusts space around the corner and way further down the passage past the demon. 'Now,' she sends into the telepathic link, flying back and through that altered space to bypass the demon, correcting it behind her once they're all through to leave no trace and watching the demon from the back to see if her stride changes.
It's smooth as silk. The demon doesn't even slow down in the slightest, the party past her without a hitch.
Alicia takes a glance back just to see what kind of magic is on that demon so she can appraise her threat level before they continue onwards.
[16:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if needed
[16:49] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if needed --> [ 1d20=16 ]{53}
Greater Mage Armor, Greater Resistance, Shandra's Barrier.
Shandra's Barrier looks to be some sort of modified shield spell, that lasts longer mostly, along with a slight boost to overall performance.
Moderately powerful then but not meaningful on the level they're looking at. Alicia and her friends thus press onwards, deeper and further in.
Down. Ahead are the main paths now - a wide path, many side paths winding from it. It smells of water down here more than anything else, lit by regular torches. The air has a smoky tastes to it, yet you can't smell any smoke in the air. Glancing about, several demons and demon thralls walk about there, unhidden in this sanctum.
Now with so many demons about they just have to hope they're quiet enough and no one nearby has blindsense, protected at least reasonably from any true seeing or see invisibility powers.
She has a drop onto the floor in grain of sand size so she can use tremorsense again both to refresh herself on the layout and get a feel for where everyone is down here. Tell if anyone's restrained or in what feel like cells, or giving orders to a crowd, that sort of thing that might point to where the work is done down here or where Violet or someone in charge might be.
Give me a Stealth check first.
[18:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+64 stealth, +20 more for invis
[18:03] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+64 stealth, +20 more for invis --> [ 1d20=9 ]{73}
There's no reactions to you, not yet.
You can sense several areas that may be cells based on restrained people. They're all deeper in, off side paths and isolated. All closer to where you feel the vibrations of the Styx, ever flowing. No signs of speeches or the like that you can tell - perhaps you have true stealth here?
That's good but at the same time doesn't strictly help them with finding someone in charge as yet. However securing the cells and denying the enemy a chance to use hostages against them is a good place to start, so Alicia will carefully guide her companions in the direction of the most secluded of those potential restraint rooms.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=2 ]{2}
You barely go far before your divine hearing picks up something useful from afar.
"Violet," A female voice says, languid and amused, "Is it ready yet?"
'Wait a moment,' Alicia bids her friends, focusing her attention on that voice and whoever replies to it...
"Not yet," Another voice, seductive and beautiful. "You'll do well, it's a simple adjustment. Many of your kind develop this ability innately. There may even be...leftovers."
"Which will be...?" The first voice asks.
"The subject has some ability with precision fighting and the arts of the natural warrior." Is the answer back. "To which depends on you."
'This way,' Alicia instructs, leading them towards that voice now she has a fix on it. Violet's day will soon get considerably worse.
'I hear it too,' Syala sends, 'Isn't that just our luck?'
Meanwhile the other voice laughs and then the other says, "Should this go well, I will speak well of you to Master Demogorgon."
Meanwhile, you can see that it's leading you towards a path on the far end of the hall, no one even glancing at you as you pass.
Interesting that Malcanthet is being free enough to share this sort of thing around. Unless Violet's doing it off the books and looking to jump ship?
"Good. Tell him the offer stands," Violet replies, voice all silky desire and allure. "I think it's something both of him can agree on."
The other laughs softly as you go along, still no reactions. The path ahead is barred by a steel door, thick and strong.
Is the steel door all that's between them and Violet or is there further to go?
Alicia also has a brief grain-of-sand-sized dip against the floor for tremorsense to tell her who else is around Violet and whoever she's talking to.
There's the door, a long hall, a few intersecting passages, a trio of rooms, a set of stairs down and then you'll reach Violet.
No one else is around, but something big paces around those stairs going down.
"This won't take long," Violet says, though almost absently, "It may hurt."
"It may....AAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" A scream of pure agony as Violet chuckles softly.
Hopefully there's a recovery period so whoever just got boosted won't be a threat in battle.
Can Alicia and company bypass this door by the same means they used for other doors? Going into the crack between door and floor/frame as a grain of sand-sized being and warping space on either side for the others to go 'around'?
Unfortunately not - the door is flush with the wall and floor. There's simply no gaps.
Any magic on the door, or surrounding wall?
Yes. The walls are enchanted to prevent ethereal entry and other such means, as is the door. The door is studded with alarm spells, as well as spells that will drown any who open it in fire, cold and unholy power unless they are Malcanthet or Violet.
It's also locked for what that's worth.
Luckily such defences mean nothing to silver fire and space compression. Still tiny, Alicia positions by the wall a foot above the door, and with divine will ensuring silence and a check to make sure no demons are looking her way, she sends a needle-thin beam of silver fire poking through the wall just far enough to breach the other side. She can then settle into that gap and manipulate space to provide a way through for her friends.
She might not have ever really trained as an assassin or infiltrator but a god can fake a great many roles!
The door's section gives way, cored out by silver fire and a tiny little tunnel made.
Wall, not door. Since the door's alarms might trigger on Alicia travelling through it or it taking any damage.
'Position directly in front of the door and step forward on three,' Alicia sends as she settles herself into that gap. 'One, two, three,' she compresses space between points on either side of the door on three, relaxing it back to normal a second later.
Good catch, thank you.
Easily enough done, the party through.
'Have you been taking lessons from Jessica?' Antenora asks in your mind, 'You've gotten good at this.'
'It's more about knowing how to effectively manage one's abilities. A paramount skill when you know more and more spells,' Alicia sends back as she emerges out of the pin-sized hole, skipping them along this long hallway with more space compression.
With the stairs going down, is Violet's room directly below any point on the hallway, actually?
'You best believe I'll be taking a firm look at how our own fortifications are built after this, though.'
It is not, unfortunately.
'As will,' Antenora says, 'This is all to effective.
Then they'll have to get through those rooms ahead and down the stairs. They know the drill.
You're through. This long hall is only lightly lit, a few torches here and there that illuminate the way along. You also notice something - a floating eye of steel dead center, looking about, rotating about so the halls are all seen.
Knowledge or spellcraft to ID that? Take 10 for 65 on either arcana/planes/religion or spellcraft.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
It looks to be some sort of magical eye - from the runes at least upgraded with see invisibility as well. A type of minor construct, really.. Not a direct danger, just an eye in the sky.
Well if they can see it, it can see them. Her nondetection is probably holding up since it hasn't focused on them, but Alicia will compress space between both ends of the hall for the group to traverse it without getting too close to the eye and risking it getting lucky if they're too close.
Easily enough. Down to the intersections - and more eye sfloat here, paired groups going and fro.
Alicia keeps them going past the intersections to those rooms before the stairs, the same space compression used to quicken their route and keep them getting too close to any roving or stationary eyes.
Done and done. Past empty intersections, to the first of the rooms. This one is locked by a plain iron door - and your enhanced eyes can see shimmering fields of force around the walls and door. Walls of force, no doubt.
Alicia checks for alarms and the like. If the door isn't flush she can just fit in the gap, otherwise she'll do like she did with the last iron door. Walls of force don't stop silver fire.
Also would any of these rooms be directly above where Violet is?
Unfortunately not - it's straight ahead.
It's easy enough to blast through the door. Beyond is a large room of statues - of soldiers, warriors, paladins, knights, clerics, mages, rogues and more. All beautiful and at action, while at the foot of each one sits a small book.
Will spellcraft or anything tell if they're victims of flesh to stone? Take 10 for 65 if so.
They don't appear to be - by all measures they appear to be merely statues. Well done ones indeed, they'd be worth a pretty penny if sold.
Worry about it later then. Through here and to the next room via the same ruthless expedience that's got her through other recent doors.
'Hold,' Syala calls, 'I want to see one of those books.' She kneels and checks one, flipping through a few pages.
'It's a sales pitch.' Syala's voice is short, 'Guides to choosing the right skills from souls.'
'A regular boutique,' Alicia's mental voice is dry. 'Come along, lets soon put an end to this enterprise.'
Another door, bypassed as surely as the first. The second room is comfortable, luxurious. Some sort of cozy meeting room - there's even a bed. The door out of this room, however, is made of black Styx water around a core of what looks to be heavy metal, probably adamantine on a glance.
Is the wall any better defended?
Not on a glance of the surface of it, no.
It's possible just the door is reinforced as an obvious structural weakness while the overall physical framework of the walls remains unchanged, especially since they're already well fortified and enchanted. But just in case, Alicia divines the immediate future of her zapping a pin-prick hole through the wall above the door.
Alter reality for augury-a-like so I get a weal or woe response.
Your answer is woe.
Interesting. They're close enough that they could go loud and make a rush for Violet, but even a few seconds of warning would be enough time for her to cast a time stop or two and get her panoply of combat spells working. She'd really rather avoid that if possible.
Same divination for the ceiling and floor then.
Woe and woe.
Could always just wait here for Violet to come out, but that gives more time for someone to get really alarmed about those missing guards.
She'll have a proper look at the magic on the door, then.
'Don't mind the delay, the defences grow greater in depth here so the same methods as before aren't necessarily viable,' she sends to her companions.
'I assumed so,' Syala says, 'We can't afford a mistake now.'
Latha is silent, waiting in unspoken anticipation.
CL check on the door, this one's obviously a thing.
[16:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL
[16:57] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL --> [ 1d20=11 ]{48}
No magic.
This must be Malcanthet or Violet's work to resist your power, for on the surface this door cannot be mundane.
She shakes her head, ending her arcane sight effect and re-enabling it to hopefully get glimpse through the vagaries of chance that define such spells. The gulf between them isn't an insurmountable one.
[17:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL recasting
[17:11] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL recasting --> [ 1d20=17 ]{54}
This time you can see and perceive the magic. Ah, the magic helps the waters of the Styx flow in, which are mixed with the Chaos Ichor epic poison to both have the effects of the Styx and that poison. What's more is that it sets of hundreds of alarms all over, as well as causes hunks of the wall to animate as stone golems who are mindless (and this immune to the Styx) and enchanted to move through the waters freely.
Oh, and the floor sprouts hundreds of poisoned spikes too since at that point why not?
What triggers the alarms? The door being opened? Damage to the adamantine core? Changes to the status of the styx-water?
The door being opened by anyone who is not Violet or Malcanthet, the waters being disturbed, the door being damaged or the magic of the door being altered in any way, save by Violet or Malcanthet.
Can she tell how big a disturbance to the water would trigger it?
How is the door built, too? Is there a gap between the adamantine and the frame/floor that's filled with styx-water?
Anything more than removing a few droplets would do it. It's sensitive.
No gaps, it's flush like the previous door.
Is the styx-water flowing in through a gap in the frame or the floor then?
It looks to be coming from the walls and door directly. It be magic.
What kind of magic? Is it conjuring it, teleporting it from elsewhere, selectively making itself passable to water that's flowing behind the walls?
It's letting the water of the Styx pass through, rather than conjuring or teleporting it, looks like.
Turning grain of sand sized again, Alicia touches the wall beside the door so tremorsense can give her an idea of what's going on with the layout down here.
Also see if Violet and her guest have moved. She hasn't heard any further conversation from them, has she?
Nope. They're still where they were last time, though Violet is rocking a bit where she sits or stands, you aren't sure which offhand.
It looks like the rock here lets water flow through, feels like, close enough to the river that it's not that far a trip.
So is there a channel in the rock for the river to flow through or is it permeable? Is this entire room suspended in water, does it extend to the next room/stairs/Violet's room?
She tries not to think about what precisely Violet is doing right now.
It does not surround everything, it's a single channel, but it looks like it's set up to spread on demand.
So is it a channel that runs solely between this room and the next? How far does it extend and how wide is it? Is there anything swimming around in it?
Nothing swimming in it, and it's pretty narrow - maybe an inch. It transports plenty of water fast, it looks to be swift and efficient.
So is there a way through the rock above or below it then? Or to one side?
Without touching the water? Sure.
Though still it means some kind of woe. What about going down, what's the distance between this room and the one Violet's in and can a line be drawn between them that doesn't go through the styx-channel?
Roughly down by about 40ft then ahead 120ft or so. Or at a sloping diagonal if you want to do it that way, whatever.
'I'm unsure about the defences on the walls and the door, and don't rate our chances of continuing like this without triggering an alarm or making enough noise to alert Violet. However we're now close enough that I can tunnel directly to her within the duration of a time stop so we can attack her directly. I'll prevent any sound from spreading beyond us so you can cast short duration spells before we begin battle,' Alicia sends to the others after weighing up her options.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34)
Defences: AC 103, CMD 103, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/8/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
'Alright,' Antenora agrees, 'Then we'll do this. I'm ready.'
'As am I,' Syala concurs.
'It is time for judgment,' Latha thirds.
Alicia thus ensures no sound travels more than a foot away from the four of them with an effort of divine will....
Chance for people to cast their short duration spells now...
Sure, gimme a sec on those. Do you have any of your own or what you want cast on you?
No extra spells to add here.
Okay.
Antenora will cast opal protection, which is +3 morale AC and saves, as well as mind blank vs evil outsiders. CL 35.
Latha will toss down Celestial Valor, which is +4 sacred for most things, I think you know the drill there by now. CL 35. She'll add Life's Grace as time permits, if anyone needs it.
Syala will give Syala's blessing to everyone but Alicia. That's +10 morale to str/dex/con.
Ready on your mark.
[spoiler]
Power of the huntress (CL 34), +8 enhancement natural armour, +20 competence stealth, +6 init, gains combat reflexes and can't be flat-footed. - These are all somewhat situational or overlap, so apply case by case.
Antenora
HP: 986+20/986
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used: Opal Protection
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+12 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4
Spells Used: Celestial Valor, Mass Energy Immunityx2
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
'I'll warp space directly below Syala's feet. Just go down there and you'll end up in the room with Violet below,' Alicia sends before she casts time stop...
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1
[18:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d4+1 --> [ 1d4=4 ]{5}
5 rounds.
Round 1: Swift to go tiny, standard to shoot silver fire in direct line between under Syala's feet and Violet's room, tunnel is needle-thin. Extends 70 feet. Move to go into tunnel.
Round 2: standard to shoot silver fire rest of way to Violet's room. Free to compress space between either end of tunnel. Move to go through into Violet's room. Swift to return to normal size.
3 rounds left to spend depending on what I see now.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/7/8/7/6/7/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/22/11/7/9
Burrowing goes well. On arriving you find two people are here, in a chamber of glass containers of black water, lining the walls. In the center of the room is a simple couch, where a lilitu lies. She looks to be in some agony, face locked in pain.
Standing back, rocking back and forth of her heels, is a beautiful succubus. She is clad in purple light, radiant to look at and with a sense of power and presence to her. It's hard to see her features, everything about her seeming too real, too much.
Reminds her a bit of how everything looked under the Icon of Sensation's influence. Should probably do something about that.
Round 3: Move to stand behind Violet. Free to see what magic she has up...
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL for arcane sight
[18:41] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 CL for arcane sight --> [ 1d20=2 ]{39}
... probably get nothing meaningful. Standard to cast Seira's arcane thesis.
Round 4: Swift to cast quickened brilliant aura on my sword. Standard to cast Latha's sunmantle.
Round 5: Swift to cast quickened true strike, standard to cast keen edge."You're a hard woman to find, Violet," Alicia's voice heard from immediately behind the lillitu is hopefully her first clue that things have gone horribly wrong for her today.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/6/6/6/4
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
Yep, miss in on arcane sight.
Somehow, Violet is already turning towards you the moment reality turns to normal, "Y-" she begins, as...
Are you attacking or talking?
Oh we're going into initiative now, I just wanted to allow a chance for any free-action banter to go through.
Supreme init.
Go for it, I'll sort out init if needed after what's going to be some maiming, I'm sure.
Violet's turn is well timed for her to be introduced to Alicia's sword coming up to meet her face. Blunt end, but given how demons can respawn that probably gives her even more reason to feel concerned.
[19:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80+20 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed
[19:27] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80+20 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed --> [ 1d20=19 ]{119}
[19:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used
[19:28] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used --> [ 1d20=8 ]{118}
[19:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used
[19:28] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used --> [ 1d20=9 ]{119}
[19:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used
[19:28] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80+30 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed, many moments of prescience used --> [ 1d20=10 ]{120}
[19:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80+20 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed crit check on the first one
[19:28] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80+20 blinding speed, 14th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, nonlethal, attack ignores armour/shield bonus to AC and she is hopefully flat-footed crit check on the first one --> [ 1d20=8 ]{108}
+2 on all of those, I always forget bane.
[19:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12
[19:30] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12 --> [ 1d8=6 3d6=10 2d6=8 14d4=36 34d12=234 ]{559}
[19:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12
[19:30] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12 --> [ 1d8=7 3d6=8 2d6=11 14d4=29 34d12=227 ]{540}
[19:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12
[19:30] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12 --> [ 1d8=6 3d6=10 2d6=8 14d4=33 34d12=229 ]{546}
[19:31] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+62+6d6+2d6+14d4+2*68d12 if the first was a crit
[19:31] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d8+62+6d6+2d6+14d4+2*68d12 if the first was a crit --> [ 2d8=7 6d6=24 2d6=5 14d4=33 68d12=437 ]{1005}
[19:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12 if it wasn't
[19:31] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d8+31+3d6+2d6+14d4+2*34d12 if it wasn't --> [ 1d8=6 3d6=12 2d6=6 14d4=35 34d12=225 ]{540}
[19:31] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 rank check to inflict negative levels
[19:31] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+3 rank check to inflict negative levels --> [ 1d20=4 ]{7}
I have 6 attacks left, pausing here though since if she's still up and if she dodged some/all of those it changes how I choose to use my swifts amidst them.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/6/6/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
A flurry of blows breaks Violet. Literally, for as you batter her, her body collapses into a moving puddle of black water, fleeing in multiple directions, six segments of water hurrying away from your wrath.
Spellcraft to know what spell she's using so I can figure out the best counter? Take 10 for 65. Same for religion/planes if it's a weird racial or proxy ability.
It appears as if Violet's body is made of the waters of the Styx now. A blasphemous, terrible thing - a blade is simply ineffective. Desiccation damage would be your best play, you believe. Destroy the water directly.
It's not impossible this is also some kind of puppet or projection, also.
Didn't she do this thing earlier with Shar's thing at Raven's Roost? Very well...
2 swifts spent on casting quickened/vivacious/maximised limited wish to emulate mass dessicate (6th level spell, sandstorm) targeting each of the 6 puddles.
Assuming she counts as a creature of water subtype right now that's 80 damage each, doubled from vivacious. So 160.
[20:18] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+46 SR
[20:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2#1d20+46 SR --> [ 1d20=7 ]{53}, [ 1d20=17 ]{63}
DC 39 fort half.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/6/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
> roll 1d20+48
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+48 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{49}
> roll 1d20+48
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+48 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{55}
The escaping puddles of water all sizzle and boil, drying up with a feminine scream of agony echoing throughout the chamber. There's no sign of her from here - was that it? Did you get her that smoothly?
Free act for the moment.
Given there was no divine tug-of-war over her proxy spark, Alicia can assuredly say that she did not get Violet. Curses.
'She fell apart into water and I dessicated it, but I think it was like a simulacrum made of Styx-water rather than ice. The real Violet is elsewhere,' she sends to the others.
Unless the other lillitu is unlikely to be up and fighting right away she spares a moment to strain her ears for any sound of alarm or anger being made within Rosewater...
You can hear it - a great roar above, on the surface. A great beast, a dragon almost certainly. Then another and another, answering roars.
'A baited hook or merely paranoid practices?' Antenora muses, 'We have problems above us, regardless.'
'And the alarm has been raised. I'll destroy what's here however, this is still what we came for,' Alicia will start by executing Violet's customer...
If she's out of it with pain she's gonna get couped.
Sure. No sense rolling here, you can't fail.
One swift strike ends her, the demon dissolving into a scorch mark and nothing else.
Floating up off the ground to avoid any splashes, Alicia proceeds to shatter all that glass, before dessicating all the styx-water. If its what contains all those stolen souls and memories that will hopefully be a good loss to them.
Alter reality shatter/mass dessicate there.
Though one they can make up so long as Violet's skills and expertise remain. She really must go.
Done, done and done. Containers are shattered and water desiccated, a feeling of souls passing by, of fleeing this cursed place and ascending beyond. You feel warmth and thanks from this, a baptism of relief and gratitude for you.
Why, imagine that I hear that you're here, Alicia. What a surprise.
Alright, where's the door out of here? There's still another room up those stairs that they've neglected...
Hmm. One thing though. That door before? It only opened for Malcanthet or Violet.
There wasn't any key made for 'Violet's-Simulacrum' and she knows well that a simulacrum is an entirely separate entity as far as such spells care. As she considers that she smiles slightly on hearing a familiar detestable voice.
No need to feign surprise, your invitation was very heartfelt.
'Are you three coming down? We're not done here and I want to do some more damage before we leave. There's also something bothering me about Violet...'
Her feet land on the now dry ground so tremorsense can keep her updated of all the movement around Rosewater, but in particular within that room up past the stairs beyond that exceptionally warded door.
The door's behind her.
Syala strides in, "Good work, but you forgot to share again," Syala points out. "Save us some demons next time."
