"We've thought about it," Marianne's answer is as the four of you - Amaryl comes along - sit together. It's a quiet place in the Cauldron, a little reading room sequestered deep inside. It's rarely used, save for the time Emily and Xera treated it as a secret hideaway years and years ago. In a corner an old fort of chairs, books and pillows is left intact, a ripple of days past.
"I'm glad you considered this carefully," Seira says. "A decision like this is not made lightly, given the level of commitment it requires."
"We're interested," Lyris cuts in, "Right or wrong, neither of us wants to sit around. Our only concern is the level of investment we'll need to make into it, and how that will keep us away from home."
"We've discussed travel options," Seira muses, tapping her lips. "And, perhaps, some of your friends would be interested in traveling along with you much of the time? A party at your skill level travels off-world as often as to the adjacent town."
"We discussed ideas with Josa," Marianne goes on, "He's considering allowing a second Whimsical Sweets, once he's found someone and trained them properly. Dear, I do believe if you're flexible about this that it can work."
"Wonderful! What do you require to get started properly over there?"
"Some funding to cover establishment," Is the ansewr from Marianne, "Some local aid in learning the political and historical situation as well, along with sources and merchants we can trust."
Seira hums to herself. "Merchants, huh? I'll ask Waukeen for a few contacts to start with. Local aid is far easier! Jannel, one of my paladins, is currently coordinating my efforts on that world, while Annerose Malana is my oldest and most successful agent on that world. She'll offer aid easily enough, but she's also the go-to for political and historical questions over there. Lathander's church is also present, and obviously our friends." Seira shrugs. "I suppose that only leaves out starting capital, but we're able to equip you fairly well. Would a hundred thousand gold in gems be enough?"
"Mmm...it should be," Lyris says at last, "If it isn't, we'll let you know."
"Have fun kicking Auril's teeth in~"
Marianne rises and offers you her hand at this, "We survived one impossible situation - well we didn't, but we got better. What's another?"
Seira shakes it cheerfully, smiling at her.
Okay, OOC question since they're agreeing to it - any timetable here of your own? Just want to know for DM purposes and keeping tabs on what they'll be doing there.
I'll be keeping tabs on them and intervene if necessary! Jannel has been there long enough to establish himself, and Annerose controls a territory, so they can choose what they feel works best. My budget for Malana aid was tripled not that long ago, so we should be ascendant! Let's keep pushing!
If you mean an actual timetable, it'd be nice if they put Annerose in charge of Malana before next winter hits and then expanded their anti-Auril efforts beyond the nation.
Okay cool. Give me one moment, just give me a generic reply here while I see if Moore's coming over right away.
Okay
Okay, Moore's probably on tap for Monday. I'll run a little bit today as I promised last night, not a ton so bear that in mind. With that considered, do you have anything short and simple you want to knock out or just wait on Moore?
"It occurs to me," Seira voices all of a sudden during a dinner with Amaryl and Sanzha, "that I've never come across other madalani."
A soft little smile at that, "It's not a common skill, nor is it spoken of much beyond Water, and not even commonly there," Sanzha says, "The nature of the art makes it that many who try do not survive."
"Is there benefit in swapping notes with others?" Seira inquires. "Would it help you reach new heights, you think?"
Amaryl looks up from her food, a moment's pause before, "Surely one would?"
Lady Sanzha smiles faintly, "At least to see what not to do," she concurs.
"Then the followup question is obviously how can we help? Do you need more free time to make the rounds, Sanzha? Or would one of us accompanying you to Water gain swifter results?"
"Come with me," Sanzha says, "Together we'll open more doors, with force properly applied."
"You got it!"
A moment's smile at that, "Now that the war's over, it'll be easier without any possible non interference."
"Which is exactly why you should go for it now, yes~"
"Tomorrow?" Sanzha asks, "Once your latest meeting with Moore is done?"
"That sounds like a good call," Seira agrees. "Set up whatever we need in advance?"
Sanzha rises to do that, while Amaryl smiles and uses her napkin to dab her mouth clean. "In the meantime Seira, there's a matter I need to see to with you."
"What's that?"
"Come with me and I'll show you," Amaryl smiles, a certain little smile of promise, alluring and promising.
Good to move along here?
Sure
Okay, I'll get you and Moore together Monday, I'm just finishing up his Q&A.
