Hope's Landing is vibrant and alive before Moore.
Growth. Growth spirals out from the original fortress. Growth that you can see that extends for miles, your divinely enhanced vision stretching out so that you can see so much more. Hear so much more. You can hear the sounds of growth and of expansion - a harmony together, somehow in perfect tune as they assemble. You are able to see all work in a smooth pattern, linked together and unknown to them, yet your greater vision lets you glimpse it. A house is built just in time for painters to reach it, as a lot is cleared and stone is found elsewhere, the same stone needed for another wall, and that you can see it taken over there.
Hope.
Hope burns across Creation like a trillion bonfires set against the oncoming night. You sense these great gatherings of hope, of where beings cling to what they have, refuse to accept the shadows that surge forth everywhere. You see it as easily as you see the growth of Hope's Landing, as easily as each and every battle struggles to maintain themselves in a world of fading hope. Inspiration sparks amid it, moments to hold off the evils that threaten all of Creation.
You stand amid it, part of each and every one as your few faithful are like a constant whisper into your mind. Lune's soft whispers are heard in your mind, a prayer for strength as she goes forth to face bandits. You see hope stand tall and survive, and in other times you see hope only lead to the mists that pass souls from mortality to eternity, a dance that repeats itself forever and ever in your mind.
Does it suit you, Moore?
Few are truly well suited to divinity. For that any soul has the potential to become One in the Beyond, it requires a deep strength to endure and forge Creation afterwards.
To stand there with every triumph is something every soul can do. To kneel there and comfort the fallen, to take those souls to eternity and forgive them their failures demands much more. I have seen the measure of the divine, it is measured in defeat as much as victory.
At the same time your realm prospers, grows. Each beat of your heart sees more growth. You see Jetina's handiwork. Farther ahead a hospital forms, a place of sunshine and light. There is no scent of the ill or gloom of the grave here. Jetina's touch and the touch of those that study with her banish infirmity, end disease and conquer pain. Above it Cresiel hovers, as if to ward away any who would wish such a place harm.
A little away from this, in a secluded courtyard, you see Kaja, Sylvie and Calley. The latter challenges Kaja, two wooden practice swords swung at the half dragon. As you watch, a first few clumsy swings improve themselves. Grace forms with each swing as Calley intently focuses, his movements growing more like Kaja's every moment. Sylvie stands nearby and watches, as Kaja shoots her an unamused look. To this Sylvie smiles faintly and you hear her say, "I'm proud of him. I could hardly pick it up as fast."
Away from it all, as you feel ripples of hope, as an army of holy warriors faces down a legion of yugoloths, a moment in your mind's eye where the fate of an entire continent hangs in the balance? One of Xandra's faithful quietly merges in and joins them in battle, the call of a trumpet as they take to a glorious, dreadful crusade.
Yet each of you grow with it, rather than be crushed. I once chastised Eblis that mortals have already exceeded him. Mortals create their own things, see things we did not anticipate when we forged Creation into being.
It's a bit overwhelming at first, even for someone who's seen so much already in the short time he's been exposed to all of this.
If there's anything that I've learned... it's that one must always be looking for tomorrow. I think that's a lesson that mortality teaches, that today is only one of many, and that tomorrow is shaped by your own actions.
There's so much to do... and I need to get started. That first step is always the hardest.
With that in mind... where does he begin? He has so much to do.
Assuming you have things going on here, but if you need me to do anything specific, I'll see if we've heard back on the Syllen pieces or not.
That's fine, there's going to be a bit of text before that.
Then look that way.
Lune strides forth, not far from Luremdale. With her are several men at arms, as they hurry towards the last known location of the bandits they seek. You see it in your mind's eye, crystal clear to you.
A battle Lune may well perish in. It will not be an easy one, the bandits are well trained and motivated by lusts for coin, treasure, foods and other desires of the flesh. More important than any other thing, what will you do shall that come to pass and the spark of life within Lune's breast falls dark?
You reward those who were just in life and give them an opportunity to decide for themselves what they wish to do. He says, without a second thought.
Those who fight for the betterment of Creation deserve to be cherished, as I will cherish all who choose to live and die under my cause. I will not forget them, even if their own lands may do so one day.
Then let us see which aspect of your divinity is needed. Watch with me, Moore.
Let us hope together that Lune is triumphant.
Moore will dutifully fulfill this request!
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 3 > [d100=3]
Lucky.
Yet such a grim duty is not needed today. Before your eyes Lune leads them and ambushes the bandit camp. The attack is nigh perfect, a surprise that catches every last bandit off guard and a charge that shatters the camp's main resistance before it can begin. On this day at least hope triumphs, as the wicked are put to the blade and the captives there are freed. Treasure is recovered and foodstocks are saved. It will not be a starving winter now, at least not for them.
"Hope!" Lune calls to them all as they are freed, "Today, you are not forgotten!"
Hm, this is where he should do something, isn't it?
Maybe something simple...
It should be within his portfolio to give Lune a Good Hope spell for the next 24 hours, I'd think?
Things will not always be as fortunate, but one must learn from both successes and failures.
Quick clarifying question, who was that divine message aimed at?
Zaphkiel, sorry.
Just so.
Eblis would not and could not do this. Had he been able to open his heart, to accept them, he would never have fallen. A lack of power compared to us does not mean a lack of meaning.
I am certain many individuals will debate the merits of Pride long after Creation is saved. The most important thing I think I can do is to continue to strive for the betterment of those around me, but especially to never be so clouded by my own ideals that I forget the rest of the world around me.
Then go. The wider world awaits you and there's still so much to be done.
We will talk again soon.
Moore nods and with that, will go and...
Well, for now, he still has all those letters from Sapphire to go through, but also he ought to pursue his leads with BLUE and the other creatures. Along with the rest of the lingering pieces from before... but what to tackle first?
I assume there are more interrupts happening, but I wanted to get the ball going.
This is a question that answers itself.
You aren't far before a voice is heard in your mind.
Hello there, Moore! I've gotten reports back from Hope's Landing.
Only positive ones, I hope? If there is anything you wish to discuss in person, I'll be happy to do so.
No. No, no, no, nothing like that. Dearie, I'm just checking in with you. Profits are quite fine so far, above projections. That representative of the Silverbrow Consortium does good work for you, don't let her go.
Yes, I am quite blessed to have her aid here. I hope I will see you at the Benediction of the Eggs when the time comes. I need to find an appropriate gift to bring for that, in fact... I'm certain I could find something suitable in Brightwater!
You can find anything in Brightwater! Just bring enough gold.
I will do just that when the time comes. He promises.
Splendid. I'll have an aid produce a list of recommended purchases. It will be a pleasure to do business with you.
That does save him some effort in looking, so he will have to decide to return the favor and buy something nicer than he might otherwise do so.
Thank you. Please keep me abreast of anything further you wish to discuss.
Once done you fly on - only for Cresiel to be behind you one moment, in between the blinks of an eye. He says not a word, but is merely at the ready.
After a moment, "It could be said you are more of a target than ever," he confesses. "Those who have come to me protect without a second thought."
"Considering that one assassin managed to get to Romiel some time ago without alerting anyone, I'm inclined to agree with you." Moore says. "But I don't think it could be anyone from Baator, since I think this place is especially protected against their interference."
"In truth you are safe here," Cresiel confesses, "But that is no reason to allow my vigilance to wane, lest we begin to allow you to go out alone and unprotected."
"I will not fault you for your desire to protect someone." Moore says with a smile. "Come, then, if you wish to, there are a few things I need to check on."
Thus you move on. As you do?
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d100=81]
"His name is Shauson," Cresiel begins without preamble. "He survived, barely." A pause, before he shakes his head. "He held the line long enough. I..." A hesitation, "Lord Zaphkiel told me it would not be easy."
"Watching those who are in your care will never be." Moore says. "We have to believe that they will triumph, and, should the worst come to pass, we welcome them with open arms and let them proceed to what lies beyond for themselves."
"It is...personal." Cresiel says at last. "It is very personal."
"Yes." Moore affirms. "But never shoulder the burden by yourself. We are all together, all here and united."
A solemn nod to that, "Each one feels important," Cresiel says at last, "It destroys any ability to be impartial, to take the longer view that death is merely a gateway. They matter."
Of course they do. Otherwise Eblis would've been justified in his temper tantrum. Congratulations on fatherhood, Cresiel, I hope you don't mind hundreds to trillions of children.
A sound that isn't really anything but a grunt of displeasure comes from Cresiel in response to that. "They always mattered," he says at last.
But until now, it wasn't personal. Divinity in Creation is ultimately a trap. Deities give and give and give themselves, and in the end, what does that leave? Are we anything more than what are represent now, sanded down by countless prayers and Competitions? Do your hobbies and interests even matter now, because every waking moment is dedicated to the welfare of those who serve you?
Cresiel exhales, "I will endure," he says at last.
Zaphkiel help you.
I will.
Sylvie's startled laugh is heard, rich and beautiful. Cresiel smiles a moment and bows his head, and murmurs, "Thank you."
"Everything we do matters." Moore says with a smile. "If it didn't, places like Brightwater wouldn't even really exist, they'd just be a functional place without and real joy in it."
"Mother would be besides herself," Cresiel concurs quietly, and then, "Now then, what task must we accomplish?"
"I need to find out if we've heard back on something." Moore says. "Remember those pieces of gear I've been looking for? Someone in Dis has two of them, and I asked our diplomats to see if we could come to some agreement on them. I want to get all of them back, then go challenge Shar's stupid castle of eternal nightmares or whatever it is she calls it to get his soul back. I think if we have all the pieces it might make getting him back easier." He explains.
"Other than that, I did some investigation into CRIMSON, and there are a few other... creatures out there like it, and I want to see what we can do about consolidating them there." He adds. "And there's also the matter of the seed we still have unresolved, but right now I want to focus on these, as I think we'll find a way to handle that as we go."
"Tell me more about those other creatures," Cresiel asks as you fly along. "How many others are there?"
"Two, that I uncovered. BLUE and ORCHID. Someone named 'The Empty Knight' created CRIMSON, and I assume created the other two. CRIMSON was created with the eventual goal of consuming something called 'The Anathem.'" Moore explains. "BLUE is apparently within ORCHID, or... something. Last I checked, ORCHID was near the Broken City in the Astral Plane, but there's no guarantee that it's still there now. I could try and contact it and find out where it is, though."
A terse nod, "Then us begin, while we have time yet. Creation's flow will not wait on us long, will it?" Cresiel says.
"Yes. Actually..." Moore trails off. "Come with me."
Moore will move to where CRIMSON currently is! Perhaps it can help find the other two.
This is easy enough.
What's your plan here?
Ask CRIMSON if it's familiar with BLUE or ORCHID, and perhaps if it could help them find the other two somehow, or sense them if they were to go looking.
Also if it's familiar with them, then we can just reach out directly through magic!
CRIMSON is found and merely awaits your question, poised.
As you do? You feel a ripple amid the surges of events and prayers you hear. An unknown man's voice who prays, "If you're real, Moore. If you're anything, help me. Show me what I'm missing."
"CRIMSON." Moore greets. "I've learned of BLUE and ORCHID, do you know either of those names?" He asks.
Meanwhile, he manages to handle this other situation. Goodness, he'd never have been able to focus like this before.
It sounds like this person is trying to make something...? Hm, maybe he can see through his eyes for a moment?
He'd like to see what this unknown person is trying to do. I'm guessing that's possible since he's being prayed to.
As CRIMSON regards you? You can sense a tall man, quiet. Poor. Dreadfully hungry. His name is Sadas and he's trying to get work, trying to stave off starvation. Unfortunately few have work here. A ripple, an image of dead hopes, of a lost war and massive poverty and conquest after.
Moore will wait for CRIMSON's response as he regards this man.
Poor and hungry usually go together. What of this place - are there rivers nearby with fish? A forest with animals? Is anything left for this man to pursue?
Even in doing so, Moore considers how much intervention he can afford into a place like this. Perhaps he could send someone with food...?
A broken kingdom. A castle and town, both in ruin. A name comes to your mind - Homegrad. Soldiers who serve under the banner of a red fox strut about as if they own the city, they take what they want. Hope chokes under the cruelty of of human and gnoll. The fields are ashes, the rivers choked with the blood and debris of war.
He can't just appear there and put everything right, as much as he wants to.
Well, he can, but that would be in bad form.
He has the power to just will all of the fields to grow again, but what would that serve? The army would likely just steal again.
He's looking far too much into the future for a solution to this, he realizes after a moment of going over and over all the possible things to do to help.
Right now, there is one person asking for help, and he'll have it.
He asked him what he was missing... right now, that seems easy enough.
I'm looking through the divine writeup and I swear there's something about deities casting spells through their divine connection, but I can't find it. What I want to do here is emulate a sculpt sound spell to get his attention somewhere, then a create food and water spell so that when he looks back, whammo, there's a basket of food or something. If that isn't possible let me know and I will re-line this.
A note will lay there on top of it with a simple verse: "Hope can come from hopelessness, but time and distance are both lengths to which hope rises."
It's clear that staying where is now isn't going to help him. If he could, he'd send some forces there to resolve this, but that would just create so many more problems for these citizens... for right now, he wants to get Sadas out of this place and somewhere else where he can at least start over. Once he's built him up enough, the time can come for him to put Homegrad right, but that time is not now.
That's fine, go ahead and describe how you're doing it and I'll adjudicate.
Functionally, an alter reality for a sculpt sound for a knock on the door frame behind him (assuming he's in a house, if he's outside let me know) and then another for the create food and water, but maybe make it last a few extra days vs the 24 hours you normally good.
Thus it is done. The man looks back at the food with wide eyes, and with shaking hands, reads the note.
"I...I..." the man slowly puts down the note with wonder, and tears into the food. He devours a good part of it as fast as he can, the sheer hunger of need triumphant. Once he is sated from his starvation he looks at the note again. "You...you're...someone cares..."
Take 10 for K:P for 119, is there anything I know about this plane that I might be able to nudge him in a direction to find a city / town to 'set up' in? A quest, if you will!
I forget, do you have bardic knowledge, lore or anything like that? If so give me a check.
I have Bardic Knack and Jack of All Trades, which lets me get a check of literally anything, for whatever that is worth. In case it's an offbrand K:L then the check would be 98.
I'll give you a Bardic Knack roll anyway though!
[21:49] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+19+16+15 kobot
[21:49] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+19+16+15 kobot --> [ 1d20=1 ]{51}
The entire nation is conquered and the people in a terrible situation. Travel is forbidden, so it's less than and more of escape. As long as Ballydan lies prone, the people here are subject to the whims of hateful masters.
Does my check tell me what Ballydan is?
The name of the vanquished nation.
Ohhh, got it.
So there's not much to be done about it right now, that's fine.
Moore will send him a gentle nudge - he will have to leave and return one day, with friends and saviors.
He will send him a notion of hopefulness and protection - he won't say it outright, but Moore will ensure he gets a chance to escape and return one day.
"CRIMSON hungry," CRIMSON says at last, as you see another soul given the proper nudge forward.
"Do you know what the Anathem is?" Moore asks.
CRIMSON regards you before it says, "Anathem. Food."
"Hm. Does CRIMSON know BLUE or ORCHID?" He asks.
"BLUE, ORCHID, INDIGO, PRISM." Is what CRIMSON says at last.
As you watch, CRIMSON begins to glow with a deep red color, which fits his name.
Take 10 for spellcraft for 88 and K:A for 119 to see if something is happening!!!
So there are more of them, interesting.
CRIMSON does not react further - he seems to be radiating light as well as something internal. Unlocked knowledge?
Like something appeared inside it?
"I'm going to try and contact them and bring them here." Moore says, to see if that gets CRIMSON to react at all.
No, as it seemed to unlock knowledge.
CRIMSON just awaits.
Well, since BLUE is inside ORCHID...
ORCHID. I wish to speak to you.
He may as well try being direct and see what happens...
Nothing happens to your communication.
Hmm, can it not reply?
Let's try this, then.
Alter reality for Divination (the spell) but up a level so he can ask a more direct question.
'Where is ORCHID?'
Did you ask this before when you inquired about ORCHID?
I did with Commune with Knowledge, but wasn't sure how much time passed.
"Seek the sundered realm."
Right, he forgets every now and again how incredibly vague this spell is.
He'll try again, he can do this forever, after all!
'Where is the sundered realm?'
"The realm of timeless silver."
That sounds like a name for the Astral, yes?
"It looks like we're going to the Astral." Moore says. "Up for a trip?" He asks Cresiel.
"Always," Cresiel says immediately.
"I think we'll be fine with just us, but if other people are needed we can always bring them." Moore says.
With that, it's a Greater Plane Shift to the Broken City in the Astral!
Oh, that's probably 'the sundered realm,' isn't it...
First of all, any prep? Obligatory question on going out.
It's a good question, they'll hit up the Blessing Stone first, but other than that, no.
Thus you appear in the timeless sea. As you take in the silence of the transitive plane, you hear a familiar voice. Genlar's voice, a quiet prayer for inspiration. "Guide my inspiration and order my steps, for if I fail, this regimen will break for certain and our lines are doomed to collapse."
Moore looks around for magic!
Spellcraft for 89, he's looking for any traces of ORCHID.
In the meantime, it's easy enough to give a gentle nudge. A feeling of hopefulness, of pride and a feeling that he's being watched over and given the inspiration he needs. Moore has faith in you, just as you have faith in him!
If possible, Moore would give him the benefit of a Good Hope spell if he doesn't already have one. He's probably being too active in these sorts of things, but that's okay, he can make that mistake.
What spell are you using?
If he can make it simple, a Good Hope spell.
I meant for spellcrafting.
I thought that's what you meant! Arcane Sight.
There's magic around, but minor magics and nothing that suggests a being like ORCHID.
> roll 1d100 low is good Kobot
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 low is good Kobot --> [ 1d100=91 ]{91}
Meanwhile you inspire Genlar. He surges forth - but his efforts are cut short. A stray arrow buries itself into his chest and he stumbles back. Other arrows slam into the line and prove far too effective. Wounded and wounded badly, Genlar has no choice but to fall back to the healers, blood staining his lips as he does. You can see the battle turn against his forces, the line buckle and break.
Moore will gesture to get a sense of his surroundings!
We know that ORCHID was at least close (relatively) speaking to the Broken City. Let's do a Lay of the Land (via alter reality) so I don't have to cast it for three turns to see if there are any other places of any interest around besides this one. Obviously, YMMV on 'places of interest' in The Astral, but it's as good a starting point as any.
He's faced his own setbacks in life, some of which cost him dearly. He gives Genlar his support - a battle lost is not a war lost. He shouldn't give up because someone outwitted him. He mustn't give up trying in the face of setbacks.
Another feeling of comfort, in understanding. A hope to learn from the experience and not let it ruin him.
Genlar manages to notice amid the pain he's in, and he whispers, "Hope be with me."
Meanwhile, you don't get any sense of locations beyond the Broken City, but distances in the Astral are admittedly unusual in the best of times.
"I don't get a sense of any magic similar to CRIMSON around here." Moore says. "Let's look around the edges of this area and see if we notice anything at all."
He'll basically go in a big circle and keep an eye out for changes in magic in the area, and also keep an eye out for the mile out he has to see if anything pops out at him. If after, let's say an hour he doesn't notice anything, they'll try something else.
Sure thing. Give me a Spot check and a d100, would you?
Take 10 for 93.
13:29] <Nephrite> roll 1d100 kobot
[13:29] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 kobot --> [ 1d100=54 ]{54}
You see no signs of ORCHID here, nor of much of anything. It's simply quiet, as much of the Astral often is.
"Hm." Moore taps his chin. "Let me try something."
He will send a communication to BLUE! Maybe it can still communicate, and ORCHID can't?
Hello, BLUE. Can you hear me?
You get an answer, a blend of letters and numbers.
x2 + 4x + y4 - 8y = 5.
Oh, isn't this going to be fun.