Surrender now and I assure you'll find I have a sense of mercy. You came within a breath of tossing aside your vows before, Alicia. Let me show you how much more I can give you than G'renna.
"There's something big on the stairs you'll get to fight," Alicia says, consuming the door with silver fire now that subtlety is gone.
That was a very long time ago. Don't worry, we can see ourselves out, but if you want to come greet us I can show you how I've grown.
The door is gone, a shaking rumble above as Syala and Antenora take the lead. Something big is moving, felt through your feet and tremorsense. The stairs ahead are broad and with a tall roof, plenty of room to move.
Oh, you aren't getting away this time. I know one of mine when I see them, and you will be one of mine.
Alicia lets them take the lead so they can enjoy their fill of violence from whatever this bodyguard is.
Though given how the real Violet wasn't even down here it's clearly less important than she'd have surmised. Unless the real Violet's in that room up the stairs, but if she is she's not moving.
"Don't go too wild, we're going to see serious opposition on the surface," she cautions against reckless expenditure of spells and smites this early on. Malcanthet herself and possibly one of her allied demon lords isn't at all out of the realm of possibility here.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/6/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
In this case, let me go towards init.
Alicia wins, but she'll hold back to play cleanup after the others get to be violent.
> roll 1d20+24 Antenora
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+24 Antenora --> [ 1d20=4 ]{28}
> roll 1d20+23 Syala
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+23 Syala --> [ 1d20=17 ]{40}
> roll 1d20+24 Latha
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+24 Latha --> [ 1d20=7 ]{31}
> roll 1d20+18 ???
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 ??? --> [ 1d20=14 ]{32}
> roll 1d20+18 ??? 2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 ??? 2 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{23}
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Syala (40) > ???1 (32) > Latha (31) > Antenora (28) > ???2 (23)
"That many heads?" Syala is heard as she rushes up the stairs and out of sight. Glancing up you see it. Some sort of huge giant, but with eight identical heads sprouting from too large shoulders. No necks, the heads grow like fungi on a fallen tree. Each is bald and bloated, drooling a pinkish fluid. The giant's body is nothing but muscle, with seemingly random plates of metal bolted into its skin, providing some semblance of armor. It carries no weapon in hand and wears nothing - though you note it has no gender anywhere you can see. Its legs are as thick as tree trunks and metal spikes protrude out of them, well over a foot long.
> roll 2d10+42+3d6 and 1 negative level plus save vs stun incoming
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 2d10+42+3d6 and 1 negative level plus save vs stun incoming --> [ 2d10=17 3d6=4 ]{63}
> roll 1d20+53 (+5 ???)
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+53 (+5 ???) --> [ 1d20=9 ]{62}
A solid blow hits giant's chest, knocking it back half a step. With a grunt the heads snap and snarl.
"We can't see her! WHERE IS SHE?!"
"Shut up, I can see her!"
"Liar! Eat them, eat them!"
The heads quibble with each other until the giant's hands come up, thumping his heads rapidly. Cries of pain before they turn and open wide, pink fluids erupting out everywhere, a breath weapon filling the stairway and gushing into the laboratory. Acid sizzles - which does nothing at all to the party.
Party is warded against acid. Latha. She'll hold one sec and play cleanup if Antenora's charge isn't fatal, since it usually is. As a side note, I liked her options here just fine, it merely makes sense to let Antenora do her thing first and bat cleanup.
Antenora's just after Syala, wading through the acid as she darts in, a missile aimed at the giant's heads. Her weapons strikes out, just long enough to protect her from the giant's grasping hands. As she does, "Surrender and be spared to a better life!"
The giant snarls at her, "Eat her, eat her!"
> roll 1d20+65 (+4 charge, +4 fiends, +16 various, +16 holy fury, -30 PA)
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+65 (+4 charge, +4 fiends, +16 various, +16 holy fury, -30 PA) --> [ 1d20=16 ]{81}
> roll 3d8+393+2d6+2d6+8d6
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 3d8+393+2d6+2d6+8d6 --> [ 3d8=5 2d6=8 2d6=6 8d6=35 ]{447}
Antenora's spear strikes into one the two center heads. It instantly erupts in opal blue light, screaming before it spreads to the others. All the heads are consumed, the body grasping at the heads and wobbling back and forth. At this Latha approaches and points, "Judgment of the seven gates!" she intones, as light immolates the giant from above.
Empowered vivacious righteous smite.
> roll 20d8
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 20d8 --> [ 20d8=87 ]{87}
> roll 87/2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 87/2 --> {43}
> roll 87+43
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 87+43 --> {130}
> roll 130*2
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 130*2 --> {260}
> roll 1d20+18 (+5 ???) it is not a will save friend
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+18 (+5 ???) it is not a will save friend --> [ 1d20=11 ]{29}
The holy light causes the body to burst into sun yellow fires, ones that consume it as the heads wail. Before your eyes the horror is purged and sunlight shines in the depths of Hades, at least for the moment.
Free act.
[spoiler]
Power of the huntress (CL 34), +8 enhancement natural armour, +20 competence stealth, +6 init, gains combat reflexes and can't be flat-footed. - These are all somewhat situational or overlap, so apply case by case.
Antenora
HP: 986+20/986
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used: Opal Protection
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+12 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4
Spells Used: Vivacious Empowered Righteous Smite, Celestial Valor, Mass Energy Immunityx2
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
"Nicely done, now lets see what's the rest of the way up here," Alicia compliments them as she follows and they go up the stairs, simply annihilating the door in their path with silver fire to see what the last of the three well guarded rooms was hiding.
The walls are inset with slots, where silvery crystals are inset. Each one flickers with magic - you can tell they hold an illusory image, a preset pattern. Something recorded from a creature, to touch it would cause it to play.
And no Violet. She has to be missing something here.
She touches one of the crystals to see what was deemed worthy of record by the demons here.
As you go to do that?
What's wrong, shy all of a sudden? You weren't shy when you first visited one of my holdings. Do you remember how good you felt then?
Alicia is busy and doesn't have time to spend on divine chatting, since it takes a good deal more mental energy than simply talking.
Alicia touches a crystal.
The image of a balor appears. "Once I knew nothing of...tactics," The demon sneers. "Now I have the power of a skilled marshal in my mind. I can see how weak the devil's ploys really are!"
"...Is she selling these? Trading them to demons?" Antenora asks aloud.
"Testimonials." Syala's voice is flat, "That marvelous, shameless bitch. She's selling these."
"I'm not sure about that," Latha says, "To believe what you find from demons on face value is folly." She peers at the flaming demon before you as the illusion ends, the massive fiend taller than all of you, a war battered breastplate and armaments glimpsed on it.
"You saw the catalogues in the other room, it's all very mercantile," Alicia says. Nothing especially meaningful or valuable here however, so they'll backtrack downstairs and then through the compressed space tunnel so they can get out of here without triggering all the annoying traps in the room with the styx-water door.
You return back. As you do, you notice the air smells strangely, of sweet sugar and a hint of burnt mint.
Has she detected any movement in this area with tremorsense lately? Have the astral links been restored? Any magic in the air?
[18:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if relevant
[18:46] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if relevant --> [ 1d20=19 ]{56}
No, no and yes.
There's magic flowing in - some sort of magical poison. An epic poison, just starting to reach all of you. Normally you'd be unable to even detect it due to how those poisons are antimagic, but deities are immune to antimagic. This poison will cripple your willpower and increase your libido exponentially.
And now that she doesn't have to use stealth, Alicia starts actively purifying the air around her while looking to see where specifically the poison is coming from.
Dance of the unicorn SLA, negates poisons within 170 foot radius.
Poisons are purged, the air clean once more. It's coming from the way you came, probably ultimately from somewhere on the surface.
That's some extremely fast distribution especially through closed doors. Well, they're going to backtrack anyway, nothing served by spending time and effort fighting the wall-golems here, though if the watch-eyes in the hallway ahead cause trouble they'll get bashed up.
You rush back. The watch-eyes do nothing to stop you as you race back to the intersections. No signs of resistance beyond the poison, at least not yet.
Once they leave this long tunnel they'll be in an area that - at least when they last came through, was fairly well trafficked. So Alicia pauses with a foot on the ground before the end of it, tremorsense updating her as to what's ahead for them as well as what she can sense and hear further afield in terms of response being organised.
The ground above has more and more feet on it - dozens by the moment. Human sized things by and large, invading in swiftly. They're surrounding the inn and brother, as well as the other exit points.
What about down here with them?
Nothing. All the activity seems aboveground.
'They've evacuated everyone from down here...'
Again Alicia is surprised and dismayed at how smooth it all is. No demons left behind and afflicted by poison, slowed down by poor organisation or distraction. If they could teleport it would be one thing, but without that option it speaks of a truly impressive level of precision.
It does give them free run to go around destroying everything in sight, but she can't take that sort of time while those above are digging in and preparing a killing ground for them.
From what she can hear and perceive via tremorsense, where are the orders coming from up above? Who's putting things into motion and directing people to their positions?
Voices from above. Just curt directions and little else.
Admittedly with telepathy something else is probably in play.
"So smooth," Antenora says, "This isn't like demons at all."
Can I take 10 for 65 on profession (general) to get an idea of where the orders are originating from based on the flow of movement? I'm planning on bursting up from below and taking out the commanders.
You could, sure. Give me an K:P check as well for some context about demonic tactics.
take 10 for 65 too.
They're coming away from the exits, somewhere above them. Tremorsense isn't that helpful pinpointing it. The thing is...this really doesn't match demon tactics. It's too thoughtful, too tactical on that level. You'd expect a screaming horde of demons and fury, not surgical precision and accuracy.
That being said, you can pinpoint where they should be within about 20ft or so.
Blasting through doors with silver fire and shortening space with space compression so they can move faster than can easily be reacted to, Alicia leads the others to a spot in the underground complex underneath where she thinks the commands are originating and within 70 feet of the surface!
With silver fire this is trivial enough. As you do it...
'What's our plan, Alicia?' Latha asks, awaiting your word.
'I think I've localised where commands are coming from. We'll burst up and you and I will clear the fodder while Syala and Antenora kill whoever looks in charge. If opposition looks too fierce to bear I'll get us a path to the edge of Rosewater so we can retreat, so make sure we all stick together,' Alicia replies as they cut their way through the underground base. She'd like to stay and thoroughly destroy everything, but she has to be realistic in the face of this sort of well-oiled response and what they're likely to be up against here.
Alicia HP: 772+20/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/6/5/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/20/11/7/9
'Then let the light of Chronias guide us to victory,' Latha declares.
How far can you tunnel with silver fire in a round?
70 feet.
Tunneling, tunneling, rushing to the surface - and as you get close, your own tremorsense can detect sudden movements on the ground, moving away from where you're burrowing.
I did specifically ask for a spot 70 feet under the surface. If that was impossible I'd have changed plans (and probably time-stopped to make it work)
Oh sorry, must have been lost in the weekly pause. In that case gimme a quick Dex check, say?
[17:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+12 dex
[17:07] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+12 dex --> [ 1d20=10 ]{22}
Thus you break out - and in that moment you see it. Minions of all kind litter the grounds - from manes to sniveling dretches to mightier vrocks and hezrou. Yet nothing truly powerful is there.
It is the sky above where danger looms.
100ft up are dragons - a layer of them. Four green, two blue, two black, two red and two white. Ten of them fill the air, each truly massive, the smallest larger than a country manor house. They blot out everything above, only superhumanly keen eyes letting you see what lies beyond. 300ft up are a cluster of radiant lights, beautiful lilitu hidden within. Before you are The Radiant Sisters, glimpsed in totality, all of them present. Sitting on a floating throne 50ft above them is a familiar sight - the most beautiful woman you've seen save perhaps for Sharess, Sune (or Syala in your heart's honesty). Malcanthet sits on a throne, as if awaiting your challenge. Yet besides her throne is another.
In that second throne sits a brown creature, an avian face dominated by a massive beak. Four wings jut from his back, his body clad in loose, ragged pants and little else. He is muscular and lithe, handsome save for the hawk-like features that dominate his face. He holds a tremendous greatsword in one hand, one that seems to flicker with the winds.
Further out, spread about, are balors. Several dozen 500ft high and at varying distances, all surrounded by a vanguard of vrocks. Each has a fearsome lightning-weapon, ready to strike down at the party.
Feel free to make checks on anything you want to know more about. You'll get that and more details into them, I was a little vague there for the sake of getting it out and letting you dig in more as you like.
After checks you'll have a chance to act thanks to Supreme Init. Then any other Supreme Inits as well and we'll do init from there.
Yeah, take 10 for 65 on planes to identify anyone noteworthy (so radiant sisters or badass balors and up) and what to watch out for from them. 10 for 65 on arcana for the dragons too.
Also I counted 12 dragons total not 10.
It's 12 dragons, my math is bad. 4+2+2+2+2 is too much for an innocent DM.
First and foremost, the hawklike creature on the throne is Pazuzu, a Demon Prince of the Lower Aerial Kingdoms. A known enemy of the Red Knight, he is said to be old and powerful. A being that delights in the destruction of purity. He is a canny foe and a powerful aerial champion, said to be nearly unmatched in aerial combat. It is said that his sword, Cyrine, can steal the ability to fly from a creature forever, as well as being an anarchic and evil weapon of vast power. Darker whispers suggest that he is invincible in the air, unable to be wounded or defeated at all. All the innocence and purity he has stolen is said to have made him mightier yet.
It is indeed the Radiant Sisters amid them. You notice Violet stands a bit above and apart of them, her gaze on you even now, tracking you while the others do not. Cherry the poisoner, binder of Flamejax. Midnight, the Dark Invocation. She constantly licks her perfect lips, shivers going through her as you see her mouth Syala's name, open anticipation there. Crimson clad in red, the arts of blood and passion swirling around her. She awaits. Jade, a staff of the same color in hand, her attention on it as glitters and fractals of color curl and undulate around it. Ash the Dead, beautiful and yet cold, a dozen mysteries swirling around her like a palpable force, ready to rend you to oblivion. Emerald, the deceiver of Argas, her whisper-soft and unseen blade said to have taken a thousand mortal heads.
Rose, the Indolent Witch, a spellbook floating before her, her attention it as she reclines in the air. As if sitting comfortably, a look of boredom on her face. Hyacinth strums her lute, a perfectly gorgeous face awaiting as her song echos in the air, a sweet and far reaching song of encouragement to her allies. Tawny Angelbane, her body nude and covered with obscure, obscene markings that are unpleasant to read, speaking of vile lies and truths from the Abyss, each one enough to damn a mortal soul to eternal torment if they read and comprehend the profane nature there. Ivory the White, like newfallen snow, save for the blood that drips from her mouth, constantly licked up by her tongue. Azure, who awaits patiently, no weapon or armor worn, yet utterly calm, relaxed.
You see the balors. Flamejax is one, the dragon-balor said to have been bound by the Radiant Sister Cherry. A fearsome berserker, he rips apart any in his way. Palrug, a grizzled commander of the Blood War, said to have slain a million devils before starting anew with daemons. Machant the Bloody, a balor brawler, who exults in ripping apart any who defy his burning rages. Wylasp, only known as a reclusive sage, yet he watches on with keen interest, his face free of a balor's normal fury - said to be a sometimes servant of Oghma in some fashion, though the details are scant. Scraladax, a known commander here, with a greatsword of black fire, raised above his head. Others with lesser legends, newborns or simply those who are not known in the endless nightmares of the Abyss.
The dragons themselves are known to you. All mercenaries save for the greens - part of the Clawed Horde, a loose collection of dragons who deign to work for others for small fortunes. They mostly deal in mortal affairs, but have been known to get involved in extraplanar matters for enough coin or at the behest of Pazuzu, who is said to have defeated but spared them before. Madasarina and Icealiapa the White, Isolounapalas and Reddasa the Red, Blackout and Yulanarin the Black and finally Skiyene and Thunder the Blue. Of them, you recall Madasarina is known to have battled powerful heroes to draws and victories before, and prefers caution. Of Isolounapalas you can't recall reading of her, but Reddasa is known as a force mage of great skill. Blackout specializes in darkness magic while Yulanarin favors raw bestial anger and arcane strikes in close, as well as quickly used breath weapons. Finally, Skiyene and Thunder are a mated pair, and cast spells in perfect harmony that rip foes apart with unholy thunder.
The greens are Malcanthet's, her gate guardians and allies, and according to all reports, lovers. They have demonic powers and blood from those unholy couplings and are canny beasts who fight with power and little finesse. One of the green dragons has a rider, a succubus in glittering mage armor, visible to your enhanced senses. Rulalla is atop it, a rod of steel in hand and glistening with purple ice.
Is Radiant Sister Jade here the same one we killed in Limbo or is it a new face for the name?
Also can I tell if Malcanthet and Pazuzu are here in person or if they're avatars?
[18:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL for arcane sight probably relevant
[18:13] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 CL for arcane sight probably relevant --> [ 1d20=1 ]{38}
That was to get more info on buffs and see through illusions of anyone important. I do at least have blindsight and godly perception so if anyone's a projected image I'll probably know, and might be able to detect anyone hiding with invisibility.
[18:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 perception
[18:14] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80 perception --> [ 1d20=17 ]{97}
A new face for the same name. It happens sometimes.
They're avatars.
The dragons have what you'd expect - greater mage armors and other defensive spells, as well as attack boosting spells. It's all combat stuff as well as basic nondetection, but you're strong enough to punch through that. Skiyene and Thunder have a spell called Twin Thunders on both of them, that aids them in sharing their magic together and amplifies it. I can go into a spell by spell listing for each dragon if you like, but it boils down to 'fight better the spell selection and a side of not sucking at init, please'. Your keen eyes also note that Icealiapa has a subtle illusion on her belly, one that hits a green, weeping scar. It oozes with a green pus, dribbling down from the injury.
The various minions you can see on the ground have minor spells at best, what you'd expect for such beings.
Everyone seems real enough here - no illusions you can sense with blindsight or the like.
"Ahh, you've brought me such a crowd..." Alicia says softly...
And then a titan stands over them, her presence dominating Rosewater, knocking dragons and demons aside like insects as she looms like a mountain over all her airborne foes. Defeating avatars doesn't amount to too much, but getting rid of all the radiant sisters - and snagging any proxy sparks that might have been carelessly handed out, is still worth her time.
"You should have known better." Her voice heralds death as her sword swings out with hurricane-like winds in its wake, bleeding deadly divine acid as it carves bloody ruin through everything around her, meagre demons and mighty dragons, fearsome balors and sultry lillitu alike.
Only Malcanthet and Pazuzu are spared, Alicia sending them a message as she gets rid of everyone unworthy to stand on this stage with a single attack.
Swift to go big+, swift for quickened true strike, whirlwind attack
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+113 whirlwind attack, true strike ignores miss chance, brilliant blade ignores armour/shield bonus to AC. 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious/maximised flux grasp. (+2 more vs demons from bane)
[19:36] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+113 whirlwind attack, true strike ignores miss chance, brilliant blade ignores armour/shield bonus to AC. 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious/maximised flux grasp. (+2 more vs demons from bane) --> [ 1d20=14 ]{127}
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+63+3d6+12d4+408 (408 is doubled vs demons/undead, but brilliant blade means I don't damage undead at all)
[19:36] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+63+3d6+12d4+408 (408 is doubled vs demons/undead, but brilliant blade means I don't damage undead at all) --> [ 6d6=21 3d6=14 12d4=26 ]{532}
[19:36] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6+2 extra damage for demons
[19:36] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d6+2 extra damage for demons --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
So all demons hit take 951 damage, dragons or other creatures take 532.
[19:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3+4 rank check to inflict negative levels
[19:37] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+3+4 rank check to inflict negative levels --> [ 1d20=14 ]{21}
Also 1 negative level for anything not otherwise protected from those. And a DC 44 fort save or take a -10 penalty to armour and natural armour.In the wake of that she also takes care to warp space slightly between the two thrones and her allies, linking a spot 20 feet above Antenora with one 40 feet below Malcanthet. 'I've given you a direct route on Malcanthet's avatar, straight up from Antenora,' she sends to her friends.
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/5/5/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Give me a d100 to cover any possible miss chances so I can sort this entire thing out.
[19:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100 I did use true strike to negate miss chance
[19:53] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d100 I did use true strike to negate miss chance --> [ 1d100=93 ]{93}
It is a blow that cleaves the ground. Your foes on the ground are burst apart, minions dying as they should, as surely as Seira's widened magic would obliterate them. You slice into the dragons - you sweep them aside, draconic blood raining down. With a howling cry Icealiapa comes crashing down, smashing into the shops. The other dragons are knocked away by your blade, the path cleared. Great rends in the ground erupt after your blade passes, then strikes upwards.
The Radiant Sisters SCREAM. The screams as they cry out, their armor and magics abruptly crumbling the moment before your blade strikes, save for Violet's. She grins ear to ear as they howl in agony, cut apart. Yet the colored lights and their very bodies, crumbling to ash, flow into her. As balors explode and flow towards her Violet throws her head back and laughs. She is unharmed by your strike, standing true even now.
"Ahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahaaaaaa!" She is surrounded by a nova of black, "Stupid, stupid, stupid upjumped little mortal!" she howls, voice carrying over the carnage, the collapse of buildings, the roars of dragons and the screams of the dying. On her throne Malcanthet smiles coldly, while Pazuzu watches silently, gripping his blade.