Agreement
Okay, meeting time.
Soon enough Moore arrives and...
Go ahead and set up how you want to do this and if you want anyone on your side there, Seira.
Moore, note who is coming with you - one is default and that's Kaja this time if you don't select anyone else - and any prep, so we can have this all done right off and get going.
Seira receives her guests in a library, arranged in the classical style and closed to the public. Their notes are gathered in a prominent spot, as are refreshments, despite it being a terrible faux pas.
Kaja and Xandra should be sufficient. We'll have hit up the Blessing Stone just in case before we left. Other than that, nothing special.
"Lady Seira, thank you for what you recently provided. I don't know if Donald had a chance to fill you in on the details, but with what you found, we only have 7 pieces left." He says, taking out his work so far.
"I did some research of my own into where to find the last seven pieces and... well, it's a bit interesting. I can't say for certainty if these sources are the only ways to find the pieces, but it's what I have as of currently."
He takes out a list, numbered for each piece of information they're missing, 1 through 7, with a name next to it and any notes he's found so far on who or what those things are.
http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,104359.msg1162558.html#msg1162558 For your reference.
"Ah... it's also a bit unrelated to this, but I thought you may want to know -- we ran into some sort of... well, I think it was a magma elemental of some nature named Magamia when we went to Ysgard recently, and my divinations on the subject suggest that Nasir Farhad Madani of the Efreet was primarily responsible. I don't have any further information on that yet -- I thought you'd like to know regardless."
"Let's tackle that last one first," Seira muses. "I'd recommend that you confirm it and lodge a formal complaint through Celestia. I imagine that he was doing the Sultan's bidding, but calling them out so soon might force him to punish Nasir and go to ground for a while. Also, if we go the bureaucratic route here it'll be a surprise when you inevitably take that guy out while crossing paths on neutral territory."
She gestures at the gathered pieces of the ritual afterwards, smiling. "Donald passed the word, yes, but I was thinking that we might see if we couldn't figure out the rest without seeking out other sources? We've hit all the decent ones I can think of but one, which leaves the more dubious ones. I'm not sure I want to share even a portion of what we know with them if we have an alternative."
"We've made it far, without any doubt we're on the last stretch," Xandra agrees, "I do not think Madani made this as an attack on us, unless his intelligence is far superior to ours and his timing accursed. But we can't rule it out, either."
Moore nods to Xandra's words before he turns back to Seira. "I think we defeated them, but I will still go that route and let you know of what happens. I agree that I don't think we were expected to be there... and if so, then they made a terribly blunder, sending something like that at us." Moore says with a smile.
He nods afterwards. "That's fine. If nothing else, we have avenues to explore if we exhaust all possibilities here."
"In that case, let's take another look together...."
To Moore alone, Seira says, Sylvie is not with Cantasa Alexandria
Let's go for a knowledge roll to see if we can figure out what the missing pieces of the puzzle might say through the rest?
Sure. Okay, give me K:P, K:A, Spellcraft and an Intelligence check. One person takes the lead and the others can support as possible. Go ahead and work all that out and decide who rolls, then roll.
It makes more sense for Seira to do it and Moore can assist her.
Seira can get +8 untyped, +8 morale, and then a +8 bonus (competence) bonus to intelligence.
So that'd be +20 on the knowledge checks and Spellcraft and then the +4 bonus to Intelligence itself. Moore doesn't have inspire intelligence, unfortunately.
For his own sake, he'd take 10 for 110 on the Knowledges and 105 on Spellcraft to aid.
Okay! I'll boost my int by +4 via the Surru spell (+2 to the skill rolls), use Greater Heroism for +4 morale on the skills, use Improvisation for +17 luck on skills (+14 to the roll due to preexistince bonus), use Guidance of the Avatar for +20 competence (+5 to the roll due to preexistince bonus) and have +20 to the skills from the marshal's Int skills-boosting aura.
EDIT: From Moore's bonuses, that's +8 untyped to skills, +8 competence to Int (+4 to the skill rolls naturally, +4 to the skill rolls from marshal aura). Aside from Moore, Xandra can also assist me (+4 to skills from 2 people assisting me)
K:A and K:P for me are 90 base, Spellcraft is 76 base.