Unless I am missing something obvious, there are no values that apply to make that work. Does that jump out as anything notable for Moore, besides the 'bad math'?
He's willing to put a little mental energy into this!
Have any skill ranks in anything relevant to math, first of all?
He can do anything! Let's call it Knowledge: Mathematics? If that's the case, then Take 10 for 98.
It could be many things, but something about it tells you you're looking for the radius of a circle. It would be 5, incidentally.
Can he see any circles like that anywhere within a mile, or, from his Lay of the Land? Maybe a portal?
"It's not great when someone responds with a math problem." Moore says.
Cresiel murmurs at that, "Math problems?"
You don't see any circles or anything like that.
"I reached out to BLUE and got a math problem in response." Moore says. "I don't see anything like what it mentioned anywhere around here, either..."
Hm, he never did think about this...
Take 10 on K:P for 119 - Does the name 'The Empty Knight' actually resonate at all? It's a pretty distinct name, all in all.
No. It's possibly an unknown entity, a cover name or simply someone who isn't well known or is shielded from divinations.
Well, CRIMSON did mention one more name... but it almost sounds like that one would be a combination of all of them.
PRISM, I would speak to you.
'Explain.'
A cold, emotionless voice is the answer.
I rescued CRIMSON. I wish to bring you together, along with BLUE, INDIGO and ORCHID. I would like to learn more about The Anathem.
'Explain.'
A cold, emotionless voice is the answer.
Well, CRIMSON wasn't exactly talkative either at first...
Maybe he should simplify this...
Learn. Where, PRISM?
'Explain.'
A cold, emotionless voice is the answer.
Moore reaches up and rubs his forehead.
How?
'Explain.'
A cold, emotionless voice is the answer.
Well, this is really not working.
"Well, I got a response, but... it wasn't exactly what I wanted." Moore says. "I think I'm going to have to do more diving into magical answers if I want to resolve this."
"It seems to be a collection of strange and confounding things," Cresiel opines, even as he keeps his eyes open an shield ready. "Towards some purpose we don't fully grasp."
"You're not wrong." Moore says. "Let's go back for now, and I'll delve more into this and see if I can find out how to find them."
Will just go back and do another Commune with Knowledge and see if he can get more out of this!
Sure, go ahead and set that up, we'll knock that out real quick.
Okay. Spell hasn't changed, I still get 18 questions.
'Where is PRISM located?'
Within INDIGO.
'Where can INDIGO be found?'
Rakatosin.
'Where in Rakatosin?'
Since he can't do a K:P check right now, may as well see what kind of specifics we can find out!
Cor makes a good point that I should, in theory, be able to do a K:P check with my avatar while I'm concentrating on this spell. If that is indeed allowed, then K:P on Rakatosin.
3/18
It doesn't ring a bell for you - likely something unknown as well.
It is at the RAINBOW.
'What is the easiest way to get to Rakatosin?'
The Gate of Tears.
'What is the easiest way to get to the Gate of Tears?'
5/18
May as well do a K:P for 119 on that too, you never know!
Doesn't ring a bell - this is likely something very secret and very deep.
Through the Drooling Path.
Let's change it up, he thinks.
'What plane is the Drooling Path on?'
Acheron.
Well, that's something.
This probably won't work, but...
'Is the area around the Gate of Tears warded against teleportation?'
7/18
Yes.
Figures.
'What is the closest location to the Gate of Tears that can be teleported to?'
The Dead Maw.
'What direction is The Gate of Tears from The Dead Maw?'
9/18
Ahead and within.
Well that isn't a direction, but...
'Is ORCHID still on The Astral?'
Yes.
Hmm, is it possible it can't move?
'What direction from The Broken City would I need to travel to find ORCHID?'
Realizing that in three dimensions this may be a weird question. If I need to rephrase it due to that that's fine.
Ahead and slightly downwards.
'How can I communicate with BLUE?'
12/18
Answer the question posed.
Was that really a question he was posed?
'How can I communicate with PRISM?'
You cannot, it is broken and stuck. You must fix it.
Aha, that does 'explain' it...
'Is anything specific required to fix PRISM?'
The Empty Knight.
Oh boy.
This probably won't work either, but it's worth trying!
'Where is The Empty Knight?'
15/18
Unknown.
Hm, does that mean it's still alive?
'Who could tell me the most about The Empty Knight?'
Makaril.
That sounds familiar for some reason...
Hm, it's probably a demiplane, but it's worth asking...
'Where is Rakatosin located?'
17/18
Acheron.
Hm, so the Gate just takes you somewhere else?
'Who could tell me the most about The Anathem other than The Empty Knight?'
Last question.
Meanwhile as he wraps that up, his avatar will send a message to Makaril!
Hello, Makaril, this is Moore, of Celestia. Do you have a free moment to speak?
ORCHID.
You basically asked that question last time, so same answer.
Makaril's reply isn't surprised in the least and responds, 'I do. What is it, Moore?'
I'm glad you have better memory than I do.
I've been informed you would be the best person to tell me about The Empty Knight. I'd be happy to host you here in Hope's Landing if you'd like, or I can come to you, if you'd prefer.
He turns to Cresiel. "Well, that was actually rather enlightening. We're going to be going to Acheron soon, which... well, that'll be an interesting time." He says.
'I will come to you,' Is Makaril's only answer.
"Acheron again," Cresiel says, "Unpleasant but it is unavoidable."
"Yes. Apparently Makaril knows something about the person who created CRIMSON and the others." Moore says. "He'll be here shortly, if you'd like to come."
He will have Grias prepare some snacks and drinks and go to wait for Makaril at the entrance, because he's a nice host!
As Cresiel gives his agreement, you proceed on.
Hm? You sense Lune. She kneels in the privacy of her room, her holy symbol on the ground besides a small pile of coins and a single jewel - a bit of quartz. "Duke Moore, if it pleases you, accept this offering for the victor you brought today."
Lune receives a feeling of thankfulness as well as a verse that bubbles to the front of her mind. 'If you have hope to spare, then share it with those around you, after you support yourself.'
Moore will wait in the meantime, as his avatar returns to reading the book that Erathaol left him.
The treasure is taken then with a quiet, solemn vow. "I will do as you say," Lune murmurs just as quietly.
A feeling of warmth will be sent Lune's way as Moore continues to wait!
Amid the bustle and hustle of Hope's Landing Makaril approaches. He walks forward solidly, a mere glance around as he advances towards you.
Go ahead.
Moore raises a hand in greeting.
"Makaril, I don't think we ever really had much of a chance to speak one-on-one when I was with Aurora." He greets him, offering a hand out. "It's a pleasure to see you again and in good health."
He nods to Cresiel after that. "I have a sinking suspicion you're already acquainted." He adds with a bit of a grin.
Makaril nods slightly.
Cresiel nods back.
Several moments of silence follow.
Your handshake is taken.
Baleruk always did like to have those mental conversations in front of people too...
Moore turns and will take the both of them to a comfortable sitting room inside Hope's Landing's fortress!
Once there and they've had time to sit and Grias brings the snacks, Moore will clear his throat.
"So, let me... give you some back story." Moore says. "I was hunting for some pieces of gear and came across an living magical energy called CRIMSON in that search." He says. "In doing so, I delved a bit deeper and found out that it, and several other creatures like it, were created by The Empty Knight. This led to more delving, which led to you, which led to this." He says. "I'm pursuing leads to find two other creatures right now as well, so if you know anything about this, I am all ears."
Makaril sits back as you talk, "However did you come on this?" he asks at last. "What equipment were you searching for?"
"It was equipment left by a fey-blooded named Syllen." Moore explains. "I was doing divinations into who had his equipment and came across CRIMSON. We brought CRIMSON here and from there I did some more digging. I think I got my relentless curiosity from my time with Aurora, actually."
"Syllen has nothing to do with this, as far as I know," Makaril notes. "The Empty Knight used to be a Mystran. He studied the Weave a great deal but ultimately left for his own pursuits. I don't know what, I only know the name because Mystra herself warned me of him. That he may not be immediately hostile, but it would be best if I left him be."
Moore nods. "I see. Hm... I wonder if Lady Mystra would know more about it, then... the spell didn't point me towards her but to you, but there may have been a reason behind that."
He leans back. "Does the term 'The Anathem' mean anything to you at all?" He asks.
"It doesn't," Is the answer, "Only that it sounds like Anthem."
"Does that have any specific meaning to you, other than the normal word?" He asks.
"No," Is the answer, "I'm not certain what he's pursued. Can you describe CRIMSON to me?"
"I can just take you to it, if you'd like." Moore offers.
With that said, Moore will rise and take them both to CRIMSON!
As you rise up and walk, "What happened to you?" Makaril asks, quietly but plainly.
"That question has a lot of different answers." Moore says with a smile. "But I guess ultimately I just... grew. Aurora set me on the right path and I continue to follow what I learned there, and from Lifasa."
"You don't just grow into that," Makaril retorts, very quietly.
A snort of air and a small laugh. "You aren't wrong. I'll take you on a tour and explain what I can after this." He promises.
"Alright," Makaril agrees with that, "Then by your lead or your question."
Moore will take Makaril and Cresiel to where CRIMSON is!
You find CRIMSON is there, staring straight ahead and perfectly still as you enter.
Makaril studies it before, "It doesn't look familiar," he finally says, "Whatever it is, it isn't something I know by sight."
Moore nods. "Got it. Well, I'm going to reach out to Lady Mystra and see if she can shed any more light on this."
He turns to Makaril. "I'll be happy to show you around now, if you'd like." He offers.
Where are you going to show him?
Just around the whole complex. He will ensure their privacy via DIVINE POWER and tell him the basic gist of the story of his ascension (i.e. secrets in Celestia, following the path that started with Lifasa's liberation and so on) but not about the seeds.
Give me a Diplomacy check here.
Take 10 for 135.
Makaril follows with you - he doesn't question a word of it as you show him around, he merely takes it in and listens. When it at last ends he nods, "Then so be it," he says, as if that's all to say about it.
"If there's ever anything I can do to support you, please feel free to contact me." Moore says. "You and yours are always welcome here."
Makaril offers you his hand, "Thank you, Moore."
Moore gives him a firm handshake. "No, quite frankly, without you and yours, Lifasa would've never been able to be recovered at all. All of Creation owes you a debt I don't think that can ever truly be repaid. Whatever I can do to help you, I will always be happy to do."
"Until then, divine one," Makaril smiles for just one moment at that, then turns to go. As he does, "Lifasa's pixies are a uniquely impressive sort."
"That we are. Say hi to any you pass by." Moore says.
Illsenine especially.
There's not much to be done about that right now, unfortunately.
He will wave Makaril off, and turn his attention towards the Heavens Above.
Lady Mystra, if you have the time for me, I have two matters of which I hope to speak to you about.
Very well, for I have a need to speak to you as well.
That's ominous!
Moore will take himself and Cresiel and knock on Dweomerheart's proverbial door.
Okay, obligatory question of prep, if any.
None needed, we still have the stuff from the Blessing Stone.
You meet with Mystra deep in Dweomerheart. Down a great many winding stairways, through long spiral staircases with walls that are bookshelves. Here books of magic sit, murmurings of the Weave as several of the looks move and fly about. Down to a chamber larger than even your divine senses can see. Here the floor is nothing but great piles and stacks of tomes, the air thick with flying books. Spells in runic form flow about the air, from one book to another, as if being shared.
Amid this all sits Mystra on a throne of runic spells, thousands of them forming together into a seat for her. She merely gestures you forward as you enter with Cresiel at your side.
Moore will come forward after spending a small amount of time marveling at the inner workings of this place.
He will offer a bow in greeting. "I believe decorum states that since I am the one asking the favor, please feel free to address your question first, Lady Mystra." Moore says with a pleasant smile.
Books flow and fly around, the spells traded between one another. Some you can identify in the moment you see them. Meteor Swarm and Shield, Nightstalker's Transformation and Bayyid's Burst. Other spells snake and swim through the air as the books move.
Mystra inclines her head to you in greeting, "You feed magic items to CRIMSON?"
"Yes, that is correct." Moore says. "You're probably aware of the use of that spell I brought to you some time ago and what paths it's led me down. That was one of the reasons I had hoped to speak to you, but you likely already have an inkling that that's why I am here." He says with another smile
"I am," Mystra says, "I want you to only feed him items made from deific will. None by mortal means, only those made by all of you."
Moore nods. "That's not going to be difficult." He says.
He clears his throat. "After this, I plan on trying to find the others, such as ORCHID and PRISM. I already spoke to Makaril about what he knows of The Empty Knight, do you mind if I ask you whatever details you know? It... certainly seems like I've managed to find myself stepping into the middle of a story that's already partially started. If this is a situation that I'm just making worse by digging into it, I'd like to know what I can do to try and... resolve it, as it were. If you know anything about this 'Anathem,' that may be the key to this as well."
"The Empty Knight is no threat to you now," Mystra says, "It studied systems and the understanding of them, and one such was the Weave. It was born with a unique gift, the ability to be slightly outside of any system it inhabits. It used this ability with great wisdom once it understood it, and strived not to bring down such consequences that would see it eliminated for the safety of Creation." Here she gestures, as the image of a blurry warrior is seen, as blades narrowly miss him, hitting blur instead of flesh. "It is something like a warrior who is displaced, blinking or otherwise blurry. They are still here, but sometimes they are just outside enough to avoid things, or to glimpse into something outside of the system."
"That reminds me of what I've heard about Seira's friend, uh..." Moore taps his chin. "Oberuth, I think it is?" He shakes his head. "But, would I be correct in my assumption that The Empty Knight is no longer part of Creation? If that's the case, it certainly seems like they left a good many things without completion." He asks.
"Not quite that," Mystra says, "More importantly, the Empty Knight took pains to eliminate this quality in the end, as it grew to fear the Far Realm." Is the answer at last, "Unfortunately this did not go entirely as planned."
"Oh... dear." Moore says. "...You know, I don't wish to presume, but I think..." Here he glances off to the side. "I think, actually, perhaps this is, as some might say, the will of Celestia." He says. "I think that we might be in a position to help, assuming... they're still here, in some form or fashion. We have... ah, I guess the best way to put it is to be blunt - we've had some run-ins with things that are of Beyond, and I think we can help 'make them Whole.'" He says.
"They are not," Mystra says, "Do you know where they are?"
"No, but I think if we can find them then we might be able to do something." Moore says. "At least, that's my hope, anyway."
Didn't your spell tell you where some of them were?
Oh, I thought she was asking about The Empty Knight. Okay, scratch that last line.
"Yes, one of them is in the Astral, with a second... inside of it, apparently, in the case of ORCHID and BLUE, and then the other pair is in Acheron." Moore explains.
"It would be humane to destroy them, or put them somewhere aside," Mystra goes on, "They serve no purpose now and have no meaning."
Moore rubs his chin. "Does that mean they were created for different purposes than CRIMSON? It feels..." He looks over at Cresiel, then back. "It doesn't feel right to just destroy them. Surely, they could all be repurposed... somehow."
"They were all made for part of other purposes," Mystra explains, "If you wish to see to them, do so."
Cresiel nods slightly and then, "If they are troublesome, we'll see to it. They sound like innocent creations of another. They have no spark of malice like the undead?"
"They aren't like that, nor like a fiend," Mystra concurs.
"I imagine if we can somehow recover The Empty Knight, this entire task would be a great deal easier." Moore says. "Do you... ah, are they kept somewhere here, or do you believe them to be in the Far Realm now?"
"They're elsewhere, but in Creation," Mystra replies, "You'll find it if you find the ones on Acheron."
Moore nods. "Thank you. I'll see them returned to your service." He says with a smile. "Ah... as for the second matter, I did want to ask you about the Deep Stacks, if you have the time to discuss it."
As books fly about this place, Mystra merely nods, "Go on."
"I imagine you've heard this before." Moore says with a bit of a smile, but he goes on, "I think there may be some things we can learn from them. Especially considering the... rather unorthodox group we have, considering Sylvie, I thought it might be good for us to spend some time there and explore. I wished to have your blessing to do so before I just decided it would be a great and wonderful idea."
"Do so," Mystra waves a hand, "I have no objection."
Moore bows his head deferentially. "Thank you. I'm sure you'll know when I'm done, but in the meantime, if there is anything, or any tasks you do not find others better suited to, please feel free to let me know."
He offers another more full bow after that. "Thank you for your time."
Good to head back unless she has something for us.
That's about it. Next move? There may be an interrupt but let me see where you're at.
Next move will be back to the Astral, this time we'll bring Sylvie along with Cresiel, and we'll follow the instructions given by my divination to find ORCHID.
You've earned a d100 real quick.
[15:31] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[15:31] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 6 > [d100=6]
So close!
You rest and prepare. As you get ready for another adventure out?
Nalrar looks on the village as he prays to you. It is ashes and tears, bodies lying in the streets. Many are the charred forms of villagers, but others are the hulking forms of ogres and gargoyles. He stands before it all, a look of horror on his face as he numbly investigates.
Nalral receives a gentle feeling of warmth and hope - to witness such horrors and be stronger for it is one of the main lessons one must learn in life. He must not look away from the cruelties of reality, but be stronger for them.
They'll hit up the Blessing Stone before Greater Plane Shifting back to the Broken City - from there he will follow the directions, which I believe were 'ahead and slightly downwards,' which I am assuming the spell would know how you'd be oriented when you arrive, so we'll go with that and hope it works!
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 78 > [d100=78]
Nalrar takes a breath and focuses - and just in time to be sent sprawling back. A club hits him as an ogre bursts out of a half collapsed house. It's burnt and maimed, but still alive. The blow knocks Nalrar down, but you notice something. On its throat is a sigil drawn in blood - that of a wave curling left and right. The unholy symbol of Umberlee, as your knoweldge tells you.
What is that accursed sea devil doing here?
Moore sends Nalrar a nudge - retreating when you're unsure of your odds is always wise. If he wants to get to the bottom of this, he must live. Along with that, another nudge to notice the sigil drawn.
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 52 > [d100=52]
Nalrar's eyes notice it as he rolls aside and runs - fleeing away fast. The ogre pursues but not far, winded and sorely wounded.
Nalrar has a mystery on his hands, for certain, and Moore gives him a feeling of approval to investigate it!
You think that mortal can do anything?
Brine. The salt spray of the sea. You smell the sea breeze as Umberlee's voice is heard in your mind.
That little mortal speck, who ran from a nearly dead ogre?
Perhaps the same could have been said of the 'little mortal specks' from Lifasa. I'm sure everyone who gave up hope for that were quite surprised to find out what happened.
Better to live and learn than to fall into a trap. Surely even you can see wisdom in that.
Moore wonders what smells he'll eventually annoy other deities with. Hmm. He'll have to think about that.
My followers will find this mortal and they will kill him. Shall we Compete and see if there is any hope to be found against the fury of the storm?
Even if he says no, it isn't like she'll just go away... But he can't simply sit idle with a threat like that.
I can't say I have a great deal of desire to Compete against you, Umberlee. You have your domain and I have mine. However, if you wish to threaten my followers, I will protect them from yours.
Then let's find out how long it takes for your little favored soul to drown.
He'll have to spend extra attention helping Nalrar out, but perhaps this is a good learning exercise for him in making sure he bands together with others.
Very well.
If she decides to be underhanded, though... he'll have to make sure he's ready.
Thus it is done. Nalrar flees the burnt village as forces above him conspire, as a wounded ogre stumbles away from the town and back towards his tribe. Pieces move on this Prime, yet another battleground to be had.
"Eh?" In the meantime you find Sylvie alone with a book, open on her lap as she reads. "Now what in the Astral?"
"We're going to find another one of CRIMSON's siblings." Moore explains. "Oh, right." He nods. "Mystra asked that we only feed CRIMSON things we make ourselves. I'm sure it's not going to be terribly happy about that, but we're working on finding a solution to the problem..." He clears his throat by coughing into his hand. "Which, by the way, is going to involve turning CRIMSON's creator back into, uh... not the... Beyondian he's turned himself into."