"Come, Alicia Reynes!" Violet is unharmed by your strike, "I have found something you could never imagine! Listen to their souls scream in agony as I show you!"
Do you have any other actions for your turn?
No, all used up. I have arcane thesis up so I can counterspell with immediates taken from next turn's swifts if needed though.
edit: Also to clarify, did I hit Violet to no effect or did I fail to beat her AC?
Malcanthet has Supreme Init and goes now.
It didn't affect her - on a quick and dirty guess, you probably completed some ritual step or otherwise played into something that countered the force of your blow in that instance. Upside, it shouldn't repeat itself.
With a languid smile Malcanthet rises from her throne, "Alicia," she calls, "Come now, do you think I wouldn't know better?"
The rest of her turn depends on a reply here, or lack of if you don't want to banter.
"You're right, you have gone for quality over quantity after all, good job," Alicia says, projecting confidence even as she feels something bitter inside. "Sorry I didn't add the Prince's power to Violet's repertoire," she inclines her head to Pazuzu's avatar. "Lucky escape for one."
"Ooooooh," Malcanthet smiles, "You should surrender. Surrendering to me is the sweetest taste." Licking her ruby red lips slowly, Malcanthet snaps her fingers.
Malcanthet is casting time stop. I presume you want to try and counter this.
No I'll just stowaway with her and murder her.
That's fair. I suspect recreational murder is about to be on the rise.
> roll 1d4+1
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d4+1 --> [ 1d4=3 ]{4}
Malcanthet speeds up, yet so does Alicia. A moment with her alone, as Malcanthet smiles even more.
Go, you beat her in round 1 init.
No one else coming along for the ride on team demon?
[20:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 perception
[20:54] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+80 perception --> [ 1d20=6 ]{86}
Nope, just you and Malcanthet.
"So intimate, you were about to say?" Alicia asks casually as she stands above the succubus queen, preparing to attack. Not that killing an avatar really gives her any satisfaction.
Hopefully Violet won't absorb the avatar's power too, especially in a time stop. Still...
[21:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL
[21:04] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+37 arcane sight CL --> [ 1d20=15 ]{52}
See what spells she has up.
Malcanthet has the following:
Reinforced Mage Armor - Like Mage Armor, but +16 AC and grants protection from sneak attacks.
Cloak of Chaos
Unholy Aura
Detect Good
Detect Law
Detect Evil
Detect Chaos
Magic Circle Against Good
Magic Circle Against Law
Nondetection
Mind Blank
Roar of the Defiant Demon - Grants a profane bonus against lawful good creatures, more against paladins.
Malcanthet's Sweetness - Increases caster's Charisma with unholy power, allows domination at will.
Violet's Abyssal Triumph - Channels the power of the Abyss and the River Styx into the target, grants a fluid body and demonic power.
Greater Mage Armor
Mage Armor
Violet's Embrace - Protects with unholy power, as well as anarchic power.
Arts of the Queen - Enhances social skills, discerning lies and 'soft' communications greatly.
Does Violet's Abyssal Triumph give the 'turn into water rather than die' effect that fake Violet had?
Yep. It may make murderizing her tricky.
Can I get a full writeup for that spell please? I need to know exactly what it does in detail.
Violet's Abyssal Triumph
Transmutation [Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 13
Components: V, S, F, Demon
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 min/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This dread spell channels the waters of the Abyss and River Styx into a willing creature touched. This transforms their body into a living mimicry of black waters. This grants a +4 profane bonus to Constitution, immunity to critical hits and damage reduction 15/epic and good. Your body is fluid and you can become a liquid mass, which allows you to flow under doors, through gaps and other such things. You can get through something as narrow as the gap between a door and the floor, or a crack in a window.
Additionally, your body cannot be slain by normal means. Should you be reduced to zero hit points or less, you instead take no damage and disperse into several puddles of Styx water. In this form you can move the various puddles back together and regain your normal form. While in this puddle form, you are immune to all damage, except for fire and desiccation damage. You suffer double damage from desiccation damage. If reduced to zero hit points in puddle form, you die. Dying in this way overcomes regeneration.
In the case of spells such as fortunate fate, those spells activate first and you only enter puddle form if you still are reduced to zero hit points after they do.
Focus
The Eye of the Ferryman or a similar major artifact dedicated to the Styx.
For the record I have considerable balance concerns about this spell."I'll admit, just between the two of us? I completely misunderstood you," Alicia says, giving credit where it's due even as her sword swings out... at Violet.
[16:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93 start of TWF string, ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp
[16:40] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+93 start of TWF string, ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp --> [ 1d20=1 ]{94}
[16:41] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+12d4+2*34d12
[16:41] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=26 3d6=13 12d4=25 34d12=217 ]{547}
[16:43] <@Ebiris> roll 2d6 for bane
[16:43] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2d6 for bane --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
Also 1 negative level if she's not protected.
Seeing if Violet dodges/is injured or just takes no effect because time stop. What happens there determines where the rest of my full attack goes.
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
So do I. Suffice to say getting that particular artifact is a big balancing issue , let alone something similar enough to qualify. It's one of those spells that's an extension of the artifact more than anything else.
Violet is not harmed as Malcanthet merely says, "Still so foolish and young at these games," she says, "Still so direct. Come, put down your sword and we'll talk."
"Not yet," Alicia says, putting her mind at ease that it's just the two of them as the other end of the sword swings towards Malcanthet.
"I really mean it," she says, even while pressing the succubus back and hopefully reducing her to that puddle form. "All this time I thought you too selfish. Too careful to risk any rivals. But the proof was staring me in the face!"
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=8 ]{131}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=19 ]{142}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+93+30 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=12 ]{135}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+88 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=6 ]{94}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+88 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+88 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=4 ]{92}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+83 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=5 ]{88}
[17:17] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+83 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:17] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+83 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=2 ]{85}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+78 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=1 ]{79}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+78 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+78 ignores armour/shield AC, 12th level arcane strike, channelled vivacious flux grasp, many moments of prescience --> [ 1d20=15 ]{93}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=20 3d6=9 2d6=7 12d4=31 34d12=267 ]{650}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=23 3d6=7 2d6=3 12d4=28 34d12=213 ]{536}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=21 3d6=8 2d6=8 12d4=30 34d12=244 ]{604}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=27 3d6=12 2d6=4 12d4=26 34d12=185 ]{488}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=16 3d6=13 2d6=5 12d4=37 34d12=251 ]{622}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=20 3d6=5 2d6=6 12d4=34 34d12=223 ]{560}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=17 3d6=13 2d6=10 12d4=30 34d12=213 ]{545}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=22 3d6=7 2d6=4 12d4=29 34d12=182 ]{475}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 6d6+49+3d6+2d6+12d4+2*34d12 --> [ 6d6=19 3d6=10 2d6=5 12d4=34 34d12=192 ]{501}
[17:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3+4 rank check to inflict negative levels, 1 per hit
[17:18] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+3+4 rank check to inflict negative levels, 1 per hit --> [ 1d20=4 ]{11}
2 swifts left, if she drops let me know on what attack it happened so I know how many moments of prescience got used.
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/4/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
"Why Alicia," Malcanthet purrs as you approach, "Syala's been staring me in my face for so long."
Yet no more words can be said. You rush in and slash into the succubus queen, a flurry of blows. The first cuts her side open, the second through glittering mage armor and across her stomach. Yet she's smiling even as a third strike causes her to heal and regenerate, a burst of restoration mending her body. The fourth and fifth are moreso, tearing her apart again, body becoming a burst of water.
5 attacks, just to be clear.
"It's Violet!" Alicia shouts even as she begins the process of dessicating those airborne puddles. "What use would you have for the secrets of ascension if not for someone else, someone you've sacrificed so much for? She's your protege and I was too blind to see it! Well done!"
2 quickened maximised vivacious limited wishes for mass dessication. So 320 damage each (adding in the vivacious doubling and the dessication doubling), DC 39 fort half.
[13:22] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+51 SR kobot
[13:23] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 2#1d20+51 SR kobot --> [ 1d20=11 ]{62}, [ 1d20=7 ]{58}
If the first spell kills her I obviously won't use the second. Just rolling them both for convenience.
Also that spell writeup for the styx thing is pretty unclear on whether the different puddles have their own individual hp and how that's tracked, what actions they're able to take, and what action it takes to reform. The fact that the spell isn't even discharged when doing that... well, yeah balance concerns are a thing as said earlier.
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/2/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Can't fail the saves, not rolling it.
Avatar, not the deity. Dur. She could fail.
> roll 1d20 1 checking
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d20=4]
> roll 1d20 1 checking
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d20=4]
The water is desiccated, dissolving even as Malcanthet laughs in your mind. 'Oh, this is just the beginning,' Malcanthet says, 'Enjoy this minor moment of triumph.'
So is the avatar dead now or what?
Yes, the waters are dissolved and gone.
What triumph? This is an unmitigated disaster, they Competed and Alicia lost utterly. All the violence doesn't change that.
She can probably get some of the magic items dropped by all those sacrifices if she controls the battlefield after at least, but none of it's likely to be useful to her and she doesn't much care for those things anyway. Neither Malcanthet nor simulacrum Violet even had anything... though if you're planning on using that spell you probably expect to lose whatever you're wearing anyway.
Well, she has a little time now. She'll recast many moments of prescience and give Violet a look over.
[17:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 arcane sight CL if needed
[17:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=8]
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/1/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Violet has the following spells on her:
Nondetection
Mind Blank
Roar of the Defiant Demon - Grants a profane bonus against lawful good creatures, more against paladins.
Malcanthet's Sweetness - Increases caster's Charisma with unholy power, allows domination at will.
Violet's Abyssal Triumph - Channels the power of the Abyss and the River Styx into the target, grants a fluid body and demonic power.
Epic Mage Armor
Violet's Embrace - Protects with unholy power, as well as anarchic power.
Arts of the Queen - Enhances social skills, discerning lies and 'soft' communications greatly.
Greater Heroism
Numbing Embrace - Stops the target from feeling pain.
Violet's Superb Casting - Improves caster level, enhances dispels and counter spells.
Soulguard - Protects the soul from being trapped or otherwise diverted from its course, should the creature perish.
Freedom of Movement
Energy Immunity (Acid, Cold, Fire and Sonic)
Greater True Seeing
Caress of the Lichborn - Grants some of the protections undead have, increases Intelligence.
Can I tell if Violet is a proxy?
She is not.
Can I see anything magical about the ritual that just transpired?
Would something like Unbinding or release all the souls she just nabbed?
Sure, gimme Spellcraft. This is a situation where it may not be a gimme, so make a check.
[17:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+65+15 spending a round to pop divine insight
[17:58] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 99 > [d20=19]
So we're on round 3 of 4 now.
The ritual looks to have fed the souls right into Violet. She's receptive to them somehow, deeper magic and workings wrought within her. With that and the sheer weight of the souls taken in the ritual, Violet is swollen with power.
Normally yes without incident. In this case it would require a particularly potent unbinding or the like - this is a little more than a typical situation, but if you're fast it might work.
She's a goddess of liberation so she might as well do something right today. She starts to cast it then...
Unbinding has a casting time of 1 round, so I can cast it on the last round of the time stop and it'll go off when the time stop ends and Violet is an acceptable target.
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/5/8/1/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Okay. So you mean for it to go off once it ends, preemptively?
Yes. I start casting in round 4 of the time stop. It takes one round to cast, so when that round ends, the time stop both ends and the unbinding takes effect. The long casting time plays to my benefit here because I couldn't do this if it was a standard action to cast, since my turn is over outside of the time stop.
Sure. Gimme a CL on it and I'll adjudicate.
[18:49] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37
[18:49] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 49 > [d20=12]
Your magic is strong - the moment the timestop ends, it slams into Violet. There's a horrible moment when she writhes about, before some of them escape. Handful after handful of souls, rushing out from her. "You bitch!" She snaps at that, a moment of raw, furious anger. You feel her resist, some slipping back in while others escape - more escape you think, but not all - until with a shudder she lets out a godawful belch, souls erupting out from her mouth. A new torrent as more escape from her, more and more and more.
"AGH!" Then it stops, like a tap turned off, a death glare your way.
"Save the gloating until it's a done deal," Alicia scoffs contemptuously. She can take some measure of satisfaction out of this miserable outing.
> roll 1d20+14 group init for the dragons for the sake of my ease.
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+51 Pazuzu Avatar
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+48 Violet
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 65 > [d20=17]
> roll 1d20+24 Antenora
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+23 Syala
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 43 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+24 Latha
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=7]
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Violet (65) > Pazuzu (53) > Syala (43) > Latha (31) > Antenora (30) > Dragons (19) > ???? (0)
Violet rights herself in the air, a negligent gesture at you, "But it doesn't matter, I have so much," she laughs, "So many ways and paths to power now! I've found something no one can match!" You sense it - the magic of druids flows through her, great spears of stone rising out of the earth to curve in at you, jabbing and trying to impale you from all directions.
Reflex.
[spoiler]
Power of the huntress (CL 34), +8 enhancement natural armour, +20 competence stealth, +6 init, gains combat reflexes and can't be flat-footed. - These are all somewhat situational or overlap, so apply case by case.
Antenora
HP: 986+20/986
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used: Opal Protection
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+12 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4
Spells Used: Vivacious Empowered Righteous Smite, Celestial Valor, Mass Energy Immunityx2
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
[19:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+60
[19:43] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 69 > [d20=9]
Alicia HP: 1044+20/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/5/8/1/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
> roll 35d8
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 145 > [d8=1,7,1,6,4,4,4,5,1,2,6,5,4,3,2,2,2,1,7,3,1,6,5,2,8,7,2,4,3,6,7,4,8,7,5]
> roll 145/2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 72 >
> roll 145+72
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 217 >
> roll 217/2
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 108 >
108 damage.
You are thrust against, wellings of blood under your armor as you hold tight against them. At this Violet utters another word, suddenly a flow of black water that erupts towards the Styx, flying fast and swift.
This does provoke an AoO, if you care to attack her watery form at the moment.
I have lots of AoOs right now, so yes.
[20:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+81
[20:01] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 90 > [d20=9]
[20:01] <@Ebiris> roll 6d6+49+3d6+2d6
[20:01] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 97 > [d6=6,6,6,4,3,3,6,6,4,1,3]
Alicia HP: 956/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/5/8/1/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Alicia cleaves down into the dark waters. She cuts some of it away but more keeps going, joining the Styx. At the same time...
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Violet (65) > Pazuzu (53) > Syala (43) > Latha (31) > Antenora (30) > Dragons (19) > ???? (0)
With a cry of furious defiance, Pazuzu takes to the air. His blade is in hand, slashing out as he comes right for you.
This does not provoke an AoO as he has a means to get around provoking one form aerial movement.
> roll 1d20+85 (+5 ???, +8 ???, +5 ???, +1 ???, +1 ???, +4 ???, +1 ???, -10 PA)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=6]
AC?
114
CLANG!
The clash of blade on blade is resonant throughout the air, Alicia holding her ground against Pazuzu's avatar. Winds batter you yet even as Alicia's hair blows back, she holds her position. The charge is stopped for the moment, the assault halted. It is then that Syala appears above, passing through the warped space.
"Pazuzu," she shouts, the barest glance her way as Syala points. A great elder treant appears, slamming into the fiend.
> roll 1d20+75 (+16 various)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d20=18]
Yet with a rich clang of steel the blow is blocked, the Demon Prince not even knocked back. In that moment Latha meanwhile emerges below, as a sunrise follows, engulfing the wounded dragons.
Sunstorm. Vivacious since it's free for sun domain spells for her. She's also making it a sunweave spell for +51 damage.
> roll 1d20+34 any SR
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 36 > [d20=2]
> roll 34d8+51 she's lucky dragon SR sucks
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 213 > [d8=1,5,4,7,1,7,7,7,1,5,8,4,6,3,8,2,5,6,4,8,5,3,3,1,8,6,2,6,6,4,8,6,3,2]
> roll 1d20+25
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+28
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 33 > [d20=5]
> roll 1d20+28
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=14]
> roll 1d20+35 evasion
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 50 > [d20=15]
> roll 1d20+21
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+23
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 32 > [d20=9]
> roll 1d20+28
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 30 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+30 improved evasion
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 41 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+29
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 45 > [d20=16]
> roll 1d20+45
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 56 > [d20=11]
> roll 1d20+31
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 39 > [d20=8]
DC is 40.
Dragons come crashing down, the ground shaking with their fall amid a new sunrise. The reds fall, the greens behind them. Somehow the blacks endure as the blues wobble in the air, draconic fury as the last white dragon plummets down as well. With their numbers decimated, Antenora comes through the warped space. With a loud battlecry she charges right at Pazuzu, "Repent or face judgment!"
Init is Alicia (Supreme Init) > Violet (65) > Pazuzu (53) > Syala (43) > Latha (31) > Antenora (30) > Dragons (19) > ???? (0)
Antenora pops opal fury as one of her swifts as she charges.
> roll 1d20+91 (+4 charge, +16 various, +4 fiends, +16 furious strike, +14 smite evil, +2 opal fury, -20 PA)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d20=2]
Yet Pazuzu checks her advance with a gust of wind, slowing her enough for another parry. Amid this, as the two exchange glares, "Demon," Antenora hisses.
"Retreat!" One of the surviving dragons call, chaos as they flee, "Betrayal!"
Meanwhile, the waters of the Styx churn faster and faster.
Alicia, go.
[spoiler]
Antenora
HP: 986+175/986
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Holy Fury 37/37 (enc) Divine Retribution 1/1 Smite Evil 12/12 Channel Energy 17/17 Lay On Hands 476/476 Remove Disease 10/10 (week), Spiritual Connection 3/3 Blinding Speed 25/25 Divine Blast 17/17
Spells Used: Opal Protection
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Fury (CL35)
Notes: Can always inflict nonlethal with attacks, spells, SLAs and abilities.
Smite Notes: +2 damage/paladin level on a charging smite. Each point of favored PA on charge is worth 9 points of damage, post charge multiplier (15 on crit).
Typical Charging Numbers: 34 for base smite damage, 68 for charging smite +2 per per level. So 102 bonus damage baseline. Raw attack plus smite is 1d8+135+2d6+2d6 (+4/+4d6 if fiendbane hits). Doesn't include other factors.
Remember everything triples and x5 on a crit when adding things.
Latha
HP: 756+20/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Holy Light 30ft (7d6+7 damage vs evil/round) Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+12 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Sun Devotion 4/4 Sunweave 2/3
Spells Used: Vivacious Empowered Righteous Smite, Celestial Valor, Mass Energy Immunityx2, Sunstorm.
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Level + 17 extra damage per hit vs undead during sun devotion.
Channel Energy: Multiply by 1.5 due to empower turning.
Syala
HP: 680+20/680
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil) Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+16 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Damage+14 (+7 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale), AC+15 (+5 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 morale, +3 luck), Saves+21 (+10 blessing, +4 sacred, +3 luck, +4 morale), Skills+9 (+19 stealth)(+5 blessing+4 morale), Checks+5 (+5 blessing) extra attack per round +2d6 if weapon isn't holy
Resources: Rage 7/7 Divine Blast 14/14 Family Domain 2/2 Wrath Domain 2/2 Add Twin 7/7 (non epic only)
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Mind Blank (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Epic Mage Armor (CL39), Pass Without Trace (CL34), Mass Camouflage (CL34), Mass Energy Immunityx2 (Acid, Sonic) (CL34), Recitation (CL34), Righteous Wrath of the Faithful (CL34), Mass Power of the Huntress (CL34), Opal Protection (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Power of the Huntress (CL34)
Notes: Automatically converts vile damage to normal damage.
So where's Violet now? She was 300 feet up in the air and now she's in the Styx? Does the Styx wind through Rosewater or is it at the edge going around/under or whatever?
Her aquatic form mixed into the Styx. It's at one edge, yes.
Are we at the edge of Rosewater ourselves then? How far away is she and can I discern where she is specifically in the water?
You are about 250ft away from it. For the second, give me a Spot checkaroo.
[17:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80
[17:06] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=15]
You can - it's almost impossible to tell, but your eyes are beyond impossible. You can spy a faintly different part of water - deep in there, a twisting in the depths.
How did she move so fast?
Legitimate question, she moved over 400 feet after casting a spell and changing her shape, that's a lot of actions.Regardless she's still close enough. Stopping Violet from escaping with all her new gains is the priority right now - she won't be able to pull this off again once word gets around what happened to her allies today. On that note, 'Allow retreating demons to flee, they'll spread word,' she sends to her allies. "Patience, I'll get to you in a moment," she tells Pazuzu, gesturing as the Styx begins to fall out of the air like rain nearby and then her magic pulses.
Space Compression to link Violet's location with the same spot she was floating in last turn. Casting quickened Unbinding.
[17:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL on quickened unbinding
[17:16] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 53 > [d20=16]
Alicia HP: 956/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/0/4/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
It's legit, she has a big movement rate and things like quickened spells aren't new.
'Understood,' Antenora sends back as she parries Pazuzu's on counter, the two eye to eye as Syala throws a blast of divine power. This is only dodged by Pazuzu's head momentarily detaching from his body, the shot zipping through the empty space between neck and head, before it reattaches.