K:A becomes 90+2+4+14+5+20+8+4+4+4 = 1d20+155
K:P becomes 90+2+4+14+5+20+8+4+4+4 = 1d20+155
Spellcraft becomes 76+2+4+14+5+20+8+4+4+4 = 1d20+141
[19:17] <Seira> roll 1d20
[19:17] <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 4 > [d20=4]
[19:17] <Seira> roll 1d20
[19:17] <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=19]
[19:17] <Seira> roll 1d20
[19:17] <Penuche> Seira invokes Penuche's magic: < 16 > [d20=16]
EDIT: My bad, Moore's +8 morale to skills adds +4 more to me (Greater Heroism was only +4 morale to skills)
K:A becomes 4+159=163
K:P becomes 19+159=178
Spellcraft becomes 16+145=161
How long can Improvisation's bonuses last?
I can recast them as I go along due to infinite swift magic~
Time and efforts, long labor stretched out.
At last you put more and more of it together. You're close, so very close. It all revolves around one fact, one...core, as it is. One last piece. It's a portal to a place outside of Creation but not quite Beyond, something...you need that last piece, one last shred of information that makes the entire thing work. That one last bit of information, that one last key.
776/777.
Seira sighs in satisfaction, stretching slowly to get some real blood flow through her limbs again. Or is that a ritual that carried over from her mortal life? Then again, dragons are not outsiders, and deities are... basically what they want to be. Works for her.
"Guess we still need to bring someone in on this," she muses, staring at the missing piece. "Maybe Calley could crack it, with all the work done here?"
"I don't think there's any harm in asking him." Moore says. "Even if he can't, he might give us some sort of pointer unknowingly about where to find it."
"I can think of far worse ideas," Xandra agrees, "He may yet have insight, or simply know something useful."
Kaja stands himself and stretches before, "We're so close now."
"Let's do that," Seira agrees, sending her avatar to the Prime to ask permission from Calley's guardians and then to invite Calley over.
"In the meantime...." She ensures that the library is not accessing by any means, and actively prevents snooping both mundane and divine. "I wished to bring up another matter with you, Moore. I understand that Io's gift remains waiting?"
"Yes, that is correct." He affirms.
"And from what I understand from Emily, you're done with Io's book as well?" Seira inquires. "You've passed it on?"
"I had passed it on, but it was returned since they're done with it." He says as he digs it out of his bag. "So if you wish to use it for any reason, I can return it to you."
Seira shakes her head. "I merely wishes to confirm I had the proper facts, first. My memory is sufficient. However, my point is that this power should be used. To put more bluntly, every moment that power sits in waiting is another moment that Creation could have been tilted a bit closer to our side but hasn't been."
"The lessons in the book are worthy, but also not easy," Xandra says, "As expected for such a wondrous thing."
"I do intend to use it." Moore says with a nod. "I had intended to proceed with the ritual of One when I was ready, which... well, it seems like Sylvie and 21 are assets that can be used to assist in it, or at least Sylvie might be someone who can help me better fundamental my current paths to succeed at it. After that, I had intended to use Io's gift on myself to help bolster all of us."
"You've earned your right to do what you wish with it," Seira agrees. "If you would listen to my advice, however? It is best to spread such things around. The divine grow in power, and while a swifter growth would allow you to project your power more in the immediate range, the backing of another deity as you both grow past the initial step would provide you with far more. And not just to you or to Celestia, but to Creation as a whole. And given how such matters function, the sooner you start, the better. Had the Seed been used by someone right away, there is a chance the successful end to the Abolition War would have increased their power as it is. Rather than look back, however, I'm looking forward, and there will be many more such opportunities."
Moore nods. "I understand where you're coming from and appreciate your perception on the matter. I've learned quite a bit about what you're talking about in recent weeks as well, so your advice does not fall on deaf ears."
As you walk, Seira senses that Calley has arrived.
After Seira's avatar guides him to the library and stands guard outside, Seira waves Calley over. "Hi there!" she greets him. "Do you know what I want to show you?"
Moore gives Calley a wave of his own.
Calley enters, "No," Calley admits, "But it's important if you called me, isn't it?"
"We think so," Seira agrees, before gesturing at the research notes. "Do you recognize these? It's something you made after being granted your powers. Moore and I took a closer look and made things a bit more readable, and now we would like to ask you what you think."
Calley nods and looks at them, "You made a lot of progress," he says, slowly. "It's like..."