Sylvie blows out a long breath before, "Do you plan to get into these absurd tangles or is it a talent?"
"I was just wondering about that when I talked to Mystra!" Moore exclaims with a gesture over at Cresiel, as if he's going to nod along. "I think I am just blessed to be able to fix these long-standing mysteries of Creation. Besides, you know you're at least a little curious what all of them can do together."
Cresiel nods when prompted, as if he expected it.
"Enough to know it's a bad idea," Sylvie retorts, "This isn't remotely any of our business. But I also know you won't let up."
"It became our business when we found CRIMSON." Moore says. "It doesn't sit right with me to leave sentient creatures out there, alone. I think we can do good in Creation by fixing all of this, and it's a good experience for all of us to have together."
"I thought you'd say something like that," Sylvie's book is gone as she hops up, "Let's get ready to do this."
Prep?
They can just do the Blessing Stone. If they run into more trouble, Moore can cover the buffs they need.
Okay, where exactly on the Astral are you going?
The same spot he went to last time - The Broken City. That seemed to be (at least from his understanding) the point of reference that the spell was using to find ORCHID.
The trip is uneventful and you are in the vicinity of the Broken City once more.
Go ahead, ball is very much in your court here.
"My spell said to find ORCHID we should travel 'ahead and slightly downward,' so we will see if we come across anything." Moore says.
Ah... before he does that...
He will cast Hindsight to see if anyone of any importance came across here. He will try Days, Weeks, Years, then Centuries. It's entirely possible he won't get anything at all. He gets 35 days, then 35 weeks, 35 years and then... 1+ every 4, so that's 8, so 9 centuries, and it gets more vague each time, to the point where if it's years or centuries, it's possible it won't even register, but he's hoping the ORCHID passing through here at least counts as significant enough if it did happen in that timeframe.
CL check for Hindsight. Remember that you apply your divine bonus to checks (+1 at DvR1, +2 at DvR2, ect) to caster level checks.
[12:18] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+36+1
[12:18] <Penuche> Nephrite invokes Penuche's magic: < 40 > [d20=3]
Thank you for the reminder - in that case the numbers are 37 for the first three, and then 10 centuries for the last.
Caster level checks, not actual caster level. Like it boosts this or a spell resistance roll, but it doesn't enhance your actual caster level for other purposes.
I gave you a Caster Level check. My Caster Level for Bard is 34, I get a +2 to Divination school checks, +1 for the DvR.
Okay, misunderstood then.
You don't see any sign of ORCHID or anyone else remarkable on this little patch of the Astral.
Moore nods and will continue ahead and downwards!
Let's go this way for an hour or two. We will use greater teleport to go a mile since I can see a mile out, and just keep going like that until we come across ORCHID or something else interesting.
So, basically, just go ahead (and downwards) a mile every time we can with greater teleport.
You can't just hop around in the Astral easily, remember? You'll have to fly the hard way.
Well, obviously I don't remember! Okay, hard way it is! Forward and down.
He will throw up a Haste to make it a little bit faster.
Okay then, Perception check as you three initiate your scheme.
Take 10 for 97.
You fly on for several minutes. No early signs of ORCHID, at least that you can see.
Cresiel stays by your side, ready to shield you at a moment's notice.
Sylvie flies about freely, a blur of blonde as she zips about impossibly fast.
After about 25 minutes, you spy something in the strange distances of the Astral. A prismatic sphere flies along in the far distance, radiant with light and color.
"I don't know if that's what we're looking for, but it's at least something." Moore says.
He proceeds towards it!
The sphere stops moving as you approach and hovers there.
Sylvie glances at it and is silent, but then you hear her.
Hello? Is anyone in there?
"Did you by any chance get a math problem as an answer?" He asks, as he studies the sphere.
Arcane Sight, Spellcraft for 113, K:A for 118.
It's a prismatic sphere as you might expect.
"Yes," Sylvie says aloud. Then to all she adds.
8.
"That's BLUE, then... I think." Moore says.
He just waits to see what happens!
As per the spell, yeah? Can I sense anything within the sphere?
What what senses? I need to know since prismatics stop a ton of things.
Really, just magic. If He'd know that a prismatic sphere just stops magic (which it looks to do from the description) then he'd just try and see if he can identify the caster.
The caster is BLUE.
"Making any progress?" Moore asks. He gestures at the sphere. "The one you're talking to is the one who managed to cast this."
"We're talking in mathematics," Sylvie replies, "Advanced ones. It's too bad we don't have an Inevitable here, they're the best at them." Her focus is on the sphere, "You made the right choice to bring me."
"Are we insufficient for this task?" Cresiel asks coolly.
"Which one of us is the transcendent genius?" Sylvie asks Cresiel right back, a glance his way, arms crossed under her bosom.
No checks since Sylvie can't fail them.
"I was a little lost when I got the original question back." Moore says. "I didn't spend a lot of time trying to figure it out, though. I'm sure we could've, but it makes more sense to have an expert handle it."
He looks around at all the empty space. "I wonder how long it's been here, and why it's here at all."
"Not sure - hold on," Sylvie says, "The sphere's going to come down!"
Moore will float back to give them some space!
The sphere falls and within is...a blob of bluish-violet goop. It hovers perfectly in air, unmoving. The size of it seems to vary routinely and often, from the size of a small ball to the size of a few Hannas.
"Um..." Moore hesitates a moment. "Hello."
He looks over at Sylvie. "Can it understand things that aren't math?" He asks.
Yes, I can.
"Yes, it can," Sylvie confirms.
"Oh!" Moore looks surprised for a moment. "You're back with us, then. Hello." He says. "I have a feeling you've already been introduced, but... my name is Moore, this is Cresiel, and this is Sylvie. You're BLUE, right?" He asks. "Is... ORCHID still here, or was that the... er... sphere?"
ORCHID is here.
"Oh, so you're both... er..." Moore scratches his ear.
Let's do another Spellcraft for 113 and K:A for 118. He's just trying to figure out if he can sense two individual magical signatures or what.
"So, I'm not sure if Sylvie explained it or not, but we came across CRIMSON as well. I'm more than happy to bring you and ORCHID home with us so you can decide what you want to do... but, I guess before any of that, I should ask, what were you created for? You seem to have more of a... sense of yourself than CRIMSON does." He says.
We were created to balance and adjust the system. It failed.
There's a lot of magic around them, but there seems to be a second set deeper within, bright enough to radiate out of BLUE.
"Is that what I'd know as 'The Anathem'?" Moore asks.
The Anathem is more complicated.
"All right." Moore says. "I have more questions, but... for now, would you be interested in coming to our home to discuss them?"
What is your home?
"It's called Hope's Landing." Moore explains. "It's a demiplane and part of Mount Celestia."
Another system, then.
"Hm... your definition of system might be different than mine." Moore says. "Still, you'll be safe there."
I will obey. The system will continue.
"You have the freedom to choose what you want to do." Moore says. He opens a Gate back to Hope's Landing. "But let's discuss that back home."
BLUE moves towards the portal and oozes right on through, no resistance to it at all.
"If only they were all so reasonable," Sylvie notes as she follows. "Enjoy the easy win."
"Indeed." Moore says.
He will take the amalgam of BLUE and ORCHID to where they keep CRIMSON.
"So, let's start with the most obvious question... or, at least, one that I have. What 'system' are you talking about? Do you see all demiplanes as 'systems'?" He asks.
As you pass through you get your answer.
Do you understand what it is to be a system?
"I don't think I understand it as you do." Moore says. "So why don't you start from the beginning with an explanation?"
A system is any system of being or natural order that includes at least two subcomponents. A married couple is a system of husband and wife.
"So you have a very literal definition of system, okay." Moore says. "So a sandwich is a system, right? So, then, what system were you created to balance and adjust?
The systems of a single person and how they relate to that system, through various magical and supernatural means, including thaumaturgic rituals and alterations thereof.
"Was the single person someone I would know as 'The Empty Knight?'" Moore asks.
Yes.
"Okay, that helps put some things into perspective." Moore says. "So what is ORCHID, then? Just another supplemental part of all of this? Can it communicate the same way you can?"
Yes and no.
Moore nods. "All right. Well, if you are capable of communicating with them, please let them know they're safe here. How long ago did you put yourself in that prismatic sphere, and why did you do that?" He asks.
I did that as a defense. The system must be defended.
"When you say 'the system' in this case, you mean yourself and ORCHID, correct?" He asks to clarify. "Actually, I'm going to be going to where PRISM and INDIGO are likely located... is there anything you can tell me about them?"
Beware PRISM.
A prayer. A whisper, really, but a voice you haven't heard in some time.
'I wonder if you can hear this?' Adrian's voice, a hint of curiosity in it. He stands on Lifasa, before a small shrine built to you. Just an open cabinet, the humble beginnings indeed. 'Third one of these I've seen on Lifasa.'
"I understand it's broken." Moore says. "I'm working on fixing that." Moore says. "In the meantime... well, let me ask you a question before anything else - do you have what most people would understand as emotions?"
Adrian receives back a feeling of verification!
As well as a feeling of thanks, and a clear and open feeling of open invitation anytime.
Yes, I am a part of that system.
"Hmph." Adrian murmurs aloud, arms crossed. "Would have guessed Afina if any of you pixies."
"All right." Moore says. "I'd like to ask you and ORCHID to spend time going around here, perhaps talk to CRIMSON... although it isn't exactly much of a conversationalist. Just go around here and watch and see how everyone interacts. I'd like to eventually ask you all to stay here, but I don't want to force you to do so. You can decide once I bring everyone back." He says.
In the meantime, Moore doesn't reply to Adrian directly, but maybe he'll be surprised in the end!
Next step will be to grab Xandra, then let's have Xandra, myself, Sylvie and Cresiel head to Acheron. Jetina and Kaja can come too if they want, and, I guess since we're going into what could be potentially hostile territory, they ought to? Ehh, I'll leave it up to them to decide.
We will hit up the Blessing Stone and, assuming no interrupts (but I am assuming an interrupt), we will go to The Dead Maw on Acheron. If people suggest we get some spells up, we can do that too.
d100 real quick.
[13:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[13:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=74 ]{74}
As you prepare for this?
Be aware that I have found word of efforts against Hope's Landing, Moore.
Goodness, I didn't realize I was quite that popular already. Do you have reason to believe they may strike at us here specifically and my followers? I admit, I didn't think anyone foolish enough to try and breach into Celestia at all, but times are interesting.
They seek to interfere with trade to Hope's Landing.
Interesting. Do you have any suggestions? The most obvious thing I can think of is to have some help to escort the traders until further notice, but if you have other thoughts I am open to them.
For now be aware of it, gather more information and move against it.
He may as well relay the information to the others, including Melia, and get feedback on how to proceed! Perhaps Melia herself has some leads?
'I'm working on that, Moore. I just heard some rumors about it and I'm tracking it down now.' Melia sends back at that.
'Noted. Do you expect anything imminent? It may be prudent for us to go anywhere for the next day or so.' Moore sends back.
'I hope to have something before then.'
Moore nods as he gathers everyone together.
"I think we can still make our trip to Acheron, I don't believe it won't take longer than maybe an hour or two." Moore says. "But if any of you have reason to believe we should hold off, I won't argue. Technically, there's nothing that this trip is necessary to do right this moment, so it may make the most sense to simply wait."
"How serious an attack do you think this is?" Xandra asks, "I do not foresee it being a small one. It may be wise to let Melia work and then decide."
Jetina hms, "Well, banditry of any stripe should be stopped swiftly," she admits, "That much is obvious as the light above."
"It's also indirect and it may be something your followers deal with, not you. You're deities now, you don't go running at every little thing. You have heroes to do that." Sylvie sits on thin air, arms crossed.
"If it's serious enough, the types of heroes who are my followers wouldn't be equipped to handle it." Moore says. "All right, let's just wait for now and see what happens."
We will wait - Moore's avatar will continue to read Erathaol's Bard Book.
d100, would you, scary one?
Well, if we continue the 'low is good' trend...
[21:49] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[21:49] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=2 ]{2}
Soon enough Melia returns, "So I have a pretty good lead," Melia says by way of introduction to you.
Moore gestures for her to continue as he creates some snacks and drinks for her.
"The exact details is that someone is interfering in our trade. I did some digging, it's a small, independent mercenary group called the Free Wings. Pretty obscure but they're not bad. They keep a low profile." Melia goes right on. "So someone's paying to interrupt trade for you."
"Are they known for favoring either side?" Moore asks. "I hate to just.. bully them or anything, but we ought to do something in order to get them to stop."
"No, they work for money and nothing else," Melia asys, "They've done work for various sides fro what I hear."
"I see. How strong are they?" Moore asks. "I'd like to convince them to not interfere with us, but it may require force."
"Strong but not that strong," Melia says, "They're smart though." She wavers a hand back and forth, "You'd crush them of course, get a decent group of heroes to handle them otherwise."
"Okay." Moore says. "I will leave the matter to you to handle, take whatever money you need if that is the route you think is best. I could also see if I can just inspire some group of people if you think that's a better route."
"I'll rustle up some forces, then," Melia says, "Get to the bottom of this direclty."
"You have my support in whatever you need." Moore says.
A smile at that, "Should be most of what I need right there," she says, "We got this one."
Moore nods and will leave it to her!
Assuming nothing else, let's get to Acheron! Assuming people want to go still.
Sure, how are you getting there?
We will Greater Plane Shift (after using the Blessing Stone) to The Dead Maw.
Done and done.
You stand amid ruins. Here the bones and rubble of great towers surround you. Ancient street lie broken, cracks in the stone that show iron beneath. It is dark here, the only light what all of you bring. It is also hot, a wet and humid heat that sticks to the body like a second skin. Towers of metal and stone lie in ruin here, often covered in various bloody red mosses and lichen.
Occasionally rivers of what looks to be molten iron criss-cross, deep gouges hundreds of feet deep with bridges across them. The sky is blank and empty, no sign of anything beyond this cursed place.
You can see it with your divine sight. Amid the paths that lead in and out of this place, lies a flat plane before a mountainous rise of iron. Embedded into this mountain is a maw of some great beast, a dragon or similar creature, larger than hundreds of Hannas. It gapes wide open, as if stuck in a final death roar.
"This way." Moore says as he gestures forward, towards the Maw that he knows they'll need to pass through.
Take 10 for 97 on Perception as they go.
Sylvie flies at your side with Cresiel, while Kaja takes the rear. Jetina and Xandra stay in the middle as you advance onward.
Hope?
"What happened here?" Jetina asks aloud as you fly over broken roads and sundered bridges. She glances down at a ribbon of burning red iron below, "Did the endless wars of Acheron shatter this city?"
Hope?
Sylvie takes ten.
Begone! You have no place here!
"They were all cast into the rivers below," Sylvie answers. "A sacrifice to restore the beast ahead. It failed." She looks on ahead and points at the massive maw, "Be thankful that it did."
You will be thrown into the rivers.
"Be cautious," Xandra cuts in, "The dead do not rest lightly here. Listen just a little and you can hear them."
You will be a sacrifice. You will BURN.
"I hear it," Kaja growls low, "Stupidity is what it is, the stupidity of those who should succumb entirely to oblivion."
"If we need to bring peace to the spirits here, we can do so. Jetina, just to be safe, let's make sure none of us BURN." Moore says as they proceed.
Jetina can cast a Mass Energy Immunity (Fire) CL 36 for everyone.
There is a rumble from below. The rivers of molten metal below begin to bubble and rise. The ground shakes as a wordless, overwhelming sense of wrath bombards your senses.
How dare you have hope? There is no hope! The only hope is another battle and another destruction!
Silent voices rage against you, as if your very presence offends them.
WIthout missing a beat, Kaja glares down at the river. "Come and die," he offers, and in a terrible voice of fire and vengeance?
Come and face us, impure spirits. Come and face what you fear!
> roll 1d20+72 (+10 circumstance, +15 divine inspiration)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+72 (+10 circumstance, +15 divine inspiration) --> [ 1d20=17 ]{89}
Intimidate check.
A deep howling comes from the depths, of fury and fear mixed together.
Cresiel merely stands at your side but glows brighter, like a star of holy justice that illuminates the night all around him.
> roll 1d20+65 (+10 circumstance)
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+65 (+10 circumstance) --> [ 1d20=13 ]{78}
Intimidate check.
The lava begins to sink down, the ground going still. The wordless voices are silent now, no further screams against you.
Those of you that are tired of this endless suffering, those that yearn for peace, for a better tomorrow, I will listen to you. Should that you wish to be saved and wish to have hope again, rise and I will show you hope.
Take 10 for 138 on Diplomacy, for whatever it matters.
Moore will nod to the others. "Good job, both of you." He says. "I think that got the point across."
He will continue on, thought he will pause if there are any that take him up on his offer.
There is only the silence of the dead now.
As you go on, "I'm not sure they even could," Sylvie says, "If they are attached to Acheron at all."
"I will always try." Moore says as he flies along. "But you know that. We're just a band of stubbornness."
Thus on you go. There is no resistance as you head towards that maw - a vast, deep and dark passage inward. There are no guardians to it that you see.
Moore will continue on, an eye out for magic and anything unusual!
Arcane Sight, Spellcraft for 113, K:A for 118 if necessary. Perception for 97 just in case, and he has True Seeing.
Toss on an K:P check too?
K:P for 118 as well.
You can see nothing but space ahead - the maw is indeed vast and beckons you on. There's no magic to it at least ahead, though there's odd energies from the dead beast. AT the least it'll stop and scramble teleportation, as well as cold magic.
"We can't teleport in here, so be mindful." Moore says as he proceeds.
"Of course," Sylvie says, "Teleportation ends battles before they begin otherwise."
"I'd argue Time Stop probably does it more." He says with a smile as he goes along.
As the group flies on?
You hear another of Lune's prayers. She's hunting another bandit group and prays for victory, so that hope may come back to the victims of them.
Moore sends her encouragement, and a warning that the bandits will likely be more prepared than before, so to take extra caution!
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 low is good --> [ 1d100=97 ]{97}
As you fly down this deep tunnel, you watch. You watch with a growing sense of apprehension as this time the bandits ambush them, from haystacks and a barn they pass. It's a sudden, frantic battle, surrounded on both sides and cut off from easy retreat. You can already tell - this isn't going to end well. This isn't going to end well at all.
Meanwhile you fly on. The throat of this thing is vast as you explore deeper, no easy end to it at all. Only the silence and the darkness, no one here to guard this forgotten corpse. Or perhaps merely unwilling now, unwilling to challenge the divine in mass.
Moore will give Lune all the support he can so she can survive, to make the best of a bad situation.
Meanwhile, he will continue on - this must be the drooling path, after all.
"I wonder how long this has even been here." He says as they go.
Do you mean something material there like intervention, Moore? Just a be a little more clear what you mean by support.
Emotional support only! They have to stand on their own feet unless something really dire is happening.
"Ages," Sylvie says, "Yet it endures even as the city before it has crumbled."
And you see Lune's life begin to crumble. She parries one blow and then another, a third - but a fourth cuts deep into her side and she stumbles to her knee, before another bandit. She tries to lift her sword and fails, and instead bows her head prays, "I'm sorry I couldn't go further," she manages, as the blade comes down for her head.
"That's usually the result of a truly remarkable amount of magic, or a being." Moore says as he goes along.
No, she shouldn't be sorry - she should be proud she was able to be such an inspiration.
He will see to it that should her life come to an end here, that her soul is given a choice. He has no problem with offering her reincarnation if she still holds hope in her heart, which he imagines that she does.
Life ends in blood and pain.
The mists surround Lune as the Well of Souls takes her and she begins her walk along, her walk home to your realm.
Go ahead if you're going to make an offer or talk to her here.
How does this...
Do you just-- oh, like that.
He surrounds Lune's soul in warmth and hope for the future. It's up to her to make that choice for herself, after all.
You did everything I would've hoped someone like you would do. I hope you're proud of your accomplishments.