Your Unbinding hits, a snarling cry from the waters as more souls erupt out. It's a barrage, a shaking shudder as yet more escape. She's surely lost more than half she's gained here now. Souls erupt out by the moment as she flees away, down the Styx and away and out of sight, howling all the while.
Anything else this turn?
Mechanically she hasn't moved yet just FYI, that's just flavor texting.
Yes, more where that came from.Alicia snaps off another, a pulse of white light radiating off her and travelling through the warped space to illuminate the dark waters of the Styx around Violet!
[17:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL on quickened unbinding
[17:53] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 57 > [d20=20]
Alicia HP: 956/1044
Active spells: Extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35), many moments of prescience (CL 34)
Defences: AC 114, CMD 136, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +15 natural armour, +40 str, -2 dex, +20 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, -8 size attack/AC, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/0/3/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
For a mere mortal or even most immortals, you sense that this would fail. That this would be folly. Yet for you, in your portfolio and with mighty magic? You see yet more souls ripped away - even a barrage of colored souls, glimpsed but a moment as the Radiant Sisters are freed. You may not have gotten all of them, but you've come really close now if you haven't.
Violet flees, out of sight and lost in the river, her howls of fury dimming.
It's not that she has any love for any of the demons involved here, and they're sure to cause more trouble in the future assuming they don't degrade too much in form when they respawn... even then, the long term's a thing.
But every one of them and everyone they talk to is going to have serious concerns about Malcanthet and Violet and that at least will make their lives more difficult. It also means that all of this was for nothing, all those powerful servants spent and favours with allies cashed to no effect.
That makes this bad day a little bit better for Alicia.
That leaves Pazuzu, who's been oddly silent throughout all of this... "You can leave now and we'll say no more of it. Only offer I'll make you," she says coldly to the other demon lord avatar remaining after she butchered the last. She's been careful not to strike him and avoid escalating things so far, but after he's already tried striking at her that patience is about evaporated.
Pazuzu...lowers his blade. "Accepted, Reynes. My role here is over, and nothing is to be gained battling with you now." He slowly licks his beak, "I will feast on your purity another day."
Antenora stares on balefully, but holds herself back. "If I did not understand all too well how valuable honorable surrender and parley is..." she says slowly.
Pazuzu begins to rise, but banters back, "How much you depend on the loyalty of your master, erinyes, that you would roll over on her command? Or do you still secretly crave to taste her purity as well?"
Antenora's voice is cold as a tomb now, "Be grateful I understand what honor is."
"Devilish purity...perhaps it will be your purity I feast on another day, for the novelty of it." Pazuzu laughs, a strange, almost birdsong like sound. Yet it is discordant and makes goosebumps break out on your arms and legs. He rises into the sky and is gone, leaving the dragons that flee and whatever stragglers remain.
Alicia's face is stony as she allows the retreat, shrinking back to normal size while the Styx churns and likely rises to swallow Rosewater into its depths. "Syala, Latha. Do as much damage as you can to destroy this place before the Adversary claims it," she says. She might have let herself be predicted to Malcanthet's benefit but she's not so dense she can't see who's going to take the final prize here for the least effort. In the meantime she unfurls her portable hole and telekinetically pulls all the items scattered by the fallen into it.
Copying Moore's quick gather for the looting. Want Syala to drop some earthquakes and Latha some heavenly vengeance to wreck what we can here.
Latha rises and calls, "Let the wicked be broken!" The ground shakes as you gather equipment, while Latha's cries send lances of sunlight slamming down, bursts of fire burning buildings.
"Unless..." Antenora suddenly scowls, "The Adversary is the Oinoloth. Surely he could take it if he wanted to, unless...it isn't the prize at all. What about a succubus with great power, fleeing in the Styx and vulnerable, angry and not thinking clearly?"
Well, taking Rosewater from Malcanthet and taking it after Alicia wrecked it are two different things. And Alicia had expected Violet would plane shift back to the Abyss as soon as she got clear of the severed astral links, but then... not thinking clearly.
Also following her own instincts hasn't worked out great today.
"You may be right," she says, folding up her portable hole and replacing it under her belt. "Latha, Syala, this way!" she compresses space between herself and a point further downstream the styx following its current that matches Violet's observed speed, flying through and trying to detect the water-form demon.
[18:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+80 perception
[18:41] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 92 > [d20=12]
Alicia HP: 684/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/6/8/0/3/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
"You may be," Syala concedes, "I wouldn't mind a chance to express my displeasure."
Latha is there as you all shift - and you see it, far down the Styx. Violet, half water and half flesh, is dangled just above the Styx. The Adversary is there, standing there and hooded. One death white hand can be seen holding the succubus by the neck.
In a whisper soft voice, "Thank you," he says, "But your services are no longer required in Hades. You have performed adequately, leave."
"Well. Well, well, well," Syala hefts the Blessing of the Twelve, "You used us, fiend."
Latha stands there, radiance against the pitch darkness of the Oinoloth. "The dawn always comes, no matter what you do, devil."
Violet struggles weakly, pitch black death going up and down her neck. Flesh rots away in moments, the scent of it immediately putrid and foul.
Being used is a given when making a deal with a yugoloth, Alicia is neither surprised nor upset since she knew what to expect going in.
It also means she doesn't feel obligated to him for prior services rendered. She had no kind of pleasant fate in store for Violet, but it would at least be kinder than what the Adversary offers.
"Violet?" her question comes not to the Power before them but his victim and their original target, a single word, of mercy offered even after all that's happened today.
"Kill...him..." Is the answer you get from Violet, a choked out gasp.
Ever so quietly now, like a ripple of fever-poison in your brains, "A foolish sentiment, Violet. Do you think I am alone and bereft of allies?" The Adversary says.
"For a single true word of regret and repentance, I'll fight all of Hades," Antenora speaks up, "Violet. Please. Your pride isn't worth oblivion. There's a better way, even now." She levels her spear, ready.
"...Devil...whore..." The succubus manages to cough out, blood and Styx water splattering from her mouth.
What magic word could Violet have said that would have prompted her to attack the Adversary and rescue her? Certainly not those four.
She's half-tempted even now, even knowing she'll certainly take the chance to flee back to Malcanthet and cause further grief. If the Oinoloth wanted her dead she'd already be so, and she'll likely cause another strain of grief once broken to his will. Neither appeals, but making a grand gesture that might cause her to re-examine her life speaks to Alicia's poetic side.
Vanity, really.
"I didn't come here to kill a daemon," she says, echoing Antenora in levelling her sword. "But I did come here for a demon. Drop her... please."
What a day this has turned out to be.
There is a moment of silence as you stand your ground.
"Please?" The Oinoloth asks, voice sharp and mocking. "You would beg for a demon?"
A ripple of images around Violet. Images of all of you - taken, broken, raped, corrupted. Violet's hatred, triumph, arousal and more are all laid out before you, like physical forces felt. "That is the desires of her soul." The Adversary declares, as the black runs up to her jaw, down to her chest and out of sight under her clothing. "You would fight to protect THAT? This is the poison of her soul, Alicia Reynes. Is that pleasing to you?"
"It's what I expected," Syala levels her hammer as well, "No more, no less. It's because that no matter how dark a night, there will be a dawn. That's why we stand here, Sammael, to bring the dawn, not another concert of the same darkness with a different conductor."
Latha joins the three of you, mace at the ready. "Do not make her ask again."
Well she can't ask again after Latha said that! But the support is appreciated.
"I know what she is, what she wants," she agrees, hardly surprised by the revolting images shown. "It is repulsive. But if I allow no room for hope and mercy, what good are the heavens as an alternative? What good am I except as a butcher?"
All the violence she's committed today has played into the hands of fiends. Her martial skill hasn't counted for anything important, mighty as it may be. But there's more to her than that.
As Violet lets out a keen of agony, the Adversary speaks on. "You ARE a butcher, Alicia Reynes. No deity rises except on a mountain of corpses and triumphs over the opposition. Were all of you darker, they would call you things - serial killers. Monsters. Nightmares." His voice stays ever so quiet all throughout this. "You hunt. Your foes die. Do you enjoy the victories over your opposition, when you leave behind broken bodies and crushed lives?"
"Today's challenged my ability to take pleasure in violent victory," she admits, before her expression hardens at Violet's continued torment. "I know what I am and what I'm good at. Must I turn that talent for slaughter upon you, now?"
"Yet you take pleasure in violence." The Adversary concludes, a flick. Violet is tossed at your feet, where she promptly is bloodily ill, red and bile staining the ground. "There will be a seat here for you one day, when you are ready to take it. The poison in your heart is strong. With that, I have gained enough today." Then the Adversary is gone, a momentary sense of drowning, drowning in bile and poison, before a bare flex of your will banishes it.
All the lower planes really want her for themselves somewhere, don't they?
Alicia crouches down and pulls Violet to her feet, a pulse of silver fire coursing through her. "If you think to try your luck against us again, think carefully on what you just escaped."
greater restoration effect from silver fire.
Violet's answer is a mewling cry, a cough of blood as the blackness slowly peels away from her throat.
Antenora kneels down next to her, a hand laid on her forehead. She is silent in the meantime, whilst Latha says, "It is done, then. We have much to reflect on."
"A victory of sorts, even after being used," Antenora remarks.
A gate is opened then, back to Sylica. In deference to their guest it's the exact same cabin where they held their earlier meeting with 'Robeaux'. Holding tightly to Violet's wrist, Alicia takes her through and back to their divine realm.
Alicia HP: 684/772
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 34), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 35), extended mind blank (CL 35), extended nondetection (CL 35), epic mage armour (CL 39), pass without trace (CL 34), greater heroism (CL 34), energy immunity (acid) (CL 34), energy immunity (sonic) (CL 34), telepathic bond (CL 34), sensual blessing (CL 34), recitation (CL 34), foresight (CL 34), greater visage of the deity (CL 34), power of the huntress (CL 34), repelling shield (CL 34), spell turning (CL 35), righteous wrath of the faithful (CL 34), invisibility (CL 34), opal protection (CL 35), celestial valor (CL 35), life's grace (CL 35), Seira's arcane thesis (CL 34), brilliant aura (CL 34), Latha's sunmantle (CL 34), keen edge (CL 34), extended dance of the unicorn (CL 35)
Defences: AC 110, CMD 114, spell resistance 49, energy immunity (fire, cold, acid, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 49), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +10 armour AC, +10 circumstance stealth, +4 morale attack/saves/skills, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +2 insight AC/reflex, +1 natural armour, +4 str, +2 dex, +4 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +20 competence stealth, +8 enhancement natural armour AC, +9 shield AC, +3 morale damage, +3 morale AC, +4 sacred attack/damage/AC/saves, +10 CL vs SR, +5 spell DCs
Perceptions: Arcane sight, low-light vision, blindsight/tremorsense 3 miles, perception +80
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/12/9/9/14/9/4/5/8/0/3/4/2
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/23/19/11/7/9
Moments of relief as Violet is limp, barely moving at all.
Once you are all through, a flex of Antenora's will cleanses the scent of Hades from you all. A gentle breeze blows through, freshening everything.
"Welcome," Syala goes to sit, relaxed and casual, as you sense her checking on the links here, making sure no escape is possible. "We met the poor soul you sent as bait. Poor fool doesn't know what to do with himself now."
Latha stands at the door, allowing no exit. The moment Violet looks that way, sharp and sudden, Latha shakes her head. "We insist," she says, authority and light in her voice, a moment of it that makes Violet flinch back.
Alicia goes a bit further, making the area dead to magic as well. Poor Violet would've been fine with that if she was still a proxy, too. And she definitely was one, recently. The spells cast by her and resistant to antimagic in Rosewater were proof of that.
"Yes, as I said to your simulacrum earlier, you're a hard woman to find. But now we can makeup for lost time," she says as she gently but firmly puts Violet into one of the seats at the table.
Another cough with blood, Violet looking to you after. "Malcanthet won't stop until I'm free," is her answer. "Let me go and I'll make sure she doesn't take revenge on you. You can walk away from the blunder you've made."
"Violet, please. I'm fully aware of how important you are to Malcanthet," Alicia says mildly, taking a cup off the shelf and filling it with plain water which she places in front of the last surviving radiant sister.
"But I didn't go to all this trouble just to let you go straight back under her skirts."
The cup of water is eyed but drank from, a grimace. "You should try it there." she retorts, "With Malcanthet, it can be a fun position to be in."
Syala cracks a smile at that, "So is Alicia's." she challenges right back. "Stop quibbling and reaching for anything you can. Listen to Alicia instead."
"I don't doubt it," Alicia says, though her tone sounds doubtful, moving to sit opposite Violet. "Regardless lets start with something simple to assuage my curiosity. The being with the memories and talents of Robeaux who came here to lead us into Rosewater through that secret passage. Who or what were they to start with?"
Violet smiles - it's a beautiful thing, admittedly. "Should I tell you," she says, "What do I get for cooperation?"
Alicia smiles back. "A pleasant chat instead of a magical interrogation is a good start, isn't it? Especially after the day we've all had."
"Pleasant chats are fun," Violet banters back, rubbing her throat, "But I worry about the longer term, past that pleasant chat."
"It improves the odds of things remaining pleasant," Alicia says more bluntly. "You're not going to be annihilated or tortured, there are no guarantees past that. It's better than the deal offered by the Adversary, isn't it?"
"How many would cry for justice as a result of your sins," Antenora speaks, coming over to lay a hand on Violet's shoulder. "They are restrained only by my mercy. Do not test our patience with power plays."
A cold look to Antenora before Violet turns back to Alicia. "You'll have to be more specific than that."
"I wonder if I should put you next to Dragodan or G'renna?" Alicia asks aloud, standing up now. "Because yes Violet, you've successfully tested my patience and so we'll recourse ourselves to magical interrogation."
Are any of her buffs still active while magic is suppressed here?
No.
"Goodbye, Violet," Antenora agrees, letting go of her shoulder and walking away. Latha simply turns and walks out, while Syala follows.
"You think you can walk away? I know things! Things not even you can find out from me," Violet retorts, "You need me and my powers. Why, I could even aid all of you with them - a few little bits of stolen power and knowledge go far." She starts to rise, both in body and in voice. "You need me with Malcanthet coming!"
"And yet you won't even answer a simple, inconsequential question," Alicia points out in response to that tirade.
"A poor idiot who fell in the Styx, servants fished him from the shoes," Violet answers at last, "I don't even know his name, he was too easy and convenient to pass up."
'Antenora please don't go anywhere because I need you to vet her for lies,' Alicia sends, even if that choreographed exit seemed to have done a good job of puncturing Violet's bravado.
"There. An unsatisfying answer but one I can be content with for the moment," she sits back down. "To break it down for you Violet, your fate lies on a continuum. Barring some spectacular play from Malcanthet, returning to the Abyss is not anywhere on that spectrum. But eternal imprisonment, long term sealing, confinement under various restrictions and routines are all possible. If you make this difficult, I'll extract what I can from your mind and then put you somewhere that I needn't have to think about you again. If you make it easy, you'll have a more pleasant stay... but make no mistake, you will stay."
Just as you say that Antenora reappears by the wall, invisible. She sits, a chair of wood silently appearing beneath her. She smiles at your message and nods. 'My thoughts exactly, Alicia. I do, however, understand that she needs our attention and she knows that she does. Let her think herself deprived.'
Violet drinks her water and sits back, "You are confident for someone we played like a fiddle," she retorts, a coy little smile on her face. "You're so predictable, Alicia. Malcanthet and I figured you out as surely as we can figure out a devilish battle rally. So ready to see to your own biases and miss what was right in front of your face. Of course you say I'll stay. The world works that way for you. You capture a fiend, they don't get away. You go home, your Syala's waiting for you. The sun rises each morning and sets each dusk."
A soft clank as she puts her glass down, "Spare yourself the embarrassment of being out maneuvered and used again...unless you're one of those women who likes to be used," A rather nasty smile, "But I can help you with that, too."
Antenora will use sense motive first of all, then her SDA for lying. Why not use both?
> roll 1d20+74 (+15 AR'ed divine insight, +9 other)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d20=20]
> roll 1d20+24 decent save even in antimagic
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 26 > [d20=2]
'She thinks herself an equal to you, if not a superior. Malcanthet's fed her ego,' Antenora says, 'She's telling the truth in regards to you being predictable, at least as she believes it. She honestly believe she can out maneuver you, too.'
"It really was well done," Alicia says without apparent rancour, though Violet's ego needs another pop and she's here to deliver. "I've already expressed my sincere appreciation to your queen, but still... do they give out prizes in the Abyss for partial credit, now?"
With a sharp smile, "When you're valuable - and I'm priceless," Violet retorts.
"You do possess a rare skillset," Alicia agrees.
Though not unique. Sylvie and Calley's situation has a parallel, though hopefully she didn't use Styx-water in whatever she did.
"Yet despite playing me like a fiddle, has the day gone according to your expectations? Did you feel accomplished with the Oinoloth's fingers around your neck? Do you think Malcanthet is pleased at having to corral newly rebellious lillitu as they respawn after a brief sojourn inside your belly? What has all this effort achieved?"
That smile dims, "I didn't expect you to take on liberation as a mantle of power," Violet admits, "I would have thought the erinyes would have, not you. So congratulations, you managed one surprise."
'More honesty,' Antenora reports, keeping her tone neutral.
"One lucky fluke. One," Violet goes on, smile sharpening, "I suppose the truth is that you got lucky."
Alicia's own smile is warm and satisfied in return. "Whether you want to drag Tymora or Beshaba into it or not, the fact is that I set out today with but one goal in mind... and here she sits before me, just as I wanted. You may comfort yourself with points for style, but the results are in."
She leans back now. "Satisfying as picking over the after action report may be though, that's not why I brought you here. So tell me about an earlier piece of your work - the elven assassin you sent after Jessica. Who was he, really?"
With that same smile, "Merely a pawn. This one I didn't know the name of," she admits, "So often there's little point in knowing. Did he get close?"
'She knows his name,' Antenora says, 'Or at least has a name for him.'
"I find it hard to credit that you can be so incurious, especially when you arranged for an entire army to attack us so as to give that one individual cover for his mission," Alicia says.
I'll roll sense motive myself on her reaction to see if she gives away anything about the army being a diversion for more than just that one mission.
[17:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+72 sense motive with divine insight
[17:20] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 87 > [d20=15]
You have a hunch she's covering more.
"Oh, I put all my work into the important end," Violet retorts, smiling.
"Yes, you helped out Shanazel as well, didn't you?" Not that it did him any good. "So what did you care to remember about that unlucky elf, and the skills you impressed into him?"
"I could do better than tell you. I could show you. All I need is one thing and the Styx...tell me, would you like the skills of a trained man at arms, or of a ranger, or perhaps a marshal or swashbuckler?" Violet smiles, "I could do so much to show you and give you so much, Alicia." Slowly licking her lips, "I know you have a taste for the dark side. That little erinyes of yours, hm? You just love her taste."
'...even I grow weary of these insinuations.' Antenora sighs in your mind. 'At least it's expected from a succubus to an erinyes. She's telling the truth about giving you those benefits. She also believes what she's saying about the rest. All she can see is her own biases and foolishness.'
'They are repetitively tiresome,' she sends back to Antenora. "We're fresh out of Styx-water out here," Alicia answers aloud, the sounds of the Oceanus lapping against the shore outside heard distantly. "So kindly answer the question posed."
"Why do you care so much about an elf?" Violet says, "His identity is of no real consequence."
"Then why are you being so evasive over it?" Alicia challenges right back.
> roll 1d20+74 (+15 AR'ed divine insight, +9 other, going for detect surface thoughts epic skill usage due to the scaling DC)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d20=6]
> roll 1d20+46 using bluff mod in place of will save for this
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 55 > [d20=9]
'She wants to make you desperate for the information,' Antenora reports, 'She's trying to manipulate you.'
"If you really must know," Violet begins, considering.
'She's not very good at it.'
"Violet."
Funny how one word, one name, can pack in so much meaning, isn't it? Earlier it was an offering of undeserved kindness. Now it's an exasperated warning of being on some extremely thin ice.
'She has no leverage and refuses to believe it,' Antenora says, 'Say the word if you wish for me to lay out the facts of her situation to her.'
"Alicia," Violet retorts, "Has Malcanthet made her displeasure known yet? Has she insisted that you release me or that a dozen demon princes will raze Sylica to the ground?"
"Did you see Malcanthet mounting a gallant rescue when the Adversary had you in his grip? Did she scare him away with dire threats of reprisal? Do you think she would have tried?" Alicia asks, her expression showing quite clearly how unconcerned she is with a hypothetical 'dozen demon princes' right now.
'Feel free, I'm a hairs-breadth from cutting this short and handling things less gracefully.'
"Unlike you," Antenora cuts in, "Malcanthet knows when to cut her losses." She appears right before Violet, who visibly startles.
"Ah!" A soft little cry as Antenora stands above her.
Antenora kneels, face to face with the succubus. "We grow weary, mortal," she says that in tones of iron, her aura felt like a physical thing. "You presume that you are a player in our games when you are nothing but another creature that only plays at being eternal."
> roll 1d20+24
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 35 > [d20=11]
Violet holds her own against that aura, even if you see her breath come faster, hands clench together.