A blink, a pause.
"You're missing the center."
"Yep. We filled in a great deal of esoteric details and proofs that support the theorem, but the center is the concept behind it all. It is as if we have forged the perfect bow, but don't know where to aim it. You, however, should have an idea of some sort. A feeling, perhaps? After all, the center is key to the whole thing. You had to have known it to, as it's the base for the rest of your notes."
"When in doubt, you trust your gut instinct." Moore says with a nod.
> roll 1d20+15 intelligenc echeck
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 31 > [d20=16]
Calley studies it awhile and then begins to write, "There," he says, "There."
"Thank you!" Seira tells Calley cheerfully, before she studies the final outcome. "Let's see...."
It looks as if the center is...something between Creation and Beyond. Like a membrane, like a thin film, a place between. A buffer? Something like that. A tiny, thin coating, yet vast in its own right.
"Interesting," Seira muses. "I don't remember it during a trip to Beyond, the way I notice traveling through the Astral. Perhaps a hole was already opened? Do you see it, Moore?"
Moore will look for himself to make sure he interprets it the same way!
It looks the same to Moore.
"Oh, I get it, it's like... yes, I think the Astral is a good comparison." He says with a nod. "Yes, I see it. Do we need to be anywhere specific to open the way there?"
"I think I can just take us there," Seira muses, studying the notes to be certain. It's best not to rely on luck, after all. "Who will you bring with you? Force of personality is a good idea when considering the team, given how it works in the Beyond."
"Any who seek to become One would be a wise choice," Xandra speaks up here, "For some of the same principles may apply, if any of the Beyond influences this place."
"I think myself and Xandra will be suitable." Moore says.
"I'll invite Amaryl. And maybe Kascha or Ranbar would be interested," Seira muses. "Let's prepare and depart come morning?"
Okay, in that case give me a party and any prep?
Do Kascha and/or Ranbar want to come?
As for prep, my standard travel spells will be offered to anyone coming.
All spells here are to be precast before leaving home [CL 35]. They are shared with all party members unless explicitly refused or are marked with *.
Overall: Glorious Rally, Celestial Valor, Ghost Touch (Armor, Shield and Weapons), Recitation (per round spell)
Defensive: Shield of Warding, Foresight, Visions of the Future, Dragonskin, Foresight, Superior Vigor (per round spell)
Perception Modes and Protections: True Seeing, Vision of the Omniscient Eye, Detect Scrying, Greater Arcane Sight
Movement Modes and Protections: Freedom of Movement, Pass Without Trace, Greater Anticipate Teleport
Skill Checks: Surge of Hope, Voice of the Dragon
Ability Checks: Surge of Hope
Immunities and Resistances: Nondetection, Mass Death Ward, Heroes's Feast, Energy Res 30 (all)
Esoteric Boosters: Fortunate Fate, Spell Turning
Moore would offer to take anyone coming by Hope's Landing's blessing stone for the following: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27).
He doesn't have anything to add for the group that Seira isn't already covering, and he can do his music stuff as needed if they get into combat.
He would go with his standard spells on himself, which are:
Biblotecha Arcana (CL33)
Superior Resistance (CL33)
Greater Improvisation (CL33)
Harmonize (CL33)
Righteous Halo (CL24)
They'll both come for a party of five.
Okay, do you all want any spells from the NPCs coming along?
Party of six, then. Seira, Amaryl, Moore, Xandra, Kascha and Ranbar. I don't need any particular spell from the NPCs precast.
I can't think of anything.
Okay, it's a bit late in the day to start a new thing, so we'll pick that up first thing tomorrow, you two.
So noted.
777!
Another post coming.
[spoiler]
Moore would offer to take anyone coming by Hope's Landing's blessing stone for the following: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27).