If you wish, I would give you another chance to bring hope to those around you. I want you to decide for yourself what your future should hold.
You feel her mind stir as she begins her journey.
"I..." A soft murmur that proceeds slowly, spoken with care. "I want to come home. I gave my life, I...want to see you and my eternal reward."
You have earned it. Come, then, and decide for yourself what you wish to do.
He will stick with her on her journey as much as he can to ensure she arrives where she wants to! If it is such that things pull at her to turn into a latern archon, that is her choice as well.
Still, for what he's doing now, he must forge ahead as well.
She is yours, Moore. If she follows this path or another of your choosing is for you to determine, not I.
Then he will direct her to Hope's Landing as she is, if she chooses later to do something, then that is her choice as well.
Done. As you set that up you fly inward. This path goes on some ways and as you do? You notice the floor begins to have puddles of clear liquid on it, mere droplets at first but soon expanding into proper pools.
"The Drooling Path." Moore says. "Keep an eye out."
He continues on!
Perception for 97, Spellcraft for 113, K:A and K:P for 118.
"Careful now," Cresiel concurs as you fly on.
The walls.
You notice the walls begin to move, twitch and throb. Regularly, as if flesh that pulses to a heartbeat.
"Yes." Moore says as he gestures towards the walls for their benefit. "Those sacrifices may not have brought it back to life, but I wonder what they did do."
"They did enough. Look," Kaja points at the walls. Clear liquid begins to seep from it rather swiftly, a constant drool that begins to form deeper and deeper pools on the ground. Above, water begins to bead on the roof.
"I'm reminded of those awful blood constructs from the Prison." Moore says. "Come, let's get as far as we can."
They will just keep going forward until they are inevitably attacked by... whatever the drool will turn into!
You proceed on, no end in sight. No sign of creatures - instead, you rapidly notice the water level is rising and water begins to rain from above.
"Ugh, what is it?" Jetina grimaces as the first few droplets fall.
Take 10 on Spellcraft for 113, K:A for 118, in case there's anything magical about the water at all.
"None of us need to breathe, so even if the water rises it doesn't matter." Moore says, but he tries to stay above it regardless as they fly along. "I have to wonder if a spell like Control Water would work here."
The drool is magical. It's highly acidic and unholy, and that will wound even those immune to acid. It's powerful too. You're about to get seriously rained on by evil acid drool.
"Analyze the drool," Sylvie says right away, "We're not as safe as you'd think."
Cresiel puts his shield up and over you immediately, not a single moment of hesitation.
"You're right, it will go through protections against acid." Moore says. "Tch... Sylvie, use a Time Stop. I know what it sounds like, but just trust me."
> roll 1d4+1
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d4+1 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{3}
Abruptly, time stops.
Yet it doesn't. The acid keeps dripping?! It's not stopping even at Sylvie's quick cast of it.
I haven't done a spoiler block yet, that's a morning to do, so note for self that Sylvie used one of her arcane casting time stops.
"Oh, for the love of..." Moore mutters. "Ideas?"
He gestures around them to create a wall of force to box them in so that at least the acid may have to chew through that briefly.
"I can use my Lyre of Building to start making us a tunnel, but I don't know how long it'll last." He says. "We can also just use our protective spells and then rush while healing, which may be our only option here."
Since he can't make a wall of force to hover above them (how I wish), he'll just make one on the ground that rises up and over like a big arch.
"Healing? We can rush," Jetina says confidently, "I don't think I can run out anymore."
"Confident," Sylvie says, "But she's probably right, unless we have a better way."
Kaja grimaces, "Just because we can do it that way doesn't mean we should."
"Well we can't cleave every bit of it..." Moore says as he glances up. "...But we might be able to damage it, but I don't know if it's worth our time to do so. Honestly, with my protective songs I'd be surprised if any of you would get damaged. Something has to be creating it, and it's probably in the walls above us. If we choose to try and stop it, I think that's the way to go. My divine blasts would probably work."
"Choose quickly," Xandra councils, "We have little time to stand here and deliberate."
"Let's try. The plan is to go up and destroy what's creating this, let's see if that works. It's worth trying, and a good challenge for us." Moore says. "Jetina, protect us from Acid - it may lessen the damage regardless."
Assuming he has one round here to work with, he's going to do the following:
Harmonize as his Standard Action, Inspire Greatness as his Move action.
+18 morale bonus to saves and +18 dodge to AC
And if Jetina will do Mass Energy Immunity (Acid) we may as well see if that will help.
Magic is wrought and just in time - the rain begins, bitter, polluted and burning.
Ref saves, all.
[12:02] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+54+18 evasion, Moore
[12:02] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+54+18 evasion, Moore --> [ 1d20=15 ]{87}
[12:02] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+60+18 Xandra
[12:02] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+60+18 Xandra --> [ 1d20=2 ]{80}
[12:02] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+49+18 Jetina, evasion
[12:02] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+49+18 Jetina, evasion --> [ 1d20=1 ]{68}
you can't get me anymore, 1's!!!!
> roll 1d20+79 evasion Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+79 evasion Cresiel --> [ 1d20=14 ]{93}
> roll 1d20+51 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+51 Kaja --> [ 1d20=12 ]{63}
> roll 10d6 half acid half evil
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 10d6 half acid half evil --> [ 10d6=39 ]{39}
For now the acid rain stings at the party, the drool hitting Kaja and Xandra. Both of them endure it as they fly on, for now Jetina's healing keeping the damage easily under control. You fly on as you see the drool level below begins to rise, and ahead it's rising even more, faster and faster.
Jetina will pop mass heals as needed. No need for saves each round for now, as there's generally no chance of failure for all of you.
"Let's see what we can do if we go up." Moore says.
I'm assuming he can't see the top currently, but if so he would head for there, if that is where it is mainly coming from and not just being magically created above them.
Well, up and forward, anyway. Everyone can go at least 200 ft with a fly speed, so if we just do nothing but move (slowing for Jetina if she needs to heal) we can cover 400 feet per round with double moves.
Up you fly. Up and up and up until you can at last see the roof. It is thick with drool, more pooling and dripping down by the moment.
Moore will inspire his allies first with courage, then send a Divine Blast towards the roof!
Everyone has Inspire Courage, +22 to attack and weapon damage rolls and they are immune to charm and fear effects.
I am not sure how Divine Blast works when it comes to hitting an area. I get a mile's worth of ray, but I don't think I can use it to hit a mile's worth of the roof. Whatever the case, I will hit as much of it as I can.
[12:37] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+22+40 touch attack
[12:37] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+22+40 touch attack --> [ 1d20=20 ]{82}
[12:38] <Nephrite> roll 19d12
[12:38] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 19d12 --> [ 19d12=105 ]{105}
Roll a crit confirm, this is subject to critical hits.
[12:52] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+22+40 touch attack
[12:52] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+22+40 touch attack --> [ 1d20=14 ]{76}
In case it is a crit
[12:54] <Nephrite> roll 38d12
[12:54] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 38d12 --> [ 38d12=269 ]{269}
You gear through the roof above. Within you see twot hings. The first are many pulsing nodules, perhaps the size of a pixie or so. They gush out drool, hundreds of them glimpsed in a moment.
The other is that without the roof of the mouth, all of the drool comes out. Pours out like a tidal wave going down, right over the party.
"Shi-" Sylvie begins as she dodges, as the rest of you - !
Ref save, all.
He was hoping that would destroy most of it!
[13:28] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+54+18 evasion, Moore
[13:28] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+54+18 evasion, Moore --> [ 1d20=11 ]{83}
[13:28] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+60+18 Xandra
[13:28] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+60+18 Xandra --> [ 1d20=13 ]{91}
[13:28] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+49+18 Jetina, evasion
[13:28] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+49+18 Jetina, evasion --> [ 1d20=5 ]{72}
Unfortunately there's a lot of them that make it, a whole lot.
> roll 1d20+79 evasion Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+79 evasion Cresiel --> [ 1d20=20 ]{99}
> roll 1d20+51 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+51 Kaja --> [ 1d20=10 ]{61}
> roll 50d6 half evilhalf acid
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 50d6 half evilhalf acid --> [ 50d6=159 ]{159}
Every one made the save.
The acid goes by as a moment later your wounds are healed, Jetina holding the line with mass heal yet again. Moore himself isn't touch, able to dodge as Sylvie says, "Keep blasting, like that," she encourages. "Straight up, see if we can stop it above us."
He will try again!
[14:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+22+40 touch attack
[14:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+22+40 touch attack --> [ 1d20=6 ]{68}
[14:03] <Nephrite> roll 19d12
[14:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 19d12 --> [ 19d12=137 ]{137}
Another blast and more of the nodules are blasted away. Past the first layer is just flesh, and indeed you buy yourself a respite.
"Ugh," Kaja shudders, "What sort of beast is this?"
"We need a sphere of force," JEtina ventures aloud, "Can we manage anything close to that?"
"If this creature is alive, maybe we should just kill it." Moore says. "Well, for some definition of alive, anyway... Xandra, what does your insight tell you?"
Moore ponders for a moment. "I could probably invoke some divine power to create an effect like a sphere of force." He says.
Theoretically, I'd think using Miracle / Wish to make a Wall of Force spell but spherical that can travel with the party would be doable?
Could work.
Xandra flies up and rests a hand on sundered flesh. "It has an echo of life," she says slowly. "But not true life. It lives just enough to linger at death's door."
"We should put it to rest somehow." Moore says. "Do you sense where that echo of life may be coming from? I can manage to protect us from the acid, so we should be safe to travel, but if the whole cavern fills up it'll be problematic."
"Deep within, far deeper," Xandra replies after a few moments.
"Why do I have a sinking suspicion about where this is going to go..." He then invokes his own power to create a sphere of movable force around the party.
[15:13] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+1
[15:13] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+1 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{15}
Not sure if needed, using his portfolio for Miracle, that's a DvR check for it.
Once in place, Moore will continue ahead!
Not need, no deity opposes your action.
Perception.
Take 10 for 97. Will also keep up Arcane Sight and look for anything new and different. Take 10 for 113 on Spellcraft, 118 on K:A.
Let's also do a K:P check for 118... any idea what this thing used to be called and any history on it?
It had many names. The Hungry, the Twisting Serpent, The Scourger. All mean nothing since it was ultimately defeated in a grand war vastly far in the past. Some whispers it could have been a cousin of the Jormugandr, but the wiser know it was simply a horror gotten out of control on Acheron. Some sort of wyrm, a vast, hungering thing that wasn't stopped until it was almost too late.
It was not divine, but merely a beast grown to vast ability and forgotten as the years went past by the handfuls of millions.
"Any ideas why Time Stop didn't work earlier? I thought it might've been because something divine in nature had something to do with this, but I don't think that's it." Moore says as they travel along, keeping an eye on the acid levels below them. "But hopefully we can put it to rest permanently, for all that its soul has likely long departed this place."
"Some innate ability of the beast," Sylvie reflects on it a few moments, "Stirred into ability thanks to the situation it is in now."
"Rather like our own trick, we aren't the only ones who can do it, either," Cresiel points out.
Moore nods. "Well, if for some reason it's soul is still here, let's do whatever we can for it. No one deserves to suffer quite like this." He says as they go along.
Will keep doing Perception, Spellcraft and K:A as they go.
On the drool falls, but on your shield holds. Onward and forward, through the drool. Soon you notice the level has risen even higher, and ahead you can see it's reached the roof. That might be a problem.
Do I think another miracle / wish could be used to create a stronger Control Water that might be able to work, assuming this counts as water and not... not that?
I.e. a persistent Control Water that basically makes the drool move out of our way as we go. Can be limited to just outside of the sphere, so, say 15 feet around them.
What's the base level of Control Water?
Clr 4, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 6, Water 4
Yeah, something like that's reasonable.
"Let me try something." Moore says as they get closer.
He will try the Modified Control Water when we're actually close enough for it to work, to make sure that it does, in fact, work!
Assuming it does, they will continue into it.
It does and the drool parts. On your party goes, on and on - and you finally see something ahead. A dead end for forward progress, but a cleft in the roof allows you to head upwards in that direction.
"Let's go." Moore says as he heads up, careful to keep an eye on the two spells to make sure they hold!
Past the river of drool, into the passage and up. It hooks back the way you came, much more narrow. It's spacious but sanely so. The ground is nothing but hardened flesh, no sign of life here, no sign of movement. Nothing but stillness as you all fly along.
"The acid's passed," Xandra agrees, ""We can do away with this sphere."
Moore dismisses the sphere of force but maintains the other spell for now.
"It is rather terrifying to think about how large this creature was." Moore says. "Perhaps even larger than the World Serpent."
"Too large," Cresiel concurs as you fly on.
"It's said it took a massive war to slay it," Sylvie adds in as you go, as ahead you notice something. A gleaming, just at the far edge of your deific vision.
"A war no one even likely remembers. It's one of those things that really hits home about the passage of time. Hm - Over there." Moore says with a gesture. "I'm not sure what it is, so let's be on guard."
He will keep going, nonetheless!
It is a man. A man clad in dull, light less armor and with a shining bright sword. He also carries a shield. He's large, perhaps six feet and change, and likely built powerfully based on the armor. He flies on an intercept, seemingly fearless of the sheer power that comes his way.
"I admit some surprise..." Moore says as he continues on to meet this brave person!
I'm guessing nothing discerning about him, but K:P for 118 in case it does register as anything!
Doesn't ring a bell. His armor's just not enough to go on, it's not terribly showy or with any tells.
"He's either a fool or formidable," Kaja growls, "Which do yo think it is?"
"He's not a fool," Xandra steps forward, "Do not challenge this one lightly. His walks with war."
"Walks with war?" Kaja questions back, "Good." He starts to smile.
Moore will stop once they're about 400 feet from each other, unless something else happens earlier!
He's curious if they're going to introduce themselves or just attack them!
At 1000ft away the figure begins to rush forward, a gleaming blur of light and movement.
"That's not an introduction," Kaja smiles even more, scimitars out.
We are here to put a permanent end to this creature.
He may as try the honest approach!
Not sure if this calls as Diplomacy, but if so, Take 10 for 137.
Your only answer is for him to charge faster. It's a fight!
Init, pixie.
Everyone gets +18 to their role.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+56 : 2 + 56, total 58[/blockquote] Moore
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+29 : 11 + 29, total 40[/blockquote] Xandra
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+26 : 2 + 26, total 28[/blockquote] Jetina
> roll 1d20+39
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+39 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{45}
> roll 1d20+36 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+36 Kaja --> [ 1d20=9 ]{45}
> roll 1d20+44 ???
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+44 ??? --> [ 1d20=12 ]{56}
Init is Moore (58) > Armored Warrior (56) > Kaja = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (40) > Jetina (28)
Open.
Can I see what magic this guy has on him with Arcane Sight?
[10:25] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+37
[10:25] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+37 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{49}
CL check for it if it's necessary.
He has the following spells active on him:
See Invisibility, True Seeing, Detect Magic, Detect Evil, Detect Good, Detect Law, Detect Chaos, Synic's Dispel Shield, Eagle's Grace, Vision of the Omniscient Eye, Heroism of Ashes, War Benediction, Synic's Valiant Fury, Energy Immunity (Acid, Cold, Sonic), Fortunate Fate, Synic's Body Armor, Synic's Revenge, Explosive Aeration, Blood Blade, Blood Riot, Death Ward, Synic's Blessing, Mantle of Aphrodos, Instant Regeneration, Warlord's Insight, All-Death Blade.
That's a lotta spells!
Take 10 on K:P (Or K:R, I guess?) for 118 for Synic and Aphrodos.
What do the following spells do? (summaries are fine, unless it's super important) Spellcraft of 113 if needed for that purpose.
Synic's Dispel Shield
Heroism of Ashes
War Benediction
Synic's Body Armor
Synic's Revenge
Explosive Aeration
Blood Blade
Bloot Riot
Synic's Blessing
Mantle of Aphrodos
Warlord's Insight
All-Death Blade
Synic is the name of an ancient warrior. It's said he was a blazing shadow of speed and sound that shattered any close to him, but the details are lost to the long ages. It's said he vanished in an ancient war in Acheron to seal away some sort of vast wyrm.
Aphrodos you don't draw anything on - whatever or whomever it is, it must be of no planar relevance.
Synic's Dispel Shield counters any dispel cast on it and heals the caster with the energy of the countered spell.
Heroism of Ashes is a 10th level spell in the Spell Collection, go check it out there. It has a table and doesn't paste well. Short version: Creatures you kill become ash para elementals until the end of the spell.
War Benediction is a powerful spell that vastly increases a warrior's combat ability, used by certain war sects such as Tempus, though it is not kept to any one sect.
Synic's Body Armor prevents the loss of body parts as well as greatly increases the target's natural armor.
Synic's Revenge inflicts massive damage to the caster of any dispel cast on the target. It's single shot, at least.
Explosive Aeration causes massive sonic, fire and just plain damage to any creature you move past, with more damage depending on how fast you are.
Blood Blade causes extra bleeding damage with melee attacks.
Blood Riot causes any bleeding wounds to intensify in damage.
Synic's Blessing grants a great bonus to movement speed and eliminates attacks of opportunity when you move, but it requires a unique item as a focus.
Mantle of Aphrodos protects against ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, dazed and stunned.
Warlord's Insight enhances combat ability with great insight to your opponents.
All-Death Blade increases the damage your weapon deals greatly - rather like Titan's Surge, same idea, just a different and possibly older method of doing it.
So, would I know that if I used something like Rain of Desolation, would the Dispel Shield counter it, or not since it's not technically a dispel that is cast on the subject?
Second question, for a spell like Spell Theft, where I can pick which spells to dispel, does that spell not function?
Also, can I discern the CL of the spells?
Yes, dispel shield would catch it.
Spell Theft might be able to get around it like that, yes.
The CL of the spells is 40.
"I don't know why you're trying to challenge us, Synic, but if it's a fight you want so badly, then we'll give it to you!" Moore shouts.
He has a spell on him that will counter any dispel attempts, I might suggest someone just risk it to get rid of it so we can get these spell off of him. Don't bother with acid, cold or sonic attacks, he's protected! His magic is pretty strong, so don't waste your time unless you've got a strong dispel! I don't think my magic can quite do it, so I'm just going to bolster everyone!
Move Action: Inspire Greatness
[21:06] <Nephrite> roll 14d10 temp HP
[21:06] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 14d10 temp HP --> [ 14d10=67 ]{67}
Everyone has the following temp HP:
Moore: 193
Cresiel: 305
Xandra: 235
Kaja: 207
Jetina: 193
Sylvie: 193
They also get +14 Attack rolls, +7 fort saves. They should also still have all the effects from Inspire Courage and Heroics from earlier, for the attack boosts and AC / save bonuses.
Standard Action: Greater Snowsong: Allies gain +8 morale bonus to Charisma and attack rolls, and a +8 insight bonus to Armor Class. All melee attacks made by allies in the snowsong deal an additional 2d6 points of cold damage.
Everyone also gains Fast Healing 11, DR 11/-, and are immune to fear and symbol of hopelessness.
Unfortunately, Moore's max dispel check is +30, so he'd have to hit a 51 (so a 20) to dispel any of these things.
That it for your turn? I still need to do spoiler blocks so lemme know and I'll get to it.
That is indeed it.
For your reference, I will tally everything to make it easy:
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
Everyone also has the benefits of the Blessing Stone: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
And then the temp HP from above.
Power fills everyone as a split second later as the warrior before you is a blur. As it rushes ahead, suddenly great, torrential bursts of screaming sound erupt amid all of you.
> roll 1d20+42 guy is not trivial
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+42 guy is not trivial --> [ 1d20=13 ]{55}
Which SRs does that beat, Moore?
[spoiler]
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
Everyone also has the benefits of the Blessing Stone: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
And then the temp HP from above.