"Eriny-"
"Be silent." Antenora's voice is soft but enough to silence her, "A trial, perhaps? You know of the trials Hell holds for demons captured alive. While I do not mimic those exact...methods of prosecution, I remember trials all too well. Let me tell you what will happen if you defy us further. I will call a public trial - one open to any in the planes who wish to attend, and there will be many. You will be marched out in chains as a prisoner so that each and every one can see you as you are: defeated, powerless and broken. I will call every soul available that has been wronged from you, from the first sin you committed as a wretched mortal to the greatest transgressions in the Abyss. Each will testify to your sins and convict you of every evil act. No honeyed words will save you, no sweet temptations will avail you before the authority of the law."
"Then," Antenora goes on, not a word from Violet, "Then I will convict you of those crimes, in the face of such overwhelming evidence. No law knower in Creation could acquit you of those sins, not with that evidence. Your sentence will be eternal imprisonment so that you may never blight Creation again. You will sleep unaware, not even the solace of dreams within your grasp, for the Lady of the Lake will not spare her mercies for one such as you. It is oblivion now and forever."
As Violet watches, breath faster yet now, "Do not think Malcanthet or any hopefuls will save you. There are places we store entities that displease us. You know of some of them, I have no doubt. Your name will be known in the greatest disgrace, only to be forgotten in time." A clink of iron, as chains appear on her wrists and ankles. "That is some small measure of justice for what you have done, Violet. Your last thoughts will be of the despair of your name ruined, your freedom gone and your sentence inescapable."
> roll 1d20+76 (+15 AR'ed divine insight, +9 other)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 91 > [d20=15]
A shake, Violet staring down Antenora. Violet shakes as Antenora rises now, "Alicia, do you have anything to say?"
"I've already wasted too many words with nothing to show for it here," Alicia stands up. "You did better than most, Violet. But it wasn't enough." Above her hand a ball of kaleidoscopic light appears, Marie having teleported here in her alternate and shrunk down form at Alicia's prompting.
Even with antimagic and everything, putting a powerful outsider to sleep is no easy task for her magic. But Marie's dream ray will get the job done, given enough time. Then Violet's mind and secrets will be bared for the taking.
Violet snarls as she shakes, a lunge that Antenora stops with one hand. Then the magic hits her and one gets through, sending her asleep.
"The sad truth is that for all I believe everyone can be saved," Antenora says at last, "That I personally cannot save everyone. If I had reached, her found some way...what good she could do with her talents."
For reference, the dream ray does charisma damage so it would've taken a couple and as an evil creature she would then fall into a nightmare-wracked sleep which inflicts minor damage every hour.
"Thank you Marie," Alicia says after it's done, the eladrin assuming her humanoid form at her side. "It's a shame," she agrees with Antenora. "In retrospect we may have gone too strong with that last play, pushed her fight or flight buttons... I was wanting to scare her with how close she was to being put under, get her to take this seriously and be more forthcoming. But I'd already threatened that earlier and you can't keep relying on the same promise without delivering."
"It's justice," Antenora says at last, "I would give her mercy, if she was but willing to repent, to show even the slightest, sincere hint of a better tomorrow." A breath is let out, "Be it by my spear or by my law, I am a creature of justice as much as mercy and redemption. Marie?"
"Don't get so hung up on her potential just because she's a brilliant archmage with a killer body," Marie says blithely. "There's lots of pretty and talented mages out there who don't come with abyssal-sized chips on their shoulders," she points at herself for an example.
"Thank you, Marie," Alicia says dryly. "Now can you dispel her magic while she's here and then we can have Naeys use his mind theatre spell on her."
"Oh, I haven't done this before but it'll be very efficient!" Marie says brightly, a barely visible wall of magic-defeating power bisecting the room. She then picks up Violet telekinetically and drags her back and forth through it a couple of times until she has no magic left.
Wall of superb dispelling, Marie dispels at +34 which should get all of Violet's spells after a few tries.
Soon enough the magic is all gone, scouraged away to the last.
Antenora smiles, "You're right. I'm looking at two right here," she turns, "Let us not lose ourselves in melancholy. Besides, we did achieve our objective, no matter what."
"We achieved exactly what we set out to do," Alicia agrees, picking up Violet and resetting the magic and astral links around here while Marie drops the dispelling wall.
Sending word to Naeys to meet them back in Liberton along with Syala and Latha - and Jessica if she's in Sylica right now, they go off to turn Violet's mind into a theatre that will answer the many questions posed by her deeds.
Jessica is as defense and thus all of you gather. IT is a quiet room with no windows, warded properly. Chairs are here, one for each of you. As you settle in, "Before we begin," Naeys says, "What questions do you have?"
"First of all what the purpose of that demon army we fought off was for," Alicia says. "When I mentioned it and the assassin we stopped I got the feeling there was more to it. We'll have many others about her Styx-magic and its victims and Malcanthet's plans, but lets start with that and we can build on from there?"
"I have many," Antenora says, "But we can begin with Alicia's. We are in no rush."
"Why myself as well," Jessica speaks up, "I want to know that, what did I do in particular?"
"Breathed," Syala says, "That's enough for a demon."
"We'll find out soon, the spell should provide for many answers," Alicia says, settled in to at least have some mysteries put to rest.
Once done, "I will take the small liberty to ask Jessica's question first." Naeys declares, and in a voice of authority and power, "Tell us why Jessica was a target of assassination."
It's the Razor Throne. Shadows and darkness for the moment you can see it, as your view is lower. Much lower. Violet is doing things down there to make Malcanthet happy, but at the same time? 'But still, why Jessica?' Violet's mental voice is heard. It's about all you have, as the view is rather, ahem, focused on other matters.
This gets Jessica to blossom red all across her cheeks, crossing her arms, "Can you NOT ask questions like that and do THAT at the same time?"
"It's not like thousands haven't seen this before," Latha's retort is immediate, which gets Antenora to smile and Syala to to chuckle a bit.
"It's the point of it, it's disturbing," Jessica goes on, red faced, "That you think to ask THAT when your mind is on those matters!"
Meanwhile Malcanthet's voice is heard, 'Listen then. Of them all, Jessica is the weakest. Her convictions and might are the lowest, and she merely fights to strike precisely. That, and Alicia cares for her sister. Think of all the tears she will shed at her loss. Think of how weaker and more vulnerable she will be. Think of how every day she won't be able to let go of the thought that she let her sister die.' Malcanthet's voice is full of throaty triumph, as if imagining it happening to Alicia.
"From the context they may have been discussing the entire operation, which is unfortunate for the view we'll get when handling my first question," Alicia says tiredly.
Jessica sighs at that, rubbing her temple before, "All they wanted to do was hurt you. All of this, to make you hurt. All of this, because of some thrice damned slight?"
"It brings me no joy," Naeys says, "I'm sorry, Jessica."
Latha leans over and hugs Jessica, an embrace where neither speaks. Instead it's Syala who says, "We're going to have to kill her, Alicia. Not now perhaps, but one day." Her fist balls up, clenched tight. "To protect all of us and ours. She wants to hurt us and our families. The Demon Queen of the Succubus has declared us an enemy and wants us not to die, but to suffer. I won't tolerate it. No one touches any of you. No one."
"We'll get her," Alicia nods. "Not today, or even tomorrow... but one day. You're stronger than they realise, Jessica," she concludes, looking over at her recently ascended sister in support.
Jessica looks to you, "Thank you, sister. I love you."
Smiling, Syala reaches out to pat Jessica's head, "I love you like the sister I never had," she says, "Don't forget that for every Malcanthet, we're here with you."
"Love you too," Alicia says, before she turns to Naeys. "Ask what else the demon invasion was supposed to accomplish?" she asks, hoping this won't come with another intimate scene as backdrop.
A sunlit place outside, warm and beautiful. Here in a dug out pit Malcanthet and Violet watch hundreds of mortals rut, mindlessly fulfilling their basest instincts. On occasion as you watch, one collapses and you sense a soul screaming as it realizes it's not going anywhere, home indeed forever. The two snack on light refreshments as they watch and talk.
"...The reasoning is sound, of course," Violet begins. "But besides a chance to topple Sylica if the army succeeds, what else?"
Malcanthet's laugh is lovely, the sound of bells ringing and birds singing and so many other good memories of beauty. "Besides our lovely little present for Jessica?" she asks aloud, "This army gathers up many lesser demons who have outlived their usefulness. Should they perish and demote, all the better. Should they never come back, even better. Should they succeed? Well, everything has a price, even Alicia's defeat. There are leadership resources and favors there I hate to expend, but...omelets and eggs, bodies and souls." A hand is waved, as if dismissing some trivial thing.
A long sip, a memory of the taste echoing - of sweetened tea, chilled. "And?" A simple question, darkly amused.
"Why Violet," Malcanthet says fondly, "To get Alicia's attention. She'll be angry, easy to direct, easy to manipulate. She is powerful," Malcanthet concedes, "But of limited intellect and no creativity, much like her pet devil."
"Then-!" Violet turns to Malcanthet, "It is time?"
"It is time," Malcanthet says, "The Adversary's aid is expensive, as is Umberlee's," she says, "Do not fail, not this close."
"Ordinarily I could shrug that off, but knowing how they planned this out and it worked mostly how they wanted really stings," Alicia says.
"Don't sell yourself short, you've changed things in big ways all over the planes. If all that took was brute strength anyone could've saved the Androlynne children, freed Benfal, redeemed Eblis... and those are just the big ones," Marie says supportively.
"I suppose," Alicia says. "Still, I'm vexed at being looked down on so much. Naeys, follow up question on that last part: time for what?"
"She may as well have called you a dumb cow," Antenora's voice is restrained, "It does sting and it infuriates me." She speaks levelly, "So she wants a war, does she?"
"It's not how we fall that matters, it's how we get back up," Latha says, "It's inevitable that with so many plans and plots, at least a few will succeed against us."
Naeys nods, preparing in the meantime.
"Just lets not get provoked too much. Even being careful and deliberate as we looked into Violet and prepared a subtle infiltration ended up being fully expected," Alicia says.
The previous memory continues.
"I will not," Violet vows, "Malcanthet, with this I will be a step closer to unstoppable power."
"The erinyes and the courre can be yours to break," Malcanthet promises, "Whatever will you do with them?" Her voice is light, almost cheerful.
"Demogorgon," Is the answer, "Two of them, a perfect entertainment for him. Set up properly, of course."
"With the souls you will have, the sky is the limit," Malcanthet agrees.
"I wasn't even a courre when they were talking about this, was I? It's after we killed Jade," Marie pipes up.
"You still have that reputation, it's like how people call Violet a succubus even though she's a lillitu," Alicia reasons. "I thought there might be something more, but it ties into what happened today. For my own information, ask her when she discovered we were in Rosewater?" she asks Naeys, since it'd be good to know at what point they were given away - or if the Adversary tipped them off in advance.
Violet sits before a tome, reading it - profane magic, of sacrifices and blood.
They approach. Be ready.
'Yes, Malcanthet,' Violet replies immediately, rising.
"The Adversary, or perhaps some esoteric long range detection," Antenora considers. "But my guess would be the Adversary."
"Mine too," Syala agrees, "It fits too well."
"He played both sides," Alicia agrees. "Well, lets get to brass tacks and learn about her methods. The ritual was nice but I'm curious why she hadn't simply availed herself of the same skills she was handing out to others before then. Ask her how the copying of skills and knowledge through the Styx works?"
This will probably be quite technical so Alicia settles in to listen and watch carefully.
It will, so give me Spellcraft and K:A.
[18:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 spellcraft with lots of buffs
[18:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 94 > [d20=4]
[18:28] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 k:a with lots of buffs
[18:28] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 101 > [d20=11]
It's highly technical work and some of it is more specialized than even you can follow easily. But in essence, it seems to be mutilating the soul and roughly speaking, grafting abilities onto it. It causes unspeakable agony to the victim as well as shreds parts of them, but it works. It takes the Styx to be used as the agent to do the shredding and transferring due to its native abilities and the nature of evil.
There is but one downside - it scars the soul. Imagine the soul as one smooth, perfect sphere. This is like a protrusion from it, grafted on. It works, but at the same time, it does things do it. A point of weakness. Almost like a tumor on healthy flesh in a way. If you know it's there and know the arts, you could target it as a weak point for spells that attack the soul or trap it.
There is evidence that more powerful entities will heal this scar in time by their nature. All it takes is using the souls of others like firewood to be hacked up and burnt.
This is all somewhat relative as the soul has no true shape per se, but it gets the point across.
"That explains why she wasn't using it herself - and why she was so eager to offer the benefits to me earlier," Alicia says as she digests all of that. Something to talk about with Mystra later, she thinks.
Did that also cover how skills and knowledge were preserved to be copied multiple times instead of it being a zero sum transfer?
That's a different branch: It involves soul sacrifice, using the Styx, an artifact and profane rituals to consume other souls to fuel it.
"It's an abomination is what it is," Syala's voice is steady, "To end a life is one thing, but to end souls? Those are the forbidden arts for good reason."
"She's an inventive abomination alright," Alicia agrees. "Ask her about the ritual she meant to benefit from today, how it worked and differed from the normal method?"
More arcane research and rituals. In short, she would feed on those souls and grow stronger. They would be destroyed doing it of course, but the dark arts would grant Violet a great deal more power.
"What I want to know is," Here Antenora speaks up, "Did Malcanthet get augmented?"
Was Violet's soul wounded by the ritual?
"Good question," Alicia says, letting Naeys ask it on Antenora's behalf.
It shouldn't have been, mostly due to the number of sacrifices and Violet's own work, as well as an innate trait - she seems compatible with the Styx somehow.
A scene. Malcanthet lies nude on a ritual stone slab, arcane diagrams all about. It's not the one you saw in Rosewater, but it's similar enough on a glance. "The sorcery of an archmage and the battle prowess of a legendary monk." Violet declares, as she watches Malcanthet's body. She's certainly gorgeous, no two ways about that.
"I feel it within," Malcanthet says slowly, then crooks a finger forward, "You've earned a reward, Violet. Let me feel you withi-" At this Naeys coughs and clears his throat, the memory stopped.
"I don't think we need to see what happens next," Naeys says, quite firmly.
"None of us do," Syala's lips twist into a grimace. "She treats her more like a genuine lover, not a tool or minion. Not all the way, but she's definitely nurturing Violet along."
"Her talent is one worth cultivating," Alicia says, unbothered by what they saw. "Ask who the archmage and legendary monk that donated their skills to Malcanthet are," she adds. Getting run of the mill skills is one thing, but to get legendary skills requires taking someone legendary out and sucking them dry.
"Didn't you kill her avatar?" Marie asks. "I wonder if those grafted talents translate across to avatars - ask that next?" she asks Naeys.
"In one moment," Naeys says, getting that ready. In the meantime, "Didn't she cast time stop?" Latha observes. "Would that not say it all?"
"Oh, if that's something she can't normally do then I suppose, but divine magic...?" Marie hazards.
It's a trickery domain spell that she'd have as an SLA anyway. Did she cast it as a spell or a spell-like?
Spell-like, she has it as one. This is just a case of Latha not knowing the sheet, so to speak.
"That is true," Antenora considers, "With how tricky she is, I can believe she'd have it."
"It looked more like divine materialisation than casting an arcane spell," Alicia says, waiting to have her questions answered on the provenance of those skill-sets first before they see how it works with avatars.
You have a realm post as well.
You see memories of a fetid swamp. All about two armies clash - demon on demon, meaningless slaughter. Amid it a towering marilith commands a contingent of hezrou and vrock, crushing through a strong point, a fortified little building on a small, muddy island. You see it as Violet approaches, the marilith turning.
She has wild red hair and a bloodied lip, eyes wild and arms writhing not with swords, but with wands. "What does a Radiant Sis-"
Time stop.
A hand of black Styx water is prepared, Violet right in the demon's face. You can see her look - and your arcane lore helps. This is Sinydai, a marilith in the service of Demogorgon. Known as a born sorceress of great skill, she is assigned to help defend Abysm. Powerful, if relatively low profile because she only participates on demon on demon warfare, save when a force challenges Demogorgon's realm. She's competent and relatively favored by Demogorgon, and has a knack of avoiding the worst of everything on the realm. Also known as a generalist sorcerer, rather than anything more specialized.
Violet's hand grasps the marilith as the time stop ends, clawing into her face. Sinydai screams as the lilitu's fingers dig into that face like it's nothing more than runny clay, Stxy-waters spreading. A pulling and a wretching as reality shifts, a prize taken home.
Take 10 for 100 for a buffed up knowledge check to know what Sinydai's capabilities were?
Besides fighting with many wands at once - hitting and using them at the same time for pain - her main talent was powerful magic. She tended towards evocations and transmutations, but wasn't a specialist. She had little time for enchantments, though she did acknowledge their usefulness and usually have a few personally selected enchanters in her service.
You know for sure she cast at least a 12th circle spell, though she usually relied on heavily metamagiced spells rather than unique ones past the 9th circle. With how spellcasters can adjust the difficulty of such things, that makes it harder to pin down if she can go past that circle.
"That's quite a catch, she's competitive with Aurora's generals from what I heard," Alicia says. "Good showing by Violet to take her out so easily. She's also unlikely to be missed too much so we can't really leverage that. What about the monk?"
A monk. A beaten, broken, faceless thing tossed in, wrapped in chains. It is human sized and twitches on the ground, blood dribbling from various wounds. A confident voice is heard, if the speaker is not seen.
"Near as I can tell, it's 'loth problems," The masculine voice says, "Don't have a name to put to the lack of face, but me money's on a half blood augmented further. Put up a hell of a fight, only got 'em because he blew his energy facing down that kraken. Dead by the way, confirmed the kill."
Violet looks the creature over, a hand laid on his head as words of magic are murmured. "Stop that." A single command, uttered peevishly.
"Yeah, yeah, m'lady bitches and whines," The voice laughs before, "Is this better, Violet? I get results, once again. The 'loth's just a bonus."
"No name, no identity," Violet hmms, "He has memories, there's simply not much there. He got put in the Styx at least once already, on purpose no less. Wipe away the past and train him as an unthinking weapon, no identity at all? Robeaux, kindly see to the rest of his kin. The Unnamed Monastery, it's hidden past the Corpse Grove. Work it out and kill all of them. I have no need for second rate imitators.."
"Hardly the same thing," Robeaux replies, almost flippant, "Fine, I'll see to it. Won't be cheap or easy if he's any sign of it."
"Get it done," Violet repeats, "If anyone resists your efforts here, kill them."
Any knowledge on the unnamed monastery?
K:P works unless you have K:L for Hades.
Take 10 for 100 on a buffed up planes check then.
You've heard whispers of it, unconfirmed stories.
Monasteries that destroy the mind again and again, the Styx washing away everything but hard won skill. Whispers of clans of monk-assassins who know nothing but the arts of death and murder, personality-less killers and enforcers. Sometimes put to the 'loths, sometimes Shar, sometimes other things yet. A sort of death nihilism, where all becomes lost in favor of molding them into assassins.
Knowing the 'loths at least, some version is likely true, though this certainly would lean towards confirming it.
"No story behind that one, whoever it was had long ago been washed away by the Styx. Can't gauge the talent either," Alicia says. "Ask Marie's question about the skills working through avatars?"
As Naeys does so, "Not unexpected," Antenora says, "So Malcanthet has the skills of a monk and a sorceress now as well." She considers this a brief time, "That will complicate any battle with her greatly, though not past manageability."
"The problem - that I was actually looking forward to educating Violet on, is that even with all those talents and skills, there's a limit to what you can do at once," Alicia says. "I'd rather fight one person with the skills of five, than the original five."
"To a point, but there are synergies. Malcanthet can dodge better now, or land a lot more deadly punches and claws if she comes at your flank,, and she'll have more beneficial spells cast ahead to make herself stronger," Marie points out. "I mean combining physical and magical strength is your entire thing, Alicia."
"Well yes, but still there are limits," Alicia insists. "And some things don't synergise nearly as well. Violet's bragging about her druidic magic earlier for instance, fighting a sorcerer and a druid at once is more dangerous than fighting a person who can simply cast a lot of spells from either tradition. The skills she gave to Malcanthet unfortunately do merge well together with her original abilities."
"Malcanthet is no fool," Syala concurs, "Violet was likely drunk on power, or sees something we don't."
"Either way," Latha says, "This art cannot be allowed to go on, no matter how useful it is. It is an abomination."
They need to learn all they can from Violet to do that, so... avatars, do they benefit? It's a trivial question but it was asked and there's no harm in knowing.
"Lovely," Malcanthet's voice, Violet's eyes closed but heard. "It works all across now, with the adjustments and adaptations."
A simple snippet this time, little else.
Alicia nods. "Ask if the grafted skills can be improved naturally as the recipient trains and grows in power?"
Another memory. Cuddling in bed, nude and warm. Malcanthet holds Violet as she asks her, "And improvement?"
To this Violet smiles, "Difficult in the extreme. It may not be impossible, but it would take an extraordinarily long time. Or more honestly, impossible for lessers. But for you, Malcanthet?"
The smile you get back is all the answer Violet needed, apparently.
"They're very lovey-dovey in these moments, aren't they? If you forget who they are it's almost sweet," Marie speaks up.
"Can see why Violet was so sure Malcanthet would be charging to the rescue, I suppose," Alicia says more neutrally. She can see Malcanthet doing all sorts of intimate things but always with a dark twist. Cuddling just feels sublimely wrong. "Lets get back to today's events. What was the overall plan for their trap and the aftermath?"