Xandra
HP: 567/567 (fast healing 8)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Menace 20ft (-2 attacks, AC, saves; DC 37)
Bonuses: Attack+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Damage+10 (+4 sacred, +6 morale) AC+14 (+2 dodge, +2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Saves+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Skills+4 (+14 perception, bluff, diplo, intimidate)(+4 morale), Checks+4 (+4 morale) 2d6 holy weapons
Resources: Smite Evil 9/9 Lay On Hands 16/16 Servant of the Heavens 1/1 Sudden Empower 1/1 Sudden Enlarge 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL35), Glorious Rally (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Ghost Touch Armor (CL35), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL35), Recitation (CL35), Foresight (CL35), Visions of the Future (CL35), Superior Vigor (CL35), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL35), Detect Scrying (CL35), Greater Arcane Sight (CL35), Freedom of Movement (CL35), Pass Without Trace (CL35), Greater Anticipate Teleport (CL35), Surge of Hope (CL35), Voice of the Dragon (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Mass Death Ward (CL35), Heroes Feast (CL35), Resistance to Energy (All Five) (CL35), Fortunate Fate (CL35), Spell Turning (CL35)
Notes: Has bardic music in the rare event Moore can't cover something.
Amaryl
HP: 590/590
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Damage+10 (+4 sacred, +6 morale) AC+14 (+2 dodge, +2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Saves+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Skills+4 (+14 perception, bluff, diplo, intimidate)(+4 morale), Checks+4 (+4 morale) 2d6 holy weapons
Resources: Emergency Skirmish 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Elemental Summon 3/3 Smiting 1/1 Dragonfire 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL35), Glorious Rally (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Ghost Touch Armor (CL35), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL35), Recitation (CL35), Foresight (CL35), Visions of the Future (CL35), Superior Vigor (CL35), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL35), Detect Scrying (CL35), Greater Arcane Sight (CL35), Freedom of Movement (CL35), Pass Without Trace (CL35), Greater Anticipate Teleport (CL35), Surge of Hope (CL35), Voice of the Dragon (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Mass Death Ward (CL35), Heroes Feast (CL35), Resistance to Energy (All Five) (CL35), Fortunate Fate (CL35), Spell Turning (CL35)
Notes: Always goes first with supreme init, +4 bonus to attacks after the first miss in a round.
Kascha
HP: 649/649
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil)
Bonuses: Attack+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Damage+10 (+4 sacred, +6 morale) AC+14 (+2 dodge, +2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Saves+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Skills+4 (+14 perception, bluff, diplo, intimidate)(+4 morale), Checks+4 (+4 morale) 2d6 holy weapons
Resources: Chaos Devotion 1/1 Pearl of Power Vest 3/3 Entangling Blast 3/3 Brass Ioun Stone Temp HP 3/3 White Sphere Ioun Stone Mass Heal 1/1
Spells Used: 6: Superior Resistance 8: Mind Blank
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL35), Glorious Rally (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Ghost Touch Armor (CL35), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL35), Recitation (CL35), Foresight (CL35), Visions of the Future (CL35), Superior Vigor (CL35), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL35), Detect Scrying (CL35), Greater Arcane Sight (CL35), Freedom of Movement (CL35), Pass Without Trace (CL35), Greater Anticipate Teleport (CL35), Surge of Hope (CL35), Voice of the Dragon (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Mass Death Ward (CL35), Heroes Feast (CL35), Resistance to Energy (All Five) (CL35), Fortunate Fate (CL35), Spell Turning (CL35)
Notes:
Ranbar
HP: 704/704
Negative Conditions:
Aura:
Bonuses: Attack+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Damage+10 (+4 sacred, +6 morale) AC+14 (+2 dodge, +2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Saves+12 (+2 luck, +4 sacred, +6 morale), Skills+4 (+14 perception, bluff, diplo, intimidate)(+4 morale), Checks+4 (+4 morale) 2d6 holy weapons
Resources: Channel Energy 14/14 Inspiration 25/25 Cunning Save 4/4
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL35), Glorious Rally (CL35), Celestial Valor (CL35), Ghost Touch Armor (CL35), Ghost Touch Weapon (CL35), Recitation (CL35), Foresight (CL35), Visions of the Future (CL35), Superior Vigor (CL35), Vision of the Omniscient Eye (CL35), Detect Scrying (CL35), Greater Arcane Sight (CL35), Freedom of Movement (CL35), Pass Without Trace (CL35), Greater Anticipate Teleport (CL35), Surge of Hope (CL35), Voice of the Dragon (CL35), Nondetection (CL35), Mass Death Ward (CL35), Heroes Feast (CL35), Resistance to Energy (All Five) (CL35), Fortunate Fate (CL35), Spell Turning (CL35)
Notes: Baseline cunning insight is +4 from feats, exalted adds +6, ring adds +1, total of +11 if used in tandem with that.