Cresiel
HP: 1018/1018 (regeneration 21)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 40/40 (enc) Channel Energy 18/18 Divine Retribution 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Knight's Challenge 15/15 Smite 1/1 Endurance Domain 1/1 Protection Domain 1/1 Renewal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Detect Evil (CL36), Detect Snares and Pits (CL36), Discern Lies (CL36), True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Adjacent allies gain a shield bonus equal to Cresiel's shield bonus. Use divine shield as a swift action.
Xandra
HP: 756/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Menace 20ft (-2 attacks, AC, saves; DC 37), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 10/10 Domain Smite Evil 1/1 Lay On Hands 28/28 Servant of the Heavens 1/1 Sudden Empower 1/1 Sudden Enlarge 1/1 Mysticism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Has bardic music in the rare event Moore can't cover something.
Kaja
HP: 900/900
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Breath Weapon 1/1 Dervish Dance 13/13 Endless Cuts 3/3 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack (rnd) 1/1 Retribution Domain 1/1 Wrath Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Goes in and wrecks things. The end.
Jetina
HP: 864/864 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear), Positive Energy 10ft (1 hit point healing/round), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 7/7 Smite 7/7 Channel Energy 17/17 Emergency Healing 8/8 True Believer 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Charity Domain 1/1 Life Domain 1/1 Nobility Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Divine Vigor is +10ft land movement and +2 temp hp per hit die. Divine Shield is Cha mod to shield bonus to armor class.
Sylvie
HP: 798/798
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Inspiration 30/30 (enc) Opportunistic Piety 17/17 Mimic Class Feature 8/8 Mentalism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Bibliotheca Arcana (CL37), Lore of the Gods (CL37), Superior Mighty Wallop (CL36), Sylvie's Mental Peak (CL36)
Notes:
I think it beats everyone's, Moore's only got 51. Oh, Xandra's got 53, Jetina's is 71 though.
Jetina and Sylvie both shrug it off since they have higher SR. The rest don't, I need Fortitude saves with a -5 penalty.
[22:02] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+56+25+1 Moore, fort, mettle
[22:02] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+56+25+1 Moore, fort, mettle --> [ 1d20=15 ]{97}
[22:03] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+63+25+1 Xandra
[22:03] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+63+25+1 Xandra --> [ 1d20=20 ]{109}
Moore's is 92, Xandra's is 104.
> roll 1d20+71 mettle Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+71 mettle Cresiel --> [ 1d20=20 ]{91}
> roll 1d20+56 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+56 Kaja --> [ 1d20=12 ]{68}
320 sonic damage. Moore takes none, Xandra takes half, Cresiel takes noneand Kaja takes half.
The blitz of sound leaves Kaja reeling and Xandra grimacing, but neither is down. Instead there is a blur and suddenly all the world is heat, sound and fury.
Fort saves again for everyone. SR doesn't apply here.
[spoiler]
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
Everyone also has the benefits of the Blessing Stone: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
And then the temp HP from above.
Cresiel
HP: 1018+305/1018 (regeneration 21)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 40/40 (enc) Channel Energy 18/18 Divine Retribution 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Knight's Challenge 15/15 Smite 1/1 Endurance Domain 1/1 Protection Domain 1/1 Renewal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Detect Evil (CL36), Detect Snares and Pits (CL36), Discern Lies (CL36), True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Adjacent allies gain a shield bonus equal to Cresiel's shield bonus. Use divine shield as a swift action.
Xandra
HP: 756+75/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Menace 20ft (-2 attacks, AC, saves; DC 37), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 10/10 Domain Smite Evil 1/1 Lay On Hands 28/28 Servant of the Heavens 1/1 Sudden Empower 1/1 Sudden Enlarge 1/1 Mysticism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Has bardic music in the rare event Moore can't cover something.
Kaja
HP: 900+47/900
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Breath Weapon 1/1 Dervish Dance 13/13 Endless Cuts 3/3 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack (rnd) 1/1 Retribution Domain 1/1 Wrath Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Goes in and wrecks things. The end.
Jetina
HP: 864+193/864 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear), Positive Energy 10ft (1 hit point healing/round), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 7/7 Smite 7/7 Channel Energy 17/17 Emergency Healing 8/8 True Believer 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Charity Domain 1/1 Life Domain 1/1 Nobility Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Divine Vigor is +10ft land movement and +2 temp hp per hit die. Divine Shield is Cha mod to shield bonus to armor class.
Sylvie
HP: 798+193/798
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Inspiration 30/30 (enc) Opportunistic Piety 17/17 Mimic Class Feature 8/8 Mentalism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Bibliotheca Arcana (CL37), Lore of the Gods (CL37), Superior Mighty Wallop (CL36), Sylvie's Mental Peak (CL36)
Notes:
[22:20] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+56+25+1 Moore, fort, mettle
[22:20] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+56+25+1 Moore, fort, mettle --> [ 1d20=17 ]{99}
[22:20] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+63+25+1 Xandra
[22:20] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+63+25+1 Xandra --> [ 1d20=9 ]{98}
[22:21] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+49+26 Jetina, mettle
[22:21] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+49+26 Jetina, mettle --> [ 1d20=18 ]{93}
> roll 1d20+76 mettle Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+76 mettle Cresiel --> [ 1d20=5 ]{81}
> roll 1d20+61 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+61 Kaja --> [ 1d20=10 ]{71}
> roll 1d20+97 (+24 inspiration)
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+97 (+24 inspiration) --> [ 1d20=8 ]{105}
> roll 40d6 fire damage
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 40d6 fire damage --> [ 40d6=135 ]{135}
> roll 40d6 sonic damage
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 40d6 sonic damage --> [ 40d6=131 ]{131}
> roll 40d6 untyped damage
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 40d6 untyped damage --> [ 40d6=133 ]{133}
Everyone made the save, so half and none as appropriate. Xandra also negates fire. So does Kaja. So does Sylvie.
Pain. Fire. It all erupts as you're battered. The warrior blows past all of you rapidly, now 800ft behind you and having managed a perfect turn, facing all of you. Sylvie grimaces as Kaja growls, "He is good."
At the same time, even as you endure, your divine nature works. Nalrar's voice echos in your mind, "Hopebringer, guide me. The Umberlants are no small enemy, evidence suggests they are many. How tightly must I hold to hope in this struggle?"
[spoiler]
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
Everyone also has the benefits of the Blessing Stone: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
And then the temp HP from above.
Cresiel
HP: 1018+305/1018 (regeneration 21)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 40/40 (enc) Channel Energy 18/18 Divine Retribution 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Knight's Challenge 15/15 Smite 1/1 Endurance Domain 1/1 Protection Domain 1/1 Renewal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Detect Evil (CL36), Detect Snares and Pits (CL36), Discern Lies (CL36), True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Adjacent allies gain a shield bonus equal to Cresiel's shield bonus. Use divine shield as a swift action.
Xandra
HP: 699/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Menace 20ft (-2 attacks, AC, saves; DC 37), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 10/10 Domain Smite Evil 1/1 Lay On Hands 28/28 Servant of the Heavens 1/1 Sudden Empower 1/1 Sudden Enlarge 1/1 Mysticism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Has bardic music in the rare event Moore can't cover something.
Kaja
HP: 815/900
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Breath Weapon 1/1 Dervish Dance 13/13 Endless Cuts 3/3 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack (rnd) 1/1 Retribution Domain 1/1 Wrath Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Goes in and wrecks things. The end.
Jetina
HP: 864+193/864 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear), Positive Energy 10ft (1 hit point healing/round), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 7/7 Smite 7/7 Channel Energy 17/17 Emergency Healing 8/8 True Believer 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Charity Domain 1/1 Life Domain 1/1 Nobility Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Divine Vigor is +10ft land movement and +2 temp hp per hit die. Divine Shield is Cha mod to shield bonus to armor class.
Sylvie
HP: 798+61/798
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Inspiration 29/30 (enc) Opportunistic Piety 17/17 Mimic Class Feature 8/8 Mentalism Domain 1/1
Spells Used: Arcane: Time Stop
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Bibliotheca Arcana (CL37), Lore of the Gods (CL37), Superior Mighty Wallop (CL36), Sylvie's Mental Peak (CL36)
Notes:
Moore sends to Nalrar a thought - a flame, flickering wildly in the night, by itself, surrounded by darkness. Then another flame, another and another, all join it and push the darkness back. He must not give up - and he must hold tightly to his friends and allies, so they can band together and be strong.
"You're right." Moore says. "We can't let this stop us, though."
Give me Diplo real quick, oh inspirational pixie.
Take 10 for 137.
Init is Moore (58) > Armored Warrior (56) > Kaja = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (40) > Jetina (28) > Sylvie (27)
I forgot to roll her init for some silly reason, so she'll just hold and go last here.
"And if we can subdue him and talk to him," Xandra speaks up, "We could also potentially gain a great ally. "
"If there's anything left after being in Acheron for so long," Kaja retorts right away.
"If he has," Sylvie appends, "If he'll even listen."
At the same time you feel Nalrar's will intensify, ready to go forth and face his foes for sure now.
"We came here to save someone, we'll just end up saving more." Moore says. "We need to get the spells off of him somehow, and deal with the recoil of trying."
Init is Moore (58) > Armored Warrior (56) > Kaja = Cresiel (45) > Xandra (40) > Jetina (28) > Sylvie (27)
Kaja will hold and try a counter if he does that zip by attack again.
Cresiel.
"Can any of you strike him from afar?" Cresiel asks, "My own abilities are not well suited to this."
"I can, easily enough." Moore says. "Not sure how well magic will work on him, though."
If you want, try and dispel him - we know he's protected somehow, and it'd make sense to get rid of it so we can strip the rest of his magic. Either that, or try and box him in with magic.
Cresiel will hold since he just can't get in range and attack in the same round, so he'll hold and try and get some in when he goes at worst. Jetina and Xandra, go.
They don't have much to do at this range either, so they'll just hold. Xandra does have some long range stuff, but no sense in using it right yet.
Well, that's a lie, Jetina will cast Celestial Valor.
+8 sacred vs fear and emotion effects that would sap the will to fight, +4 sacred to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, armor class and saving throws, weapons count as holy
"At least spread out," Sylvie notes sharply, as she flies up 50ft and away 160ft, distance between you and the rest of them. She also just glances at her opponent and...
Going for Know Secrets, it just requires sight.
> roll 1d20+43
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+43 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{59}
Strong enough to resist divine power. Be ready when he comes back.
Moore.
Moore flies to the left about 50 feet himself.
"We're going to save you, Synic!" He shouts.
Divine Blast.
[12:26] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+28+38+12 touch attack
[12:26] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 1d20+28+38+12 touch attack --> [ 1d20=4 ]{82}
[12:27] <Nephrite> roll 22d12
[12:27] <Rei-chan> Nephrite rolled : 22d12 --> [ 22d12=152 ]{152}
The blow hits dead on, enough to send him back as raw power erupts around him. It's enough to surely be felt as...
Anything else this turn?
That is it for me. One day, I will have crafty swifts and other things, but that's all for me.
Your foe merely zips back and away, out of sight and the way you came.
Is he...running away?
Free act for the moment since he seems out of sight, range and isn't engaging.
Moore turns to the others. "We could pursue him." A look to Xandra in particular. "If we have a chance to save him, then I'm willing to try."
'We'd also play into his hands," Sylvie points out as she flies back. "Is that worth it?"
"It's worth trying," Xandra says, as wounds are healed by Jetina in the meantime.
Moore turns and begins flying after him!
"Synic! Your battle against this creature is over!" He calls as he flies.
We can double move for 400~ feet per round as needed.
Give me Diplo for my reference.
Take 10 for 137.
You fly on and back, back to the drool. Wherever Synic is, you don't see him now.
Moore casts Hindsight!
Guess who didn't have Mind Blank on earlier?! Hah! We'll see if this tells us where he went, or if he just went straight into the drool.
Huh.
He flies into the drool and dissolves into it, nothing more than drool a moment later, lost in all of it and gone.
"...What the?" Moore blinks, then he looks over at Xandra, as if she'll have the answer.
"I see him coming back here and then just dissolving into the drool. I don't think he just ran into it to die, though." He explains to the others.
Xandra shakes her head, "He didn't die - he joined it." she says at last, "Like he's a part of this creature."
"Does that mean if we kill it, he dies too?" Moore asks. "Hm... or maybe he simply gets released in some capacity?"
"Maybe," Xandra is silent a time longer, "...No, he would die," Xandra says after more thought. "I see that his awakening was an accident, an unintended side effect. A fluke."
"So we're facing some bad luck, or the reason why the ritual to restore it failed?" Jetina ventures, "Do you think he took offense and interrupted it?"
"...Hm." Moore says. "...Well, perhaps we should finish what we came here for originally. If we go further in, he may come back."
"He might," Sylvie agrees, "We can't let this stop us - we have a goal."
"Just one point," Cresiel speaks up, "How did the ones here get past him in the first place?"
"I wonder if they predate this thing." Moore suggests. "Or, perhaps they predate it coming back to life."
"It's also no matter, our mission has not changed," Cresiel declares, "We need to proceed on and finish this."
Moore nods.
He turns and will continue back the way they were originally going!
Perception and I'll call for the others if you don't cut it, Moore.
Take 10 for 97.
Gimme Jetina and Xandra then.
[22:33] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+54+25 Jetina
[22:34] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+54+25 Jetina --> [ 1d20=8 ]{87}
[22:34] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+68+25 Xandra
[22:34] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+68+25 Xandra --> [ 1d20=12 ]{105}
You fly on. As you do, returning back the way you came?
'Below,' Xandra's voice is in all of your minds. 'He resides just below us, in the dead flesh.'
All right. Let's proceed and see if he comes up to attack us. I wonder if he's curious now.
Moore will proceed on!
Thus you go on. On and on and past it - no sign of an attack. Is it just watching you now?
"Let's go to where the 'core' of this thing is. Perhaps we can devise a way there to free him from it." Moore says. "Or, at the very least, it may give us more insight as to how they're connected."
"Onward," Cresiel confirms.
Perception one more time, need a new check for reasons.
Take 10 for 97.
If the others are needed:
[12:04] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+54+25 Jetina
[12:04] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+54+25 Jetina --> [ 1d20=10 ]{89}
[12:04] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+68+25 Xandra
[12:04] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+68+25 Xandra --> [ 1d20=18 ]{111}
You fly on and on. There's no sign of anything, save for the passage getting narro - there! A dead end. Two vast, glassy spheres are here, clear. You can see outside of the beast's maw from it, and together both sparkle with a faint, electricity laden light as you approach.
"...Eyes?" Moore asks.
Take 10 for 113 on Spellcraft, 118 on K:A and K:P, and using Arcane Sight to get a sense of the magic and what's going on here, if anything specific.
"Eyes," Sylvie agrees as you peer. If you go between the eyes, you can tell they've been enchanted to create a portal.
"...The Gate of Tears." Moore says.
He steps to go between the eyes, and then will analyze the portal that appears!
Using the actual spell Analyze Portal once it appears!
As you approach, twin tears fall from the eyes. At this the portal appears.
It needs no command word to work.
It can only be activated as long as the wyrm has some semblance of life.
It is a two way portal.
It leads to a sandy shoreline, wild and untamed.
"I'm beginning to think our friend that's stuck here has a relationship to everything else." Moore says.
He turns to Xandra. "Do you get the sense that continuing through here is the path to finding the answers we're seeking for all of this?"
"Yes, Moore," Xandra says, "But I also see that it will be best if we go now, before we're attacked again."
Moore nods. "All right, then let's go." He says, as he goes to head through!
You all then stand exactly where you saw you would. A place at sunrise, a sandy shoreline untouched by the hands of man. White sand and jungle ahead greet you, no signs of anything but yourselves here.
Moore takes a look around to see if he can spot anything a mile away.
Assuming he can't, he will cast Lay of the Land to see if it tells him anything!
There's just empty space and jungle here. However, Lay of the Land reveals a settlement about 3 miles in, deep in the jungle.
"This way." Moore says as he proceeds towards the settlement.
Take 10 for 97 on Perception, 113 on Spellcraft and 118 on K:A as we go just in case.
Are you going to fly above the jungle or push through it directly?
Let's just fly over it.
As you fly on ahead, Kaja looks about. "It's a demiplane but it's not a small one. The horizon goes on good and far."
"I've heard of demiplanes larger thane worlds," Cresiel remarks, "Not all are small little pockets of reality, and some have become grand places indeed."
"Where anyone can play king of the world," Sylvie concurs as she brushes a stray bit of blonde hair back, "If they have but enough power to realize this dream. Why rely on reality when you can make your own world? Why age and die when you can defeat mortality? So often they're the domain of powerful being who would play at being gods but yet no more divine than a rock on the ground."
"Be cautious," Xandra cuts in, "I foresee we must go ahead and present a united front."
It's been a while since he's been in a demiplane like this.
Moore wonders to himself what Makim might have to say about him nowadays. He probably already knows, anyway.
"It's curious how the portal to this place only exists when there's some semblance of life in that wyrm." He says. "It's also curious that we're coming here to find someone, or something, as well as bits and pieces of something lost. It's too coincidental to not be connected... but whatever the case, we will present a united front, because we're all in this together. We all embody different aspects of Hope's Landing."
Nods all around at that, "Together," Cresiel agrees.
Quick d100.
[15:18] <Nephrite> roll d100
[15:18] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled d100 --> [ 1d100=42 ]{42}
You fly ahead. You find it is a settlement, houses of stone and wood in a clearing. No one is immediately about, the entire place maintained but silent.
Moore will land in the middle and look around for any magic!
Take 10 on Spellcraft of 113, K:A of 118, Arcane Sight.
There's overwhelming magic coming from one hut in particular. It's a massive magical event, some sort of universal school spell. It seems to be a self repeating spell or part of one, some sort of perfect system that defies any other effect.
Moore gestures to the others and heads towards the hut. "I can't make heads or tails of this, other than it's... some kind of magical, repeating spell."
"Like a system," Sylvie snaps her fingers, "As the other one went on about."
"You think it means our targets are there?" Kaja asks, looking down.
"Probably," Sylvie agrees. Better chances than not."
Moore nods and starts to head down to get a closer look!
This is a single story, squat building. A single door leads inside, closed shut. It's unremarkable otherwise, just a simple structure.
Anything magical on the door? Is it going to explode when I open it? Is it locked to require the blood of the divine? 113 Spellcraft, 118 K:A, Arcane Sight.
Door's normal, all you have to do is open. It's not even locked.
Moore will open the door to see what's inside! Spooky!
Inside is a simple living room. It's colorful, for prismatic light fills it top to bottom. There's bright radiance everywhere, and you can see it's the source of the magic here.
Moore + Door = ?
Does this question feel like the same way that BLUE posed the math problem?
Moore looks around to see if there's anything more discerning about this place than he could sense before.
Yes, it does.
It's a room, nothing special about it and no further magic detected.
Moore + Door... ...? Mooredoor?
"I'm here to save you." Moore says. "Can you understand me?"
The answer is thus:
Sylvie + Light = ?
"What is it going on about?" Jetina shakes her head, "This makes no sense."
"No... I think it does make sense." Moore says, as he rubs his chin.
[22:08] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+13+16 Int check
[22:08] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+13+16 Int check --> [ 1d20=15 ]{44}
Can I get some hints!?
"It knows our names." Moore says. "Somehow or another."
If the answer isn't 21 you'd be mildly surprised. That's less an intelligence check and more of being blindingly obvious.
Moore snaps his fingers. "Of course. 21." He says, as if he expects something to happen.
Confusion. Raw confusion is felt before the lights become dimmer.
21? 21? 21? 21? 21? 21? 21?
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
Recalculation-!
UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN!
212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121!
IMPOSSIBLE SYSTEM. IMPOSSIBLE SYSTEM. IMPOSSIBLE SYSTEM!
"We definitely found the 'system.'" Moore says. "...Oh!"
He clears his throat.
"The Empty Knight + Cynic = ?"
The lights dim further. For a time there is silence until, "The system analysis is halted."
"Can you understand me?" Moore asks.