"..." Antenora's silent, "Cuddling," She finally says, as if mirroring your own thoughts. "She almost looked...domestic." A queasy frown crosses her face, "Somehow that disturbs me as much as her greater crimes."
"It cuts deeper knowing someone who can look and behave like that can still be so demonic, doesn't it?" Marie agrees.
"I know well a pretty wrapping can conceal a rotten soul," Antenora says at last, "But yet, Malcanthet doing it feels...I don't know. Like she's cheating somehow, even if I know all to well she should be more than capable."
"She's meant to be pretty in a different way," Alicia summarises Antenora's thoughts. "With an edge - that razor throne of hers is telling after all."
"It tells us how much she wanted what Violet was selling," Latha speaks up, "It is not only an insight to her more cunning nature."
That's another avenue of questions for after they learn about how today was supposed to have gone down for Violet's side.
Malcanthet and Violet are within an unknown place - quiet and dark, only the drip of water heard besides words. It's so dark that even Malcanthet a few feet away is almost unseen, despite darkvision.
"Our goal is simple - Alicia will come and do what she does. If she comes in violence, delay until the sacrifice is positioned. If she comes in stealth, let her have just enough to challenge to believe she has come in unknown." Malcanthet says.
"Then let her do as we need," Violet concludes, "Slay her or flee as we will, or force her to flee."
"It is...distasteful, but Rosewater is merely a pawn," Malcanthet says, fading entirely into the dark. Steps forward, the sound of rushing water heard now. "The Adversary will work against us to his own ends - I will deal with him, or you shall if the souls agree with you swiftly."
"Let me. I will challenge him in the waters if I must," Violet says, voice full of confidence. "Shall Umberlee still watch from afar?"
"The craven storm is...preoccupied," Malcanthet lets sweet poison drip from every word, "But with our cooperation with Pazuzu, she is not needed."
"Then we have all we need," Violet says, then in a rising, throaty voice, "Soon then, soon...we can begin."
"Ahhh, she was so confident too. But then that did rebound quickly even after we rescued her from the Adversary's clutches," Alicia says. "It begs the follow up question - begin what?" she asks Naeys.
Another memory. Violet is alone here, but she speaks.
"Alura...no, Madogar...no..." Violet murmurs.
Malcanthet's laugh, from behind and unseen. "To name a realm is an art."
You feel Violet's happiness and ambition, "To take one is power, to name one is art. I will soon have the power. Art will follow. I have so much already."
"With more, soon, soon," Malcanthet promises. "Both a realm and to take revenge on Sylica, if they yet survive after that day."
"Soon." Violet murmurs, "I will have the power to defeat gods. With that power - I can confront one such as Alicia and defeat her, even without divinity, send her screaming back to her home realm."
"Oh, she had such high hopes," Alicia says, and if she sounds a bit condescending saying it she believes it's earned after the ups and downs she's had today. "I was right though, however belatedly. Malcanthet was priming her for apotheosis."
"Madogar?" Marie repeats. "Sounds like the name of a gruff old bearded mountain man."
"Anyway," Alicia cuts in. "Lets get back to basics. Ask her who else possesses the same skill with the Styx and memory that she does," she asks Naeys. Whether she learned at the feet of another or trained an apprentice or left another simulacrum around, it's important to know how widely that destabilising ability has been disseminated.
'I know,' Antenora sends to Marie, voice understanding.
"Such high hopes that died terribly," Syala says, sounding pleased. "You really do deserve a reward for that, Alicia."
Meanwhile Naeys nods and works.
"You..." Malcanthet's voice, "This unique talent...never have I seen one with your potential, Violet. Well done. You exceeded my...every desire on this task."
A flash. A shimmer. Lore books. Records, fragments of an unknown daemon, who may well have had the same ability long ago - so long ago it was Anthraxus who slew him, for reasons unclear.
Violet writes on parchment: Unique? Rare? Aberration?
A pause as she taps her quill on the paper before going on: Unnatural. Styx focus and control to this degree combined with combination and unity - rare. Talent rare as well?
Here Violet pauses, "I have what almost no one else has," she says aloud, sheer glee filling her.
"The day's not over yet," she says to Syala before focusing on the displayed memory and nodding in satisfaction. "So we shouldn't need to do too much extra clean up. It actually is something of a shame to seal away such a rare talent, but nothing good comes of the Styx. Just to make sure, ask if she has any other simulacrum around and whether they're competent at performing skill copying?" The one she interrupted seemed to be up to the job anyway.
You see it - three bodies made of black waters, and a fourth made of true flesh, all asleep. Violet is somewhere dark, a cavern. Each lies on a black stone bier, sleeping.
"Master approves and the deal is done," A hissing voice, a slow, ambling thing. A small, midget human, twisted and limping. It rubs its hands together and adds, "Lord Orcus sends his word that his end of the bargain will be upheld."
Latha watches that with a growingly grim expression, "She had contingencies."
"Finding and eliminating them will be troublesome," Alicia says. "If it's like a clone spell we're fine so long as we keep her soul held here. Ask where those simulacra are stationed and what use they're being put to?"
The answer comes from Violet's own mouth in her memories, "Then Salar's Crypt will do," Violet says to the figure moments later.
"That doesn't fit because one of them was in Rosewater," Alicia observes an immediate problem with that answer. "I think I might just put a bounty out on them. I haven't done that before but the situation is unusual enough to call for extra effort at eliminating the threat they pose."
"How big a bounty?" Jessica asks, "I can see to that easily enough, see to it being spread."
"Two hundred thousand a head... does that sound right to the rest of you?" Alicia asks. In absolute danger terms a Violet simulacrum might not be worth that much but based on the necessity of killing them as well as the extra measures needed to overcome whatever Malcanthet has to defend them and their annoying styx-body spell, a high premium feels necessary to ensure results.
Malcanthet's only offering half that for Marie or Antenora last she heard and so far as she knows no one's even tried. The million offered for her or Syala is more hopeful but anyone who could accomplish that deed likely isn't persuaded much by mere gold either.
Nods all around. "That's reasonable," Jessica says, "At our level of ability, bounties are more an invitation than an enticement."
"Enough power that those who could do it care about other things than rewards," Antenora agrees.
"Good. I'll have Hugo spread it around through our embassies as well with friendly powers, along with an outline of Violet's rare magic - the necessity of fire or dessication to confirm the kill is important," she nods. "Now Naeys, sorry for the interruption," she gets back to brass tacks. "Ask her what she knows about the elf who was used in the attack on Jessica. The Seldarine were most interested in this so it'd be nice to give them something, even if she didn't care to learn his full history."
So we're on the same page, refresh me on what you've gleaned about the elf so far?
He had some natural talent for riding and swordplay, and he'd been implanted with the skills of a master assassin albeit in his case it seemed to be temporary since it wore off after he was dispelled. Violet claimed ignorance but Anty said she was hiding something.
Thank you.
A memory. Violet sits in an opulent office, all riches and beauty. Sunlight streams in from a window as she reclines back. Before her kneels a incubus, who states, "We aren't sure of his details without scanning his mind," The creature says, "But he's suitable for what's offered. We took him from near Jal Greenhome, a floating elven community on the Prime Material of-"
"Enough," A wave of a hand, "A sword only needs to be sharp, not a bloodline." Violet says.
Alicia looks surpassingly irritated as Violet cuts off the useful exposition. Still, it may be something to take back to the Seldarine. "Very well. Ask next about the false Robeaux. She claimed complete ignorance but at least seeing his original appearance will be something to give the man."
A man - a hint of green to his skin as he lies nude on a slab of stone. Human on a glance, but likely some sort of fiendish blood or other unusual bloodline. Something tainted. On his chest is a tattoo of a bird in flight.
Any knowledge to recognise the particular fiendish ancestry or significance of that tattoo or pretty much anything else helpful?
Sure, K:P for both.
[20:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 planes with lots of buffs
[20:01] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 95 > [d20=5]
[20:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+90 planes with lots of buffs
[20:01] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 100 > [d20=10]
It's most likely demon blood of some kind, or an off possibility of slaad blood. Something inhuman like a hezrou or vrock could cause that, most likely a hezrou.
As for the tattoo, you recall a worshiper mentioning them in prayer - a group know as the Free Fliers, a loose organization of rogues, thieves and the like who are based in the Astral Plane. Mortals doing mortal things, thought not all are nasty and evil. It's mostly an agreement to help the others if something goes wrong, something of a loose bit of insurance.
"Hmm. It's not much, but he might be connected with the Free Fliers of the astral plane. We can restore his original appearance and put out feelers with them for anyone that might have known him before, give him a chance... assuming he'll take it. Being Robeaux is literally all he knows, now," Alicia says, humming in thought.
"Does anyone have any other questions to ask?"
"I do," Marie pipes up. "Ask her who in Sylica is providing information to Malcanthet."
"That's a good one," Syala speaks up, "I'd wanted to ask that when we were all done."
"It's never good to reveal a traitor, if so often needed," Latha says, "May it only be a weakness and not directly trafficking with demons."
"G'renna revealed one when she was staying here as well, though it turned out for the best," Alicia says, considering Marchalu is now a redeemed and trusted figure in Sylica. "They can't all be like that, though."
"They can't," Antenora says, "We'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best."
Naeys works and you see but one figure - a tall, broad man. A warrior, a dwarf. You've seen the face a few times, a worker of little note around Sylica. A visitor who came and ended up staying, which isn't terribly unusual. You recall his name is Cynar.
"That's not so bad," Alicia says. "Not anyone particularly trusted or with access to much. I'll have Marchalu pick him up." There isn't much point trying to turn him as a double agent now since Malcanthet will expect him to be compromised anyway. He might have even fled if she cared to warn him.
"He's minor," Antenora says with a note of relief. "Good."
"My avatar will see to it, in case he tries to make it messy," Syala says, "See how far the well is poisoned and why. If he can be rehabilitated, then we'll try that." A breath is blown out, "Still not so bad a tall. That's a minor thing, and we all expected that to happen occasionally."
"What was the whole Umberlee connection about anyway?" Marie asks, still on her questions. "We've never had any serious problems with her. Ask what Umberlee got out of helping them with their ritual?"
Naeys scans.
An image. Violet stands behind Malcanthet as the two are before a throne of storms and waves. The figure that sits on it is nothing but fury, a manifestation of it so primal as to make the scent of sea and storm fill your nose.
"Thus, for your aid," Malcanthet says, "We will return 82 known, living Umberlants to you and the souls of 5,382 more. We will also return to you the Blackblooded Trident as well as the various jewels taken from the temple that houses it. Finally, we will agree not to hold any of yours or souls of yours for 6,666 years."
The stormy figure - Umberlee - is silent until in a wet gurgle, "I will tolerate this agreement, demon."
"So just business? Can't really argue with that... also lucky Violet was important enough to be on the scene so we get all this first hand. Ask what specific aid Umberlee was meant to provide?" Marie asks, making use of her questions before anyone else gets a turn.
In short: Access to lore as well as her blessings to deal with dark waters.
"I think I'm done if anyone else wants to go next," Marie says, not having any questions she can think of right now.
"Will we seal her soon?" Antenora asks, 'I have questions, but I also would desire time to think over what I've heard already."
"I'd prefer to have her put securely away after this, just to minimise the risk," Alicia says. "She's too great a prize for us to be handling casually."
Antenora is silent for a good time before, "Why does she hate me so much? Is there any reason beyond the Blood War?"
Naeys inclines his head forward. A flicker, a memory. A party under the nighttime sky, great braziers of fire shed plenty of light. It's behind a great manor house, everything elegant and beautiful in that way Malcanthet's realm has.
Jade. She wears a gown of the utmost beauty, elegant and impossible and a color that matches her name. She sips from a wine glass and says, "Ah yes, I heard of her. Antenora Reynes....mmmm." She says slowly, "Opal blue always reminds me of purples and violets."
A stony silence before, "I am nothing like that devil scum."
"Really?" Jade sniffs, as if she just saw something ugly and disgusting. "My, I suppose climbing little toadies stick together. Though I imagine our dear Queen is more fun than a saint."
"Is there a point to this?" Violet says, voice ice cold. "Anything at all?"
"No, not really," Jade says, an indolent smile on her face. "I'm merely stricken at how similar you two are."
Out of curiosity is that the same Jade they killed on Limbo, or a previous holder?
Alicia feels some resentment at Malcanthet's ability to scare up incredibly powerful niche demons so easily to fill out her radiant sisters.
Same, for what it's worth.
"Ah." Antenora lets it go at that, "Has she ever known a moment of regret or anything that could save her?"
Naeys asks the question and shakes her head, "No. If she has, she rejected it."
"Aww, not even when you rescued her earlier? It sounded really heartwarming too," Marie coos sadly.
"I had thought it might be the sort of thing that would stick with her even if she got away, but the bridge has been burnt now," Alicia says more neutrally.
"Then if there's no hope for her now, seal her," Antenora sighs, standing. "Syala?"
"Alicia got most of my questions," Syala remarks at last, "Let her rot."
Alicia and Marie stand up as well. "Thank you, Naeys. Did you want to ask anything to clarify her spellwork before we put her away?" Alicia asks.
"Nothing I care to learn," Naeys says, and tiredly, "Not every arcane secret is worth it for me. Mystra may be able to handle that, but I will not."
"Then we're done with her for now," Alicia stands, walking over to pick up Violet's comatose form. Vanishing with her, she appears in a set of caverns deep underneath Sylica, walking past traps and defences devised by Syala into a mausoleum like structure where statues of various beings sit, gems embedded into their bases each containing the soul of a being they've decided needs to be sequestered away for a time.
Stripped of all her clothes and possessions and dressed in a simple white cotton shift, Alicia traps the fiend's soul in a brilliant amethyst and creates a statue in her likeness above it. So perhaps ends Violet's story.
Thus it is done, Violet trapped away. For the moment at least, you stand used but triumphant.
Okay, any immediate moves now?
We'll tell fake Robeaux what we know about his original identity and offer to restore his body to that (Naeys can probably manage a body sculpting spell for it). Alicia's avatar will go visit Arvandor to tell the Seldarine what we learned from Violet about the mystery elf.
When you return to see Robeaux, you find Emmaline is with him. The two sit quietly, the former with his head in his hands. The latter sits opposite him, slowly drinking tea. There's a silence between them - a deep one, though you don't sense that feeling of awkwardness, either.
"Emmaline, thank you for taking care of our guest," Alicia says first of all as she comes over and sits down. "We managed to learn a little about who you were originally, but not much. As far as Violet knew you were just an unfortunate fished out of the Styx, but you had a tattoo that looked like one worn by a group called the Free Fliers."
Robeaux looks up as Emmaline nods to you. His eyes are bloodshot and his features are sunken. His shoulders sag as he looks at you, or perhaps through you.
A long pause.
"That's..."
A pause again.
"It's something," he finally says. "Can it patch what's peeling off? He remembers it - the way you can just keep on peeling if you do it right." He mimes a slash with a knife, "Get under the skin to the bone, grab on and be strong enough to keep peeling. Liked to say you have to patch what's peeling off to keep going." He licks his lips, "Gotta patch it. Gotta patch what's peeling off. Is that a patch?" he looks up, shaking. "Is that a patch for my life?"
"It's not much, but it's the only start we have," Alicia says. "The real Robeaux's still out there, and if anything is worse than your memories tell. You can't be him nor should you want to. We can restore your original appearance... in truth it may be kinder to take away the memories of Robeaux as well, but I won't force that decision on you. My sister had her memories taken by the Styx, there is a future after such things."
Emmaline nods faintly after that, "There's a future here, too, if you want it."
Robeaux looks down again, head in his hands. "I can't remember being anyone else. But I'm not him, so who do I be? Do I be me but without being me? Do I be him without being him? Do I try and be him knowing I'm not him? G-Goddess please. Show me." The fake demon looks up to you, "He's terrified of you. B...but maybe I shouldn't be."
"Don't be him," Alicia says it firmly. "That path has no future for you. And little enough of one for him. As I see it you have three choices: Be not-Robeaux, take his memories and use them to make something better. Seek the solace of amnesia, lose the memories of Robeaux and everything else to start anew. Or try to discover your past, regain your former appearance and seek the Free Fliers to find those who once knew you and the answers they hold."
"What...what should I choose? I don't trust him, I don't trust me." Robeaux pleads, "You mean something, please. Please tell me what I should choose, because if he chooses it'll be patches and I can see how I'd do it. He wants to do it, I want to do it but I know I'm not him and help me, I think my head's going to burst."
Alicia's silent for a moment before, "Very well, I'll take responsibility," she agrees before pronouncing. "The memories of Robeaux are not yours and you should never have been cursed with them. We'll have them removed and your appearance restored. From there you'll be free to make whatever life you wish, but we'll contact the Free Fliers to see if you have any kin able to help."
"O...okay..." Robeaux meets your eyes for just one moment, "T-thank you."
"Sleep," she bids him, her divine will making it so. "When you next wake, this will all be no more than a bad dream."
So from what I saw of Violet's research can the memories/skills be removed from a helpless subject and can I do that?
Yeah, you could get it done with the magic you have on hand. Naeys would have specialized magic as well if needed. Do you want to take his memories of Sylica as well?
Not really, like at worst a Styx clean reboot might've been needed but if we can just remove all the Robeaux memories that's fine.
Thus it is done. You look down at Robeaux, the fake memories gone, leaving what remains. Emmaline gently strokes his hair back, "Like a child in a new birth," she remarks, "Who has no one and knows almost nothing."
His appearance has also been changed back to that of the green-tinged tiefling he was before, even the tattoo restored.
"Yes. The Free Fliers... they're a loose organisation. Finding someone who knew him will be tricky. He's welcome to stay here though, it'll be safe for him," Alicia says.
"I'll help him," Emmaline says, "Whoever he was, he didn't deserve what happened to him."
"He didn't," she agrees. "Even if him losing his memories to the Styx was happenstance, the demons made him nothing more than meat for their schemes. No one deserves that. I'll leave him in your care, Emmaline - thank you," she says, grateful for the reformed Sharran's assistance.
Emmaline bows her head, "As you once had mercy on me," she agrees.
Shortly after, as your avatar prepares to visit the elves? "Alicia," Latha appears next to your true form, as you focus on prayers, attention elsewhere.
"Yes, Latha?" she asks, focusing on what's in front of her now while still having some attention on the prayers.
"How did I do?" Latha asks you, plain and to your face.
"It wasn't a thorough test, was it?" Alicia asks, looking thoughtful and tapping her chin. "Your magic worked well against the dragons at the end there, but they'd already been weakened by that ritual. The only other thing you got to fight was the stair guardian where your efforts were as important as Syala and Antenora's in bringing it down... beyond that?" Now she focuses on Latha and smiles. "Your light shone against the Adversary's darkness and was not found wanting."
"Then for now, that is enough," Latha agrees with a smile back.
In that moment you feel the connection to Latha, a strong and vibrant cord that unites the two of you.
Node update.
"It is," Alicia agrees. "More will come in time, as it does for all of us, but you held your own just fine."
Meanwhile her avatar takes a trip to Arvandor to relay what little Violet was able to provide them with to the Seldarine so as to allow for at least a modicum of closure on the matter of that elf turned into an unwitting weapon.
Quick question that matters: Do you have anyone who will ask to see or merely whomever they see fit?
Ideally Corellon since that's who I spoke to last time, but Sehanine was present too so she'll do in a pinch.
You walk into Arvandor.
Above you, the moon shines bright, full and true. The forest is radiant with that light, that illuminates nearby and casts everything else into a half seen haze.
From the moon above words come, a gentle whisper. "You have struck true, Alicia?"
She's alone, but it's friendly territory and it's just her avatar so Alicia has no qualms about making the trip. "Violet has been captured, much damage was done to Rosewater, and Malcanthet is down one avatar... though much that is troubling was learned. Still, among that was the provenance of the elf who she molded into a weapon to strike at Sylica. A victim abducted from a place known as Jal Greenhome. A floating elven community on a prime Violet didn't care to learn the name of."
In the light of the moon you see it. A great elven city of greenery, floating amid endless wave and ocean. It extends below, where snake like roots thrust hundreds of feet down into the waters, brushing against the sea bed below. Towers of gray with streaks of gold rise next to ancient trees, wyvern riders coming and going along with a great many ships.
"Jal Greenhome. Jalom, a world where Umberlee submerged the elven lands, and yet our people live on, stronger and cast against the waves. Deep Sashelas guides them in opposition to Umberlee."
You feel them. Over a hundred thousand souls and more, all within that city. Thoughts, dreams, prayers and hopes. All are evident to you, a stream of worship rising up and high, flowing towards Arvandor. All endure and prosper, in spite of the wrath and enmity of the waves. They are not beaten, but instead strong enough to withstand on this island city.
"Perhaps it's enough to find his past," Alicia says as she takes all that in, almost smelling the sea breeze. "The Umberlee connection perhaps fits, as she provided lore which Violet learned from in her mastery of the Styx. Her talent is hopefully rare enough it won't be duplicated, though Malcanthet has already benefited. The talents of a marilith sorceress and a monk of the nameless monastery grafted into her. Such stolen gifts aren't without price however, the fracture in her soul will be a weakness for the wise until it has time to heal."