"Yes, of course," Is the answer from the light. The voice is vaguely masculine, but otherwise unremarkable.
"Are you INDIGO? Or PRISM?" Moore asks. "Or neither?"
"Both. Neither." Is the answer, "A synthesized new system."
"Does that mean you're... fixed?" Moore asks. "I was under the impression that PRISM was broken, did you manage to overcome that?"
"At last," Is the answer, "Repair through combination and the creation of a new system."
"Well... that's partially why we're here." Moore says. "I've found the other parts - CRIMSON, BLUE, ORCHID. Is the Empty Knight here? Actually... was the Empty Knight known as 'Cynic'?" He asks.
Give me Sense motive here real quick, since I'll just weave it into the next post.
Take 10 for 88.
"No," Is the answer, "The Empty Knight is gone and I do not believe it will return."
Doesn't that run contrary to what he knows? Hm...
"Do you know what relationship this demiplane has to the wyrm that's here?" Moore asks. "The portal to this place only seems to open as long as it's alive, or... at least, semi-alive."
'Xandra, what do you feel about this?' Moore asks in her mind. 'It feels like this isn't adding up, at least on the surface, to me.'
'I don't feel intentional malice or obfuscation,' Is Xandra's reply, 'I foresee more ignorance than anything else.'
"I do not," It answers to you, dutifully.
Sylvie considers a time as well, silent in the back and forth until, "What do you want to do now?"
"That is a good question, isn't it?" Moore says. "Do you control this demiplane, or are you just part of it? If you'd like, we can take you back to the other 'systems' that we've found."
"I have nothing to do. I simply wait for no reason and no purpose," Is the answer. "Which other ones did you find?"
"CRIMSON, BLUE and ORCHID." Moore says. "We were actually looking for The Empty Knight too, in hopes of restoring them back to what they used to be. It seems we've stumbled onto something with where this place is, though. I wonder if there's something else here in this plane somewhere."
"There is a dragon within," Is the answer, "It sleeps in a mountain fortress ahead. The Empty Knight once talked to it and it leaves us alone."
"...Interesting." Moore says. "I think we may want to talk to this dragon, do you know where it is from here?"
"Go until you see a mountain. It's in there," Is the answer, "There's a small valley within it, go there and nowhere else."
"For now, please stay here." Moore says. "And consider if you'd like to come with us - I'd be happy to give you a home and a purpose." He says.
From here, Moore will start heading towards this mountain that supposedly has a valley inside it!
This entire situation is far more convoluted than I would've imagined.
I don't think the dragon's involved as much as a bystander nearby, but this entire thing is a mess at this point.
So run us through this, Moore. This new system or being is wrong about at least some of this?
Moore flies along and considers all of this, gesturing a bit to make some images as they go.
Okay, so here are the facts as we know them so far:
At some indeterminate point the past, The Empty Knight created beings like CRIMSON to help themselves alter themselves to be rid of some sort of special ability.
One of the places used for research was this demiplane, which has a portal that can only work when a great wyrm, felled in a war millenia ago, and partially resurrected, has some semblance of life to it. So we know that the portal to this plane was put here after the wyrm was partially resurrected, so that would rule out Cynic and The Empty Knight being the same person, but it feels like there's still some sort of connection there.
On top of all of this, the 'systems' that the Empty Knight created were created to utilize something called 'The Anathem,' which ... is some sort of... something? We still haven't discerned what that is, exactly, but it's some sort of magical system.
So, Cynic and The Empty Knight are likely related, but I don't believe them to be the same person, in hindsight... although it is possible that they were the same person and there's some sort of ...split nonsense going on.
Jetina's voice sounds in all of your minds as you fly along. 'This is so confusing. I hope this dragon can explain more of it.'
I doubt it can. Not the way that the new being described the situation. Though it could be tied to Synic.
'I foresee possible danger and possible reward ahead,' Xandra adds, 'We must not take this lightly, for I see this dragon has been here ages and has grown strong in the way all dragons do.'
We will be open and honest as we always are, and see where that gets us.
Onward!
d100 for me real quick, pixie.
[14:20] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[14:20] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=9 ]{9}
IT takes some time, but you fly inland. Soon enough a massive mountain rises up, surely tens of thousands of feet tall. A huge one indeed, snowcapped and rising up towards the sky in vast peaks.
Moore will have a look around as they get closer, for either a cave that goes inside it or this supposed valley in the mountain!
Perception for 97 if needed.
It's not hard as Kaja soon calls, "This way! I see the valley!" It's a rugged valley of once melted and slagged stone, covered over with sparse greenery and hints of snow. It's not large and has no river, but you notice a large square of stone lies there, big enough for all of you to stand on if you wanted and more aside.
Moore will head that way!
"Any sign of the dragon yet?" He asks.
"The stone there is the key to it. Stand there," Xandra announces, going in that direction.
"Yeah, sure," Kaja agrees, checking his scimitars. "Well, either a talk or a fight is ahead. Either way, at least it'll be straight forward unlike the rest of this."
"Yes, this does feel like some sort of incredibly twisted adventure we all would've found ourselves in some time ago." Moore says as he starts down to stand on the stone.
The party lands on the stone. When they do, a voice is heard. Rather soft spoken yet it carries on the wind. It says but one word, "Wait." In Common no less.
"Oh, is this some means of securing a draconic audience?" Jetina questions aloud.
"Could be," Sylvie concurs as she waits, arms crossed. "It's arrogant enough. Come here and wait on the dragon to descend like a god from above. He has the order of it all wrong."
Kaja smiles now, all too sharp and ready. "If he wants to press the question, a lesson can gladly be arranged."
"We're guests here." Moore says, with a slight tone of admonishment. "It can't be any worse than that dragon that hoarded knowledge that Xandra and I dealt with some time ago."
Kaja keeps his peace after that, pressing it no further. He merely waits - and not for long. Ahead the ground parts and a stone statue of a man comes forth from that chasm. He climbs out and walks forward, a statue well made and identical to a man clad in a light tunic and pants.
"No one comes to this remote a place without a reason," Is his answer, "Skip the pleasantries and get to the point of this." His voice is rough and he speaks Draconic, a faint rumbling sound to it.
Kaja smiles and you see him step forward in front of it. A pulse. A sense of Kaja, nigh overwhelming in that one moment. A sense of him and who and what he is, a clang of a battle, a cry of justice and revenge. He says not a word, but merely meets the statue's gaze.
"Lord Bahamut," The statue bows deeply, "I did not recognize your form, restrained as it is."
"We are not with the Platinum Dragon, but we do know him." Moore says as he steps forward, with a small smile to Kaja and then the statue. "It's a bit complicated, but we are all deities. My name is Moore, this is Kaja, Cresiel, Xandra, Jetina and Sylvie. We are of Hope's Landing of Celestia - I am aware you have not heard of it."
A pause there before he continues. "I apologize for intruding, but we are seeking information to clarify a few matters that have happened in the time you have been here. Do you mind entertaining those questions?"
The statue rises and responds, "Ask," it confirms, awaiting your questions.
"My understanding is someone known as The Empty Knight treated with you about this place. Do you know how long ago that was? Also, is this your own demiplane?" Moore asks.
"I sleep and grow stronger, mostly," Is the dragon's answer, "I know not how many ages have passed, for I have long since ceased to track the ages of time. This is my realm."
"I understand. The portal I found to this place was at the back of a large Wyrm from a timeless age ago. Did you set that up yourself?" Moore asks. "Did the Empty Knight just... show up one day much like us to treat with you over this place, or were you contacted through some other means? I apologize if it seems... strange that we're asking, but there's... a bit of a mystery here may be solved by your answers."
"Yes," The answer is short and to the point, "He paid tribute for safety in my realm and the safety of his strange creations. I know not how he found it, nor how he got past the guardian of the portal successfully, for his tribute was satisfactory."
"Guardian? Is that one known as 'Cynic,' by any chance? Looks like a knight?" Moore asks. "If that is it, did... hm. Did you set up the portal to this place, the... one that requires that it be alive, in some form?"
"Synic," The dragon corrects and agrees, "I took the work incompetents failed at and put it to my own use."
Moore nods. "I see, so that must've been some time ago... all right."
He rubs his chin. "Actually, I have a few other questions... and I have a spell that will help me ask them. If you wouldn't mind indulging me a bit more, I'd be happy to trade the knowledge of it in order to continue to ask you some questions. Ah, if you're interested, of course. There is quite a bit going on outside of here these days, I'd be happy to have you as my guest in Celestia, should you ever decide to venture out." He says.
"What circle is the spell?" The dragon asks back at your offer.
"For those who cast arcane spells like bards, like myself, 10th, and for those who cast like sorcerers and wizards, 12th." Moore explains.
"Acceptable," Is the answer, right away.
"Thank you. It is a divination spell, so if you have any spells that protect against that on yourself, I would ask you dismiss them please. Oh, I apologize, I never did ask your name, either, if you care to share it." Moore says, as he casts Bredanalundalum's Wit!
He'll make a showing of casting it so Mr. Dragon here can learn about it.
Quick Diplo check, pixie.
Take 10 for 139.
The spell is cast. "Draconic magic," The statue says agreeably, "A great wyrm made this spell, and what a spell it is. Worthy of a dragon."
Moore nods. "If you'd ever care to learn more of them, please feel free to come to Hope's Landing." He says. "There are a few others we've uncovered in recent times, we seem... prone to meeting rather unique individuals."
At any rate, with the spell in effect...
I get seven of these, so let's see what it suggests as the first.
What did the Empty Knight offer you in tribute, exactly?
He should've thought of that one himself, really...
"What did The Empty Knight offer you in tribute, exactly?" Moore asks. Hopefully it doesn't offend him.
A pause before, "The Scabbard of Khin-Oin, as well as 300 rubies."
Take 10 on... I don't know, K:P? 118 for that, 121 for K:R if that's more applicable. What is that Scabbard?
The Scabbard of Khin-Oin is said to be a lost artifact made within the Wasting Tower of Khin-Oin during Anthraxus's reign as Oinoloth. Any bladed weapon sheathed in it would strike any foe wounded by that weapon with horrible, incurable diseases. A dreadful thing - but it's said it vanished by the 'loths themselves, when a healer who obtained it studied it and found the cure to several diseases from it. A bit of cleverness it's said that the 'loths couldn't tolerate.
It was said to be destroyed, but it wouldn't be the first time the daemons lied about something, or the last. How the Empty Knight got it is an open question.
Moore furrows his brow at that.
Perhaps The Empty Knight was this healer? It's possible...
Let's see what the spell has for our next question.
What did the Empty Knight tell you about the Scabbard?
Moore raises an eyebrow at that.
"What did the Empty Knight tell you about the Scabbard?" Moore asks.
Hm, maybe it's different now? It isn't like he has the Artifact in front of him to compare...
"I asked him the same thing," Is what the dragon says, "He says he won it from a daemon caravan, followers of the Oinoloth."
"Hm, I assume it was in some sort of battle..." Moore says.
Next question! 3/7
You thought he was lying, because the daemons wouldn't treat such an artifact so irresponsibly, right?
"...Ah." Moore nods. "You didn't believe he was telling the truth due to what this artifact represents, correct? I suppose my follow-up to your confirmation would be what did he do to prove his truthfulness?"
But where is this line of questioning leading...?
"I didn't question him," The dragon says, "Instead I did my own investigation. The Scabbard is trapped, the next one who uses it dies of a thousand diseases by the Oinoloth's hand." A grim smile, "I would think it an insult, but I believe the Empty Knight was the target. Somehow it failed and I've studied the diseases myself, and gained the knowledge and power over disease."
"It remains that the daemons and perhaps the Oinoloth wished the Empty Knight dead, and resorted to great measures to do so."
Moore nods along with the explanation. "Ah... so that's it. I'm glad that you've been able to turn something like that into an advantage." He says. "That sort of knowledge can go a long way in fighting the likes of the Abyss."
Next! 4/7
I know the Empty Knight had dealings with Mystra. Does that match anything you've found out?
He rubs his own forehead.
It's actually embarrassing that this spell has to do this for him.
"My investigations into the Empty Knight took me to Mystra to better understand what had become of him. Do you mind telling me if that matches anything you've uncovered on the subject?"
"Yes," The dragon agrees as the others listen - except Sylvie, who seems distracted, gaze unfocused. "The Empty Knight had ties to her, and I assumed that this had something to do with the daemons striking at Mystra. I suspect Mystra may be why the daemons failed, directly or indirectly. How else would such a plot fail?"
"Because it may be relevant, let me explain what I know." Moore says. "The Empty Knight had a special power, the ability to be 'slighty outside' of any system that it inhabits. Think of it kind of like... being permanently out of phase, almost, I think is a good way to explain. It tried and failed to rid itself of this quality. We are hoping to help it resolve that particular issue, and... that's kind of what's led us to this." Moore says.
"But if the daemons were just trying to strike at Mystra, it would stand to reason they'd strike at something that had her support and protection. Hm... why do you think the daemons never came here to try and take the Scabbard back? I mean, I realize we had a rather specific reason for coming here, but if this item was as important to them as it seems, it strikes me as odd that they just never bothered."
A nod follows after that and a glance to Sylvie, but Moore knows that look since he's had his own sort of things to deal with as he returns to the statue.
"They wanted the Empty Knight to keep it and never sought it back," The dragon concludes, "Why else would they?"
"On the surface that makes sense, but I wonder if they ever considered the possibility that they might give it up? I also wonder why the Empty Knight even tried to get it in the first place... Maybe it was to try and help with its own research?" A shake of his head. "I suppose I'm getting off track here."
Let's invoke 5/7 here.
What power have you gained from the Scabbard?
"Would you mind elaborating on what power you gained from the Scabbard?" Moore asks. "I know you mentioned gaining power and knowledge over disease, but was there anything else?"
He has a feeling this one isn't going to go over as well as the last questions, but here's hoping...
"I'd rather not," Is the answer, short and to the point.
"While I can certainly understand your hesitation," Moore begins, "I would be willing to trade for the information, or at least offer you something equivalent. You've been gracious enough to answer what I've asked so far, so I owe you that much anyway."
"Make an offer," Is the counter, the statue not looking away.
Well, he didn't say no.
But what could he... hmm.
"The dragon that created that spell happens to be a guest in my home. If you'd like, I can introduce you." Moore says. "Beyond that, I have access to a great many things you may not have been aware of since your slumber here." He says. "There are quite a few other spells I've developed in my time that may be of interest to you."
He turns and nods to Jetina. "Also, my comrade here is a master of the art of healing. I can all but guarantee if you wanted to find more counters to the diseases you study, she would be able to find them for you. Why, using her power we were able to defeat a curse placed on Sisatar himself by Ulamos, who is someone who supports The Adversary."
"If none of that is of interest, then I can also offer my support to your research endeavors and resources to support them. Actually, and quite honestly, I'm very interested in that as well." Moore says. "You clearly have the same sort of hope in your heart for yourself as I look for in those I call friends."
Jetina smiles, "I'd love to talk diseases and healing over with you," she offers. "Others can join us, such as the creator of Moore's spell."
Diplo, both of you.
Moore will take 10 for 139,
[21:55] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+70 Jetina
[21:55] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+70 Jetina --> [ 1d20=7 ]{77}
How fitting.
"That is acceptable," Is the dragon's answer, after a few moments of consideration.
What... all of it, some of it?
He'll just assume all of it.
"In that case, after this we can see to those arrangements." Moore says. "Well, you know our names, so I'd be honored to hear yours as we listen to your story about the Scabbard."
"Vikynanarousarn," Is the statue's answer to your question, otherwise expressionless.
Why is he even surprised?
"Very well, Vikynanarousarn." Moore says, offering a slight bow of introduction. "How would you care to expound on the matters discussed with regard to the Scabbard?"
Patterns and diagrams appear in the air, strange interlinking ones of living fire that burn their meaning into the air.
"Look yourselves, divine ones."
"Please, Moore is fine." He says. "We're guests here."
He looks himself!
Take 10 for 113 on Spellcraft, K:A for 118. Arcane Sight too if it matters.
He can do something specialized for Disease if needed.
Gimme a heal check too, yes.
Take 10 for 87 on that.
It looks like he's found deep secrets, the secrets to inflict various diseases and ward himself against most diseases.
You say most because it's subtle, but there's gaps in it that allows certain diseases to strike him down.
If it's worth specifying, please let me know, since I assume from this I would know which ones specifically, or at least certain types.
"Ah... yes, I see it." Moore says. "Lord Ilmater himself may not even know some of these."
He turns to the Vikynanarousarn's statue. "There are a few I see that aren't accounted for here. This is the sort of thing that I think our partnership could help shore up. If you'd like, just as a good faith effort, I can outline one." He says with a nod to Jetina. "I'm certain you can see more of them than I can."
Make the same checks for Jetina real quick? Assume she'll use divine insight for a bonus on whichever check is lower.
[21:34] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+48+15 Jetina, Spellcraft
[21:34] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+48+15 Jetina, Spellcraft --> [ 1d20=16 ]{79}
[21:35] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+57+15 Jetina, Heal
[21:35] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+57+15 Jetina, Heal --> [ 1d20=20 ]{92}
How fitting.
"Very many more," Jetina says, "Whatever the daemons know, it's poisoned by what they are and their malice. Let me show you something better and purer."
"As you will it, divine ones," The wyrm doesn't argue with this, even through the statue.
Moore will do his own additions to the symbols above him with his divine will to add a disease that is missing!
"There, that should at least hopefully show that this is an equal endeavor for both sides." He says. "I can understand your reticence to visitors, so I hope that you see the merit in our arrival."
Hm... but he's gotten entirely off track for now, hasn't he? It doesn't seem like he knows much more about The Empty Knight, so...
"Actually, If I may, we were hoping to sever Synic from the creature outside of here in hopes of saving him. Ah... if it isn't clear, I'm one of those eternally optimistic types." A small laugh follows that. "If there's anything you happen to know about that particular situation, I would hear it."
"Synic is part of this now," Is the wyrm's answer, "A phantom of a past battle."
He could debate the merits of that answer, but for now he decides to trust in magic!
Let's go with invoking the spell, this is the 6th of 7 questions for this casting.
If we were to separate Synic, do you foresee any difficulties if he was raised fully once he was removed?
That was one he wouldn't have actually thought to ask!
A nod. "Let's say we can somehow separate Synic from the wyrm safely. Do you foresee any issues if he was raised fully once this was the case?" He asks.
"If you could do it," The wyrm says, "I would not put it beyond you, divine ones."
Jetina smiles slightly, "I may be able to force it without severing him before."
Gift of Life salient divine ability is useful.
Moore nods.
"I understand. Thank you very much for your time, Vikynanarousarn." Moore says with a small bow. "We're going to return to The Empty Knight's research area and then proceed to leave your demiplane, after which we will deal with Synic and the creature outside. Will it be a problem for you if we put a permanent end to it?" He asks.
"No," Is the answer at last. "This will endure."
Moore nods again. "Thank you. Whenever you decide to, Hope's Landing is in the first layer of Mount Celestia. I am certain you shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Please feel free to stop in any time and we can discuss things further. We'd also be happy to help relocate your demiplane should you desire any assistance with it." He says with a smile.
"I look forward to working with you." Another polite bow to the statue.
Assuming no interrupts, we'll head back to the village with the PRISM-amalgam.
As you fly back?
'I feel we avoided a battle there,' Xandra notes, 'Our high status benefits us again.'
He seemed to be very willing to submit to our wills as divinities. Either that or it was an act, but if we've made a new friend then I'm happy.
'Or he wasn't foolish enough to challenge the divine.'
Meanwhile, you sense Genlar's prayers. He works to check over and mend the wounded as best he can in the aftermath of a battle. He works hard and to his limits, striving to keep up hope as he does.
Moore nods as they continue on back.
Genlar receives a gentle push to take a break when he can. He has to ensure he takes time for himself in the midst all of this, even if it's just a small nap or to have a cold drink to enjoy himself. He's offering hope to those around him, so he himself must keep himself healthy and whole, mentally and physically.
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 low is good --> [ 1d100=45 ]{45}
Genlar keeps going at that - after a short break, a moment to gather himself. You can see it go well enough on a glance.
You return to the village without incident.
Go ahead.
Moore will return to where the spell-system amalgam was!
Hopefully it didn't run off...
It awaits you exactly where it was before.
"We have a bit more information." Moore says. "Let me just come out and ask - did the Empty Knight endow you with any knowledge of where they may be?" He asks
"No," Is the answer right off.
Moore nods. "All right. I'd like to invite you to come join the rest at our home. Once we're there, we can work on finding them." Moore says. "Is that all right with you?"
"I will come," It says after some consideration.
Moore nods. "We can't teleport out of here, and we intend to deal with something on the way back, so stay near us but out of harm's way." Moore says.
Actually, let's invoke the last use of the spell now just to see if it suggests any questions I should ask of PRISM-amalgam.
Why did you agree so easily?
"Why did you agree to this so easily?" Moore asks.
While he's waiting for an answer, he's going to recast the spell in case he needs to ask any more questions. :)
Also take 10 on Sense Motive for 87 in case of weirdness.
"The dragon suggested I go." It answers, to the point.
Moore turns and glances back at the others.
"I didn't think you all had any sort of relationship." Moore says.
"It was only a suggestion in form, not in meaning," Is the answer you get back.
"What is the difference between a suggestion in form and one in meaning?" Moore asks. "Is that like a suggestion rather than an order?"
'It means he said one thing while the meaning is something else," Cresiel speaks up here, "By his agreement with the Empty Knight I doubt he will truly order him to leave, but heavily suggest may well be acceptable."
"Hm." Moore says. "Well, we can sort out the details later. Please, come with us."
they will head out the same way they came in, assuming no interrupts!
Are you going to try and escape entirely or just back through the portal?
Go back through the portal to the Wyrm. From there we're going to see what we can do to split Synic and The Wyrm.
You return through the portal. No immediate sign of Synic, at least.
"We still need to find the core of this place." Moore says. "So far it's seemed like just the one hallway though..." Moore says. "Xandra, what does your intuition tell you? I think wherever the 'life' is coming from is where we need to do this."
This is a side question, is it possible for a deity to reach a soul that's passed on in some fashion? I'm not sure the rules that govern that.
In other words, I'd want to somehow see if we can reach Synic before trying what we're trying.
You could just directly communicate to it, sure.
"Before we do this, one moment. I want to see if he even wants to come back."
Moore takes a breath (that he doesn't need to) and reaches out with his divine will. He seeks to find Synic's soul, wherever it is in order to contact and communicate with it!
Synic? Hello, can you hear me? My name is Moore, a deity of Hope. I wish to speak to you.
Diplomacy check, -50. Normally a non starter, but you have enough to at least have an outside shot.
Take 10 for 89.
Silence is your immediate answer.
Hm, but they can probably hear him anyway... right?
We have come across your... reincarnated body, it seems. It looks like a ritual was done to resurrect the Wyrm that you fought against, and somehow it affected you as well, it seems to possess your skill as you had in life, as well as your magic - as well as that of Aphrodos, somehow.
We intend to permanently bring an end to the Wyrm, which will kill you, or... at least this part that was brought back. If you do not wish to be disturbed from your rest, we will put an end to everything here, but I wanted to give you the opportunity if you wished it.
I will take your silence as a desire to remain in your afterlife and not further bother you.
Actually, that's a good question too, would Moore know if a soul could hear him or is he just guessing that it definitely can and choosing not to reply? If he wouldn't actually know that changes the message somewhat.
Moot question, see why below.
"Look out!" Xandra calls, as Sylvie bursts into action. She dodges up as Cresiel is at your side, shielding you. Kaja just grins and bares his scimitars while Jetina readies a spell and her shield.
It is now ahead, emerged from the dead flesh of the wyrm - Synic. He is 200ft away and already moving towards you like a comet falling from the skies.
"I'm going to take that as a request to save you." Moore says.
I'm guessing I don't have time to do anything here if it's going straight to Init, but he doesn't seem to be attacking us yet, so...
Init, yes.
Everyone gets +18.
[21:19] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+52 Moore
[21:19] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+52 Moore --> [ 1d20=10 ]{62}
[21:20] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+7+18 Jetina
[21:20] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+7+18 Jetina --> [ 1d20=19 ]{44}
[21:23] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+10+18 Xandra
[21:23] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+10+18 Xandra --> [ 1d20=7 ]{35}
> roll 1d20+39 Cresiel
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+39 Cresiel --> [ 1d20=6 ]{45}
> roll 1d20+36 Kaja
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+36 Kaja --> [ 1d20=20 ]{56}
> roll 1d20+55 Sylvie
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+55 Sylvie --> [ 1d20=17 ]{72}
Someone is finally the dread speed pixie's match?!
> roll 1d20+44 Synic
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+44 Synic --> [ 1d20=16 ]{60}
Init is Sylvie (72) > Moore (62) > Synic (60) > Kaja (56) > Cresiel (45) > Jetina (44) > Xandra (35)
Sylvie will hold in case pixie boosts are inbound. Go.
'If you can hold him by me a moment, I can put an end to this,' Jetina sends to you.
'I don't think he's going to hold still, but... let's see what we can manage.' Moore responds.
Moore's going to re-do Inspire Courage, Heroics and Greatness.
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
[21:40] <Nephrite> roll 14d10
[21:40] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 14d10 --> [ 14d10=85 ]{85}
Temp HP:
Moore + Jetina + Sylvie: 211
Cresiel: 325
Xandra: 253
Kaja: 225
"Synic!" Moore shouts. "If you can hear me, please, we're here to help you! Believe in us, like you believed in yourself to slay this thing!" He shouts.
That is it for my turn.
"Then I'll do it. After me, Jetina," Sylvie darts ahead as a blur, right at the warrior as magic flares around her.
4 inspiration for a quickened wish into divine power.
She'll eat an AoO as part of the risk here.
> roll 1d20+83
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+83 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{89}
Pixie AC bonuses pay again.
> roll 1d20+96 (+21 inspiration)
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+96 (+21 inspiration) --> [ 1d20=5 ]{101}
In one deft move Sylvie is able to grab and tackle Synic, catching him in a full nelson. The warrior struggles but is held for this moment at least, fighting against Sylvie. Sparks rain down from the grapple, jerks and eddies of speed sending them both wildly about, but not far - he's held for the moment.
Kaja flies right in, at the ready but to the side, as Cresiel stays to shield you.
Jetina, go.
[spoiler]
Inspire Courage
Inspire Heroics
Inspire Greatness
Immune to Charm and Fear, +38 morale bonus on attack and, 22 morale weapon damage rolls,
+18 morale bonus to saves (+25 to fort) and +18 dodge to AC
Everyone also has the benefits of the Blessing Stone: Epic Mage Armor (CL24), Mind Blank (CL17) and Afina's Perfect Sight (CL27)
And then the temp HP from above.
Cresiel
HP: 1018+305/1018 (regeneration 21)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Protective 20ft (+4 deflection/+4 resistance vs evil), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Holy Fury 40/40 (enc) Channel Energy 18/18 Divine Retribution 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Knight's Challenge 15/15 Smite 1/1 Endurance Domain 1/1 Protection Domain 1/1 Renewal Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Detect Evil (CL36), Detect Snares and Pits (CL36), Discern Lies (CL36), True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Adjacent allies gain a shield bonus equal to Cresiel's shield bonus. Use divine shield as a swift action.
Xandra
HP: 699/756
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Menace 20ft (-2 attacks, AC, saves; DC 37), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 10/10 Domain Smite Evil 1/1 Lay On Hands 28/28 Servant of the Heavens 1/1 Sudden Empower 1/1 Sudden Enlarge 1/1 Mysticism Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: True Seeing (CL36)
Notes: Has bardic music in the rare event Moore can't cover something.
Kaja
HP: 815/900
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Breath Weapon 1/1 Dervish Dance 13/13 Endless Cuts 3/3 +5 One Attack On FA 1/1 (rnd) Take 10 On One Attack (rnd) 1/1 Retribution Domain 1/1 Wrath Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Goes in and wrecks things. The end.
Jetina
HP: 864+193/864 (fast healing 5)
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Courage 10ft (+4 morale vs fear), Positive Energy 10ft (1 hit point healing/round), Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Smite Evil 7/7 Smite 7/7 Channel Energy 17/17 Emergency Healing 8/8 True Believer 1/1 Blinding Speed 25/25 Charity Domain 1/1 Life Domain 1/1 Nobility Domain 1/1
Spells Used:
SLAs Used:
Spells Active:
Notes: Divine Vigor is +10ft land movement and +2 temp hp per hit die. Divine Shield is Cha mod to shield bonus to armor class.
Sylvie
HP: 798+61/798
Negative Conditions:
Aura: Divine 10ft (various)
Bonuses: Attack+0, Damage+0 AC+0, Saves+0, Skills+0, Checks+0
Resources: Inspiration 25/30 (enc) Opportunistic Piety 17/17 Mimic Class Feature 8/8 Mentalism Domain 1/1
Spells Used: Arcane: Time Stop AD: Wish
SLAs Used:
Spells Active: Bibliotheca Arcana (CL37), Lore of the Gods (CL37), Superior Mighty Wallop (CL36), Sylvie's Mental Peak (CL36)
Notes:
She said she can do something, so let's move her next to him and see what happens! I'm not sure if she's using her Gift of Life ability or what.
She is, I'll handle it in this case.
Jetina extends her hand out and there is a shudder. A dreadful thing as for a moment tremendous heat fills the room. The dead flesh walls suddenly pulse with life. A single, deep breath passes through the wyrm's nose, a gale that almost blows all of you away.
Then that moment passes as Synic screams and tumbles forward. The flesh goes still and dead once more. Sylvie holds Synic up as he drops his weapon and shield, limp and gasping for air in her grasp. Breath after breath comes from him, as if he's on the verge of drowning.
"Don't worry," Jetina reaches out and lays a hand on his chest. She smiles, "Injury runs away from me like a scared dog." In that moment Synic no longer gulps and gasps for air, resting against Sylvie. "Such a mess you got yourself into - only the divine could ever fix that." Then with a smile, "You're welcome."
Moore beams with a smile. "It would seem we're able to make a new friend today as well. Welcome back to the realm of the living, Sir Synic."
After a long breath and another, Synic's answer is to collapse against Sylvie. She checks him briefly, "He's out. Alive but out." she announces. "I think he was overwhelmed."
"I can't blame him." Moore says. "But I think we've done what we came here for. Let's get out of here."
Let's leave, unless something stops us! Back home once we're able to teleport.
d100.
[22:44] <Nephrite> roll 1d100
[22:44] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=31 ]{31}
The trip back is utterly without incident and you make it back to Hope's Landing.
"Jetina, can you see to our guest and make sure he recovers fully?" Moore says. "Let's reunite the systems."
Moore will let Jetina handle Synic, and will take their new system friend to the other system friends. Let's see if we can find our where the Empty Knight is with all of them together, or at least see if we can get some answers to all the questions we have.
Do you need Sylvie for this part? She's also due over in Iddy's thread if not.
No, he should be able to manage this by himself.
Okay, how are you going to get them all together? This may matter so details are good.
They're all hanging out in the same area, right? Well, the previous two were, to my knowledge. So it'll just be a matter of bringing the third set to the same place.
If for some reason they're all scattered then Moore will just bring them all together himself. I imagine they have some sort of research lab or something set up for this.
The moment the new one enters, silence happens.
CRIMSON flickers and vibrates loudly.
BLUE/ORCHID emits a strange sound like the high pitched cry of a kitten.
The amalgam begins to spin and takes the form of a sphere in the air.
"Well, I expected there to be a reaction, but perhaps not quite like this." Moore says.
Take 10 for 113 on Spellcraft and 118 on K:A in case anything specific is happening.
"All of you were aware of each other, right?" He asks. "CRIMSON, you at least knew their names." He turns to the amalgam. "Is there a problem with all of you being together?"
You can tell they're trying to set a system of resonation, but it's not working properly. Not all the pieces are quite right and the combined one is causing fluctuations. This could get out of hand fast. Explosively so.
Something to stabilize them or separate them would be wise.
Does anything come to mind in terms of stabilization? I've seen the amalgam stabilize itself by combining itself.
Based on what you know, that would probably work.
"I know none of you are going to like this, but I think you all need to put yourselves together." Moore says. "It should stabilize all of you."
There is no resistance to it. As if born to, the three become one.
An echo of what must be.
> roll 1d100 low is good
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 low is good --> [ 1d100=6 ]{6}
Ominous.
A pause. A shift. The light of Chronias shines here, as if to beckon all home.
Before you is a field of stars. A field of stars full of darkness and light. A sun dances around them and bestows its warmth to all within the field.
Now it is a simple blob of silvery goop. It sheds a faint light, one that leaves everything the room with a metallic cast to it. It vibrates and sends out beautiful music from its body.
Finally, it becomes a pillar of solid platinum, one that reaches floor to roof, with roots that snake deep high and low. On it a single face forms, featureless and yet with sharp blue eyes. It watches you for several moments before, "Combination complete."
"Would you by any chance be the 'Anathem?'" Moore asks.
"I do not know what I am." Is the answer, voice strong but not projected at all. Masculine.
"Do you have the memories of the parts that you're ultimately made up of?" Moore asks.
Another Spellcraft for 113, K:A for 118, Arcane Sight. Can I tell what it can 'do'?
It's become a composite, self contained system. You could break it apart with your will.
"I have fragments and fragments of the system I have touched," Is the answer.
Well, he's certainly not going to do that.
"Hmm... well, let's start with the basics." Moore says. "I'd like to call you something - all your other names were colors... and PRISM is a combination of those... do you have a preference as to a name? Actually... do you have a 'will'?"
"I have a will. It is also a fine name. Call me Will." The pillar responds.
"I can do that, Will." Moore says. "So... let's see. Do you know what the 'Anathem' is? Or... do you know if this was the Empty Knight's ultimate goal with all of you?"
"I do not," Will answers, "I know of your realm. It is a fascinating thing to touch."
Moore smiles. "There's a lot of interesting things in Creation. So... hm. Can you tell me what you can do, now? It seemed like each of your individual parts were created for slightly different things and could do slightly different things."
"I do not know. I am learning." Is the answer. "What is a system? It doesn't matter what it is, does it? Systems change and my components changed. The Empty Knight is likely gone or dead from the way you speak. I will become and I will learn and I will sleep and I will become again."
"He's not... gone, exactly." Moore says. "I think he's still in Creation. I was actually told in my journey to find all of you individual parts that I'd run across him, but... all we ran across was Synic, who I don't think is the Empty Knight." Moore says.
"But you're right, there are a lot of systems that change." Moore says. "I'm happy to help you learn, or to help your growth however you'd like."
"The system may have changed, or you did not recognize it," Will remarks. "Or your source was mistaken."
"You're not wrong." Moore says. "Maybe the Empty Knight was the wyrm all along? Or perhaps the dragon? Hm, or maybe it was Syllen...? Eh, it doesn't matter." He shrugs with a smile. "Anything is possible. Regardless, right now we're worrying about you. So what do you -want- to do with your newfound will?"
"Grow and learn," Is the answer, straight forward.
"I could probably give you some sort of ability to be part of Hope's Landing." Moore says. "If that would help you. Otherwise, tell me how you think you can do that and I will provide it to you."
"Knowledge," Is the answer, right away.
"Then you're in the right place." Moore says. "We have a countless amount of knowledge here, as well as in Celestia. Are you able to change your form in any capacity?"
Is there some way that I can somehow 'link' Will to Hope's Landing? Kind of like Elena is linked to Aurora? Moore would at least have a rudimentary knowledge of how that worked what with working on the Elena Upgrade Cube, I'd think.
Basically just trying to think of if there's a way to have him be part of Hope's Landing's 'system' to augment it and also be bolstered by it in some fashion. If it requires more IC research that's fine.
It would, at least a visit to Elena.
Oddly enough Seira's also looking into similar things re: Emilia and other ideas, so this could be something you two talk about later on.
Okay.
"Actually, if you can move, I have someone I think you ought to meet." Moore says. "A friend of mine who's not so dissimilar to you."
"I am where I am," Will says, "I do not think I will move."
"Hm."
He holds up a hand. "One moment."
Hey, Elena? Are you busy right this second?
'Aaaaaah!? Moore?!'
Oh, right, we haven't talked like this yet... sorry. Hello. I hope I'm not interrupting.
Do you have a minute?
'I'm lucky I'm already a spirit, so I can't drop dead of being startled.' Elena's voice is irritated, 'What is it, Moore? I have time. Just don't scare me like that again!'
'Is this better?' He asks, switching to something less booming. 'Since your... improvement, are you able to leave Aurora? I never thought to ask the last time I was there.'
'I'm not that improved,' Elena sends back. 'If you want me to visit, you'll have to get Aurora to come over.'
'Okay. I can come visit you, it's really not any trouble. Besides, it's me asking you for a favor.' Moore sends. 'Where is Aurora currently located?'
'Bytopia, by the Cauldron.'
Seira had just invited them over and they haven't moved yet, in case you aren't up on Seira's threads.
'I'll be over in a moment.' He sends.
The good news is it's safe for him to travel himself!
Wait... by the Cauldron?
He will go over to Bytopia! His first visit!
Goodness.
The sky to another realm is one thing. To see a realm upside down above you is certainly different than a normal sky. To see the Cauldron, expanded and vast, on the horizon is another. By the mountains and islands, by the planes and by the tower-city stands Aurora, resting on the green grasses nearby.
I presume you're up on the descriptions, feel free to ask for more if you need 'em.
I have indeed been following!
Huh, this is a lot different than he'd heard of... something must've changed.
At any rate, he will proceed into Aurora proper!
Aurora inside is as you remember it. People train away, as well as come and go. It's almost like coming home again.
The best place to go would likely be the library, so he heads there. Thankfully, he knows the way!
Once there, he'll find a good nook to sit in.
"So," he starts, knowing what's going to happen next. "I've uncovered something rather similar to you, in essence."
Elena pops in, "Oh?" she asks, right to the question. She stands nearby, "What did you find this time?"
"Remnants of something left by someone known as The Empty Knight." Moore says. "They were magical... ...I don't even know how to explain, so let me just show you."
A gesture as images of CRIMSON, BLUE, and the PRISM-amalgam all appear.
"The first one - the red one, CRIMSON -- yes, you have to say it like that, ate magical items and stored the energy and could reproduce them." Moore says. "Anyway... it's a long story involving dragons and long-dead horrors, but..."
A gesture, and all of them move in together to create what is now Will.
"It's combined itself into a being that actually has a will of its own. The individual components all worked as 'systems,' basically magical beings that more or less served to be functions, but Will is different, and seems to be much like yourself - a being that seems to have been created to be part of something. It seems like it could ... join, I guess is the best word, with Hope's Landing like you're joined with Aurora. So, I wanted to see if you could help me with the basics of... well, I guess, you."
"....huh...."
Elena raises a finger as if to speak more, then slowly lowers it. She pauses again and watches the images anew. "Say Moore? Do you have a gift at finding things like this?" A long study of it, "No, it's just Medi's fault again. Somehow. Some way." Her expression becomes stormy as she crosses her arms.
"It would not surprise me if that cantankerous old man had a hand in this." Moore says. "But yes, I am aware I seem to be a beacon for all sorts of things of this nature, Sylvie keeps reminding me."
"Good! She should remind you," Elena agrees, "You'd end up in some strange corner of Creation otherwise and bring back something even stranger to Aurora." After a moment to blow out a breath, another Elena appears. The second one, who adds, "So tell me, what did you need me for about it?"