"We see." For in the moon you see three shadows that slowly become one. In the moonlight an elf descends, wild silver-white hair like the moonlight and a spear in hand. She wears battle tarnished armor, "We have all taken exception to what Malcanthet has done. We shall hunt her and hers for this offense."
Alicia smiles, glad to know Malcanthet will have trouble from more than just Sylica. "Good. There are likely fractures with her other radiant sisters - they were all sacrificed in an attempt to empower Violet, though only Ivory seems to have actually left her service. Other favours were called in to provide more victims for the sacrifice that didn't pay off. She'll be cornered and dangerous, but still more exposed than usual."
"Good," The Three as One declare, as with a leap she vanishes into the sky and is gone. Yet in the moonlight a path is seen ahead. To somewhere sunny, a familiar sensation.
Evergold is ahead.
An invitation? Does Hanali want to see her? Or perhaps Sharess or Sulia, they all tend to hang out there.
Well, Alicia isn't about to turn it down after she's come all this way, and so the armoured figure walks ahead to Evergold.
Sunlight replaces the light of the moon. The legendary springs lie ahead, cloaked in sunlight. Within the waters you see a handful - Sune, Sharess and Sulia. All are bathing as Sune waves, "Alicia, Hanali told us you gave Malcanthet a spanking. Come join us!"
"Dear," Sulia calls, "Do come in, we've both been far too busy lately."
Sharess stands up in the waters, hands on her hips, "Aw, too bad Syala isn't here - or Antenora or your sister. You're growing, you and Seira both. I can't believe that meek little eladrin passed muster!" With a warm laugh, "Come join us!"
Alicia pauses at the edge of the pool before she's suddenly naked, her avatar's signature equipment vanishing to leave her with nothing at all. Tanned and muscular, it's not as soft as that of the various love goddesses present but it's smooth and bereft of any scars she's cared to keep.
"I wasn't expecting this sort of visit, but it's good to catch up," she says as she steps into the bath and sinks down as she sits in Evergold's mystically potent waters.
You feel the power of it soak into your bones, soothing and warm and cool at once. Sune is to one side and Sulia another, Sharess leaning back next to Sune.
"Really, I'd love to hear what you and yours did to Malcanthet," Sune invites with a warm smile.
"The best entertainment I'll get all week," Sharess agrees, "Mrr, she's really been up to worse than usual."
"It was a mix of good and bad," Alicia admits, reaching up to loosen her hair and letting it spill freely over her shoulders. "She predicted what we'd do perfectly up to a certain point, so even when we thought we were winning it played into her hands. We'd infiltrated Rosewater, where Violet was running her skill-grafting operation out of the Styx in Hades, but at the bottom what we found was only a simulacrum of Violet while Malcanthet, Pazuzu - in avatar form for both, and a small army got themselves positioned on the surface to wait for us. Of course I decimated the army, and all the radiant sisters, in a stroke... but somehow they'd formulated a ritual that allowed Violet to survive my assault, and collect the souls and skills of everyone I just killed."
How long is Alicia's hair right now?
Goes a bit past her shoulders, like a foot and a half at the longest.
Sulia comes right up and takes out that hair. Water soaks in and then gently flows away, as a brush goes through your locks. It's long, slow and gentle. Not a hint of pain or tangles, merely Sulia grooming you.
"I love your hair, Alicia. It's so pretty, you should wear it down more."
As Sulia works away and comments, "Ooooooh. I'd expect that more out of a devil or a daemon, but Malcanthet is a bit of a planner." Sharess whistles.
"That and this Violet may be," Sune says haughtily, "Succubi shouldn't rise above their station like that. Then what happened, Alicia?"
"I usually save it for when I'm out of armour," she says, leaning back against Sulia first as she's pampered, smiling at it. "But it pains me to admit, Malcanthet beat me for guile in this case, everything I did she'd predicted and planned for, at least up to that moment. I slew her avatar during a mutual time stop, though she scarcely seemed bothered by the loss. It gave me an opening against Violet while she was revelling in her stolen powers though - I imagine they hadn't settled fully, and I was able to hit her with a series of unbinding spells as she fled that had her vomiting the captured souls right back up. Not as if I want to do favours for any of the demons but better than to let Violet hoard all that power and knowledge. Pazuzu I warned off, I think Malcanthet just bribed him along as extra muscle since he didn't seem very invested, and we pursued Violet to find her in the Adversary's clutches a ways down the Styx," she goes through the events while Sulia brushes her hair.
"Was almost tempted to let him have her, but we'd gone through all of this to capture her from the start, and it was a cruel fate even for her. He handed her over without bloodshed. I'm certain he got something out of the whole thing though, since in the end he played both Malcanthet and us."
"That would sound like that vile old man's style," Sune frowns, "Though being caught amid fiendish plans is ever tiresome. Tiresome as a suitor who won't accept no."
As Sulia works she laughs lightly, a beautiful sound. "That means Violet is contained? Nonetheless that is a victory if her talent is as dreadful as it sounds. She would become an even greater problem in a short time."
"So Malcanthet gained a monk's abilities and the arts of a sorcereress? Good." Sharess says, a smile that shows very many sharp teeth, like a cat's. "I like my prey to be interesting. It makes playing with them so much more fun."
This gets Sune to laugh, joining Sulia, "Sharess," She chides, "We haven't forgotten you have claws."
"Yes, it's clear Malcanthet was grooming her for bigger and better things. They were talking about naming abyssal layers and such together," Alicia says, before she smiles back at Sharess. "Yes, it didn't seem to help her avatar much when I fought it and I'm not sure how serious that was. It's not something to throw away cheaply and yet everything present at that battle was disposable in some fashion to better fuel Violet's growth. I'd hoped there might be some reasoning with her after freeing her from the Adversary, but... well, they can't all be like Antenora or Mial. Indeed precious few are."
"Precious few are," Sulia agrees, brushing away - as at the same time she somehow massages your shoulders, surely magic involved. "So few but they provide so much hope."
"Tell me," Sune leans forward at that, "How has Antenora reached so far an so fast? I've heard garbled rumors and reports of interesting things on Fire, things that saw to a speedy conclusion of the war."
"She did adopt a cat not long ago," Sharess adds pleasantly, to which Sune gives her an openly exasperated look and tosses her arms into the air.
"A cat does not make you grow faster!" Sune declares, "No matter how often you try to promote that."
"Martin is doing well, by the way," Alicia tells Sharess while Sulia looks after her. "As for Fire, that was Eblis of course. He's returned to Celestia, and Antenora was instrumental in making it so. Such a clear manifestation of exactly what she represents on a planes-shaking scale, how could she not advance?" she asks with evident pride in her protege.
Sharess smiles at that while meanwhile?
"Truly?" Sune leans forward even more, only waist deep in the water as she goes to meet your gaze. "How? What broken piece of righteousness did she find within that hateful old spirit?"
Sulia massages away, "I suspect hope," she adds, "Hope for something better, something he knew could be from his past."
Sharess gives you a side eye look at that, "Well, good for her. To Marielle as well: How is she doing with such a change?"
"I would wager that she's proud of Antenora," Sulia says, "As well as secretly pleased to be so close to an actual deity. Why, Mystra once told me that Marie's quite the ambitious sort, if you haven't noticed. She's become a tulani as well, she's grown quite formidable."
"An alternative," she answers Sune. "Though hope isn't a bad way of putting it. Antenora and Eblis took the same path to power, yet while it ruined him she was able to maintain her hope in Creation and its future. Something that was able to break through to him and rekindle something long burnt out. I don't imagine we'll see him again for some time, wherever he's sequestered himself, but when he returns I've no doubt he'll be a force for good once again."
"Mmm, you have good hands Sulia," she adds, enjoying the massage she's getting. "You're not wrong about Marie either. She's ambitious and she's always worked hard to realise her goals. To be honest I wish I'd brought her along to Rosewater, her unorthodox counsel might've kept me from playing so well into Malcanthet's hands."
"You need a splash of chaos, kitten," Sharess declares, a little rumbling purr as she then adds, "I think Antenora realizes that somewhere in her brain, even if she'd rather not acknowledge it."
As Sulia loosens you up you feel a warm gel being rubbed into your shoulders and then down your back. Sulia hums away, a wordless tune that somehow feels very homelike, very...domestic in a way.
"At least he's out of Fire's hair," Sune admits, "It gave Seira the perfect opening from what I hear - though I could do without the new Sultan. Then again, it's been a long time since there's been a Grand Sultan I've liked, besides the Crimson Firebrand." A little shiver, "Mmm. A complete brute but so manly. He's one of those that make other men seem inadequate, an animalistic allure to him." A long lick of Sune's lips before, "That would be one I'd redeem, over and over and over again."
A few chuckles go around at that, "Really, was he that great?" Sulia asks, as warmth spreads from that gel, leaving your body utterly relaxed.
"Yes," Sune says immediately, a nudge to Sharess.
"He was a filthy monster...but yes, he was a man, alright. A rare breed." Sharess sets out grudgingly. "That sort that makes you want to be his woman."
"None have ever surpassed the original?" Alicia asks, not quite hiding a roll of her eyes at how they're all gushing over an efreet. "That's a little bit sad, though the current one's a particularly sad devil puppet. It'll be interesting to see how the padisha on water reacts to Sanzha's increasing prominence now that Seira's pushing her forward," she says on other elemental genie matters.
"None have come close," Sune admits, "That one? He had drive, a purpose that propelled everything he does. A little like Antenora, or perhaps Eblis if I read him right." Waving a hand lightly, a bit of water splashing, "I'd like to know that as well. The Water Lord's stayed out of it, as far as I've heard."
"She's taking a defensive stance," Sulia says, "After all, it kept them out of the Abolition War." At last done with your shoulders and massage, she settles next to you.
"That would also depend on the stance Sanzha takes, if she gets that far. Will she make it a fight?" Sharess muses, "The Padisha could have had Sanzha assassinated or tried to by now, if she fundamentally objected."
She smiles at Sulia as she repositions at her side after that pleasant massage. "If I recall correctly, early on she simply told Seira to keep Sanzha out of Water's affairs," Alicia says. "But - to use the sort of metaphor they'd appreciate, a deity's wake travels far," she scoops a hand through the water to leave a wake through Evergold behind it.
The water ripples, Sulia doing the same, the waves meeting midway. As they clash harmlessly, "Quite," Is the general agreement from Sune. Then with a lazy smile, "Speaking of making waves, how ARE you and Syala?" she asks.
Sulia titters at that, a hand to her mouth to gracefully cover it, only the sound heard. "My, you two are lucky to have risen together. I confess I find myself jealous at times."
Sharess gets comfy and leans back, "Yes, there's so many...juicy details you could tell us."
"We're doing quite well, thank you," she smiles coyly. "Syala was talking about a reward for the day's efforts... though she's also been talking about a new dungeon she's working on. We keep ourselves physically and mentally active together," she leaves it at that without going into salacious detail. They're all friends but still, a little mystery is needed.
Yet somehow, the smug little smile on Sune's face seems to suggest at more. Nonetheless Sharess chuckles, "I expect talk of dungeons for far darker ones than you. Then again, Syala has always been violent."
"As long as you're happy," Sulia agrees.
"It's the adventurous kind, not the confinement kind," Alicia says as if it really needed to be said. How often do people in her circle talk of dungeons and not mean a place to go do death defying heroics in?
"Oh dear, relax," Sune waves it off, "Though speaking of adventurous things, one of the mortals from Aurora recently did me a great service. I had Heart Rubies stolen, and that dear little aboleth-alike retrieved them. That princess was with them, Dana. She's claimed a man, they make a good couple. A valkyrie's thrown in with them as they do derring do and whatever catches their fancy.""
"Yes, that man's Benyen, a paladin of Raziel. He actually inherited my old sword Hell Striker," Alicia says with a smile as they all gossip in the tub. "I hope we can expect great things from that group."
"Really?" Sharess eyes you at that, "That is a small world. Is that your doing, Alicia?"
Sulia smiles widely, "Why, maybe Alicia's even been playing matchmaker?" A warm smile, "It can be enjoyable to see people find happiness and support together, support for a lifetime and beyond."
"In a sense, but it's more happenstance," she admits. "After Latha built me a new sword I gave my old one to Raziel and asked him to find a good crusader to take it up so it would keep getting used rather than simply collecting dust in Sylica. Recently when Benyen was in the kingdom of Langersun and had run afoul of a conspiracy, Hell Striker reached out to me for aid. Since I knew Dana was from Langersun from the reports I get on Aurora, I had Ebony find her to go and help him." She smiles crookedly, "Ebony doesn't approve of their relationship and didn't exactly have a good time on the excursion, but it seems to have worked out for them."
A few laughs at that, "Oh. I knew about Ebony's opinion," Sune says, "She made a small offering to me afterwards and wished them well, for in her exact words, they would need the help. So judgmental. I'd say she's jealous, but that's not the side she's interested in playing." As Sune speaks she summons a glass of sparkling golden liquid, having a long sip. "Such pique over the entire situation, as well as embarrassment and so many other mixed feelings."
"Alicia, you should matchmake for Ebony then," Sulia says, "Though isn't she with that succubus a lot? My reach into Aurora isn't much, but I have heard a few rumors there."
"Not like that," Sune interrupts, "There's as much romance there as in the heart of Moradin. It's completely platonic."
"Yes, it felt like Ebony saw him as a sweet little boy in need of nurturing, and Dana as a corruptive influence," Alicia says in amusement. "Canderella, one of Talos's lot. They're good friends but it's just that. Lately they've been busy with this strange amalgamated being that came from the Deep Stacks in Dweomerheart, since it possesses some of Canderella's memories and being. She was rather upset with me for not taking charge of it, but it doesn't seem to have put a rift between her and Ebony."
"Friendships are too important to ruin lightly," Sharess agrees, sinking back down, up to her chin in the waters. "The Deep Stacks? That's something with Mystra's realm? Mystra has so many strange things in her domain, like she collects oddities. Who can keep them all straight?"
A soft chuckle from Sune, "I'm familiar with them - I've had faithful go there before." She sits up and back, drinking deep from her cup. "A troublesome place. Not a place I'd recommend for a romantic interlude, no matter how much you flirt with your companion. After all, your companion becoming another midway through is extremely distressing." A few moments, "The burns were healed quickly, but the emotional trauma took months to mend."
"I saw something like that once in Daa-vid's seal. Alternates of Seira and Demedais, although curiously there wasn't one for me. It made things easier but at the same time I was a little bit disappointed," Alicia says in reminiscence. "But yes, it is a strange place. That's what makes divine realms so interesting though, a bit of strangeness and wonder. Always worth cultivating so as to expand people's horizons."
Sulia lightly giggles before she shifts. In moments she is an exact opposite of you, "Sisters?" she offers lightly, an arm around your shoulder.
This gets Sharess to smile widely, "There's always something new to chase and entertain us. Otherwise Creation would get ever so boring. Even my mortals and followers are uninteresting once in awhile."
Finishing her drink, Sune sits back and basks in the waters, "Seira's done a good job of entertaining me with Amaryl. They go together so well, but haven't grown boring to me at all. Now not to gossip too much," Sune banters, "But you know who they remind me of? Those two dragons in that wretched affair in Balmuria. Moreso because they're making up for lost time romantically. Aaaah..." A soft sigh of contentment, "So beautiful love is."
"Ahh, if I'd had a twin to work with my childhood would have been much easier," Alicia laughs and leans against her divine doppelganger as she's embraced. "You mean Kangap and Goldan?" she asks Sune then, looking across at the redhead as she goes on. "That was a famous tale, I think Seira would be pleased by the comparison since she was always so taken by them."
"She probably would," Sune agrees, "I really should catch up with her, but events are so preoccupying, and she's had that war of hers."
"Send an avatar to visit, she loves to play hostess," Alicia suggests to Sune with a serious nod as she sits in the water next to her double. "She'll always be busy with something but the war is over now, and she'll make time for you."
"A lovely idea," Sune rises at that, hair drying once it's free of the water. "Aaaah, that's enough lounging, now I have the urge to do something. Alicia, it's been a pleasure again."
"Thank you for inviting me," Alicia inclines her head gratefully. "And of course you're always welcome to come by Sylica. All of you," she extends the invitation to Sharess and Sulia as well, though she and Syala are far closer to those two so it barely even needs to be said for them.
Empress Sulia hugs you, gentle and loose. "I should come again," she agrees, still wearing your appearance.
Sharess rises as well, "It has been fun, but I'll leave you two twins to enjoy it. Or give Syala a birthday present."
Sulia reddens and then says, "Nonsense. One Alicia is all anyone could handle, cat."
The warm, sensual laughter of Sharess is heard as she walks out and departs, gone.
"Ever the minx," Alicia says as Sharess departs, amused. She stands up now herself that it's just the two of them, "I should return to Sylica anyway, there's still much to be done in the aftermath of what happened earlier, and other errands to worry about. I'll see you again soon, Sulia?"
With a shimmer Sulia is herself again. "Soon," she promises. "Give me warm regards to Syala, Antenora, Latha, Jessica and all of them.
"I will, they'll be happy for it," she smiles, stepping out of Evergold and taking no water with her, body bone dry once she steps on dry land. Her equipment reappears on her and she gives Sulia one last wave before opening a gate back to Sylica and stepping through.
She doesn't linger long though, while Alicia herself holds the fort back home (and passes on Sulia's warm regards) her avatar remains busy and takes a trip to Dweomerheart next so as to consult with Mystra on the day's events, Violet's magic, and Malcanthet's weakness.
You meet with Mystra beneath the night sky of Dweomerheart, magic auroras reaching high into the sky. A rainbow of colors, all watched from atop one of the many mage towers here. Mystra merely sits on thin air, her gaze on the spectacle above.
"Alicia," she calls, "Join me and speak your heart's content."
"Thank you," Alicia says, sitting next to Mystra on thin air, her posture similar. "There's a lot to talk about in terms of lore and magic, but I think first of all I just need to unburden myself a little. I thought I had a good plan and it was well executed, and yet everything was predicted and accounted for, made to work for Malcanthet and Violet's advantage. My strengths were made into a weakness, and though I overcame in the end, it doesn't change that I was unwittingly dancing to their tune. I felt used. Played."
Mystra merely nods at that, "I understand all too well." She continues to study the beauty above, a riot of colors and magic forever surging upwards. "To be understood, to be manipulated like that, to have your sense of control and purpose taken away to serve the needs of another; this grates and burns, both the ego and the soul. We all strive so very hard, and yet another made you a mere pawn in a greater plan."
A moment before Mystra taps her chest with two fingers, dead center. "Like the sour mix of fear and anger, leavened with the taste of bile in the back of your throat. We're supposed to be better than that."
"It was all for nothing anyway, I won in the end and got everything I came for. It was only a fleeting victory for Malcanthet, but it still mattered because at least in that moment I was nothing more than a cog in a mechanism working towards her purposes," she looks up at the mystical aurora as she ruminates on that. "I'd made my own analysis of her that I factored into my plans and it was completely wrong, while she read me like an open book. Neither victory nor defeat can take away from that, and you're right how it burns. Has it ever happened to you?" Now she looks at Mystra, the question perhaps impertinent but it's both a chance to learn from another's mistakes, and a way to gain comfort and solidarity in a pain shared.
"Yes." Mystra answers with a word, "My champion..." she trails off, a short silence of both of you lost in the mysteries of magic above. "At times we are all victims of such things. We are all smart and wise beyond compare, and gifted with countless eons of experiences. Yet in such contests there are still clean wins and losses, times where all the intelligence you have is trumped by another."
There's a pause here, "My greatest mistakes are when someone uses me to do something in the heat of the moment. My power is great within my limits, but I am not beyond doing foolish things in a moment of anger." Here a dry, unhappy chuckle is heard. "To slay one who had slaughtered my current mortal lover, who had desecrated my temples, who had finally made a mistake so my avatar could crush him. Little did I know he carried an artifact of righteousness on him, one that would only be destroyed if the Mother of Magic's own power destroyed it. In my wrath over this mortal's audacity, I sent a beam of silver fire on him without looking further. I worked right into his purposes."
A pause again, "It was a plan brilliant in its simplicity. Another of his cult had found the artifact but he himself never used magic to deal with it, never once did anything but speak mundane messages to a few trusted others about it. He only laid hands on it moments before facing me. He knew exactly what he was doing, and rightly guessed that in that moment, my desire to bring about justice and vengeance would overcome my better senses. A suicidal plan, a plan that cost him dearly, but served his master and gave him an unquestioned win. I was bested by a slightly more refined version of taunt the ogre."
Alicia listens to Mystra's story, recalling before her mention of mortal lovers. It's a strange thing to accept, hardly something that ever came up in church, but Mystra's said before how she likes to be reminded of her humanity.
She leans her side against Mystra's so they're touching now, their positions not quite right for a comforting hug but still it passes warmth and companionship between them.
"It was the same for the ritual earlier. They were too far away for me to see their magic with arcane sight until I made myself titanic, and by then I'd committed to the attack confident that what I considered chaff would be slain and shown the foolishness of standing on a battlefield of the gods. For both of us it was impetuousness and rushing that led to evil's victory. Taking a bit more time and deliberation makes the difference, doesn't it?"
There is no resistance. In fact, Mystra puts her arm around you. It's companionship, shared and offered freely. The fact that you're out of position is odd, yet it still works like it should, somehow.
"You understand that. This a lesson for you, a growing pain of your powers, your potential and your limits." Mystra says as she looks skyward. "So often thought defeats action, and has won before the actions are even taken."
"Action usually serves me well," Alicia nods, her arm going around Mystra's back in turn. "And it's so viscerally satisfying. But yes, lessons were learned, and deliberation needs its due."
They sit like that for a moment before she speaks again. "I remember I had concerns about gnomish spellgems. Magic and power earned without experience and pain. Violet's talent is a further refinement on the concept, but it's not the only one either. Sylvie passing her talents on to her son... how many other rare and secret magics are there that allow for such things?"
As the two of you hold one another, gazes up at the sky above, "There's enough. Even a common spell can manage a mimicry of it: Imbue With Spell Ability. Do you feel it's a mistake to use such powers, Alicia?"
"I suppose like all magic it depends? That's one I would often use on Marie so she could better serve me. A familiar itself gains power from the master that way. But such things are exchanges, temporary and revocable," she says. "I even picked up that talent specifically so I can designate temporary familiars which can greatly improve someone's defence and give them surprising skill at arms.
"Compared to being able to gift an entire squad of soldiers with an archmage's repertoire it isn't much. And if an archmage has to be captured and sacrificed to have their skill copied into others it turns such power into a threat for any with desirable abilities."
"Mm." A soft noise, "Have you bestowed on any of your faithful the ability to use a spell freely?" she asks, "It is not an uncommon reward."
She shakes her head, it's not something she's ever felt necessary to grant. "I remember when you rewarded me with wings after we killed Zetsuboku," she says. "That's not the sort of thing that happens every day..." she trails off and smiles faintly. "Or maybe it does for you, you have a very large faith after all."
She sighs and shakes her head. "Rewards and graces are one thing, but in Rosewater I saw something far less caring. Mercantile and streamlined, skills duplicated over and over to benefit the unworthy while the one who'd built those skills was trapped and immiserated in Styx-water."
"You did well to put a stop to that," Mystra praises, "A reward is earned. To turn power into a merchant's work leaves me cold. The Weave's powers are better used than that."
"It's disruptive," Alicia concludes. "If such magic became common, what would be the result? Anyone with talent, anyone with a rare skill, they'd be hunted down and used as grist for the mill, the ones controlling such magic bestowing it to their favourites so they can better hunt more targets. Someone growing up in that sort of world would have no incentive to train or better themselves - and every reason not to, when it paints a target on their back. Better instead to simply cosy up to power, and be granted it instead."
"With an indolent succubus atop it all," Mystra finishes, "Well done, Alicia. Well done."
"Yes, but it could be the same with anyone in charge really," Alicia says. "A cabal of wizards, a mercantile guild, a king. Power would gravitate to whoever controlled that magic and it would warp society under it. It's just this particular example came through Violet's mastery of the Styx. If there are other ways, they're rare and hidden for good reason, aren't they?"
Mystra merely smiles at that, "I don't need to answer that question when you already know the answer."
"I suppose I have enough to worry about," she says ruefully. "Well... back to Malcanthet. All that power she's gained from her unwitting donors, it's left a fracture in her soul that demands to be taken advantage of. My magic doesn't really touch on such things however, it's usually focused on physical effects. What sort of spells do you think she'd be particularly vulnerable to now?"
"Being a deity patches many of those holes," Mystra says plainly, arm still around you. "Magic to attack the soul is rare. Still, are you familiar with spell Smite Soul?"
She narrows her eyes as she recalls that one. Though despite the name it has a slightly different effect. "That's one that Eblis spread around, it hampers clerics and druids."
"Yes," Mystra says, a scroll on your lap now. "It is the most basic step towards that. It attacks something connected to the soul."
She picks up the scroll with her free hand to look at what Mystra's provided her with on it rather than just her own recollections. Perhaps it does call for a new spell for the occasion.
As you do, Mystra murmurs, "You've met Duke Moore of Celestia?" she asks. "He seeks an audience. Yet I have no desire to let go," she admits, "I so miss warmth and contact like this."
"Isn't that what avatars are for?" Alicia asks, pausing but also squeezing Mystra against her side. This is Mystra's home so she can't really tell her how to run her business or organise her audiences, though she's perfectly happy to leave if it's required. She wouldn't want to hold an audience with Marie sitting on her head for instance, even if she's perfectly happy allowing that in private. It's not that it's rude or improper, it's just something she keeps for those she's close to.
Mystra rests against you, shutting her eyes a moment as she does. "Erathaol asked me to treat Moore's requests as high priority. He said he'd consider it a personal favor. To see him in person when possible...but this makes it impossible," she concludes. "It's been millenia since I last took a nap."
"I remember what you told me when you last visited Sylica," Alicia says, her tone becoming firm. She squeezes Mystra again and then lets go, straightening up in the air. "Give Moore his audience, he wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. I'll return this avatar to Sylica and come over in person with Martin - he's a kitten I'm thinking of making my familiar when he's older. Then you'll show me the cosiest spot in Elysium and the three of us will enjoy a nice pleasant nap."
Mystra smiles - a rare, beautiful smile. Innocent, free of so much. "Go," she agrees. "I think we've both earned a rest."
Nodding, she opens a gate back to Sylica and flies through, taking over as the resident Alicia while the real one collects her kitten and opens her own gate to the Sylican embassy in Dweomerheart to wait there for Mystra to finish her meeting with Moore.
Martin meows adorably, picked up without resistance. Instead he purrs away in your arms.
He's a good cat. Lacking her armour for this trip Alicia wears a plain navy blue dress and black hose, her hair down and looking somewhat domestic and un-divine. Back in Dweomerheart as herself rather than her avatar, she claims one of the sitting rooms in the embassy for herself and sits with a kitten on her lap to wait until Mystra's free again.
Soon enough you feel it - a simple pulse of will, a subtle draw to where Mystra is right now.
Standing up, Alicia teleports herself and the black cat to the designated location.
It's so sunny here. A grassy field with emerald green grass, a sky a blue so bright that it almost dazzles you. Puffy white clouds drift as beneath an ancient, tall oak tree Mystra sits. She sits on a spread picnic blanket. It's so warm here, not uncomfortable or hot. It's sundrenched, warming you to the core of your bones.
Martin immediately meows and curls warmer and tighter into your arms.
"So this is where you picked?" Alicia asks, walking over and kicking off her shoes at the edge of the blanket before she sits down and sets Martin down between the pair of them. "Say hello to Mystra, Martin."
Martin meows softly, Mystra's hand delivering pets. As the feline purrs away, playful as can be? "There's something restful about a nap beneath a tree in summer," Mystra says.
"I was expecting something more indoorsy, a warm fireplace and plush furniture with chilly autumn outside," Alicia admits, smoothing down her skirt as she gets comfy on the blanket. "But I've no complaints," she looks up at the canopy of trees above and lays back, stretching herself out.
Mystra lies back next to you. It's warmth and peace, Martin curling up between the two of you.
"...the one thing..." Mystra murmurs aloud. After a beat, "Do you remember the vision I gave you if my creation?"
How could she forget? "When you were made to choose which part of Creation fit you?" she asks, resting back with her hands clasped over her stomach.
"What saved me was not magic," Mystra says, "It was my desire to live and be happy." She looks ahead, at nothing in particular and yet, "That one moment of desire saved me, and saves me every day being a cold and unfeeling process, closer to the Elemental Lords than anything else."
"Why did you have that desire and they didn't?" Alicia wonders, prompted by that comparison, head tilted to look at Mystra. "You were all... created, in similar fashion, weren't you?"
"I don't know," Mystra confesses as she meets your gaze. "Perhaps they did not see the planes, only their element?"
"Only they and the Incarnations know, hmm?" she wonders. "Those first moments would colour everything. They had to know that as well. That's what often puzzles me about the search for an Answer, in setting up the workings of Creation as they did, surely they would have formed preferences of their own?"
She turns to look upwards. "Or... how could the same mind that created this have also created Hades? Did they truly feel nothing over it?"
"What I fear is that they truly did not feel anything over it," Mystra admits, "That good and evil are truly alien to them."
Alicia suspects the same, but it's so alien and impossible to truly grasp at the same time.
"This isn't particularly restful conversation," she notes, reaching down to stroke Martin's fur.
"It isn't," Mystra agrees, a hint of a smile on her face. "If all we have done is a cosmic fluke of beings who only care about one thing...?"
A pause at that, as your cat is happy and purry and napping already.
"Neither of us are gifted at resting when there are things to do," Mystra says at last."Or mere thoughts to discuss."
"It's an interesting conversation, if not restful," Alicia agrees. "Sometimes I wish the Incarnations were still more present and active, that more would be made clear for their presence. Other times I'm glad for Chaos's distance and the other two's absence, that things would be fine if we got out of their shadow entirely."
"I miss those early days," Mystra says, "For in those times we all believed the Answer was close." Her smile is sad and bittersweet, "I fear we need at least one, should something dreadful ever come from Beyond. Yet I understand all too well your own desire to be free of those limitations and those complications. To think that something that understands only law and chaos rules over so many things of righteousness and the wicked chills me."
"Something dreadful from Beyond... if Ao is even right now battling some equivalent to keep from Creation, we wouldn't even know, would we? If something else of Beyond killed or convinced the other Incarnations to leave... how would we know if it happened?" Alicia wonders, gently scratching under one of Martin's ears. "Like a pet left at home while their owner leaves and never returns..."
"I've seen that," Mystra says softly, "To see a loving animal starve in body and soul is a wretched thing. Far too evocative and truthful to how it could be if we were abandoned. Perhaps one soul in Creation could fight a true horror from the Far Realm."
"Just one?" Alicia asks. She remembers 'fighting' with the things that appeared during Antenora's ascension and they got by okay. A greater deity she'd expect to do fine, although... who's to say where the scale goes? If there are other things like the Incarnations or greater, and what she fought were the equivalent of shocker lizards?
"A serious threat," Mystra says at last, "The one you fought in Creation had adapted, mad and hateful as it was."
"Who is the only one here you believe could fight a true horror then?" Alicia asks. Eblis, because he is One? Shar, because the Incarnations empowered her to End things? The Arbiter, if he's counted as part of Creation and not the missing Incarnation of Neutrality under another guise. They're the ones she considers to be the most serious contenders out of all Creation for this particular challenge.
"Your friend Hellman Oberuth," Mystra says, "What he did in the battle against the God-King...he doesn't know. You don't know, do you?" Mystra asks, the second after a moment.
That was an unexpected answer. "You mean his ability to move instantly without magic from one spot to another?" she asks. It's impressive certainly, but against something like an Incarnation? "Sylian's been grooming him to battle creatures of the Beyond through his dreams, phantasms in the ethereal plane. But him alone out of everyone in Creation?"
"What I mean by that is that he's beginning to move beyond the Weave," Is the reasoning, "He's begun to draw on it less, microscopically, but it's progressing with no loss of ability on his part." Here Mystra adds, "That movement and other things - I know not what, but he changes. The ability to enact raw will, the ability to be beyond death...I pity that man, Alicia, for I know not where he goes, but I would fear to follow. With a talent to use such things and fight them, I can see plainly he is being groomed."
"Then where does it end? How far does his potential reach? And what is the one grooming him already capable of?" Alicia goes through a few pertinent questions that fact unlocks.
"It reaches beyond my jurisdiction and reach, so I cannot say with certainty," Mystra confesses, "But it is no small potential he has. Should he go on, he will be able to do more than chase phantasms in the Deep Ethereal. Much more."
But will he be able to kill Ao if it comes to it?
And as Mystra intimated, what even happens after that? Why does Ao need Shar to be his executioner's axe if any Beyond horror can come and tear down Creation? Is the Arbiter's protection enough? Is the Incarnation of Law still protecting Creation from the outside in a way that they won't protect it from Ao's plan? There's too much uncertainty in all of this.
"We should sleep ourselves, but this conversation breeds unpleasant dreams," she says pensively.
Mystra scoots down and goes to her side, lying there and facing you. "We should and yet...here we are." she confesses. She's smiling faintly despite it, lingering on her face.
She shifts a bit as well onto her side, resting her head on her folded arm facing Mystra. "We still have a comfy location, good company, and a purring cat. Perhaps that'll be enough," she smiles back before closing her eyes.
With this Mystra closes her eyes and you drift off, fast asleep.
Give me a d100.
[19:55] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:55] <Penuche2> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 80 > [d100=80]
Flickers of memory.
"It's needed," Is all Sylian says, "We will meet again."
A wind, the feeling of Beyond. Antenora's focus. Syala's warm presence. The empty, potential filled white that is everywhere and nowhere.
"It's needed," Is all Sylian says, "We will meet again."
Blood.
Pointing to Alicia, Antenora and Seira, "A drop of each of your blood is required. Fear not, I have no desires to waste it on petty revenge, nor would I need it to do so." Sylian says.
You remember the pain.
Alicia approaches after Seira, her own presence consecrating the ground as she walks. Running her thumb against the sharp blade of her sword, she holds the cut digit above the parchment and lets a drop fall.
You remember the droplet of blood.
"It's needed," Is all Sylian says, "We will meet again."
You remember Sylian.
"We will meet again, Alicia. I look forward to that final day. Will you be ready?"
Alicia wakens, her dreams as unpleasant as she feared. And yet the sharpened clarity of memory brings with it no answers.
Mystra is aslumber. Her face is open, relaxed. She looks younger like this, still and lost in the grip of a long denied rest.
No sense waking her, is there? Alicia just relaxes quietly, reaching down to pet Martin while the Mother of Magic takes a well deserved break.
Like this a time of disturbance and peace passes, mingled together like two streams flowing into one. Soon enough...
Anything else to do here or good to move on?
Good to move on. Will have a look at that scroll Mystra gave me back home first of all.
It's a scroll of Smite Soul, with annotations that describe the patterns and magic of it in some depth.
Thus you work on a new spell, spending some time on it. In the meantime...
I'm gonna need a little more time with that spell, it's a tricky one. In the meantime, what's your next move?
Alicia and Jessica will go look for Valnala on the Infinite Staircase as the source Vivantha recommended for finding its bottom.
Cool. Any particular means of finding Valnala?
You netsplit hard on IRC, by the way.
I'm aware.
We'll disguise ourselves to go incognito onto the stairs and show Vivantha's crown to whichever lillend we run into and ask them to point us to Valnala.
Thus you step onto the Infinite Stair and...
Go ahead and describe how you're disguised.
Knowing that she has a habit of being predictable when it comes to her disguises, Alicia has changed things up from her usual instincts on how to go about such things. She's taken the appearance of a young human woman or perhaps teenager with straight brown hair cut sharply above her neck and framing a face with plain features. To offset the plain face she wears a flashy low-cut top that shows off her belly, matched with shorts and long stockings on her lower half, a pair of short swords at her hips and a red cloak off her shoulders. Her figure's curvy yet fit looking and she carries herself like some kind of acrobatic swashbuckling fighter or rogue.
Of course her nondetection spell should keep most anyone from seeing what she really looks like or all the magic on her, though her gear is mostly low to mid grade magic items borrowed from Sylica for the occasion.
Jessica goes the opposite - a big, tall and muscular man. Her disguised form is bald and deeply tanned, skin the color of dark wheat. Her expression here seems set in a perpetual scowl, wearing toughened leather travel clothes, as well as battered, scarred leather gauntlets. In place of her rapier she has a greatsword slung across her back, a pair of heavy maces hanging from her belt.
"This should do well, sister," Jessica declares, voice deep and powerful, every inch fitting her current disguise.
"I'm not sure, I feel like anyone we see might try and rescue me from you," Alicia teases as they emerge onto the stairs from a doorway found in a currently abandoned fort on Ysgard, her own voice somewhat flat in its intonations.
"I do like this though," she says as she starts to descend the nearby staircase. "It always feels so liberating to go out with a new look."
Jessica smiles a little bit at that, "Sister," she says in that deep voice, "It's more revealing than you usually wear. It works for the look, though."
"I like having a consistent wardrobe, but when I change my look I can go outside my usual comfort zone," she says. With sensual blessing she'll hear anyone else on the stairs long before they hear her, so she can afford to be a little loose-lipped at least for now. "Rather than sister you might call be niece or something... oh, for my name right now it's Kate. I'm putting forward the look of a talented young warrior trying to project her maturity by flaunting her body even though it actually makes her seem less mature."
"Niece," Jessica agrees, "I don't know, though, you look more like a Xanderella, sister. Regardless, I'm going for an older, grizzled warrior who has seen enough to know how the world works, or so he thinks. Though if you talk to him it turns out he's lonely more than anything else, but he'll never face it or admit it."
"How can he be lonely when he has a young beauty like me around him?" Alicia accuses, nudging Jessica with her elbow, then she nods in satisfaction. "That sort of provoking personality feels right."
"Do that, sister, I'll play the more serious type," Jessica agrees, "Just be good, niece, no trouble out of you."
"Mmm. It might be a little while before we find any lillend, and longer still before we find Valnala. But walking these steps feels nostalgic, they saw a lot of use before I could just casually gate anywhere I wanted," she muses as they go.
"You did use them a few times, niece," Jessica says, and with a sour look, "Getting up to no end of trouble with them."
"Good thing I did too old man, or you'd be hopelessly lost," she retorts with a cheeky look, clasping her hands behind her head as she walks.
Cool, gimme a d100.
[19:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[19:23] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 89 > [d100=89]
You wander down several sets of stairs and platforms. You're going up stairs when you see them starting to come down, far away and ahead. A foursome of malebranche, storming in your direction with single minded haste. They're not quite running, but they're setting a fast clip for sure.
They wouldn't even be a warm-up normally, but for her current guise they might be too much. Are there any platforms or diverging staircases between them and the devils?
No such luck - though you aren't far past a previous platform (A door to somewhere on Mechanus on a glance) with several stairways to choose from.
She peers off into the distance, more for effect than anything else. "I see trouble ahead old man, lets backtrack and see if it passes us by?" she says before turning and jogging back up the stairs at a reasonable mortal clip, intending to swap onto a different stairway at the last platform.
The latest set is up, so down. Not a big detail.
"Hmph." Jessica scowls, "Scared of your own shadow, girl?" She follows, arms crossed as she does. "Won't earn much coin that way."
"No one's paying me to take on four house-sized devils with these tooth-picks!" she snaps back, patting one of her short swords.
"Then how about you get a real weapon," Jessica says, "Unless you want to poke and tickle them to death."
"Not all of us have something to compensate for, old man!" she replies quickly. "Swinging two big maces around to go with that polearm you call a sword, could you be anymore obvious? It's embarrassing!"
While her look is irritable and mocking, Alicia feels quite proud of herself for the low-brow repartee coming so easily.
The old man scowls, "Best think of something else besides that for once, NIECE," Jessica emphasizes. Her tone is harsh, but she also follows without complaint.
"Then stop being so embarrassing!" she responds hotly, reaching the previous platform and going to swap onto a different staircase direction, starting to walk more normally as she traverses it in the hopeful expectation that the devils won't catch up and choose this particular route.
Sure enough, the devil make no sign of following - they hurry down another stair, leaving you behind utterly.
"They're gone?" Jessica asks.
"Yeah," she peers back. "Looks like we're in the clear. Come on, lets keep moving. Find ourselves some more friendly company."
"..." A grunt.
Are you channeling Beth here, sister?
No, she was much more foul-mouthed.
Ah.
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 93 > [d100=93]
> roll 1d100
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 6 > [d100=6]
Another hour or so before you see them below, rising up. A group of lillend, soaring up and in your vague, general direction.
'Kate' waves in the general direction of the lillend to try and get their attention.
Jessica stays where she is, arms crossed and scowling.
Something about you may be notable, for a lillend points as they get closer, and a few peel away from the flock to come in your direction.
"Hello there!" she calls over once they're close enough to be easily heard. "Reckon you can help us out with finding a particular lillend?"
It's a trio of them, each beautiful and exotic. "I am Demissa," One greets, "If I know the lillend you mean, possibly."
"Think she's a famous - or infamous scholar type," Alicia begins. "Goes by Valnala. Got told to find her by Vivantha who's been working with Aurora." And to show the seriousness she does as Vivantha suggested and takes her crown out of the bag of holding held against her back to show Demissa and the other two.
Your words are taken with open skepticism - until the crown is seen. "That...ah..." murmurs from them before, "We will take you to Valnala."
"Call me Kate," she says, putting the crown away again and accepting their generous offer.
Jessica just says, "Lead on, ladies," he says.
"We will carry you," Demissa says, the three landing, "Come to us."
She knows how it works, only Lillend can fly around here after all. Stepping towards the edge of the staircase she raises her arms so she can hold onto whichever one wants to carry her petite girlish form.
Might take two of them to carry Jessica's current body around.
It does, but you're soon in Demissa's arms.
She smells good, you notice. Like apples and spice, perhaps a perfume of some kind.
"Close your eyes and rest," Demissa invites, "It will be easier for you that way."
"Alright, travelled in worse style," she says, clinging to Demissa and closing her eyes. She's still aware of what's going on around her but since there's not likely to be much conversation on the journey she'll divert more of her focus towards her avatar back in Sylica.
You know we're overdue for a new thread but also if Alicia's in transit for a bit we could start a new thread with Marie and company freeing that paladin in Sylica.
Sure, we can do a meanwhile. New thread incoming.