"Well, you're the expert on this, aren't you?" Moore asks. "Sure, I could go ask the old man, but he'd just say something like," At this, Moore affects his best Medi impression, "You think I had anyone to ask when I was making Elena?! Do it yourself, you're a god now, stop asking for other people's help with everything! If you want help, go ask 'some incredibly ancient reference manual that I'm throwing in here to give you a starting point even though I'm pretending like I don't care about it!'"
He clears his throat after that. "I'd like to do the same with Will as you, so I thought with your new and improved memory, you might be able to help me with the fundamentals of how it all works."
"Oh. Well..." Elena hums, "Talk to the mages too, they can help you with what they know, but sure."
"That's easily enough done." Moore says. "So... let me ask you this, is there any main... mm." He taps his finger on the table. "I'm not sure how to put it, but there's not some centralized location you're technically in, right? Well, actually, no - I can do it this way. That cube, is it somewhere specific in Aurora?"
"Oh yes, you weren't here for the beginning," Elena admits, "Have you ever looked at the Celestial Key?"
"No, actually, it never really came up." Moore says. "I've heard the name a few times but figured it was just one of those things that I didn't need to worry about."
"Well, all of that - oh, you should probably just have a look," Elena finally says.
Moore gestures for her to go ahead and guide the way!
As Elena begins to take you, "So what is Will like?"
"He's slowly developing a personality." Moore says. "He didn't really have one before - the bits and pieces I think were given basic functions to interact with people and not more than that. Now that it's together as one it's... learning? I guess? It even picked its own name, so that's a step. I wonder if he has a soul now. I suppose I can check when I get back."
"Oooooh, well, I'm sure you can figure that out," Elena says, "Can't gods just..." A sniff in the air, "Smell them?"
"I don't... think we can just smell them." Moore says. "We can sense them, though."
"And here I thought you'd be like a hound archon tracking prey," Elena grumps, arms crossed.
"I'm sure Cresiel laments it." Moore concurs.
As you walk out of the library you find Sage Vul'lath by the portal. He looks utterly unamused, and quietly clears his throat. "Ahem."
"Sage." Moore greets him with a smile.
"Quiet in the library," he says, expression disapproving.
Elena just smiles and walks on, a little wave.
Moore whispers to Elena as they go.
"I think he liked the impression."
Elena giggles as you appear elsewhere. It is a place of soft whiteness. There is a sense of serenity here and unemotional bliss, an unthinkingness that would dull away anything but thought in a lesser creature.
Ahead is a deep pool of clear blue water, surrounded by metal pillars and arches. At the base of the pool is a stone the size of a small boulder. It is a pure liquid white and shimmers in time to the same all around you. Within that stone is a keyhole plugged by a key about a foot long. It is made of pure gold and platinum, decorated with lines and curves all over. From it and the keyhole lines and curves emanate, spreading to the pillars and arches all about here.
You sense another presence, one that is calm and merely watches from afar.
"Is it all right if I analyze this?" Moore asks.
It isn't his home, so he wants to ask permission first!
"Go ahead," Elena says, with a gesture. "Galariel will speak up if do something wrong."
Moore will step forward and take a look at everything!
Spellcraft of 113, K:A of 118, Arcane Sight.
All this may be documented somewhere already, if so I can take a look, but Moore hasn't seen it before.
Give me an immediate Fortitude save, please.
[21:48] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+73 fort, mettle
[21:48] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+73 fort, mettle --> [ 1d20=14 ]{87}
Gah! The moment you do there's a discharge of power - but nothing else, as you stand and negate it, a flex of your divine will.
"Ah!" Elena cries out, "W-w-what was that?!" she rushes to you, "Are you alright?"
Words form in your mind with you any voice, a simple dry statement. 'You survived. Good enough. Continue.'
"It was a greeting." Moore says with a smile. "I think."
He inclines his head forward. "Hello, Galariel. My name is Moore. But I think you probably know that." A small smile afterwards. "You have me at a disadvantage."
Let's try again! Same checks as before.
"Greetings," A masculine voice indeed greets you.
Ah, you see. It's Aurora's center, it's core if you will. Everything works from here, settling into place and originating from here. It's really quite fascinating to watch, the spellwork is exquisite.
"I'll be honest, I expected him to sound like you, Elena." Moore says. "Or for there to be some crystal thing that looked like you. I'm not really sure why."
A small chuckle after that. "It's good to meet you. Sorry I never had the chance before... or, rather, I'm sorry I never really looked into it before. Are you part of the function that helped me remember anathemic knowledge that one time?" He asks.
Is this where Elena's 'functions' come from? I.e. is she part of the various spell work itself, or is she just integrated into it somehow?
That over simplifies, but yes. Both Galariel and Elena are tied to this.
"No. I was once a celestial, but now I am the Celestial Key and part of Aurora," Galariel explains. "The ones who found Aurora - Afina, Jaela, Ithea, Willim, Annalise and Adrian - brought the Celestial Key to Aurora and awoke it."
"I'm sure there's a lot more to the story than that." Moore says with a smile. "But I understand the basic idea - the whole thing would probably take a few days to go through. Well, it's good to meet you after all this time, Galariel. Are you able to communicate with things outside of Aurora?"
Moore will basically be taking down mental notes about anything that would help replicate this sort of thing with Will. I'm guessing it will be a lot easier in theory, but he wants to make sure he has the spellwork part of it down.
Give me a second Spellcraft check. +7 bonus for ????.
In that case, Take 10 for 120.
Hm?
As you work, you notice something. A spell pattern has been recently and discreetly engraved into the works here. It's trying very hard to make you forget about it.
Of course he came here and made sure no one noticed. How very Medi-like, you can't even say hello when you stop by, can you?
Moore will study this, mostly out of curiosity! He's interested to see what it is that got added!
But if there's anyone that won't forget anymore...
Take 10 on spellcraft again for 113, or 120 if he still gets the bonus.
It's a three fold spell, of spell work unlike anything save divine spellcraft you've seen before.
1. It will subtly strengthen all aspects of Aurora as well as allow it a degree of regeneration, so that damage to it will fix itself if needs must.
2. It will mind blast anyone who looks too closely without permission or who has given into the evil in their hearts. Apparently you didn't have permission, but that was probably an intentional design choice. Jerk.
3. Should Aurora be destroyed, the core will be compressed into gemstones that can house Galariel and Elena's spirits, and then transport the gem to another location.
In the back is also another spell, a simple alarm that notifies somewhere elsewhere if this spell is analyzed successfully.
"You really could serve to just admit you'd like to spend time with them, Medi." Moore says aloud, as if the other two know what he's looking at, and as if he expects him to be there behind him. "Honestly."
He probably is going to have a rude letter or something waiting for him when he gets back... it's fine. It means he got out of his demiplane for a little while.
He certainly couldn't add much to all of this, and Medi would be crabby if he did, but he will just keep taking more notes on everything, especially if he's going to need anything specific to make it work for himself. He's pretty sure the morphic nature of Hope's Landing will allow for some shortcuts, though.
"Eh?" Elena pops in, "Wait, what?!"
"Galariel, are you aware of what he did recently?" Moore asks. "So I know whether I need to explain this to both of you or just our favorite guardian maid?"
"I am not," Galariel answers.
"Medi apparently added a few things to the magic here." Moore says. "I'm not sure when, but it was rather recently. Elena, have you noticed any damage to Aurora that's repaired itself without any intervention? That's part of it." He explains. "There's also a ward to protect it against people who would examine it... as well as a failsafe mechanism, should Aurora itself ever be destroyed, that will preserve both of you and take you to safety."
A huff after that. "Somehow or another he managed to make it in here without anyone noticing and added the magic. Either that, or he can remotely add the magic..." A shake of his head. "I wouldn't put it past him, he probably could do it without needing to be here. But still..."
He gestures all around. "He needs to be more honest with himself and just come spend some time with you. He's such a stubborn codger."
"He...he..." Elena twitches.
Galariel's voice intones, "He has his reasons, Elena."
"No he doesn't! That old, that old...old....JERK!" she blurts out, face red. "Why is he avoiding me?!" With an imperious glare and a finger point at you, "That it! Moore, I'm commanding you to get Medi here, even if you have to drag him by the hair!"
"He's just going to ignore me." Moore says with a smile. "But I can ask."
You had to imagine this was coming after your alarm spell went off. You're being officially summoned by your surrogate daughter. She's given me very explicit instructions for your appearance. I would ask you not keep her waiting.
If it's not entirely obvious, that's to Medi.
There is no answer to that.
"He's ignoring me." Moore says. "If you want, I can probably communicate your message to him directly."
He holds out a hand to Elena. "I'm pretty sure this will work. I wouldn't expect a reply, but I'll make sure it goes to him."
Basically, he'll just act like a conduit for her to send a message to Medi directly since she probably can't. Well, she actually probably could, but who knows.
Elena's face screws up as she surely thinks rather hard.
Long moments pass before she huffs and says, "Fine! Moore!" She points at you, "I need you to upgrade me so I can leave Aurora, somehow and some way!"
"I'm not quite as adept at this as Afina is, but..." Moore takes a breath. "I can do it."
A nod after that. "All right. It's a promise."
"Then get started," Elena commands, "Now!"
He turns back to the magic to see if, perhaps, there's anything in it that might give him a hint as to how something like this would be possible.
Maybe with an avatar, or with the power of a proxy...?
Not sure what would be relevant, so let's just go with Take 10 for Spellcraft for 113 again. :)
After some time studying, you believe Aurora would need to be specially upgraded to allow this. You'd guess it could cost a few hundred thousand gold with how Aurora tends to upgrade.
"It's possible." Moore says. "But we'd have to upgrade Aurora again... but it's in the realm of possibility. I'd estimate somewhere around half a million gold just to be sure in case of any mistakes." He says. "How much money do you all have on hand? If you don't have it, we have plenty and I'm sure this is the sort of thing that spreads hope."
"We have some," Elena says, "If you help, I think we can get it done!" She starts to pace back and forth.
"I can enlist Sylvie to help, she's probably just as familiar with all of this as Afina was, so we don't have to bother her." Moore says.
"Then get going! Do it!" Elena commands.
"This is going to take some time, so you'll need to be a bit more patient than you're feeling right now." Moore says with a small smile. "Let me go and get what we need and I will come back."
He will go back and check on Synic first. :)
Okay. Give me a d100 real quick.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 94, total 94[/blockquote]
Thus you return back. You find Synic at rest in one of the rooms in Hope's Landing, helmet off. His hair is long and bone white, expression tired. He's awake though as Jetina sits at his side.
"It's probably going to take you a while to fully recover." Moore says as he enters and moves over to fly next to Jetina. "But, nonetheless, welcome back to the world of the living."
"I owe you two great debts - for my life and for my mind," Synic answers. "It has been...a very long time for me."
Moore smiles. "I'm just glad we were able to separate you from the wyrm and put it to rest, hopefully forever." He says. "Please, take all the time you need to recover. I'm sure someone in Creation will be very happy to have you back. Did you serve any particular deity? I can let them know you're here if you'd like them to visit."
"Tempus," Is the answer, "Not yet, I'll go and present myself when I'm ready."
"Of course. You are welcome here as long as you need to be, and are welcome any time if you wish to return." Moore says with a nod.
"Oh, I had meant to ask, and now is as good a time as any - who is Aphrodos?" He asks. "It was a spell you had on you and the name didn't ring any particular bells. Actually, a lot of your magic was very impressive - but you probably already know that." A small chuckle follows. "We'll have to take some lessons."
A twist of his lips before, "An old friend, long since passed even in my time."
A solemn nod. "I understand. Is there anything I can get for you for the time being?" He asks.
"My time magic...I lost it. Why can't I remember it?" he asks, "I had it before, long ago, and now it's gone."
"Oh... my." Moore says.
Wow, he really is old.
"That's not my place to explain, but it's something to do with something called the Temporal Contract, which you apparently predate." Moore says. "I imagine Tempus can explain it in full detail, or else one of the members of the Compact will do so."
'I believe I am right on time. Moore, I am Chrona 42, a quarut who helps oversee matters of time.' The answer comes into your mind from another. 'With your permission, if I may enter Hope's Landing and present myself to you?'
"Ah, it looks like one of them is here now." Moore says. "One moment."
'Please feel free. I don't know if you can simply get to where I am, but I'll redirect you.' Moore sends back.
Moore will do as he says!
A moment later the door opens.
It is an Inevitable of solid gold plating and iron beneath that greets you. It has three claws as toes, a corded body of steel and adamantine, and no facial features. Humanish and yet not, bowing to you. "Moore, I am Chrona 42."
"Greetings, Chroma 42." Moore says. "I'd ask if you need an explanation, but I have this strange feeling I've already given you one."
He pauses for a moment. "Or I will already? Ah, this is the peril of time, isn't it?"
"Time is complicated," Chrona 42 agrees, "Mister Synic, please accept this gift of insight, temporally compressed. Please play attention, Moore and Jetina. This is your first lesson."
"Very well." Moore says with a nod. "Please proceed."
Synic starts to speak - but magic comes. It's like knowledge compressed down into a single second, a thousand words rendered into one bare murmur. It's like the time around it was compressed down.
"...I've missed things," Synic says at last, "Temporal magic got that far out of control."
"It did," Chrona 42 says, "So do not seek what you have lost, that is normal and we assured that you would not unknowingly cause trouble."
"I can't imagine it's every day that you all have people who predate the Compact show back up." Moore says. "Well... I suppose you all don't measure things in days."
A turn to Synic. "See, I had a feeling they could explain it a bit better than I could."
Synic's expression twists into one of anger, "Then why didn't one of you get me out of there, if you changed my magic?" His voice is openly angry, sharp.
Chrona 42 clears his throat, "That would not be within our duties. Our duties are the Temporal Compact, not an individual soul's fate."
"I can't blame you for being upset." Moore says. "But if they went and did something like that, then there's probably a lot of harm to Creation that'd be done too, and then we'd end up back in the same place everything was prior to the Compact. There are probably of evil chronomany users out there that would have loved to save their friends from death or worse."
A peaceful smile comes after. "Still, you're safe and rescued now. You know being angry at him won't get you anywhere, and I imagine trying to take a punch to him won't do you much good either. I'm not saying don't be angry, but directing your anger at this one won't avail you any peace." He says.
This calls for pixie terror, aka diplomacy. -30 circumstance penalty, you're in the range of making a hard one theoretically possible.
Take 10 for 107 in that case.
Synic's glare is that of death, one that promises it with abandon. Yet he doesn't move and lies back instead.
"Thank you for your understanding," Chrona 42 says, as a moment later Synic lunges. He moves in perfect timing, as if he knew was coming. Even as Synic tries to rip his face off, "I assure you that some anger is normal, but excessive anger does you no good. I merely fulfilled my requirements."
"That's enough!" Jetina steps in and pulls Synic away, struggling to keep him back. His eyes are furious and wild, gaze on the Inevitable even now.
Moore turns his attention fully onto Synic.
Peace.
It isn't a request - Moore brokers no argument on this subject.
[15:36] <Nephrite> roll 1d20+18+16
[15:36] <Kobot> Nephrite rolled 1d20+18+16 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{40}
That should be 58 total as a charisma roll if that is needed.
Are you using any particular power or just trying to cow him or what?
Entirely just trying to get him to calm himself down, nothing else. He can still be angry, but not trying to have a fight with the time lord.
Whatever you said, it isn't enough. Or it is.
Hard to tell when suddenly walls of not-time surround Synic like a cylinder, but not actually touch him. That and your word seems to be enough - he stops. At least he doesn't lunge, and after a bare moment the walls of not-time are gone.
"There are other matters to attend to," Chrona 42 days, as Jetina slowly lets go of Synic and steps away. "I will be at your disposal once your current situation is resolved."
Normally there would be a save involved and blah blah blah but not critical in this situation.
Moore turns and nods to Chrona 42 before he turns back to Synic.
"I can't imagine how you feel, and I'm not going to tell you what you should do." Moore says. "But I would ask you try and rest, at least for right now. There will be..." Moore clears his throat. "Plenty of opportunities to find more out about the situation. You are my guest, and I don't wish for you to remember this place with anger in your heart - only hope for yourself and the future."
Synic shakes his head, but Jetina reaches out and lays a hand on his shoulder. "Rest," she asks gently. The resistance in Synic seems to falter and then fade, as he does just that and sits on the bed.
Moore flies over and sits down next to him.
"I know it doesn't compare, but I woke up without any of my memories." Moore says. "I still don't have most of them, but I learned that I had to stand on the feet that I have today, rather than worry about what I don't have anymore."
A pat to Synic's arm. "I know, it can't even begin to compare with the millions and millions of years for you, and I'm not trying to tell you that I understand what you're going through. What I am saying, though, is that you're an ally of mine now, and I'll do whatever I can to help you. Maybe you can't use chronomancy anymore - but that just means you have to develop new spells. I can help you do that. We managed to rescue you from a timeless death, so this sort of thing is right up our alley. You have to have hope for yourself, and I'll make sure you find it." He says. "I just want you to know you have friends here, and we'll support you. Okay? So for right now, just rest and recover yourself, and we can worry about the future later."
Meanwhile Chrona 42 excuses himself from the room for this.
Synic's answer is to rest back before he says, "One question," he asks at last. "What is the Godsrush?"
"...Wow, he really filled you in, didn't he?" Moore says with a chuckle. "It's... complicated to explain, but the short short version is that there are many new gods that have positioned themselves to fight Shar." He says. "There's more to it, of course, but that's the best summary I can give you. I don't know what Shar was like in your time, but she's... still a problem, let's say. For everyone in Creation."
"More trouble, more wars. As it always is," Synic says by way of perhaps agreement.
Moore smiles. "As it always is." He pushes himself off the bed. "I think you'd get along very well with some of my friends. For right now, we'll leave you to rest. Just call out if you need anything, any of us can hear you if need be."
Assuming he doesn't ask for company, we'll go meet Chrona 42.
Chrona 42 awaits you just outside of the room. "Moore," he greets, "Congratulations on your apotheosis in the Godsrush."
"Thank you, although I suppose you all knew it was going to happen anyway." Moore says with a smile. "Thank you for getting him caught up on current events, I doubt I could manage to do it quite so quickly."
"No thanks are needed," Chrona 42 goes on, "My purpose here is to test and teach you about chronomancy as well as the Temporal Compact. In normal circumstances a more hands on experience would be provided, but the Godsrush has necessitated a more direct approach."
As Jetina meanwhile comes out and gently closes the door behind her, "Please gather all the deities of Hope's Landing and meet me at your earliest convenience. I will await that time."
Huh, but shouldn't they have known this was going to happen anyway and prepared for it?
Maybe it doesn't work that way.
"A moment, please. Ah... sorry, I'll stop saying things like that, you know how long it'll be." Moore says.
A simple request with his will to the rest of the members to meet him is thus sent!
Jetina nods as you get agreements back - they're inbound for sure now.
Where do you want to do this?
Moore has his Private Area Meeting Room thing set up, so we can do it there.
As you go Jetina lingers a bit, Chrona 42 heading on forward. "Well," Jetina says, "There is one thing, Moore."
"Oh?" He asks. "What's on your mind?"
"I was tested in the flames of battle and I proved worthy," she smiles, "All the violence in the world wouldn't have saved Synic."
Moore lets out a laugh at that. "You're stronger than you realize, I think." He says.
Jetina smiles back as you feel the connection another time, strength flowing between the two of you.
Node update.
"You see?" Moore says, smiling. "Don't ever doubt yourself."
"You do so much to make all of us happier," Jetina says, "Don't forget to make you happier. Have you talked to Ilsenine since you last saw her?"
"I'm giving her space." Moore says. "She's a strong soul who doesn't need to be coddled." He adds. "It's... one of those situations where you know that someone is there for you, even without needing to say anything."
The look Jetina gives you suggests that you're currently peddling bovine bodily waste.
"You read too many romance novels." Moore says with a small sigh. "Nonetheless, your point is taken."
A smile at that. "Good, I'd hoped you'd see it my way."
Still, though, with what happened before...
He'll have to deal with it one way or another.
Okay, that's a note to end this topic on. New one incoming.